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.

Only a third of CIOs cite cyber-risk mitigation as a performance measure

While 94% of CIOs acknowledge some form of serious threat over the next 12 months, only 27% list business continuity and resilience as a top-three priority during the next 12 months and barely a third cite risk mitigation as a measure of performance. These findings come from the 2021 Global CIO Survey from Logicalis, a global provider of IT solutions.  

 The study which surveyed 1,000 CIOs from around the world, finds that nearly half of respondents (47%) see data breaches as the biggest risk to their organisation (an increase of 6% from last year). Following data breaches, CIOs state malware and ransomware (39%) as other key areas of concern. 

 The perceived risk of a data breach is likely to have risen due to the increase in borderless workforces as employees continue to work from home or adopt hybrid working practices. When they occur, data breaches can lead to a range of issues from loss of business-critical data and stalled business growth, and in the most serious cases – the complete shutdown of a business. 

 Less than a third of CIOs (30%) cite lack of staff awareness as a security issue, down from 50% last year. This perceived improvement in staff awareness is due in part to an emphasised investment in additional training and technology measures to mitigate security risks. In fact, over 50% of CIOs state their organisations invested in employee security training this year, likely to help prevent data breaches originating from employee activity.  

 Other areas of investment include:  

·         Security technology – 66%  

·         Business continuity planning – 40%  

·         Third-party support through expert MSPs– 35% 

 

However, CIOs still feel their organisations have a long way to go in investing in comprehensive security measures. Despite the rapidly increasing cybersecurity risks, more than half of businesses (55%) have yet to adopt a cyber-attack recovery plan.  

 Mark Benson, CTO of Logicalis UKI, said: “The pandemic led to a rapid shift to remote business frameworks and forced many organisations to set up temporary network security solutions in reaction to the larger cyber threat surface. One key element of the hybrid working structure is making sure everything stays secure—a task that is challenging in a decentralised workspace. Many measures have been implemented, but more action is needed to secure remote workers and increase business resilience. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail. Adopting a holistic cybersecurity plan ensures businesses are prepared for cyber-attacks and can quickly recover and resume critically affected systems and technologies. With a comprehensive plan, created with advice from a trusted partner, companies can rest assured, knowing they’re protected.” 

 For more information, and to explore additional key findings from the 2021 Logicalis Global CIO Survey, visit here. 

Zinkworks establishes software engineering hub in Co. Donegal

Zinkworks, a Telecoms & Financial Services Research & Development company has announced the establishment of a software engineering hub in the CoLab facility on the Letterkenny I.T. Campus in Letterkenny Co. Donegal, creating 50 new jobs over the next 18 months.

Zinkworks was founded in 2018 and currently employs 180 people at its head office in Athlone Co. Westmeath. The company’s focus is primarily in research and development in Telecommunications, particularly on 5G, where it works with world leading clients, delivering its own portfolio of products to market.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said “Congratulations to the Zinkworks team on this expansion which will see the creation of 50 new jobs over the next 18 months. This investment is a testament to the wealth of talent Letterkenny has to offer and indeed the hard work of the existing head office team in Athlone. The very best of luck.”

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal T.D., Charlie McConalogue said “The establishment of a hub by Zinkworks in Letterkenny and the creation of 50 jobs in Donegal is a vote of confidence by the company and the IDA in Donegal and rural Ireland and will be a great support to the Letterkenny economy. I welcome this announcement and wish Zinkworks the best on its expansion.”

Paul Madden CEO of Zinkworks said: “As part of our ‘Bring the office to our people’ strategy, we are delighted to announce that we are opening a new branch in Letterkenny in the CoLab facility on the Letterkenny I.T. Campus. Since our launch four years ago, we’ve grown to a 180 person company in our head office in Athlone and today marks an exciting new step on our journey. We work with some of the biggest companies in the world and are developing our own product portfolio in Telecommunications.”

Aileen Cramer, COO of Zinkworks said “The key to our success is our people. We build an environment where people can grow and be at their best. Instead of asking people to commute to us or asking them to work from home all the time, we’re bringing our office to where our people are.  We’re delighted to be in Letterkenny and look forward our future here.”

Denis Curran, Head of Regions, Property and Enterprise Development at IDA Ireland said “The decision by Zinkworks to establish a software engineering hub in Co Donegal is very welcome news.

It is a strong endorsement of the high quality talent pool available in Donegal and across the North West region. It also demonstrates IDA Ireland’s continued commitment to winning jobs and investment for regional locations. I wish Zinkworks every success with their new investment”

The Letterkenny hub will provide software development services including 5G network consulting, 5G network deployment, telecommunications R&D, and ICT consultancy.  These 50 new roles will be across the areas of senior and mid-level software developers as well as a graduate programme.

For more information visit https://zinkworks.com/

15 Irish Schools First in Europe to Achieve Digital Education Award

A group of 15 schools from across Ireland have been recognised for their use of digital technology at the European Digital Schools Awards, an ambitious new educational initiative which aims to establish cross-border networks and learning.

As some of first to take part in the initiative, the group of Irish schools helped set the benchmark for others to follow. They were officially recognised for their digital education strategy at an event held at University College Dublin today (Monday 28 March), where the Minister of Education, Norma Foley, congratulated schools on their achievements via video.

The European Digital Schools Awards encourages and recognises innovation, collaboration, and skills development in the digital sphere. With support from the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, leading technology companies such as HP and AMD, and a number of national education agencies, it is the only initiative of its kind in Europe and is aimed at providing pupils with the skills they need to flourish in the modern world.

A total of 100 secondary schools in five European countries took part in the pilot programme, with just 79 receiving the top award.

Following the success of the pilot, the initiative is now being made available to all schools in Ireland, Scotland, Lithuania, Serbia, and Slovenia, with plans also in motion to roll out the programme more widely across Europe.  As the programme expands, it will provide teachers and educational leaders with greater access to support and the opportunity to take learnings from other countries.

To achieve European Digital Schools status, schools must use the European Commission’s SELFIE self-reflection tool to assess their digital learning and teaching practices and identify areas where improvements can be made.  They can then access a range of expert support and resources to help them develop their digital curriculum in line with industry best practices.

Norma Foley, Minister of Education said: “The European Digital Schools Awards is an excellent example of industry bodies and educational organisations working together to support schools as they continue to incorporate digital technology into the curriculum.

“The success of the pilot programme across Ireland has been inspiring, and it is great to see so many of our schools involved. With the initiative now available to all Irish schools, we hope to see many more getting involved.”

Anna Doody from Digital Schools Awards said: “Technology has become embedded into our everyday lives in a way we never thought it would, and at an unimaginable speed. In schools, the transformation is especially acute following the proliferation of remote learning during the pandemic.

“As we guide our young people through their developmental years and into adulthood it is essential that we give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to navigate the digital world effectively and safely.

“The European Digital Schools Award is not about urging teachers to use technology in the classroom. It is about encouraging an inclusive, and whole-school approach to digital learning, where everyone in the school feels supported and confident to adopt best practices.

“Our pilot programme exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to be announcing the roll out of the initiative across our five participating countries.

“One of the key benefits of the European Digital Schools Awards is it creates a network of educational professionals that can learn from one another. The more schools we have within the community, the greater the opportunities for knowledge sharing, and over the coming year we hope to grow the initiative, welcoming new member states and more schools into the fold.

Annmarie Whelan from HP, a central supporter of the European Digital Schools Award, said: “Understanding digital practices and having a familiarity with technology is an essential part of young people’s development, and can open so many opportunities for their future.

“We have been working alongside Digital Schools Awards for a number of years and have seen first-hand the positive impact it has made on hundreds of schools. We are proud to be on this journey and to be a part of the official launch of the European programme. We would encourage all schools to explore the opportunities created through this initiative and look forward to working with others in our sector and educational leaders to roll this out across the continent.” 

Donal Harford from AMD said: “The possibilities are virtually limitless for what we can achieve through advancements in science and technology over the next few decades. School pupils across Europe are the next generation of innovators and it is through programmes like Digital Schools Awards that we can educate and inspire them to explore careers in digital technology.” 

To find out more about how they can take part, schools should visit www.awards4selfie.eu.

Complete list of schools in Ireland to receive the European Digital Schools Award:

Blackrock College, Dublin

Borrisokane Community College, Tipperary

Castetroy College, Limerick

Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway

Colaiste Bride Enniscorthy, Wexford

Colaiste Cois Life, Dublin

Dominican College, Dublin

Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge, Waterford

Mercy Secondary School, Dublin

Muckross Park College, Dublin

Old Bawn Community School, Dublin

Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, Westmeath

St. Aloysius College, Cork

Saint Kevin’s Community College, Dublin

Saint Kevin’s Community College, Wicklow

 

Top Ways to Protect Your PC from Online Threats

It’s not just your physical security that you have to worry about nowadays. In fact, that’s only a small portion of your problem. As most of your social life and work is probably situated on the internet and in your home’s PC, it’s time that you take the necessary steps towards improving your device’s security as well. 

Since hackers know that most people are stuck in their homes during this pandemic, the cases of hacks in home PCs have become significantly higher, as hackers understand that some people’s PCs at home are not as well protected as the ones in the office. 

Before the worst happens, you need to take the right precautionary measure to protect your PC from online threats. Here are a few things you can do. 

Get an Anti-Virus Software

As a general rule of thumb, you should never connect to the internet unless your PC is already equipped with anti-virus software. This is the first line of defence for any PC or any other device that connects to the internet and it’s definitely something that you shouldn’t be without.

As the name suggests, anti-virus software is a type of software that can protect your PC from nearly every virus that is online. It does this by preventing the attack and by blocking the source from the get-go. It also notifies you if you are downloading or accessing files that can have a potential security risk.

There is various free ant-virus software out there and with paid versions come extra features. You can find the best antivirus software out on the market with SoftwareLab.org and their list of choices. Find one which suits your needs and protect yourself as soon as possible.

Install a VPN

A VPN or a virtual private network is an online service that allows you to connect to the internet via a secure tunnel. This tunnel can encrypt your data and help you stay anonymous online as you surf the web. Perhaps most importantly, a VPN can mask your IP address as well. Surfshark is one VPN you could try 

People used to install VPNs just so that they can avail themselves of services, content, and features from other regions via geo-spoofing. However, this is now just a bonus to getting a VPN as the security features are now at the forefront of these services.

By masking your location, hackers will find a harder time to locate and track your down. If you have a laptop and you have a VPN installed, you can easily connect to public connections without having to worry about putting yourself at risk.

Unlike anti-virus software, VPNs are not usually free and they are a subscription service paid either monthly or annually.

Practice Responsible Browsing

Even if you have the best software installed to protect your PC, all of these will be worthless if you don’t practice responsible browsing. Most of the hacks that occur are caused by human error. What can you do to help lessen the risks you come across online?

 

  • Make your passwords hard to guess. Ideally, the password should be 8-20 characters long, feature alphanumeric characters, both lowercase and uppercase letters, as well as symbols.
  • Always be mindful of the links you click. As much as possible, avoid clicking any links from websites that you haven’t heard of before. There are apps that let you determine whether links are safe or not too.
  • Beware of phishing scams. Always thoroughly check the websites and the forms that you answer online. Hackers are able to recreate the websites of legitimate firms well to trick you into giving away your data. Check for grammatical errors or any misspellings on the URL.
  • Avoid downloading from torrent sites. Not only is this a form of piracy, but you are also potentially putting yourself at risk of downloading a virus online.

Don’t Let Anyone Else Touch Your Computer

You should also avoid having anyone else touch your computer. There’s a chance that they won’t be as careful with your PC as you are, thus putting yourself at risk of getting victimised by online threats. If you have kids at home, they might put your PC at risk so it’s best to give them a device of their own to browse with.

This is especially the case if this is your work PC we are talking about. It’s your responsibility to keep it safe.

Keeping your PC safe is not just about protecting your files, it’s also about protecting your private data too. Although simple, these tips are going to lessen the risks you face online. It’s always up to you whether or not your PC remains protected so always be a responsible user.

How to Make Money from Home 5 Working Ways

Are you looking for ways to make money from home? If so, you’re in luck! There are many ways that you can earn an income without ever leaving your house. This blog post will discuss 5 of the most popular methods for making money online from home. 

So, what are you waiting for?  Start earning some extra cash today!

 

  • Start a blog or online business

This option is suitable for those who are creative and have something to share with the world. 

There are many ways to monetize your blog or online business, so be sure to do some research and find the method that works best for you.

This could be the perfect way to make money from home if you have an entrepreneurial spirit. 

 

  • Complete online surveys

Completing online surveys is a fun way to make money from home. Many websites offer this type of work, so be sure to do some research and find the ones that pay the most.  Surveyjunkie.com is a great option, as they offer a variety of paid surveys that you can complete in your spare time.

 

  • Sell products on eBay, Amazon, or another online marketplace

Do you have some unwanted items around the house that you no longer need? If so, why not sell them online and earn some extra cash?  You can list your items for sale on eBay, Amazon, or another online marketplace. Be sure to take good photos of your items and write detailed descriptions to attract buyers.

 

  • Provide professional services online

If you have skills or talents that you can offer others, then you can provide your services online and make money.  There are a number of websites that allow you to sign up and provide services such as tutoring, graphic design, web development, and more. Be sure to create a profile that highlights your skills and experience.

 

  • Do freelance work or contract jobs

If you’re looking for a more flexible way to make money from home, then consider doing freelance work or contract jobs. 

This option allows you to set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. There are a number of websites that can help you find freelance work or contract jobs, so be sure to check them out. The internet and sole trader business bank accounts have made it possible for people to make money from home in a lot of ways.

We’ve outlined five methods that are proven to work, but there are many more opportunities out there waiting to be discovered. 

Have you tried any of these methods?  Let us know in the comments below.

As-a-service continues to grow in the UK market

Pure Storage the IT pioneer that delivers the world’s most advanced data storage technology and services, announced continued growth and customer adoption of its Pure as-a-Service subscription offering.

Unveiled in 2018 as the first true consumption-based service model for storage, Pure as-a-Service delivers flexibility, transparency, and simplicity, along with proactive monitoring and non-disruptive upgrades while satisfying performance and usage Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Throughout the last year, Pure saw increased customer adoption in key markets globally, including one of the world’s leading shipping and logistics companies, which selected Pure as-a-Service to build a secure, data infrastructure for its new offering. As a result of customer growth, in fiscal year 2022, Pure’s subscription services revenue made up 33% of total revenue, exceeding $738 million and representing 37% year-over-year growth. Pure as-a-Service’s momentum, combined with the growth of Pure’s Evergreen Storage subscription and Pure Cloud Block Store, which provides seamless data mobility across on-premises and cloud environments, is a testament to Pure’s expanding and unified subscription strategy.

Pure has continued to advance Pure as-a-Service to provide better pricing transparency and granularity by building an additional layer of self-service for customers. Customers can now take advantage of an extended version of Pure’s Cost Calculator, which has been built directly in Pure1, Pure’s AI-driven data-services platform for storage management. With the added ability to conduct advanced workload modelling, to request a quote, and to make purchases directly through the platform, Pure is providing customers with unrivalled price transparency for their storage needs.

Global organisations are continuing to benefit from the flexibility and simplicity of Pure as-a-Service, including the City and County of Denver, Wobcom GmbH, and Matrix Solutions:

“With the storage-as-a-service solution, we’re no longer guessing at what we might need in three to five years, investing in capacity and performance that may or may not meet our needs down the road. The OPEX model gives us a stable cost structure while avoiding time-consuming procurement processes and forklift upgrades.” – Sean Greer, IT Director of Service Delivery, City and County of Denver

“With Pure as-as-Service, we were able to choose the storage capacity we needed to start with, knowing we can scale easily to expand at any time.” – Giovanni Coppa, Head of Data Center and Cloud Innovation, Wobcom GmbH

“Pure as-a-Service eliminates capital expenditure surprises and enables us to scale up or down accordingly. I can redirect my attention and resources to cybersecurity and other strategic and high growth opportunities.” – Anthony Ridley-Smith, Managing Director & Founder, Matrix Solutions

Learn more at www.purestorage.com/products/staas/pure-as-a-service.html

Tech Review – Auna Line A 100 2.0 tower speakers

Over the last few weeks I had some changes to the sound system in my sitting room and we got something different which is tower speakers, these speakers come in different colours and spec and also look great in the house, they can be moved around to even though they are on the large size but no matter where you place them you are going to get superb sound which is what you want when gaming or watching movies.

The speakers also give out a total of 160 watts which is loud,so loud in fact the floor and couch rattles akin to what you pay 20 quid for with a seat in your local cinema, these speakers bring the cinema experience to you sitting room or gaming set up and you will not be dissapointed, the style though may not be for all but for a change we went with the towers and I like them and they look well beside the main couch you can place them anywhere as mentioned but for the best experince you should perhaps place them centre of the room.

The system is excellent when it comes to use case, you have got a USB port MIcro Sd card slot and optical connections which is all you need, streaming music from your phone is great and when in use in other scenarios the sound is excellent overall..

The compact auna Line 100 A 2.0 features an 8″ (20 cm) OneSide Subwoofer, a 4″ (10 cm) midrange, and a 1″ (2.5 cm) tweeter per speaker. Musical content is reproduced with a power of 40 watts RMS / 80 maximum. The basic features include an SD slot and a USB port for reliable playback of MP3s. The Bluetooth function is capable of wirelessly connecting music to the speakers via a smartphone. A stereo audio input completes the connection repertoire of the stylish floor-standing speakers. The OneSide Subwoofer provides remarkably full bass and room-filling sounds. A clear LED display with smooth push buttons and an included remote control make handling of the line 100 A particularly comfortable. The floor-standing speakers, with their small footprint, take up very little space and fit easily into any living environment thanks to their clear design with a low-vibration bass reflex cabinet.

Check out the video review below and see what the sound is like but I can tell you it is great and worth the purchase..

 

Top features

  • Powerful sound: 2.0 speaker system with 80 watts of total power for high music enjoyment
  • Room-filling sounds: OneSide Subwoofer for remarkably full bass
  • Wireless: Bluetooth function for music streaming via smartphone, tablet or PC
  • Versatile playback options: including USB port, SD slot and stereo audio input
  • Simple operation: thanks to LED display with smooth push buttons
  • Elegant design: slim shape blends perfectly into any living environment

This package was purchased by TBI and we have no affiliation with the company no input or payment was received..

BUY 

VIDEO

End of March Super Sale from Tronsmart

Tronsmart, the brand known for releasing high-quality affordable audio products, is offering unbeatable discounts on all their products from Mar, 28 to Apr 1st. To grab these great deals before they’re gone, visit Tronsmart’s official website!

Tronsmart Trip perfect speaker for outdoor activities

LONDON 28th March 2022: Consumer technology expert, Tronsmart is pleased to announce the arrival of its Trip Waterproof Portable Speaker. Besides being fully IPX7 waterproof and boasting stylish external characteristics, Trip offers some very interesting technical features that many people would be interested in like its dual passive radiators with dual drivers which deliver a full-range sound with tonal balance and penetrating bass and Bluetooth 5.3 enhanced wireless streaming that ensures exceptionally smooth and robust connection for instant listening. Despite the Tronsmart Trip’s modest size, consumers can enjoy 20 hours of playtime on one single charge thanks to its powerful battery. Specially made with lanyards, the outdoor speaker could be hung on the backpack, pants or bicycle bracket. Ready for outdoor adventure, hiking, rock climbing or other activities.

 

Tronsmart Trip is available to purchase from Tronsmart official store for $17.99

Earbuds with active noise canceling Tronsmart Air and Air+ 

One of the best-selling earpieces of the last year Apollo Air and Air+ both feature hybrid ANC noise cancellation which eliminates up to 35dB in low, mid and high frequencies. There are three ANC modes that users can choose from to suit the individual’s needs: ANC On that blocks any surround sound; ANC Off that allows users to focus on the music, and of course, Ambient Mode – enhancing the ambient sounds around users while listening to music without being fully isolated from the outside world; 

Qualcomm’s flagship QCC3046 chip makes listening to music in earpieces an incredible experience while TWS+ synchronous transmission technology ensures a faster transmission and lower latency to deliver an immersive personal audio experience whilst reducing battery consumption. One of the most impressive features of the earbuds is the smart app control. Users can use the app to personalize the equalizer however they like, so if users prefer more treble in mix or less bass, it’s very easy to adjust with this app.

 

The Tronsmart Apollo Air+ however has some extra tricks up its sleeve. As well as the fantastic features above, Air+ also comes with an instant in-ear detection feature that will pause music when remove them from ears, making them a good accessory to have at the office and on the go. The charging is made easier on the go because they can be charged wirelessly on compatible charging pads, making it even better than ever to ensure they never run out of battery.

During the sales period, Apollo Air and Apollo Air+ can be purchased for $25.00 and $29.00 respectively in Official Tronsmart Store 

Super loud 60W speaker for parties – Tronsmart Bang

The Tronsmart Bang is an affordable 60W portable speaker that packs a lot of punch and can deliver nice stereo sound, via a couple of tweeters and two large woofers. Featuring SoundPulse technology, the Tronsmart Bang is designed to deliver a louder sound level than the average Bluetooth speaker can manage. With its impressive size, it is a beast of a speaker with an inbuilt handle for easy transportation. The Bang produces an immersive, beat-driven light show using multi-colored LEDs that phase, pulse and shine to the music. The speaker can also be synced with up to 100 other Tronsmart Bangs and they will all pulse and play together. By taking advantage of an IPX6 water-resistant rating, Bang is capable of handling anything that comes it’s way including being splashed with liquids as well as dust, snow and even rain. The Tronsmart Bang has up to 15 continuous hours of battery life at 50% volume and will fully charge in 4.5 hours. It can also be used to power smartphone instead of plugging it into a wall while users are on the go. Moreover, the Tronsmart smartphone app includes a graphic equalizer that enables the user to switch between a choice of tonal pre-sets as a user-customizable setting.

Tronsmart Bang can be found for $107.31 at the Tronsmart official store.

Enter the Aliexpress official store for more products in the sale and grab the chance to participate in this activity!

 

 

The Arcade Industry Will Never Die – Here’s Why

The golden age of arcade games may have been more than thirty years ago, but the legacy of the classic titles still lives on to this day. Fewer gamers may hang out in arcade halls these days, but the simplistic titles from those clunky machines can still be found on modern platforms. In addition, there’s still a huge market for these pick-up-and-play style offerings, and it feels like there will always be a place for arcade games in the entertainment industry.

Arcade Style Games Live on in Slots Market

One of the best places to gauge the popularity of a certain genre of game is the online slots market, where it’s easy to spot trends based on the games listed. Because so many people log on to pages like the online casino at Paddy Power Games, developers need to do their best to make their games appeal to different demographics. One of the most striking games right now is Wild Arcade, a title from Red Tiger that instantly evokes feelings of nostalgia for the early days of gaming. This will undoubtedly appeal to older gamers who played the arcade games in the ’80s. It will also allure modern players who first connected with the arcade industry online, as it has contemporary elements as well. 

Slot games were prevalent alongside arcade machines, as they became electronic in the 1980s. The straightforward nature of both genres makes it easy to transition between the two, and it’s no surprise that there’s still a strong connection to this day.

The Games Have Evolved Alongside Technology

The emergence and surge of the home console industry ended the golden age of arcades, and by the mid-1990s, there was a much heavier focus on single-player experiences designed to be played on television screens. Still, this didn’t lead to the arcade industry disappearing, the games just took on a new form. Developers adapted to the emerging console industry and found ways to get these games to players on these devices. 

Arcade titles have had their biggest resurgence on the Internet, where players are often in search of simplistic games that don’t require too much investment. The games have proven to be perfect for mobile as well, which led to the inception of Apple Arcade and Netflix Games.

It has become clear in recent years that players want variety in their games, and arcade titles are able to offer this. There is likely to be a greater influx of services like Apple Arcade in the future, as they give players a chance to experience a wide range of different games for a low monthly subscription fee.

Arcade Games Will Have a Place in the Metaverse

There’s a strong chance that arcade games will have a place in the metaverse, and these future offerings may even represent the machines that were once found in arcade halls – in virtual form, that is.

 

Ernest Cline’s novel, Ready Player One, provides the best example of how the metaverse could look, and arcade games are still alive and well within it. Indeed, a key part of the story involves the protagonist playing a perfect game of Pac-Man.

It seems fair to say that as long as there is gaming, there will be arcade-style offerings. The genre has been so adaptable so far, and it will continue to evolve alongside technology.