By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Lieutenant General Dhahi KhalfanTamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Public Security in Dubai, today opened Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) 2018 – the region’s only true information security conference and exhibition–which runs concurrently with the Internet of Things Expo (IoTX) under the umbrella of Future Technology Week from 1 – 3 May at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Future Technology Week is supported by Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Police, Smart Dubai, and is co-located with the first-ever Future Blockchain Summit, which is set to be the largest gathering of global blockchain experts and influencers in the region. Taking place from 2-3 May at DWTC, Future Blockchain Summit is set to welcome captains of industry and visionary technologists, many of whom hail from ground-breaking local and international startups.
Real-life Tony Stark
Future Technology Week took to the air, the airwaves and online as the three-day GISEC and IoTXevent, which hosts regional and global experts, including 120 leading cybersecurity and future tech exhibitors from more than 80 countries, opened with an appearance from a real-life Tony Stark and the unveiling of the first-ever city-themed song composed by an Artificial Intelligence (AI). Dubai Police also marked Day One with the launch of a new platform for reporting cybercrime.
Richard Browning, an ex-Royal Marine with the British Armed Forces, showed why he has earned the title of the ‘Real-life Iron Man’ with a demonstration of his body-controlled jet engine power suit. ‘Daedulus Mark I’ is a specially-designed exoskeleton flight suit that incorporates five miniature jet engines – two mounted on each arm and one in a backpack.
Richard Browning, Founder and Chief Test Pilot, Gravity Industries, commented: “Within the past year we’ve delivered over 50 talks and flights in more than 16 countries. It’s been a real pleasure to be able to add Dubai to our line-up – showcasing the next stages of aeronautical innovation at the Future Tech conference.”
Browning, who already holds a Guinness World Record for the ‘fastest speed in a body-controlled jet suit after clocking 51.53km/h, demonstrated the capabilities of his suit with a ‘fly pass’ at DWTC,
Showing he has the power – each engine provides 22kg of thrust – to achieve vertical take-off and control the direction and speed of flight using his arms. Browning explained how his specially designed helmet includes a display informing him of fuel levels, safety performance indicators and incorporates WIFI for ground monitoring.
Addressing serious threats to global cybersecurity
Lieutenant General Tamim toured the exhibitions halls as GISEC and IoTX 2018 showcased the latest products and services to meet growing demand for critical online security and blockchain solutions. The opening delegation stopped at various stands including Dubai Electronic Security Center, Spire Solutions, HP, IBM, Etisalat Digital, Recorded Future, Cisco and Carbon Black to hear about the new technologies on display that will set the agenda for the region’s information security future.
The show highlights the critical importance of robust information security framework by addressing challenges on global cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats against governments, industries and organisations across the region.
Over the next three days, more than 7,500 infosec professionals will gather to network, knowledge share and trade, while 60-plus experts will address over 100 talks on everything from the future of AI to national cybersecurity agendas, and smart city implementation.A Special Hunt Team of ‘ethical hackers’ from Europe operating against cybercriminals will also descend to talk about their ethical offensive work against criminal gangs.
With the Middle East and Africa (MEA) cybersecurity market forecast to reach USD 34.6 billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.6 per cent, according to leading-industry market
research and consultancy firm Mordor Intelligence, GISEC and IoTX 2018 is the place to be for anyone connected with information security, say organisers of Future Technology Week which, for the first time, is open to the public.
“With high-profile malware attacks and data breaches taking the headlines around the region and the globe, GISEC plays an increasingly crucial role in bringing together a host of industry-leading technology providers and investment decision makers to discuss cybersecurity and information security challenges and opportunities, share top-level knowledge on how to tackle future threats and make everyone more secure online,” said Trixie Loh Mirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.
“Together with IoTX, which will highlight smart technologies that are creating intelligent cities and how Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we live and work, Future Technology Weekis the smart hub to explore a truly smart, safe and secure future online.”
A leader in providing safety and security online, Dubai Police used the opening day of GISC 2018 to launch a new platform for reporting cybercrime. The new service, which is available through the Dubai Police website or app, allows individuals to report a cyberattack, social media crime, email or internet fraud, without the need to attend a police station.
World’s first AI-composed song dedicated to Dubai
In addition, IoTX 2018 demonstrated how it is fully in tune with the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the unveiling of ‘Ode to Dubai’ the first song to fully composed by AI and dedicated to a city.
A collaboration between show organisers and AIVA Technologies, a leading European Artificial Intelligence (AI) music composition startup, ‘Ode to Dubai’ has been created using Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist (AIVA), which composes original classical scores for film, advertising and gaming soundtracks. The ground-breaking song was composed based on the algorithms of 30,000 symphonic music scores from history’s greatest composers including Mozart, Beethoven and Bach.
Following the unveiling of ‘Ode to Dubai’, AIVA’s CEO, Pierre Barreau, a computer scientist, award-nominated film director and registered composer, delivered a keynote address asking whether AIVA is “the greatest composer of all time.”
“Personalised music will be the next single biggest change in how we consume and create music. Imagine if we could bring Beethoven back to life, so that he could write your life soundtrack based on your personality and your story. It’s in the spirit of that vision that we tasked AIVA to compose the world’s first personalised anthem for a city,” said Barreau.
Powered by GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the region’s leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event, FTW 2018 is open to tech enthusiasts, innovators, IT professional and the security and intelligence community, including government departments, business and enterprise.
