⚽ Inclusive Football Tech for Deaf, Hard of Hearing & DeafBlind Fans
- Tim Scannell
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Technology should bring every fan into the game — whether you're in a stadium, at the pub, or watching from home. Here's a look at what’s possible:
🔗 1. RefAlert Wristband – Vibration-Only Alerts🔋 Connects to the referee’s whistle via encrypted Bluetooth📳 Vibrates with unique patterns to signal events:
Foul – 1 long buzz
Goal – 3 quick buzzes
VAR – slow pulses
Offside, cards, and more
💡 Perfect for noisy pubs, quiet rooms, or fans who can’t hear or see live commentary
🧏♂️ 2. For Deaf Fans combines vibration + on-screen captions
Colour-safe overlays for colour-blind accessibility
Timed match notifications (e.g., “Foul at 45:31”)
Supports real-time updates for clarity and inclusion
🧑🦯 3. For DeafBlind Fans📱 Braille touchscreen or haptic app paired with RefAlert
Displays match time, event type (e.g., F = foul, G = goal), player shirt number
Example: Wristband buzzes (goal) → Touchscreen → Feel:G 68 #17 → Goal at 68 minutes by player 17
💬 My Experience – Thomas Bramall at Old Trafford
When referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle before Morgan Rogers scored, I had no idea the goal was disallowed.
Why?
❌ No subtitles on TNT Sports.
❌ No audio I could hear.
❌ No captions to read.
❌ No way to rewind or get instant info.
I only understood what happened later on social media.➡️ Full story here
❗ Why This Matters
Broadcasters like TNT Sports must provide live subtitles for referee decisions and commentary, so all fans stay informed in real time.
Until then, tools like RefAlert can offer equal access.
Vibration-based alerts + Braille or tactile tech = a real-time, accessible match experience for:
✅ Deaf
✅ Hard-of-hearing
✅ DeafBlind
✅ Fans in noisy environments
🙌 It’s time football made room for every fan.
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