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Published on January 13, 2025
Portland Trail Blazers Partner with OneCourt to Introduce Innovative Haptic Technology for Blind and Low-Vision FansSource: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Portland Trail Blazers have taken a significant step in making sports more inclusive for blind and low-vision fans. They've partnered with OneCourt to introduce haptic display technology at each home game, marking a first in professional sports. The technology, designed to translate live basketball action into a tactile experience, allows fans to follow the game through vibrations they can feel with their fingertips.

As reported by KATU, the OneCourt devices made their Moda Center debut following a successful pilot program. Given at no extra cost, these devices represent a leap forward in accessibility. "There are tons of blind sports fans out there. The more access we have, I think that's just levels the playing field. And that would be great for everyone for that goal, for the purpose for accessibility," Vic Bulbon, a senior at the University of Washington, said after attending his first Trail Blazers game using the device.

In collaboration with the NBA, the Trail Blazers enabled OneCourt to use real-time gameplay tracking data which is then transformed into haptic feedback. KGW shared comments from Leigh Ramsey, a parent of a OneCourt user, "We attempted a game last summer and the frustration and heartache the whole family felt as we realized this might be our last live sporting event together was gut wrenching. This was amazing - inclusive, integrated, and not attention drawing."

Alli Stangel Tassin, the Vice President of Events for the Portland Trail Blazers, spoke about the potential impact of the initiative, saying, "Live sports should be an experience everyone can enjoy," in a statement obtained by Blazers' Edge. She added that inclusivity is at the core of the Trail Blazers’ values. The devices will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be checked out from the Guest Services stand at Entry A7 at the Moda Center. The groundbreaking effort is recognized as setting a new standard for accessible venues across the NBA and the entire sports and entertainment industry.