Enhancing Accessibility in Sports Broadcasting: A Metadata-Based Solution for On-Demand Video Ball Localization
摘要
Technological advancements have transformed television into a more immersive and interactive experience, incorporating sensory elements beyond audio and video. However, individuals with visual impairments still face significant barriers to fully enjoying sports broadcasts, such as soccer, where game narration is essential. In previous studies, an accessible haptic glove for TV was developed and tested on visually impaired individuals. This glove allowed users to geolocate the ball's position on the field through haptic vibrations. Building upon this foundation, the present study proposes developing an algorithm that integrates ball geolocation metadata within the transport stream (TS), enabling its transmission for both Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and video streaming. To achieve this, an encoding and multiplexing algorithm was designed to integrate three-dimensional ball position data in synchronization with audiovisual content. The demultiplexing and decoding of this metadata were performed using GNU Radio and Python, allowing structured information to be extracted in PSI/SI tables for real-time interpretation. Additionally, two user interfaces were implemented to interpret and visualize the metadata as part of the validation process: (1) a physical prototype based on Arduino with LEDs for tangible feedback, and (2) a web-based MPEG-DASH player featuring a visual radar representing the ball’s position. While these interfaces serve to test and demonstrate the effectiveness of the metadata integration, the ultimate goal of the project remains to enhance accessibility for visually impaired users through haptic accessible solutions. Experimental tests included the transmission and reception of signals using an SDR card, a Set-Top Box, and a video streaming server. The results demonstrated stable synchronization between video playback and metadata transmission, ensuring a seamless and accurate experience. This advancement represents a significant step toward integrating metadata multiplexing into real-world soccer broadcasts, contributing to improved accessibility for visually impaired individuals and fostering their digital inclusion in live and pre-recorded sports events.