Tech News
Female Engineer From Heriot-Watt University Dubai Develops Revolutionary Smart Baby Wristband

When an electronics engineer from Heriot-Watt University spent three nights caring for her unwell son, she was struck by an idea that could soon revolutionise healthcare for babies in the home.
Dr Rula Sharqi, a lecturer at the University’s Dubai campus, has co-developed what is believed to be the world’s first ‘smart baby wristband’ capable of round-the-clock monitoring of a child’s vital signs with the ability to send text alerts and, in extreme cases, raise the alarm with emergency services.
She has spent the last 12 months working on the LittleGard project alongside fourth-year robotics engineering student, Nakhul Kalaivanan, who joined as part of his final year coursework.
After successfully building a working prototype, the pair are now willing to offer their idea for free to an industry partner with the capabilities of bringing the invention to market.
Dr Sharqi, an MIT-trained associate professor from the University’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, said: “We really believe in this product and its potential to save lives.
“Uncontrolled fevers account for the highest number of fatalities in infants so it’s a very serious problem.
“That’s why we are happy to give away our work for free to a company that has the knowledge and passion to bring this to market.”
Inspiration for the smart wristband came in 2018 when Dr Sharqi, a single-mother, was caring for her two-year-old son Joseph who was suffering from a fever.
Frequent trips to and from Joseph’s room to check his temperature left Dr Sharqi ‘drained and exhausted’.
She explains: “A baby’s fever often worsens at night because everyone’s body temperature naturally rises in the evening. This circadian rhythm, which regulates our body temperature throughout the day, causes temperatures to peak in the late afternoon and evening. As a result, any existing fever can seem more severe during these hours, making night-time monitoring particularly important for ensuring your baby’s well-being.
“But this can be exhausting for the parents, who often lose sleep.
“It was through my own terrible experience that I had the idea for a device capable of notifying me via text message, when my child’s temperature had risen beyond or below a safe level.”
The wristband monitors body temperature, oxygen levels and pulse rate through a sequence of advanced nano sensors. While similar products are available, the smart wristband is thought to be the first that can send monitoring alerts direct to parents, carers, medical professionals and emergency services.
It is fixed to a baby’s skin using a rubber material similar to that found in an Apple watch, helping to provide accurate readings. It is also wireless and powered by a rechargeable battery that is expected to last around six-months between charges.
When vital readings breach a safe limit, an email and/or text is automatically sent to parents via an app. There is also the option to issue the same alert to a family doctor to ensure the health authorities receive real-time information in the event medical attention is required.
Nakhul Kalaivanan is in his final year studying for a BEng (Hons) in Robotics Autonomous and Interactive Systems. He said: “With our wristband design, there won’t be any false readings as the sensors are placed directly onto the skin.
“It’s also a safe option as the device is battery powered and won’t overheat. We have used advanced sensors incorporated into our design, and have built-in safeguards so that a message can always be sent in the event WiFi temporarily drops.
“Besides monitoring vital signs, this device has the unique feature of sending alarm SMS alerts to parents and even directly to 911 in case of emergencies. This ensures immediate response and support, providing an extra layer of security for the baby’s health and safety.”
Dr Sharqi’s mother was one of the first female engineering graduates in the Arab world.
Now, following in her footsteps, Dr Sharqi hopes her work at the University will empower other women to consider engineering as a career.
She said: “My mother inspired me to enter the field of engineering and specialise in teaching in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Through being involved in projects, such as this one, I hope I can inspire the new generation to apply for an engineering degree.”
Tech News
PNY and Do IT Now Form Strategic Partnership at NVIDIA GTC Paris and ISC

PNY Technologies, a global leader in cutting-edge hardware solutions (GPUs, storage, networking and software), and Do IT Now, a specialized expert in High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration and services, are proud to announce a strategic partnership to jointly develop, deploy, and support turnkey HPC and AI cluster solutions for enterprise and research customers.
This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds:
- PNY’s renowned hardware portfolio, including powerful NVIDIA GPUs, high-performance storage, advanced networking components, and optimized software stack.
- Do IT Now’s deep expertise in system integration, configuration, deployment, and ongoing HPC and AI operational support.
Together, the two companies will deliver complete, ready-to-use cluster solutions that accelerate innovation, simplify deployment, and ensure optimal performance for organizations looking to harness the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing.
A Joint Vision for Scalable, Ready-to-Deploy Solutions
In today’s fast-evolving AI and HPC landscape, organizations face increasing pressure to deploy scalable, efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure, but many lack the internal resources or expertise to integrate complex hardware and software environments.
By combining PNY’s technical excellence in hardware with Do IT Now’s proven operational and integration know-how, this partnership aims to provide HPC and AI clusters that are fully tailored to customer needs, covering everything from the hardware to the software stack. It also offers expert consulting and support services to ensure smooth deployment, precise configuration, and reliable long-term operations. Together, PNY and Do IT Now deliver scalable, future-proof solutions designed to grow and evolve alongside customers’ workloads and changing business requirements.
Statements from Leadership
“We are thrilled to partner with Do IT Now to bring the next generation of HPC and AI cluster solutions to market,” said Jérôme Bélan, CEO at PNY EMEA. “Their outstanding expertise in system integration and operations perfectly complements our high-performance hardware and software portfolio, allowing us to offer clients complete, ready-to-deploy solutions that accelerate their innovation journey.”
“This partnership is a natural fit,” added Roberto Strano, CCO and co-founder of Do IT Now. “Together with PNY, we can deliver unmatched value to our clients by combining world-class hardware with expert services, ensuring they achieve maximum performance, reliability, and scalability in their HPC and AI projects.”
Tech News
AVEVA Awarded 2025 Databricks Manufacturing ISV Partner of the Year at Data + AI Summit

AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving innovation and sustainability, is honored to announce it has been named as the 2025 Databricks Manufacturing ISV Partner of the Year. Presented at the annual Data + AI Summit, the award highlights AVEVA’s exceptional contributions to innovations in data-powered manufacturing.
Over the past year, AVEVA, in strategic partnership with Databricks, the data and AI company, launched a ground-breaking integrative solution through its CONNECT industrial intelligence platform that redefines how industrial and enterprise data can be unified, analyzed, and operationalized.
This collaboration addresses one of the most pressing challenges in modern industry: turning vast amounts of siloed operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) data into meaningful insights, while ensuring data integrity, minimizing the development and maintenance costs, and significantly shortening time-to-value.
By using the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform alongside CONNECT, customers can securely unify industrial data with enterprise business systems in an open, governed, and scalable manner via Delta Sharing, Databricks’ open source approach that enables customers to share live data across platforms, clouds, and regions. This enables AI, machine learning, and real-time analytics to be applied to data sets that were historically isolated or underutilized. Manufacturers can now leverage Databricks with CONNECT for smarter decision making, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, sustainability tracking, safety monitoring and boosted operational efficiency.
“At AVEVA, we’re proud to have established Databricks and Delta Sharing as key foundation-stones of our strategy for our industrial intelligence platform, CONNECT,” said Bry Dillon, SVP of Partners and Commercial Strategy at AVEVA. “Together, we’re enabling our joint customers to access real-time insights, accelerate AI, and deliver tangible outcomes across the industrial landscape. Our partnership with Databricks marks a pivotal moment in the advancement of industrial AI. This collaboration presents a powerful opportunity to accelerate the deployment of AI-driven solutions and drive greater industry-wide collaboration — capabilities that are needed for companies across the industrial sector to stay relevant, remain competitive, and build efficient, sustainable businesses of the future.
“We are thrilled to name AVEVA the 2025 Databricks Manufacturing ISV Partner of the Year,” said Shiv Trisal, Global Manufacturing, Transportation & Energy GTM Leader at Databricks. “As more enterprises leverage data intelligence to solve challenges across the manufacturing and energy industries, AVEVA’s partnership with Databricks is essential to helping organizations everywhere harness the full potential of their data.”
Tech News
FUJIFILM seeks to extend role in region’s economic and technological development with new offices at Expo City Dubai

FUJIFILM Middle East and Africa recently announced the inauguration of its new offices at Expo City Dubai, – an innovation-driven, people-centric community designed as a blueprint for sustainable urban living and the new centre of Dubai’s future. The site will also host the FUJIFILM Technology Center (FTC) to support the training of employees, business partners, and end-users in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
FUJIFILM brings world-renowned expertise and innovations to some of the region’s vital sectors. As a global leader in healthcare, imaging and printing technologies, the firm supplies cutting-edge solutions in the UAE such as innovative diagnostic imaging systems helping raise the standard of care in the country and contributing to its development goals. The company is also preparing to launch AI-driven screening centers (NURA) in the region, reflecting its commitment to early detection and better health outcomes.
Over the past five years, FUJIFILM has more than doubled its number of staff across its offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa. The establishment of its new offices in the UAE is part of the company’s future-facing mindset, as well as efforts to increase proximity to end-consumers and key partners. The company also recorded impressive annual performance in 2024 and is looking to repeat the feat this year with an expected double-digit growth.
H.E. Ken Okaniwa, Ambassador of Japan to the UAE, said: “We welcome the inauguration of FUJIFILM’s new offices and Technology Center in Expo City Dubai. This new investment by Japan’s top company in healthcare, imaging and printing reflects the excellent relations between Japan and the UAE as well as the strategic position of the UAE as a global hub for business. I look forward to FUJIFILM’s technologies contributing to better healthcare, promotion of industries and human capacity development.”
Manal AlBayat, Chief Engagement Officer, Expo City Dubai, said: “With its technologies used in vital sectors and its commitment to knowledge-sharing, FUJIFILM’s choice of Expo City Dubai for its new offices and Technology Center reinforces the city’s position as a hub for global businesses driving innovative solutions in the UAE and beyond. We are proud to welcome FUJIFILM to our innovation- and sustainability-focused community – an ecosystem where like-minded entities collaborate to drive meaningful progress.”
The FUJIFILM Technology Center (FTC) is equipped with a comprehensive range of FUJIFILM solutions for live demonstrations, allowing visitors to try and test multiple products and services.
Underscoring the global importance of the center for the company, Masataka Akiyama, President and CEO of FUJIFILM Europe, also stated: “Our investment in the new offices and FUJIFILM Technology Center is a powerful enabler for product showcases, including a full-fledged center with hands-on training and lectures delivered by professionals in the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco. We are now also inviting imaging and printing experts to our new Dubai office space to facilitate the exchange of ideas and support the delivery of unrivaled solutions to our customers. The FUJIFILM Technology Center will be invaluable asset in the efforts to leverage our rich heritage of innovation and continue to serve as a benchmark for progress in the region.”
Michio Kondo, Managing Director of FUJIFILM Middle East and Africa, commented: “With the opening of our new offices at Dubai Expo City, FUJIFILM is starting the next exciting chapter of our success story in the Middle East. As we look to deepen our contribution to the region’s prosperity and the wellbeing of its people by providing value through innovation and purpose-driven growth, our new space will be a focal point for co-creation, training, new partnerships, and the development of high-tech solutions to help enhance lives and economies.”
At the end of last year, FUJIFILM signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent healthcare and medical institutions in Saudi Arabia. These partnerships aim to enhance healthcare solutions by promoting digitalization, improving efficiency, and delivering better patient outcomes, underscoring FUJIFILM’s enduring collaboration with regional and Saudi organizations. FUJIFILM Middle East and Africa will also extend its commitment to the development of the region’s talent, with plans to introduce new hires to support FTC operations and cement the company’s leading role in knowledge sharing.
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