People who are blind or have low vision will be able to experience all the tennis action in real-time at the Australian Open. This world-first Action Audio’, 3D technology that was developed in a partnership with design company AKQA, Monash University and Tennis Australia, converts tracking data into a series of different sounds.
The innovative system emphasises ball speed and trajectory, proximity to line and shot type (forehand or backhand) and augments critical moments to allow blind and low vision audiences to follow the game without seeing the ball.
It will be available live via AO radio every day during the Australian Open.
The Australian Open is the first major sporting competition to provide this unique experience which is designed for co-watching experiences by both low vision and sighted audiences.
Initially trialled at the Australian Open 2021 tennis finals it followed a two-year process of co-design and prototyping with members of the blind and low vision community, including input from Blind Sports Victoria, using a set of sound design principles ball tracking data from the Australian Open’s digital point monitoring system.
“The real innovation of Action Audio is that it requires very few new tools to implement. Our vision is that Action Audio will be rolled out to support many more sports codes and radio broadcasts around the world,” AKQA executive innovation director, Tim Devine said.
Tennis Australia head of innovation Machar Reid, said “Action Audio is essentially a new language being created to transcend sport. It enables us to augment the live radio broadcast and changes the way blind and low vision sports fans can participate in live sports entertainment.”
The Australian Open runs from January 17-30. Details of tennis matches available with Action Audio from the Rod Laver Arena are available via Ausopen.com.
For an example go: here. A sample video of the technology is also showing on the F2L website.