Sound guided football/basketball game for blind people

Abstract

Blind people have a heightened sense of recognizing and responding to sounds. If we provide a sound guided environment informing them of their whereabouts and where they are supposed to go, this will enable them to interact with others in a competitive atmosphere.

1 . I claim that I have invented and designed a game of basketball/touch football for blind people. In this game, blind people wearing a “special helmet” ( FIG. 4 ) will be guided only by sounds to carry the “sound ball” ( FIG. 5 ) throughout an “electronically mapped court” ( FIG. 1 ) to score against an opposing team. To score points, the “sound ball” must be carried and thrown by a blind player to hit the “touch sensitive screen” covering the center of the back board ( FIG. 3 ). 
   
   
       2 . As it is claimed in claim #  1  above, I claim that I have invented and designed a “sound ball” that looks like a football and emits three different electronic sound/tones depending on its horizontal or vertical position(s) ( FIG. 5 ). These three different tones enable the blind to locate the sound ball and its possession by either team. 
   
   
       3 . As I claimed in claim #  2  my sound ball ( FIG. 5 ) also contains a component in it that if it crosses any of the ten “e-lines/e curtains” ( FIG. 1 ), it will trigger an automated response from the overhead speakers. For example, if the “sound ball” crosses the 25 ft. line, the overhead speakers will announce “ball at the 25 ft. line.” 
   
   
       4 . As I claimed in claim #  1 , I have invented and designed the “special helmets” ( FIG. 4 ) that will help the blind people who are wearing them to receive signals/information via the special helmet's internal speakers. If any “special helmet” crosses any of the e-lines/e-curtains ( FIG. 1 ), the information transmitted to the players via the helmet would say “you are at the right quarter line” ( FIG. 1 ). 
   
   
       5 . As I claimed in claim #  4 , I claim that a “sound source” ( FIG. 4 ) designed on the “special helmets” will generate an electronic sound/signal which will be different for each opposing team. This sound will be switched on at the beginning of each game and will be turned off at the end of each game. This signal will inform the blind people of his teammates and opponents positions on the “electronically-mapped court” ( FIG. 1 ) at all times. 
   
   
       6 . As I claimed in claim # 1 , I claim that I have invented and designed the sensitized boards ( FIG. 3 ) that are composed of a 7 ft. by 7 ft. backboard, a “touch-sensitive screen” that is 5 ft. by 5 ft. covering the center of the backboard and a pulsating horn source located in the center of the board. ( FIG. 3 ). The sound of the pulsating horn for each team is different. The blind players will recognize these “pulsating horns” and will advance towards the opposing team's sensitized board. 
   
   
       7 . As I claimed in claim #  6 , I claim that I have invented and designed the second feature of the “sensitized board” ( FIG. 3 ) the 5 ft. by 5 ft. “touch-sensitive screen” covering the center of the 7 ft. by 7 ft. back board. When/if the “sound ball” hits any area of the touch sensitive screen ( FIG. 3 ), it will set off a recording i.e. gooooooaaaal! informing the team they have scored.