Embrace … The Swarm!
The Swarm is available in Open Gym only. It's not in yet part of Daily Training or Performance Evaluation. But it’s a lot of fun and worth seeking out.
To access it:
- Open 3DVisionGym.com
- Select Training programs from the top of the screen navigation (if it’s not already popped up).
- Look for The Swarm with the hexagon icon (lime/green colored)
- Choose your mode (2D or 3D)
- Adjust settings (easy/standard/hard) and start training by clicking “start session”
Understanding the settings
Before diving in, configure a few things:
Difficulty Selection
- Easy: 5 objects, 1 target, slower speed (1.5). Start here.
- Standard: 8 objects, 2 targets, moderate speed (2.0).
- Hard: 10 objects, 3 targets, fast speed (3.0). Quite challenging.
Round Duration
Set sessions for 3, 5, 7, or 10 rounds. Five is the default and gives you a solid training block without mental fatigue.
Practical Tips
Start easier than you think you need to. This exercise can be humbling. The exercise isolates one specific skill without the contextual cues we're used to. Easy mode with one target lets you understand the mechanics before the cognitive load ramps up.
Don't dart your eyes. A common mistake is trying to look directly at each target in sequence. Your foveal (central) vision can only focus on one thing at a time. Instead, use your peripheral vision—soften your gaze and hold all targets in your awareness simultaneously. Think of how you "see" the whole court or field during a game.
Verbally tag your targets. Some people find it helpful to mentally assign labels: "top-left one, the one near center, the one moving right." This gives your brain hooks to maintain tracking.
Train in short, focused blocks. Three to five sessions of 5-7 rounds each, spread across a week, beats one marathon session. Quality of attention matters more than quantity of time.
Use 3D mode once you're comfortable. If you're training for sports that happen in three-dimensional space (all of them), graduate to 3D mode after you've got the basics. The depth processing adds real-world transfer.
The Bigger Picture
The Swarm isn't meant to replace on-field training. Nothing does. But it isolates and trains a specific cognitive skill that underlies performance in chaotic, multi-player situations.
When a basketball player tracks the ball, their defender, the help defender, and two potential passing targets simultaneously—that's multiple object tracking (MOT). When a hockey goalie follows the puck through traffic while monitoring shooting lanes—that's MOT. When a soccer midfielder processes teammate and opponent positions before receiving a pass—that's MOT.
The Swarm gives you a systematic way to work on these skills. Give it a try in Open Gym. Start on Easy. See how many rounds it takes before you're ready for Standard.
You might be surprised how challenging—and addictive—tracking a few bouncing spheres becomes.
Visual training exercises are designed to challenge and develop eye movement skills. They are not medical treatment and do not replace professional eye care. If you have concerns about your vision or eye health, consult a qualified eye care professional.