Sight-based starting system helps deaf swimmers

A new start system has been developed at the Singapore University of Technology and Design to help deaf athletes get off their starting blocks.

The system is called SwimSight, and it uses two colours – orange and green – to alert deaf swimmers to race starts and is compatible with professional timing devices.

The SwimSight device is placed at the side of each starting block and its position can be adjusted by the athlete to his or her preference. This is unlike earlier designs, which were fixed.

It sends out an orange light, which then turns to green at the start of the race. The idea for such a device came about when the president of the Singapore Deaf Association came to the institute and asked for a device that would enable deaf swimmers to start without any problems.

The device that has been designed is user-friendly for the swimmers. SwimSight has been used in many events and has been praised by deaf and non-deaf swimmers.

Watch in Sign Language

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