Digital Living in the Middle East
Intel Corporation and e-Home AUTOMATION LLC have announced a strategic collaboration to unveil the latest in digital home technology across the Middle East. The agreement will focus on developing a range of e-Home Lifestyle products powered by Intel’s multi-core processors to provide the region’s residents with the complete digital home experience at the touch of a button.
“The Gulf countries are in a unique position to leap ahead and make the digital communities vision a reality. The implementation of cutting edge digital home technologies at the development stage will allow residents to experience firsthand how technology can have a real positive impact on their daily lives.” commented Samir Al Schamma, Intel’s GM for the GCC. “As part of Intel Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East, we are committed to fostering entrepreneurship and increasing the technical capabilities and global competitiveness of GCC based technology companies. We are confident that e-Home AUTOMATION LLC is emerging as an entrepreneurial success story; a local company that is capable of delivering the ultimate in digital living for consumers in the region.”
e-Home AUTOMATION LLC is a UAE based company, established in 2003 to provide affordable, yet high quality solutions that allow residents to take complete control of their home environment. The concept of home automation is to connect different home systems and devices so that they can be controlled from anywhere and interact with one another. For example, as you arrive home, your home-automation system can automatically turn off the sprinklers, open the garage door, unlock the front door, disable the alarm, light the downstairs, and turn on the TV. Or, with a single press of a remote control button the user can engage an “Event” such as Movie Time: then LCD display will switch on, the lights will dim automatically, the curtains will close, all calls will direct to voicemail and the movie will start.
Through e-Home AUTOMATION LLC, UAE residents and property developers now have the ability to turn lights and appliances on and off remotely via a PC, laptop, PDA or Smart Phone from anywhere in the world – creating a fully mobile and secure digital home environment. The e-Home AUTOMATION LLC system also has extensive energy saving benefits, as the built-in intelligence can monitor energy usage and ensure devices are only used when required.
“We are delighted that Intel has come on board to help us digitize GCC homes” stated Khalifa Al-Jaziri, MD, e-Home AUTOMATION LLC. “Imagine owning a home set-up that allows the sharing of digital media across your personal network – the seamless transfer of your holiday photos from your digital camera to the PC for editing and then on to a large-screen TV or digital picture frame for viewing with the family. Such ‘visions’ are no longer a dream but a reality that our partnership will actively seek to promote and implement over the coming years.”
Through the collaboration, e-Home will have full access to Intel technologies and support on multi-core processors and platforms. e-Home AUTOMATION LLC and Intel will work together to target leading Middle East developers to ensure that they have access to the leading technical innovations and know how.
“With over $1.6 trillion worth of real estate projects in the GCC alone, the construction boom shows no signs of abating. What real estate developers have lacked is a vision for the development of the future in terms of how people want to live,” said Al-Schamma. “Intel’s work with e-Home AUTOMATION LLC will fill that gap and ensure that Middle East home owners lead the world in terms of technological innovation and a digital lifestyle.”
PMU Partners With SAS
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) has partnered with SAS to promote business and operational intelligence and analytics across the Kingdom. The implementation of the state-of-the-art learning software is in line with the university’s aims to be a major proponent of technology-driven operational intelligence and knowledge creation to equip students with the skills required in their future venture into the private and public sectors. The agreement involves the delivery of software and infrastructure, in addition to post-implementation services and knowledge transfer to ensure that the technology is fully utilized by relevant PMU stakeholders.
The agreement was inked by Bill Hoggarth, Regional CEO, SAS Africa and Middle East; Ahmed Ashadawi, President and CEO, Al-Falak Electronic Equipment and Supplies Company – SAS’ Saudi partner; and Dr. Nassar Mohammed Shaikh, vice rector for Academic Affairs, PMU – signing on behalf of Dr. Issa Al-Ansari, Rector, PMU, in the presence of other key partners and customers.
“The burgeoning demand for highly skilled personnel and technology-savvy professionals amidst the booming oil and gas and financial services industries in the Kingdom has made it vital for today’s higher educational institutions to provide students with adequate real-world training,” said Dr. Al-Ansari. “Familiarity with key business requirements will ensure that Saudi Arabia will be reaping the rewards of its booming economy by building the necessary skills and empowering a new generation of Saudi nationals to take responsibility for the most important positions in the country’s economic departments and private business organizations.”
“Our presence in Saudi Arabia is part of our strategic plan for the Middle East, which is focused on aiding educational institutions to integrate SAS software into their curricula to enhance learning opportunities and career paths for both students and teachers,” remarked Hoggarth. “By encouraging academic administrators to utilize SAS-powered research and learning initiatives, we are taking a critical step toward the formation of valuable industry skills of students. This partnership with PMU stands as a testament to our commitment to delivering software solutions, strategic services and academic programs that are designed to spark innovation and expand educational opportunities throughout the region.”
The success of the partnership will result in a better understanding of the students on analytical concepts by giving them intensive hands-on experience with the same powerful tools used in industry today. With aims of elevating its educational standards for the benefit of local students, the implementation of SAS’ cutting edge technology is expected to increase the value of PMU’s programs, while equipping it with the necessary tools to create new leading-edge programs and curriculum.
