Newcastle United has introduced ‘sound shirts’ designed for deaf fans

The groundbreaking “sound shirts” set to be introduced by Newcastle United is a truly remarkable leap forward in making the stadium experience more inclusive for deaf and hard of hearing fans. These innovative shirts, designed to resemble a normal replica jersey, utilize special sensors and motors, known as haptic technology, to convert sound into touch. This groundbreaking technology will allow fans to “feel” the noise of St James’ Park, bringing them closer to the electric atmosphere of a live football match.

Ryan Genz, the co-founder of Cute Circuit, the company behind this remarkable technology, aptly described the experience of wearing the sound shirt as akin to wearing the stadium itself. This immersive experience is made possible by the use of microphones strategically placed throughout St James’ Park, capturing different facets of the crowd noise. The captured sound is then transmitted to tiny motors embedded in the fabric of the shirt, causing it to vibrate and light up in response to the atmosphere in the stadium.

For fans who are deaf or have hearing loss, such as season-ticket holders Ryan Gregson and David Wilson, these sound shirts present an exciting opportunity to establish a deeper connection with the stadium, the crowd, and the vibrant energy of the game. As Gregson expressed, the shirt will provide a link to the music, singing, and the collective passion of the crowd, enriching the overall experience of attending matches.

This initiative has been made possible through the support of Newcastle’s sponsor, Sela, which will donate the space on the front of the club’s shirts to RNID, the national hearing loss charity, for the match against Tottenham in the Premier League. This gesture serves to raise awareness about the 12 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of hearing, aiming to promote a more inclusive and accessible environment for live football matches.

The introduction of the haptic shirts has not only garnered anticipation within the deaf community but has also been recognized by Teri Devine, the RNID’s director for inclusion, who emphasizes the significance of making sport more accessible for deaf people. Furthermore, the adaptability of this technology to create a more inclusive environment resonates with the potential for other clubs to embrace similar innovations.

The adaptation of this technology is not limited to football matches, as the inventors of the shirt, Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, note that it has been previously used by deaf people to experience classical music in concert halls. The evolution of this technology to incorporate the unique and dynamic environment of a football match showcases the commitment to inclusivity and the desire to enable fans to feel fully immersed in the excitement of the game.