SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS “Going Beyond Barriers” SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS “Going Beyond Barriers”
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From left to right: Timothy Nguyen, Joshua Santiago,
and Justin Anderson (from California State University, Northridge*)
*As of when the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project started

The students chosen as the SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS representing the Unites States are Timothy Nguyen, Joshua Santiago, and Justin Anderson. The idea they came up with is entitled “Immersi-Vision Visor.” It is a visor that visualizes the sounds in the venue and enables deaf people to “immerse” themselves in watching sports games just as people without hearing impairment do. The team focused on hearing impairment because Justin’s close friend is deaf. The starting point of the team’s quest to put their idea into concrete form was their vision that one day he would be able to enjoy sports games more.

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Idea

“Immersi-Vision Visor”

Barrier

People with disabilities are less likely to attend a stadium to enjoy watching a game

Target

We will focus on those who are hearing impaired and try to accommodate all hearing levels of impairment

Solution

A headset which visualizes sound by projecting emotions of the crowd

Presentation Movie

Presentation Movie

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the team representing the United States created a prototype for their idea. The atmosphere of the stadium is translated into an emoticon: if the supporters’ team is winning, a happy face appears, and if the team is losing, a sad face appears.

photo: “Immersi-Vision Visor”

Prototype

With technological support from Panasonic, the team representing the United States created a prototype for their idea. The atmosphere of the stadium is translated into an emoticon: if the supporters’ team is winning, a happy face appears, and if the team is losing, a sad face appears.

photo: “Immersi-Vision Visor”

From Advisors

At the Final Presentation livestreamed worldwide, the team honed their idea by discussing with advisors, who had various perspectives.

Epilogue

photo: Timothy Nguyen, Joshua Santiago, and Justin Anderson photo: Timothy Nguyen, Joshua Santiago, and Justin Anderson

Joshua Santiago:
The most important takeaway from this SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project is that I was once again reminded of the reason why I want to be a mechanical engineer: to help those in need, to help them enjoy their lives much more. I took the chance to participate in the project and see how close I can get to my goal. I’m proud of myself for having proposed this visor that enables the hearing impaired to enjoy the Olympics.

Justin Anderson:
The SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project allowed me to have a great time and experience something that was far beyond what I could do alone. It also made me realize how I can help so many people.

Timothy Nguyen:
It was so, so happy that I became good friends with Joshua and Justin and got involved in a larger project than I expected. Hopefully, we will change the way you watch the Olympics, attract more people to the venue, and maybe become a topic for the history books.

If you shoot for the moon and even if you miss,
you'll land in the stars.

That’s what we thought.

The students have just begun taking on new challenges.
There will be many difficulties and hardships for those entering the workforce.
Hoping that this SPORTS CHANGE MAKERS project will provide clues as to how they will overcome the barriers that may await them, we shall further pursue our activities.

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