Hardest brain challenges

[VIPFaktor]

Hello,

Can someone recommend me a few activities/games/puzzles that require high level intelligence, very quick processing, visualization and visual/spatial analysis, complex mental data manipulations, etc.?
Basically, anything that's on the edge of human brain performance maximum, or at close to that; anything that's considered to be brain melting.

Thanks,
VF.

[pschriel]

What about the Rubik's cube?

[bluedragon]

I don't know about extreme techniques, but leaning web design and html (or any programming language I believe) can be pretty challenging if you try to figure it out on your own. When I was learning html, I wished I was 3 times more intelligent...

As for motion intelligence I would recommend Tai Chi, which greatly improves your co-ordination and helps you use both brain hemispheres because you always switch and make movements on both sides. The co-ordination between feet, legs, arms, lumbar region, rotating the torso and especially movements where each hand moves in an independent complex motion are pretty challenging. For example, it took me months to learn the first (simplest) form, but now, I just learned a more complex form which is about 10 times longer, and I could basically copy the teacher's movements as he showed them to me for the first time. It's true that many were similar but still. I can also remember everything after he shows it to me 1 or 2 times.

[Mist]

This is crazy one.
Notpron - The Hardest Riddle Available on the Internet

Hope you'll like it.

[VIPFaktor]

Originally Posted by pschriel

What about the Rubik's cube?

Rubik's cube can be good for:

• Training analytical thinking and creative thinking - first few times when you solve it
• Training complex algorithmic thinking - if you're training for speed cubing competitions and using premade algorithms to solve it

I was amused with Rubik's invention for some short period; this speed cubing method, which becomes automatic (and brainless in a way) after some time, has decreased it's complete value for me.

Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Originally Posted by bluedragon

I don't know about extreme techniques, but leaning web design and html (or any programming language I believe) can be pretty challenging if you try to figure it out on your own. When I was learning html, I wished I was 3 times more intelligent...

I'm a hobbyist (atm) .NET developer, currently researching and working on a suite of brain training games and small programs, most of which are expansions of some of the games included in Oak Systems' Brain Trainer series and some other known programs from that category; the biggest difference is the gradual increment in complexity and difficulty of included activities, and metaphorical nonexistence of the difficulty level limit.

Besides that, I had been interested in web design for some time, learned basic and some advanced concepts (static web site development, started ASP.NET, but still didn't finish it because of my lack of time), made a few websites, and realized it's not a very fulfilling experience for me - there are too many restrictions, in my opinion (of course, if you're interested in monetary component of the process).

Regarding the underlined part in your quote, we all wish we were more intelligent. In fact, that's the reason why I'm developing my brain training app collection, reason why I'm asking for some challenging brain activities here, reason why I read so much, ...
You're intelligent because you're seeking new knowledge, and willing to learn it, despite the subject's perceived difficulty.

Originally Posted by bluedragon

As for motion intelligence I would recommend Tai Chi, which greatly improves your co-ordination and helps you use both brain hemispheres because you always switch and make movements on both sides. The co-ordination between feet, legs, arms, lumbar region, rotating the torso and especially movements where each hand moves in an independent complex motion are pretty challenging. For example, it took me months to learn the first (simplest) form, but now, I just learned a more complex form which is about 10 times longer, and I could basically copy the teacher's movements as he showed them to me for the first time. It's true that many were similar but still. I can also remember everything after he shows it to me 1 or 2 times.

Interesting suggestion. I will download some books and video materials and see how much I can profit from Tai Chi practice.

Originally Posted by Mist

This is crazy one.
Notpron - The Hardest Riddle Available on the Internet

Hope you'll like it.

I've tried that one some time ago, and didn't like it too much. The reasons are: it's repetitive in a way, it relies too much on player's perseverance, it's much more willpower challenge than brain challenge, etc.

There's another game that can be labeled as belonging to the same category - Abstractica. It's latest version is freeware.
It require more creative thinking, and overall, more flexible thinking and union of diverse intelligences.

Thanks for suggestions, everyone.

Edit: I hope I didn't make too many mistakes in my writing as english is far from being my first language.

[Brutha]

A while ago I thought about making the sodoku game harder.
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
If the number "1" would be in quadrant 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 it would show as "1" and if it would be in quadrant 2, 4, 6, or 8 it would show as "A".
"2" would show as "B" etc.

The game was quite brain melting but I never wrote programmed it but only had it on paper.
The game was supposed to force you to associate numbers with letters and therefore teach you something in the process.

Besides that, I had been interested in web design for some time, learned basic and some advanced concepts (static web site development, started ASP.NET, but still didn't finish it because of my lack of time), made a few websites, and realized it's not a very fulfilling experience for me - there are too many restrictions, in my opinion (of course, if you're interested in monetary component of the process).

As far as I'm concenred a website is less restricted than a desktop program when it comes to developing something like a brain game as you can much better do crowdsourcing and optimisation.
Html 5 also allow you to do a lot of things that were previously only possible for desktop applications.

[VIPFaktor]

Originally Posted by Brutha

A while ago I thought about making the sodoku game harder.
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
If the number "1" would be in quadrant 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 it would show as "1" and if it would be in quadrant 2, 4, 6, or 8 it would show as "A".
"2" would show as "B" etc.

The game was quite brain melting but I never wrote programmed it but only had it on paper.
The game was supposed to force you to associate numbers with letters and therefore teach you something in the process.

---

As far as I'm concenred a website is less restricted than a desktop program when it comes to developing something like a brain game as you can much better do crowdsourcing and optimisation.
Html 5 also allow you to do a lot of things that were previously only possible for desktop applications.

Your sudoku variation is very good way to increase brain's flexibility and adaptability, and a good example of the core component of many games that I am developing atm. I'm making every game progressively harder and harder, and at certain levels, multiple mutations can occur, and new rules are being set.

One thing you have probably noticed with your sudoku implementation is increased concentration. You need to be flexible, do some additional pattern detection, uncover logical disguises, etc.
Concentration is one very important and integral aspect of the general term of intelligence.

Regarding the web/desktop restrictions, I was more referring to the standards, and rules that need to be followed if you're working as a professional fulltime or freelance web developer. There are many standards and rules set that need to be followed, and I find web development much less creative and challenging than desktop application development, especially my current project, which involves 3-tier app design methodology, XNA/DirectX 9 for more graphics-intensive activities, etc.