Month: December 2020

Ireland now at the leading-edge of brain surgery with new equipment that allows for neurosurgery in 3D. #3D #ORBEYE

 Beacon Hospital is now at the leading-edge of neurosurgery, with the investment of half a million euro in the revolutionary ORBEYE technology, making it the first hospital in Ireland or the UK to use this equipment. This 3D camera system allows surgeons to see intricate images of the areas they are operating on, enabling them to perform and collaborate on complex and delicate brain procedures more effectively.

The equipment offers an alternative to traditional microscopic surgery. It produces magnified, high-resolution, three-dimensional digital images for the neurosurgeon. The technology has extremely powerful magnification and illumination which allows surgeons to see fine details, such as the smallest nerves and blood vessels, in deep parts of the brain.

For patient’s surgical incisions are significantly smaller, therefore potentially resulting in a shorter stay in hospital, quicker recovery time and a lower risk of infection. The technology enables an entire surgical team to see exactly what the surgeon is seeing on a large 3D screen in the operating room. This makes it the ultimate teaching tool for the next generation of neurosurgeons.

When using traditional operating microscopes, neurosurgeons can spend many hours with their neck bent forward and often in awkward positions. This can lead to surgeon fatigue, pain and discomfort. Using Orbeye, surgeons can access these complex areas without having to get into awkward positions for lengthy surgeries.

At Beacon Hospital, Professor Mohsen Javadpour has been successfully using the Orbeye for surgery on benign and malignant brain tumours.

Professor Mohsen Javadpour, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Beacon Hospital said:

 “In my view this technology offers us one of the most significant advancements in neurosurgery in recent years, totally revolutionising how we perform operations. Orbeye technology enables us to look straight ahead at a 3-D screen, it illuminates corridors deep into the brain, allowing us carry out these complex surgeries like never before. Vitally, it also improves communication, education and learning within the operating theatre as an entire team can see what is happening on a large screen with a 3D view. This is an extremely promising development for neurosurgery in Ireland and worldwide.”

Michael Cullen CEO of Beacon Hospital said:

“At Beacon Hospital, we’re committed to continuous investment in the very best technology, talent and treatments, to ensure we remain at the forefront of innovation. We’re delighted to be first in Ireland or the UK to invest in and use this new ORBEYE equipment. Already ten complex brain surgeries have been carried out using this technology in our theatre, and it will continue to be a game-changer for patients and surgeons alike.”

Alison Harvey, Olympus Country Manager said:

“Beacon Hospital are our technology partners here in Ireland and an investment of this nature is evidence of the Hospitals’ ambition and commitment to Irish healthcare”

 At Beacon Hospital, the system will be used initially for brain surgery.

Win a TCL 10 With TechBuzzIreland and TCL. #TCL #Tech

Need a new smartphone for Christmas? Well we have teamed up with TCL and have their fantastic TCL 10L to giveaway just in time for the festive season.. We have reviewed this device not so long ago and find it an excellent piece of kit with a big screen to consume media and much more. Check out the review HERE

What do you need to do to win..

1 – Have an address in the ROI

2 – Retweet this TWEET – Follow and reply with #TechBuzzTCL

3 – There is no cash alternative

4 – TCL will ship the device to the winner direct.

5 – Follow TCL on Instagram HERE 

6 – Entries close Dec 11th 2020 9PM

Bank of Ireland Fraud Alert: Think outside the box and beware of parcel fraud. #Parcels #Fraud #Smishing

 Bank of Ireland has issued an advisory to consumers today to be extra vigilant against parcel fraud in the peak Christmas shopping and online delivery period.  With the seasonal upsurge in parcel delivery, the Bank has noted a high volume of calls from customers reporting fraudulent activity via ‘smishing’ texts where fraudsters send fake messages claiming to be from recognisable delivery companies.

These ‘smishing’ texts will ask a customer to follow to a link to a fraudulent payment site that will, for example, ask customers to pay a small customs charge or confirm details. The branding on these texts and the destination website will be of one of a household name delivery company like UPS, DPD or An Post. We have covered many of these here before if you search you will get an idea what to watch out for. Here is one example 

Edel McDermott, Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland said; “The middle of the busiest shopping period of the year is an obvious time for fraudsters to target consumers.  People may be distracted and have less available time to stop, think and check the details on a text and simply reply ‘automatically’ to a company they recognise.  There’s also a good chance that consumers will have bought something online recently so are more likely to think the text is genuine and click one of the fraudulent links currently in circulation.  If they do, they will be brought to a website where they are asked to give their Credit or Debit card details.  The message here is simple: no matter how busy you are, always pause before replying or clicking on a link and take the time to independently check whether a text is legitimate, even if it appears to be from a familiar brand or company. And never disclose confidential banking details”.

Reminders to consumers:

  • Always think before you click: Does this text refer to a legitimate delivery that you are expecting?
  • Do not respond to or click a link in an unsolicited text, even if it appears to be from a company that you recognise.  Always check independently that the text is genuine.
  • Do not use a phone number given to you in the text.
  • Never disclose confidential banking details or security details such as your any digits from your PIN or online password.

Bank of Ireland customers who think they have been the victim of this type of fraud, should contact the Bank as soon as possible: https://www.bankofireland.com/security-zone/report-fraud/

Bank of Ireland is committed to building awareness around fraud. Bank of Ireland will continue to focus on the issues around fraud, through the Bank’s own channels and by working collaboratively through the Bank and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) FraudSMART campaign www.fraudsmart.ie

An Post Mobile Launches ‘€15 Unlimited’ Christmas Cracker. #AnPost #Mobile

An Post Mobile has launched ‘€15 Unlimited’, the new pre-pay offer with unlimited data, calls and texts to any network for as little as €15 per month. Customers switching to An Post Mobile can avail of their first month for free with a top up of just €15 each month thereafter. The ‘€15 Unlimited’ deal also offers customers excellent connectivity with 99% 4G population coverage and the benefit of no contracts and no bills.

For anyone in search of Christmas gift ideas – whether it’s a handset for the chatty Dad who needs the unlimited calls, a phone for the niece who always needs more data or for anyone who just fancies switching because €15 a month for unlimited calls, texts and 4G data is great value, An Post Mobile offers a range of quality phones at price points to suit every pocket including the Samsung A21s for €129.95 as part of the ‘€15 Unlimited’ package for new customers.

Additional handsets in the ‘€15 Unlimited’ offer with discounts on selected handsets for customers who switch their number include:

  • MINT + iPhone X (64GB) from €549.00
  • MINT + iPhone 8 (64GB) from €299.00
  • MINT + iPhone 7 (32GB) from €199.00
  • Huawei Y6 2019 from €99.95
  • Alcatel 20.03 only €39.95

Additional An Post mobile customer benefits include the new Auto Top-Up service which allows customers to automatically buy credit on a day of their choice each month.
Joining An Post mobile has never been easier – join online at www.anpost.com/mobile or at a local post office.

For further information on An Post Mobile’s Christmas products, pop into your local post office or visit: https://www.anpost.com/Mobile

Ireland’s tech community urged to take up free suicide prevention training course. #Twenty2Zero #OhanaZeroSuicide

Ohana ZERO suicide has today officially launched its Twenty2Zero campaign to break the stigma associated with suicide and encourage open conversations.

Ohana ZERO suicide has partnered with ZSA UK to bring the suicide awareness training to the people across the island of Ireland by empowering them to identify suicidal behaviours, and to support those feeling vulnerable or suffering from mental health problems.

Twenty2Zero aims to end the stigma associated with suicide, encourage people to talk about the issue, and to intervene if loved ones, friends or strangers are believed to be at risk. This free online suicide awareness training can be accessed via their website at www.ohana.ie and it is aimed at people from all walks of life.

Ohana ZERO suicide is launching in the year 2020 with the goal to reach zero suicide. Sports and tv personalities were at the launch to support the initiative. Bernard Jackman, Irish rugby international and ex professional Head Coach; Sarah Torrans, Irish hockey international; Tania Rosser, former Leinster and Irish international rugby player; Brendan Maher, Tipperary hurler; Lauren Magee, Dublin footballer; Alan Quinlan, former Munster and Irish international rugby player, and Peter Finn, Home Rescue builder and TV personality were today at the Irish Museum of Modern Art to officially launch the Twenty2Zero campaign.

Su Carty, a Director of Ohana ZERO suicide, commenting on the announcement said, “Suicide is a preventable death. Our goal is to empower communities and individuals throughout Ireland to help by being alert to the warning signs and helping those who are feeling suicidal to stay safe. Our suicide awareness training, with the simple tagline ‘Show you Care, Ask the Question, Make the Call’, is designed to provide every person with the basic skills that will help to reduce suffering and save lives. By taking this short 20 to 40 minute training we could be just minutes away from zero suicide.”

Actress, writer and comedian Eilish O’Carroll in support of the initiative said, “I am pleased to support this fantastic initiative. Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, both locally and nationally. I can vouch that those taking this training will leave equipped with the tools to engage with those at risk. We hope business leaders and the community in general assist us to raise awareness and help save a life”.

The announcement comes amidst experts’ concerns over isolation, anxiety and other mental health concerns intensified by COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown, reducing people’s social contact with others including family members and friends.

Ohana ZERO suicide is asking people to lend their social media feeds to the cause. The time has come to not only talk about suicide as a public health issue but to start taking action. Ohana ZERO suicide is asking people and organisations to help spread the word about the free suicide prevention training using the hashtags #Twenty2Zero and #OhanaZeroSuicide.

To keep up to date with Ohana ZERO Suicide’s latest news stay tuned to the social media feeds:

Instagram: @Ohana_zero_suicide Facebook: OhanaZEROsuicide Twitter: @ohanazero LinkedIn: Ohana Zero Suicide

The Revolutionary Apple M1 Chip has Boosted the Efficiency of DxO PhotoLab 4’s DeepPRIME Technology by Leaps and Bounds

DxO PhotoLab 4, the world’s most advanced photo-editing software in terms of image processing launched two months ago, lets users harness the full potential of the new Apple M1 chip powering the latest generation of the Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. The newest version of the software, DxO PhotoLab 4.1, also offers better colour control through its improved HSL tool and support for five new cameras.

Three to Five Times Faster Performance Compared to the Most Recent 13” MacBook Pro and Intel Mac Mini 

The architecture of the latest Apple M1 chip has been optimised with image processing and artificial intelligence algorithms in mind. It’s only natural then that the extraordinary image quality made possible by DxO PhotoLab 4’s DxO DeepPRIME image processing technology is now dramatically more efficient on the latest generation of Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

Users can now process their images three to five times faster compared to the most recent 13” MacBook Pro and Mac Mini for nearly half the cost—and in silence. Images are exported at 1.5 mpix/s, which is faster than the previous version of DxO PRIME. In fact, the Apple M1 chip greatly reduces the time it takes to complete all edits. Because the technology applies a denoising and a demosaicing algorithm simultaneously, the quality of photos (including low-ISO images) processed with DxO DeepPRIME is unmatched. When paired with Mac computers outfitted with the M1 chip, the technology can be applied seamlessly every time.

DxO DeepPRIME has Revolutionized Denoising and RAW Conversion Technology

DxO DeepPRIME is based on the latest artificial intelligence technologies and significantly improves noise reduction while also delivering more effective demosaicing. The resulting photo quality is nothing short of spectacular, especially for photos taken in low light conditions that require brightening certain areas, photos with small pixels, and photos taken with early-generation cameras. 

 

To demosaic and reduce noise in RAW images, DxO DeepPRIME was trained using several billion samples. Since its founding in 2003, DxO has earned an international reputation for calibrating hundreds of cameras and thousands of lenses using a protocol that is more comprehensive than any other in the industry. DxO has measured the distortion, vignetting, chromatic aberrations, loss of sharpness, and digital noise generated by each equipment combination and in every situation with an extraordinary level of precision.

Using a traditional approach, these two operations are performed separately, with each one introducing artifact that degrade the quality of the other. With deep learning, DxO DeepPRIME has adopted a holistic approach that combines the two steps into one in order to deliver exceptional performance.

Improved HSL Tool

DxO PhotoLab 4’s HSL (Hue–Saturation–Luminance) Tool features an exclusive adjustment mode based on the colour wheel called DxO ColorWheel. With this tool, you can select a colour range from eight different channels, fine-tune the value, select a replacement colour, and adjust your transitions as much as you like. DxO PhotoLab 4.1 now displays a mask in the image being edited that lets you instantly identify the selected colour area. The result is a more seamless user experience and even more opportunities to unleash your creativity. The Uniformity slider lets you adjust colour variations within a specific range. The Saturation and Luminance sliders also offer an incredible degree of flexibility, especially when converting a colour image to black and white and when creating partially desaturated images.

New Camera Support

DxO PhotoLab 4.1 continues to add the latest cameras to the list of equipment it supports. The program now supports the Nikon Z 6II, the Sony A7C and A7S III, and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H. A new drone, the DJI Mavic Air 2, has also been added to the optical modules database.

Price and Availability

The ESSENTIAL and ELITE editions of DxO PhotoLab 4 (PC and Mac) are now available for download on DxO’s website (https://shop.dxo.com/) for the following prices until December 31, 2020:

 

DxO PhotoLab 4 ESSENTIAL Edition: £86.99 instead of £112

DxO PhotoLab 4 ELITE Edition: £129.99 instead of £169

 

DxO PhotoLab 4 users can download this update for free. You do not need a subscription to use DxO PhotoLab 4. You can install the program on two computers with the DxO PhotoLab 4 ESSENTIAL Edition or on three computers with the DxO PhotoLab 4 ELITE Edition. Photographers with a license for DxO OpticsPro or PhotoLab 3 can purchase an upgrade license for DxO PhotoLab 4 by signing into their customer account on https://shop.dxo.com/login_upgrade.php/. A fully functional, one-month trial version of DxO PhotoLab 4 is available on the DxO website: https://www.dxo.com/dxo-photolab/download/.

Irish software company Pharmapod developing system to manage global vaccine rollout. #Pharmapod #Software

Award-winning Irish software company Pharmapod, has announced today that it is in the final stages of developing a cloud-based solution for the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine globally. This important work is supported by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), who will continue to collaborate as Pharmapod makes this solution available on an international basis for healthcare professionals involved in the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The system will streamline the process of administering the vaccine by allowing patients to book their vaccination appointment, providing real-time information to healthcare professionals and their organisations, as well as businesses and public health bodies.

According to Pharmapod’s founder and Chief Executive, Leonora O’Brien, the company hopes to have the vaccination system up and running in line with the release of the Covid-19 vaccination to the market; ‘’our vaccination system has been in development since the beginning of the pandemic and we are working alongside partners such as the International Pharmaceutical Federation to bring it through the final stages. Essentially, the system will streamline the end-to-end process for patients and those administrating the vaccine. This will allow the public to easily book their vaccine via any device, schedule multiple doses, complete their eligibility criteria and provide details of any side-effects that have occurred. The data will flow securely from patient to administrator to national stakeholders and governmental organisations. Public health authorities will be able to receive real time, anonymous information about how the vaccine rollout is working. By simplifying the entire process, the solution promotes vaccine uptake, minimises the time required to administer each vaccine and provides critical data on side-effects so that corrective actions may be put in place as required”.

Pharmapod currently provides a number of cloud-based, healthcare specific solutions for pharmacies and the Long-Term Care sector. Its clinical services module facilitate the delivery of services such as flu vaccines and emergency contraception in pharmacies. It is the leading cloud-based software for driving efficiencies and reducing Patient Safety Incidents (PSIs) in community pharmacies and long-term care globally.

60% of all Canadian Pharmacies use Pharmapod’s system to minimise medication errors and improve best practice. Pharmapod has operations in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

Leonora went on to say; ‘’Our solutions and platform are designed by healthcare professionals. The vaccination system will also be able to spot potential problems in the rollout such as shortages of vaccines, uptake resistance, people not showing up for vaccinations, regional uptake comparisons, etc. It will also give patients notifications about their appointments and provide advice and information. The idea is to make everything easier and quicker for both the patient, and the healthcare professional as well as deliver the required service performance data to national stakeholders. Pharmapod has experience in developing large scale systems of this nature and we are in discussions with a number of governments around the world in relation to our system.’’

Pharmapod was established by Leonora O’Brien in 2013, a fully qualified pharmacist with over 25 years’ experience in the pharmacy sector. Businesses, pharmacies, care homes, hospitals and other healthcare organisations, may pre-register their interest in the solution here: https://www.pharmapodhq.com/app_register.

PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile Devices Now Available. #Gaming

PowerA, a leader in enhancing interactive entertainment with officially licensed gaming accessories, launched the MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile and Cloud Gaming. As the newest addition to PowerA’s popular MOGA line licensed for Xbox, the XP5-X Plus delivers the versatility to play Xbox games from the cloud on your mobile phone or tablet with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The MOGA XP5-X Plus is available now for $69.99.

Mobile Gaming Like Never Before

The MOGA XP5-X Plus delivers optimized controls for cloud games in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library on your compatible mobile phone or tablet. Whether it’s supported titles in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library or Fortnite on Android, gamers will experience breathtaking mobile gaming with the ergonomic design and familiarity of an Xbox-inspired controller. The advanced gaming buttons allow players to map two additional buttons on the fly to gain the competitive edge.

Extended Gaming Sessions Wherever and Whenever

The integrated power bank and optimally balanced phone clip gives players the best position to take down their opponents at home or on-the-go. The internal 3000mAh rechargeable battery delivers MOGA Power Boost by extending gameplay and can be used as a Power Bank to charge an Android mobile device while playing. The premium game clip designed to fit Android devices gives players to explore hundreds of controller-enabled games.

Mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons

Keep your thumbs on the analog sticks and gain a competitive advantage by mapping two buttons on the back of the controller for adjusting button assignments on-the-fly between matches. With the MOGA XP5-X Plus, you’ll be well equipped to take on any gaming challenge thrown at you, whether it’s a high-octane firefight or an intense race to the finish line.

Do not give CEX your Money this Christmas. #CEX #PS5 #XboxSeriesX

I have never liked CEX for a simple reason, they cash in and sell for extortionate prices on second hand goods and not only this being a retail outlet they are profiteering on the latest gadget this Christmas which is the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Recently this also caused an issue on local selling sites like Adverts and Done Deal who to be fair did get proactive on the topic and refused to take new advertising on the consoles and tool down any that managed to make it up. As we can see they want 875 and 750 euros respectively for the two new consoles below

Quite a few people emailed me today regarding this and to see what these bastards are doing it is nothing short on preying on families this Christmas. So don’t give them a penny and I wonder what the CCPC thinks about this as I have informed them and waiting on a response and will revert here once I hear from them.