Why It's Needed

Image credit: Courtesy OIS, via International Paralympic Committee.

Swimmer in water getting tapped by foam stick

Competitive swimmers who are blind are often notified of the end of the lane by a person physically tapping them with a foam stick. While this method has long been accepted, it requires constant assistance and removes independence from the athlete.

Athletes should not need to rely on physical contact or constant supervision to participate safely and confidently in their sport. Our team set out to design a solution that respects the athlete first while addressing a real and persistent accessibility gap in competitive swimming.

Our Solution

We developed an assistive lane-end notification system that provides swimmers who are blind with a clear auditory signal as they approach the wall. Instead of physical tapping, the swimmer receives a sound through Bluetooth earbuds, allowing them to maintain focus, control, and independence.

This system was designed with affordability, ease of use, and dignity at its core. It supports swimmers in both training and competition environments and reduces the need for additional personnel on deck.

How It Works

Orange 3D printed box attached to tripod stand

Camera and Tripod

A USB camera mounted on a fully 3D-printed tripod monitors the swimming lane in real time. Using on-device processing through a Raspberry Pi, the system tracks the swimmer’s position within the lane.

Camera perpective detecting swimmer's cap green beside the green lane marker

Green Lane Marker & Swim Cap

The swimmer wears a neon green swim cap, while neon green buoys are securely attached to the lane divider near the wall. The vibrant colors stand out to the camera, ensuring easy recognition.

Raspberry Pi 4b model with four cables connected to it

Raspberry Pi and Coding

A Raspberry Pi 4b is connected to the USB camera and coded so the camera looks for two neon green items. It detects when the swim cap reaches the markers within a range that is constant.

Bluetooth Earbuds

When the swimmer approaches reaches the end of lane markers, the device creates an auditory cue. The cue is sent to Bluetooth earbuds worn by the swimmer, notifying them that they are nearing the wall.

Purposeful Design

Every component of this system was chosen intentionally to balance performance, accessibility, and cost

Our camera's stand and mount are fully 3D printed, allowing for low-cost manufacturing and easy duplication.

Our project's design files can be reused and shared easily, making the system accessible to a wider community.

The use of readily available hardware, including a Raspberry Pi and USB camera, ensures that the technology remains affordable without sacrificing functionality.

Our Commitment

Accessibility

We believe accessibility means more than accommodation. It means designing technology that respects the individual and supports independence.

Affordability

Affordability is a critical part of accessibility. A device cannot be truly accessible if it is out of reach for the people who need it most.

Innovation

By combining thoughtful engineering with human-centered design, we aim to create a solution that empowers and redefines what accessibility can look like in sports.

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