Mines student-founded HapWare earns TIME Best Inventions of 2026 honor for accessibility technology

A wearable technology developed at Colorado School of Mines that helps people access the unspoken signals of everyday conversation has earned national recognition as one of the TIME Best Inventions of 2026.

ALEYE's haptic wristband translates visual cues into distinct vibration patterns users can feel. Recognized in the Accessibility category, HapWare’s ALEYE combines smart glasses with a haptic wristband to translate visual cues such as facial expressions, gestures and body language into distinct vibration patterns users can feel. The technology is designed to help people who are blind or deaf, as well as people with autism who may have difficulty interpreting nonverbal social cues, allowing them to access information that can be essential to navigating conversations and social settings.

HapWare was founded by Mines alum Jack Walters, who earned his master's degree in engineering and technology management in 2024, and Bryan Duarte, a haptic technology researcher who is blind. The company's origins trace back to a Mines Capstone Design project, where Walters worked with fellow Mines students on a wearable application for Duarte's dynamic haptic technology.

The resulting product pairs smart glasses that capture visual information with a wristband that communicates detected cues through vibration. Depending on the cue, users can receive information about a smile, a wave or an offered handshake without relying solely on visual information.

Mines’ Capstone Design program provides senior engineering students an opportunity to work on client-driven, real-world projects in preparation for their future careers. Faculty project advisors mentor the student teams and advise on project management and communication, along with providing technical expertise. 

“Being named one of TIME’s Best Inventions is an incredible recognition for HapWare,” said Walters. “It showcases what we’re building and why we believe access to nonverbal communication is a human right. It’s also a big moment for the accessibility community. TIME putting accessibility on a global stage shows the world that this is a growing industry and a movement worth paying attention to.”

Colorado School of Mines was an early investor in HapWare, with the company receiving a $250,000 investment from Mines Venture Fund II. The Mines Venture Fund provides strategic capital and guidance to transform Mines’ world-class research and innovation into market-leading ventures.

“Mines has supported us from the very beginning,” Walters said. “From access to the Labriola Innovation Hub and prototyping resources to being one of our first investors, they’ve been there at every step. They believed in the future we were trying to build and helped us turn that vision into something real. As a founder, that kind of support means everything.”

The TIME recognition is just the latest honor for HapWare. Earlier this year, the firm won the Health Innovation Challenge at CES, the world’s largest consumer technology show.