Month: October 2020

Innovation in Irish transport lagging behind our European counterparts, new mobility grouping claims

Ireland is lagging behind its European neighbours when it comes to creating and regulating new, innovative transport modes like e-scooters, a new mobility grouping has said. This is something myself I have an issue with as there is still no answer going forward for users who can be fined for using effective transport especially in these challenging times right now and when we should be using public transport as a last resort, I too own an electric scooter but there is a grey area that has not been fixed yet and going on too long now and needs to be addressed NOW.

The comments come as FREE NOW, Ireland’s largest e-hailing app, launched a new Mobility Series aimed at bringing together a range of stakeholders from across the sector to discuss the key issues and opportunities for Ireland to become a leader in joined-up, sustainable mobility that helps cities flow and reduces reliance on private car ownership.

The first event in the series brought mobility industry leaders together and focused on e-scooters in the Covid-19 world, and the steps that need to be taken in order for Ireland to catch up with its European neighbours in order to offer micro-mobility across the country.

Speakers included other Irish e-scooter operators: Zipp’s VP Growth & Government Affairs, Will O’Brien and Zeus Scooters’ COO, David O’Reilly as well as Richard Dilks, CEO of CoMO UK, a charity that focuses on the public benefit of shared transport and has worked closely with industry and Government on the trials in the UK.

The key recommendations from across the group include:

  • Learning from other countries such as the UK, Germany and Australia who have already legalised e-scooters or undertaken e-scooter trials – these can highlight successes and mistakes to learn from.
  • The introduction of e-scooter trials in a range of locations in Ireland – both big cities and smaller towns in order for lessons to be learnt in a range of settings. There needs to be several trials, not just one.
  • The need for operators and local authorities to focus on ensuring other road users and non E-scooter users are considered, for example when it comes to parking through the use of geofencing technology to ensure compliance.
  • The use of private e-scooters to be reviewed separately to organisations that can provide e-scooters as part of the transport network. Operator schemes allow for more safety and traceability.
  • A focus on training for first-time users to tackle any safety concerns.
  • E-scooters can help create a modal shift, and move people away from private car journeys, helping with city congestion and the environment while contributing to the road to zero carbon.
  • For authorities to have a joined up approach for e-scooters and other modes of transport to create a truly integrated, sustainable, transport system

Chair of the Mobility Series, Fiona Brady, Head of Operations at FREE NOW said: “The Mobility Series has been set up to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the pivotal topics within the transport sector. It is really important that these issues are not forgotten amidst the pandemic chaos of 2020. In the context of Covid-19, we need our cities and towns to move in a more sophisticated way more than ever and we are lagging behind our European neighbours on key opportunities to do so, such as the regulated introduction of  e-scooters into our mobility ecosystem.

“We have set up this Series to drive discussion but also to ignite real change.  We at FREE NOW will continue to call on the Government to prioritise the legislation for e-scooter trials as soon as possible. Scooters allow for the socially-distanced transport that is appropriate for the pandemic, and trials in countries such as the UK, where the first trials started just 9 days after legislation was passed, are accelerating – we need to see more action here.”

The next event in the Mobility Series will be held at the beginning of November and will focus on electric vehicles. A recent survey of FREE NOW passengers showed that almost 70% of people are now more environmentally-aware in their day-to-day routines, including when making decisions on how to travel, since COVID-19.

Unboxing and Review – The FUJIFILM instax SQUARE SQ1 Camera. #FUJIFILM #Tech #instaxSQUAREQ1

FUJIFILM Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its instax SQUARE SQ1 Instant Camera. The latest addition to the instax line-up is an analog, square camera that creates square format instant prints at 1.5 times the size of its instax mini counterparts. instax SQUARE SQ1 introduces a minimalist, user-friendly square camera body design and key features include Automatic Exposure and One-Touch Selfie Mode.

 

instax SQUARE SQ1 combines everything that instax fans love about the mini’s cool, modern style and functionality with the larger, vibrant output of our square film.  instax SQUARE SQ1 is designed for instax’s creative community of fans, as the perfect companion to help them to create compelling new instant prints.

 

 

“With the new instax SQUARE SQ1, you bring the romance of film back into the day where the results are instant, and the memories are tangible,” said photographer, skateboarder, and creator Sierra Prescott. “I like that it’s compact enough that I can take it anywhere, durable enough to toss in my backpack. And with the new twisty selfie mode, wide enough to fit more of what I love in the frame. You get a fully developed, larger square print in 90 seconds and a deep vibrant colour that I just love. It’s simple to use and a rad addition to every hang.”

 

 

instax SQUARE SQ1 Features:

 

Automatic Exposure 

This function automatically senses the level of ambient light when the shutter button is pressed, and optimizes the shutter speed and flash output according to lighting conditions. It allows even those who are new to instant photography to take photos that are automatically properly exposed regardless of conditions, producing clearer and more vibrant instant prints on the spot.

 

 

One-Touch Selfie Mode

Along with its built-in selfie mirror, instax SQUARE SQ1’s One-Touch Selfie mode is designed specifically for selfies and close-up shots, setting the best focus and exposure for the shot by changing the position of the lens when activated. Activation is simple, by rotating the lens from ‘On’ to ‘Selfie’ mode. 

 

New film options

Also accompanying the launch of the instax SQUARE SQ1 are two new instax instant film varieties; instax SQUARE Rainbow film and instax SQUARE Monochrome film, designed so that instax fans can bring even more creativity to their instant photography.

 

Instax SQUARE SQ1 will be available in Terracotta Orange, Glacier Blue, and Chalk White on 30th September 2020, at an SRP of €130.00 (inc VAT). instax SQUARE Rainbow film will have an SRP of €12.00 (inc VAT) and instax SQUARE Monochrome film will have an SRP of €13.50 (inc VAT) and will also be available from 30th September.  Available at FUJIFILM Ireland Stockists nationwide / www.instax.ie

 

The Best Travel Apps for English Teachers Abroad. #Travel #Apps #Teachers

Moving abroad and navigating your way around doesn’t have to be so daunting when you’ve got access to a wealth of information in the palm of your hand – your mobile phone! With the help of a few apps that we’d class as travel essentials, you’re guaranteed to feel more at ease as you explore the unfamiliar.

Whether it’s how you manage your finances while you’re away from home, if you need instant clarification when faced with a language barrier, or simply just need pointed in the right direction, there are apps designed to help you do just that. 

When you qualify to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) you can travel all over the world while getting paid! Picking up your life and moving it to another country is enough stress for anyone. Below are a few apps that can help alleviate some of that inevitable moving stress by making your day to day life abroad that little bit more straight-forward. 

Finances

Keeping a close eye on your finances from the moment you set off will be essential to managing your money effectively. With the help of certain apps, you can do just that.

Revolut 

Revolut is a remote international banking app. An account can be set up for free in minutes, all you have to pay for is the debit card itself. Its main perks include being able to exchange money for free, fee-free international bank transfers, as well as the option to store multiple currencies in your account at one time. 

 It’s easy to keep track of your spending too, with an option to receive instant spending notifications, as well as the option to disable the card at any time if lost or stolen.

 Monzo

 Monzo is similar to Revolut in that it offers a highly efficient banking app. However, it doesn’t allow you to store multiple currencies at a time. But unlike Revolut, it does allow you to have an overdraft and savings account.

 Plum

With a little help from Plum you could find yourself regularly topping up your savings without even noticing. Using AI, Plum learns your spending habits by monitoring your typical income and expenditure. It uses this information to calculate what you can afford to save before transferring small amounts of money into your savings every few days. You’ll be amazed how much you can save up in a short period of time. 

Teachers deserve to treat themselves once in a while, and the savings you could make with Plum may just help you take that well-deserved break.

 Language

 Overcoming language barriers has never been easier thanks to the development of countless translation apps. Whether you need a helping hand learning a new language or instant translation assistance, fear not – with a simple search on your phone your problems can be solved.

Google Translate

Google Translate is easily the most popular translation app. With the option to easily translate to and from over 100 languages, conduct offline translations, and its ability to interpret speech and text within images, it’s popularity is understandable! 

However, don’t solely rely on Google Translate for all your translation queries. It can be great for capturing the gist of things and for quick, short translations but it is unfortunately prone to the odd error. It struggles with ambiguity, meaning that you can’t insert entire pages of text and expect perfect results. It’s easy to use but can be difficult to spot errors when you don’t have any prior knowledge of the language you’re translating. 

WordReference

WordReference is a fantastic, free, dictionary-style translating app. It tackles the ambiguous nature of translating languages by providing multiple meanings of a word and examples of the contexts you might find it in. It also provides you with verb conjugations in all the tenses – anyone learning a language knows how tricky getting to grips with them can be!

Unlike Google Translate, only individual words can be translated rather than phrases and blocks of text. However, it features an active language forum where you’ll likely find others who have similar queries. 

However, WordReference only deals with a few languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. 

Transport

Public transport can be pretty difficult to get your head around if you’re both overcoming a language barrier, and aren’t used to it. Thankfully there are plenty of apps available to calculate routes on your behalf.

 Citymapper

Citymapper is a highly functional travel app that helps users find the most practical transport routes. The app operates in 39 major cities around the world – and counting. 

It uses GPS to locate your closest public transport links. Citymapper also takes a number of things into consideration in order to give you accurate journey times, whether that’s by foot, bus, cycling or the underground. 

Keeping you in the loop with departures and arrivals, as well as live in-app updates about delays and time changes makes for a very convenient, must-have travel app.

Local transport apps

Wherever TEFL takes you, it’s worth finding out if the local transport system you’ll be frequenting has an app. As local travel apps focus on a particular area, they could provide the best, most accurate information for planning journeys.

These are just a few of the many great travel apps out there. Trust us, there are many! The more you acquaint yourself with apps like these, the easier the move you’re about to make will be.

World’s Most Iconic Arcade Game Arrives in Replica Tabletop Form With Host of Authentic Touches for Eager Fans. #SpaceInvaders #RetroGaming

My Arcade today announced the European shipping of the SPACE INVADERS Micro Player, a highly collectible replica of the world’s most iconic arcade machine games.

Produced in partnership with TAITO Corporation, SPACE INVADERS expands on the My Arcade collectible line of Micro Players, allowing gamers to obliterate hordes of attacking alien adversaries from the comfort of their own home and with jaw-dropping levels of authenticity.

Unlike any former Micro Player released in the range, SPACE INVADERS features a unique design, faithfully reproducing the key features of the full-size SPACE INVADERS cabinet which made it such a revolutionary experience. Featuring an authentic backlit marquee and backlit coin trap, the Micro Player replicates the look and feel of the game in a way emulation never can, including the legendary reflected screen and backlit Moonscape.

“SPACE INVADERS is an iconic title which forever changed the course of interactive entertainment, delivering a quantum leap in terms of graphics, design and addictive gameplay. We’re proud to play a small part in the great legacy of this legendary game, delivering a wholly unique Micro Player which features the authentic touches which made SPACE INVADERS such a memorable experience,” said Amir Navid, Creative Director, My Arcade. “Our SPACE INVADERS Micro Player saluted the creative engineering of the original game cabinet with its reflected Moonscape and layered illuminated backdrops. Authenticity is paramount to collectors and we believe video game fans old and new will love what we’ve delivered.”

Running off four AA batteries, or via a Micro-USB Cable, the SPACE INVADERS Micro Player is shipping now across selected European retailers and is a must for any collector and fan of the original title. Watch out for our review soon.

Proxima, the latest wearable tech from Prolojik, allows organisations and people to manage their own COVID-19 risk. #Covid19 #Prolojik

Prolojik remains at the forefront of harnessing the ubiquitous nature of lighting controls to contribute to the measurement and control of the COVID virus. Building on one of its latest innovations, Proxima allows organisations from commercial workplaces to schools and universities to empower people to manage their own risk and exposure to the COVID virus,  through wearable technology in the form of a wristband or lanyard  that connects wirelessly to Prolojik’s Proxima sensor network.

The movement and temperature of each wearer can be monitored throughout all areas within the space, vibrating when people are within 2 metres of each other, as well as taking their temperature to alert them of potential illness. Data collected via the Proxima sensor network can be stored on premises for real time analysis or shared with third party systems such as BMS. For example, if someone contracts COVID within an organisation, it is possible to track that person interactions in the preceding days, identify others that have been in close proximity to them, therefore exposed to the virus and potentially at risk. The enormous benefit is that Facility and Building Operators can  focus on specific areas, rather than having to close entire buildings down. As with education, this approach allows for a far more targeted approach to infection management, by isolating individuals or specific social bubbles.

The integration with the lighting control system means that all areas of the building are within the trackable zone, including workspaces, circulation areas, back-of-house, plantrooms, car parks, presentation spaces and external spaces.

Each wearable will provide key data on the following aspect of employee care and building management:

  • Targeted Messaging
  • People and Asset Tracking
  • Profile-based control
  • Lone Worker Monitoring
  • Building Sanitisation
  • Physical distancing
  • Environmental monitoring
  • Indoor Location – way finding
  • Revenue Leakage

Asela Rodrigo Managing Director of Prolojik comments:

“At a time when businesses and educational institutions need as much support as possible to be operational, Proxima wearables provide the ultimate reassurance and comfort for employee and students. The unique difference is the stand alone sensor infrastructure which can equally be fully integrated with any lighting control systems to increases the measurable and trackable area.”

Tech Review – The Wintory Air 1 Wireless Earbuds. #TWS #Tech #Wintory

The Wintory AIR 1 TWS are a clean pair of true wireless earbuds that come in a really nice aluminium case and at this price point you do not see that very often yet you would be familiar with the typical plastic charge case, this is cold to the touch yet to note does not heat up on charging which is a point made by the company. The earbuds are plastic but do follow on with the case theme and look really well and it is a nice colour option rather than the traditional black on offer.

The case will easily fit in your pocket too and is has some LED lights up front for charge and connectivity status. These a IPX5 rated and look more expensive than they are with a good fit although I would not suggest using in the gym or jogging but there is extra tips there to get the right fit, they do offer a good seal overall.

The controls are easy to use and you have clicky button each side rather than touch which lets you know you have made a command there is no voice assistant here yet all other controls are at hand for music and calls. When it comes to music these performed well and better than anticipated and nice and loud with a nice level of bass thrown in for good measure too and overall really good audio to be had here especially for the price, instrumentals are clear and so is voice and good direction and all genres etc where fine from my playlist, Listening to movies and You Tube did rather well too with no dropouts noted during my testing time and also no lag latency noted either..

Highlights claimed by Wintory

1. Premium HD sound with extra bass thanks that dual dynamic drivers.
2. Stereo call without ambient noise
3. Super low lag
4. 25 hours playback time with charging case in total, 6 hours per charge. On par with claims from my testing.
5. IPX5 rated

6. It embraced the same chipset as Sony – WF-1000XM3 that makes these earbuds can reproduce Hi-res Audio, which very approximate to the standard of LDAC that launched by Sony.

Wintory sent these for us to review with no compensation or copy approval given beforehand.

BUY HERE

Tech Review – The Groov-e Music Buds True Wireless. #Tech #TWS #Groove

Groove recently announced their latest product called the music buds to their portfolio of affordable tech and these are really good considering the price they come in at with all the features you expect to find and no need to take out your phone to control the music and calls and also has the option to connect to your assistant on the go too with simple to use controls, the controls are once again a button and not touch based which is nice.

Again we have a clean design on offer here and the have a low profile too and do not stick out from your ears and offer a nice snug fit there is no ANC on board but they do a decent job muting the outside world and when at max volume you will not hear a thing anyway however in some instances they did get tinny and muffled but overall a good experince and max volume is my personal taste anyway and many would not keep at max level to get some kind of ambience.

 

 

The build quality is solid and the controls so easy to use which I like with your typical 1/2/3 taps to get things moving, we go through this in the video below anyway. There is nice bass present here and overall fairly well balanced from testing my usual playlist and I was happy enough with their performance and the battery life is also on par with their claims and with no ANC present it is decent battery life. For 25 quid lads you cant go wrong but I would like to see more colours from the company on their earbuds selection even White would be nice.

 

BUY HERE 

 

 

 

 

Two thirds of girls surveyed by @PlanIreland have experienced harassment online #FreeToBeOnline

Two thirds of girls surveyed by Plan International Ireland have experienced harassment online 

Today, ahead of International Day of the Girl this Sunday October 11th, Plan International Ireland launched research highlighting the extent of the abuse, harassment and violence girls and young women face on social media. Plan International Ireland is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

At the global level, Plan International conducted a survey with 14,000 girls across 22 countries. This research, detailed in the Free To Be Online? report, was supplemented by an Irish survey of almost 500 girls from all over the country. While the global research found that 58% of girls have experienced some form of online harassment, 67% of girls surveyed in Ireland have been subjected to abuse or harassment online. The violence that girls have endured includes cyberstalking, being sent explicit images or messages, and/ or abusive and threatening messages and comments.

 

To mark Girls in ICT Day, a group of Ecuadorian girls learnt new digital skills. In Quito, through a partnership between Plan International and Microsoft, girls received training on computer programming using Minecraft to learn the basic skills of coding. Leslie Jarrin, Managing Director of ThoughtWorks Ecuador also spoke to the girls about being a woman in the IT industry. The girls ended the day with a visit to the Microsoft office where they had the opportunity to meet staff members, ask questions and receive advice on working in ICT.
In Guayaquil, where Plan International is working in partnership with NGO Girls in Tech, girls had the opportunity to take part in a computer programming session onboard a Digital Bus operated by Guayaquil municipality. During the training, the girls learnt how to create games and basic programming skills.

Girls and young women from ethnic minorities, from the LGBTQ+ community, and girls with disabilities reported being more likely to suffer harassment as a result of these intersecting factors. When girls speak out on issues that affect them, the abuse tends to get worse. The average age the abuse starts at in Ireland is 13. Globally, girls as young as 8 face violence online.

This form of gender-based violence is having a serious impact on girls’ mental health, their sense of safety and wellbeing, and their relationships. In Ireland, 25% of girls surveyed felt physically unsafe due to the abuse, 65% felt mental or emotional stress, and 75% found their confidence or self-esteem was knocked.

The platforms that girls in Ireland are most likely to experience abuse on are Snapchat (41%) and Instagram (40%). Globally, girls are most likely to experience it on Facebook (39%) and Instagram (23%).

CEO of Plan International Ireland, Paul O’Brien commented: “The research carried out by Plan International delves into the shocking extent of online abuse that girls and young women experience. We may have moved to a place whereby street harassment is far less acceptable than before in Ireland, but the reality is that harassment has followed girls into their homes, bedrooms and minds via social media. Decisive action is needed by social media companies to ensure girls across the world are free to be online.”

Plan International Ireland launched the findings of the global report and Irish research this morning in a virtual event. Plan International Ambassador, Laura Whitmore, delivered the keynote address at the launch. Also speaking was Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Colm Brophy, Chair of Plan International Ireland, Conor Faughnan, and Anne Marie McCarthy of Plan International who will explore how the issue manifests itself in the Lake Chad region. Following the report launch there will be a panel discussion featuring DJ & broadcaster Tara Stewart, journalist Aoife Moore, and a member of Plan International’s Youth Advisory Panel, Amy Keane.

Speaking before the event, Tara Stewart said: ‘Girls and young women want to be on social media – it can be an empowering place that allows them to build communities and express themselves. However, they need to be safe to do this without fear of violence. Social media companies need to put policies in place that prevent and respond to online harassment and hold perpetrators to account.’

Member of the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), Amy Keane (20), said “In Ireland 90% of those surveyed feel more likely or equally likely to be harassed online as in public. Street harassment is no longer tolerated so why is online abuse? With more young people moving their lives online due to Covid-19, this issue is more urgent than ever.”

This week, Minister for Children, Disability, Equality Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman hosted a Girls Takeover event where he discussed the issue of online abuse with a member of the YAP. Other virtual events Plan International Ireland will have this week include an Instagram Live conversation with Marissa Carter this Friday at 11am, a social media takeover of Chupi’s and The Body Shop’s Instagram accounts on Sunday, and a Girls Takeover between Irish Aid and YAP members from Ireland and Sierra Leone on Monday next.

You can sign the Open Letter to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter here.

 

Watch Laura Whitmore’s Keynote Address

Global Report: “Free to be Online? Girls’ and young women’s experiences of online harassment”:

 

  • The research by Plan International, a leading girls’ rights organisation, is based on a survey of 14,000 girls aged 15-25 in 22 countries, including Brazil, Benin, the USA and India, and a series of in-depth interviews.

  • Of those surveyed 58% experienced some type of harassment. 85% of those have experienced more than one type of harassment.

  • Online harassment starts for girls from the age of 8. Girls report that social media harassment is at its peak between the ages of 14-16.

“Girls Online: Experiences and Impacts in Ireland”:

 

  • The YAP surveyed over 457 girls & young women in Ireland aged 15-24 on the topic of online harassment. They also conducted five long-form interviews to obtain qualitative data. This report summarises their findings, linking them to the global context.

  • Some of participants in our qualitative interviews initially said they had never experienced online harassment, only to later describe a personal scenario fitting the exact definition of online abuse. This suggests that the actual rates of online abuse might be even higher, because of a tendency to downplay the issue or the prevalence of the idea that online abuse ‘isn’t real’.

  • Our survey found that 65% of girls and young women in Ireland have experienced harassment or abuse on social media.

  • Platforms where girls and young women report being harassed: Snapchat 41%; Instagram 40%; Facebook 20%; Twitter 14%; TikTok 9%

  • Amongst the respondents, only 9% said they think girls face more harassment in public spaces as opposed to online, while 46% said the level of harassment was the same. Several girls stated in interviews that there is a level of accountability harassers must face on the street, while no such standard exists online.

Worms Rumble PlayStation/PC crossplay beta announced ahead of a full launch in December. #Gaming #WormsRumble #PS5 #PS4

Team17 is today announcing a bumper airdrop of Worms Rumble news, confirming a PlayStation/PC crossplay beta from 6th November, and a full release for the strategic real-time action game on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, and PC in December.

The latest instalment in the multi-award-winning franchise, Worms Rumble features fast-paced, relentless skirmishes for up to 32 players per match across a variety of modes including Deathmatch and Squads. Pre-orders for Worms Rumble on Steam is now available  for $14.99/£10.99/€14.99, providing access to the ‘New Challenger’ pack, featuring a cache of exclusive cosmetic items.

The second map coming to Worms Rumble at launch – Portal Park – is also being revealed today. An arena featuring a fantastical portal that can change the environment in dramatic ways, Portal Park also includes underground traintracks that provide rapid transit to other parks of the map. The announcement of Portal Park follows on from the reveal of Missile Mall in the summer, which takes place in a huge, sprawling shopping mall complete with ballistic missile. Fan favourite gadgets, including Grapple Guns and the Jet Pack are also making a return ready for players to traverse the maps and get the edge over the competition.

Access to a plethora of exclusive cosmetic items, including; an outfit, beanie, skin pattern, baseball bat skin, player banner, and challenge title, is now available through pre-orders on Steam. The ‘New Challenger’ bonus pack will provide PC players with the option to further finetune their Worms Rumble look as they fight for victory. Further cosmetic items will be available and unlocked as players progress through the ranks, including different hats and glasses, bringing a wide variety of customisation options so each Worm can be fashionably unique in the arena.

Worms Rumble Key Features:

· Real-time, frantic, 32-player action: Worms Rumble makes history as the first game in the series to introduce real-time strategic combat and object destruction

· Get more targets with crossplay matchmaking: Whether on PS4, PS5, or PC, players can battle against players from all other platforms

· Make your Worm its own: No Worms game would be complete without cosmetics and personalisation, ranging from outfits and hats to skins for your worm and weapons they wield

· Lock and load your arsenal: Crates across the maps contain weapons like the Bazooka, Assault Rifle, and Holy Hand Grenade, with Jet Packs and Grapple Guns providing extra movement options

Kevin Carthew, Creative Director, Team17, said:
“Revealing the release timing of Worms Rumble is a very special moment for the development team, and we’re thrilled that it’s only a matter of weeks away. We’re very excited to see players take to the arenas, and it’s fantastic that through the PlayStation 4/PC crossplay open beta next month we can give you a taste of what’s to come in December. It’s even more special considering we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series in days after the beta, with Team17’s own 30th anniversary coming up on the 7th December.”

To keep up to date with all the information on Worms Rumble please like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and join us on Discord.