TECH BYTE: Football Helmet Goes High Tech

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — AT&T is teaming up with one university to make one of their football helmets more high tech.

This isn’t your traditional helmet.

“This helmet is a result of about two years’ worth of collaboration with Gallaudet University,” said Andrew Bennett, AT&T.

Bennett says it has 5G connectivity inside.

“The coach has a tablet on the sideline that’s also connected to 5G,” he said. “The play gets called from the tablet, beamed to the helmet. And then it shows up for the quarterback to see on this piece of AR [augmented reality] glass in the visor of the helmet. The quarterback can see the play, and then the quarterback goes and calls the play in the huddle.”

Bennett says the tech company wanted to find new ways to require 5G to be made better.

The helmet was used for the first time during Gallaudet’s home game against Hilbert College on October 7.

AT&T says this type of technology made communication on the field even better for those student-athletes who use American Sign Language.

“The feedback from the players and coaches was really great,” Bennett said. “The helmet functioned just as it was supposed to function. The players and coaches were really happy with the result. So far we’re very pleased with how the helmet’s performing.”

Despite the helmet’s success, it might be awhile before players are able to use it on the field again in a game.

“The NCAA only approved the helmet for use in the one game. We’ll do a deep dive with the team and others afterwards to see how the helmet performed, and where else it could be used in the future. So we’re hopeful for continued use. But right now, just for the one game on October 7.”

And Bennett believes a similar helmet or device can even be used in other career fields for the deaf community – from working construction, to responding to emergencies.

“I think that’s a really great first place to start,” he said. “And as the form factor gets smaller and smaller, and looks more like a pair of glasses, really, you can use it for almost anything.”

Bennett also says this helmet can really be applied to any sport. It also makes sports safer, and more inclusive.