Latest news with #OneCourt
WIRED
20-04-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Meet the Trio of Tech Startups Bringing Live Sports to Blind Fans
These three companies have developed tactile devices that help visually impaired spectators follow the live action playing out on the field. Photo-Illustration: Wired Staff; OneCourt/Getty Images Most viral videos have a very short half-life, but occasionally they have a much greater impact than you might imagine. The founders of OneCourt, Field of Vision and Touch2See—based in Seattle, Dublin, and Toulouse respectively—weren't all inspired by exactly the same clip, but the videos they did see were all variations on the same basic theme: a blind person having their hands guided by a companion across a facsimile of a soccer pitch in order to better understand what was happening in a live game. Instead of quickly becoming yesterday's news like most others, those videos gave the founders the same idea: to create a device that would change how visually impaired people watch sport forever. All three companies are examples of what OneCourt's CEO Jerred Mace calls 'tactile broadcasters.' And while each of the devices differ in subtle ways, they all aim to do the same thing—convert the on-field action into movement that the user can feel with their fingers. 'You can't have hundreds of people doing that one-for-one,' says Touch2See's sales director John Brimacombe. 'So we thought: how can we scale this up and make it more affordable, more accessible, and more pertinent to the modern world?' In recent years there has been a revolution in the world of sport. Professional clubs, in search of marginal gains that can mean the difference between success and failure, started to recruit companies such as Opta Stats and Catapult Sports to collect performance data on their behalf. It's that data that is being used to power devices like those being developed by Touch2See and OneCourt. Courtesy of Dan Sheridan/Field of Vision Field of Vision took a slightly different approach, developing its own low-latency cameras that process all the data locally before sending it to the device. But the end result is the same: as the real ball travels around the pitch, a physical representation of it moves across the surface of the device, allowing the user to follow the play in real time. To the unsuspecting observer it looks a little like a sports-themed Ouija board, but there's nothing sinister about it. 'Knowing what's happening as it's happening, and being able to celebrate with everybody else—that's the magic of it,' says Mace. Good Vibes Only The position of the ball on the pitch is just one aspect of a game of soccer, rugby or basketball, so all three devices also have supplementary ways of communicating match events to the user. Both Touch2See and Field of Vision use vibration-based feedback systems that coincide with different actions, a bit like the force feedback you get from a PlayStation or Xbox controller. Field of Vision's device is divided into two parts – one for the home team and the other for the visitors – with the bottom section emitting a deep rumble, while the top panel vibrates at a higher frequency. Co-founder Omar Salem calls it a 'language of vibrations,' with passes indicated by short buzzes from the relevant section, longer ones signaling a change in possession, and more persistent vibrations to indicate when a goal or try is scored. For sports like rugby or Australian rules football there are also further physical indicators for scrums and marks (a catch that earns the player a free kick). OneCourt decided on a different method early in development. Rather than having a mechanism similar to a 3D printer inside, which drags the magnetic 'ball' across the surface on top, OneCourt's hardware uses a pixel-based system that's a bit like animated braille from beneath. 'Our technology co-opts the basic principles of animation that have been proven in our visually dominant world,' explains Mace, using Christmas lights that blink in succession to create the illusion of movement as an example. 'But instead of pixels that you see, these are pixels that you feel.' That also changes what OneCourt can do with the top panel of its device. All three companies have interchangeable plates for different sports, with grooves marked in them to show the markings of the playing area at hand, but OneCourt's approach means it can show multiple 'views" of a game simultaneously. That comes in particularly useful for baseball, with one half of the interface showing where the ball is pitched relative to the batter, and the other displaying a top-down view of the diamond and the positions of the runners. For a soccer game, this 'split-screen' mode can also be used to provide more contextual detail when a goal is scored. 'With touch you can't show everything at the same time,' says Mace. 'With visual sense, we see the big picture first and then we pick out details, whereas with touch you're actually starting with the details and then building a bigger picture.' Part of that bigger picture is constructed using audio. All three of these devices can accept commentary feeds for connected headphones, but if there aren't any available or they're not in real time and would lag behind the tactile element, OneCourt has a text-to-speech system called "audio bites' that can turn events labelled within the ball-tracking data into a simple audio description. Touch2See is also currently working on something similar that differentiates between the actions of the two teams by using distinctly different voices. Home and Away Anybody who has tried to send a text or check social media inside a busy stadium will understand how difficult that can be when 50,000 people are trying to post Instagram stories at the same time: the networks get overloaded. These company's devices aren't magically immune to such problems, but all three are as well-prepared as possible connectivity-wise. OneCourt and Field of View favour Wi-Fi but have the capability to use 5G as well, while Touch2See prioritizes 5G because of the mobility that it offers, but can fall back on Wi-Fi or even ethernet if necessary. The method used will vary from stadium to stadium. A solid connection is essential when it comes to reducing latency, which is usually just an annoyance but here could completely ruin the experience. Even a slight delay meaning that the movement on the device lags a second or so behind the action would render the whole thing pointless, as the reaction of the crowd would give away that something significant had just occurred. That is one of the main reasons Field of View decided to develop its own cameras, because it found the existing data being collected at the stadiums wasn't always available in real time. It's theoretically possible for the Field of Vision device to use third-party data as long as the delay is no more than half a second, but it's yet to be tested without Field of Vision's own cameras. All three companies also have plans for their devices to be used somewhere that connectivity shouldn't be an issue: in people's homes. After all, that's where technology like this is likely to be most widely used, with far more fans watching sport from the comfort of their sofas than in person. Mace says OneCourt intends to build its home version of the product over the next six months, and while some hurdles are removed outside the stadium it does introduce some new ones: the tracking data will need to be licensed for use elsewhere, syncing with the broadcast will present a challenge to overcome, and they will need to work out how to offer technical support. Full Circle For now, all three companies are focused on making their devices available in as many stadiums and arenas as possible. Touch2See's most high-profile uses have been at last year's Olympics and at Ligue 1 soccer matches in France; OneCourt is now available at all Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings home games in the NBA; and Field of Vision has a deal in place with Marvel Stadium in Melbourne for its AFL games, plus its device is now permanently installed at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Irish rugby fan Martin Gordon, who lost his sight completely over two decades ago, used Field of Vision's product for the first time when he attended the Six Nations clash between Ireland and England earlier this year. 'They gave me a demonstration but within 10 or 15 minutes of using it you know the difference between the vibrations,' he says. Gordon used to play rugby when he was at school, so even just with audio commentary he has a fairly good idea of what's happening on the pitch in front of him, but he says using Field of Vision makes following the game much more exciting. 'For somebody like me who has been on a rugby pitch and knows exactly what one looks like, when I listen to commentary I can picture where the play is, but being able to feel it exactly is incredible. Now somebody who's never even seen a rugby pitch can really get a feel for the game, if you'll excuse the pun.' In a situation that feels like things have gone full circle, there are now videos going viral of visually impaired fans using these devices at games. In February, TikTok user Anthony Ferraro, who was born with a degenerative eye condition called Leber Congenital Amaurosis, shared a video of himself using OneCourt at a Portland Trail Blazers game. Afterwards he described it as 'life-changing.' Back in December 2024, Sardinian soccer team Caligiari posted a video on Instagram of Daniele Cassioli, a paralympic water-skier who has been blind since birth, using a Touch2See device during a trial at one of the club's games. Brimacombe says the feedback has been 'really emotional,' with some users even brought to tears by the experience, and describes sitting with a fan using a Touch2See device as he raged in unison with the rest of the crowd at a refereeing decision. Because isn't that what sport is all about? Gordon is similarly effusive about the impact this kind of technology will have on his enjoyment of the game as a blind spectator. 'It completely adds to my experience as a supporter,' he says, 'and gives back something huge that was lost for me 23 years ago.'
New York Times
28-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Visually impaired NBA fans experience the game on a new level with haptic device
PORTLAND, Ore. — Brian Vu has been a fan of the NBA for 14 years, but he has never experienced a game like the one he attended last week in Portland. Not only did his hometown Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, but also for the first time in his life, Vu said he felt involved in the game, every bit a part of the 18,491 in attendance at Moda Center. Advertisement Vu, who has low vision, didn't see one play during the Blazers' 115-99 win. But he felt every score, every turnover, every shot. The 32-year-old Vu used a haptic device that allowed him to follow the action in real time through vibrations felt through his fingers. The device was unveiled this season by Seattle-based OneCourt. After three pilot trials last spring, the Trail Blazers in January became the first NBA team to offer the service to fans. Since then, Sacramento and Phoenix also have been offering the devices at games. Using a laptop-sized device that has the outline of the basketball court, visually impaired users feel vibrations that indicate ball movement. An earpiece gives updates on the score, as well as the result of a play, whether it's a steal, block, 3-pointer or something else. A post shared by Ticketmaster (@ticketmaster) OneCourt founder Jerred Mace likens the concept to a tactile animator, creating the illusion of movement through pixels. 'We've basically built this display that functions similarly to a visual screen, but instead of pixels that you see, these are pixels that you feel,' Mace said. So while Vu couldn't see Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, his favorite player, zip through the defense for a layup, he could feel the play through his fingertips, which were spread out over the device that rested on his legs. Vu said his fan experience had changed exponentially. 'It's pretty cool. I feel more independent,' Vu said. 'I'm usually bugging my friend during the game, asking him, 'What's happening?' So now, I can interpret the game in my head … and I don't feel excluded.' Vu attended the Blazers-Grizzlies game with his friend James Kim, the recipient of many of Vu's elbow jabs and questions during games over the years. As the Blazers pulled away in the third quarter, Kim and Vu were in sync, oohing and aahing when Shaedon Sharpe dunked or Donovan Clingan rejected shots. Advertisement 'Usually, he's like, 'Who shot that? What just happened?' It was not that big of a deal for me, but this is definitely an upgrade,' Kim said of Vu. 'He can enjoy the game without having to stop and get the details from me, so I think it's great for him.' Vu's experience is exactly what Mace hoped for when he brainstormed the idea as a student at the University of Washington. Mace, 24, grew up in Spokane, Wash., with parents with disabilities. He also wore glasses so thick he was called 'goggles' by classmates. He had astigmatism in his left eye — what people could see 80 feet away, he would see at only 20 feet — and although his vision improved through surgeries and by wearing a patch over the right eye, he was left with a lasting empathy and understanding for those with disabilities. 'You bundle those experiences together, and I think that just primed my heart for this work,' Mace said. 'I think it's given me a ton of perspective and appreciation for what it's like to experience the world differently.' During his junior year at Washington, he was surfing through social media when he discovered a video of a blind person watching a soccer match. A woman in the stands moved his hands across a board to mimic the game action. The idea of OneCourt was born. 'The physicality of that experience stood out to me, and as someone who struggled with vision, it was such an appealing intersection for me,' Mace said. He presented his idea at the University of Washington's 2022 Science and Technology Showcase. The idea was in its infancy, just a research poster with no physical product, but it won first place and a $2,000 prize. The contest used tennis as the example, but Mace had broader aspirations. The key, he knew, would be linking the idea with readily available data. Beginning with the 2023-24 season, all NBA arenas were equipped with optical tracking technology, which captures player and ball movement in real time. The NBA says up to 20 tracking devices are stationed in the rafters of each arena. Advertisement Mace reached out to the Trail Blazers with the idea and, with their help, was introduced to the NBA. The league has seen value in working with Mace. 'We've been thrilled to work with Jerred and the team at OneCourt to use technology to help advance their mission of enabling visually impaired fans enjoy NBA games,' said Jason Bieber, the NBA's vice president of new business ventures. 'We're especially excited to have OneCourt in the current cohort of NBA Launchpad companies so we can continue to partner and explore even more possibilities in the space.' Within four months, Mace had access to the NBA data and began running pilot tests at the end of last season. 'The NBA is innovative when it comes to technology like this and when it comes to accessibility for their fans,' said Matthew Gardner, the Blazers' senior director of customer insights. 'They saw the good that it could do, and they were like, 'Hey, no problem. We'll unlock it for you.'' Mace added: 'I think (the NBA) is always looking for new applications for their data, and this happens to be a very special one. It's not analytics on the back end. It's not sports betting on the front end. It's something that had the potential to change someone's life and their entire experience and relationship with sports.' Vu and Kim can attest: When Vu experienced the Blazers game with the OneCourt device, it was a game changer. From their end zone seats, Vu and Kim were as locked in and vocal as anyone in the arena. Vu couldn't clap because it would cause his hands to lose track of the action. But his legs were in constant movement, and he joined in with the crowd chanting 'DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!' 'There was a steal, and you can feel the vibration go to the other side — really fast — and I got super excited,' Vu said. 'I knew why the crowd was cheering. Before, I wouldn't understand what was happening.' Advertisement Vu estimated he used to go to Blazers games once a year. It was exciting to hear the crowd and the sounds, but he always felt detached and behind. 'Now it's a whole different experience,' he said. 'I've got the best of both worlds.' Kim could only smile as he watched Vu's hands moving quickly across the device, his feet nervously tapping. 'He's really into the game,' Kim said, nodding toward his friend. 'He's, like, zoning in on it.' Gardner said several other NBA teams have called and asked him for feedback after the Blazers debuted the device on Jan. 11. He tells the teams that nearly every home game has had at least one device checked out, and offering the device is essential to the fan experience. 'Being a fan should be for everybody,' Gardner said. 'This unlocks an entirely new world for our fans who are blind and have low vision. We've seen it across all the faces of those who have used it so far.' Mace said his company of eight employees, five of whom work full time, is bracing for the demand as more teams inquire about the services. Portland and Sacramento have five devices that can be reserved ahead of time or checked out on the concourse, while Phoenix has 10 devices. Fans do not need to pay for the device, thanks to Ticketmaster, an NBA sponsor. Mace says the impact expands beyond the number of people using the device. 'One might think, 'Oh, this device just impacts five people in a stadium.' But really, the ripple effects are incredible,' Mace said. 'Now, the circle of who is going to the game — friends and family — has expanded because everyone can share the experience.' Vu said the device was easy to use after listening to a two-minute tutorial, but he wishes the audio could include specific indications, like which player has the ball and which player is shooting. Those could be updates for the future. For now, Vu said knowing the Blazers offer the device increases his chances of attending more games. 'Oh, 1,000 percent,' Vu said. 'Instead of maybe one game a year, I could see myself going to five a year. It's just a better experience.' (Top photo courtesy of Portland Trail Blazers)
NBC News
26-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
New technology changes game experience for visually impaired fans
Groundbreaking technology developed by Jerred Mace is changing the game for visually impaired fans. The OneCourt haptic tablet translates live games by touch so people can follow in real-time. The team hopes to expand the technology to other sports, too. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports on the device being used at the Portland Trail Blazers game.
