My Green Chapter, the UAE online garden centre, exhibited its smart plants this year at the Index Design Series exhibition in Dubai. From a garden that allows you to grow fresh greens without soil, and click-and-grow and self-watering plants, to supplying composting solutions and even chicken coops for those who fancy collecting their own organic eggs, the year-old company is all about urban farming. Founder Jean-Charles Hameau, an agricultural engineer by profession, says: "Plants and garden plots can help people reconnect with the earth, and gain a greater appreciation for where our food comes from. Having a green space is not always possible in built-up areas, so our emphasis is on curating a stress-free gardening experience." He tells us more about the science behind smart plants, as well as his favourite gadgets for a digital home.
Smart plants: what are they and how do they help?
Tailored for the fast-paced lifestyle of the average UAE resident, smart plants provide homegrown organic food, saving you a trip to the supermarket. The plants are self-sustaining, self-watering and require minimal attention. The Plantui Smart Garden, for instance, is easy to set up, effortless to maintain, and intelligently alerts you if it needs something, such as a water or nutrient top-up. The fully automated growth process is ensured by special light spectrums. It is packed into a compact device, made out of a high-quality metal hat and ceramic bowl, decorated with aesthetic patterns. Plus, having plants at home or the office creates a much-needed relaxing ambience.
What are some of your favourite smart-home gadgets?
Nest, an air-conditioning control on your phone. It’s a brilliant creation, especially for the UAE’s notorious summers. Nest dodges the lag period between coming home and waiting for the AC to kick in and cool the temperature down. I also love Roomba, the robotic vacuum cleaner, because it’s every techie’s childhood dream come true – and a definite talking point at house parties. The Alexa and Apple HomePod represent another childhood fantasy brought to life. The gadget is essentially a virtual assistant that helps make shopping easier. It’s also got the occasional joke, which gets me giggling after a stressful day.
Do you think, when it comes to technology in our homes, smart can be too smart?
Not really, because you’re still the owner and in control. If you delve deeper into the privacy settings, you can control the information that is being shared. Smart tech and gadgets for the home are made to complement the fast-moving lifestyle that comes with urban living. Since we’re putting our energy towards careers and families, smart tech is there to help us work better and more conveniently.
That said, I think chatbots are a little unnecessary. In customer service, a human being can never be replaced with a robot. Robots are usually suitable for more general queries, but in circumstances that require more complex assistance, a human being performs exceptionally better than a robot ever could. That’s because we aren’t coded – we can think for ourselves and then react accordingly.
What are some of the trends in the smart-home gadget market for 2018-19?
Smart Cara, a food waste disposal system that aims to reduce waste by 90 per cent by creating a natural soil enhancer [from peels, rinds and other perishable rubbish]. We see this skyrocketing in the modern kitchen, which is run by an urban gardener with an interest in conserving resources and producing less waste. Two, the OrbSys Shower, a high-tech purification system that recycles water while you wash. And finally, the Self-Cleaning Auto-Ordering Fridge, which is designed to clean itself, cut down on wasted food, scan its shelves for food, provide you with recipes and show you how to get the most out of your leftovers. The device can even reorder groceries to replenish your dwindling stock.
What are some of your predictions about the tech that’s yet to be developed? What might the smart plants of the future look like, for instance?
I predict that they will all be computer-operated, from planting the seed to harvesting crops. However, in my opinion, plants do need a certain degree of human interaction. In our smart garden, the seeds come in capsules with moss in it, but in the future, I can see seeds being in the form of an actual capsule or pill, which would be dropped in the water to sprout and create its own atmosphere.
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Read more:
Japan turns to robots as population ages
Why 3D printed building is more than a fad
Will flying cars ever actually take off?
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Your rights as an employee
The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.
The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.
If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.
Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.
The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
'C'mon C'mon'
Director:Mike Mills
Stars:Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Woody Norman
Rating: 4/5
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
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