doctor. Rula Sharqi, a lecturer at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, helped develop the world's first product (a smart bracelet for children) that monitors children's vital signs 24 hours a day and provides SMS notifications in the event of an emergency and via an alert that parents can send emergency services.
doctor. Rula Sharqi has been working on the Little Guard project for 12 months with Nakhoul Kalivanan, a fourth-year student in the School of Robotics Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, who joined the project as part of his final degree.
After building a successful prototype, the duo agreed to pitch their idea to industry partners capable of commercializing this innovation.
doctor. Rula Sharqi said: “We strongly believe in this product and its ability to save lives. Uncontrolled fever is one of the leading causes of death in infants and therefore a very serious problem, which is why we are pleased to offer this product. Our mission is to be a company that has the knowledge and passion to bring this product to market.
Women's innovation:
The inspiration for the smart bracelet came in 2018 when Dr. Rola was taking care of her two-year-old son, Youssef, who was suffering from a fever due to the seasonal flu, and she often visited Youssef’s room to take his temperature. Three exhausting days and three nights. Lola. Fever usually worsens at night as the body temperature rises at night due to a weakened immune system.
Therefore, the fever may be more severe at night. Therefore, it is especially important to monitor your child throughout the night to make sure he or she is well and does not get worse.
doctor. Rula Sharqi explains: “In my experience, as a full-time working mother, it can be very difficult to balance daily family challenges with work. This was the case when my son had a fever due to the flu virus over the course of two nights. “This is very common in children and often causes stress for parents as they have to monitor their children regularly, which can lead to sleepless nights and exhaustion for parents.”
Because of this difficult experience, I came up with the idea of a device that would alert me via text message when my child’s temperature rose or fell below safe levels. A sensor is used to monitor body temperature, oxygen levels, and pulse rate. Advanced array of nanosensors. There is no doubt that there are similar products from major companies on the market, but this smart bracelet is the first that can monitor a child’s body temperature.
Features of the new smart bracelet:
The bracelet can be placed directly on your baby's skin; Since it is made of soft fabric and equipped with very precise sensors, it always provides accurate measurements. It's also cordless and currently runs on rechargeable batteries, which should last about six months on a single charge.
In addition to monitoring vital signs, the device has the unique ability to send SMS alerts directly to parents and even request emergency services. This ensures immediate response and support and provides an additional layer of security for children's health and safety.
The app sends parents an email or notification when important readings exceed safety limits. You can also send the same alert to your primary care doctor to ensure you get real-time information if you need medical care.
Nakhoul Kalivanan, a final year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Autonomous and Interactive Robotic Systems student, said: “With the design of this bracelet, there are no false readings as the sensor is placed directly; On the skin, it is very beneficial for children. This is a safer option because it is made of soft fabric. We also used advanced sensors built into the design.
International Day of Women Engineers:
On International Women Engineers Day, June 23, Dr. Rula Sharqi, an engineer at Heriot-Watt University, is looking forward to working with companies to bring the smart bracelet she developed with student Nakhoul to Caravanan.
The role of women in engineering is crucial as they can gain a female perspective, take on unique projects, contribute to the development of solutions as well as complete human beings that respond to the needs of every sector of the company, especially those that are so neglected.
By selecting projects based on human experience and a holistic approach to everyday challenges, women can make significant progress in engineering and innovation.
Dr. Rula Sharqi’s mother is considered one of the first female engineering graduates in the Arab world, and she confirms that she will continue this journey. Dr. Rula hopes to work at the university and encourage other women to envision engineering as a career.
Elle a déclaré : « What is my biggest inspiration in the field of engineering and learning at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Through projects like celui-ci, I look forward to inspiring a new generation to pursue engineering degrees.”