"Meaningfully active": Working together for more accessibility in sport

In the ‘Meaningfully active’ project, students are working with researchers from the University of Vienna to develop technical solutions that will make it easier for people with visual impairments to participate in sporting activities. The aim is to break down barriers and open up new avenues for inclusive exercise.

The project is based on a participatory research approach and utilises the expertise of citizen scientists: while pupils from a Viennese sports secondary school support the research team in identifying needs, students from technical colleges are actively involved in the development of prototypes. To ensure that the technical solutions can be implemented in practice, those affected as well as their relatives, friends and carers are also involved in the process.

The project is working on various technical solutions, including an auditory training assistant, an AI-supported feedback system and a voice-controlled finger that is designed to make digital fitness equipment operable for blind and visually impaired people.

A recent newspaper article provides further exciting insights into the collaboration between the students and scientists. Anyone interested in learning more about innovative solutions for accessible sport should definitely read the article!

To the newspaper article (in German)