A product design student at Loughborough University has developed a navigation device that allows visually impaired competitive swimmers to train safely.
The product, developed by final year product design student Mirthe Hofstede, removes the need for a ‘tapper,’ a person such as a coach who warns a swimmer when they are close to the edge of the pool, or when they need to turn, by tapping them with a long foam-ended pole. If a signal is given too early or late, it can lead to a swimmer being disqualified or injured.