New Tactile Technology Allows Visually Impaired NBA Fans to Experience Games

Experiencing NBA Games Through Touch

• 💡 Julie Deedon, director of the Colorado Center for the Blind, describes her experience with One Court technology as unlike anything she's felt before.
• 🎯 She can now feel the ball and track player movements on the court, making the game more immersive.

How One Court Technology Works

• 🧠 The One Court device is a result of a collaboration between the Denver Nuggets, Ticketmaster, and One Court.
• ⚡ It features over 200 tiny motors synced with the NBA's official data feed, which tracks RFID chips in jerseys and the ball.
• 📊 This data translates game action, like ball movement and player positions, into vibrations on the device.
• ✅ Users can distinguish specific actions, such as free throws or baskets, through distinct vibrational patterns.

Accessibility and Future Rollout

• 🚀 One Court originated as an undergraduate project at the University of Washington in 2021.
• 🏟️ The technology is currently available in eight arenas, with more teams joining by the end of the season and plans for the next season.
• 🏈 A pilot program is also being launched with the NFL.
• 🆓 The tactile broadcast technology is offered to fans free of charge at every Nuggets home game.
• 🌟 Julie emphasizes that this technology allows visually impaired individuals to be active participants in watching games, rather than passive observers.