Enhancing Deaf Athletes' Performance: Vibrating Wristband for Referee Whistle Detection on Recreational Sports Using Wi-Fi

Abstract:

This project arises in response to the to the various investigations found that have pointed out the difficulties that Deaf people have faced in the sports field due to the communication barriers they have with referees. The ASH board of directors has confirmed this fact and this is the problem identified. In addition, several studies support the difficulty of concentration among athletes. The proposal consists of a device for athletes placed on a wristband, which emits vibrations when the referee's whistle is blown. It seeks to improve the performance of the Deaf player by obtaining instant communication with the referees. For this project, a qualitative approach has been used to collect data on the experience of Deaf players in sport. For its construction, materials were needed such as the ESP8266-01 modules, a vibrating motor, a push button, transistor and batteries. In this case, each of the modules, connected to the transmitter or receiver, used the Wi-Fi network as a means of wireless communication between them. In addition, tools such as SolidWorks, Fusion 360 and Arduino IDE were used for programming, since HTTP was used as a communication protocol between the modules. Finally, the prototype obtained has been validated by comparing it with a previously developed device and performing maximum range and instantaneous response tests. As a result, it has been improved compared to the existing ones, the design was adjusted to improve and change the components used, size and ergonomics. Furthermore, the tests were successful, and the device functioned correctly.

• Periodical: Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (Volume 66)
• Pages: 27-35
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-Lb2PuE
• Online since: September 2024
• Authors: Diana Aurora Rubio Molina*, María José Martínez Zapata
• Keywords: Assistive Technology, Deaf Athletes, Inclusive Sports Innovation, Referee Communication, Sports Communication

References

[1] S. Toshiyuki and N. Yasunori, "An Overview of the Present Conditions and Problems of Deaf Basketball." 2015.

[2] Y. Savucu, "Determination Of The Factors Affecting Hearing-impaired Individuals' Participating In Sports," J. Turk. Stud., vol. 12, no. Volume 12 Issue 14, p.379–392, Jan. 2017.

DOI: 10.7827/TurkishStudies.11653

[3] N. Zulkiflli et al., "Visual Signal Device (VSD) for Deaf Sports Athletics Malaysia Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSdeaf), Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur," vol. 2, p.55–58, Dec. 2019.

[4] J. Soto Rey, J. Pérez Tejero, J. J. Rojo González, J. C. Álvare Ortiz, J. M. Sánchez Pena, and J. C. Torres Zafra, "Evaluación del tiempo de reacción en velocistas con y sin discapacidad auditiva: aplicaciones para la inclusión," PhD Thesis, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 2016.

DOI: 10.20868/UPM.thesis.39691

[5] C. Ferrante, "El deporte Sordo: combatir su incomprensión. Un espacio de juego y de lucha por el reconocimiento," Rev. Latinoam. Estud. Sobre Cuerpos Emociones Soc., no. 31, Art. no. 31, 2019.

[6] T. Irish, F. Cavallerio, and K. McDonald, "'Sport saved my life' but 'I am tired of being an alien!': Stories from the life of a deaf athlete," Psychol. Sport Exerc., vol. 37, p.179–187, Jul. 2018.

DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2017.10.007

[7] M. Šešum, L. Isaković, M. Radić-Šestić, and T. Kovačević, "The importance of sport for members of the deaf community," Spec. Edukac. Rehabil., vol. 22, p.167–182, Jan. 2023.

DOI: 10.5937/specedreh22-41270

[8] A. Guerra, "Defying the Odds: Hearing Care for Young Athletes with Hearing Loss," Hear. J., vol. 72, no. 11, p.8,9, Nov. 2019.

DOI: 10.1097/01.HJ.0000612560.58619.5e

[9] P. M. Danel, M. E. Martins, and D. Sala, Discapacidad desde los giros narrativo, corporal y afectivo en ciencias sociales. Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos de Educación Inclusiva, 2021. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/handle/ 11336/156681

[10] B. Firat, Ş. Okyayuz, and M. Y. Şahi̇N, "THE ROLE OF SIGNED LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN THE COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTIONS OF COACHES WITH DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING ATHLETES," Pamukkale Univ. J. Soc. Sci. Inst., Dec. 2022.

DOI: 10.30794/pausbed.1130470

[11] B. Rajapandian, V. Harini, D. Raksha, and V. Sangeetha, "A novel approach as an AID for blind, deaf and dumb people," in 2017 Third International Conference on Sensing, Signal Processing and Security (ICSSS), Chennai, India: IEEE, May 2017, p.403–408.

DOI: 10.1109/SSPS.2017.8071628

[12] C. Houinato, "V Sports: An Even Ground for Deaf Athletes," Program Ind. Des. Capstones, Jan. 2017, [Online]. Available: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/idcapstones/6

[13] A. B. Ferrer and Á. G. Godoy, "Prototipo de dispositivo para la comunicación universal entre árbitros y deportistas enfocado en la comunidad sorda," bachelorThesis, 2019. Accessed: Jan. 23, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://rdu.unc.edu.ar/handle/11086/24696

[14] W. Joseph and P. David, Adapted Physical Education and Sport, 6E. Human Kinetics, 2016.

[15] D. G. Zucchi, "Deporte y discapacidad," efdeportes. Accessed: Mar. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.efdeportes.com/efd43/discap.htm

[16] T. L. Floyd, Dispositivos electrónicos, 8{487} ed., ed. En español. Ciudad de México: Pearson Educación de México, 2017.