- Title: SAUDIA ARABIA-TELEVISION/INVENTION Saudi inventor brings TV to desert
- Date: 19th November 2014
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (NOVEMBER 14, 2014) (REUTERS) IN DESERT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF RIYADH, SAUDI INVENTOR ENGINEER YOUSSEF AL-HARBI SHOWING HIS FRIENDS HOW TO SET UP AND OPERATE HIS INVENTION SALEH AL-DUBAYAN, AL-HARBI'S FRIEND, ASKING ABOUT THE INVENTION AL-HARBI OPERATING REMOTE CONTROL, SWITCHING CHANNELS THE THREE FRIENDS SITTING AROUND FIRE, WATCHING 2014 GULF CUP OF NATIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) INVENTOR, ENGINEER YOUSSEF AL-HARBI, SAYING: ''Many friends decline to come with us when we go to the desert in these beautiful times because of the soccer game or other TV programs, so the idea came from there and asking: is there an alternative? Which device could pick up satellite channels or games when we are in the desert? The idea started there.'' FRIENDS WATCHING TELEVISION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FRIEND OF INVENTOR AL-HARBI, SALEH AL-DUBAYAN, FROM RIYADH, SAYING: ''I am impressed with the device, which brother Youssef brought with him. Frankly, it is dazzling and it is a precious innovation to us the citizens of the Saudi Arabia. We are proud that Youssef invented this device. We look up to him, God willing, our hand with his hand in order to export the device to the world.'' RECEIVER /FRIENDS WATCHING TELEVISION AROUND FIRE FIRE BURNING FRIENDS COOKING CHESTNUTS ON FIREWOOD AND EATING FRIENDS COOKING CHICKEN ON FIREWOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TEACHER, MOHAMMED AL-MUWAIS, FROM MADINA, SAYING: ''Who could have guessed that a person would go to the desert or go with colleagues in remote places and find TV? The trip would be incomplete without this invention, it added a lot to us.'' AL-HARBI PACKING THE DEVICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) INVENTOR YOUSSEF AL-HARBI, SAYING: ''I hope God willing to see this innovation in all countries of the world; in Europe, India, Saudi Arabia, in all the Middle East countries as a Saudi Arabian product that goes everywhere and that we all are proud of.'' AL-HARBI PACKING DEVICE IN ONE BAG AND TAKING INTO CAR BOOT MOON
- Embargoed: 4th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA5HW85QJLC0L2A9F5IKNXY3FOQ
- Story Text: Saudi engineer Youssef al-Harbi proudly shows off his latest invention to his friends: a satellite receiver that works in the middle of the desert to bring television to places where it was previously impossible.
Desert trips are a popular past-time for may in Saudi Arabia. During the period of rainfall or after, when the dry land sees some vegetation, groups gather under the starry skies to spend the evening around the fire, cooking and drinking tea and coffee. There they are able to enjoy the silence and escape from the pressure of everyday life... until now.
For soccer fans, desert trips have become a choice that one makes at the expense of the game or vice versa. During soccer championships, fans have had to decide wether to stay at home to watch the match or join others on a desert night trip.
The 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations takes place in November in Riyadh and many have decided to stay home to watch the soccer competition.
Thanks to al-Harbi's invention, Saudi soccer fans won't have to make that crucial choice anymore.
And on Friday (November 14), al-Harbi and two of his friends were able to enjoy the Iraq-Yemen match in front of a fire in the desert.
The device, which al-Harbi called 'mobile satellite receiver invention', works on a car battery or on a charged battery and can operate as a small TV screen as well as a small light and mobile phone charger.
''Many friends decline to come with us when we go to the desert in these beautiful times because of the soccer game or other TV programs, so the idea came from there and asking: is there an alternative ? Which device could pick up satellite channels or games when we are in the desert ? The idea started there,'' al-Harbi said.
The device operates by positioning itself at the right angles to capture and download channels from satellite to device and display the signal on the screen.
The device consists of a TV screen to display channels and 4 radio waves as well as a remote control. It operates like a domestic satellite and al-Harbi said it has been designed in a simple way so that everyone should be able to operate it in just a few seconds.
Watching the game in the peaceful surroundings of the desert, cooking chestnuts and chicken on the fire, al-Harbi's friends enthused about the invention.
''I am impressed with the device, which brother Youssef brought with him. Frankly, it is dazzling and it is a precious innovation to us the citizens of the Saudi Arabia. We are proud that Youssef invented this device. We look up to him, God willing, our hand with his hand in order to export the device to the world,'' Saleh al-Dubayan from Riyadh said.
''Who could have guessed that a person would go to the desert or go with colleagues in remote places and find TV? The trip would be incomplete without this invention, it added a lot to us,'' Mohammed al-Muwais said.
Al-Harbi's ambition is to sell his device around the world.
''I hope God willing to see this innovation in all countries of the world, in Europe, India, Saudi Arabia, in all the Middle East countries as a Saudi Arabian product that goes everywhere and that we all are proud of,'' al-Harbi said.
At the end of the night, al-Harbi quickly wraps the device in a small bag.
Al-Harbi said he has received offers from Chinese, Turkish and Europeans companies to manufacture the device. He said he would prefer to get the support of wealthy people in Saudi Arabia so as to manufacture the device in his own country as he hopes to promote Saudi inventors.
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