Do You Hear What I Hear: The Balancing Act of Designing an Electronic Hockey Puck for Playing Hockey Non-Visually
Tristan Cooper, Lauren Milne, Abhinav Shripad, Gayla Bassham · 2022 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing · doi:10.1145/3507660
Summary
This research investigates the design requirements for an electronic hockey puck that enables blind and visually impaired players to locate and track the puck through sound. Blind hockey currently uses a league-standard puck (LSP) containing ball bearings that rattle when moving, but this puck has significant limitations: it costs approximately $50, lasts only 3-4 games before failing, and produces no sound when stationary—making it impossible for players to locate a stopped puck. The researchers designed and prototyped three electronic alternatives using 3D-printed Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) housings with embedded electronics: a Piezo Puck (3.5kHz buzzer), Sine Puck (800Hz tone), and White Noise Puck (WNP) with broadband sound output. All prototypes had to meet strict physical constraints matching the LSP: 5cm height, 14cm diameter, 350g weight, and ability to withstand -10°C temperatures and 7N impact forces from hockey sticks. The study employed multiple methodologies: initial player feedback at the 2019 Blind Hockey Summit with 40 participants, a controlled user study with 17 blindfolded participants using a 25-speaker array simulating ice rink acoustics, and on-ice validation testing to analyze real-world sound propagation. The research addresses a significant gap in accessible sports technology, where equipment must balance auditory detectability with durability and the harsh physical demands of ice hockey.
Key findings
White noise emerged as the most promising sound profile for electronic pucks. In localization testing, white noise achieved the lowest angle error (mean 4.05°, median 2.7°) compared to piezo (18.8°), sine (7.88°), and even the LSP (6.89°). Users also rated white noise highest for pleasantness (6.7/9) while piezo was rated least pleasant (3.0/9) and perceived as loudest despite identical decibel levels. However, the LSP still outperformed electronic prototypes in some critical areas. Its dynamic sound—varying in loudness and frequency based on force and motion—provided richer localization cues. The LSP could reach 95dB(A) at close range during impacts while averaging 74.3dB(A), whereas electronic pucks maintained constant ~60-65dB output regardless of motion. This lack of dynamic feedback meant electronic pucks couldn't convey information about puck speed or force of contact. On-ice testing revealed that low-frequency sounds (200-500Hz) are masked by rink air conditioning systems, explaining why the 800Hz Sine Puck was difficult to detect. The researchers recommend future pucks include frequencies both low enough to avoid high-frequency masking and high enough to cut through ambient rink noise, with target loudness of 75dB(A) at 12ft.
Relevance
This research provides a detailed template for designing accessible sports equipment where auditory feedback replaces visual information. The methodology—combining player input, controlled laboratory studies, and real-world validation—offers a rigorous approach applicable to other accessible sporting goods. Key practical insights include the importance of dynamic sound profiles over constant tones, the need to consider environmental acoustics (ice rink noise characteristics), and the trade-offs between pleasant sounds and localizable ones. The finding that perceived loudness differs from measured loudness across frequency profiles is particularly relevant for any accessible technology using audio cues. For accessibility practitioners, this work demonstrates that simply making something audible is insufficient—the sound must convey meaningful information about object state, position, and motion. The research also highlights the challenges of durability in adaptive sports equipment, where devices must withstand extreme conditions while remaining affordable for community programs. Future electronic pucks could enable blind hockey to expand beyond the current LSP's limitations, allowing players to locate stationary pucks and reducing equipment costs.
Tags: blind sports · auditory feedback · sound localization · assistive sports equipment · accessible design · blind hockey