Edgbaston Stadium in the UK has become the first cricket ground in the world to test new assistive headset technology designed to enhance the matchday experience for visually impaired spectators.
The trial, conducted during The Hundred Midlands derby between Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets on August 8, saw nine fans test GiveVision headsets connected via a private 5G network provided by Shared Access.
The devices use an immersive stereoscopic feed, similar to VR, to stream live match footage directly to the working part of a user’s retina. This approach allows spectators with limited vision to follow the game in real time and with greater clarity, while remaining immersed in the atmosphere of a live crowd.
Participants included members of Birmingham Stars, a visually impaired cricket team, and Theresa Robberts of the UK’s first Women’s Blind Cricket team. Robberts described the experience as transformative: “That was the first time I’ve seen a catch live and been able to see it in full detail.”
The project highlights how technology is being deployed to create more inclusive live sports environments. Data from the trial will feed into a report that could unlock funding to make the system a permanent fixture at Edgbaston.
“Helping visually impaired cricket fans to feel more included and experience the atmosphere of a stadium fixture live for the first time was truly moving,” said Thomas Cunningham Smith, safeguarding and compliance manager at Edgbaston.
GiveVision was founded in 2014 and has been working to bring its technology into live events environments. For Edgbaston, the project builds on its deployment of a private 5G network, the first in cricket, to support enhanced fan experiences.
Image Credit: Peter Wormington, Blue Shade Media