Touching the Game: How OneCourt's Haptic Device Is Revolutionizing the NBA Fan Experience for the Visually Impaired

When Brian Vu settled into his seat at the Moda Center in Portland last week, he expected to hear the roars of the crowd and the rhythmic squeaks of sneakers on hardwood. What he didn’t expect was to feel the game—every layup, turnover, and fast break vibrating through his fingertips.

Vu, who has low vision, attended the Trail Blazers’ 115–99 win over the Memphis Grizzlies not just as a fan, but as an active participant thanks to a revolutionary new device developed by OneCourt. Using a tactile, laptop-sized platform paired with an earpiece, Vu was able to follow the game in real time through vibrations mapped across the layout of a basketball court. It marked the first time he didn’t have to rely on a companion to explain every play.

“I’m usually bugging my friend during the game, asking him what’s happening,” Vu said. “Now I can interpret the game in my head and I don’t feel excluded.”

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Turning Data Into Touch

At the core of this breakthrough is OneCourt, a Seattle-based tech startup founded by Jerred Mace, who envisioned a new kind of sports accessibility. The 24-year-old grew up with visual challenges himself and witnessed firsthand the barriers his parents faced living with disabilities. That personal experience cultivated the empathy and insight that fueled OneCourt’s creation.

During college at the University of Washington, Mace came across a video of a blind soccer fan tracing gameplay movements across a makeshift board guided by a friend. The concept was simple, yet profound: convey the game through physical motion. Inspired, Mace entered the 2022 Science and Technology Showcase with a concept poster, winning first place and $2,000. From there, OneCourt’s trajectory took off.

What sets OneCourt apart is its integration with real-time NBA optical tracking data, collected by up to 20 in-arena cameras tracking ball and player movement. This data is transformed into haptic “pixels” felt on the touchpad, while the earpiece provides complementary audio—like announcing a 3-pointer or a steal.

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As Mace puts it:

“We’ve built a display that functions similarly to a visual screen, but instead of pixels you see, these are pixels you feel.”

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NBA’s Investment in Accessibility

The Trail Blazers became the first team to pilot the technology in January, with Sacramento and Phoenix quickly following. The NBA’s support, via its Launchpad innovation initiative, has accelerated OneCourt’s expansion. According to Jason Bieber, NBA VP of New Business Ventures, “We’re thrilled to partner with OneCourt. This technology isn’t just innovation—it’s inclusion.”

The response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive. In Portland, where the device launched January 11, every home game has had at least one device in use. The system is free to use, courtesy of Ticketmaster, and can be reserved or checked out on-site. Vu described the setup process as intuitive: “A quick two-minute tutorial and I was good to go.”

OneCourt’s technology may only directly serve a handful of users per game, but its impact reverberates throughout the stands. As Mace explains, “This doesn’t just change the experience for one fan—it changes it for their whole circle. Their family and friends can now attend with them and share the excitement, too.”

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A More Independent Fan Experience

The emotional resonance of the technology is perhaps its most significant triumph. Vu’s friend James Kim noticed a distinct change in their dynamic. “Usually, he’s like, ‘Who shot that? What just happened?’” Kim said. “Now, he’s just immersed. He’s really into the game.”

Vu even found himself joining the crowd in chanting “DE-FENSE!” as he tracked the fast-paced momentum of the game through the haptic panel beneath his hands. Although he avoided clapping to keep his hands on the device, he was fully immersed—his legs bouncing with excitement and anticipation.

Before discovering OneCourt, Vu attended maybe one game a year. Now, he sees himself going to five or more. “It’s a better experience,” he said simply.

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Looking Ahead

Feedback from early users like Vu is already guiding OneCourt’s development. Requests such as identifying specific players or shooter names in the audio feed are on Mace’s radar. As more teams show interest and the company grows beyond its current eight-person team, OneCourt is preparing for wider adoption.

Matthew Gardner, the Trail Blazers’ senior director of customer insights, has been fielding inquiries from other teams since launch. “Being a fan should be for everybody,” he said. “This unlocks an entirely new world for our fans who are blind or have low vision.”

What OneCourt represents is more than a piece of hardware. It’s a shift in how we define accessibility in live sports. It’s proof that with the right combination of data, empathy, and design, the arena can be truly inclusive—so everyone, regardless of their ability, can feel the thrill of the game.

As Vu reflects on his new favorite way to watch basketball, he sums it up best: “Now it’s a whole different experience. I’ve got the best of both worlds.”