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.

Voi to utilise Provizio’s 5D Perception platform, to eradicate e-scooter accidents

Voi Technology, Europe’s leading micromobility provider, today announces its partnering with Provizio, a leading accident-prevention technology company. This partnership will see the deployment and testing of cutting-edge sensor and AI technology, in order to prevent e-scooter accidents in real-time.

Voi, which hopes to operate in Ireland following the announcement of regulations allowing for the legal and safe use of e-scooters and the procurement for shared e-scooter schemes, is partnering with Provizio to adapt its 5D Perception® Platform to deliver an industry-leading real-time onboard e-scooter safety system.

5D Perception® – a five-dimensional system of safety

The technology developed by Provizio for the motor industry utilises a five-dimensional perception system that can continually see, track and interpret vehicular behaviour and identify roadway elements. Provizio’s newest research instrument will be tested on Voi’s e-scooters and will use the cutting-edge 5D Perception®  Platform to identify other vehicles up to 200m away and pedestrians up to 60m away – helping to perceive, predict and prevent potential accidents in real-time.

Artificial intelligence is central to the system, Provizio uses machine-learning algorithms and a suite of in-build and high-end 5D radar and vision sensors.  This technology continuously learns and processes the environment around and in front of the vehicle  more than 20 times per second utilising its onboard GPU, in order to  identify potential hazards with unprecedented accuracy and speed.

The system is capable of achieving this feat in all weather conditions, making it suitable for Voi’s markets across Europe, such as the temperate weather of the UK, Sweden’s colder climate as well as the Mediterranean temperatures of Italy.

Provizio’s Goal / Voi’s Vision Zero 2030

This partnership has one goal in mind, to prevent accidents and keep riders and other road users safe across Europe. 94% of accidents are caused by human error, errors current accident prevention systems cannot stop, Provizio’s aims to eradicate these accidents.

While in-app messaging, in-person safety events and the RideLikeVolia online safety school remain central to Voi educating riders on safety, the company is committed to using technological innovation whenever possible to underpin its service in order to achieve its goal of Vision Zero.

By the end of this decade, Voi is determined to eliminate all severe injuries and fatalities connected to its service. Voi’s vision has seen the company publish its first safety report as part of its commitment to safety in order to increase transparency and foster a dialogue on how shared micromobility can make cities safer.

Barry Lunn, CEO & Founder of Provizio said:

“From the outset Provizio has committed to ensuring our perception technology would protect more vulnerable road users along with drivers. This partnership is another step towards our goal of making mobility safer for all travellers in a mixed mobility future. Voi shares our values in this regard and we are looking forward to helping them deliver the safest micromobility experience possible for their riders”. 

Sam Pooke, Senior Policy Manager for Voi UK and Ireland, said:

“Safety must be at the heart of micromobility in Ireland. By partnering with Provizio, Voi continues its dedication to empowering people to leave their cars behind and move around their city in a safer, more sustainable way. Crucial to driving a systematic shift in how we travel is through using a mix of education and innovative technology, as well as refining operations on the ground, to achieve our Vision Zero target. Not all journeys will be the same as the previous one; however, working in collaboration with Provizio not only supports the notion that every e-scooter rider must act responsibly, but every journey must end safely.”

Real-World Testing

Working in collaboration with Provizio, a Voi e-scooter will be fitted with APT in order to develop the system over the next three months at the Future Mobility Campus Ireland, the innovative facility which allows companies to test technology in a real-world environment.

The technology will give authorities across Europe the confidence that they can have greater control over rental e-scooters, which provide a new carbon-neutral urban mode of transport and ensure micromobility is at the forefront of changing the way people get around.

Microtasking Meets Crypto: JumpTask Review

Microtasking is gaining traction all over the world. Knowing that it is a great source of extra income, more and more people tend to join various websites and services that provide them income for doing small tasks. One of the newcomers in this field, JumpTask, provides numerous short tasks and rewards users with crypto for completing them. Could it be the next big thing in the microtasking market?

What is JumpTask?

According to their website, JumpTask provides a way for companies to make the most of a globally distributed workforce by providing micro task solutions. That is, companies need to complete certain big tasks, whereas JumpTask spreads those huge tasks into a bunch of small ones and lets the users complete them for rewards.

At first sight, it does not offer anything too different from other websites in the ever-growing microtasking market. However, the interesting thing about JumpTask is that the rewards the users receive for completing tasks are provided using a cryptocurrency called JumpToken (JMPT) instead of, say, points or fiat currencies.

This cryptocurrency was created by the JumpTask team, and it has been there since the launch of JumpTask as a platform. The use of it for paying users makes JumpTask stand out compared to other similar services.

Considering that the payments are made using a cryptocurrency, needless to say, you need a crypto wallet in order to use JumpTask fully. Though it should not scare you if you are not familiar with how crypto works, as certain login options on JumpTask allow you to log in using your social media accounts, and the wallet is created for you automatically when you do so.

Earning on JumpTask

Similar to other websites that offer users rewards for completing small tasks, JumpTask has various different task types available, creating a wide array of choices for the user.

The task types are spread into different categories: offers, games, surveys, staking, and Honeygain. The offers category gives you a list of various microtasks to do. A lot of them involve downloading a certain app, registering for a certain website, or doing some sort of quiz. You can sort these offers out by the reward they give out, making your search easier. Needless to say, more difficult offers that require more effort are worth way more. After all, installing an application takes more time and effort than completing a simple quiz.

The games category is somewhat similar to a lot of offers available in the offers category. Here, all the tasks involve games. The most common instruction to get rewarded is to install a game and reach a certain level in the said game. The surveys category is about as self-explanatory as it can be. As it is a true staple of microtasking platforms, no wonder it is available on JumpTask too.

The remaining two earning options/task types are, surprisingly, based on passive income. The Honeygain option lets you earn JMPT for sharing your internet bandwidth. You would need to install a separate application in order to do so, but it would bring you income completely passively.

The other option is staking. There you would put some of your JMPT into so-called staking pools, and as time goes by, your JMPT would start growing. It uses the same principle as any other cryptocurrency (that can be staked) uses. You get rewarded for locking in your crypto, sort of like gaining interest payments on the money you keep in your bank.

Safe entry to crypto

Considering that JumpTask is completely free to use and it pays you in crypto for completing tasks, it can be considered a great entry point for those not familiar with the crypto world.

Using cryptocurrencies pretty much always involves purchasing some cryptocurrency, in other words, spending money. As the prices of crypto are very volatile, this could potentially mean big losses. This is true for both newcomers to the crypto world as well as veterans. You may never know how it will go.

Now, as JumpTask gives you free crypto for completing simple tasks, this eliminates the notion of investment. You do not have to spend money in order to get JMPT, yet you can use it as you will. You can trade it on PancakeSwap, you can sell it, you can buy some more – it is all up to you.

However, the key point remains – with JumpTask, you can safely try out cryptocurrency trading and check if it is for you or not. With no investment, you would not have any losses.

All in all, JumpTask brings some fresh winds into the microtasking market. Having a unique approach of paying out in crypto as well as providing passive income options makes it a versatile way to make some extra money. Also, as you gain crypto for completing tasks, it makes JumpTask a great entry into the crypto world as a whole.

 

 

 

Four days left to register for Red Bull Campus Clutch

There are just four days left to register for Red Bull Campus Clutch. The Global VALORANT tournament is open to college and university students in Ireland and across the globe. Players are invited to show their skills for a chance to play on the world stage with €20,000 up for grabs for the winning team.

What is Red Bull Campus Clutch:

Red Bull Campus Clutch is a grassroots esports initiative bringing up and coming student VALORANT players of every skill level together as they team up and experience competitive gaming like never before. In its first year, the tournament showcased up-and-coming talent who went on to establish a career in the professional gaming scene.

How to enter:

Entries are now open to currently enrolled College and University Students over the age of 18, visit RedBullCampusClutch.com. Students can enter as an individual and will be placed into a team, or they can enter a team of five.

How does it work:

Teams of five will battle it out in an online Irish qualifier event on Saturday 29th of October which will find the top three teams in the country. These top three teams will then face off at the live National Final on 11th of November with the winning team crowned National Champions. The Irish National Champions will then receive an all-expenses paid trip to São Paulo, Brazil to show their skills against 50 other country teams at the Global Final where the winning team will be treated to a VIP Experience at a 2023 VALORANT Champions Tour Event and €20,000 in prize money. More details on the date and location of the Red Bull Campus Clutch National and World Final will be revealed.

Red Bull’s VALORANT commitment:

Entering its second season Red Bull Campus Clutch, along with Red Bull Home Ground, the premier pro Red Bull event for VALORANT, encapsulates the brand´s continued commitment to support the VALORANT community and uplift its competitive ecosystem, from a grassroots level with an array of local initiatives to the very highest echelons of esports.

Tech That’s Changing the Way We Game

The gaming industry is always quick to pick up on the latest technological advances. After all, making an exciting new experience for customers is top of the list. There have been many huge advances in recent years, but blockchain technology is maybe the largest. 

The potential of blockchain technology is so huge that casinos are offering a bitcoin welcome bonus for users who want to play with cryptocurrency, as well as games that offer users the chance to earn NFTs for playing them. 

Of course, it’s not only blockchain technology that’s taken the gaming world by storm, but instant streaming has also transformed the way that we consume gaming content. In some cases, it has even changed the way that we play games. 

Given that, these are some of the most fascinating ways that technology is changing the gaming world and some of the best games that are implementing them.

Blockchain Technology

One of the most exciting developments in not just the gaming world, but to technology in general is blockchain technology. This is the technology that makes cryptocurrencies possible. It involves pieces of encrypted data known as blocks, which are entered into a chain that they cannot be moved from. 

Blockchain makes a permanent record of the data which cannot be copied but can be traded between parties, simply adding more information to the chain. The technology has made all kinds of processes smoother, more reliable, and most importantly, trackable. 

Some gaming companies have chosen to use blockchain technology to allow payments in cryptocurrency. This can open up the playing field for people in countries with a volatile currency who would rather pay in crypto, as well as enabling people to skip the transaction fees associated with central banks. 

It isn’t just cryptocurrency as a payment method that the industry has adopted though, instead, some game developers are building blockchain technology into the very foundations of their games. 

NFT Games

NFT games are the types of games that are doing this. NFT stands for non-fungible token, and it relates to one of those blocks of data that we were talking about earlier. 

As the data block can’t be copied and has a permanent record, it’s possible for people to own a data block. This block could take the form of a beautiful drawing, an animated pet, or any number of things. 

The main pillar of the block is that it is unique, it can be traded, but it cannot be manipulated. The blocks are used by games as either an in-game currency or as an essential part of the game. 

Some of the most popular NFT games use pets or animals as the blocks. Tamadoge is a play on the famous 90s toy the Tamagotchi and the Dogecoin. The game allows players to breed and train their Tamadoge pets and swap them with each other. 

So far, Tamadoge has released 21,100 NFTs which are split into three categories of rarity, directly affecting their trading price. 

Just like Tamadoge, one of the most popular NFT games is Axie Infinity. This game plays on the Pokemon universe, encouraging players to breed strong Axies and battle them to determine who has the superior Axie. These NFTs are tradeable within the game, with prices varying depending on strength and rarity. 

This isn’t the only way of trading and earning though, it’s also possible to earn SLP tokens for winning battles too, a functional cryptocurrency that can be used outside of the world of Axie Infinity. This is a fascinating trend in gaming that certainly has a long way to develop, but we’ll be eagerly watching to see where it goes.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality has been around for a while, remember wearing those red and blue cardboard glasses to watch a film at the cinema in 3D? That’s virtual reality at its simplest. Google cardboard created a similar idea with a cardboard headset that you could insert your phone into for a VR experience. 

Of course, since then, things have progressed and now VR experiences can be more absorbing than ever. Whole VR rooms exist that are kitted out with huge screens, wearable tech, and devices that release scents and sounds when they’re triggered by the computers. It’s possible to exist in an entirely different world in one of these rooms and while the price is high, gamers are willing to pay out for the totally immersive experience. 

There are plenty of brilliant VR games, but some of the more recent releases include Elite Dangerous, a game that puts you in charge of conducting a spaceship. It’s a tricky game to pick up, as the makers have spent a lot of time making the flight simulation element of this game as realistic as possible. 

However, once you’ve got the hang of the tricky controls, soaring through endless space is a feeling quite unlike any other. Ghost Giant is another recent release that focuses on puzzle-solving skills to help you navigate your way through an adorable cartoon universe. 

While Elite Dangerous uses hyper real graphics and complex controls to immerse you in a real-world experience, Ghost Giants uses cartoon charm and cute brain teasers to feel just as absorbing.

How Can You Beat the Rising Rate of Inflation?

The UK is in the grips of severe economic crisis, and one which has had multiple triggers and catalysts over the last few years. Downturns in business performance over the pandemic were compounded with a shock rise in the rate of inflation, itself caused by barriers to international trade. 

Today, the rate of inflation remains above 9% – representing a major threat to the average UK household’s cash holdings. With your savings effectively losing value each day, what can you do with your money to combat the rate of inflation?

High-Interest Savings Accounts

In recent history, savings accounts have not been the best option for passive growth of wealth. Since the economic crisis of 2008-9, interest rates for savings accounts sat below 1%, making for slim gains over time. But in response to the rising rate of inflation, the Bank of England has moved to increase interest rates – and been forced to push them even higher in response to the government’s pro-growth ‘mini-budget’.

The result is a growing competitive market for savings accounts, in which certain limited access savers offer impressive rates of interest. These interest rates still do not touch the rate of inflation, but are good breakwaters nonetheless; they can help reduce the impact of inflation on your spending power while you make more robust long-term plans.

Currency Trading

The UK’s recent economic crises have resulted in some interesting behaviour with regard to the value of the pound. As a direct result of the aforementioned ‘mini-budget’, the pound fell to near-parity against the dollar for the first time in decades. This makes the cost of importing much more expensive, which threatens the inflation rate even more.

However, the volatility of the pound presents a clear opportunity on the forex market. Those with a little more understanding of the budget’s implications were able to hedge against the pound, buying dollars before the fall and preserving the initial value of their investment. By buying back pounds now, forex traders increase their holdings dramatically. With the pound set to rise again, and the dollar continuing to grow, now could be a good time to actively grow income on the forex market.

Lifetime ISAs

The Lifetime ISA (or LISA) is a relatively new financial product which allows savers to take advantage of government subsidy in specific scenarios. The LISA enables you to save up to £4,000 tax-free each year, with the government topping up your savings by 25% each year. The caveat is that your savings must be spent on either your first home, or on retirement, otherwise a 25% withdrawal fee applies. 

In practice, this is the highest ‘rate of interest’ you can achieve without active market engagement – and if your LISA is a Stocks and Shares ISA, you could be eligible for further returns through active market engagement anyway

Tile Launches Lost and Found Labels Alongside Signature Bluetooth Trackers, Creating a Comprehensive Lost and Found Network

Tile, a Life360 company and the pioneer in finding technology, today announces the launch of Lost and Found Labels in the UK. Available now online on Tile.com, Lost and Found Labels combine an adhesive QR code Label with the free Tile app to connect owners and finders. Lost and Found Labels are Tile’s latest solution to aid in its mission of keeping everyone connected to the things they love by simplifying the return of lost items to their owners.

Lost and Found Labels allow owners to attach the QR code Label to important items, and add contact information with a personalised message through the free Tile app. If the item is lost, the finder can simply scan the QR code Label, clearly marked with the Tile logo, view the provided contact information and return the item. Lost and Found Labels offer a discreet solution for adding identifiable information to items where Bluetooth trackers are not the right option. This reduces the time it takes to be reunited with lost items, and provides owners with peace of mind that if important items go missing, they will make it home. Items that would be a fit for Lost and Found Labels include school books, travel mugs, musical instruments, sports equipment, and earbud cases.

“The addition of Lost and Found Labels to Tile’s product suite enhances our global network by making all important items findable,” said Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Life360 Chris Hulls. “This is the first of many steps Life360 and Tile combined are taking to make every day easier with ways to stay organised, connected with family members, and safe.”

Tile began incorporating QR codes on the back of Bluetooth devices in 2021 to support the return of lost items. Lost and Found Labels are Tile’s first stand-alone QR code-style adhesive, making Tile’s family of products that much more versatile to help users keep track of their favourite items. Tile’s entire product line comes in various shapes, sizes, and styles, including the Tile Pro, Tile Mate, Tile Slim, and Tile Sticker.

Lost and Found Labels are available in forest, plum and teal colours and can be purchased at Tile.com.

Five steps to become a data-driven business using technology

Every organisation and industry has had to transform in recent years. All are striving to move faster, become smarter with data and innovate more with technology. The main message I’ve been hearing from business leaders in every corner of Ireland is that digital transformation is a must-have. As organisations navigate this journey of change and transformation, they manage increasingly complex data and tasks. And while data is considered critical for any efficient operation, it also has the potential to become the number one barrier to transformation. Jason Ward Vice President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland tells us more. 

According to the recent Breakthrough study of 10,500 knowledge workers, business decision-makers, and IT decision-makers undertaken by Dell Technologies, 42% of organisations in Ireland believe the opportunity to become a data-driven business will pass them by. Another way to put this is that at every business conference you attend, there is a chance more than half your peers are worrying about data.

Going deeper, 30% of Irish respondents believe their people won’t be able to keep up with technological change. It is an interesting paradox. While technology is an enabler to human potential and it has significant business benefits, the number of solutions and settings to navigate can overwhelm workers with too many choices. From my interactions with customers facing the same challenges, I noticed the path out of the data labyrinth is often a mix of the right set of tools with a human perspective. Here are five steps to help Irish businesses navigate their digital transformation:

1. Have a clear shared vision of how digital transformation can help you realize your business goals.

Every IT problem starts with a business problem. Before laying down the foundation on how to deal with your data, think about the challenges you are trying to solve as a company. Once you have that vision, you can articulate the right technology solution and partner with the IT experts on your team to build a plan. You don’t have to build an aggressive timeline. A phased approach accounts for your most important asset – your people. Give them enough time to understand the strategy and align to it.

2. Invest in appropriate edge and as-a-Service Strategies that can scale.

As-a-service experiences help ease or drop the infrastructure management burden on your teams. When working with a flexible IT consumption model, you can operate with agility. But you can also control and scale your environment, adapting to different dynamics. And then there is an opportunity in the edge – where you can act on data near its point of creation to generate. With real-time data analysis, you can act faster and reduce the cost concerns associated with sending large amounts of data to a central location. This is especially true in industries like retail, healthcare, and even public transportation.

3. Automate mundane tasks.

The research shows that people would be willing to partner more with technology if the personal benefits are clear. In fact, 66% of respondents in Ireland would look forward to having more time to develop their skills and elevate their roles. By automating work, people are available to focus on what inspires them and on uncovering business opportunities. The curiosity mindset is a valuable skill for data analytics. And once your teams have enough time to look at the data with a strategic approach, you start to pave the way for insights-driven decisions.

4. Start with small-scale pilots.

The sandbox environment is perfect for the test-and-learn method. People feel safe, and you have control over the impact. It is one of the best tactics to gain insights from analytics while stimulating people to adopt and publicize the successes. At this point, you go back to the number one step in this framework. Look at the initial business problem. Combine your newly added technology with your team’s recent gains in time to generate a positive outcome. Then assess your pilot. Replicate. Scale.

5. Provide adequate coaching, mentoring, and reassurance. 

Real breakthrough happens at the intersection of people and technology. Thus, it is paramount to recognise that while consumption-based IT models provide the necessary breathing room to your teams, you must deploy them in ways that are sensitive to human behaviour. Make sure that everyone is accessing the necessary tools and has enough training and resources to use them to their fullest. Communicate and establish a platform to contribute ideas and be heard. Lack of communication is one of the areas where respondents say their teams struggle the most.

At Dell Technologies Ireland, we have been helping leading companies leverage data in order to enhance business performance. Through our partnership with Ronan Daly Jermyn (RDJ), we’re enabling one of Ireland’s top law forms to harness the power of data to transform its legal services and adopt a hybrid working model running on Dell Technologies infrastructure.

Outpacing competitors also requires organisations to embrace new technologies. The Dell Technologies Ireland team is well positioned to help businesses realise this goal. Thanks to the work being undertaken at our 5G Edge Labs, led from Cork and Limerick, we are bringing together 5G, Edge Computing and Machine Learning to prototype next generation products and services for the global and Irish markets.

I am optimistic about the role that technology plays a role in unlocking a company culture shift toward data-driven decisions. Once organisations augment human capabilities with automation and consumption-based IT, they create new opportunities and experiences that excite their team, while delivering incredible business outcomes.

HP Inc. launches new device in Ireland in a bid to combat security threats and protect confidential business information

Today, HP Inc. has announced the Irish release of its new multi-function A3 office printer with built in HP Wolf Enterprise Security features. The announcement comes as a reminder to businesses that as Cyber Security Awareness Month draws to a close, businesses are encouraged to ensure their devices operate with the best security features to ensure secure working environments.

Multi-function printers are one of the most common and useful devices in any office environment with most doubling as copiers, scanners, and fax machines which have built-in memory and can store data. Due to their storage capability, many printers contain personal data like contracts, confidential company information, and any other files printed or sent via the printer. Without a strong security defense, some printers can leave businesses exposed to security threats and could have serious consequences for affected businesses.

In a bid to continue to combat security threats and continuously improve technology that detects and adapts to new threats, HP Inc. has launched the most secure printing through industry-leading and self-healing protection for businesses.

The new HP Color LaserJet Managed multi-function printer offers over 200 embedded security features, such as:

  • HP Sure Start – Critical operating code (BIOS) is automatically checked during start-up and repairs itself if compromised.
  • Run-time intrusion detection – Common Criteria certified to continually monitor memory activity to detect and stop attacks in real time.
  • HP Connection Inspector – Outgoing network connections are inspected to stop suspicious requests and thwart malware.
  • HP Memory Shield™ – an embedded security feature that helps prevent a wide variety of malware attacks from redirecting the execution flow of a programme.
  • Whitelisting – Firmware is automatically checked during start-up to determine if it’s authentic code -digitally signed by HP.

Understanding the importance of managing printers containing confidential information is essential for maintaining privacy and security in any business. Security starts with having the visibility of who and what is connecting to your network, and printers are no exception when it comes to potential vulnerabilities in a business.

Speaking on the importance of security features in printer devices, Managing Director of HP in Ireland, Val Gabriel said:

“As Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to a close in Ireland, we welcome the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee encouraging business owners and employees to ensure company data and information is protected through up-to-date security.

“For multi-function printers specifically, HP offers security protection that detects attacks on the operating system as well as the network, print, scan and fax applications. This new technology maintains an established first line of defense and provides security services for businesses of all size and scale. It works to safeguard businesses with always-on hardware-enforced protection that stays vigilant so work can continue safely – anytime and anywhere.”

Pioneer DJ is providing an in-person workshop for minoritised and underrepresented communities giving them a unique opportunity to learn new skills and progress their music career

Pioneer DJ, a world-class manufacturer of DJ equipment, is partnering with Pirate and Point Blank Music School to invite people from minoritised and underrepresented communities to an in-person workshop at Tottenham Pirate Studios. On 27th October, POC, LGBTQI+ and Non-Male folks, who have some basic mixing skills will have the chance to advance their talents and gain insight into effective ways to pursue a career in music.

Participants will learn to use Pioneer DJ equipment under the guidance of Point Blank’s Music Production & DJ Performance Programme Leader, Ben Bristow, and Pioneer DJ Business Development Executive, Sami Qureshi, with support from Liz Hay from Pirate.

The workshop will take place on 27th October 2022 at Pirate Tottenham, 2 Norman Road, London, N15 4ND, between 5pm-9pm. To secure attendance, please sign up here.

Special thanks go to our incredible partners for supporting the Start From Scratch programme and facilitating workshops and training: Pirate Studios and Point Blank Music School. For more information, head to www.pioneerdj.com.