News
ConFex Saudi Arabia To Take Place On October 23rd & 24th
The expo showcases how digitalization and cutting-edge tech are shaping the construction and real estate industries in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The Construction Technology ConFex KSA (CTF KSA) is a two-day immersive event exploring the technology revolutionizing Saudi Arabia’s Built Environment and Giga Project. Co-organized by the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), ConFex takes place at the Crowne Plaza, RDC Hotel in Riyadh on October 23rd and 24th.
Confex will showcase how digitalization and advanced tech are shaping construction and real estate in Saudi Arabia. Event organizers expect over 600 attendees, who will join 60 expert speakers and thought leaders in architecture, design, engineering, and construction, plus influential policymakers and investors.
Event themes include advanced technologies driving the built environment, Smart & Future Cities, Digital & Innovative Deliveries, Data Intelligence, and Sustainability. Speaking topics and workshops will cover a wide range of subjects, including:
- Virtual construction
- Decarbonization of the built environment
- The internet of things (IoT)
- Machine learning
- Predictive data analytics
- Digital twins
- Building information modeling (BIM)
- Building management system software
Confex is an important event for the construction and smart city technology sector. With the industry projected to research a value of nearly $15 billion by 2027, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming home to some of the world’s most advanced and futuristic building concepts.
Also Read: Bahrain Plans To Develop 300 Smart Factories By 2026
The Saudi Arabia Giga Project program — a cornerstone of the Vision 2030 program — is the world’s most extensive civil infrastructure initiative. Meanwhile, developments like NEOM, with its massive $500 billion budget, represent the largest construction projects globally. Furthermore, Red Sea tourism projects, valued at $8.5 billion, place a large emphasis on digital and smart delivery, while the $2.4 billion Roshn housing project aims to cut emissions by an estimated 18%.
To learn more about Saudi Arabia’s biggest Construction Technology Confex, head to the official website.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) December 3, 2024
The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.