Whistles and commands are typically used in karate competitions to signify points, stop fighting, continue fighting, etc. However, for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, they are often unable to rely on audible cues to pause their fight or to know points. This leads to referees having to physically intervene or get close to the athletes, which can lead to confusion and accidental contact.
The Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf) approached Dr. Jaysuman Pasppanathan, Sports Innovation and Technology Centre (SITC) deputy director at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), to explore possible alternatives to these cues for deaf athletes. He has previously developed a visual signal device to assist deaf track and field athletes, using lights to signal when they should get ready and start their run.
Due to karate being a contact sport, a visual-based sport assistive tool that ties the colours and blinking of lights in accordance with karate competition rules, called ‘Neokumite’, has been developed. For instance, a red light indicates that the referee has called to stop the match. Jaysuman says that the lights will be placed at each corner of the ring. The referee will also use the lights to indicate that an athlete has scored a point.
Jaysuman has plans to enhance Neokumite by adding an automatic synchronisation system, which will link the visual cue to the official match timer, as well as developing the technology to be used in other sports, such as swimming.
For more information, please read thestar’s article on the new light and colour cues in karate.