There is a rich and growing blind sports fan base that enjoy both participating in sport, and spectating through the same channels as sighted people.

The experience for this audience is severely compromised. TV broadcasts rely on visual information to communicate match progress, while radio commentary is too slow to provide real-time updates.

This work is relevant as it makes use of ubiquitous technologies and basic sound design principles to enhance and expand access to broadcast sports for people of all visual abilities, to the benefit of sporting organisations, sponsors, and the estimated 285 million people living with low vision.

Situation

The world’s approx. 285 million people living with blindness or low vision are underserved by sports broadcasters. Televised coverage relies heavily on visual storytelling, while radio commentary is two slow to keep up with on screen action.

Brief

To enable people with low vision to experience the entertainment value of sport on a new and immersive level. To use existing technologies to provide a real-time, unobtrusive audio experience for blind and low vision tennis fans that keeps them up to date with the on court action.

Objectives

To create a new standard for broadcast sports accessibility, and an experience that blind and low vision sports fans can enjoy socially with friends and family.

A new way for people who are blind or have low vision to follow the sports they love.

Action Audio is an accessibility feature for blind and low vision sports fans. It uses real-time ball monitoring technology and spatial sound design to give audiences insight into what’s happening, when it’s happening, without the need for visual information.

As it’s applied to tennis, Action Audio emphasises ball speed and trajectory, proximity to line and shot type (forehand or backhand), allowing low vision audiences to ‘see’ the state of the game through sound, and follow critical moments in real-time.

Action Audio launched at the 2021 Australian Open tennis finals through digital radio, and was simulcast on Vision Australian Radio.

The Australian Open is colloquially known as the ‘friendly grand slam’ for its open access and festival atmosphere. Organisers are continually pushing to expand access to the Open so as to hold true to this reputation.

It’s a misconception that blind and low vision sports fans do not follow sports broadcasts due to their perceived disability. Our research found that a majority enjoy sport through the same channels as sighted people. However, for this audience, the experience is prohibitive. TV broadcasts rely heavily on visual information and radio commentary is too slow to provide real-time updates.

Our strategy was to expand access to the Australian Open for blind and low vision audiences using existing technologies and platforms.

Through the creative use of live data, we were able to create a new experience for blind and low vision fans, giving them access to live sport for the first time.

Action Audio was developed over a two year period through a co-design process with blind and low vision sports fans, and through iterative prototyping using different technologies and sound design principles.

The final implementation of Action Audio uses live data from the Australian Open’s Hawkeye ball monitoring system, translated into sound using four fundamental sound design principles:

Social Consideration – Sport is a social pastime. Action Audio is designed for co-watching experiences by both low vision and sighted audiences.

Existing Sound Languages – Where appropriate, we have adopted existing ‘sound languages’ used by low vision communities.

Accentuated Tension Points – Sport is about pushing the limits. Our design emphasises dramatic moments within play, and signals coming breakthroughs.

Selective Auditory Attention – Action Audio should not override other necessary audio information or unnecessarily distract.

Action Audio launched to a total global audience reach of over 275,000, and widespread media coverage including Fast Company, Channel Nine News and Adweek.

Many blind tennis fans reported that it was the first time they could follow an Australian Open final without assistance.

Engagement

~ 10-12k listeners on Vision Australia radio*

~ 1800 listeners via the AO website

~ 3k unique visitors** to the website - Action Audio

~ 1000* video impressions

~ 270k viewers on Channel 9 News coverage

* Estimated by Conrad Brown, station manager Vision Australia

** Figures from the week following the tournament