Hapware's Aleye Translates Emotions Via Smart Glasses

A new startup, Hapware, has unveiled Aleye, a haptic wristband designed to enhance communication by translating facial expressions into tactile feedback. This innovative device works in conjunction with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, leveraging their computer vision capabilities. The glasses stream video of conversations to an accompanying app, which uses algorithms to interpret emotions and gestures, relaying them as distinct vibrations on the user's wrist.

Hapware CEO Jack Walters stated that users can quickly learn to distinguish between various patterns, which are designed to be intuitive, mimicking the emotions they represent. While the app can also provide vocal cues via Meta AI, the company's CTO noted that tactile feedback is often preferred for its subtlety. The primary aim is to provide a richer understanding of nonverbal communication for individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are neurodivergent.

Aleye is currently available for pre-order, with the wristband priced at $359 and a bundle including a year's app subscription costing $637. A monthly subscription fee of $29 applies otherwise, and the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are sold separately. Meta itself is also developing its own accessibility features for its smart glasses platform.