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Cool Projects

Cool Projects from the world of ICT

Check out some of the cool ICT projects here in Qatar. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of projects within the ICT sector.

If you have cool ICT projects you want to showcase on TumuhaTEC, send us an email at tumuhatec@ict.gov.qa

Asiri Voice Command App

Collaborator:

Abdulrahman Al-Otaiba

The challenge:

SiriProxy allows iPhone 4S users to send commands by vocally to perform actions such as turning on lights, switching tracks on a sound system, or operating any device connected to a central unit. However, SiriProxy commands can only be given in a limited number of languages inclusive of English, Dutch, French and Japanese, so the challenge was to develop an app for Arabic speakers.

The result:

Asiri, a project developed by Abdulrahman Al-Otaiba, is a clever plugin to the SiriProxy app that allows users to send voice commands in any languages supported by Apple, including Arabic.

Masarak Traffic Management

Collaborator:

QUWIC- Qatar University Wireless Innovations Center QUWIC Applied Research & Development Centre

The challenge:

With an exponential increase in population, the hosting of numerous mega sports events, and preparations for the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Qatar needed a solution to ease congestion on our roads.

The result:

Masarek™ is an exciting project that delivers intelligent services to support Qatar’s traffic management, including traffic and congestion monitoring, vehicle tracking, trip planning, dispatching and intelligent fleet management.

Assistive Technology helping the visually impaired

Collaborator:

Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre)

The challenge:

How do you make digital content accessible to people who are visually impaired? That was the challenge taken up by Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre). Using the latest Assistive Technology, Mada set about reducing the barriers to content that the visually impaired typically encounter.

The result:

Assistive Technology has come a long way in recent times, from Braille output and ‘text to speech’ solutions to alternative inputting devices, hearing induction loops and communication grids. Mada successfully utilised all these technologies to allow the visually impaired to surf the internet, chat with friends or colleagues, and publish content with great independence. These technologies provide tailored solutions that will help to empower Qatar’s visually impaired citizens.

LifeSense heart monitor

Collaborator:

Leading institutions in the US and Middle East

The challenge:

Imagine a device that could monitor heart patients remotely and, in an emergency, send an alert and precise location to a waiting medical team. That’s precisely what various ICT professionals are working on in the US and closer to home.

The result:

LifeSense is a portable medical device that monitors heart patients 24/7. When an abnormality is detected an alarm is automatically and wirelessly transmitted to a dedicated monitoring centre where professional medical experts can evaluate the case and respond accordingly. The project uses a state-of-the-art proprietary technology to monitor cardiac patients throughout their daily lifestyles for cardiac abnormalities.

Virtual reality for robotic surgery training

Collaborator:

American University of Beirut (AUB) Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre (QRSC)

The challenge:

Before becoming a qualified doctor, medical students require lots of practice. They also need to keep up to date with the latest scientific techniques and breakthroughs. One such advancement is the use of robots in medical procedures. But, you may be wondering how this is helping medical students get the valuable training they need?

The result:

Virtual reality simulations enable highly realistic operations to be carried out in life-size virtual environments. With the relatively recent introduction of robotic surgical instruments, the simulations play a vital role in training medical students in the use of modern surgical robots without the expense and logistical problems associated with real-world robot training.

Mobile Holographic Qatar Guide for 2022

Collaborator:

The Techno-surrealists – a group of high school girls with imagination! Cambridge International School for Girls

The challenge:

A group of high school girls from Cambridge International School for Girls, who call themselves the ‘techno-surrealists’ wanted to celebrate Qatar’s achievements by developing a futuristic mobile device, app and in-built holographic projector and 3D glasses. The device and app would primarily be used to introduce visitors to Qatar’s rich culture during 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.

The result:

The Techno-surrealists designed a mobile app called “Madi” (meaning “past” in Arabic) which runs on a futuristic mobile device called Nirvana. This connects to special 3D glasses called IC22 (I see 2022), which sports two holographic projectors at either side and earphones for audio usage. This amazing project taught the students about the design process, user interfacing and emerging technologies such as holographic projection. Go girls!

Hawa’ak and Kotobi™

Collaborator:

QUWIC (Qatar University Wireless Innovations Center)

The challenge:

These two services – Hawa’ak and Kotobi™ – come under QUWIC’s innovative Smart Living Solutions which have been developed to improve and enhance life, spread awareness and contribute to healthy living conditions in Qatar. QUWIC is an R&D and Applied Research Center with the express aim of creating a services framework that connects intelligent applications and services to strategic partners. In other words, it acts as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration.

The result:

The first project, Hawa’ak, is an air quality monitoring solution that utilizes low cost mobile sensors right across Qatar. The result is a cost-effective yet highly accurate real-time air quality monitoring system that produces data that can be easily personalized through various applications. The second project is called Kotobi and is the digital equivalent of a library crammed with Arabic and English e-content in the form of digital books, magazines and periodicals. It enables residents of Qatar to select, purchase and download Arabic and English e-content for their mobiles and tablet devices.

Image analysis of liver segmentation

Collaborator:

QRSC

The challenge:

Medical images, such as CT or MRI scans, taken before, during and after surgery play a vital role in guiding surgeons during operations and planning treatment. However, making sense of the images requires time and huge experience.

The result:

Liver Segmentation is one of the most challenging tasks due to anatomical variations and complex geometry. QRSC is developing Liver Image Segmentation software that can process images and extrapolate information to provide a more accurate diagnosis and objective assessment before and during surgery – in real-time. This will directly improve surgical practice at HMC and benefit the patient through better surgical outcomes.

Loghati and Rasad from QSTP

Collaborator:

Loghati: Amuser QSTP-B, Diwan (UK), Nuance (formerly Loquendo), Microsoft Research

Rasad: QSTP, Aspetar

The challenge:

Through collaboration with partners, QSTP has developed two hugely important innovative projects (among many) with its Loghati Arabic Culture virtual repository and Rasad real-time remote monitoring platform.

The result:

Loghati is a sophisticated web-based repository providing access to Arabic Cultural Heritage documentation and information around the world. The platform allows the creation of virtual libraries where each document is a multi-dimensional information repository that can be accessed, amended, instantly translated from Arabic into English and back again, and has the ability to host audio and video content.

Rasad is a highly flexible and robust ICT platform that facilitates real-time remote monitoring using a variety of different sensors that send data to cloud-based servers that process the data and make it available for real-time customization within graphical interfaces and services. Due to its flexibility, reliability and ease of accessibility, Rasad has attracted international recognition and is used by many universities, health institutions and commercial organizations throughout the world.

Masabeeh and ISISS Touch Screen by iHorizon

Collaborator:

iHorizon

The challenge:

Two projects from the R&D labs of iHorizon, a leading provider of business solutions and IT services in the Arab World, are touching the lives of people in Qatar every day. Introducing Masabeeh Arabic search engine and ISISS Touch Screen, developed for Qtel.

The result:

Masabeeh is an easy-to-use, enterprise-level search platform that boasts various Arabic and English language features including morphology, normalization, stemming, formations, spelling corrections and statistical analysis of a large set of Arabic text to infer patterns useful in search. Masabeeh is the first portal of its kind offering Arabic language processing aligned to search functionality.

The ISISS Touch Screen, developed for Qtel, is an interactive, user-intuitive system with real-time connection to Qtel’s back-end systems. Customers can retrieve account information and view Qtel content via the self-serve booths for an enhanced customer service experience.

Fab 5 from Qatar University

Collaborator:

Qatar University

The challenge:

Here’s a taste of five innovative projects from those clever people at Qatar University aimed at improving the lives of tens of thousands of Qatari citizens.

The result:

The first is an app that provides augmented reality for pedestrians around Qatar University’s Campus. No.2 is an automatic mobile epileptic seizure detection system that sends an alarm to either medical staff and/or family members. No.3 detects intruders in secure or hazardous areas. The system utilizes existing wireless infrastructure and reduces costs of implementing a stand-alone system. No.4 provides assistance in the form of teaching tutorials to Qatari children with moderate intellectual disability (MID) and Moderate Learning Disability (MLD) and their parents. And finally, the University is looking into ways to reduce noisy mobiles interrupting prayer times by sending a warning to mobile users who subscribe to the service to switch off or mute their device before entering a Mosque.

Two from CNA-Q

Collaborator:

College of the North Atlantic, Qatar

The challenge:

Often we take technology for granted. For example, the next time you’re waiting at a traffic light have a think about how the phasing of the lights changes depending on the time of day. Or how sensors can detect your presence in a room and switch the lights on. Spooky. The students at CAN-Q took a fresh look at these situations and more.

The result:

Most sensors for home automation systems detect motion only with unwanted results in some situations. For instance if a person stays completely still the sensor will not detect a presence and could turn off lighting, air con systems etc. The students at CAN-Q have designed an intelligent sensor that also detects how many people enter and leave a room. Clever, hey?

Traditional traffic lights work on a timer system that corresponds to rush hours and quiet periods on the roads. However the set phasing doesn’t take into consideration unpredictable traffic loads. Students at CAN-Q decided to develop a system that would be more responsive and reduce congestion by actually measuring the flow and speed of traffic. Trials would suggest that they are correct.

Archeological Fort “Maliha”– 3D virtual reconstruction of an archaeological gem in UAE

Collaborator:

Jassim Al Mass

The challenge:

A recent archaeological find at the Fort of “Maliha” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) prompted the development of a 3D virtual reconstruction of the site to help other archaeologists, historical experts and the general public to gain an understanding of life during the time the Fort was in operation.

The result:

The research and 3D visualization of the archaeological find provides a hyper-realistic portrayal of the site, allowing experts and the public to experience the Fort as if it were still standing today.

What’s more, the project has enriched the ancient library of the Emirate of Sharjah and promoted the history and tradition of the UAE.