Innovative Interactive Showroom For People Of Determination Launched By Zayed Organisation In Middle East

The Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) has unveiled the first interactive showroom in the Middle East at its headquarters in Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to support People of Determination and foster innovation in assistive technology.

Andy Faulkner, CEO of Topland, stated, "Topland is proud to collaborate with the Zayed Higher Organisation in launching this unique and exceptional interactive showroom, which showcases the latest technologies to assist People of Determination in their daily tasks. This showroom will allow individuals and businesses to see all the available technologies and understand how to benefit from them. Both the immersive virtual reality experience and the autism experience are the first of their kind to be launched in the Middle East."

The new interactive showroom features several zones, including the "Innovation Zone," "Education Zone," and "Hospitality Zone." These areas display a variety of innovative products designed to facilitate daily life for individuals and businesses. Among these products is "HEARNU," a non-surgical hearing device that uses bone conduction technology to assist those with hearing impairments.

One standout feature is the Autism Virtual Reality Experience. This immersive experience allows non-autistic individuals to understand sensory challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum. Advanced technology provides participants with a deeper understanding of these daily challenges, fostering empathy and increasing community awareness.

This initiative is a collaboration with "Topland," which provided advanced technological solutions for the showroom. The partnership reflects both parties' commitment to empowering People of Determination through modern technology. The educational zones offer workshops and training sessions to help individuals and their families use these technologies effectively.

Abdullah Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of ZHO, said, "This interactive showroom represents a new step towards building a more inclusive and innovative future for People of Determination. We are proud to be the first organisation in the Middle East to offer this unique experience, which combines technology, education, and community interaction to support a vital segment of our society."

Enhancing Community Inclusion

Al Humaidan highlighted that inclusivity, accessibility, and education are key pillars of this initiative. He noted that two interactive rooms have been established in the exhibition area. The first room simulates autism using a model applied in the United Kingdom, attracting over 200,000 visitors annually. This aims to raise awareness among teaching staff about factors that help People of Determination focus on learning.

The second room is dedicated solely to education and includes more than 350,000 scenarios about practising daily life activities. It trains People of Determination on how to cope with challenges, overcome fears, and engage in social integration.

Global Practices and Local Impact

Al Humaidan explained that this project has been developed over time by evaluating global practices to attract international companies to Abu Dhabi. This supports easier access to services for People of Determination. He stressed that education is fundamental, noting that today’s exhibition includes programmes for trial purposes followed by specialised training lasting at least one hour.

This initiative extends beyond education; it also involves medical staff, healthcare sectors, government bodies including police forces, as well as private sectors. The goal is raising awareness on how best to interact with People of Determination.

This interactive showroom marks significant progress towards supporting People of Determination through innovative solutions while promoting community inclusion.

With inputs from WAM