Samsung has developed a new swim cap to help blind swimmers navigate in the pool. The Blind Cap was developed with the help of Cheil Spain, a Spanish communications agency, and the Spanish Paralympics Committee to help improve the current and less efficient method, which has been used since blind swimming became a Paralympic sport.
Until now blind swimmers were tapped on the head or back – based on variations in timing – by a coach or an official when they got close enough to the wall, in order to make their flip turn. Samsung’s new Blind Cap is here to change this.
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The Blind Cap is Bluetooth connected and subtly vibrates on the user’s head to let them know when they need to make their turn. The alerts are controlled by the Blind Cap app, which is available for the Gear S2 smartwatch, Galaxy S7 and any Android device. The person controlling the app simply taps it in order to send the vibrating alert to the swimmer.
Along with the main feature, the cap and the app will also collect data about the swimmer’s performance. However, since the Blind Cap has not officially been released, specific tracking metrics are unknown at this point. The cap is currently being developed for competitive swimmers. Those that are interested can sign up to begin testing the product:
“Samsung Spain has invited you to a testing program for an unreleased version of the Samsung Blind Cap app. As a tester, you’ll receive an update that includes a testing version of the Samsung Blind Cap app. Please note that testing versions may be unstable or have a few bugs.”
Samsung’s Blind Cap adds to their lineup of new water sports technology. They introduced the prototype for their new Galaxy Surfboard recently. This is an optimal time to do so, as surfing has been included, along with other sports, to potentially be added to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Unfortunately the Blind Cap is unlikely to be used at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. And it is unclear when this technology will be ready for competition, or if it will be allowed at all. However, Breno Cotta, executive creative director of Cheil Spain is very excited about the future of the cap, stating “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.”
Even if the Blind Cap does not make its Paralympic debut in 2016, Samsung’s simple yet innovative piece of technology will surely help blind swimmers compete at the highest level soon enough.