Seeing Connection Differently: Katie Corbett’s ALeye Experience

Person trying on ALeye wearable device

At HapWare, our mission is to unlock nonverbal communication for people who are blind, low vision, or autistic, bridging the gap between the seen and the felt. One of our early testers, Katie Corbett from the Fox Family Foundation, recently shared her story with us, and we’re proud to spotlight her experience with ALeye, our smart wearable for nonverbal cue recognition.

Katie is totally blind and works in marketing in Wisconsin. Her work revolves around understanding engagement. For her, that often means missing out on the silent signals that guide everyday conversation. That’s where ALeye came in.

“I was excited to try ALeye because I wanted to experience firsthand how people engage with me in conversation non-verbally,” Katie said.

Katie wore ALeye in person, on Zoom, and even while observing her own expressions in the mirror. What stood out to her most? Knowing when someone was reaching for a handshake or a fist bump; this was a game-changer for confidence and social flow.

“As a totally blind person, these nonverbal cues were previously unbeknownst to me, and resulted in some awkward situations. ALeye is changing that.”

Katie describes ALeye as “quiet and unobtrusive,” and praises the lightweight, portable design that fits naturally into her routine. Her feedback is helping us shape ALeye into a tool that truly empowers people to engage with the world on their terms.

We’re grateful to Katie, and the Fox Family Foundation, for being early adopters, allies, and champions of inclusive innovation.