Sports teams adopt tactile tech for blind and low-vision fans

The NBA , MLB and the Premier League have joined in efforts to get new devices to fans.

Tactile tablets are one of the most popular categories of live-sports tech for blind people.

Portland Trail Blazers in January announced they would be the first professional sports team to feature OneCourt devices at all home games through the end of the season .

Live Nation-owned Ticketmaster backed all three NBA deals with OneCourt , drawing from its social impact funding.

Blind and low-vision people who have tested the devices at games said the technologies are promising but have room for improvement.

Touch2see usually employs a business-to-business model where the team or league foots the bill.

Some accessibility experts said live-game devices for blind fans risk becoming another highly publicized technology for disabled people.

Beasley said the app for Ticketmaster , the NBA 's official ticketing partner, is inaccessible for blind people.

Some OneCourt devices didn't connect for users for an entire half of a game.

NBA teams working with OneCourt said they're always looking to make their home venues more accessible.