Innovation at Wimbledon: Vodafone trials 5G powered headsets for visually impaired fans
In a major technological breakthrough, Vodafone has initiated trials of its new 5G powered headsets, developed by GiveVision, at The Championships, Wimbledon.
For the first time, visually impaired tennis fans are being provided with an opportunity to watch live tennis matches in a never-before-seen manner.
The headsets, which use Vodafone’s 5G technology, receive live footage from local TV cameras and tailor it according to the viewer’s specific visual profile. This innovative approach can stimulate the photoreceptor cells in the retina, which can potentially enhance sight capabilities for visually impaired fans.
Usama Al-Qassab — Wimbledon Marketing & Commercial Director said: “We want Wimbledon to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, and we are delighted to support this fantastic initiative by our Official Partner Vodafone and GiveVision. These headsets have the ability to make a groundbreaking difference to the Wimbledon experience for guests with vision impairment. I am thrilled that they can watch all the match action in real time, sitting with their friends and family, and enjoying the tennis.”
5G powered headsets by Vodafone transform viewing experience for Wimbledon fans. Photo courtesy of IBM Corp., AELTC 2023.
The 5G technology empowers viewers to watch the action from any location within the stands, marking a significant departure from the previous norm that limited viewers to stay within 10-20m of a transmitter box in a predetermined ‘accessibility’ area. The technology can cover an entire court or stadium, eliminating previous constraints and enabling an unlimited number of visually impaired fans to watch the game alongside their friends and family, demonstrating the remarkable potential of 5G technology to enhance accessibility in sports.
In addition to accessing live feeds, the viewers testing the headsets can switch between modes and utilize the in-headset camera phone to focus on any action of their preference. These headsets are being tried for the first time at Wimbledon by visually impaired tennis fans and players Rosie Pybus (31), Ivan Rodriguez Deb (17) and Sinead Grealy (51).
Each headset can be adjusted to suit the individual’s sight loss variations, allowing them to tailor the experience according to their personal needs and preferences, including the ability to modify the zoom, brightness, and contrast of the footage.
Max Taylor — Vodafone Chief Commercial Officer said: “At Vodafone we are committed to using our technology to bring fans closer to the action. Wimbledon is one of the most iconic moments in the British Summer calendar, and we are proud to be able to showcase how the power of our 5G network can help make the sport more accessible to people.”
Following a successful trial, Vodafone is considering expanding the availability of the 5G headsets at future Championships and other live sporting events. This initiative is part of Vodafone’s broader commitment to enhance accessibility in sports and music, further underlined by their recent haptic suit development for deaf music fans at the Mighty Hoopla event last year.
Vodafone’s collaboration with GiveVision represents the company’s ongoing dedication to leveraging 5G technology to enhance live experiences, as evidenced by their pledge to invest £11 billion in a merger with Three UK to expedite the availability of 5G Standalone coverage to over 99% of the UK population by 2034. This investment will potentially bring an annual economic benefit of up to £5 billion by 2030.