(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Doha: The COVID-19 pandemic compelled the Mena region to accelerate digitization, specifically in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Through the emergence of new fields and industries, Qatar Foundation (QF) has incubated and supported startups that included AI in their projects, with many innovations originating from their Stars of Science TV show.
Now in its 13th season, the show sees eight Arab innovators competing to transform their inventions into viable products. This season, four contestants focused on enhancing healthcare through customised treatment options.
Yemen's Mugeb Alrahman Baggash Ali Al Harosh, biomedical engineer and Professor at Bauman Moscow State Technical University in Russia, designed a Portable Renal Blood Flowmeter that diagnoses preliminary kidney damage via non-invasive biosensors attached to the skin.
Earning his spot on the show with his Wearable Omni Stethoscope Vest that focuses on chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), a threat to millions globally, is computer engineer Ousama Kanawati from Lebanon who got his Master's degree from Texas A & M in the United States. The vest monitors patients' lungs by combining numerous digital stethoscopes and wireless technology.
The sole female in the lineup is Algerian Khaoula Rima Chaabna, a fifth year medical resident student at Ryazan State Medical University in Russia, who designed a Smart Knee Braces while studying and working full time. Sensors placed on specific leg muscles monitor the user's movements, warning to adjust or stop training if a possible knee injury is aggravated based on collected data and an analysis algorithm, thereby averting further damage.
Inspired by the focus on masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, a Jordanian innovator working on healthcare solutions is engineer Layth Hamad, who used Internet of Things (IoT) technology to design the Smart Medical Mask Kit. Via a phone app, it tracks the precise placement and tension of a mask to the wearer's face while recording usage.
Sport has a role in the competition and challenging a contentious issue, Mohammed Al Qassabi from Qatar is currently studying Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. His Football Offside Detection System ensures the accuracy of offside calls by real-time tracking of positions through ultra-wide band tags embedded in the players' uniforms as well as the ball. Critical training data is collected for individual profiles and trends are generated for early warning of possible injuries or fatigue for each player.
Omani process engineer, Marwan Hamed Aljahwari's Camel Black Box tackles the hazard of stray camels on desert roads. Through a bracelet-like Bluetooth device installed on a camel's neck, drivers are alerted to the animal's proximity. In addition, the owner is alerted if the animal approaches roads through the smart virtual fence generated from its GPS tool.
Riadh Abdelhedi, Tunisian PhD holder in electrical and electronic engineering from Lyon University in France, designed the Hybrid Power Bank, which enables users to recharge multiple devices, within minutes, whenever required.
And finally, Abderrahmane Khiat of Algeria, holder of a PhD in Computer Science and a post-doctoral researcher in Germany, designed a device that focuses on the speed of access to information when treating snake bites, the Diagnostic Tool to Predict Snake Type from Bite and Victim's Vital Signs.
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