Wimbledon Adopts Special Headsets To Bring Game Closer To The Visually-Impaired
Image via Vodafone
New headsets handed out at the Wimbledon championships allow fans with visual impairments to see the action as closely, or perhaps even more vividly, than normal-sighted people.
Spectators with vision loss have been putting on new 5G-powered GiveVision gear provided by Vodafone, an official partner of the prestigious tennis tournament, that is propelled by high-speed connectivity to stream live tennis while adjusting to the viewer’s specific sight profile. This is the first time 5G is being actively used in the sport.
The headsets are wirelessly connected to local television cameras to stream real-time footage, which, as it is brought closer to the eye, mimics photoreceptor cells in the retina and the way they respond to light. As such, “a degree of sight can be regained,” details Vodafone.
Image via Vodafone
Given how everyone has a different degree of sight loss, the equipment can be tweaked to meet users’ personal needs, allowing them to adjust the zoom, brightness, and contrast, for example, of the live feeds.
And besides tailoring the views to their own sight profiles, fans can also switch between modes and utilize the camera built into their headsets to fixate on specific activities on the field.
The technology enables visually-impaired fans to enjoy on-field action wherever they are on the stands.
Earlier headsets forced spectators to stay within a 10 to 20-meter (33 to 65-foot) radius of a designated “accessibility” zone, which meant only a few could enjoy the game. 5G covers the entire stadium, so members of the audience can be seated anywhere without any disruptions to their experience.
Image via Vodafone
“This showcases how the power of 5G technology can help make sport more accessible to more people,” notes the telecommunications company in a press release.
Visually-impaired fan Rosie Pybus, who has tested the device, says such technology “really helps to open tennis up and make the whole experience more inclusive.”
“Being able to track the ball, see the spin and focus on all the finer details is a real game-changer,” proclaims Ivan Rodriguez Deb, another user. “It’s amazing.”
Deb adds that the concept can “be used in so many applications.”
“And I think it’ll be really interesting to see how, down the line, it’ll improve and just become better and better.”
Currently being trialed throughout the Championships, the headsets are primed to become more widely available in future sporting events that Vodafone will be involved in.
[via SportsPro Media and Euronews, images via Vodafone]
