A sensory device created by an Irish startup helps visually impaired individuals “feel” the sport and fully experience a football match.
For those with visual impairments, following a football match or other field sports can be a frustrating experience. It usually requires someone to narrate the game, describing all the actions happening in real time.
However, an Irish startup has developed a sensory device that promises to help sports fans who are blind or visually impaired not only hear the game but also “feel” the action, making the live experience much more inclusive.
Called Field of Vision, the white device, the size of a tablet, is adorned with the lines of a sports field and weighs less than 1 kilogram. Customized cameras positioned at various points in the stadium use artificial intelligence to track all relevant details of a match, and in about half a second, this information is transmitted to the device.
A small magnetic ring guides the user’s finger around the tablet, and its movements are based on the ball’s movement and position. The device also vibrates to inform about events in the match, such as a player substitution.
David Deneher, co-founder of Field of Vision, told CNN that the device has received very positive feedback: “The main feedback we’ve received is that it really makes them feel like they are part of the game and experiencing it like everyone else,” he said.
The most important thing is that the device can be programmed for various sports, and who knows, in the future, stadiums, football fields, and other venues might offer the visually impaired a complete experience of a sports event, at least that’s what the creators of Field of Vision hope.
“In the long term, we want to expand to all major sports in the world and make this a standard for stadiums and live event venues within their infrastructure,” Deneher said.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.