On the International Day of Women in Engineering, an engineer from Heriot-Watt University aims to collaborate with companies to introduce her smart wristband to the market.
Dr. Rula Sharqi, the engineer behind this initiative, developed the bracelet in cooperation with senior engineering student Nakhul Kalivanan.
The “Little Guard” project is a pioneering effort globally, designed to monitor children’s vital signs around the clock and send instant text alerts in critical situations, even contacting emergency services when necessary.
Dr. Rula Sharqi dedicated the past 12 months to developing this project alongside Nakhul Kalivanan, who joined as part of his final-year studies.
Following a successful prototype, the duo plans to present their idea to an industrial partner to bring their innovation to market.
Dr. Rula Sharqi stated, “We believe in the potential of this product to save lives. Uncontrolled fevers are a major cause of infant mortality, making it crucial to provide a solution for monitoring children’s body temperature.
We are ready to collaborate with an experienced and passionate company to achieve this goal.”
The concept of the smart bracelet emerged in 2018 when Dr. Rula Sharqi cared for her two-year-old son, Youssef, who was suffering from fever.
Constantly measuring his temperature over three days and nights prompted her to envision a device that could monitor and send alerts as needed.
The bracelet securely attaches to a child’s skin, made from soft fabric and equipped with precise sensors for continuous accurate readings.
It operates wirelessly with a rechargeable battery lasting approximately six months. Text alerts are sent to parents and even emergency services to ensure immediate response.
When vital readings exceed safe limits, a text alert or email is sent to parents via a dedicated app. Alerts can also be sent to the family doctor to ensure prompt medical attention.
Nakhul Kalivanan explained, “Our bracelet design ensures no false readings, with sensors placed directly on the skin. We used advanced sensors to achieve this.”
Dr. Rula Sharqi highlights the importance of women in engineering, offering unique perspectives that contribute to developing comprehensive solutions that meet societal needs.
She recounts how her mother, one of the first female engineering graduates in the Arab world, inspired her to enter this field.
Dr. Rula aims to inspire future generations of women to pursue engineering careers.
She said, “My mother inspired me to enter the field of engineering and specialize in teaching at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
Through involvement in projects like this, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue engineering degrees.”
