Robotic dogs have become a familiar sight at tech exhibitions around the world, but the latest cyberdog on show at Gitex Europe in Berlin has been designed specifically to address the growing demands of social care.
The exhibition held each year in Dubai opened its European version on Wednesday, uniting venture capitalists with technology start-ups. As populations age, elderly care is one of the greatest challenges facing society.
The Abu Dhabi-based developers of ‘Byte’ claim the robotic dog can offer companionship and emotional support while used as a home assistant.
And without the need for daily walks, trips to the vet or the constant attention demands of most canine companions, Byte could offer a low-maintenance alternative to man’s best friend.
“We want to position this as a cyber pet for elderly people or as a guide dog for the blind,” said Charles Goh, global alliance director at InspireTech, a company in Yas Island developing software to a make the Chinese-made robotic dog more interactive with humans.
“It will use ChatGPT to sing songs, tell jokes and engage with its owner. Importantly, it is a companion that can offer a low-maintenance solution to help resolve the issue of isolation. This robot is in the shape of a dog, but eventually it may be able to take different forms of a cat or a bird, for example.”
Multilingual pet
The company is developing software that will allow the dog to understand commands in several languages. It is programmed to notify emergency services if it receives no response from its owner during regular check-ins in case of a fall at home, and can offer medication reminders.
A camera fitted inside the dog’s head can be viewed through the owner’s mobile device, while its body is packed with sensors allowing safe integration with its surroundings.
Health-monitoring software is under development to allow the cyberdog to monitor its owner’s biometrics and call medical assistance in the event of a heart attack or stroke.
Byte takes an hour to fully charge and is expected to cost about $5,000 once on sale, which developers expect by 2030.
“Real dogs are amazing but there is an emotional attachment humans have that can be difficult to break, as most owners will outlive their pets,” said Mr Goh, in Berlin to build new financial partnerships with European investors.
“There is no separation anxiety with a cyberdog and the fundamental difference is you will never have to say goodbye to him.”
The cyberdog, one of a number of projects under development at InspireTech, a company also working in data protection and cybersecurity. Across three days, Gitex Europe is focusing on these core areas, as well as green technology, to decarbonise economies, smart cities and regulation of artificial intelligence.
Investment potential
Investors said there was plenty of potential to build new partnerships between the UAE and Europe.
“We have a lot of start-ups and founders from Dubai who want to expand into Europe so we want to make sure we connect them with the right ecosystem enablers and the right partners,” said Julien Plouzeau, senior partner at Oraseya Capital, the venture capital fund of Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority.
“It is also important for us to be educated about new opportunities we can bring to our founders and help them set up in Europe. Most of the expansion plans we see from the Middle East at some point will include Europe.”
The Dubai Economic Agenda D33 is a comprehensive plan to double the size of the emirate's economy within the next decade.
As a road map to sustainable growth, the drive aims to hit that goal before 2033, with a focus on diversifying the economy and attracting new investment.
Mr Plouzeau said technology around finance and property have been the most active industries in regards to investment capital over the past two years.
“There's no reason to think that's going to stop in the future,” he said. “We are also looking at logistics, supply chain, and pretty much all the industries and verticals aligned to Agenda D33.
“We are actively deploying $136 million at the moment and looking at $500,000 to $3 million per investment. Of course, there is a long process for us to conduct our due diligence, but we've seen start-ups very much here coming to Berlin, so it's quite exciting.”
Technology hub
Dubai Silicon Oasis has been a key location in the UAE to test the latest technology, before expanding services elsewhere.
From automated roadside delivery robots, to driverless taxis, AI-powered pedestrian crossings and drones transporting vital medical supplies, the area has played a crucial role in technology testing.
“It is a great moment to see something made in the UAE, such as Gitex here in Europe, and we really want to consolidate that,” said Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, director general of Dubai Silicon Oasis.
“We want to not only import technology but also export the transfer of technology as there is an ease of doing business in the UAE.
“We are really interested in technology but investment does not come easily. The UAE was the first country to appoint a minister of AI and rather than red tape for business, we roll out the red carpet.”
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Company%20profile
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
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Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
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MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
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We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
