Colombian startup turns traffic signals into AI-powered accessibility tools
For a person with a visual or hearing disability, a conventional traffic signal may not be enough to detect a hazard on the road.
TINVER has developed a device designed to turn existing road infrastructure into a system capable of detecting vehicles and transmitting alerts directly to pedestrians, without relying on the power grid.
A traffic signal can warn a driver, but it cannot necessarily communicate with someone who cannot see or hear it. In Colombia, a technology is seeking to close this gap by using artificial intelligence, IoT and solar power.
The solution was developed by TINVER and was recently recognized as the winner of the 2026 eAwards Colombia, a program organized by the NTT DATA Foundation that recognizes technology projects aimed at addressing social challenges.
The initiative will receive COP 40 million and will represent Colombia at the international Global eAwards final in Portugal, where it will compete for an additional €100,000 prize.
Road infrastructure designed for more users.
The device can be installed within seconds using a magnetic system on existing signs, poles or traffic lights. It uses artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to detect vehicles in real time and generate alerts directed at pedestrians.
Its main differentiator is the combination of cranial bone conduction and solar power. Voice alerts are transmitted directly to the pedestrian’s brain, without the need for headphones, including in the case of people who are partially deaf. The device also operates autonomously and does not rely on the power grid.
The solution holds a patent granted in Colombia and Spain in 2025 and has reached Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9).
It currently has an active pilot on roads in Armenia, Quindío, a department with the highest proportion of people with disabilities in the country, at 9.9%.
The pilot, developed in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Armenia, covers between two and three signalized intersections and has already had a positive impact on more than 100 people with disabilities.
”Receiving this recognition represents much more than an award. It is the result of years of work and of believing that technology can serve people and transform realities. I feel deeply proud to represent TINVER, Armenia and Colombia with an innovation that seeks to build more inclusive, safer and more humane cities, and that we now want to bring to more places,” said Madelin Fernández, Project Manager at TINVER S.A.S.
TINVER prevailed among 89 projects.
This year’s eAwards Colombia received 89 projects, 20 of which advanced to the semifinal stage and five reached the final.
The evaluation considered factors such as the impact of the solutions, their market potential, the degree of technological innovation, growth potential and the quality of the presentation.
As the winner, TINVER will also have access to a personalized acceleration program and the opportunity to represent Colombia at the international Global eAwards final in Portugal.
”The eAwards are a demonstration of the talent and innovation capabilities that exist in Colombia. Each edition allows us to discover projects that show how technology can become a concrete tool for addressing challenges that affect people and the planet. TINVER’s proposal is an example of how innovation can help build safer and more inclusive environments for everyone,” said Juan Sebastián Escobar, CEO of NTT DATA Colombia.
The other finalist solutions.
Among the other four finalists was Tincadia, an artificial intelligence platform designed to eliminate communication barriers between deaf and hearing people through real-time transcription, sign language with a 3D avatar and accessibility tools.
Vigía Pediátrico also reached the final, with a solution that turns any cellphone into a child screening tool and uses artificial intelligence to identify early signs associated with eye cancer, neonatal jaundice and strabismus.
Gescol presented a technology for transforming safety footwear waste into high-performance industrial materials, while Adab-Tech developed a platform that integrates solar power and electric mobility to manage solar projects and charging stations. The latter currently has more than 45 active customers in Colombia.
The selection was conducted by five judges from organizations and institutions including Invest in Bogotá, Universidad de los Andes, Fundación Innovación para el Desarrollo and NTT DATA Colombia.
With this recognition, Madelin Fernández and TINVER will take a solution developed in Colombia to the international stage, with a proposal that seeks to use existing technology and new AI capabilities to address one of the accessibility and safety challenges faced by people with disabilities in cities.
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