The Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, DSCD, is demonstrating the use of robots and other interactive digital technologies at the 36th Sharjah International Book Fair at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The department introduced two 'new age robots', Ahmad and Khalid, to interact with fair visitors and tell them about who they are, what they do, and more importantly, helping people understand the importance and effectiveness of statistical data in the development and advancement of societies and peoples.

"As visitors to the fair are passing along by the DSCD stand at SIBF 2017, most of them are intrigued by the two robots, about who they are and what they can do. And that is our opportunity to introduce ourselves to the community and tell them about the functions of the department," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of DSCD.

"This is a great opportunity for us to introduce our latest project, Tahdeeth, the-first-of-its-kind at the level of statistical innovations in the region, which will provide accurate and latest census data, which is being collected within the present context of demographic changes and living conditions that have altered since 2015, reflecting the statistical makeup of 2017. People's housing changes, their new addresses, updated population count, their characteristics and special composition, will all be reflected by the new project," he added.

The DSCD stand is screening a live broadcast of the work that is happening behind the scenes at their call-centres, which shows the team of 60 Emirati women who have been appointed to collect sensitive data for Tahdeeth. The project continues until December 4th, and will update information on 25,181 Emirati households, involving more than 179,000 Emiratis, with the objective of establishing a central data source that will provide the basis for enhanced community development.

More than 1.5 million titles and 1,650 publishing houses from 60 countries are participating at this edition of SIBF, which runs until 11th November, under the theme, ‘A World in My Book’. For the first time ever, SIBF is allocating a special pavilion, ‘The Future Zone’ in Hall 1 that will bring together 10 leading companies specialising in digital books to showcase their experiences and latest publications.