AT&T / MAYDA
5G Connected Helmet with HUD

5G connected helmet
with heads-up display

The first ever 5G connected football helmet. Using the power of AT&T 5G connectivity to communicate team plays on a heads-up display for deaf and hard of hearing athletes.

Levelling the playing field for deaf and hard of hearing athletes

IDC alongside the creative studio, the Mayda Creative Co., supports the creation of the AT&T 5G-connected helmet for the deaf and hard-of-hearing players of the Gallaudet University football team.

The goal was to use technology to improve communication between the coaching staff and the players. The project was made possible through AT&T’s zero-latency 5G network allowing tactical plays to be communicated instantaneously to the players via an augmented reality (AR) heads-up display (HUD) in the helmet. The Gallaudet Bisons first debuted the helmets in their victory over Hilbert College.

Video courtesy of Mayda and AT&T

Integrating the augmented reality heads-up display (HUD)

This instant communication made possible by the AT&T will hopefully lead to reduced mistakes and conceded penalties from miscommunication and help level the playing field between Gallaudet's athletes and their hearing opponents.

Using a human-centered design approach the design team worked closely with the athletes at Gallaudet to understand their specific communication challenges and received invaluable feedback throughout the development process. The AR display in the players’ field of view gives perfect optical clarity when not in use, allowing players to pay full attention to the game.

The helmets were approved for trial use by the NCAA, the first time an augmented helmet has been sanctioned by the sports governing body. They were put to the test in their match against the Hilbert College Hawks, where they came out victorious. Since then, the 5G connected helmet has been featured in national news including Fox, People, Forbes, CNN and Good Morning America.

A rigorous development process from idea to reality

The AT&T 5G-connected helmet has brought positive change to the game of football. However, this technology could be expanded to a wide range of applications, not just in other sports which require helmets such as Hockey, Cricket or Racing, but other industries from construction to medicine.

IDC is continuing to explore the possibilities of this technology and how it can improve more people’s lives. The helmets were approved for trial use by the NCAA and it was a rigorous process of development by the team to get to those approvals.

[
Our expertise in connectivity, combined with Gallaudet's legacy of breaking down barriers, has created a helmet that not only transforms the way deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes engage in sports but opened up endless possibility for innovation. We’ll continue to work with partners to explore how this technology and software can be more widely adopted and create meaningful change, both in sports and beyond.
Corey Anthony I Senior VP, Network Engineering at AT&T
]

App development with an intuitive interface for coaches

The app was designed in collaboration with the Gallaudet University coaching staff to achieve the most intuitive interface so they can build plays live in the app and send them to the quarterback instantly.

Chuck Goldstein, Gallaudet Bison's Head Coach said "I'm able to get the attention of our quarterback. This technology is not going to maybe win us a game, but it's going to increase our chances and that's all our players want. They just want the opportunity to compete and be successful like anybody else".