Author: Jim O Brien/CEO

CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.

Don’t Get Duped: Common Scams Targeting Individuals and Businesses

In the digital age, scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, deploying deceitful tactics to defraud individuals and businesses. Understanding the landscape of these scams is the first line of defense; awareness and vigilance are potent weapons in the battle against fraud. From phishing to a full-blown business email compromise, criminals’ arsenal is varied and insidious. Here’s a dive into the most common ones.

Types of Scams

Both individuals and businesses are vulnerable to many scams, which can result in significant financial losses. While new scams continue to emerge, some have stood the test of time and remain prevalent today.

Business Number Spoofing Scams

Business number spoofing scams involve fraudsters using technology to alter the caller ID to make it appear that the call is coming from a legitimate business number, often recognized and trusted. This scam tactic is not only a problem for the individuals who receive the calls but also for businesses whose numbers are spoofed. Customers may be tricked into giving away personal information or making payments, thinking they are dealing with an actual company representative.

Individuals must independently verify the caller’s identity, such as calling the business back through the official number on their website. A good scam likely fix for businesses should involve informing customers through various channels that they will never ask for sensitive information or immediate payment over the phone. Additionally, companies should monitor for reports of their business number being misused and take steps to alert customers promptly if such incidents occur.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. These attacks often come in emails but can also occur via text messages or social media platforms.

The scammer will typically use a sense of urgency or fear to prompt the victim into providing personal information. For example, an email may claim that your bank account has been compromised, and immediate action is required to prevent fraud. The sender will then provide a link for you to click on, leading to a fake website that steals your login credentials.

Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages asking for personal information. Be wary of urgent or threatening language, and never click on links or open attachments from unknown sources. If you receive an email claiming to be from a legitimate company, it’s always best to go directly to their website instead of clicking on any provided links.

Business Email Compromise

Business email compromise (BEC) scams target businesses using social engineering and email spoofing to deceive employees into transferring money or sensitive information to the scammer. These scams often involve a hacker gaining access to a company’s email system and posing as a high-level executive, such as the CEO or CFO, to request urgent wire transfers or confidential data

Businesses should implement strict authentication processes for financial transactions and educate employees on the red flags of a potential scam. Reviewing and regularly updating security protocols, such as multi-factor authentication, is essential to prevent unauthorized access to company emails.

Online Shopping Scams

With the rise of e-commerce, online shopping scams have become increasingly prevalent. These scams often involve fake websites or social media pages advertising popular products at meager prices. Once a customer makes a purchase, they receive a counterfeit or never receive the product.

Always research before purchasing from unfamiliar websites or social media pages. Look for reviews and ratings from previous customers, and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Use secure payment methods such as credit cards or PayPal, which protect against fraudulent charges.

Government Impersonation Scams

Government impersonation scams often target the elderly and individuals with limited English proficiency. These scams involve a criminal posing as a government official, such as an IRS agent or immigration officer, and threatening legal action if payment is not made immediately.

It’s important to remember that government agencies will never demand immediate payment over the phone or via email. If you receive a call or email from someone claiming to be from a government agency, hang up and contact the official agency directly to verify the information.

Investment Scams

Investment scams often promise high returns with little to no risk and can take various forms, such as Ponzi schemes or cryptocurrency fraud. These scams prey on individuals’ desire for quick and easy wealth, luring them into investing their hard-earned money into fraudulent ventures.

Always do thorough research before investing in any opportunity. Be wary of promises of high returns with low risk, and never feel pressured to make a quick decision. Seek advice from trusted financial advisors or research before making any investment decisions.

Tech Support Scams

Tech support scams involve fraudsters pretending to be from a reputable tech company, such as Microsoft or Apple, and claiming an issue with your computer or device. They will then ask for remote access to your device, install malware, and charge a fee for their “services.”

Legitimate tech companies won’t contact you out of the blue asking for personal info or remote device access. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a tech company, verify with the official company. Always be cautious of unsolicited requests for device access or personal info.

Protect Yourself

In addition to being aware of common scams, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim:

 

  • Never give out personal information over the phone, email, or social media unless you have verified the recipient’s identity.
  • Keep your devices and software updated to prevent hackers from accessing sensitive information.
  • Be cautious when clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources.
  • Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts, and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
  • Stay informed about the latest scams and be vigilant in detecting fraudulent activity.  

Being aware and vigilant helps prevent scams. If targeted or victimized, resources like the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau are available for reporting and recovering from financial loss. Act swiftly if you suspect a scam to minimize potential damage.

Overall, in a world rife with fraudsters, maintaining vigilance is paramount. By staying informed about the common types of scams and their telltale signs, individuals and businesses can take proactive measures to protect themselves from becoming the next victims. Remember, when something seems too good to be true—it probably is. Stay safe, and don’t get duped.

First Look – The Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones

This is Dyson’s first wearable and being a tech reviewer that goes hands on with more headphones and earbuds than anyone in Ireland this is a different approach than your typical pair of headphones and we look forward to testing these out for ourselves over the coming weeks as we go full hands on with them and find out what is on offer here.

Dyson engineers had to think about comfort in a new way. Detailed research into head and face geometries meant engineers could measure how the Dyson Zone air purifying headphones would sit on and perform on different heads– informing the clamp force of the headband, the geometry and materials of the visor, the adjustability of the machine and much more.

Taking inspiration from the shape and design of a horse’s saddle, the Dyson Zone is engineered to distribute weight over the sides of the head, rather than on the top. A saddle typically curves over the horse’s spine distributing the load through contact with the areas left and right of the backbone – a format used for the central cushion on the headband.

The development of the ear cushions is important for three reasons: comfort, on-head stability, and passive attenuation. Foam is an obvious choice for ear cushions, but Dyson engineers dug deep into the make-up of different foams to choose the most suitable material based on density, rate of compression and spring-back rate – all of which change the way pressure translates onto the head.

When choosing the optimal foam for the ear and headband cushions, it was important to balance the comfort it provides, its stability when moulded to the ear, but critically the acoustic benefit it provides. Moulding around the ear increases the size of the contact points providing better sealing – and inhibiting additional urban noise entering the ear. The cushion is purposefully flatter than conventional ear cushions for both attenuation and comfort, and the cushions are angled in line with the angle of the ear on the head for optimal comfort.

The Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones are available in stores and online at www.dyson.ie

Check out the first look and tour of these headphones below and stay tuned for a full hands on review in the coming weeks any questions drop em in the comments on our social media and YouTube.

First Look at the Dyson Zone air-purifying headphones

Skills Shortage impacting Technology Growth in Ireland

New findings from Morgan McKinley, the Irish global talent services company, reveal that 25% of hiring managers have identified a lack of skilled candidates as their main challenge in 2024.

Research conducted as part of Morgan McKinley’s 2024 Salary Guide indicates that the recruitment landscape in Ireland’s technology sector remained tight in 2023, with 76% of hiring managers experiencing tough competition in making new hires.

The guide identified key challenges for 2024, with 25% of hiring managers citing a shortage of skilled candidates as their primary obstacle. Other challenges included difficulties in competing on pay and benefits (22%) and a lack of organisational approval for new headcount (19%).

For 2024, the outlook is more optimistic, with 50% of technology hiring managers planning to expand their teams in the first six months. Additionally, 46% of tech workers are considering new opportunities during this period, with another 31% contemplating a job change.

In terms of career moves, tech professionals prioritise a higher salary (40%), followed by opportunities for career advancement (14%) and the option to work remotely (13%).

The value placed on flexibility, such as working from home and flexible hours, remains high among tech workers, ranking as the most and third most important benefits respectively, along with bonuses, health insurance, and pension plans. Notably, the tech sector has the highest percentage of individuals who consider remote work as a top benefit (71%).

When it comes to workplace preferences, 4-in-10 tech professionals would like to work in the office 1-2 days per week, while only 8% prefer being on-site full-time. Over half (53%) would forgo a salary increase for more flexibility. In response to the competitive hiring environment, 69% of employers anticipate raising salaries for hard-to-fill tech roles, with an additional 20% planning to increase salaries across all tech teams.

Eoin Connolly, Operations Director, Morgan McKinley Ireland, commented: “While the technology market as a whole definitely softened during 2023, we also saw several areas such as Cybersecurity and Data Science experience strong growth. This was coupled with growth in contract opportunities, across multiple facets of technology. Throughout Q3 and Q4, we saw a marginal increase in both permanent and contract jobs available, which bodes well for positive levels of hiring activity in 2024.”

“Technology salaries in Ireland increased slightly in 2023, partially due to the impact of inflation, but also due to the shortage of talent. This has also increased the prominence of counteroffers, with employers offering their top performers 15-20% increases to stay on board.”

“The sentiment from organisations is generally positive for 2024; there is still some cautious decision making when it comes to hiring budgets for the year, but by and large, the fight for top talent is still a real issue for most companies. January started slowly as it always does but it has been a very busy month for us, which is an indicator of a strong quarter, and hopefully year ahead.”

Amazon in Dublin supports wheelchair rugby team

A wheelchair rugby club in county Laois has received a €1,000 donation from the team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dublin.

Formed in 2013, Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club supports wheelchair users who have a passion for the sport. The rugby club provides wheelchair users with the accessibility to be involved with non-wheelchair users and participate in the sport together.

The donation from Amazon in Dublin will go towards Wheelchair Rugby Support Equipment and team costs.

Alongside the donation, Declan Naughton from Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club visited Amazon in Dublin for a behind-the-scenes tour of the fulfilment centre.

Tadas Valaisa, an employee from Amazon in Dublin who nominated the charity for support, said:

“As a volunteer for the rugby club, the staff, players and other volunteers have a special place in my heart. I’m pleased that Amazon in Dublin is supporting Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club with this donation.”

Darragh Kelly, General Manager at Amazon in Dublin, said:

“We’re proud to support Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club with this donation. Tadas has raised awareness of the rugby club, and we couldn’t be more pleased to recognise his and the many other staff and volunteers’ service with this donation. We were pleased to welcome Declan on site too, to find out more about his involvement with the club and give him a tour of our workplace. It was a pleasure!”

Declan Naughton, from Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club, added:

“On behalf of everyone at Laois Wheelchair Rugby Club, I would like to say thank you to the team from Amazon in Dublin for their support. Not only are we here to support wheelchair users, we’re also here to provide a great workout with a bit of fun along the way. The donation will assist us as we prepare for the upcoming Irish league and a tournament in Germany at the end of March. Thank you also for hosting me on site – it was lovely to put faces to names.”

The donation to Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities in and around its operating locations in Ireland.

Since opening its doors in 2022, the Dublin fulfilment centre has supported many community organisations locally, with donations totalling €46,000. Charities supported by the team at the fulfilment centre include Cliona’s Foundation, Jigsaw and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

The Amazon fulfilment centre in Dublin, the first of its kind in Ireland, opened in August 2022 providing more than 500 new permanent jobs. The 630,000 square foot centre at Baldonnell Business Park in Dublin holds millions of items that are picked, packed and shipped to customers across Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Helping children & young people reflect, recognise and reset- Safer Internet Day Turns 21

Celebrated in more than 180 countries worldwide, today, February 6th marks the 21st anniversary of Safer Internet Day, which has become a landmark global event in the online safety calendar. The theme for Safer Internet Day 2024 is ‘Tech in our World’ and through a series of events taking place involving 200,000 children and young people from schools and organisations across Ireland, will explore the role of digital technology in young people’s lives, their views on new and emerging technology and the changes they would like to see enacted online.
Safer Internet Day 2024 kicks off today with an event hosted in Microsoft’s Dream Space and will feature contributions from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel; Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner; Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer, Microsoft, and Dr Emma Murphy, School of Computer Science – TU Dublin.  The session will also include interactive stakeholders’ discussions that will explore some of the opportunities and challenges as they relate to the role of the internet and digital technology in young people’s lives.

Webwise Youth Panellist Billie Constantinou, 19, said:‘We live in a world where internet technology is constantly evolving, one where we wake up with new AI capabilities, new apps and new trends every single day. To discuss tech in our world, we must understand that the future is uncertain and being able to adapt in tandem with this advancing online technology is a key skill in ensuring our safety in this every changing world.’

The themes that will be explored at today’s event will encourage schools, children, teens and parents to:

  • Reflect: an opportunity to reflect on tech in their world, the challenges, opportunities and big changes.
  • Recognise: give learners an understanding of the influence of digital technology in their daily life, exploring the concept of persuasive design and the influence of algorithms.
  • Reset: learn tips to help reset online experiences and empower young people to make the most of their online world.

Niamh Hodnett, Online Safety Commissioner said: “I am delighted to celebrate my first Safer Internet Day as Online Safety Commissioner by taking part in Webwise’s ‘Tech in our World’ session. Safer Internet Day is a great chance for me to hear the views of young people on the role technology plays in their lives. It is also an opportunity to highlight the work of Coimisiún na Meán including preparing our first Online Safety Code, as part of our overall online safety framework. I would especially like to commend the essential work of the Irish Safer Internet Centre in supporting parents, children and teachers in navigating the online world in a safe and responsible way through the work of Webwise, the ISPCC, the National Parents Council and Hotline.ie.”

Minister for Education Norma Foley T.D. said:“Safer Internet Day is a day in which we focus on promoting the safer use of the internet by children. 

 We acknowledge the great work of our schools. We salute too the work of Webwise and the Oide Support Service for Teachers, who provide additional resources and training to schools and webinars for parents to support them in keeping their children safe on the internet.

 “Of course, we’re also very keen that parents would continue to engage with the guidelines that have been presented around the use of smartphones for young people in primary schools.”

Safer Internet Day in Ireland is coordinated by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, a partnership between Webwise, ISPCC, National Parents Council and Hotline.ie, providing a range of complementary online safety services, including an education and awareness centre, child and parent helplines and a hotline. The Centre is coordinated by the Department of Justice and co-funded by the European Union.

 

Irish Safer Internet Centre

The Irish Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of four leading organisations – Webwise, Hotline.ie, ISPCC and National Parents Council, with a mission to make the Internet a better place for children and young people, under the coordination of the Department of Justice – Cybercrime Division. The Irish Safer Internet Centre partner organisations work towards a shared mission of making the internet a safer and more inclusive place for children and young people.

 

Webwise is the online safety initiative of the Department of Education and co-funded by the European Commission. Webwise promotes safer, better internet use through awareness raising and education initiatives targeting teachers, children, young people and parents. Webwise develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools. Webwise also provides information, advice, and tools to parents to support their engagement in their children’s online lives. Webwise is part of Oide, a new support service for teachers and school leaders, funded from the Department of Education.
Hotline.ie is Ireland’s primary national channel for members of the public to anonymously and confidentially report suspected illegal content online, such as child sexual abuse material, technology facilitated child sexual exploitation – child grooming, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and videos (also known as intimate image abuse), racism and xenophobia, and financial scams. Further information can be found here.
ISPCC operates the Childline Listening Service, Ireland’s only 24-hour active listening service for children and young people. The service is here to listen to children, to support and empower them and to help to strengthen their resilience so they can cope with any challenges they face. Any child or young person can contact Childline for free and in confidence, at any time, to talk about any issue on their mind. The service can be reached online at Childline.ie or calling 1800 66 66 66. Parents/caregivers can check out the Digital Ready Hub to upskill their knowledge on the digital environment.

 

National Parents Council (NPC) provides a dedicated helpline to support parents and carers in dealing with issues relating to online safety, including cyberbullying. The National Parents Council also provides parents with training courses, both online and face-to-face. Further information about the National Parents Council Helpline can be found here. 

Evolve IP Launch Powerful Card Payment Solution To Combat Radical Compliance Changes

Global collaboration provider, Evolve IP (EMEA), has launched a seamless end-to-end secure solution to address major payment card information (PCI) changes happening in March. 

Significant reforms are about to come into force that require businesses to have an evidence-based process for card payments, particularly over the phone. Ignoring the impending rule changes could expose businesses to sanctions, fines and irreversible reputational damage.

To help address this major market shake-up, Evolve IP has launched Anywhere Secure Call, the latest addition to its Anywhere Product Suite. This new innovation is powered by technology partner BroadSource who work to drive collaboration in the cloud by helping the globe’s most sophisticated service providers automate, integrate and differentiate their cloud collaboration solutions.

Evolve IP UK Solutions Director, Scott Rixon.

Simplifying business practices

Anywhere Secure Call has been designed to simplify PCI compliance and redefine the card payment landscape. It’s cost-effective, simple to set up, flexible and has been built from the ground up, ensuring proof of active adherence. The critical differentiation lies in ensuring customer payment card details are not stored within recorded voice communications.

Anywhere Secure Call, intelligently directs all transactional voice calls to a designated, PCI-compliant segment of its network automatically. In the event of a PCI audit, businesses need only prove the compliance of this specific component, simplifying the overall process. This innovative approach allows businesses to demonstrate that the relevant voice traffic is isolated from their intricate network infrastructure, effectively ‘de-scoping’ the compliance challenge.

Many organisations are still unaware and unprepared for the radical changes they need to introduce, according to Evolve IP’s UK Solutions Director, Scott Rixon.

He revealed: “From Spring, businesses will need to prove their innocence by providing real-life data and proof of their compliancy, rather than simply verbally defending any guilt that has been implied.”

Time is running out

Anywhere Secure Call is priced on a per-user basis rather than a per-transaction percentage, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. Whether a small business with just one seat or an enterprise call centre with hundreds, the solution caters to diverse organisational needs.

Rixon emphasised: “At Evolve IP, we believe solutions should work for everyone but currently, that’s not always the case. Some PCI solutions require a minimum deployment of say 50 users which simply isn’t viable for a small business. Equally, other options need to have the ability to scale up to larger enterprises. Also, we even know of some models based on a low cost of entry but then charge higher transaction fees.

“Now any business that needs to take card payments can just enable Secure Call, from a small florist to a gardening company. It can be as simple or sophisticated as required and can even be plugged into a CRM database to automate the whole process. We are covering all angles. But time is running out. Don’t wait any longer.”

Continuing to partner with leading technologies

Haydn Faltyn, CEO and Co-founder at BroadSource, shares the same enthusiasm. He highlighted: “Anywhere Secure Call represents a revolutionary step forward in telecommunications, offering a secure, cost-effective, and customer-friendly solution for payment transactions over the phone. We are thrilled to be working closely with the team at Evolve IP to further solidify our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that address the needs of businesses and their customers. Anywhere Secure Call is poised to redefine the landscape of payment processing over the phone.”

CEOs forecast increase in revenues, profits and deal making in 2024, as AI adoption moves up the agenda

CEOs around the globe are optimistic about their ability to drive revenue growth and profitability in 2024 despite global economic challenges, according to the latest EY CEO Outlook Pulse survey.

The EY quarterly survey of 1,200 global CEOs on their prospects, challenges and opportunities, shows they are bullish on business performance for 2024 with a significant majority expecting an increase in revenue growth (64%) and profitability (63%).

Furthermore, 41% of Global CEOs, say they will be prioritising widespread adoption of AI technologies to drive efficiencies and improve business performance, while three in four (76%) agree the technology will have little impact on revenue growth at this time, viewing it as a strategic necessity rather than an immediate driver of revenues.

The optimism for success comes despite acknowledgement of a continued challenging macroeconomic environment with three-quarters (76%) of CEOs surveyed expecting the global economy to continue to endure low or no growth and over half (57%) forecasting an increase in the cost of business.

Graham Reid, Head of Tax & Law and Clients & Markets at EY Ireland, says:

“Even though CEOs are expecting slower growth in the global economy, this hasn’t dampened their confidence. Mirroring trends that we are seeing here in Ireland CEOs globally are seeking opportunities to drive efficiencies, transform their business for growth and to harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence. While Ireland’s economy has not been immune to global macroeconomic trends over recent years, businesses here – whether indigenous or multinational – have handled this uncertain trading environment remarkably well and are now looking ahead with increasing confidence to the future.”

 

Lift-off for deals market in 2024

CEOs are anticipating a deals market bounce-back with eight in 10 (79%) respondents predicting an uptick in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) megadeals above US$10bn. Thirty-six percent of respondents are also actively pursuing M&A transactions over the next 12 months and a further 29% are seeking divestments. The US maintained its position as the most attractive target region in terms of M&A activity followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, China and India. Manufacturing was identified as the top sector for M&A deals closely followed by ‘banking and capital markets’, ‘insurance’, ‘consumer products’ and ‘mobility’ rounding up the top five.

This quarter, the survey also captured the perspectives of 300 private equity (PE) leaders across more than 20 countries, regarding their investment and portfolio management outlook. Mirroring CEO sentiment, the majority of surveyed PE leaders (71%) also predict an uptick in megadeals. Seventy percent of surveyed PE leaders predict an increase in corporate divestment or carve out activity in 2024, signifying a more buoyant deals market than seen in the previous year.

Graham Reid says, “Many CEOs globally are revisiting their business transformation plans, scanning for smart investments and laying the groundwork for potential alliances as the M&A market now begins to show signs of recovery.”

Transformation plans speed up, with a focus on efficiencies 

Underpinning the rise in CEO confidence is a rush toward strategic transformation, 58% of CEOs surveyed are accelerating their business transformation agendas – a significant leap, almost tripling from 21% in July 2023. In stark contrast, only 5% now report having no transformation plans, a fall from 37% in July 2023. Nevertheless, despite the bullish sentiment, CEOs are demonstrating pragmatism in their approach to business transformation. Primary focus areas include efficiency enhancements and cost management strategies.

Graham Reid says, “If 2023 was the year of transition as organisations grappled with a series of crises, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of action. With an acceptance that the costs of doing business are unlikely to fall to pre-pandemic levels, we’re seeing a shift in how CEOs approach business transformation, balancing optimism with pragmatism and focusing on efficiency and cost management.”

Geopolitical risks take centre stage in bumper year for elections

With over half of the world’s population going to the voting booth over the next 12 months, CEOs are acutely aware of geopolitical risks and the potential business impact. Over three-quarters of those surveyed (78%) are worried about the potential rise of populist movements to increase geopolitical uncertainty and create business challenges. Seventy-six percent of respondents were also concerned about the political misuse of AI in major 2024 elections.

While many CEOs feel confident about their organisation’s ability to integrate geopolitical turbulence into their decision-making, nearly half (48%) of respondents believe there is room for improvement in their defined and active processes for managing geopolitical risks. In fact, 98% of CEOs and PE leaders surveyed are having to make alterations to their investment plans including exiting certain businesses (32% of CEO respondents and 38% of PE respondents) or delaying a planned investment (42% of CEO respondents and 32% of PE respondents).

Graham Reid says, “The influence of the political world on the corporate world is as strong as ever, but this year we’re seeing another risk emerge – the rise of AI in political campaigning and the potential for its misuse. CEOs are well aware of the need to integrate geopolitical turbulence in their strategic plans. But with many still unsure about their AI risk management processes, now is the time to revisit and refine strategies to help them navigate the business landscape that continues to be volatile and unpredictable.”

To read the full report, please visit: ey.com/CEOOutlook.

Intelligent Video Bar Is An ISE Showstopper For Boom Collaboration

A new intelligent video bar with expandable audio was the star of the show for Boom Collaboration at the ISE 2024 trade show in Barcelona.

The Boom HALO features a 4K UHD camera, six microphone array and high fidelity speakers for a seamless all-in-one collaboration experience. In addition up to eight extra speakers can be connected to maximise audio and voice pick-up in larger or more flexible rooms.

Available in white and black colours, the HALO boasts many advanced features such as facial recognition, speaker tracking, intelligent noise reduction and AI auto-framing.

Visitors to the international AV and systems integration event witnessed all of Boom’s latest innovations, such as high performance cameras and audio devices as well as convenient all-in-one systems. Its new MAGNA Pro powerful camera, GOJO camera controller and forthcoming ZYGO user-friendly connectivity hub attracted lots of attention. All products are available from distributor Westcoast.

Boom Collaboration at ISE 2024

Boom also ‘teased’ a new PTZ camera with 25x optical zoom and NDI video over IP support. Another variant boasts highly responsive ‘intelligence’, including voice tracking. Furthermore a new wireless sharing dongle was also demonstrated alongside an innovative connectivity station – that allows instant switching between in-room PC or Bring Your Own Device deployments, across up to a 100 metre installation range.

Launchpad

The fast-growing video conferencing manufacturer, hailed the four-day show – which attracted over 73,000 attendees – a perfect launchpad to accelerate further forward this year.

Co-founder Holli Hulett emphasised: “Boom is based on delivering better meetings, simply. This was our third consecutive year at ISE and each time it gets bigger and better for us. The HALO video bar was one of many stand-out innovations.”

Fellow founder Fredrik Hörnkvist added: “We have exciting growth plans for 2024 and ISE provided a perfect platform to help us accelerate much further forward and really begin to boom. We are determined to remain the friendly face of video conferencing, based on a personal touch and a passion for long lasting partnerships through the distribution channel. ISE 2024 inspired lots of interest and future success from the tens of thousands of visitors.”

Dyson Airstrait now available in the UK and Ireland

The eagerly anticipated wait of Dyson’s latest haircare innovation is finally over… Airstrait is HERE and available to purchase in the UK and Ireland from today the 5th of February 2024.

After revolutionising the haircare industry in 2016 with the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, Dyson are proud to launch this unique addition to their haircare family in the UK and Ireland.

Fuelled by the desire to improve everyday technology, the Dyson Airstrait straightener is a wet to dry straightening tool with air. No hot plates. No heat damage. With its cutting-edge technology and sleek design, this sought after hair tool is a must-have one of a kind that is set to change the game in haircare. 

So, what are you waiting for, get your hands on the latest Dyson hair care innovation now!

Fueled by the desire to improve everyday technology, James Dyson has announced the European launch of the Dyson Airstrait™ straightener – wet to dry straightening with air. No hot plates. No heat damage.

Dyson Airstrait

Engineered for multiple hair types, stylers can achieve a natural straight style, with body and movement, whilst maintaining the strengthand healthy look and feel of their hair. The hair tress is contained by two arms, from which a precisely angled high-pressure blade of air is forced downwards and into the hair, both simultaneously drying and straight styling, with one machine. 

“Having a strong understanding of how to manipulate and realise the potential of powerful airflow is fundamental to the performance of the Dyson Airstrait™ straightener. This expertise, which we’ve gained over the last 25 years, is what has enabled us to deliver our first wet to dry straightener, with no hot plates, and no heat damage. Delivering the ease-of-use that people love about straighteners but with high-velocity air blades, saves time, maintains hair strength and achieves an everyday natural straight style.” James Dyson, Founder and Chief Engineer.

Airflow. Precision air jets.

Along the arms of the machine are two 1.5mm apertures. Airflow is accelerated through these apertures, creating two high-velocity downward blades of air. Projected at a 45° angle, they converge to form one focused jet of air, creating the downward force to straighten hair as it dries, with control. This directional airflow helps align the hair strands for a smooth and shiny finish.

The science behind styling

Dyson has been researching into the science of style for over a decade and is investing half a billion GBP to expand and accelerate research and technology development across the beauty category. Our engineers have studied in detail everything from the structure of hair to airflow dynamics whilst understanding thermal, mechanical and chemical damage – and the subsequent effects on hair health.  

To change your hair style, hydrogen bonds within each hair strand must be broken and reset to hold a new shape. This can be done with heat or moisture. Styling with powerful airflow from wet, results in less need for high heat, creating less frizz and flyaways and protects natural shine. 

When hair is wet, water naturally weakens these bonds. In this state, the bonds are more elastic and can be reset as hair dries, without using extreme temperatures. By using the optimum level of heat and controlled airflow, we’ve found a way to style hair with less damage.  Styling with air allows for the creation of straight styles whilst maintaining volume and movement. Once hair is dry and aligned, the bonds are reset in different ways, locking the new style in place.

Dyson Hyperdymium™ motor

The Dyson Airstrait straightener is powered by the Hyperdymium motor – specifically engineered to be at the heart of Dyson’s Hair Care technologies. It is small, light and powerful enough to generate the airflow needed to dry and straighten hair simultaneously, from wet. A 13-blade impeller spins up to 106,000rpm, propelling over 11.9 litres of air through the machine per second. This generates up to 3.5kPa of air pressure, enough to straighten hair as it dries. At 27mm, the motor is small enough to fit in the handle – with no sacrifice on power.

Intelligent Heat Control

Like the rest of the Dyson hair care range, the Dyson Airstrait straightener features intelligent heat control. Glass bead thermistors measure the temperature of the airflow 30 times per second to prevent heat damage and protect hair’s natural shine. This data is sent to the microprocessor which regulates the heating element, ensuring airflow doesn’t exceed the temperature required.

 

Two styling modes. Temperature control.

The Dyson Airstrait™ straightener has ‘Wet’ and ‘Dry’ styling modes, and a ‘Cool’ mode to set the style. The ‘Wet’ and ‘Dry’ modes are pre-set with the specific heat and airflow combination for the best results. In ‘Wet’ mode, choose among three heat settings of 80°C (175°F), 110°C (230°F), and 140°C (285°F). In ‘Dry’ mode, choose between 120°C (250°F) or 140°C (285°F) or a top up “boost”. For airflow control, there are two speed settings, low flow and high flow, as well as a cold shot and root drying mode.

The Dyson Airstrait straightener will be launched in the UK and Ireland in February 2024, and is priced at £449.99/ €499.99 available from Dyson Demo Stores and www.dyson.ie