Newcastle United to launch haptic shirts so deaf fans can ‘feel the atmosphere’ at football matches

Newcastle United football club have launched a new campaign which will give their deaf fans the chance to experience more of the atmosphere of a live match by wearing haptic shirts.

A video released on social media saw two lifelong fans called Ryan and David explaining their love for the club, ending with images showing blue glowing lights shining through the famous black and white striped shirts that Newcastle wear.

An image on the Sela website (right) shows how the shirts work, capturing sound through microphones then creating vibrations in the shirts ‘in resonance with the crowd’s cheering, providing a tactile sensory experience for the wearer.’

Text on the Facebook page says:

 

#NUFC and Sela have created a first in football delivering a spectacular experience for deaf fans helping them to feel the atmosphere of a live football match.

The ”Unsilence The Crowd” campaign follows the journey of lifelong fans, Ryan and David, as they feel the passion of St. James’ Park in an all-new way using pioneering haptic shirt technology.

Together with RNID, a charity that supports people who are deaf, have hearing loss, or tinnitus, Sela and Newcastle United are redefining the matchday experience.

Watch the video below or click here to watch it on Facebook if it does not appear.