AN Iraqi-born University of Derby graduate has dedicated a top award he has received for inventing a wrist-mounted translation device to the British armed forces.

Amin Ismail won the Special Commendation Award at the 2008 Lord Stafford Awards East Midlands for developing the IC Audio Translator.

Mr Ismail (pictured) began his work while he was a student at the University of Derby.

He named the prototype Ahky – Arabic for "speak". It is intended to help soldiers and uniformed civilians interpret key foreign phrases in emergency situations.

It can instantly convert such phrases, such as "Stay back" and "Don't shoot", from English into Arabic.

The university collaborated with Civil Defence Supply, of Lincoln, to develop the product.

CDS supplies special operational equipment to police forces, Nato, the UN, the US Defence Department and the UK's Ministry of Defence.

The IC Audio Translator is now being manufactured and was launched to the UK market earlier this year.

As well as the award, Mr Ismail , who landed a job with CDS thanks to his invention, won £1,000.

He said: "I have had the greatest opportunity to see my product design become a reality. This project has been a small way for me to thank the British soldiers for their honourable work to bring freedom to the Iraqi people."

Mr Ismail, who is originally from Baghdad, had to flee his country in 2002. He took a degree in product design, innovation and marketing at the University of Derby.