Jan. 24, 2026 – Redmond, Wash. Disability rights advocate Dr. Kirk Adams recently tested OneCourt, an assistive technology tool designed to let blind and low-vision users experience live sports through touch, during a demonstration at Microsoft’s Redmond campus, according to remarks shared on his podcast.
Adams described his first interaction with OneCourt at Seattle Disability Connect, an event held at Microsoft’s Reactor building that drew more than 100 attendees focused on disability inclusion, assistive technology, and accessibility.
During the gathering, OneCourt co-founder Jerred Mace and his team demonstrated the device, which resembles a tablet with a tactile surface.
According to Adams, the device displayed raised outlines of a basketball court, allowing users to explore the layout by touch.
While Adams placed his hands on the surface, vibrations synchronized with a live radio broadcast simulated the movement of the ball during a basketball play.
Adams said the tactile feedback allowed him to follow passes, rebounds, and a scoring play by Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns in real time.
Furthermore, Adams shared that his interest in the demonstration was shaped by a lifelong connection to basketball. He said his father played college basketball at Western Washington University and later coached at the high school level, which led Adams to spend much of his early life in gyms and attending games. He also said he previously held season tickets to Seattle SuperSonics games.
In a later demonstration during the spring of 2024, Adams said he again tested OneCourt at the University of Washington alongside members of the blind community.
This time, the device featured a tactile baseball field layout during a Seattle Mariners game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Adams explained that vibrations indicated pitch locations within the strike zone, allowing him to distinguish between pitches that were low and away or high and inside.
He said the device also tracked the ball’s movement into the outfield after contact and used vibrating indicators at each base to show when runners were present.
The experiences were discussed during an episode of Adams’ podcast, where Mace appeared as a guest.
Mace said on the program that OneCourt aims to make live sports more accessible by translating game action into tactile feedback, allowing users to follow plays without relying on visual cues alone.
