HapWare's ALEYE Wristband Turns Facial Expressions Into Touch, Wins TIME Nod

How ALEYE works

ALEYE is designed for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind. According to HapWare, the wristband connects to Meta smart glasses or smartphone cameras, which detect facial expressions, gestures and body language. The device then converts these nonverbal cues into distinct vibration patterns on the wrist.

The company gives two examples: a smile feels like a U-shape traced across the wrist, while a wave creates a side-to-side vibration. HapWare says the aim is to make visual cues accessible through touch, so users get context and connection in everyday conversations.

One beta tester, identified only as Michael, said in the company's release: "I forgot what it was like to read people's expressions and body language but now I actually feel back in the conversation."

TIME recognition and the founders' story

TIME selected 300 inventions for its 2026 list and placed ALEYE in the Accessibility category. HapWare notes that nonverbal communication can account for over 50% of communication, a layer it says has been out of reach for millions of blind and low-vision people at work, at school and at home.

The product grows out of lived experience, according to the company. CTO and co-founder Dr. Bryan Duarte became blind at 18 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science, which HapWare describes as one of only 20 people in the world to do so. "It is HapWare's mission to give our users the information they need to be fully included in every social interaction they have in their educational, professional, and personal lives," Duarte said.

CEO and cofounder Jack Walters said customers tell the company that ALEYE helps them navigate conversations at work, know when someone is waving and recognize when a loved one is smiling.

Funding and future plans

The $1.5 million pre-seed round was oversubscribed and led by Adaptation Ventures. Sidecut Ventures, Mines Venture Fund, Avesta Fund, The Pitch Fund and others also took part. Rich Palmer, Managing Partner at Adaptation Ventures, said the technology built for blind users can also serve people who are Deaf, DeafBlind or neurodivergent, with uses extending to communication and robotics.

HapWare says it is starting with the blind, low-vision and DeafBlind community. It sees future opportunities in helping autistic and other neurodivergent people interpret social cues, helping sales professionals understand nonverbal responses, and letting developers build applications through a haptic software development kit for its wearable hardware. The company says privacy, user choice and collaboration with the communities it serves will guide this work.

Availability and preorder pricing

HapWare is launching ALEYE across the US, including to organizations such as Braille Institute of America and Society for the Blind, as well as a growing network of assistive technology distributors. The company says the product will officially launch in 2027.

Buyers can reserve a unit now with a fully refundable $59 deposit and save 20% off the retail price. The deposit counts toward the $359 preorder price and secures a place among the first to receive the device. Preorders are open at hapware.com/preorder.

For the target users, the pitch is access to a layer of conversation that sighted people take for granted. Whether it delivers that in daily use will become clearer once the product reaches customers in 2027.