NFL's Tactile Device Revolutionizes Super Bowl Access for Blind and Low-Vision Fans
In a groundbreaking move to enhance inclusivity, the National Football League (NFL) has partnered with technology startup OneCourt and ticketing giant Ticketmaster to introduce a tactile device that provides unprecedented access to the Super Bowl for blind and low-vision fans. This innovative game-enhancing experience, which tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays, and delivers real-time audio, is set to debut at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, where the Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots.
Pilot Program and Super Bowl Debut
The NFL piloted this technology 15 times during the regular season at games hosted by teams including the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings. Approximately 10 blind and low-vision fans will have the opportunity to use the same device at the Super Bowl, marking a significant milestone in sports accessibility. By placing their hands on the device, which is the size of a thick iPad with raised lines outlining a football field, users can feel the location of the ball and hear live game commentary through headphones.
Personal Experiences and Impact
Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 8 and later lost his sight, expressed his excitement about the technology. "It will allow me to engage and enjoy the game as close as possible as people who can see," Thornhill told The Associated Press. "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. To attend a game and not have to wait for someone to tell me what happened, it's hard to even describe how much that means to me. It's a game-changer."
Clark Roberts, a Seahawks fan who lost his sight at 24 due to retinitis pigmentosa, experienced the device firsthand at a home game against Indianapolis on December 14. "The device does two wonderful things," Roberts said. "It vibrates in different ways for different plays and through headphones, I was able to hear Seattle's amazing announcer, Steve Raible. Real-time audio is the real beauty of the device because usually when I'm listening to a game, there can be a delay of up to a minute or more and that can be challenging to constantly ask family and friends what happened. Can you imagine how this can open up everything, not just football?"
Technology and Development
OneCourt, founded in 2023 by Jerred Mace after he witnessed a blind person attending a soccer match while at the University of Washington, uses the NFL's tracking data from Genius Sports. This data, generated from cameras and chips embedded in balls, jerseys, and other equipment, is translated into feedback for the device to create unique vibrations for plays such as tackles and touchdowns. The same technology is utilized by the NFL's NextGen Stats for health and player safety, statistics, and gambling.
Antyush Bollini, co-founder of OneCourt, highlighted the significance of this Super Bowl debut. "It's a testament to the maturity of the product and our company that we have gone from delivering this to a handful of teams throughout the last year or two to having it at the largest event in American sports," Bollini said. "The Super Bowl is such an amazing event and now blind and low-vision fans can use our technology in a way they deserve."
Funding and Future Prospects
Ticketmaster's funding for the NFL pilot program has underwritten the device, making it available to fans for free. Scott Aller, senior client development director at Ticketmaster, emphasized the social impact. "This is a very, very big social impact win," Aller said. "We hope that we can make an investment like this in every single one of our markets."
Belynda Gardner, senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the NFL, noted that the league has been encouraged by the pilot program's results. "It’s not lost on us that we have blind to low-vision fans and we want to do right by them," Gardner said. "We’re reviewing what we learned and evaluating how it can be implemented going forward. There aren’t any definitive next steps and we will use the offseason to determine where this technology sits in the NFL’s suite of offerings."
Expanding Beyond Football
OneCourt is already expanding its reach, having partnered with NBA and Major League Baseball teams to provide devices at games and engaging in talks with the NHL and other sports organizations worldwide. This expansion underscores the potential for this technology to revolutionize accessibility across various sports and events.
Thomas Rice, a blind Jaguars fan, shared his seamless experience with the OneCourt device at a game in Jacksonville. "When Trevor Lawrence threw a touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr., I felt the ball travel through the air," Rice said. "When Travis Etienne ran the ball, I could feel it happen along the sideline. It was like giving me my own pair of eyes."
This initiative represents a significant step forward in making major sporting events more inclusive, offering blind and low-vision fans a richer, more immersive experience that bridges the gap between sighted and visually impaired audiences.
