The tactile tech giving deaf runners a fair start
At the Tokyo Deaflympics, gold-medalist sprinter Akihisa Shitara is rethinking how races begin for deaf athletes, developing a tactile starting block that vibrates under their hands instead of relying on lights or a starting gun.
He says visual cues split concentration and slow reactions, while touch allows deaf runners to focus purely on their form. Grounded in universal design, the technology promotes conversations around inclusivity and the future of fair starts in sport.
