13-year-old develops app to help ease traffic during school rush hour in Dubai
app to ease traffic during school rush hour
At first glance, 13-year-old Miraan Rai is no different from any other kid. But look a little closer and you realize that he has designed an app that can not only ease traffic during school rush hour but will also help improve the productivity of parents who pick up and drop off children at school.
The young coder has designed several apps over the last few years but none makes him prouder than ‘School Pool’. “This carpooling app for students will ease traffic during school rush hour, help parents’ productivity and also reduce pollution,” said Rai, who has already patented his invention.
But he is not stopping there. Rai’s next project is an app that can detect the dangerous driving habits of drivers. “I have seen many incidents where people lose control while driving because they are on the phone or texting while at the wheel,” Rai said in an interview with Gulf News at his home in Gurgaon. Rai, 13, is a student at Dubai Modern High School, International Academic City.
He learned how to develop apps and websites from his father, Suraj Sharma, who himself is an app developer. Rai said that he wanted to be a doctor but after getting into app development he found it so interesting that he decided to pursue this field instead.
“I have always been interested in science and technology,” Rai said. “I like to play with gadgets and technology. I love to study and learn new things,” said Rai, who started developing apps at the age of nine. His first app was on how to prevent cyberbullying, which he developed when he was in grade six.
The app had a special feature that allowed users to report bullying incidents through their smartphones or computers, Rai said.
Here’s how the app would work — if it gets the approval:
Users will have to sign up, and those registered will be segregated based on their residence and school location.
On the app, users will be able to see other people who live in their area. They can then open a chat window where they can set up meeting locations.
Essentially, it is a platform for parents who are looking for others with whom they can set up a carpooling routine, Rai said.