Month: April 2022

Esri’s digital mapping platform revolutionises litter collection for North Coast World Earth

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today announcing that its digital mapping platform, ArcGIS, is revolutionising litter collection for environmental action group, North Coast World Earth. Using Esri’s software, the group has collected and recorded 3 tonnes of litter on the Northern Irish coast, enabling it to address the wider impact of environmental pollution in the area and campaign successfully for change.

Through Esri’s ArcGIS Survey 123 mobile app, the rapidly growing volunteer group can record information about litter hot spots, volumes of litter that could potentially be recycled, locations where bins are full or unusable, instances of fly tipping and the impact of litter pollution in Protected Areas.

This digital solution from Esri also drives engagement with communities, as local groups have access to personalised online dashboards where they can track their progress, see their contribution, and celebrate their achievements. The dashboards are particularly valuable in schools and support education by giving pupils involved a better understanding of their own contribution to reducing pollution. North Coast World Earth volunteers use the information collected to campaign more effectively with councils, elected councillors and members of the legislative assembly (MLAs), to lobby for action to help prevent littering.

The group’s interactive website, powered by ArcGIS, provides clear and verifiable evidence of pollution for North Coast World Earth, its volunteers, and members of the public. The volume and locations of litter collected are visible in near real-time on the website’s interactive digital map. This hub highlights areas that are not yet patrolled, encouraging more families, businesses, community and school groups to get involved in their localities.

This digital approach to gathering data across an area of 2,000 km2 in the Causeway Coast and Glens areas has decreased the manual administrative burden on the group’s committee and improved data accuracy. Data no longer needs to be collated manually from emails, spreadsheets and social media, which significantly reduces administrative overheads and allows for a more sustainable means of data collection as the action group grows.

Gavin Wallace, Chairperson, North Coast World Earth: “ArcGIS is a tool that we can use to influence the change that we all desperately want to see. We are not simply a litter picking group, we want to combine short-term fixes with long-term solutions. It is important that we identify and quantify the extent of the issue with verified data. 

“The beauty of our ArcGIS Maps and Dashboards is that it provides evidence of the types, volumes and locations of the litter collected by our members.  There are no limits to the amount of data that members can put into ArcGIS; it’s just phenomenal. In the months and years ahead, the ArcGIS platform will provide key data that will help raise further awareness about the issues that face our environment.”

Jamie Wallace, Customer Success Manager, Esri Ireland: “We are delighted to partner with North Coast World Earth and deploy ArcGIS to enable the group to take action and reduce pollution in the environment. The ArcGIS Survey123 mobile app, Dashboards and interactive online Hub have not only improved the quality and quantity of data collection but also given the group a new way to connect with their communities and raise awareness around the scale of the problem.

“North Coast World Earth is doing invaluable work in the Causeway Coast and Glens area of Northern Ireland. Esri Ireland is proud to support this work and provide a sustainable platform which will enable the group to continue to grow and tackle the important issue of litter pollution.”

Learn more about North Coast World Earth by visiting their website:

www.northcoastworldearth.org

Dell Technologies Expands Edge Innovations for Retailers

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) announces the expansion of its edge solutions to help retailers quickly generate more value and deliver enhanced customer experiences from data generated in retail locations.

From grocery merchandising and curbside pickup to frictionless checkout and loss prevention, retailers have embraced edge technologies to keep pace with industry demands and create better customer experiences. A recent study conducted by 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, and commissioned by Dell found this growth will continue with 77% of retailers expecting to increase edge deployments significantly in the next two years1. However, without a holistic approach, new technologies across wide geographies and locations can lead to complex and siloed solutions that drive up a retailer’s IT management cost.

“Retailers are increasingly relying on IT technologies and data at the edge to offer more personalized and intelligent customer experiences that drive better business outcomes, dramatically accelerating the need for retailers to bring together siloed technologies,” said Gil Shneorson, senior vice president of edge solutions, Dell Technologies. “We’re helping retailers easily consolidate these technologies so they can analyze data where it’s created, make faster decisions and deliver positive experiences for in-store shoppers and employees.”

New capabilities from Dell bring together edge technologies, so retailers can easily manage and scale their infrastructure from data centers to the edge, and launch in-store and digital AI applications from partners to deliver better in-store experiences.

Simplify the retail edge to improve in-store experiences

The Dell Validated Design for Retail Edge simplifies and consolidates edge retail infrastructure and applications onto a single infrastructure stack for efficient deployment, management and support. With VMware Edge Compute Stack integration, the solution provides retailers a single management view of edge IT across all retail locations to track system health, build and manage applications at the edge and help securely scale to additional sites. By working with Deep North and its intelligent video analytics platform, the solution supports AI-based applications that help retailers use data insights to improve in-store shopping experiences such as optimizing product placement, preventing product loss, tracking inventory, helping shoppers avoid long checkout lines and diverting employees to where they can be of most assistance in a store.

“We are excited that Deep North’s real-time video analytics platform supports the Dell Validated Design for Retail Edge,” said Rohan Sanil, CEO and co-founder of Deep North. “We look forward to helping retailers leverage AI to gain line-of-sight into the path-to-purchase in-store to identify opportunities to create a better customer experience, improve store operations and drive sales.”

“Retailers have one chance to deliver a positive in-store experience, and they have to balance this with helping to ensure the right inventory, health of their employees and customers, security of the store and more,” said Dave McCarthy, Research Vice President, Cloud and Edge Infrastructure Services, IDC. “Dell’s edge solutions can help retailers of all sizes gain faster, easy access to real-time insights that help make stores work in more intelligent ways to deliver better customer experiences.”

Dell continues to introduce additional edge innovations across its infrastructure portfolio to help organizations simplify deployments and capture more value:

  • Customers and partners can conceptualize and collaborate on edge technologies and applications in the Dell Technologies Customer Solution Centers Innovation Labs. With a new lab in Round Rock, Texas, the collaboration hubs help customers test existing edge technologies and design custom proof-of-concept solutions that can best manage the unique workload demands of organizations in retail, manufacturing, healthcare and other verticals. For example, retailers can validate and test inventory tracking solutions prior to implementation in store locations for fast and simple edge deployments.

  • Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies 4.0, a scalable and agile open sourced-based network operating system, now extends across data centers and to the edge. With network switches that can connect across multiple sites, customers can deploy, manage and monitor their edge with familiar data center tools. The new solution provides streamlined operations, greater flexibility, and expanded business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities. For example, with the seamless networking integration SONiC 4.0 provides, retailers can more easily manage their infrastructure from their data center to retail stores and other edge locations through a single, unified fabric.

Dell’s edge solutions for retailers are the latest additions to Dell’s growing edge portfolio and complement the Dell Validated Design for Manufacturing Edge, which will soon support Digital Performance Management, PTC’s latest ThingWorx based solution. Dell ProDeploy and ProSupport services help retailers accelerate edge deployments and support their environments with more than 60,000 dedicated professionals and partners in more than 170 countries.

 

Availability

  • Dell Validated Design for Retail Edge will be globally available in June 2022.
  • Proof-of-concept edge solutions validation and testing in Dell Technologies Customer Solution Centers Innovation Labs are available today in Limerick.
  • Enterprise SONiC Distribution by Dell Technologies 4.0 will be globally available on April 28, 2022.
  • Dell Validated Design for Manufacturing Edge with PTC, with support for Digital Performance Management, will be globally available later this year.

Tech Review – TORRAS Snapiel screen protector for iPhone 13 Pro

Screen protectors are a must have for most these days to save you a small fortune on screen replacement especially when you are dealing with Apple and their insane repair costs which also applies to the back panel, most of us case up too which is good and some go naked I like all but with my iPhone full protection is what is required and we have covered multiple case and screen protectors here before for that and other devices.

TORRAS is a new brand and we have checked out some of their goods on site already and now they have launched a screen protector which is claimed to be a world first replaceable option which means you can remove it and reinstall it which I would never buy into until now due to dirt attaching itself to it and of course you know what happens there, it simply will not stick and it is near impossible to remove the dirt.

This screen protector however did go back on after talking it off but no dirt was applied to it but left on the review desk and kitchen table and I did manage to reapply it, and one thing noted is the bubble free hassle it remains responsive and is still on my phone today a month later.

Features

Check out their video here and our install and review below.

· The world’s first reusable screen protector
· 10 Sec Bubble-free and Dust-absorb Installation
· Full Coverage Stronger Protection
· Fingerprints-proof & Clean and clear as always
· Delicate Craftsmanship for Smooth Touch
· Anti-scratch and Wear-resistant

BUY 

Website

Video review

New research highlights growing potential of Irish Immersive Technology industry

A new research report “The Irish Immersive Economy” launching today shows that the Irish immersive technology sector is currently worth over €43 million, with significant potential for future growth as 63% of businesses in the sector expect to grow in the coming 12 months.

Commissioned by Immersive Technologies Skillnet, Animation Skillnet and Screen Skillnet, all promoted by Dublin Business lnnovation Centre (DBIC), the report outlines Ireland’s current immersive technology capacity and capabilities. It also makes recommendations that support business growth across a range of sectors and supports the attraction of foreign-direct investment within the sector.

The research finds that there is significant opportunity for Irish immersive tech businesses to excel on a global scale, with 80% of Irish immersive businesses are exporting to Europe and internationally. Investment in the sector is also robust with a majority of organisations surveyed certain they will either make a major investment (22.2%) or exploring new applications (40.5%), with a further 18.5% seeing a possibility of investing in the next 12 months.

The report also explores the most critical barriers to growth in the sector, and signalling that significant strategic support is required to capitalise on these new opportunities. Five main barriers to growth of the sector include shortages in talent (44.9%), funding (44.1%), knowledge (31.5%) and time (31.5%), as well as a lack of an ecosystem (29.9%).

Speaking in advance of the launch, Tracey Donnery, Executive Director, Skillnet Ireland said: “Immersive technologies have evolved rapidly in recent years. For Ireland to be a global leader in this space, we need to ensure the immersive technologies talent base reflects not just current business demands but the challenges of future growth in existing and new markets. Central to achieving our potential in this space will be developing a robust skills and talent pipeline, a world class research and development framework, and relevant business supports to start-ups and scaling up existing businesses.”

 Susan Talbot, Network Manager, Immersive Technologies Skillnet, said: “This much needed body of work not only gives us a baseline for future research around the Irish immersive ecosystem, but will help align thinking and aid key decision makers moving forward. From a Network perspective, the recommendations will ensure a continued industry-led approach in building Ireland’s immersive talent pool.”

 Camille Donegan, Director of Eirmersive and Creative Director of Solas VR, said: “This important report was commissioned to gain a better understanding of Ireland’s emerging immersive technology ecosystem and talent needs. It responds to a growing demand from industry itself to articulate Ireland’s unique voice and contribution to the national and global immersive technology marketplace. The report will also help inform how key government stakeholders can go further in supporting the needs of this emerging sector.”

 The report also reveals sectors where immersive technologies are finding the widest application including education and research, software development, and training and skills. It also shows the real-life impact of immersive technologies and the benefits it can offer Irish businesses and people including:

  • BioPharmaChem Skillnet recently collaborated with TU Dublin to develop a VR programme called ‘Powder Handling for Pharma Manufacturing’. Using VR, it allows participants to learn powder handling essentials – a critical process in pharmaceutical manufacturing – in a low-risk environment – significantly reducing training costs as workers virtually perform activities in a simulated environment.
  • Immersive tech is also helping many organisations who are unlikely to go back to a full “office only” model. MeetingRoom has built a secure and scalable end to end VR enterprise solution to encourage collaboration where people cannot be in the same room together, proving especially useful for sessions that do not work well on standard video calls, such as workshops, brainstorming, site tours and audits.

Espire 2 Brings Award-winning First-Person Stealth VR Experience to Meta Quest 2 this November

As revealed live during this year’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, developer Digital Lode and publisher Tripwire Presents are excited to announce Espire 2, the sequel to the award-winning first-person stealth action virtual reality (VR) title Espire 1: VR Operative. Scheduled to release in November 2022 for the Meta Quest 2 platform, Espire 2 combines the tactical precision of modern stealth titles with the unprecedented immersion of VR, further expanding upon the genre-defining experience of its critically acclaimed predecessor. More information about Espire 2 will be made available in the near future, but agents wishing to secure their role early can add the game to their wish list on the Meta Store.

“We are so excited to finally share a first-ever look at Espire 2, the VR stealth-action sequel of our dreams,” said Digital Lode Founder and Game Director Michael Wentworth-Bell. “Espire 2 would not be possible without the amazing teams at Meta and the Quest 2 platform, or without our continued publishing partnership with Tripwire Presents, who have believed in our vision from the beginning and continue to guide and mentor our studio. Most importantly, this sequel wouldn’t be happening without the incredible community that has supported Espire 1 since its release two years ago. We thank you, and we hope you will enjoy what we have in store for Espire 2.”

In the world of Espire 2, advanced military and virtual reality technologies meet, allowing Espire Agents to take on the role of a super spy, piloting deadly Espire Model 1 Operative espionage droids remotely from the safety of the Control Theatre. Set in the year 2036, Espire 2 marks the return of Espire Agent POE (the Primary Operator of Espire). After emerging from a seven-year coma, POE is thrust back into the world of dark espionage as the centerpiece of the Espire project. Now, with the help of two bleeding-edge droids called “Frames”, and an all-new arsenal of weapons and tools, POE must embark on a mission to eliminate the global threat imposed by the deadly terrorist organization, OPHIS.

“We are thrilled to be working with Digital Lode and Meta on Espire 2! The team at Digital Lode has embraced fan feedback from Espire 1 and is focused on implementing features that open exciting new ways to play in the sequel,” said Brian Etheridge, Publishing Director at Tripwire. “The new Espire frame offers an entirely new tool set to take on the enemy in Espire 2, while the addition of cooperative multiplayer lets players coordinate with each other to develop dynamic tactics and create awesome memories. The Digital Lode teams are, more than anything, VR super fans and that shows in everything they do!”

Developer Digital Lode has big plans to expand upon the success of the original Espire 1: VR Operative, adding a wealth of new features and improvements to the gameplay that made the original a top-selling hit.

Espire 2 features include:

  • Immersive Single Player Campaign – Take on missions across the globe in sandbox environments designed to allow the player total freedom over their play style. Sneak past guards, create distractions, and think strategically to achieve objectives or charge forward, guns blazing. Espire 2 offers the thrill of both stealth and action-focused strategies to each area, all presented with immersive VR technology.
  • Multiplayer Co-op campaign: Players can now team up with a fellow operative in a new multiplayer co-op campaign that bridges the gap between Espire 1 and Espire 2.
  • Control Multiple Espire Frames: For the first time, players can control and can switch between two unique Espire frames. Each frame is suited with their own special abilities and attributes, offering strategic benefits for players to discover while playing through both of Espire 2’s campaigns.
  • Unique Gadgets: The player’s entire array of tools and gadgets is now fully integrated into the Espire frames, offering a vast variety of accessible options for handling objectives before they even draw their weapon.
  • Rule the Play Area: Espire Vision gives Agents a strategic, accessible view of the situation, allowing players to see through walls, mark the location of enemies, predict patrol paths, and more.
  • Voice commands: Players can utilize voice commands to distract, hold up and interrogate the enemy. Interrogation commands include “empty your pockets” and “where are your friends?” Espire 2 can be played without voice commands, if players prefer.
  • Cutting Edge Graphics and Spatial Audio: Espire 2 boasts next generation VR graphics and spatial audio systems that will take full advantage of the power of the Meta Quest 2.
  • Stealth AI System: The stealth AI system has been rebuilt from the ground up with a focus on core stealth mechanics, enemy engagements and player agency, bringing even more depth to Espire 2’s variety of gameplay options.
  • Immersion and Presence: Thanks to Espire 2’s accurate “arm IK” system, players see their virtual forearms where their real ones would be and experience VR interactions in lifelike detail.
  • Enhanced Control Theatre: The technology behind the “Control Theatre” lies at the heart of the Espire 2’s movement and control system. Utilizing the Meta Quest 2’s additional rendering capabilities, the innovative “Control Theatre” comfort system makes its return in Espire 2, with enhanced features, a new user interface, and easier accessibility. This “VR within VR” system allows for precise full freedom of movement, maintains immersion, and also eliminates “VR motion sickness” for almost all players. The Control Theatre is fully customizable to suit the player’s level of comfort, up to fully disabled for those already comfortable moving in VR.

For more information on Digital Lode and to stay up to date on the latest news for Espire 2, be sure to visit the official website – and follow the developers on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Konftel Strengthens Climate Neutral Ethos After Securing Official Certification For Three Years Running

Collaboration endpoint specialist Konftel has strengthened its sustainability ethos by announcing a series of ‘greener’ measures to help secure official Climate Neutral status for the third year in a row.

The manufacturer, with a growing global footprint, became the first in the UC industry to become Climate Neutral certified, where all greenhouse gas emissions have been offset by credits, to support various projects around the world.

Konftel joins a growing movement of over 260 brands achieving the standard, based on a far-reaching three step process which comprises:

 

  • Measuring its 2021 greenhouse gas emissions footprint
  • Purchasing verified carbon credits to offset that footprint
  • Implementing plans to reduce emissions during 2022 and beyond

 

Together the brands have so far measured and offset 783,768 tonnes of carbon. As part of this year’s commitments Konftel will cut the use of plastic bags in some of its most popular products by 50%, look to increase renewable energy at main manufacturing facilities and also reduce car commuting of staff by 40%.

Clear climate conscience

In an era of agile working with huge demand for conferencing and collaboration hardware, protecting the planet is just as important as connecting the world, for Konftel, says CMO Stefan Eriksson.

“Buying from Konftel ensures our customers have a ‘clear climate conscience’ that there are zero net carbon emissions from our manufacturing processes. We believe every company should be climate neutral and invest in our planet. It’s about measuring, offsetting and reducing emissions to help the world become net-zero by 2050.”

He continued: “There are many effective ways we are helping. For example we will cut the use of polythene bags in our products boxes for the Konftel 800 conference phones and Konftel Cam20 and Konftel Cam50 cameras by 50% by 2023. For cables and other small parts today shipped in poly bags, we will either shift to biodegradable bags or if possible just exclude the bags completely.

“In addition we aim to increase the renewable energy ratio by 10% at our main contract manufacturer’s facilities by 2023. We will also dramatically reduce car commuting of staff compared to pre-pandemic levels. By promoting a hybrid workstyle with flexibility in work location, staff will not be required to commute to corporate offices to the same extent as before.”

Stefan Eriksson Konftel CMO

 

His positive comments were endorsed by Austin Whitman, CEO of Climate Neutral, a non-profit organization working to eliminate carbon emissions. He said: “Climate Neutral Certified companies show the world that immediate action on climate change is possible and essential. In just three years, the growing number of Climate Neutral Certified brands has built a powerful movement that gives companies and consumers meaningful ways to act on climate, right now. Certified brands are leading the way by recognizing that climate change must be solved. They believe that all companies should take immediate voluntary action to zero out their entire carbon footprint, and they are engaging their consumers around this important issue like never before.”

He added: “Konftel and our other Climate Neutral Certified brands are leading the global shift to a net-zero economy by doing what all companies should be doing immediately: measuring, offsetting, and reducing their carbon emissions. Our label helps consumers identify these brands. It’s a recognizable and trusted symbol that turns everyday purchases into meaningfully positive climate action.”

 

Worldwide projects supported

By investing in worldwide carbon credits, forest conservation, renewable energy and carbon capture technologies all benefit. Forest conservation in Zimbabwe, water filtration in Cambodia, renewable energy in India, clean electricity in Indonesia, reducing landfill gas in the USA and providing clean cookstoves in Mali are some of the many projects supported by Konftel so far. New this year include improved forest management in the US, solar and wind energy in China, biomass in India and reforestation in Costa Rica.

Eriksson emphasized: “We find that our customers, our partners and our people really care about all of this. We have put it at the very heart of our business because it’s the right thing to do. Yes, the right thing from a commercial perspective, but also the right thing from an environmental and ethical perspective.

“When customers buy from us, they know they are buying from an organisation which has no carbon footprint whatsoever; zero net emissions. This is a major statement of intent. The technology we produce works in harmony with our climate neutral philosophy. More conference calling means less car and rail journeys, fewer flights, less busy offices, reduced gas and electricity consumption. The two strategies operate together. By choosing Konftel users really can conference with a clear climate conscience from the very first meeting.”

 

Find out more about Konftel’s Climate Neutral status here 

TechFest 2022 returns in-person to Cork City

it@cork has today officially launched TechFest 2022, its annual flagship technology conference, which returns for its first in-person event since 2019. The technology conference will be held in the Clayton Hotel in Cork City from 9:30am on the 25th of May 2022 with a festival of supporting technology events all that week. Tickets for the main conference are currently on sale at https://bit.ly/itcorktechfest22.

The technology festival will feature expert speakers from across the world, including Global Tech for Good practitioner and Director at GitHub Mala Kumar and Environmental Scientist Dr. Tara Shine. The event, MC’d by award-winning industry broadcaster Jonathan McCrea, will also feature workshops, networking opportunities and an industry expo.

Gillian Bergin, it@cork Chairperson and Senior Consultant with DELL Technologies commented: “We are energised and excited that TechFest returns as an in-person event this year. There are two years of networking and knowledge sharing to catch up on, and we have a jam-packed day planned with panel discussions, breakout sessions and keynote addresses.

“With our three key themes of Transform, Innovate and Inspire, attendees will hear from industry leaders and subject matter experts on how tech has enabled them to adapt and succeed, overcoming the lingering impacts of the pandemic. There will also be a focus on how companies can overcome the current talent crisis, how current and future transformative technologies will impact the nature of work and challenging discussions on possibilities and practicalities.” 

Over 250 people are expected to attend the event, giving the opportunity for attendees to network, connect and collaborate. Other speakers include Dr Marguerite Nyhan, Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering and Future Sustainability from UCC, Rois Ni Thuma, Head of Cyber Governance from Redsift, Niamh Parker, Co-Founder from Altada, Greg Tarr, Chief Executive Officer from Inferex, Conor O’Loughlin Co-Founder of Glofox, and Ross Frenett, Founder and Chief Executive Officer from Moonshot. Plus, many more speakers will be released in the coming weeks. 

TechFest project lead William Dalton, Head of Global Infrastructure Services at Trend Micro and it@cork board member added: “We are also inviting organisations in the region to host satellite events that week, creating a multi-day technology festival, offering diversity of thought and experience, and showcasing the best of what the region has to offer”

As part of the TechFest 2022 schedule, it@cork is inviting organisations in the southwest of Ireland to host an event for it@cork members and beyond. If you have an idea for a partner event, please contact Juliette at juliette@itcork.ie. 

At their recent AGM, it@cork appointed five new members to their board, including Laura Hughes, Program Manager at Cloudera, Vikram Kunnath, Lifesciences Manufacturing, Supply chain and Technology Consulting leader and Partner at Ernest & Young, Louise O’Neill, Associate Director at Berkley Group, Catherine Evans, RDI Collaboration Manager at Fexco and Matthew Camilleri, Founder and CEO at Castille.

Tickets for the event are now on sale at https://bit.ly/itcorktechfest22, but numbers are limited so attendees are encouraged to book early as the event is expected to be a sell-out.

Dublin’s Future Human partners with IT Ukraine in May

Future Human will partner with the IT Ukraine Association for this year’s event. Future Human takes place on May 12-13, at the state-of-the-art Trinity Business School on Pearse Street in Dublin, where leading international thinkers will share their wisdom on the future of everything.

Produced by Silicon Republic, and supported by Aon, the event replaces the award-winning Inspirefest, which ran for five years at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin.

Full details at:  https://hopin.com/events/futurehuman2022/registration

Along with leading thinkers on Entrepreneurship, Web3, Climate, Future of Work and Business, the event will host a special panel on the Future of Ukraine. Along with Irish-based speakers like Neill Dunwoody, co-founder of TechLink Ukraine, IT Ukraine Executive Director Konstantin Vasyuk will be dialled in live to join the panel.

“It was important that at an international event like Future Human, we hear from our peers in the innovation sector in Ukraine at such a tough time,” says Ann O’Dea, founder of Future Human and CEO of Silicon Republic.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Konstantin and the team at IT Ukraine, as well as with other players locally like Tech Link Ukraine and Pryvit.ie to ensure our Ukrainian friends and colleagues have a presence and a voice at the event.”

“We are so pleased that Future Human will be a platform for exploring the Future of Ukraine,” says Vasyuk. “Especially considering that the future – being the joined values of civilized nations – is exactly what Ukraine is fighting for in the war with Russia. I believe at this forward-looking event, we will be able to discuss how Ukrainian tech contributions can inspire the world.”

In Ireland, AWS In Communities is supporting Future Human to bring a group of recently arrived Ukrainian STEM professionals in person to this year’s event for free, and many have already received their tickets, by applying via Pryvit.ie. On Friday afternoon, attendees will get to mingle in smaller groups when the main stage closes early, with a special Masterclasses programme this year, which will include several masterclasses and workshops aimed at recent arrivals from Ukraine.

“We want to ensure our new arrivals get a great welcome into the sector here and make valuable connections, and we’re very grateful to AWS in Community and Pryvit.ie for supporting us to do this,” says O’Dea.

The rest of the main stage programme includes industry leaders like Aon president, Eric Anderson, entrepreneurs like Des Traynor, co-founder of Irish Unicorn, Intercom, and Dee Coakley, co-founder of Boundless, as well as academic speakers like Professor Alice Roberts, who is a familiar face from her 100+ TV appearances in the UK. You can find the speaker line-up and programme to date here.

In-person numbers are limited this year, but the entire main stage programme will be streamed live on 12 and 13 May for virtual ticket holders.

McGreals Health introduce the innovative Irish designed Novaerus Defend 400 air cleaning technology

McGreals Health has launched the innovative Defend 400 as the next generation model to their range of Novaerus air cleaning devices. Using pioneering patented NanoStrike™ air disinfection technology it inactivates 99.9% of all airborne viruses, bacteria and fungi including Sars-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and mitigates odours, pollen and mould spores to support user’s health and wellbeing all year round.

The medical grade and portable Defend 400 has a four-stage pathogen inactivation and filtration – the NanoStrike system inactivates while the use of medical-grade filters capture nanosized pathogens in the air, providing advanced rapid air dis-infection and purification to users.  The Irish-designed Defend 400 advances indoor air quality (IAQ), is FDA approved and CE marked. Those suffering from respiratory diseases and allergies have seen a positive benefit from using Novaerus devices and its use has also shown to reduce absenteeism* in the workplace.

Deirdre Devitt, CEO of Novaerus by McGreals Health, which distributes the devices in Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be adding the Novaerus Defend 400 to our product portfolio. Indoor air quality has become an essential health and safety component across all businesses and organisations in every sector. Providing clean air is a priority, especially when we know that indoor air can be up to twice, even five times** more polluted than outdoor air. As we’ve learnt, this can lead to illnesses and infections, but we also know that it can reduce cognitive function which impacts productivity levels in the workplace. Clean air technology can play a central role to support everyone’s wellbeing and comfort levels whether they are at home, at work or in any indoor setting.”

The Novaerus range of portable air cleaning devices are available in four sizes (NV 200, NV 800, Defend 400 and Defend 1050) catering for small to large spaces. Developed by WellAir, the Novaerus devices are sold in 72 countries worldwide, supporting all sectors with additional frontline protection without generating any harmful by-products to clean the air 24/7. The Defend 400 is available from €6,500 (ex VAT). For more information visit www.novaerus.ie.

McGreals Health, distributor of Novaerus NanoStrike™ technology in Ireland are the Official Clean Air Partner to Leinster Rugby.