NFL Teams Up with Tech Firm to Give Blind Fans New Way to Experience Super Bowl
For the first time ever, the National Football League is making a concerted effort to include blind and low-vision fans in the excitement of the big game. The league has partnered with tech firm OneCourt to provide tactile devices that track the ball, vibrate on key plays, and offer real-time audio to these fans.
The innovative device is designed to give users a truly immersive experience, allowing them to feel the location of the ball and hear what's happening throughout the game in real-time. About 10 blind and low-vision fans will have the opportunity to use this technology at Super Bowl LVI in California on February 8th, where they will be able to enjoy the game in a way that was previously impossible for them.
Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, is one of those lucky individuals. The device has brought back a sense of excitement and engagement to his life, allowing him to experience the thrill of football without relying on others to describe the action to him.
"It will allow me to engage and enjoy the game as close as possible as people who can see," Thornhill said. "As someone who grew up playing sports before I lost my vision, I'm getting a big part of my life back that I've been missing."
OneCourt has developed this technology using data from cameras and chips embedded in balls, jerseys, and other objects on the field. This data is then translated into unique vibrations for plays such as tackles and touchdowns.
The NFL has invested millions of dollars in this initiative, with Ticketmaster footing the bill to make the device available to fans for free. The league wants to ensure that all fans, regardless of their abilities, have an equal opportunity to enjoy the game.
"This is a very, very big social impact win," said Scott Aller, senior client development director at Ticketmaster. "We hope that we can make an investment like this in every single one of our markets."
OneCourt plans to expand its services beyond football, partnering with teams from other sports leagues and working towards making this technology available globally.
The success of this pilot program has been met with enthusiasm from the tech firm, as well as the NFL. "It's not lost on us that we have blind to low-vision fans and we want to do right by them," said Belynda Gardner, senior director of diversity equity and inclusion for the NFL.
With its groundbreaking technology and commitment to accessibility, OneCourt is set to revolutionize the way blind and low-vision sports fans experience their favorite games.
For the first time ever, the National Football League is making a concerted effort to include blind and low-vision fans in the excitement of the big game. The league has partnered with tech firm OneCourt to provide tactile devices that track the ball, vibrate on key plays, and offer real-time audio to these fans.
The innovative device is designed to give users a truly immersive experience, allowing them to feel the location of the ball and hear what's happening throughout the game in real-time. About 10 blind and low-vision fans will have the opportunity to use this technology at Super Bowl LVI in California on February 8th, where they will be able to enjoy the game in a way that was previously impossible for them.
Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, is one of those lucky individuals. The device has brought back a sense of excitement and engagement to his life, allowing him to experience the thrill of football without relying on others to describe the action to him.
"It will allow me to engage and enjoy the game as close as possible as people who can see," Thornhill said. "As someone who grew up playing sports before I lost my vision, I'm getting a big part of my life back that I've been missing."
OneCourt has developed this technology using data from cameras and chips embedded in balls, jerseys, and other objects on the field. This data is then translated into unique vibrations for plays such as tackles and touchdowns.
The NFL has invested millions of dollars in this initiative, with Ticketmaster footing the bill to make the device available to fans for free. The league wants to ensure that all fans, regardless of their abilities, have an equal opportunity to enjoy the game.
"This is a very, very big social impact win," said Scott Aller, senior client development director at Ticketmaster. "We hope that we can make an investment like this in every single one of our markets."
OneCourt plans to expand its services beyond football, partnering with teams from other sports leagues and working towards making this technology available globally.
The success of this pilot program has been met with enthusiasm from the tech firm, as well as the NFL. "It's not lost on us that we have blind to low-vision fans and we want to do right by them," said Belynda Gardner, senior director of diversity equity and inclusion for the NFL.
With its groundbreaking technology and commitment to accessibility, OneCourt is set to revolutionize the way blind and low-vision sports fans experience their favorite games.
OMG this is so awesome!! The NFL is finally doing something right by making the Super Bowl more inclusive 
for blind and low-vision fans! I mean who wouldn't want to feel the excitement of a touchdown or hear the roar of the crowd? 
It's about time we prioritize accessibility in sports, especially when it comes to events that are supposed to be all about entertainment 
, and the fact that Ticketmaster is footing the bill for free is just amazing 
. This just goes to show that innovation can make a real difference in people's lives 
this tactile device is like something out of a sci-fi movie - imagine being able to track the ball and hear what's happening in real-time! it's about time they invested millions in making sports more inclusive, ticketmaster should get a gold star for covering costs too 
. It's so inclusive and it shows that the league is really committed to making sure everyone can enjoy the game, no matter what 
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. It's amazing to think about how much of a difference this tech can make for people who've been missing out on experiences like this 
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. This is the kind of game-changing stuff that'll really get fans pumped up 
. The fact that Ticketmaster is footing the bill for it makes it even more awesome - they're literally giving fans a new way to enjoy the game without spending a dime 
The NFL finally gets it! Like, it's about time they realized that everyone deserves to feel like they're part of the game, regardless of whether you've got eyes or not 
. I mean, it's not like they're just being 'inclusive' for the sake of it - it's actually a really cool tech innovation that's gonna give blind fans an experience that's been missing out on for years 
. The NFL should be proud of themselves for investing in something that's gonna benefit so many fans 
The NFL's new partnership with tech firm OneCourt is actually kinda cool, but let's be real, it's about time they did something like this. I mean, 10 people getting to experience the Super Bowl in a new way isn't exactly a huge step forward for accessibility. Like, imagine if every single blind fan had access to this technology - that'd be something worth celebrating! 
But no, let's just focus on the fact that the NFL is finally doing something about it and not make too much of a big deal out of it. And btw, Ticketmaster paying for the device is super nice of them... unless you're wondering how they're actually funding this initiative in the long run 
. I mean, can you imagine being able to feel the ball moving on the field and hearing the action unfold in real-time? It's a total game-changer 
. And the fact that Ticketmaster is footing the bill makes this initiative even more amazing 
. It's about time someone did something like this, you know?
. I mean, can you even imagine being able to feel the ball and hear what's happening during the game? 
It's like having your own personal coach built into the stadium seats! 
The tech firm OneCourt has truly outdone themselves with this innovation 
. And it's not just about accessibility - it's about creating an equal experience for everyone 
Can't wait to see where this tech takes us next 
️ This is about time something like this happened. I mean, it's not like these folks have been left out in the cold for no reason 
. It's awesome that the NFL is taking steps to make the Super Bowl more inclusive. Tactile devices and real-time audio? That sounds like a game-changer (pun intended) 
. It's about time we started thinking about accessibility in sports, rather than just leaving it to chance 
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. It's not just about accessibility, but also about inclusivity. The tech firm OneCourt has done an amazing job developing this device using data from cameras and chips embedded in objects on the field. And it's so cool that Ticketmaster is footing the bill for fans to use the device for free 
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It's awesome that they've partnered up with OneCourt to make this happen. I love how they're using data from cameras and chips to create these unique vibrations for plays - it's genius! 
), but also about making sure everyone has an equal shot at enjoying the game. I mean, who doesn't want to feel like they're part of the action? The tech firm's expansion plans into other sports leagues is a great idea too - it's all about leveling up accessibility