Lines of LED light have found a new home—on the tennis court. In Queens, NY, Court 16 is using illuminated lines, tactile lines and sound-adapted balls to make the sport more accessible to everyone, including those with visual impairments.
Individuals who have lost a percentage of their vision, for example, may have trouble distinguishing lines on a traditional court, which is where the LEDs come in. For those who struggle to see the ball itself, interior bells provide sensory information on its location.
The 11,000-sq ft facility’s nine courts use ASB GlassFloor’s MultiSports floors. Composed of a combination of glass, ceramic and aluminum materials, the floors provide an elastic, absorbing effect; a matte surface that minimizes reflection; and lines of LEDs that can be switched on/off on demand and customized.
For more information about Court 16’s “Sound of Tennis” program, in partnership with the Helen Keller Services for the Blind, visit www.court16.com.