Sports technology is advancing at a record pace, with new innovations constantly changing the game. Among the frontrunners in sport technology innovation is Okkulo, a United Kingdom-based company.
Since they were founded in 2018, their mission has been to transform the sporting world forever by setting new standards, breaking records, and creating heroes.
They aim to do this by turning the ‘marginal gains’ of athletes into ‘exceptional gains’. Okkulo recognises the importance of training the body, but they believe visual perception training is what propels athletes to new heights.
Visual perception training is delivered via the Okkulo Vision Performance LAB. The chamber is 8m long, 6m wide and 3.4m high, giving users ample room for movement.
Inside, athletes undergo pre-training benchmarks and multi-week training cycles before they are evaluated using a proprietary Vision Board.
The training, which is almost entirely kinaesthetic, leads to significant improvements across visual pillars such as perception and reaction time.
Okkulo’s methods, which are backed by the science of light, have benefits off the pitch too. Their advanced light systems reduce stress and support mental health.
For this reason, Okkulo’s founder, Mel O’Connor, envisions a future where this technology becomes accessible for everyday use for the general public.
How it works
Okkulo optimises the neural pathways that connect the eyes and the brain, maximising the efficiency of the body’s visual and motor systems.
There are two specialised cells in the retina, called rods and cones, that detect light and convert it into signals that our brain interprets to provide vision.
These cells usually work separately, but Okkulo unlocks the ability for them to work simultaneously.
When they work together, visual processing pathways are significantly enhanced. The biological responses of the eyes and brain are slower under low-light environments.
Okkulo uses this to their advantage as training in these conditions forces the body to adapt by accelerating reaction times.
Athletes begin adapting to the ambient light levels within just three minutes of exposure.
30 minutes of training per week triggers adaptive plasticity, enhancing the athlete’s visual and cognitive performance under normal playing conditions.
Normal playing conditions feel slower; therefore, their perception of the world is significantly enhanced.
In essence, the rod and cone function is manipulated, causing the brain to rewire and the visual system to overperform.
Evidence and statistics
Independent scientific testing, conducted in partnership with Durham University, confirmed that the Okkulo can drastically improve physical performance.
Reaction speeds were boosted by up to 23%, while the velocity at which athletes can comfortably respond increased by 16%.
Another independent study by researchers from Europe and the United States also found the Okkulo system to offer several cognitive and visual improvements.
The study involved 24 professional football players, aged 18 to 30.
The participants trained using Okkulo’s chamber twice a week, while the control group performed identical drills under normal lighting conditions.
The findings are as follows:
- 4% improvement in identifying moving targets
- Recognition time improved by 17.2% (from 439.7 ms to 364.1 ms)
- Sensory reaction time decreased by 17.2% (from 439.7 ms to 364.1 ms)
- Motor reaction time decreased by 30.7% (from 255.8 ms to 177.3 ms)
- Peripheral identification increased by 10.9% in accuracy and speed
Okkulo worked closely with the women’s Sunderland AFC team, in what the company calls a side project.
The team was struggling to compete in the season prior to Okkulo’s intervention, finishing second last in the league.
In the season with Okkulo implemented into their training routine, the girls finished third, with the goalkeeper winning the Golden Glove with 21 clean sheets.
Use in the Australian football ecosystem
With the exception of Leeds United and the Sunderland AFC women’s team, Okkulo’s product has not seen much use in elite football.
Despite this, research clearly demonstrates its strong potential to enhance cognitive and visual ability, optimising overall athletic performance.
As such, teams at the top of the Australian football ecosystem could benefit greatly from getting in early and partnering with Okkulo.
The A-League is behind the international standard in terms of quality, but technologies like this have the potential to help bridge that gap and elevate the players to a higher level.
