Month: June 2017

#HBAN wins Best Business Angel Week Award at EBAN Awards 2017 #EnterpriseIreland

HBAN, the all-island group responsible for the promotion of business angel investment in Ireland, today announces that it won the Best Business Angel Week Award at the EBAN (European Business Angel Network) Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony held in Málaga, Spain on Thursday, 8th June.

HBAN, a joint initiative of InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland, won the prestigious European accolade based on the success of its Business Angel Roadshow that it ran in November last year. The roadshow took place over the course of 48 hours in four locations: Waterford, Dublin, Cork and Galway. The programme raised a total of €6 million in new angel funding, recruited 35 new angels and raised the profile and awareness of HBAN. In addition, two companies – Rubicoin and Glofox – both closed investment rounds following pitches at the roadshow.

 

HBAN’s Business Angel Roadshow raised a total of €6 million in new angel funding and recruited 35 new angels in just 48 hours last November. The initiative was awarded the Best Business Angel Week Award at the EBAN (European Business Angel Network) Gala Dinner Awards Ceremony held in Málaga, Spain on Thursday, 8th June. Pictured at the Awards are (L to R) Francisco de la Torre, the Mayor of Malaga; Julian Seymour, HBAN Consultant; Paula Finnan, HBAN Team Member; Candance Johnson, President of EBAN.

HBAN saw off robust competition from other national European bodies to win this major international award.

HBAN set a very strong objective for itself in terms of delivering an extra €6 million of angel investment and running roadshows in four locations right around the country in just 48 hours. Moreover, the initial objective of attracting 27 new business angels was significantly surpassed, with 35 new angels coming on board, and some of these have invested already.

John Phelan, National Director of HBAN said, “We are delighted to have won this European award that recognises the success of our Business Angel Roadshow campaign.

“Our business angel week – with the roadshow as its centrepiece – was a huge success for us in terms of building awareness of angel investing in Ireland. The campaign was successful in helping us to recruit new business angels throughout the island of Ireland and we also raised incredible value in new funding for high potential Irish start-ups. There was a particular focus on PR and a major media campaign was executed around the Roadshow that included radio ads, radio interviews and news articles in national, business and regional media.”

Since 2007, HBAN angels have invested €73 million in 362 separate deals. When the €113 million invested by other funds in those deals is added, this is an overall total of €186 million invested in Irish start-ups in the last 10 years.

DataSolutions’ 5th Annual Secure Computing Forum hits the Aviva Stadium Sept 21st.

DataSolutions’ 5th annual Secure Computing Forum will take place on Thursday, 21st September at the Avia Stadium. The Forum is one of Ireland’s largest dedicated IT security events. This year’s event is especially relevant, coming as it does after months of prolonged cyber-attacks that have affected companies all over the world.

Attendees will receive advice from key security players on how to secure their businesses. Speakers at this year’s event include David Blunkett, former UK Government Home Secretary and chair of the International Cyber Security Projection Alliance and current honorary chair of the Cyber Essentials Direct Ltd; Jenny Radcliffe, a social-engineering expert known as ‘the people hacker’; and Misha Glenny, award-winning writer and broadcaster, and author of the book McMafia, The Globalisation Of Organised Crime

 

David Keating, sales manager, Data Solutions

 

Keynote speakers at this year’s event include:

  • David Blunkett, former UK Government Home Secretary and chair of the International Cyber Security Projection Alliance and current honorary chair of the Cyber Essentials Direct Ltd
  • Jenny Radcliffe, an expert in social engineering known as ‘The People Hacker’; and Misha Glenny, award-winning writer and broadcaster, and author of the bookMcMafia, The Globalisation Of Organised Crime

 

The past year has seen rapid growth in cyber-attacks, as well as an increase in the scale and sophistication of threats being levelled against individuals and companies. Irish organisations must evolve to remain one step ahead of these developing threats. In addition, the impending General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation will make it necessary for businesses to review their data-processing policies and work towards compliance to avoid fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover, depending on which is greater.

 

DataSolutions’ Secure Computing Forum will aim to foster dialogue amongst key security players in Ireland and provide best-practice advice to companies seeking to defend their interests from cybercrime. Leading IT vendor Check Point will return as the host sponsor of the event for the fifth year running.

 

This year’s event will focus on a number of topical issues, including securing the Internet of Things (IoT) and fighting ransomware and cyber extortion. IoT is a significant development that presents significant cybersecurity issues which need to be addressed, while ransomware is now a term that is familiar to almost every Irish business. Having been on the rise since its inception, ransomware cost companies over $1 billion worldwide in 2016[1]. Organisations now need to take proactive measures to protect their interests from this growing threat.

 

 

As well as these topics, this year’s seminar will ask whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future of cybersecurity and take a closer look at the clearly defined measures that businesses should implement to take responsibility for cloud security. Experts will also explain how to protect and defend against cyber threats in uncertain times and examine how to leverage white and black hat cyber intelligence to gain the advantage over cybercriminals.

 

Other speakers include Nick Lowe, regional director for UK & Ireland, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd; Barry O’Sullivan, professor at UCC and founding director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics; and Aoife Sexton, co-founder and director, Frontier Privacy.

This year’s forum will once again be hosted by David Keating, DataSolutions’ own head of security. Event attendees will be able to avail of the opportunity to network with senior IT decision-makers and other professionals, and gain valuable insights into key information security trends.

For more information and to register for the event, visit https://www.securecomputingforum.ie/. Early-bird tickets are available for a limited time at a cost of €60. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day. The 2017 Secure Computing Forum is supported by leading IT vendors Check Point and RSA.

Review – Sitpack,Compact foldable seat,travel anywhere with your own seat. #Sitpack

Going to a concert.picnic or tech event it will come in handy when least expected albeit a little heavy but its more portable than a chair.

On seeing this at launch I wondered how well this would do and thought the idea was quirky and who would buy into it but it is a rather simple clever solution to what we look for and cant find when travelling,especially at concerts,if you are camping out at a picnic and for the likes of me tech events which in most cases you are left standing,this is again discreet enough to take out of your back and extend the telescopic rod and drop your backside on the top and relax and if in a crowd nobody would even notice even if at a bus stop or train station this would come in handy and its discreet enough but you might get the odd stare which is not a bad thing to be honest once the nosey ones find out what it actually is.

 

Its not huge but a tad cumbersome with some weight (at first but you get over it) but that can be forgiven because its portable and more conveineint than a foldable chair for example which would look rediculous on your should and you certainly will not fit one in your laptop bag or backpack if you are travelling without a motor..

It works simply by extending the tubes which then lock into place and it does remain locked and feels sturdy and at no time did i think it would collapse, The end which sits on the ground is circular with a rubebrised grip also remained solid on concrete for example so in grass,on a carpet or tile floor it remains solid and robust and the seat is actaully comfortable,more than it looks actually given its size and if you are fussy and want a colour there is several available.

 

 

Construction – Made out of the same polycarbonate used in riot shields and bulletproof glass enforced with glassfiber, it is incredibly strong, light (less than 13 ounces) and does not need to be taken apart for  recycling as it is made of one material. It can support the weight of over 286 lbs. so is suitable for people of all shapes and sizes and at only 16.8cm (inch or CM) tall and 6.6cm  (inch or CM) in diameter..

 

 

Overall for me it is a simple great idea that will remain in my travel bag permanently now and it fits into my two custom tech travel bags, despite the odd looks I got whislt testing it out in the wild it did not bother me in the least because when people seen the idea they where left more red faced than anything other than the odd joke which in todays world is to be expected. You can now purchase sitpack in the UK too and there is an updated version avaialble soon which we look forward o trying out, At first on opening its a bit stiff and hard to seperate the two wings but after some use this will loosen up and the mechanics will work more freely.

 

You can purchase sitpack HERE 

 

 

 

Space Exploration VR app teaches students about the planets. #Space #VR #EdTech

App aims to offer an Immersive way to teach students about planets with virtual tour of outer space. We have tried it out its pretty cool. 

One new app which just caught my eye and is now available on Android ,Rift Vive and Gear VR is pretty cool I have tried it on Both Gear VR and Cardboard and it will keep the kid/students entertained and also give them some education on our solar system…

The app is simple to use and work your way around and has nice graphics to boot although the Gear VR version is not up to the standard I expected but enjoyable non the least and that bit more immersive than the cardboard offering…

 

 

ToNewDigital says…

Space Exploration VR App could be one of the earliest examples of co-evolution in EdTech. Students found learning things in a much easier way then before. It is a sheer saving of time, energy and cost. If a small group of classroom connected with phone using Space Exploration VR App, Students can learn the facts about planets. While students learn the facts about solar system, students get to pilot space shuttle.

For more info on space, including educational resources and insights, you can visit the Space Foundation.

Highlights:
• Small group of classroom connected with phone. Students learn the facts about planets.
• While students learn the facts about solar system, students gets to pilot space shuttle.
• Using virtual reality lenses, app simulates outer space. Student get multiple objects that comes into the way of steering space shuttle.
• Students also get direction indicator and they follow through the path to other planets.
• Students can use this VR app by putting Android phone into a (Google® Cardboard Viewer *) or (Samsung® Oculus Rift *) or (HTC® Vive *) or (Samsung® Gear VR *) on Android phone.
• This app uses pure 3D objects to give best experience. This app does not use traditional 2D enhanced media.
• No internet connectivity required to run the Space Exploration App. Once downloaded app runs without internet.
• This app is in it’s early preview stage (pilot) and developers are working to get you more content and games into it.

Android

Gear VR

Source 

Happy Birthday to Google Plus  It is 6. #Google #GooglePlus #Infographic 

Happy Birthday, Google Plus!

The second most popular and largest social network in the world is turning 6 years old today and hence we thought we would share this important news  by sharing an infographic all about how far it’s come and what it has achieved in the last 6 years:

All we know is we can Invite our friends to a hangout for cake and presents and a game of “Pin the +1 on the Donkey.” Google+ turns 6 years old on June 28th

Since its launch in 2011,Google’s social network has received mixed reviews, and has a long way to go to reach the ubiquity of its chief rival, Facebook. But Google+ has been hugely successful for Google in driving the unification of the full suite of Google products.

It’s fitting to mark the occasion with this infographic from Fullestop all about Google’s social network and Google’s history with social media in general. Google has been in the news of late perhaps for all the wrong reasons but check this infographic out.. 

 

#Brainwavz – Dual balanced armature B200 High Performance, audiophile grade earphones now in the UK.

Global audio specialist Brainwavz, which was established in 2008 giving focus on offering high quality products at a competitive price, today announces the availability of its B200 Dual Balanced Armature Earphones in the UK. The B200 are the latest in the Brainwavz range of over 25 earphones and headphones and are the third of the audiophile-grade B series, following on from the B100 and B150. The B200 are available fromwww.brainwavzaudio.com for £156.

The Brainwavz B200 earphones are designed and tuned in-house with high performance and comfort in mind. The dual balanced tweeter and woofer armature configuration produces a balanced and accurate sound signature, with little to no colouring in the mids and a slight focus on the upper mids sound. The bass is tight and the neutral bass has a clear, fast delivery with a natural punch to it, delivering an overall sound the artist would have intended when producing the song being listened to.

 

 

 

The B200 have an extremely light over the ear design and small form factor allowing for a comfortable and ergonomic fit. Inside the box, there are six silicon ear tips of various sizes and one set of Comply foam tips ( We have tried comply foam tips before and they really do make a difference to the listening experince)  which allows for great noise isolation, thus protecting the ear as volume levels no longer need to be turned up to harmful levels to fully enjoy the music. The friction free cable is made from OFC copper and has a Y-splitter and sizing slider for the ideal listening position.

Brainwavz continues to add to its following of loyal fans with its reputation for affordable audio products of great quality, value for money and superb after sales service. The B200 Balanced armature earphones hope to increase this fan base further in the UK.

 

 

 

 

SPECIFICATIONS:

 

  • Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
  • Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
  • Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
  • Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
  • Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
  • Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

 

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES:

 

  • Earphone Hard case
  • 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
  • 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-100
  • 1 Shirt Clip
  • Velcro Cable Tie
  • Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 

COMPATIBILITY FOR 3.5 MM JACK:

 

iPods, iPhones, iPads, MP3 Players, Android, Tablets and Phones & Other Audio Devices

The Brainwavz B200 in-ear dual balanced armature earphones are available for £156 here

 

 

Irish Tech #StartUp DesignWizard is set to change how we create visual content.

Online visual content is booming. Every day there are over 1.8 billion images posted online and that figure is only going one direction.
Promotional images make up the vast majority of these visuals as brands vie for digital visibility. The pressure on marketers, business owners and entrepreneurs to produce high quality, original campaigns has never been as intense as it is right now.  Creating content is no longer an option – it is a necessity – but delivering high quality content on a regular basis without design expertise is a time consuming commitment.

 

 

DesignWizard is easy-to-use and affordable online graphic design software. It takes the time and effort out of creating visual content by supplying inspiring templates which can be instantly tailored to suit a brand’s needs. DesignWizard helps businesses to achieve their goals by inspiring them with impressive content. Users get more inspired, more innovative and more proficient the more they use it.
The steps are simple. Choose a template, customise the image to represent the brand, occasion or event, download and share. As confidence grows, this process can be done in a matter of minutes. At the end of it, users have an professional standard image, summing up everything they want to say.

 

 

DesignWizard has over 1 million visuals comprised of photographs, graphics, illustrations and fonts, all professionally produced and curated by their in-house teams of graphic designers, photographers and researchers.
There is a long list of design features available free to all users that includes free image storage, custom colour palettes, a favourites folders, easy resize for all templates and the ability to upload and store personal images. DesignWizard are committed to developing and releasing new features on a regular basis.

 

 

DesignWizard want to help other businesses grow and prosper which is why they protect brands from any copyright complications. All images have been signed off with either model releases, property releases, or both. There is a friendly in-app customer support are on hand to answer any queries and to guide users through the design process.
In the past few weeks DesignWizard have had some exciting integrations with Hubspot and Buffer and were also been featured on the front page of Product Hunt. They are also unveiling a newly designed website in July.
Try DesignWizard now and create 10 free images for free! Sign up for free at www.desginwizard.com and enter the promocode DW10COB.

Liberty Games – Voice-Controlled Games Room using Google Home #gaming #googlehome

At Liberty Games, the Google Home has been pressed into service as the ultimate games room assistant. Aspects of the games room have been cleverly automated and controlled with voice commands alone, using specially-programmed custom commands and with Raspberry Pis and a Chromecast interacting with the machines.  Will Jobbins tells us more….

 

https://www.libertygames.co.uk/videos/blog/google-home-games-room.mp4?_=1

 

 

Using Google’s online testing tool, Liberty Games created a series of Actions, which are essentially apps designed to make the Home compatible with the machines in the games room. Part of this was programming the command, so that the Home knew what was being asked of it, and also programming the response, so the Home responded correctly and forwarded the demand on to the server that controls the machines.

The result is, firstly, an air hockey table and a foosball table that read out the current score on demand. Both are fitted with infrared beams in the goal mouth that detect a goal when broken. The beams are wired into a Raspberry Pi which keeps a tally of the score, so when given the command “Ok Google, what is the score?”, the Home responds with an accurate response: “The score is 1 – 0”.

 

 

 

Next, there is that glorious Rock-Ola Bubbler jukebox. This was simplicity itself to set up. A Google Chromecast is plugged into the jukebox, enabling streamed media to be transmitted through it. Then it was a simple process to rig up a voice command which connects the jukebox to an online streaming service like Spotify, and request specific tunes, genres or artists on demand.

The Cosmic multiplay arcade machine is built with a coin mech, but also features a ‘freeplay’ button that adds credits to the game. In order to add credits, a Raspberry Pi, on demand via Google Home, sends a signal to the game board as if the button has been pushed. In this way, credits are added to the game by voice, enabling players to stock up on credits before they even approach the machine.

 

 

 

The last, and most complicated conversion is the coin-operated Supreme Winner pool table. This already has an electric motor which rotates the ball tray when the requisite number of coins are inserted. They hooked this up to a Raspberry Pi so that now, the pool table releases all the balls when requested, ready to be racked up.

With this project Liberty Games has demonstrated the versatility of the Google Home, and the way in which it can be programmed to take control of any part of your environment. And, of course, a voice-controlled games room is probably the coolest thing ever. Right?

See what they have to offer right here https://www.libertygames.co.uk/

Cyber-Attack on the UK parliament- James Romer EMEA at SecureAuth comments. #cyberattack 

Following the news that there was a cyber-attack on the UK parliament, James Romer, Chief Security Architect – EMEA at SecureAuth Corporation says.. 


“It’s worrying that members of our parliament do not seem to be clued up on the security risks of weak passwords. The hackers specifically probed for those who were not following government protocol, and only updating passwords by simply varying letters and numbers. This leaves the door wide open for hackers. Individuals, especially those in governmental positions, need to have security more front of mind and realise that even the most minute security weakness can be exploited to gain access.

“Liam Fox, International trade secretary, hit the nail on the head by saying, “warning to everyone, we need more security and better passwords”. The way organisations approach authentication and securing credentials needs to be rethought. Simple two-factor authentication is no longer enough to safeguard against today’s attacks. It is important to deliver a form of authentication which feels low effort for the user yet has enhanced layers of protection working in the background. Adaptive access control techniques and identity based detection work invisibly to the user but work to protect, detect, and ultimately remediate attacks essentially rendering stolen credentials useless.”