Google Maps provide turn-by-turn notifications for driving directions and now, the addition will make the app send a push notification when the user is approaching their stop.

This feature will especially help Android users when they use public transit.

Log into Google Maps on Android smartphone, enter destination, select directions for transit and tap on the route you want to take to use the new feature.

The concept, however, is not completely new.

Transit—a public transit app and mapping service based in Canada has a “Go” feature that takes the user through every step of a bus or subway ride.

IANS

Picture courtesy: Alamay Image

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In the video, a working mom books a flight through her Uber app and goes to a “skyport” on the roof of a nearby building. After her order code is scanned in her cell phone, she gets into an Uber flying taxi, a plane-helicopter hybrid aircraft with fixed wings and tilt prop-rotors.

The flying taxi takes the woman back to another “roof airport”, where an Uber vehicle taxi is waiting for her. She returns home to her children without suffering any stress from daily commute.

The company predicted that a one-and-a-half hour car journey from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to the Lakers’ home court Staples Centre could take less than 30 minutes using a combination of flying cars and regular cars.

Moreover, Holden said it would actually be cheaper to fly with Uber than your own car.

Los Angeles, the second-largest US metropolitan area, is the third city announced to be working with Uber on the programme after Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai.

“Los Angeles is one of the most congested cities in the world today,” said Holden,

“They essentially have no mass transit infrastructure. This type of approach allows us to very inexpensively deploy a mass transit method that actually doesn’t make traffic worse.”

Holden also said that Uber has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to create a brand-new air traffic control system to manage these low-flying, possibly autonomous aircraft.

IANS

Picture source: Alamy

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“We want to focus on the trip experience itself and make sure riders enjoy the journey. Technology is helping us personalise every ride, making the experience fun and delightful. With this integration, our riders can now Snap along the way and share their Uber moments with friends,” Apurva Dalal, Head of Engineering at Uber India, said in a statement.

After updating the app, an existing Snapchat user on an Uber ride will see a ‘Snap Card’ in the Uber feed. Riders can select the type of filter they want to unlock, take a selfie and then swipe right. They can even use Uber filters with another Snap lens for double the fun.

The Snapchat integration will available for riders on both Android and iOS in India.

IANS

Picture source: Alamy Image

Picture used for illustrative purposes alone

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A wide range of UAVs are on display at IDEX, ranging from small, man-portable, rotary-wing variants designed to be carried by on-the-ground tactical units, to larger, weaponised versions that currently patrol and carry out frequent strikes in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other active combat zones.

Among the companies displaying drones at IDEX is Insitu, a Boeing subsidiary which produces light-weight UAV’s, one of which, the ScanEagle has the ability to fly unnoticed over targets for up to 24 hours at altitudes at almost 6,000 metres, depending on payloads.

Since first seeing active service over the skies of Iraq in 2004, ScanEagles have accumulated almost a million flight hours, many of them over active battlefields worldwide.

“What it really enabled the operator is a new picture of the battle space. They were better able to understand enemy combatant movements, and they were better able to take control of that battle space,” said Mark Bauman, Associate VP of Insitu Defense.

The drone’s main benefit, Bauman said, was that it allowed troops “ensure the safety and security” of their forces.

“It was a game charger to have eyes in the sky keeping watch over those forces,” he said.

The alternative, Bauman noted, would have been to put a manned asset – such as a helicopter – in harm’s way, or to rely solely on the capabilities of those on the ground.

“That’s only a two-dimensional view, versus getting overhead and obtaining that three-dimensional view,” he said.

Additionally, Insitu’s airframes take off with the assistance of a catapult-like pneumatic launcher, and are recovered using a hook and cable – meaning they can be installed in remote areas where runways aren’t available, or even on moving ships.

“It’s a runway independent system that allows for a quick-setup…you can launch, recover and tow everything with a pickup truck, and that’s a pretty innovative concept,” Bauman noted. “There’s a requirement for this type of capability in the region.”

Professor Thomas Jones of S-Plane Automation – a South African company that specialises in turning manned aircraft into “optionally-manned” or unmanned versions – noted that in the future the world will likely see unmanned vehicles take over in a wide variety of missions in which it would’t be suitable, or safe, for a pilot to fly.

“It’s safe to do that, and you can do so without any loss of life,” he noted. “Additionally, automation gives an added value to an (aerial) system. If you take out to pilots, that can be replaced with a full payload.”

Unmanned systems, Professor Jones added, can be put to a variety of “para-military” uses in which an aircraft may require the ability to remain airborne for amounts of time that would be impossible if pilots were sitting in a cockpit, for sometimes upwards of 20 hours.

“Unmanned systems could be useful for providing security at an event, for example, or for border security missions,” he said. “Anything that is dull, dirty or dangerous, but in which you need the ability to perform.”

Bernd Debusmann Jr. (Chief Reporter)

EDJ 80 target drone display at the Etimad Holdings Pavillion during Opening of International Defense Exhibition and Conference held at ADNEC Exhibition Center in Abu Dhabi, February 19,2017.- Picture by Ryan Lim

bernd@khaleejtimes.com

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The EHANG184 was unveiled at the World Government Summit last week. The Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV) is set to take to the skies by July this year.

But how exactly are these flying cars going to help the average Dubai resident out? Here are some reasons.

Remember the horror of being stuck in rush hour traffic going from Dubai to Sharjah and vice versa? With Dubai’s flying car, your dread of Sharjah traffic is virtually nil. Wear a smile on your face as you reach home in 30 minutes (even fewer!)

Park ‘ANYWHERE’

Everybody knows that finding parking in Dubai Mall (even getting there) on the weekends is near impossible. Thanks to the flying car’s dedicated landing areas, you can shop for the latest deals in town and have a coffee worry free. Never break into a sweat in the hot parking lot trying to remember where your car is ever again!

Never miss a turn ever again

We all have that one friend that either lives in JLT or Marina. Missing your exit when you try to visit them happens. A LOT. When you’re high up in the sky, circling back a long distance is a thing of the past.

Forget about petrol too

Apart from the already amazing fact that it’s a car that flies, it also doesn’t consume petrol. The vehicle is 100% powered by electricity. No more petrol bills and long queues at the stations!

Have a smooth ride. Literally

One of the EHANG184’s notable safety features is that in case of a malfunction, the vehicle immediately lands at a safe location. You no longer have to worry about your car breaking down along Sheikh Zayed Road and you having to struggle to find jumper cables.

Keith Pereña/Khaleej Times

Picture source: RTA/YouTube

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As Dubai gets set to welcome the third annual Nobel Museum, the 2017 edition thrusts the field of physics into the limelight. From exploring the universe from a physical point of view: going from the smallest elements of matter (atomic particles) all the way to the universe as a whole, the museum will show visitors how physics allows humanity to dissect and understand natural resources.
Organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), Nobel Museum will be held in Dubai in February, under the theme “The Nobel Prize in Physics: Understanding Matter”.

The event is held under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of MBRF. The MBRF is the first-ever Arab organisation to hold such a high-profile global knowledge event.

This year’s edition of the museum will introduce the public to the discoveries and scientific achievements of the Nobel laureates in physics, which have played a significant role in improving people’s lives.

Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said: “Once more, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation strengthens its ties with esteemed global knowledge-centric organisations; these relations serve to consolidate efforts to create projects and initiatives that help disseminate knowledge around the world.”

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

Picture source: Alamy

Picture used for illustrative purposes alone

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“The word’s first makeshift city for humanitarian work was launched in consistence with President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s declaration of 2017 as the Year of Giving to empower the youth in areas of volunteer, charitable and humanitarian work,” said Dr Adel Al Shameri, CEO of Zayed Giving Initiative.

“The humanitarian initiative comes in line with the vision of Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, which affirms the importance of engaging all sectors and members of the society to adopt sustainable, charitable community projects,” he added.

The city will be equipped with all necessary infrastructure and facilities that will enable it to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged people by providing real solutions to tackle their social and humanitarian problems. It also aims to effectively serve social and economic developments,” he said.

Al Shameri noted that the upcoming period would see a paradigm shift in volunteer, charitable and humanitarian work as the city for humanitarian work would be established to provide training and relief locally and globally.

According to him, the city will be equipped with basic facilities, including mobile clinics, a field hospital, a makeshift school, a shopping centre, restaurants, a sports centre, a mobile academy and a camp that can accommodate up to 1,000 families in case of an emergency.

“The initiative is a message of love and giving from the UAE people to the world,” he said.

The project will focus on the engagement of youth and instill in them the culture of giving, volunteering and humanitarian work by setting up the Zayed young charitable team, and organising the forum of giving and the local and global convoys of giving.

Wam

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Col Ali Saeed Al Alkeem, director of traffic and patrols department with RAK police, said all the four mishaps took place on the Shaikh Mohammed bin Salem road early in the morning because of the too much foggy weather.

“The first of these involved the collision of five vehicles in which four passengers were injuries. One received serious injuries while two sustained moderate wounds and the fourth was slightly injured.”

The second accident also happened on the same arterial road where four vehicles rammed into each other leading to the injury of a passenger, he added. “The third 11-vehicle pile-up, the biggest collision in the day, occurred on the same road, but luckily no one was injured.”

The fourth and final pile-up involved six vehicles, Col Al Alkeem said. “Also no one was injured in this accident.”

Urging, he said all motorists need to make sure that the front shield and all the car windows are clean before heading to any place. “The lights and signals must also be clean and working properly to avoid any hassles.”

Keeping a safety space, reducing the speed limit, and observing lane rule are so critical at all times, particularly during foggy weather, Col Al Alkeem underlined. “Poor take-over is one of the main reasons behind so many accidents.”

Indicating, he said all the vehicle lights must be on during the early hours. “Drivers would better head to the nearest police station in case of minor accidents that mostly end in no injuries.

Using the hazard light must only be used in case of an emergency or an accident, as these lights will confuse the drivers, and delay them for no reason, he affirmed. “Using hazard lights give the motorists no chance to indicate where exactly they are going to change their lane.”

It is also highly recommended for all motorists to check the weather condition via so many means of communication before taking the road, he advised. “This helps cub traffic accidents and casualties as well.”

Major General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police, has ordered more than 30 traffic patrols to be deployed across the internal and highways of the emirate during the morning peak hour to ease and ensure traffic flow. “Drivers need to be more cautious during the dense foggy weather because of the low visibility.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

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The launch of the new service follows extensive research into passenger expectations, as a result huge efforts have been made to upgrade airport Wi-Fi infrastructure capped off by the successful completion of a four-month pilot project launched at Concourse D in July earlier this year.

The unlimited free Wi-Fi takes only one click to connect thanks to a much simplified landing page, and offers speeds that set a new benchmark in airports globally, a press released issued today said.

To ensure the speed and reliability of the new service, Dubai Airports is currently investing in over 6,000 new Wi-Fi access points to upgrade the entire wireless network infrastructure across both airports, and enhanced the internet links to over 5Gbps to provide the required bandwidth capacity, sufficient to power a small city. New web applications have also been specially developed for each terminal and concourse to improve information for passengers.

“As the world’s largest international hub we are the heart of many journeys across the world today. When our passengers arrive in Dubai after a long journey they now expect to keep in touch with friends and family all over the world.

“To enable this, Dubai Airports has invested heavily in developing a state of the art infrastructure to deliver industry leading Wi-Fi capability. It is just one of many initiatives we have undertaken to serve and delight the 83 million passengers that will pass through our airports this year,” said Michael Ibbitson, Executive Vice President of Business Technology at Dubai Airports.

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This accident adds up to the list of more than 110 fatalities this year alone. Why are the roads in the UAE so unsafe, one may ponder, when clearly the country has excellent infrastructure and the government has made significant investments in terms of the quality of roads and technology implemented? The answer, appallingly enough, is the sheer carelessness and casual behaviour of the residents when they get behind the wheel. According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) global status report on road safety 2015, the UAE witnessed 10.9 road deaths per 100,000 population.

The statistics are worryingly high, and point at the urgent need to crack down on distracted driving. The near-term solutions could be to introduce refresher tests and courses for all drivers, and tighten laws further to discourage speeding and swerving, which are the top causes of road accidents in the UAE. In the longer term introducing autonomous driving vehicles might be the right thing. It’ll remove distracted humans from the driving equation completely and make roads safer. But for now, there is no hidden magic bullet for creating immediate awareness and tackling road safety. The government is doing its best to introduce new technology, improve infrastructure and levy heftier penalties for offenders to improve conditions on the roads. The UAE’s aims to reduce road deaths to three for each 100,000 people by 2021, and achieve zero fatalities on the road by 2030 is commendable. But until people who behind the wheel realise that they are as much responsible for other people’s lives as they are for themselves, it is hard to see any change. The government’s vision can only be achieved if everyone works together.

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