Dubai-based Gibraltar Technologies has launched an AI-powered mobile app to help schools in the Middle East comply with Covid-19 regulations.
 
The Wai-Eye mobile app is designed to equip schools to meet the Covid-19 health and safety protocols set by Dubai’s Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) and Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEK), with other authorities in the region likely to follow suit.
 
This innovation leverages the school’s existing CCTV infrastructure to capture, analyse and generate real-time data that will help maintain control over operations including entry, pick-up and school visit procedures, screening and contact tracing, hygiene, physical distancing arrangements, and school transportation.
 
“This technological innovation is our way of supporting the UAE government’s education drive and helping schools reopen responsibly,” said Ahmed Khalaf Al Otaiba, head of Gibraltar Technologies’ board.
 
Over and above the basics of accurately monitoring mask usage, physical distancing and space occupancy, the company has also integrated facial recognition to facilitate automated school attendance, contactless door access, secure child pick up and contact tracing.
 
“Getting future ready is at the heart of our vision,” said Khadeer Peer Shariff, CEO of Gibraltar Technologies. “Over the last two years, our R&D labs have been testing out various technologies. We were already ahead of the curve in AI technology so when this unprecedented situation presented itself, we were able to respond quickly with a comprehensive tailor-made, cost-effective and easy to deploy solution.”
 
Customisable to the needs of the school, Wai-Eye can be set up to generate compliance and monitoring reports. Although primarily designed for the use of school authorities and support staff, administrators can also choose to offer access to parents to get alerts on authorised child pick up and estimated time of arrival of a school bus via GPS tracking.
 
“In a bid to improve the accuracy of operations like contact tracing, mask detection and occupancy management, schools are currently on the look out for automated data driven solutions,” said Shariff. “This is where Wai-Eye comes in. We have already started working with school leaders and administrators to help implement their readiness plans in time to welcome children back to a safer environment in September.”
 
Wai-Eye is a plug-and-play digital app enabling educational institutions to comply with government health and safety protocols to combat Covid-19. Leveraging the institutions’ existing CCTV infrastructure, Wai-Eye monitors key parameters including body temperature, mask usage, physical distancing and sanitisation processes. The app automates government required compliance reports and provides real-time alerts to parents and administrators.
 
Formerly HCL Infosystems MEA, Gibraltar Technologies is a technology company offering AI-based digital products. With offices in seven countries across the Middle East, India, Singapore and the USA, it has over 20 years of experience and expertise providing IT for Fortune 500 companies. The company’s client base also includes large government organisations and financial institutions.