News

Dubai Airport To Introduce Complete Biometric Admin System

The new technology will make journeys faster and seamless by identifying people based on unique physical and behavioral cues.

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai airport to introduce complete biometric admin system

Dubai Airport is working on a unified biometric system for check-ins, immigration, and boarding that will improve speed and efficiency for passengers.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) said that Dubai International Airport would deploy the technology to identify individuals based on unique physical or behavioral characteristics.

This single system will increase the number of passengers that can be handled by airport staff while eliminating the need for immigration counters, officials explained.

“We have been working on this one biometric project for two years. The idea is to make passenger journeys faster, easier, and seamless using one biometric. For example, passengers coming for check-in will use the same biometrics in immigration, lounge, and boarding the aircraft. We call it a smart journey. In the future, we may not see classic counters as we know them today,” said Major General Obaid bin Suroor, deputy director-general of GDRFA.

Meanwhile, Major General Talal Al Shangeti, assistant director-general of the Airport Passport Sector at GDRFA, said that the GDRFA was working with all stakeholders to improve services to make Dubai International Airport one of the best in service.

Also Read: Tourists Can Now Use Their Home E-Wallets In The UAE

Over 42 million passengers used airports and immigration borders, with 37% using smart gates during the January-June period.

“Our target is to reach 80% of people using smart gates and other technologies. We hope to achieve this in a couple of years. We believe Dubai airport will completely deploy biometric technology,” revealed Major General Talal.

Currently, there are 120 operational smart gates at Dubai International Airport, and the aim is to reach 150 by the end of 2023 or early 2024.

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.

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Nour Nasir

samsung smart glasses teased for january software reveal imminent

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.