New Vest Will Allow Deaf Music Lovers To 'Feel' Music At Tamworth Festival
"It was a beautiful ripple down through the vest, so you could really get a sense of the fine tones."
The Australian government has announced that deaf music lovers will be able to feel the beat at the Tamworth Country Music Festival thanks to a vest-like design that allows music vibrations to be felt on the skin and through the body.
The ABC reports that two vests will be available for people to trial at the Tamworth Festival in January.
Department of Regional New South Wales director of infrastructure Paul Nunnari said the technology responded to sound via a Bluetooth-like system that generated vibrations based on the music.
"There's different components on the vest that respond to different types of music so the wearer can feel the beat," he said.
"Traditionally someone with a hearing impairment might literally put their hand on a speaker to feel the vibrations, but now they can actually wear the vest through a whole concert and feel that tactile experience," he said.
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"What I really liked was, when we're getting guitar strumming, it was a beautiful ripple down through the vest, so you could really get a sense of the fine tones," Mr Edwards said
The Department of Regional NSW said another eight vests were on their way and should be in Australia by March next year for trials at musical events.
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