Have you ever wished there was a machine that reminds you of all your special memories? Or longed for a smart trolley that shops for elders or people with special needs? Or imagined a world where no children get lost?
While you sit and wish, and experts, scientists, and engineers plan to work on these technological innovations, ‘small wonders’ at the sixth edition of the Sharjah Children Biennial (SCB) are already half-way into inventing these.
Problems and challenges around us may be many, but inquisitive, curious, and young minds have innovative answers to all. With this focus, SCB has invited children as young as 6 years old worldwide to identify challenges and problems that are encountered on a daily basis and come up with outside-the-box solutions, through art and creativity.
Held at the Mughaider Children’s Center for Arts in Sharjah, under the theme ‘A Future as Big as Your Imagination’, the event will amaze you with the levels of creativity and imagination that participants have demonstrated in its three categories: ‘Helping Others’, ‘Environment’, and ‘Entertainment and Creativity’.
Half of the works on display this year, 24 out of 48 total inventions and prototypes fall under ‘Helping Others’.
Memory-O-Matic
Take 9-year-old Rosa, for example, who built a smart machine to help bring back good memories. A built-in emotion detector can sense if you are sad and play videos of good memories with your loved ones. The device can also save appointments and give reminders, so you never forgot. Made especially for the elderly and people suffering from dementia, this invention can project images of loved ones, helping them to remember the most important people in their lives.
Smart Trolley
Elders and people with special needs too require great care and attention. Ahmad, who is just nine years old, has come up with the concept of a smart trolley for them. It contains a sensor worn by the shopper and another attached to the trolley. It is programmed to follow the shopper and can even pick things from the aisle, like a robot. This invention is aimed at making differently abled people more independent, who can then enjoy the experience of shopping just like others.
Panic Track Watch
On the other hand, 6-year-old Efran from the UAE came up with a children’s watch that includes a panic button connected straight to a parents’ smart phone. She made this invention for her younger sister, who once lost her way in the mall while playing. Upon pressing the button, the parent is instantly notified with the location of their child.
In all, 48 works from children in six countries are on display at the exhibition until March 20, turned into real inventions and prototypes by a team of artists, designers, and multimedia experts. Besides the main exhibition, exciting art workshops and a plethora of activities are keeping the exhibition-goers occupied and captivated.
SCB is being held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, and is organised by “Sharjah Children,” a subsidiary of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation, in collaboration with Uk-based ‘Little Inventors’.
