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AT&T* and Gallaudet University1, the global leader in bilingual education for deaf and hard of hearing students, have collaborated to create the first 5G-connected football helmet—making the game more inclusive by enhancing on-field communication for student-athletes who use American Sign Language. The helmet2 will be used for the first time in NCAA Division III competition during Gallaudet’s home game against Hilbert College, on Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. ET.
As a staple of college sports, we’re always exploring ways to use our expertise in connectivity to advance the way coaches, athletes and fans experience the game. When it came to developing the helmet, we saw an opportunity for 5G technology to make sports more inclusive—and there was no better partner to take possibility to reality than Gallaudet.
From inventing the modern-day huddle in 1894 to serving as the global leader in education for deaf and hard of hearing students today, Gallaudet University has long been a pioneer for innovation. Deaf and hard of hearing athletes have a long history of breaking barriers and proving their innovation and talent on the field.
The helmet will allow coaches on the sideline to select a play from a tablet that will send the play to a lens inside the helmet. The quarterback wearing the helmet will receive the play in augmented reality on the digital display located within the visor. AT&T 5G provides the reliability and low latency for plays to be sent and received at a speed that keeps up with the pace of the game.