Swimming Cap Innovation Helps Blind Swimmers

June 3, 2016 By IdeaConnection

blindcapSamsung Electronics and creative agency Cheil Spain have developed an innovative swimming cap for visually impaired swimmers.

Blind Cap lets them know when to flip at the end of a pool to complete another length, and will be particularly useful for those entering races in the Paralympics.

At the moment, when a blind swimmer reaches the end of a pool, they are tapped on the back or on the head by a steward or coach.  The new swimming cap replaces tapping poles by vibrating when the swimmer approaches the edge of the pool, informing them to change direction.  A small vibrating sensor is integrated into the cap and vibrates at the exact moment of the turn.

The alerts are controlled via an app running on a Gear S2 smartwatch worn by a coach and connected to the cap by Bluetooth.  All a coach has to do is tap once on the smartwatch and the swimmer is alerted.

To see the Blind Cap in action, watch the short video below.


In addition to being a swimming aid, the novel invention also collects some activity data about the swimmer’s performance.

The technology was developed for elite athletes, but there is no word yet on whether its use will be permitted in competitions.

“It’s much more than a wearable, it serves as a standard of innovation and we are convinced that it will soon be a reality in the Paralympic Games,” said Breno Cotta, executive creative director of Cheil Spain.

For more information about Blind Cap, click here.


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