The experience of attending a football match is unparalleled; Crowd roars, chants and palpable tension are defining elements of a stadium's atmosphere. However, for deaf fans, this vibrant environment is traditionally difficult to fully perceive.
But this is changing thanks An innovative initiative by English team Newcastle Unitedwhat It has introduced haptic jerseys designed to transform the experience of deaf fans in stadiums.
The club, along with its main sponsor Cela and the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), have launched the “Asilence the Crowd” campaign. This initiative not only promotes inclusion, but also demonstrates the transformative power of haptic technology in gaming.
What is Haptic Technology?
Haptic shirts were created for Newcastle United They have the ability to transform stadium noise into tactile sensations in real time. That means deaf or hard-of-hearing fans can “feel” the excitement of the match through vibrations that mimic the intensity of the stadium's sounds, from applause to goals.
The Haptic technologya, from the Greek “haptikos”, capable of touch, is a technology that reproduces the sense of touch through vibrations or movements, allowing the user to receive tactile responses from a device. In the medical context, This technology is used to simulate complex interactions during examinations or surgeryProvides unprecedented realism in the training of healthcare professionals.
Pioneering experience and future perspectives
The first test of these shirts took place on April 13 in a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. There will be two deaf Newcastle United fans Some of the first to experience the atmosphere of St James's Park in a new way. According to Recent studies93% of deaf people say nothing compares to the excitement of watching a live sporting event, highlighting the importance of efforts like this to improve accessibility.
The initiative has been well received by the community and is hoped to encourage other clubs to adopt similar technologies. “It's fantastic to see Cela and Newcastle United leading the way in promoting this technology, which will have a real and lasting impact on how deaf and hard of hearing people experience live sport,” said Terry Devine of the RNID.
Haptic technology recreates the sense of touch through vibrations or movements, allowing the user to receive tactile responses from a device. It has also been used to allow deaf people to “hear” music.
A more inclusive future in sport
Adopting haptic technology in sports is a step towards a more inclusive future where all fans can fully experience the excitement of live events, Regardless of your hearing ability.
With the “Unsilence The Crowd” campaign, Newcastle United are not only innovating in the field of technology, but also encouraging a significant change in the culture of the game.
