Robots, VR rule Future Tech Event

A two-day Future Tech Event showcasing latest technologies from around the world began at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in Muscat on Monday.

With over 50 speakers and 77 exhibitors from 10 countries, the event is showcasing an array of latest developments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud, digital transformation, virtual reality and 3D printing among others.

Oman’s foremost B2B and B2G technology event was inaugurated by H H Fahr bin Fatik bin Fahr al Said, and will continue until Tuesday 4.00pm.

Nao and Pepper, the two humanoids drew maximum attention, as the two were placed at the entrance to greet the guests. Created by MHD ITICS specifically for schools, the two humanoids were launched in June with fed data to teach students.

Aditya Amberkar, the solutions architect at MHD, said, “Nao and Pepper were programmed with Python and Python+android respectively and are being used for educational purposes.”

“But soon Nao and Pepper, standing at 1ft and 2ft respectively, can be used in business set-ups as receptionists, retailers, store assistants, waiters etc,” Amberkar said, explaining: “All we need to do is include the data base of a company and the robots will be of your assistance at a superior level.”

A huge Batman stands just a few steps ahead of the humanoids that stands out in the exhibition arena.

Innotech, which specialises in 3D printing, offers one an idea that anything which is unimaginable would be possible to create in the future.

Halima al Shezawi, head of Operation and Maintenance at the Innotech said, “3D is the future of Oman and of the world.” She pointed out that one of the big challenges lie in creating a 3D model for print. “At times this takes some extra time.”

Elaborating on the process of 3D printing, she said, “We use white powder and filaments to print. A few months back we made a house at Ras al Hadd with materials made by 3D printing from the Innotech.”

At the OIFC’S Khedmah stall, visitors are being introduced to new additions in its services, besides the regular payment of bills. One can now pay for Netflix, PUBG as well as for telecom services offered by the UAEbased companies Etisalat and du.

Basim Basheer, a customer service executive at Khedmah said that the new payment services are being offered through scan-and-pay option. “This is the future as the world is going cashless. We have launched it just a month back and it is slowly picking up,” he added.

Crowd funding company Ethisx has been another attraction at the event. The company hosts SMES on their platform and crowd funds through investors. They also help market and raise the fund of the client.

Mohammad al Ruqaishi, an associate of Ethisx said, “We are the first ever crowd funding P2P operator in Oman; and today we kick-start our first campaign for a dishdasha company named Nammani dishdasha. This will be of real help for those SMES, which want to raise funds.

“We undertake every necessary work to attract funds and raise the amount needed for the business,” he added.

Virtual Reality, until now has been limited to drawing rooms, games and fun. However HTC with its latest range of releases aims to target medical and industrial fields among others.

Siddharth Keshwani, Business Development Director of DESSCO said, “The new devices help to anaylse the scenarios of several industries in real life. A firefighter can have his muscle memories very strong with such VR and even doctors can see and analyse problems of organs before operation.

“Video can never help create the same mental preparation or planning as VR does.”

Nao and Pepper - two humanoids - were programmed with Python and Python+android respectively and are being used for educational purposes

ADITYA AMBERKAR