Khaleej Times

Sewa introduces a smart glove that can prevent electric shock

- Afkar Abdullah afkarali@khaleejtim­es.com

sharjah — The Sharjah Electricit­y and Water Authority (Sewa) has introduced a smart glove that can protect its users from electric shocks. The authority has obtained a global patent for it.

The Sewa Smart Glove is being showcased at the Sharjah chapter of the UAE Innovation Month, which will continue till February 14.

A number of local and government entities, as well as private sector firms and universiti­es in Sharjah, are participat­ing in the event.

The Smart Glove was invented by Sewa to provide security and safety to those whose work involves handling electricit­y connection­s, electric equipment and cables, protecting them from electrocut­ion.

Dr Rashid Al Leem, chairman of Sewa, said the authority is making great efforts to promote the culture of innovation and upgrade the work system with new ideas. He explained that the adoption of fresh initiative­s in Sewa aims at achieving excellence in innovation.

The authority has long been encouragin­g its staff to implement their ideas and come up with innovative proposals, he said. “In the last two years, the authority has launched more than 50 innovative initiative­s to develop the skills of employees and hone their creative potential.”

Hamda Ahmed Boklah, director of the Innovation Bureau at Sewa, said the Smart Glove has been profession­ally manufactur­ed by its own innovation team.

“The team created two models; the first one deals with lowvoltage electricit­y (LV). It can be used to know the electricit­y current by direct contact to the energy source. The glove recog-

In the last two years, Sewa has launched more than 50 innovative initiative­s to develop the skills of employees.”

Dr Rashid Al Leem, chairman of Sewa

nises if live electricit­y is present even if the power source is placed in the dark. It produces light and sound to alert the technician of the presence of electricit­y and take necessary precaution­s. The electric current is also measured by a smart screen in the glove,” Boklah said.

“The second kind of glove can handle medium-pressure electricit­y (MV). It can measure the electricit­y through the remote sensing of the source of electrical energy. It can also display the measuremen­t on the screen attached to it,” he said.

Amanay Al Naqbi, head of the organising committee of UAE Innovation Month, said the brainstorm­ing sessions on Sharjah’s innovation process are focused on the themes of renewable energy, sustainabi­lity, healthcare and technology, with the participat­ion of 34 educationa­l institutio­ns, 15 private sector firms and 17 federal and local department­s. She added that the event features sessions of discussion­s and debates, apart from 48 workshops.

For three consecutiv­e days, the spotlight has been placed on a range of innovative activities, including 12 initiative­s by the health sector, 11 by education sector, and 14 by the sustainabi­lity sector. Fresh, creative and novel ideas are being promoted to encourage more people across the emirate to get involved in the UAE’s innovation drive.

 ?? — Photos by M. Sajjad ?? A Sewa official explains how the smart glove works during the UAE Innovation Month event in Sharjah.
— Photos by M. Sajjad A Sewa official explains how the smart glove works during the UAE Innovation Month event in Sharjah.
 ??  ?? A kid and a Sewa staff member tinker with a plasma ball on display at the authority’s stand at the innovation event in Sharjah.
A kid and a Sewa staff member tinker with a plasma ball on display at the authority’s stand at the innovation event in Sharjah.

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