Some blind fans experience Super Bowl with tactile device that tracks ball

Some blind and low-vision fans had unprecedented access to the Super Bowl thanks to a tactile device that tracks the ball, vibrates on key plays, and provides real-time audio. The NFL teamed up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to pilot the game-enhancing experience 15 times during the regular season games hosted by the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Minnesota Vikings. About 10 blind and low-vision fans had an opportunity to use the same technology at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, where Seattle played the New England Patriots on February 8. With their hands on the device, they felt the location of the ball and heard what was happening throughout the game. Scott Thornhill, the executive director of the American Council of the Blind, was among the fans at Levi's Stadium with a OneCourt tablet in the lap and Westwood One's broadcast piped into headphones. "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." OneCourt has also partnered with NBA and Major League Baseball teams to provide its devices at games and is in talks to make them available with the NHL, along with other leagues and sports organizations all over the world. OneCourt launched in 2023 after founder Jerred Mace saw a blind person attending a soccer match while he was a junior at the University of Washington. This article was provided by The Associated Press.