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SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2013 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 ffavoourritee, baased on patent filed sizzee bbyy Appplee foorr Spirall user interface inside S Apple “iWatch”ffondd neess for Ikepod Geneve CAMPUS HHoorriizoon wriisstwatches • Two PSD students rumours2 Sqquuaarree faace: More suited win top places in S literary competition gather pace iOOS, aaltthhoouuggh there are prrobbleems ovver battery life P | 4 faallinng sshhort oof goal of 4--5 ddaayyss bettween charges HEALTH P | 10 3 WWraap--arroound face: Apple hhaas filed patents for curved glass • Too much salt may trigger autoimmune diseases: Studies P | 7 MOVIE • Vivid, vibrant, savagely tragic with gutsy performances P | 8-9 BOOKS • Joyce Carol Oates takes on Ivy League society in new novel P | 11 TECHNOLOGY • Facebook puts Tackling traffic focus on photos in new look jams made easy P | 12 LEARN ARABIC • Learn commonly Traffic Jam Assistant will guide your car by used Arabic words giving appropriate driving instructions for and their meanings safer and less stressful driving. P | 2-3 P | 13 2 PLUS | SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2013 COVER STORY By Isabel Ovalle “In a further development step, an automatic lane changing function will ore than 88,000 new vehicles use a rear-mounted radar sensor that were registered in Qatar detects fast approaching vehicles, and a Switch last year. Consequently, the navigation map operating via a mobile Mroads are more crowded network connection will keep drivers than ever and traffic congestion is a daily informed of roadwork sites and local speed and unavoidable nuisance. However, that restrictions,” said Gring. feeling one gets when stuck in a traffic jam The Bosch official said the German could become a thing of the past thanks to company was already supplying high- a new invention: the Traffic Jam Assistant. performance traffic assistance systems on the Designed by Bosch, the software can that help drivers in Doha reach their guide vehicles through highway traffic destinations safely and comfortably, jams. However, desperate drivers will have including systems that control speed and to wait some time, given that the system the distance between vehicles, and GPS is set to start production in 2014. software that warns drivers of traffic jams. The Bosch Traffic Jam Assistant will “The Traffic Jam Assistant is an autopilot brake, accelerate and steer autonomously expansion of existing systems, and is at speeds up to 50 kilometres per hour. It being developed first and foremost to is designed to operate in most stop-and-go help drivers arrive more relaxed at their traffic situations, which are common in desired destination, thereby saving them Doha. Although drivers remain responsible from the associated stress that so often Designed by Bosch, the for driving, they can limit themselves to comes with being caught in a tailback,” monitoring the actions of the Traffic added Gring. software can guide vehicles Jam Assistant, explained Guido Gring, “Imagine you are stuck in a traffic Vice President of Bosch Automotive jam on one of Doha’s busiest roads, on through highway traffic jams. Aftermarket, Middle East and Africa. your daily commute home from work, The function utilises Bosch’s Electronic with at least another hour on the tarmac However, desperate drivers will Stability Program, radar and video signals separating you from the comfort of your as well as the electromechanical steering, couch and family, and thinking to yourself: have to wait some time, given while high-performance software calculates I wish my car could drive me home,” he the appropriate driving instructions for said, adding, “that wish will soon come that the system is set to start safer and less stressful driving. true. production in 2014. PLUS | SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2013 3 The Assistant is in its final testing phase and is expected to enter production in 2014. In the following years, the feature will be enhanced to operate at faster speeds and in more complex driving conditions. Eventually, the Traffic Jam Assistant will serve as a highway pilot, mak- ing fully autonomous driving on highways a reality. The pricing is yet to be final- ised, but Gring expects that once production begins and some economies of scale are achieved, the manufacturing cost will come down, which in turn will Guido Gring drive down the price. Initially, Bosch aims to work that “when provoked, they yell with its existing car manufactur- obscenities, wildly gesture, honk ing partners to install the Traffic and swerve in and out of traf- Jam Assistant in their vehicles. fic and endanger their lives and “We’ll work closely with them others.” to accommodate their technical The same study, informed requirements to implement the Bosch, suggested that in a device,” said Gring. road rage state of mind, driv- The system could also be use- ers engage in hostile, aggressive ful in public transport. “If they thinking, take more risks on the are willing to implement the road, get angry faster, behave device in their vehicles, we will more aggressively, have more be happy to provide any assist- accidents and experience more ance needed,” he said. anxiety and impulsiveness. This system could be a For Gring, “the Traffic Jam potential solution for stressed Assistant will reduce the fac- commuters who face tension tors provoking road rage, thus and rage on Qatar’s roads. contributing significantly to The American Psychological avoiding dangers on the road Association recently concluded and accidents. By also remain- in a study on road rage that even ing stress-free on Middle East typically calm, reasonable people roads, people can go about their can turn into warriors behind daily lives with ease.” the wheel. The study revealed The Peninsula 4 PLUS | SUNDAY 10 MARCH 2013 CAMPUS QU community comes Two PSD students together to give blood win top places in ll members of the Qatar literary competition University (QU) community Awere encouraged to donate wo Philippine School Doha blood in a campaign organised by the (PSD) students won top places QU medical clinic in conjunction with in a recent art and literary Hamad Medical Corporation’s Blood Tcompetition organised by the Donor Unit. Philippine Embassy in Oman for 29 More than 200 members of faculty, Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) in staff and students rolled up their sleeves the Middle East. to get involved, as the unit spent a day Julienne Bautista and Anne Loren at the QU campus. Comia won the first place in the literary Chemical Engineering student Lutfi category for the high school and elemen- Mohammed Baraka said: “It’s an easy QU students during tary levels, respectively, on the theme but important thing to do, to give blood. the blood donation Art as Reality: Young Lives in Transition. It’s an honour to have the chance to campaign. The works of Bautista and Comia, help save the lives of others through along with other winners, would fea- this donated blood.” The Peninsula ture in a coffee table book published by the Philippine Mission in Oman and an exhibition celebrating the 115th anni- versary of the declaration of Philippine DPS-MIS students visit independence. Participants in the contest were Indian Coast Guard ship children of Overseas Filipino Workers studying in Philippine schools in Saudi wenty students of class 12 of Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, DPS-MIS visited Asia’s first pol- Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Tlution control vessel — Samudra Other PSD students who did well Prahari — docked at the Doha port. in the literary competition included The students were accompanied by Bernadette Viray and David Joseph Umesh and Shaloo, members of staff. Pascua, who tied for second honour- The DPS group was guided by Officer able mention in the high school level, Puneet Sharma, Assistant Commander, Jaylieca Izabella Cunanan, who won on a tour starting from the helideck. first honourable mention in the elemen- They were taken to the quarterdeck tary level, and Mary Camille Medina, and bridge, and were shown various who made it to the top ten. high-tech instruments like a gyrosta- In the art category, high school biliser, skimmers etc. The control room students Ranica Angela Casipit and of the vessel was the main attraction. Kathleen Baladad and elementary At the end of the tour, Captain Nair student Galvin Ray Dizon made it as addressed the students, giving details of qualifiers. the rescue missions and pollution con- Elena D Castro, the high school par- trol activities organised by the ship’s ticipants’ trainer, expressed happiness crew. The Peninsula at having helped promote academic DPS-MIS students with the crew of the ship. excellence, creativity and artistry within and beyond PSD. Lourdes Altajara, Cunanan’s coach, stressed that art and literature were important factors in shaping a bright academic future, especially for the young. The organisers launched the contest in October last year and started receiv- ing manuscripts electronically. Leaving one’s home country to start a new life overseas with one’s parents was the focal point of the theme of the contest, which encompassed many issues as students are exposed to dif- ferent cultures. The participants were asked to paint or write an essay/poetry, using the medium that best expressed their approach to the theme. The book launch and art exhibition will be held on June 12 this year. Dr Alexander S Acosta, PSD Principal, said the competition was a means to inspire parents, institutions and com- munities to give more support to the artistic growth of their children. He said the school had been making huge Cross 2013 strides to provide students opportunities to express their ideas through art and writing, while at the same time instilling in them Filipino values. The Peninsula Students from Lycee Franco-Qatarien Voltaire and the German School taking part in the Cross 2013 running competition of the French school Lycee Bonaparte.