Santander has put its technological weight behind a left field project: a device that enables blind people to experience football matches through their fingertips.
The Spanish banking giant has teamed up with advertising giant Havas Group on Fieeld, a touch system for broadcasting pre-recorded sports events that enables the movements of the ball and the plays to be followed using the fingertips.
The device converts the data collected by monitoring the players and reproducing each move. The technology then transfers the position of the ball to the user's hands.
Santander has lined up several events - featuring Brazilian legend Ronaldo - in Brazil, Argentina and Peru to show off the technology as Flamengo and River Plate contest the Libertadores Cup final this weekend.
Juan Manuel Cendoya, senior EVP, communications, corporate marketing and research, Santander, says: “Fieeld is a clear example of how technological progress and football can have a positive impact on society and improve the quality of life, this is why we have developed this project."