Subscribe
Sectors
Companies
About

Future tech on display at GITEX

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 11 Oct 2017
Some 147 133 people attended GITEX 2017.
Some 147 133 people attended GITEX 2017.

The world's largest regional IT event is taking place in Dubai this week. GITEX gives visitors a glimpse into the future by showcasing concept devices and how technology can be used to either improve quality of life, or make business processes more efficient.

GITEX is an annual consumer computer and electronics trade show, exhibition and conference that takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This year, GITEX had close to 150 000 attendees from 97 countries and nearly 4 500 exhibitors.

Other than robots, technologies such as blockchain were showcased.

This responsive robot, called Sofia, by Hansen Robots, uses artificial intelligence to learn what people say to it and respond accordingly.
This responsive robot, called Sofia, by Hansen Robots, uses artificial intelligence to learn what people say to it and respond accordingly.
Dubai may supplement its police force with robots, although it is not yet clear if they will arrest offenders, or record evidence of the offence.
Dubai may supplement its police force with robots, although it is not yet clear if they will arrest offenders, or record evidence of the offence.
Robots can be programmed to make food and clean up after themselves faster than humans.
Robots can be programmed to make food and clean up after themselves faster than humans.
There were 4 473 exhibition stands at GITEX, all competing to put on the biggest show to attract the most visitors.
There were 4 473 exhibition stands at GITEX, all competing to put on the biggest show to attract the most visitors.
Origin story.
Origin story.

In the smart retail section is a concept for how stores could use blockchain and near-field communication to show clients where ingredients come from.

By placing the product, which will have a NFC chip in the label, on display in store, customers will be able to see the product's origin story and journey to shelf. The information will be verified using blockchain technology.

Operation status.
Operation status.

Hospital visitors in the waiting room will be able to see the status of their loved one's operation, with this display board that resembles a flight schedule in an airport. It was developed by a Saudi Arabian medical company using Avaya technology. The company aims to make hospital systems completely paperless and ease visitor stress.

The display board gives visitors real-time access to see when the operation is in progress, and when the patient is in recovery and back in the ward and ready for visitors.

Futuristic concept car.
Futuristic concept car.

This concept car by VISA was on display at the Dubai Internet City stand. It was designed by the payments systems company to enable motorists to drive through a city equipped with the ability to order food, fill up with petrol, get guidance via voice commands and use a seamless payment system.

The company says: "You will be able to communicate to everything around you, sending data to restaurants or petrol stations ahead of your arrival."

The autonomous air taxi.
The autonomous air taxi.

The United Arab Emirates intends to have a fleet of autonomous flying people-carriers fully operational within the next two to five years in Dubai.

The Autonomous Air Taxi, created by German company Volocopter, was on display at GITEX. It forms part of Dubai's 2030 Autonomous Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25% of Dubai's total mobility to self-driving transport by 2030.

Unfortunately, visitors to the show were not allowed to get into the vehicle or go for test flights. However, a manned test flight did take place last month.

Share