Breaking Barriers: Haptic Technology Enables Deaf Individuals to Experience Live Stadium Sounds in Football History

In football history, deaf individuals have never experienced the real sound of a stadium live until now. Thanks to Sela, who has launched an initiative proposing the use of Newcastle United’s team shirt as a sponsor that incorporates haptic technology. The shirts include microphones that capture stadium noise and transform it into tactile sensations through haptic motors embedded in the shirt.

On April 13 during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, individuals with hearing loss will have the opportunity to try out these special jerseys. Sela is committed to providing this technology at future Newcastle United home matches and hopes to inspire other football clubs around the world to implement similar accessibility initiatives.

The initiative aims to improve the match experience and accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Additionally, Sela’s initiative highlights the importance of utilizing technology to enhance live sporting events. The use of haptic technology in the team shirts demonstrates a creative and impactful way to address accessibility challenges for individuals with hearing loss.

In summary, Sela’s initiative is an innovative solution that promotes inclusivity and accessibility in football by incorporating haptic technology into team shirts. This technology allows deaf individuals to experience live stadium sounds for the first time in football history, improving their overall match experience.