Hukoomi (Qatar eGovernment) has a new layout

5 Jun, 2010  2 Comments

This was a bit of surprise. Hukoomi now has a new layout and design. Feels more blog like. I kind of miss the older design.
(For those that don’t know what it is, it’s a page for people to renew visas, pay traffic violations, renew documents etc..)

What say you?

Visit Hukoomi at www.hukoomi.com

New Speed Cameras installed in Qatar (Mr. Q’s concept becomes reality!)

21 Jan, 2010  8 Comments

Well I’m kind of excited! I had written a concept about a new type of speed camera two years ago and it seems like it’s now become a reality. Although the current cameras are a bit different in functionality they acheive the same goal.

In short, my concept was that there would be a speed camera that would tag a car that passed by with an unique identifier. When passing the second speed camera, it would calculate how long it took the car to reach it and calculate the average speed. If the car passed the second camera’s checkpoint too quickly, then you would be fined.

Pros: You can’t slow down at the camera then speed up, you have to follow the speed limit.

Cons: The only way to escape is to be a mathematician. If the limit is 80km, and you drove up to 100km for 50 meters and then slowed down to 60 for 50 meters then you’d be safe. (People who speed aren’t geniuses though right?)

Here’s a picture of the new camera and here’s their explanation of how it works

New Traffic Cameras Qatar are not just nice looking – they are intelligent technology.

First thing is that these cameras do NOT flash. They can take photos in complete darkness through ultra-light sensors, so even if it does not flash, it could have caught you. They also automatically read your number plate from the picture taken.

Now, here comes the catch. These cameras are continuous photo-taking cameras and they will take your photo regardless if you have been speeding or not. Then the next camera in 3-5 kms again does the same. Now, instead of checking your speed through advanced radars, these cameras are very simple and all they do is calculate how fast you traveled between the 2 cameras. If you arrived at the next camera faster than 120 km/h (or whatever the speed limit is) then you get fined.

What does this mean?
It means that you can stop speeding up between cameras and slowing down as it does not matter anymore. If you are speeding in between 2 cameras you will get fined.

Qtel to launch new numbers

12 Nov, 2008  2 Comments

Here’s a nice little highlight from ILQ News.

QTel are going to launch their new set of numbers tomorrow (Thursday 13th of Nov) at 3pm

Time to grab a nice number. Oh and buying to resell on the black market will result in a 1,000 QR fine.

http://iloveqatar.net/forum/read.php?28,4743

Freedom of Expression

    Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which the Qatari Government is a signatory of states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any medias and regardless of any frontiers.

    The Emiri Decision Number 86 of the year 2007 on the establishment of the Doha Free Information Centre marked yet another step towards establishing a State of rights and freedom of speech. The decision stipulated that the Centre be a non-profit organization, headquartered in Doha City, and have the authority to establish other affiliated centres inside and outside Qatar. It is worth mentioning that His Highness the Emir issued a decision in 1998 annulling the ministry of information, giving birth to a new era of freedom of speech where censorship was removed from local media.