What started as a challenge put forward by the current Dutch football Champions has grown from a student project into a fully-fledged start-up. Aristotle Technologies develops, maintains, and sells software in the field of cognitive technology, including software for measuring and improving attention, working memory, and brain processing speed. People may need cognitive training for different reasons, be it because their abilities are insufficient for carrying out daily activities or because improved abilities are required by their profession.
Cognition includes, among other things, the ability to perceive relevant information, process it, and act. Top professional football clubs have a high interest in increasing the cognitive abilities of their players: Quick thinking and acting are crucial for being successful on the field. Next to physical fitness, players need to be quick on their feet also mentally, find creative ways of dealing with arising situations, and be able to play tactically.
To what extent can you control that process? To better understand the brain, the partners of Aristotle Technologies set up a Football Cognition project group in 2021. In collaboration with the club, Aristotle Technologies developed Kinsi, a training tool that not only challenges athletes to perform cognitive tasks during their normal sports routine but also improves the well-being of adolescents, adults, and the elderly. It is for instance used by physiotherapists to reduce the fall risk of the elderly, which is partially caused by cognitive decline.
In addition, Aristotle Technologies developed Sofia, a cognitive training tool for children with neurological disorders that aims to train several cognitive functions in a playful manner. The targeted cognitive functions are for example working memory and attention. These cognitive abilities are used in various daily activities, such as sports activities or school performance. Schools can apply Sofia in addition to regular classes to make sure the children have fun at school while simultaneously stimulating cognitive functions.
What sets those tools apart from similar products? According to the start-up, comparable cognitive training methods often focus either on providing extensive data or on a high degree of freedom of movement, but not both. The solutions of Aristotle Technologies offer both data-driven feedback and freedom of movement through a smart combination with a wireless controller.
Find out more about Aristotle Technologies at aristotletechnologies.com.
