Month: November 2022

Irish Company myVolts launches innovative audio product “Candycord Halo”

Candycords Halo – a unique range of illuminating premium audio cables for modular synths and more – is the hot new audio product from myVolts Ltd. The 2-week Kickstarter campaign kicks runs until 2nd December 2022. Candycords Halo was developed in close collaboration with Toronto-based music and video producer Andrew Huang. “It’s something I feel I will use all the time and I’m sure a lot of other synth nerds would also appreciate!”– Andrew Huang

Candycords Halo up close – techbuzzireland

Features and benefits of Candycords Halo include:

Beautifully designed: subtle LED in a metallic lacquered enclosure
Premium connectors: gold-plated with a reassuring snap-crunch on connecting
Unique colours: 7 yummy colours help keep track of gear, including Sunset Peach, Jellybean Purple, and Marshmallow Pink plus Midnight Black

Candycords Halo – techbuzzireland

Untangleable: bespoke thermoplastic rubber resists tangles, cables coil just right
Hard-wearing: thoughtful cable construction ensures long life
Pleasing finish: matte rubber velvet finish makes Candycords Halo a joy to handle
Different lengths: 15cm, 30cm, 50cm, 80cm and 150cm available, a cable for every situation
Different styles: Curly and straight available, right-angled and straight connectors available
Great for Modular, semi-modular or CV controller keyboard scenarios

 

Candycord Halo is live on Kickstarter until December 2nd. Prices start at 19 EUR for a pair of Halo Cables. The first run of the product is already manufactured and ready to ship worldwide at campaign end, so backers can buy with full confidence. Visit the Kickstarter campaign at: https://tinyurl.com/CandyHalo myVolts Ltd has been solving the power problems of consumers and professionals for well over a decade, has four previously successfully funded and shipped Kickstarter campaigns, and served tens of thousands of happy customers on Amazon, eBay and their own webshop.

Support on Kickstarter

Dell Technologies Strengthens Cyber Resiliency with Multicloud Data Protection and Security Innovations

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) is expanding its industry leadership in data protection appliances and software1 to help customers protect their data on premises, in public clouds and at the edge.

The Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance leads a series of advancements for multicloud data protection that are simple to use and easy to consume. Dell innovation in AI-powered resilience and operational security accelerates the adoption of Zero Trust architectures, helping protect organisations from the increasing threat of cyberattacks.

The new solutions help address rising data protection challenges facing organisations. According to the 2022 Dell Global Data Protection Index (GDPI) survey, organisations have experienced higher levels of natural and modern disasters than in

previous years, resulting in more data loss, downtime and recovery costs. In the past year, cyberattacks accounted for 48% of all disasters (up from 37% in 2021), leading all other causes of data disruption. The survey also revealed 85% of organisations using multiple data protection vendors see a benefit in reducing their number of vendors. Furthermore, it revealed that organisations using a single data protection vendor incurred 34% less cost recovering from cyberattacks or other cyber incidents than those who used multiple vendors.

“With virtually everything connected to the internet in today’s digital world, the need to protect valuable data is more important than ever,” said Jeff Boudreau, president and general manager, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “This digital landscape requires a modern data protection and security strategy to address cyber threats. Point solutions don’t go deep or wide enough to help protect organisations. Dell helps customers strengthen cyber resiliency by offering integrated data protection software, systems and services to help ensure data and applications are protected and resilient wherever they live.”

The GDPI survey found that 91% of organisations are either aware of or planning to deploy a Zero Trust architecture – a cybersecurity model that shifts how organisations approach security from relying solely on perimeter defences to a proactive strategy that only allows known, authorized traffic across system boundaries and data pipelines. However, only 23% are deploying a Zero Trust model and 12% are fully deployed. With embedded security features, designed into the hardware, firmware and security control points, Dell’s holistic approach helps organisations achieve Zero Trust architectures to strengthen cyber resiliency and reduce security complexity.

The simplest path to modern data protection

Dell continues to deliver innovation for its data protection software, Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, to help organisations simplify their IT operations and reduce risk. PowerProtect Data Manager software addresses the increasing need for cyber resiliency and supports Zero Trust principles with new built-in operational security capabilities, such as multifactor authentication, dual authorization, and role-based access controls.

The Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance offers a simple path to adopt modern data protection. The debut system is ideal for small and mid-sized use cases with support that scales from 12 to 96 terabytes of data.

The appliance offers customers a:

  • Modern, software-defined architecture: Allows automated discovery and protection of assets and delivers unique VMware protection to ensure the availability of all VMs without business disruption.
  • Secure, cyber resilient solution: Provides more secure access to restricted functions with Identity and Access Management to strengthen cyber resiliency.
  • Simple, unified user experience: Delivers software-defined data protection, making it easy to deploy and use.

“Dell PowerProtect Data Manager simplifies our backup environment, giving us the business agility needed to protect our data as we digitally transform,” said James McNair, vice president, distributed systems manager, Trustmark Bank. “With the new Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance, we can more simply deploy Data Manager across our infrastructure, helping us be more efficient and strengthening our cyber resiliency.”

Dell expands cyber recovery for fast, easy-to-deploy public cloud vaults

PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for Google Cloud enables customers to deploy an isolated cyber vault in Google Cloud to more securely separate and protect data from a cyberattack. Unlike standard cloud-based backup solutions, access to management interfaces is locked down by networking controls and can require separate security credentials and multi-factor authentication for access.

Organisations can use their existing Google Cloud subscription for purchasing PowerProtect Cyber Recovery through the Google Cloud Marketplace, and the service can be acquired directly from Dell and its channel partners.

The new offering marks the latest expansion of Dell’s cyber recovery capabilities for public clouds, following this year’s introduction of Dell PowerProtect for Microsoft Azure and CyberSense for Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for AWS.

 Dell APEX simplifies backup storage with flexible consumption options

 Dell APEX Data Storage Services is expanding to offer a Backup Target option to provide a more secure backup storage in a pay-per-use, flexible consumption model. The Backup Target service is easy for customers to adopt and streamlines the process of purchasing, deploying and maintaining backup storage. Building on Dell’s data appliance and data protection leadership, the Backup Target helps reduce a customer’s storage footprint and can increase data availability.

The new Dell APEX Data Storage Services Backup Target offer will support the increasing reliance on as-a-Service offerings to help overcome data protection challenges. Nearly every GDPI respondent (99%) identified at least one as-a-Service offering as a high priority to help overcome challenges for their organisation. Storage as-a-Service (44%), Cyber Recovery as-a-Service (41%), and Backup as-a-Service (40%) ranked as the top three as-a-Service priorities.

Additional quote

Seife Teklu, senior solutions architect, Arrow Electronics

“The integrated Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance is easy to use and quick to deploy. This system will be a compelling option for our small to medium-sized customers needing to modernize data protection to help reduce risk and ensure business continuity.” 

Availability

  • Dell PowerProtect Data Manager Appliance is globally available this month in more than 15 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
  • Dell PowerProtect Data Manager software is globally available today.
  • Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery for Google Cloud Platform is globally available today.
  • Dell APEX Data Storage Services Backup Target will be globally available in the first quarter of 2023 in 16 countries across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Video Games That Have Some of the Irish In Them

Video games allow you to visit far-flung places, both real and imaginary, at the push of a button. Fancy going deep-sea diving on an aquatic alien planet? Then you need to dive into the murky depths of Subnautica. Want to travel back in time and live out your days rustling up cattle on the plains of the Wild West? Then you’ll need to round up Red Dead Redemption 2. Desiring to slay an almost endless horde of zombies in a post-Soviet wasteland? Then you’ll have to get your hands on DayZ, and make sure to read up on our DayZ beginners guide to give you all the top tips and tricks.  

However, what if you fancy a game that’s based a little closer to home? Well, fortunately for us, there have been a bunch of quality games down the years that have either been completely set in Ireland, or have had sections that visit the country. With all the naturalistic beauty that makes up the island, along with its rich and illustrious culture, plus the interesting folklore, it’s no real surprise that some great games have chosen to have at least a bit of Ireland in them.  

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars 

Think of yourself as a bit of a detective, able to solve complex mysteries with both your inquisitive nature and your majestic problem-solving skills? Then you should definitely give Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars a go. This seminal point-and-click adventure first came out on PC back in 1996, and was both a critical and commercial smash, as its developer Revolution Software, managed to make a game that impressively had both an engrossing story, as well as having fantastic gameplay.

You take control of the wise-cracking George Stobart, an American tourist who during a routine trip to Paris, suddenly finds himself caught up in a deep conspiracy that takes him on a globe-trotting escapade. One of these destinations is a fictional village, named Lochmarne, located in Ireland. Although the village doesn’t actually exist, it’s nevertheless a realistic rendition of a minute rural place in the Emerald Isle, complete with a local pub, and even an antagonistic goat.  

Clive Barker’s Undying 

Clive Barker is a renowned horror writer, most known for his novella The Hellbound Heart. This became the basis for the flick, Hellraiser, which first terrified audiences upon its release in 1987. In fact, the creepy film became such a horror staple, that it ballooned into a massive franchise, with the latest entry being a big-budget reboot that was unveiled in 2022. After this success, at the turn of the millennium, Barker decided to offer his talented story-telling mind to the world of gaming and developers, EA Los Angeles, was more than happy to answer his call. 

The result was 2001’s Clive Barker’s Undying, which was a first-person shooter that was released on PC. What set this game apart from the thousands of other FPS though, was its spectacular setting, which located its paranormal proceedings on the coast of Ireland. It uses the stunning scenery of the jagged coasts as the backdrop for some seriously spooky shenanigans. Unfortunately, it didn’t sell too many copies, despite largely rave reviews, but the good news is that over time it has developed into a real cult classic. 

Treasure Ireland

This virtual online slot cleverly blends together two popular themes, traditional Irish folklore and the sea-faring tales of pirates, to produce the unique Treasure Ireland. Developed by one of the true heavy-hitters of the gambling genre, Microgaming poured all of their expertise into this game, managing to make it feel just like an old-school pub machine, though still modernised enough for the online experience. It features three reels, and the nine symbols that make up the pay table include several staples of Irish society, including a perfectly poured pint of Guinness. 

If this game sounds like something you’d be interested in, then you can find it over on Vegas Slots Online. They have the best online casino options for a whole range of countries, including the USA and many others. They only select online casinos that have met all of their high standards, which include them having the latest games from leading providers, and being secure and licensed by the proper authorities, which in turn means your money is protected. You’ll be able to play Treasure Ireland, as well as choose from the immense amount of other online slots that are available. 

 

Tech Review – Google Pixel Watch

Ok so the Pixel watch has been on my wrist long enough to tell you what I think and for the most part it is good but there is some caveats being a first gen device but I dont think Google it trying to outdo anyone here yet alone itself, there has been a mixed reaction to the Pixel Watch like Pixel phones which is an annual clickbait fest for those putting the downer on new things from Google yet give Apple an easy pass but that is them and not us be I will tell how my experience has been over the last few weeks. Setting up the watch was a breeze and only took 5 mins to get fully up and running.

Ok lets start with the problems I have with the watch and first up is the size, it is too small and Google should have had two models out the gate to get this off the ground, the build quality is excellent though and it is a solid piece of kit and it has grown on me over time. So the size is small and remember that is just for me I have bigger wrists than others and it is a personal opinion and I am more custom to 44/45mm sized watches but still like I said it has grown on me..

Next up is the speaker, it is not the loudest in the world and there is a demo in the video review below but it does the job in quite places and often where I take most my calls it was not too bad outdoors and the other end could here me fine too but being a small watch means smaller things inside right?

Having an excellent build they said. Well it is but somehow mine got slight scratches on the screen which I did mention some concern for in the unboxing and watch strap review I did recently and it has minor scuffs on it, there is no accessories yet and nothing in the works from Google by the looks of it and it will be hard to get a decent screen protector that will actually work due to the shape of the watch but you could get a shell I guess and Google should look into it..

Last thing is notifications especially in house, my prime example is google home I am invested in the Google Ecosystem and the images do not come up on the screen but do on other smartwatches I have and Apple watch and one of my older watches the Moto 360 has the preview images on it so I think this can be fixed with an update, also some other apps do not get notifications like Twitter and Instagram despite being turned on.

After all that the rest is good and above is not all that huge apart from the physical size of the watch and so on but it delivers everywhere else you would want a smartwatch to do, for me I have taken more of a shine to smartwatches as they keep me off my phone and with the Pixel 7 both make that happen with being able to do most things from the watch or by just talking to the devices and keeps me from distraction and taking out my phone and going through things as you do which I tend to do after work now or in bed and catch up on the less important things like social media and emails etc.

The Pixel watch is great to get things done and dusted quickly with the on board tools for example my WhatsApp groups etc I can dismiss ( you can dismiss anything and clear from your notifications on your watch to clear on the phone) but you can also reply with emojis pull up the keyboard or speak, again i demo this in the review I love it and it does not distract me, I know see myself reacting more from the watch than I do from the phone which does it impede the battery life but it does charge up quickly.

Fitness, yeah you get 6 months free fitbit but have to pay for it after which is a bit of sting in the tail for some along with the price of the watch itself but for those who want that but more get it that way and the rest can be still used as normal, the live heart rate is a great idea and the general usability of the watch for fitness tracking like steps and all that good stuff and is enough for me, I am not one of those into getting sleep tracking data etc and I just use the general offerings most would use that buy simply fitness trackers..cheap and cheerful ones..The Fitbit experience is completely redesigned for Google Pixel Watch, with 40 exercise modes available to track your favourite workouts and all-day activities including steps, distance with built-in GPS and Active Zone Minutes, You can also avail of the ECG app if you wish.

For looks we have got watch faces tiles and complications to pick from to spruce things up but we should see more as time goes buy which would be nice but it must be said the ones that came with the watch app are great and I have two i change between, within the app also allows you to customise things some more which we looked at in the unboxing and the the review below.

Overall for me the watch does what i need in a smartwatch, keeps me away from my phone and that is a Pixel 7 which is probably not the right thing to say as I love it but the point is reducing time on my phone this watch does that and both products complement each other well, the price might be a problem and the other things mentioned above but for their first try it is a good one and I look forward to what is next and will continue to wear this one until then.  Check the video below for more.

BUY 

Video

 

 

Revolut offers 41% discount on its annual Metal Plan this Black Friday

This Black Friday, Revolut, the global financial super app with more than 20 million customers worldwide, is helping its customers unlock their money’s potential, with a one-off 41% discount to its annual subscription to Metal plan. With a Black Friday price of €80, customers can invest in an upgrade that will bring benefits throughout the next year.

The offer, which is available to all prospective and existing customers who are on Standard, Plus or Premium plans, will be active only for a short period of time from the 15th of November until the 28th of November for new customers, and from the 18th until the 20th of November for existing customers. According to a recent study by Revolut with research company Dynata, up to 29% of customers globally say they would expect a discount of between 30-40% during Black Friday to consider a purchase. Revolut is offering a 41% discount on its annual yearly plan

Revolut Metal allows users to maximise their money all year round by including:

  • Cashback on your purchases!

  • Exclusive travel benefits, like unlimited no-fee FX in a great number of currencies Mon-Fri, increased cashback on Stays, travel medical insurance, and discounted lounge access

  • Reduced fees for investment products and higher ATM withdrawal allowance

  • Customisable Metal debit cards made from reinforced steel metal, in black, gold, lavender, silver or space grey

Antoine Le Nel, VP of Growth at Revolut said: “We’re offering customers the possibility to take advantage of our biggest offer to date and invest in a purchase that can help them get more from their money.  At  a time when people want to be really smart when spending money, investing in a Metal subscription at this reduced price will bring benefits for a whole year”.

PayPal study reveals 64 per cent of people happy to contribute to the costs of a friend or family member’s festive party this Christmas

With the countdown to Christmas well and truly on, PayPal’s 2022 Gifting & Giving Study1 reveals how four in five (83%) are worried about items being much more expensive this Christmas and 76 per cent are concerned about keeping track of their spending.

Based on a poll of 1,000 adults across Ireland, this year’s research explores how people in Ireland are managing their budgets in light inflation and runaway energy bills, from savvy spending to splitting the bill for Christmas dinner.

Tis the season to save money

When it comes to gift-buying, a third (29%) of people plan to spend more this year to bring joy to family and friends, while the rest are thinking of cost-effective ways to balance their festive finances.  Eight in ten (80%) will look for coupons and discounts.

Almost a third (32%) will buy a big present as a group and split the cost, rather than buying lots of little presents and over half (54%) want to do Secret Santa/Kris Kindle as it’s less expensive. Furthermore, 68 per cent will only buy gifts when they see something the person will like, and a quarter (25%) will order all their presents online.

Alongside all money-saving measures, more than half (59%) will be setting a strict budget and sticking to it this Christmas. Unsurprisingly, the average spend on Christmas presents is estimated to be lower than last year – €647 compared to €7212. Although this is still higher than lockdown Christmas budgets, where the average spend was estimated at €5413.

The research found that people from Kerry are set to be generous this year when it comes to buying Christmas presents (with an estimated average spend of €1,183), followed by Laois (€908) and Offaly (€878).

Adopting a smart and savvy approach is also seeping into festive celebrations, with the survey revealing that for more than half of people (55%), Christmas celebrations this year are changing to save on costs.

Splitting the cost of celebrations is set to be a popular approach with nearly two-thirds (64%) of people happy to contribute to the costs of a friend or family member’s festive party, and 50 per cent agreeing that the cost of hosting Christmas dinner should be split between family members.

Splitting the bill for Christmas celebrations

Each December, the pressure of Christmas can get to all of us. It doesn’t take much for the financial strain to show and it all culminates in the big split. That’s right – splitting the bill. The poll found that two thirds (67%) of people have felt awkward to ask for money they were owed so decided not to mention it.

Furthermore, some 64 per cent of people said they had not been paid back by friends in the past and a third (33%) of those surveyed said they had forgotten to pay a friend back. Taking this one step further, 16 per cent of people admitted to telling someone they had paid them back when they hadn’t. It seems these actions are also causing friction in some instances, with almost a fifth (19%) of those surveyed saying they had fallen out with friends over difficulty when splitting bills or paying people back.

The insights revealed that, on average, people in Ireland pay others back after five days. Gen Z (aged 16-24) were found to be the slowest when paying people back (7.3 days), while Boomers (aged 45-54) were the fastest group for paying people back, taking 1.86 days on average. In terms of a county breakdown, the slowest people to organise payback were from Meath (12.65 days), Sligo (11.21 days) and Limerick (10.57 days).

So how can you ensure a successful bill split? More than three quarters of respondents (79%) agreed that digital payment apps make splitting bills easier, with the most used/popular method for paying people back found to be digital money transfer apps like PayPal (34%). The main benefits of paying people back digitally rather than in cash were found to be that it saves time as its quick (47%), it’s more convenient (43%), and there’s proof of payment (34%).

Speaking about the findings, Maeve Dorman, Senior Vice President, PayPal: “Christmas is always about spreading joy and happiness, whether it’s hosting celebrations or giving gifts. While this year will be no different, it’s clear that people are finding ways to balance the festivities with their finances.

“Sharing the load by splitting the cost is a great option. Using digital wallets like PayPal make it easy, quick, and secure to politely request and sending payments, while still creating group memories and spreading joy.”

Find out more about splitting costs with PayPal here. 

Revolut tops 25 million retail customers as global expansion continues

Revolut, the global financial super app, has surpassed 25 million retail customers worldwide, and is now processing over 330 million transactions a month. The company celebrates the milestone as it continues its global expansion into several new markets.

Launched in the UK in 2015, Revolut offers money transfer and exchange. Today, over 25 million of its retail customers around the world use dozens of innovative Revolut products including peer-to-peer payments, Saving Vaults, <18 accounts, Stays for holiday booking, and Trading.

Revolut has expanded its presence further in the US this year, where it has over half a million retail users and now employs over 150 people in North America. On top of that, Revolut is expanding into several new markets across LATAM, Asia and the Middle East. In the last year, Revolut has achieved the following:

  1. India – Appointment of Paroma Chatterjee as CEO, Arjun Mehta as CFO and Saleem Arshad as CTO. We have built a team of 400+ employees in India and intend to launch the Revolut app in India soon.

  2. Mexico – Appointment of Juan Miguel Guerra as CEO. Expanding our workforce in the country, with plans to employ more than 250 new positions by 2025 between Mexico and Brazil

  3. Brazil – Appointment of Glauber Mota as CEO of Brazil and Felipe Lachowski, Brazil Head of Strategy & Operations

  4. New Zealand – The company is set to launch in New Zealand in the next few months, to complement its existing operations in Australia

Revolut is also launching a streamlined version of its app, ‘Revolut Lite’ in several countries across Latin America, South East Asia and the Middle East in coming months. Lite users will be able to transfer money cross-border instantly and for free.

Customer growth is also accelerating for Revolut Business. More than 2,000 new active businesses are now joining Revolut Business every week, the fastest ever rate.

Launched in 2017, Revolut Business has developed more than 20 products designed to empower businesses looking to more effectively manage finances and has processed more than £110bn in transactions for its business customers to date.

Nikolay Storonsky, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Revolut’s growth continues at pace. We have continued to build out our unique product offering across the globe, expanding into new markets with new customers. Topping 25 million customers in just over seven years is a fantastic achievement for the company. We can’t wait to bring our product to many more in the weeks and months ahead.”

 

André Silva, Head of International Expansion, commented: “Our mission is to unlock the power of a borderless economy, for everyone, by bringing the world’s first financial super app to all corners of the globe. This year we have made important steps in achieving this, building our teams on the ground in India, Mexico and Brazil.

 

We are planning our next exciting launch, New Zealand, a country we have been hoping to bring Revolut to for some time, and we look forward to announcing more in the near future.”

What is a forex spread, and how does it operate in the UK?

Forex trading spreads are the difference between the buying price of a currency and its selling price. Forex traders buy currencies when they believe their value will increase and sell them when they believe their value will decrease. Because different factors affect the prices of different currencies at different times, forex traders must constantly monitor global markets to take advantage of this price movement.

Several vital components help determine the pricing for each currency pair traded on the forex market. These include supply and demand, interest rates, inflation expectations, political events, economic growth statistics, financial stability picks/jolts (such as bank failures), central bank interventions such as rate changes or direct market purchases/sales of foreign currency, economic indicators and a variety of other factors.

In the UK, forex traders generally use the services of a commercial bank or an independent trading company to execute their trades. These institutions take on the role of the market maker by purchasing and selling currencies at different times throughout the day to maintain liquidity for investors. In exchange for these services, they typically charge a commission and a small fee based on the spread between buying and selling prices, which is how these institutions make money.

Forex spreads vary greatly depending on which currency pairs are being traded and when those trades are executed. In general, however, you can expect much lower spreads at off-peak hours than during regular business hours or peak market volatility periods such as the New York close. Some traders also elect to use automated trading software that uses complex algorithms to buy and sell currencies at the most advantageous times, further improving their trading results and minimising their exposure to unnecessary risks.

Using forex spreads in the UK

In the UK, forex spreads tend to be higher than elsewhere in Europe or North America, and this is due to several crucial factors, including increased competition among brokers and tighter government regulations on financial markets. Despite these challenges, forex traders can still find opportunities in the market by choosing an effective trading strategy and working with trusted brokers who have established reputations for providing high-quality customer service.

What is technical analysis in forex trading?

One popular approach for minimising risk while maximising returns is known as technical analysis. This type of trading involves studying historical data and market patterns to identify forex trends and predict future movements in the prices of currencies. Technical traders often use complex computer models, but many successful traders rely on more intuitive methods to make their decisions.

How to use positions trading in forex

Another strategy that can effectively reduce risks and make good use of market movements is known as position trading. With this approach, a trader will hold a long or short position on a currency pair for several days or weeks, depending on the market conditions. Position trading requires patience and discipline, but it can effectively minimise losses and let you identify new opportunities in the forex market in the long term.

Are there any risks associated with using forex spreads?

Although forex spreads can offer traders several benefits, some risks are associated with this type of trading. One potential pitfall is the high level of leverage many brokers offer, making it easier to lose more money than you intended, so choosing your broker carefully and managing your risk is essential.

Additionally, sudden shifts in market conditions can cause significant losses if you need to prepare for them. Traders can protect themselves against these types of risks, and it’s essential to do thorough research on the strategies you plan to use and always stay up-to-date on current events that could impact the markets. 

Overall, forex spreads provide an effective way for traders to increase their returns while reducing their exposure to risk, making them an attractive option for those traders who want to get involved in the exciting world of forex trading.

The bottom line

Whether you are just starting with forex trading or are an experienced trader, choosing a trading strategy that fits your goals and abilities is essential. To learn more about forex spreads, technical analysis, and other strategies for successfully navigating the forex market, speak with a knowledgeable broker or visit online forums for traders in your area.

Ubisoft and Riot Games announce the “Zero Harm in Comms” research project to detect harmful content in game chats

Today, Ubisoft and Riot Games announced the “Zero Harm in Comms” research project, a technological partnership to enhance the reach of their artificial intelligence-based solutions in order to prevent harmful player interactions. This research initiative aims to create a cross-industry shared database and labeling ecosystem that gathers in-game data, which will better train AI-based preemptive moderation tools to detect and mitigate disruptive behavior.

Both active members of the Fair Play Alliance, Ubisoft and Riot Games firmly believe that the creation of safe and meaningful online experiences in games can only come through collective action and knowledge sharing. As such, this initiative is a continuation of both companies’ bigger journey of creating gaming structures that foster more rewarding social experiences and avoid harmful interactions.

“Disruptive player behaviors is an issue that we take very seriously but also one that is very difficult to solve. At Ubisoft, we have been working on concrete measures to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences, but we believe that, by coming together as an industry, we will be able to tackle this issue more effectively.” said Yves Jacquier, Executive Director, Ubisoft La Forge. “Through this technological partnership with Riot Games, we are exploring how to better prevent in-game toxicity as designers of these environments with a direct link to our communities.”

Through the “Zero Harm in Comms” research project, Ubisoft and Riot Games are exploring how to lay the technological foundations for future industry collaboration and creating the framework that guarantees the ethics and the privacy of this initiative. Thanks to Riot Games’ highly competitive games and to Ubisoft’s very diversified portfolio, the resulting database should cover every type of player and in-game behavior in order to better train Riot Games’ and Ubisoft’s AI systems.

“Disruptive behavior isn’t a problem that is unique to games – every company that has an online social platform is working to address this challenging space. That is why we’re committed to working with industry partners like Ubisoft who believe in creating safe communities and fostering positive experiences in online spaces,” said Wesley Kerr, Head of Technology Research at Riot Games. “This project is just an example of the wider commitment and work that we’re doing across Riot to develop systems that create healthy, safe, and inclusive interactions with our games.” 

Still at an early stage, the “Zero Harm in Comms” research project is the first step of an ambitious cross-industry project that aims to benefit the entire player community in the future. As part of the first research exploration, Ubisoft and Riot are committed to sharing the learnings of the initial phase of the experiment with the whole industry next year, no matter the outcome.

To learn more about the “Zero Harm in Comms” research project go to http://www.ubisoft.com/r/Ubisoft_RiotGames_Join_Forces and https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/riot-games-ubisoft-tackling-toxicity-in-games-with-new-project