Making its debut at GITEX Technology Week 2017, X Labs are a series of interactive sessions in Hall 8 in the VR AR zone. The sessions are running from 11-4pm daily and feature leading content providers who demonstrate the capabilities of augmented, virtual and mixed realities.

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality will be adopted across industries by 2025, a report from Frost & Sullivan predicts. Research reports corroborate predictions that the AR and VR market is booming, with IDC reporting that AR and VR device shipments are set to grow 11-fold to 110 million by 2020.

The expert sessions at X Labs have been lead by companies such as Dell EMC, Reach MENA, Epicor and Giga Works are designed to educate visitors about the practical uses of these technologies across various industries including, retail, tourism, automotive, real estate and education.

Digi Robotics showcase next-level robotics

Digi Robotics provide advanced industrial solutions enabling companies to create the perfect balance between reducing manpower and increasing production. At GITEX the company has been showcasing a range of groundbreaking robotics including the world’s first autonomous taxi, ‘Bigo’ an automatic shuttle bus, and ‘Trugo’ which is a self-driving truck designed to be used in seaports.

“The role of robotics is increasingly being simplified, but at the same time growing across industries. This signals a turning point where robotic technology can be implemented at scale, driving the digital industrial movement. Our solutions focus not just on heavy industries, but on a range of sectors including education, transportation, media, and military,” Mr. Bilal Al Hattab CEO of Digi Robotics Technologies /Autonomous And Robotic Partner.

GITEX Future Stars

Red Bull Amaphiko Alumni Take the Stage

Five Red Bull hosted speakers took to the stage for a series of inspirational presentations. These included a talk from Professional Kitesurfer Ruben Lenten, who gave the audience a lesson in positive thinking in the face of adversity, by sharing the story of his return to kitesurfing after treatment for a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Australia’s greatest beatboxer, Tom Thum, also appeared on stage wowing the crowd with a unique display of musical beatbox-wizardry.

Leading a change – from a life of challenges to successful entrepreneur

Another Amaphiko alumni presenting at GITEX Future Stars today was South African national Sihle Tshabalala, who shared the story of how he turned his life around. Born during the apartheid, Sihle left school with no qualifications and no guidance on what he should do for a career. After making some very bad decisions and going through an extremely challenging period in his life, Silhe made the decision that he had to change. Using resources found on the internet he taught himself computer programming over a period of six weeks. This change maker then returned to his home township of Langa to set up a Coding Centre for the community. Today he is the CEO of Quirky 30, a not for profit organisation, imparting digital skills, aligned with the Framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

“I set up the Coding Centre after I realised that 90% of houses in Langa had no home computers – what prospects can these people possibly have for their future if they are unable to engage in the digital world?” Silhe explained. “I wanted to equip a new labour force with the skills that would help them to escape the townships and inspire kids to be interested in a new business area. Technology is an enabler, it is the only way we can transform the economy and create sustainable jobs. We need to teach people to take control and responsibility of their own change process. With the Coding Centre, the change comes from the people taking the courses, and that is so powerful.”

From Schoolbag Maker to Life Changer Across Africa

Thato Kgatlhanye, praised by Bill Gates for her creativity and innovation, is the founder of Repurpose Schoolbags a bag given to school children in the poorest communities in South Africa. Every Repurpose Schoolbag is fitted with a portable solar panel that turns into desk lamp, providing up to 12 hours of light for reading and doing homework. Today at GITEX Future Stars she discussed the impact of entrepreneurship in her community, where she gets inspiration to push the world forward, and why high impact entrepreneurship matters for both, startups and investors.

“The kind of problems in the world that we have to solve today require a different kind of thinking, a different kind of individual that not only thinks of himself but thinks of his community, his country and then his continent. Each and every person has the ability to think of ideas that could solve the complex social problems in the world and make these solutions into a viable business. At the age of 18 I registered a business because I believed that the ideas that I had mattered. I believe that to make a difference you need to focus on the things you care about, for me that is education. Lack of electricity in houses across the country mean that children are unable to study after the sun sets. We are living in an era of huge untapped potential – and this is why I came up with the idea of Repurpose School Bags.”

Tomorrow at GITEX & GITEX Future Stars – 12 October, 2017 – Day 5

• Why VR? Revealing the 8 key reasons to adopt VR in education! – Steve Bambury, Head of Digital Learning & Innovation, JESS Dubai, 12:30 PM, Sheikh Maktoum HallSmart Education – Insights in to the success of Moscow’s education system, Dmitry Karandin, Head of Special Projects – Smart City Lab, City of Moscow, 12:50 PM Sheikh Maktoum Hall
• How educators can create ‘impossible’ experiences that engage students in all-new ways, Nikitas Glykas, President, HTC MEA, 2:30 PM Sheikh Maktoum Hall
• Finals – DTCM Startup Futurism Competition, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, Unbox Stage
• Finals – Student Lab Competition, 3:15 PM Tech Talks Stage, Rashid Hall