Visually impaired tennis fans were able to experience Wimbledon through 5G-powered headsets because of a trial led by phone network Vodafone and assistive technology company GiveVision.
Live footage was streamed from local TV cameras to the headsets and the footage was enhanced depending on the wearer’s specific sight requirements. Visually impaired tennis fans and players Rosie Pybus, Ivan Rodriguez Deb and Sinead Grealy were the first to try the headsets.
The devices, which were trialed on the Centre Court and No.1 Court, work by bringing live footage closer to the viewer's eye to stimulate the photoreceptor cells in the retina and regain a level of sight.
Features included the ability to amend the zoom, brightness and contrast of the footage in order to accommodate the specific sight loss requirements of each person.
Elodie Draperi, CEO at GiveVision, said: ‘Our mission is to redefine accessibility standards for visually impaired spectators at all UK sports and entertainment venues. By working with Vodafone and using their 5G network, we’re improving stadium accessibility without any infrastructure changes, giving visually impaired tennis fans an immersive experience at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships.’
Headset user, Rosie Pybus, added: ‘Providing opportunities like this really helps to open tennis up and make the whole experience more inclusive. The technology is brilliant – the clarity, the option to change modes, the ability to see whatever I want – it gives me such a sense of freedom.’