The Super Bowl is one of the most important sports events in the world, but it hasn’t always been easy to follow for blind or low vision people. However, now there’s a new technology that aims to change this reality.
During the Super Bowl LX, that took place on Sunday, February 8, in Santa Clara (California), some fans were able to live the game in a completely new way: using a touchscreen device that allows them to feel the game with their hands while listening to real-time commentary. So, let’s talk a bit more about this incredible device.
Touchscreen device to experience the Super Bowl
The device is similar to a tablet, but a bit thicker. Its surface includes raised lines that represent an American football field. This design allowed people with visual disabilities to understand the game’s layout simply by touching the panel while following the match.
So, during the game, the panel provides two main types of information:
- Vibrations that show the position of the ball and key plays.
- Real-time audio with narration synchronized to the action on the field.
This technology uses real data from the game provided by the NFL and collected by Genius Sport company. This data come from cameras and sensors placed in the footballs, players uniforms, and other areas of the field. Later, OneCourt company transforms this information into tactile signals that fans can feel with their hands.
Accessible experience for fans with visual disabilities
During the Super Bowl XL, about 10 blind or low vision fans had the chance to use this device at the stadium. One of them was Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, who has lived with retinitis pigmentosa since childhood. He was able to use the panel while listening to the Westwood One broadcast through headphones.
Another fan who had already used this device before the game was Clark Roberts, a Seattle Seahawks fan, who used it during the game on December 14 against Indianapolis.
The technology is not completely new because it was used in at least 15 regular-season games in 2025, including matches hosted by teams such as the Seahawks, Jaguars, 49ers, Falcons, and Vikings. Its use during the Super Bowl represents a significant step toward testing the device in a larger and more high-profile event.
Accessibility effort in the NFL
The use of the tactile panel is part of a wider strategy from the NFL to improve accessibility at their events. In the last years, the league has implemented measures like:
- Descriptive audio narration.
- Sign language in special broadcasts.
- Adapted spaces inside stadiums.
Also, the company OneCourt aims to expand the use of this technology to other sports. According to the AP, the company is already working with NBA and MLB teams, and is in discussions to bring the device to the NHL as well.
So…
This technology shows that accessibility can transform the live experience for many people who love sports events. With real fans like Scott Thornhill and Clark Roberts already testing the device during games and at Super Bowl LX, the idea of making major sporting events more open to everyone is no longer just a possibility but already happening on the field and in the stands.
Isn’t it incredible how technological advances can improve some aspects of life and make inclusion a more common thing? Let’s hope more companies invest in these types of technology.