THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2014 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Gillan plays with CAMPUS • High school students hone perceptions in research skills at Planet Georgetown week thriller Oculus P | 4 P | 8-9 INTERIORS • Tips & tricks: Where to store winter clothes Whether it is 11 players on a pitch or four football-playing robots, Germans often win — but it is Iran who triumph P | 6 at a weekend RoboCup matchup in Tehran. FOOD • Maximising the texture of a fried egg P | 7 HEALTH • Tobacco on TV tied to adult smoking rates P | 11 TECHNOLOGY • Siri-like Cortana fills Windows phone gap SANCTIONS-HIT P | 12 IRAN TRIUMPHS Learn Arabic • Learn commonly used Arabic words and their meanings ROBOCUP P | 13 2 PLUS | THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2014 COVER STORY By Cyril Julien ran may be lumbered with economic sanc- tions but that did Inot stop a local team of robotics experts from sweeping aside German and Dutch rivals in foot- ball’s RoboCup. In an event that could be considered just a fun distraction if it weren’t for all the hard work involved, the annual tournament drew an international field of competitors last weekend. On a green felt car- pet, five teams — three German, one Dutch and the other Iranian — con- tested RoboCup’s 9th edi- tion in Tehran, with the robots trying to prod a red ball into the back of their opponent’s net over two 10-minute halves. Standing just 60cm (24 inches) tall, the key factor in the match — unlike in everyday electronic games — the robots are pre-pro- grammed by their human masters ahead of kick-off. “The robots are com- pletely autonomous — we don’t have any control on the game and they make their own decisions,” said Novin Sharhoudi, 20, a student of software and computer engineering at Qasvin Azad University, northwest of Tehran. And unlike professional sport in which money can buy the best players, the RoboCup teams used iden- tical machines designed by Aldebaran Robotics, a French company that also provided raw technical data for the programmers. “We process the data to improve locomotion, per- ception of the infrastruc- ture and behaviour,” said Sharhoudi, referring to how and when the robots move, kick the ball and interact with team mates across a playing surface six metres (yards) long and three metres wide. Without upgrades, components Each robot is equipped with two cameras — one Iran teaches Germany on its head and the other on its chin — to see the ball and communicate with team mates via wire- a lesson in RoboCup less networking. PLUS | THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2014 3 Local MRL (Mechatronics “Iranians have made good progress Research Laboratories) team came since last year. We are now on the out on top, even though all aspects same level and they are our main of life in Iran are clouded by inter- opponents,” he said. national sanctions imposed as pun- The MRL team’s victory came ishment for its disputed nuclear after a third place finish behind programme. world champions Bremen and “We don’t get all the upgrades, we Leipzig at a recent tournament in can’t buy robots or some components Germany. and the company was not in Tehran But for professionals taking part during the event so we can’t repair in RoboCup, the aim is to advance the robots,” said Sharhoudi. their research and to improve design And just as in the beautiful game and movement in new software itself, no plan survives the opening programmes. whistle. “They develop lots of skills that Jonas Mende of team HTWK from can be used in other areas,” said Leipzig, Germany saw his robots Patrick de Kok of the NAO Dutch bump into each other and their oppo- team who took part in Tehran. nents, fall over and require “time “Finding a ball is not only for soc- out” on the sidelines before return- cer but can help find a specific target ing to action. during rescue operations,” he added, Mende was impressed by the referring to searches in contami- improvements achieved by the MRL nated and dangerous places. team. AFP 4 PLUS | THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2014 CAMPUS / WHEELS High school students hone research skills at Planet Georgetown week wenty-six Qatar-based high school students recently completed the Georgetown University Tin Qatar (GU-Q) Planet Georgetown week- long after-school research programme. The young researchers were all Year 10 students and represented 14 schools, both independent and private, from throughout Qatar. The highly-selective programme put the students through their paces as their research tasks aligned with this year’s Planet Georgetown theme: Mapping the Modern World. Latifa Al Shamlan, a student from the American School of Doha, said: “Planet Georgetown impacted me positively in an educational way. My research skills improved and I also gained more knowledge about other countries.” “It has changed my way of looking at the world in general and looking at politics in particular,” added Al Dana Hamad Al Marri, while Albandari AlMana exclaimed, “Engaging, enriching, and engrossing-- Planet Georgetown is a thrilling experience!” both researching the history of the ‘map’ of that country: of motivated, dedicated, and talented young people are students at Al Maha Academy For Girls. How did the country’s map develop over time? What who truly explored the world of today to shape the Abdulkareem Anisetty from Ahmed bin Hanbal internal and external conflicts does the country cur- world of tomorrow through gaining a deeper under- Independent Secondary School For Boys said: “Planet rently face? When did the country come to be known standing of themselves and the world around them,” Georgetown is more than just a programme about by its current name? How were the country’s borders explained Saaliha Khan, GU-Q student development the planet — it was a planet itself with people from determined and have there been border disputes? officer and member of the SFS-Q Enrichment Team. all over the world.” These are just some of the many questions the stu- “We are glad to be able to facilitate this journey This year’s Planet Georgetown immersed the stu- dents examined and developed into individual finished that builds responsible global citizens and look for- dents in map orientation, research skills, flag symbol- research projects. This culminated with each student ward to further engaging bright minds and young ism, professional citation proficiency, a study of the presenting their findings at the end of the week dur- leaders in our local and global community.” Ukraine conflict, and a sample University-level Map ing the Planet Georgetown Closing Ceremony. By Organised by the GU-Q Office of Educational of the Modern World lecture, in addition to their own presentation time, the students were well-prepared Enrichment Initiatives, the Planet Georgetown pro- individual research projects. to speak knowledgeably about their research results gramme was launched in 2008 in order to expand The students’ individual projects required that and answer questions from the audience. the range and scope of engagement with the local they personally select a country for the purposes of “The Planet Georgetown participants were a group community. The Peninsula Domasco hosts Honda Pilot desert drive onda Pilot owners were invited to join Domasco for Hthe last off-road adventure of the season in the dunes of Qatar last weekend. A convoy of 15 cars took to the sand dunes and enjoyed the off-road competence of their Pilot vehicles, led by Mohammed Abdulla Zareei, a professional off road driver. Greig Roffey, Head of Sales and Marketing, Domasco Honda wel- comed everyone and provided tips on desert driving. Members of the Domasco Honda team accompanied the group, to give the owners the benefit of their personal experience and confidence in the capabilities of the sands while relishing the spa- one dune after another and the vehi- “Organising the Honda Pilot their vehicles. cious luxurious interior of this Grand cle never showed signs of tiredness,” Desert Drive for our Honda cus- “The Pilot’s smooth city driv- Comfort Cruiser,” he added. explained a customer who joined the tomers to enjoy the off-road com- ing capabilities underlie the power For many in the group, this was group with his family. petence of their Pilot vehicles and that it can harness when driving on their first off-road experience. They The dune drive was followed by the beauty of the desert was truly a rough, unpredictable and inhospita- smoothly conquered sand dunes of a convivial barbeque on the beach, delight for us. Besides, Honda lovers ble conditions such as the desert,” all sizes with ease with their Honda where the group enjoyed spending will be more delighted to know that said Greig. Pilot, a very thrilling experience, time relaxing with the Domasco they can now enjoy a huge cash back “Honda Pilot owners experienced especially for the first timers. “It was team, enjoying a day of great food, offer on all 2014 Honda models” said the Pilot’s enviable performance on a real pleasure driving the Pilot onto conversation and adventure. Greig. The Peninsula COMMUNITY / MARKETPLACE PLUS | THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2014 5 The resident representatives of the seven Asean embassies in Doha - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines — held their monthly meeting hosted by Mövenpick Hotel Doha recently. The group enjoyed an Asian inspired sweet treats table in the renovated boardroom, followed by a lunch prepared by Chef Ery Irmansjah with delicious dishes from the ASEAN coun- tries. FROM LEFT: Nurwenda Sucipto, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Syed Noureddin, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Crescente R Relacion, Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines, HE Dato’ Ahmad Jazri bin Mohd Johar, Ambassador of Malaysia, Nordin Ahmad, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam and Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Doha (ACD), Le Hong Phan, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Piroon Laismit, Ambassador of Thailand and Fabian Chesnais, General Manager of Movenpick Hotel Doha.