Leading real hands on tech review site in Ireland with technology, business news and more. Jim O Brien Tech.
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.
The National Transport Authority has released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets. Finally says iOS users…
Transport for Ireland (TFI) Leap Card users with iPhone 7 or newer can now download the Leap Top-Up App from the Apple App Store and will no longer have to detour to a shop or ticket machine to load credit or ticket products bought earlier online.
While most Android users have been able to top-up using the app since 2016, it was not until October 2019 that Apple unlocked the ability for third party apps to access the on-board NFC for iPhone 7 and newer devices, with the release of iOS 13.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said: “It has always been our ambition to make the TFI Leap Card Top-Up App available to a wider cohort of public transport users. I am delighted that we are now in a position to expand this service to Apple devices.
“We expect that the Apple app will be just as popular as the Android app. At the moment Android top-ups account for 30% of all TFI Leap Card top-ups. Based on these figures this additional service should result in 60% of all TFI Leap Card users topping up via a mobile app.
“In light of Covid-19, the ability to top-up from anywhere at any time from the comfort of your own home, will be a welcomed function for public transport user across the TFI network. Paying for your fare using the TFI Leap Card continues to be the safest way to complete your journey as restrictions are eased”.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: “It is great to see the launch of the iOS Leap Top-Up App today. The TFI Leap Card along with the top-up app has made journeys across the TFI network more convenient for everyone.
PIC JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY TFI Leap Card Top-Up App now available on Apple devices: The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, joined CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, as the NTA released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets.
“This additional feature for Apple device users will make public transport a more attractive option to people. TFI Leap customers are already making significant savings of up to 31% compared to cash payments.
“I look forward to seeing public transport users throughout the country availing of this hassle-free way of topping up their TFI Leap Card. I’d like to acknowledge the work that NTA has been doing in responding to customers’ needs by rolling out innovative products like this using the latest smartphone technology”.
To use the app, you simply touch the TFI Leap Card against your phone.
The iOS app has been in real-live customer testing for the last number of months and the National Transport Authority (NTA) says that the feedback has been very positive so far.
The Leap Top-Up App can be downloaded from the Apple and Android App store and further information on how you can use the feature can be found here.
Jabra today announces the new Jabra PanaCast camera line-up that’s set to reinvent meeting room video, audio, and intelligence for the ‘new normal’ workspace: the Jabra PanaCast 50 – engineered to be the world’s first new-normal-ready intelligent video bar, and the Jabra PanaCast 20, a ground-breaking intelligent personal camera.
Hybrid working is the new normal. Teams are collaborating more, and seeking to do so in a flexible, hybrid network – from cafes, to their home, and satellite offices. Since the beginning of the global pandemic, we’ve seen a significant increase in video usage as we work more in distributed teams – with 66% of office workers using either a stand-alone webcam or built-in PC camera pre-COVID, and now 86% of home workers doing the same. The Jabra PanaCast range has been engineered to help businesses navigate the flexible hybrid way of working, combining immersive vision and video, world-leading audio technologies and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to completely reinvent meetings and collaboration.
When it comes to a solution for the office, organisations are often forced to choose between outstanding audio and high-definition video. Jabra PanaCast 50 addresses that by offering a plug and play solution to deliver the most immersive and engaging video experience available on the market today.
PanaCast 50: Immersive video and sound
The PanaCast 50 effectively takes on the role of the “director” of your meeting – intelligently adjusting the video stream to follow the action in the meeting. The Virtual Director feature uses both AI-based video and audio streams, as well as Jabra’s proprietary AI algorithms, to automatically adjust the frame according to what’s happening in the meeting. This allows Jabra PanaCast 50 to detect active speakers and the flow of conversation, thereby delivering a remote meeting experience that’s fully immersive and responsive.
Three 13-megapixel cameras mounted in a high-precision multi-camera array create an immersive 180° field of view in Panoramic-4K that covers the whole room. Crisp, high-definition, patented real-time video stitching technology uses advanced algorithms to decide exactly the right way to live-stitch the video streams together in real time with ultra-low latency. From single person calls to full team meetings, this intelligent technology always includes everyone in the most optimum way.
Jabra PanaCast 50 features nine powerful Edge processors, including two state-of-the art Edge AI processors, specifically engineered for audio and video. This ultra-advanced system architecture enables the intelligent video bar to carry out real-time integration of audio, video and data. This powers the Intelligent Zoom feature which always frames the user perfectly for the far end. The Virtual Director feature transitions video frames from speaker to speaker, depending on what is happening in the meeting. This makes it much easier for remote participants to follow the discussion and allows Jabra PanaCast 50 to deliver an immersive and engaging video experience, without distraction.
The Jabra PanaCast 50 can deliver two video streams simultaneously. This allows the device to perform multiple functions at once, so while one video stream is busy focusing on the meeting participants, the second can be used to focus on a particular area of interest within the room. The two video streams also enable the whiteboard sharing feature, which is built into the device itself – it allows whiteboard content to be captured and enhanced in real time. This is then streamed live within the meeting, lesson or lecture so every participant or student can see the whiteboard content and contribute to the discussion, leaving nobody at a disadvantage because they’re not present in the room.
Insight driven behaviour
In addition to dual video streams, the PanaCast 50 also delivers an independent always-180° data stream which provides anonymous people count meta-data as real-time numerical information. Because of its 180° field-of-view, PanaCast 50 can achieve 100% coverage of the meeting room and provides the best opportunity to count everybody in the room. This information is anonymous as the device simply counts people; it doesn’t recognise them.
The PanaCast 50 PeopleCount feature enables the system to compare that count with a customer-defined room capacity limit number to determine if the room utilisation is over capacity. If the number of people exceeds the capacity limit, the PanaCast 50 provides visual and aural cues to the people present, enabling them to make good decisions for their safety and wellbeing. This means that anyone present in the room gets instant, real-time notifications when local guidelines are exceeded. Additionally, through the network interface, longer-term analytics data is available for IT administrators, enabling the business to make data-driven decisions about how they’re utilising their meeting spaces. Organisations will have an overview of how many rooms are being used, even when there is no active meeting, helping inform decisions on office space.
Powerful sound
The PanaCast 50 features eight beamforming microphones with precision voice detection which are backed up with intelligent algorithms that remove disruptive noise. Four powerful Jabra-engineered speakers – two 50mm woofers and two 20mm tweeters – in a zero-vibration stereo setup fill the room with premium, high-definition audio, while the latest 2-way audio technology delivers more natural conversations. The PanaCast 50 is also optimised for all leading UC platforms. As well as working with Microsoft Teams and Zoom, it is also a device for use with Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms, making collaboration easier.
PanaCast 20: Superior security for video collaboration in your pocket
With the Jabra PanaCast 20 flexible workers can benefit from high-quality, secure video collaboration, no matter where they are, in a beautifully designed, compact, portable and easy-to-use package. The device features AI that is managed on-device with Edge processing – and advanced experiences are generated directly on the device without extra data being sent to the cloud for processing, without need to install additional software. All the experiences are powered on the device itself, significantly minimising the risk of security breaches and maximising speed, accuracy, and the overall quality of the experience. For those using the camera, it has a built-in lens cover to guarantee privacy, and prevent the camera being left “on” accidentally, adding an extra layer of ‘peace of mind’ for the user.
Security assurances for those working outside of the office are important, but equally so are video and picture quality. The PanaCast 20 delivers this via 4K Ultra HD Video, HDR video as well as personalised Intelligent Zoom, which always frames the main user properly, regardless of their environment. It also has automatic lighting correction, so whatever the time of day, or the situation in which they’re collaborating, their video stream is optimised in the best way feasible.
Aurangzeb Khan, Senior Vice President of Intelligent Vision Systems at Jabra, says, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions and we believe the new Jabra PanaCast 50 and PanaCast 20 deliver just that. We are happy to present the PanaCast 50, the first video bar to combine world-leading Jabra audio with our unique 180° field of view and unique room usage insights, for inclusive, collaborative meetings in the new normal. The time is now to start thinking about future-proofing offices, creating optimal collaboration circumstances for flexible hybrid workers and to ensure maximum productivity as your teams return. We invite businesses, organisations and institutions all around the world to experience audio and video like never before with the Jabra PanaCast intelligent devices.”
Jabra PanaCast 50 Key features and specifications:
Astounding sound from the world leaders in professional audio
Unique 180° field of view keeps everyone in the picture at a safe distance2
Virtual Director intelligently adjusts the video in real time for more immersive meetings2
Safety Capacity and Room Usage Insights generates anonymous room occupancy data for all your meeting rooms at once
Network-connected system enables easy remote management and data delivery
Real-time whiteboard streaming for more inclusive remote collaboration
Uniquely advanced system architecture and built-in dual Edge AI processors powers a range of intelligent features
Plug-and-play for fast setup and maximum ease of use
Easy installation, with a choice of wall mount, table stand and screen mount (VESA)3
Works with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom, and Zoom Rooms, and optimised for all leading UC platforms
Jabra PanaCast 50: Available from 15th June 2021 in Black and Grey, MSRP: £945
Poly today announced Alexa for Business for Zoom Rooms, to provide customers with a hands-free, voice-activated, control experience for new wave meeting collaboration. This new offering enables Poly customers to set up Alexa for Business with just a few clicks. Once enabled, Zoom Rooms’ users can ask Alexa to join meetings and book rooms, without having to purchase additional Alexa-enabled devices. With this integration, Poly, Zoom and Alexa for Business are simplifying the enablement and management of Alexa for Business by building it directly into the Zoom Management Portal.
As companies plan for a return to the office and strategize how to safely bring employees back into shared spaces and meeting rooms, touchless voice control has never played a more critical role. Alexa for Business improves the overall meeting experience, for rooms of any size, by offering customers the ability to start a Zoom Rooms meeting using voice commands. Poly Zoom Room users can ask Alexa to assist with tasks like starting their online meeting, booking a meeting room, and alerting participants with end-of-meeting reminders to keep everyone on task.
Installation takes just a few clicks, and once installed, a Poly Zoom Rooms device can detect an employee’s voice to jumpstart the meeting experience. Poly’s lineup of pro-grade devices are certified Zoom Room Appliances, and feature advanced speaker tracking, Acoustic Fence and NoiseBlockAI, so you can crush every meeting, while blocking out distracting background noise.
“Our goal is to bring peace of mind as employees begin to return to the office, through integrative technologies designed to minimise contact with high-touch surface areas,” said Beau Wilder, vice president and general manager of video collaboration at Poly.“We continue to see the need for highly-imaginative applications of AI, especially when it comes to voice-activated commands like Alexa for Business, and further enable employees to remain agile, with the ability to easily connect, so they can do their best work from anywhere.”
Poly Studio X series with TC8 touch interface, Poly G7500 video conferencing system, and Poly Trio C60 smart conference phone are the latest Zoom Room Appliances to support the Alexa for Business offering available now, in the United States. The Poly Studio X series and Poly G7500 are both certified Zoom Rooms Appliances, as are the Poly Trio 8500 and Poly Trio 8800 smart conference phones, which all feature Alexa for Business capabilities. Alexa can also help employees check the weather, stay up-to-date on the news or listen to their favourite podcast. Alexa has more than 100,000 skills to help make their lives easier, more meaningful and more fun by letting them voice-control their world. Poly is the only Zoom hardware provider and partner that delivers certified solutions across Zoom Rooms, Zoom Phone, and Zoom Personal Workspace.
“Voice assisted technology is stepping in to address new ways of working,” said Jeff Smith, head of Zoom Rooms at Zoom. “Zoom Rooms Appliances like the Poly Studio X series and Poly G7500 that support Alexa for Business are changing the game for organisations who are planning to return to the office safely, while also catering to employees who want to stay connected and join meetings quickly from home.”
Portable drives are a part of many peoples lives these days they are a handy tool to have at your disposal plus with working from home now a big thing these days ensuring your data is safe and kept safe these are the tools you need, We have checked out many here on site before and this model from Datalocker is one you should have in your bag of tricks for many reasons asides it being one of the coolest ones yet and the first touch screen one which is on the small side and no stylus provided but many will have one at home or a pen perhaps could help with inputs if you have bug shovel hands like me, regardless it is simple to use too which is another important factor with no software required. You can opt into a fleet management option with Safe Console.
So what is DATALOCKER DL4FE
The DL4 FE is a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certified device built around a powerful AES 256-bit cryptographic hardware architecture that then adds layer after layer of security with automated policies that intelligently change its security posture based on its location, how it’s being used, and the type of data being stored on it. The DL4 FE is a TAA compliant device that meets the strictest security requirements while offering large-capacity (up to 15.3 TB) and an easy-to-use touchscreen for setup and use. A powerful addition to the DataLocker line of securely managed solutions, the DL4 FE continues our proud tradition of providing Simply Secure™ solutions, plus it’s backed by a limited 3-year warranty.
What does the DL4 FE OFFER.
SilentKill™ – Allow users under duress to destroy the device or the stored data without leaving traces by entering a special code (admin configurable).
Brute Force Password Protection – When in use, admins can configure how many failed attempts are needed before the device destroys it’s payload.
Fully Manageable Device – Use DataLocker SafeConsole to manage individual and groups of devices using automated policies.
Remote Device Detonation – Lets admins functionally destroy the device and its data remotely to protect against data or encryption key theft (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
On Board Anti-malware – Automatically scans files and quarantines/destroys bad apps/files based on policy settings (optional upgrade. Requires SafeConsole).
Comprehensive Audit Capabilities – Have a complete record of file activity (including name changes on the device), password attempts, device locations and machines, device health, and policies in force (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
Data GeoFencing – SafeConsole uses geofencing, trusted networks, and ZoneBuilder to ensure a device changes its security posture based on its location (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
Who is this product ideal for
DL4 FE and remote work – COVID-19 made remote work a new standard, pushing data to the edge and creating security concerns. Devices like the DL4 FE are becoming more important to help businesses balance remote productivity with security.
DL4 FE and manufacturing – Large-capacity encrypted drives like the DL4 FE offer a secure way to update remote or air-gapped equipment.
DL4 FE and healthcare – Devices like the DL4 FE make it easy to securely update firmware on CT scanners or other large medical devices. They also make it possible to transport electronic health records securely, without risk of costly data breach.
Having tried and tested this device one thing is for sure your data is going to be safe and this is vital today with GDPR being a huge thing for any business and particularly if you are travelling around with work or going between home and office and you need to carry data with you, rest assured your data will be in safe hands with this product.. As someone that has to travel and carry information on the go I know I will be in safe hands here.
HP Inc. today announced the expansion of HP+, the smartest printing system designed for consumers and small businesses. In a time when demand for printing is high (+6% NPD/GFK), driven by millions of people working and learning from home, HP+ is modernizing today’s printing experience. Powered by a new cloud-based ecosystem, HP+ makes printing more secure, productive, and sustainable than ever.
Smart Printer
Consumers and small businesses today have higher expectations on devices to meet their expanded needs. In addition, 70% of consumers believe smart tech makes life easier. With the new HP+ cloud ecosystem, consumers and small businesses are able to stay connected and secure with exclusive, new features:
New Cloud resiliency automatically detects and fixes connectivity issues
New Smart Security monitoring helps detect and prevent malware attacks
New Native in-OS printing enables printing from virtually anywhereon any device
New Private Pickup lets you hit print now and pick up later when you’re at the printer
New Smart Dashboard helps you manage your printer in one convenient place
New, one-year extra HP warranty
HP+ will first launch with the new HP LaserJet M200 Series, Red Dot design award winner, as well as HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e and 9000e Series, DeskJet 2700e and 4100e Series, and ENVY 6000e and 6400e Series.
To deliver HP’s highest quality, most reliable, and more sustainable printing experience, HP+ smart printers only work with Original HP ink and toner.
Smart Ink Subscription
In 2020, eCommerce sales grew by more than 16.5% worldwide accelerated not only by the need for contactless shopping, but also by the convenience consumers have grown to rely on. For HP Instant Ink, this expansion and reliance on the delivery economy drove more than 60% year-over-year growth, reaching more than nine million subscribers. With HP+, customers receive a six-month trial of ink or toner.
Subscribe and save up to 70% on superb-quality Original HP Ink or 50% percent on HP Original Toner, with print plans starting at €0.99 per month. New toner print plans are now available, starting at €1.99 per month.
Smart App
In addition to the need for cloud-based solutions and convenient subscriptions – consumers and small businesses have also grown to rely on mobile ubiquity. With the HP Smart App, which has more than 48M active monthly users, customers are able to enjoy the ability to print and scan from virtually anywhere.
With HP+, enjoy HP Smart Advance features such as advanced scanning, mobile fax, and productivity features for 24 months.
Easily access Google Drive, Dropbox, and more.
Smart for the Planet
Lastly, it’s clear – the planet matters to our customers; 3 out of 4 consumers consider sustainability important when purchasing a printer. With HP+, we are building on our commitment to a future that is forest positive promoting net zero-deforestation prints and closed loop cartridge recycling:
With our new Forest First feature, HP invests in the restoration and preservation of healthy forests.
HP recycles your used ink cartridges to help create new ones.
Pricing and Availability
HP DeskJet 2700e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €49.00
HP DeskJet Plus 4100e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of € 69.00
HP Envy 6000e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €79.00
HP Envy 6400e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €99.00
HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €129.00
HP LaserJet M200e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €149.99
More information on HP+, including pricing and more details on HP+ hardware (including functionality equivalent non-HP+ devices) can be found athp.com/plus.
The military offers a wide range of awesome careers to those willing to serve. Almost everyone is aware of the combat arms military occupational specialties. Pick a random action movie or a video game, and you’re likely to see military special forces involved in some sort of daring operation.
Army cybersecurity and IT teams aren’t breaching doors and bagging bad guys, but they are fighting in a completely different battlefield — a digital one. Here are 4 things you didn’t know about the Army’s IT Teams.
The Famed 25 Bravo
Information Technology Specialist 25B is the official title of the Army’s IT MOS. Soldiers working as IT specialists in the Army are tasked with many duties similar to those of a civilian IT specialist. Maintenance of computers and systems, network maintenance, troubleshooting of various computer-related issues, and programming are all part of the job.
However, what most people don’t know is that 25B can be deployed to the front lines. Modern warfare calls for the use of advanced computer systems in the proximity of active battlefields. Unit commanders rely on computers to build a complete picture of the battlefield using various ISR tools at their disposal.
A computer that is glitching, or a downed system can be incredibly disruptive and prevent field commanders from making critical real-time decisions. Every field command center is highly dependent on working computer networks and communications equipment.
In summary, being an Army IT specialist doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll spend your contract stateside.
USCYBERCOM
The United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is a combatant command structure on the same level as the US Special Operations Command, STRATCOM, and all of the geographic combatant commands.
In other words, it’s an equal player in the overall structure of the US military command. Being an Army IT specialist has a much more proactive side to it. The 25B MOS we’ve mentioned earlier is just one of the IT-related MOS.
There is also the 17C, or Cyber Operations Specialist. Cyber operations specialists are trained to maintain cybersecurity over most critical military systems using high performance military grade controllers and equipment. Furthermore, they are constantly monitoring the network for any potential cyberattacks from state actors and third-party hostels that are constantly probing the US cyber defences.
USCYBERCOM isn’t alone in its fight against digital threats. This organization is working closely with the NSA and other cybersecurity elements. 17C and adjacent MOS will put you in the thick of the digital fight.
Secret Security Clearance Is A Must!
One of the lesser-known facts about US Army IT teams is that almost every individual working in this section of the Army has to be eligible for Secret clearance.
Not to be mistaken for a top-secret clearance, secret clearance means that the subject has passed a CSIS security check and is given access to classified information that could potentially inflict damage to the security and well-being of the United States of America.
If you’re wondering why an IT specialist would need a secret clearance, the answer is simple. As an IT specialist, you’ll be working on sensitive systems on sensitive sites. However, as your obligations increase, your clearance could increase as well.
Civilian Job Prospects
The IT industry is a massive one, and it keeps growing. Being a 25B won’t necessarily open all the doors in the Silicon Valley the moment you ETS from the Army. However, being a 25B puts you in a unique position to have your resume on top of the stack when you interview for your first job. How? Certification.
As a 25B or C17 for that matter, you can seek further education and get various certificates such as the CISSP, or Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification. Such certificates make former Army IT specialists a hot commodity in the civilian world, but also in the government contracting world. If you get all the right certs while you’re in, you can easily land six-figure jobs if your resume is up to snuff.
US Army IT Careers Are Worth It
Becoming an Army IT specialist is a great way to get into the world of information technologies, gain valuable experience, and most importantly, gain critical knowledge that will speed up your career growth in the civilian world.
If you manage to get a Comp Sci degree using your GI Bill, and several hot certs, you’ll be on the fast track to becoming an authority in the field of informational technologies, cybersecurity, or any of the adjacent occupations. It takes hard work, but this path is definitely worth it.
Colour is deeply rooted in human experience, with nature offering a rich spectrum of hues, tones and contrast. While many have celebrated nature’s diversity for thousands of years, some of its rarest species are currently at risk of extinction.
Together with storytelling partner National Geographic, OPPO embarked on a journey to capture nature in its true full-colour beauty with the help of its latest Find X3 Pro smartphone. Working with award-winning National Geographic photographers and leveraging its billion-colour camera, OPPO aims to capture nature in its truest form, highlighting and driving awareness to endangered species as well through two campaigns – “Endangered Colour” and “Out of This World Colours”
Endangered Colour
Endangered Colour is a campaign spearheaded by OPPO in collaboration with National Geographic and the National Geographic Society. Through a series of images and short films shot by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, all captured on OPPO Find X3 Pro, audiences can experience nature from a new perspective and discover a world full of unimaginable colour.
Each Endangered Colour episode focuses on a single colour – red, green, or blue, shedding light on nine species at risk of extinction. From the brilliant fur of the red panda to the bright blue skin of the poison dart frog, it is hard to imagine life without these spectacular colours.
Through raw and unfiltered, billion-colour footage, Endangered Colour brings the true colour and textures of nature to life with 100 percent accuracy, preserving them far into the future and raising awareness to endangered species around the world.
With the help of the Find X3 Pro, Joel Sartore chronicles biodiversity and the extinction crisis as part of a lifelong project created to document species from around the planet. As part of the Endangered Colour project, Joel captured the striking colours of endangered animals, such as the blue dart frog or the thick-billed parrot. By using the one-billion colour camera, he was able to showcase how breath-taking these hues and tones truly are, raising awareness to the dangerously fast disappearing beauty of nature.
Out of This World Colours
Further exploring the otherworldly beauty of Earth, OPPO also announced its “Out of This World Colours” campaign in partnership with National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski. This project aims to explore the Mojave Desert’s Mars-like landscapes, highlighting the stunning environment and bringing to life its earthy orange colours through one billion colour photography.
The campaign draws attention to nature’s unique beauty, encouraging a sense of curiosity and exploration, while driving awareness to people’s responsibility in preserving these wonders sustainably.
Taking action
Through capturing biodiversity and the extinction crisis through Photo Ark – a lifelong project created to document all captive species, helping people to connect with and care about our planet in inspiring ways, Joel Sartore invited viewers to visually consider the consequences of ignoring the beauty in nature most at risk.
OPPO supports National Geographic’s mission to protect the health of our planet.
As part of the Endangered Colour campaign, OPPO will donate USD $500,000 to National Geographic Society to help support the National Geographic Society’s wildlife conservation efforts at large including Photo Ark and the Photo Ark EDGE Fellowship.
Join OPPO and National Geographic Society in supporting wildlife conservation and protecting endangered colour for future generations: http://www.nationalgeographic.org/give/
Find out more about OPPO Find X3 Pro and its billion colour stories.
Spring has finally arrived, and for many this means the start of months of hardship as the pollen count rises. Hay fever is one of the most commonly known airborne allergies, which a range of plants can trigger, causing discomfort and asthma attacks. Chris Michael, Director of Meaco, the UK’s leading air purifier specialist, gives his advice on minimising suffering.
Understanding the symptoms and causes of hay fever is the first step to alleviating the problem. Hay fever is a common allergic reaction which occurs at particular times of the year, when the body makes antibodies in response to the pollen from grass, trees and weeds. Grass pollen is the most common allergen (May to July), but tree (February to June) and weed (June to September) pollens can also cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms of hay fever include:
sneezing and coughing and a runny or blocked nose
itchy, red or watery eyes
itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
loss of smell
headaches, earaches and feeling tired
Asthma sufferers can be particularly adversely affected and might have a tight feeling in the chest, with a wheeze and cough
There is no cure for hay fever, which can last for weeks or months, but there are actions that can ease the symptoms.
Medication
See your doctor before the season starts, usually between the months late March through to September, the main hay fever season. There are a variety of medication options and remedies available, the NHS online is a great place to explore.
Pollen forecasts
It’s worth making the effort to check the Met Office pollen forecast, which is available five days in advance. The site also offers in-depth pollen patterns helping you to plan for your day, week or month accordingly.
Outdoor drying
Whilst it’s tempting to make the most of warm weather, try to avoid drying clothes outdoors when the pollen count is high as the pollen in the air will no doubt stick to your clothes, and therefore will seep into your house afterwards.
Spring clean
Spring clean your house early. Dust and dust mites increase the onset of hay fever and similar allergies, so reducing and regularly removing dust all around your house in advance of the allergy season will ease the causes of allergies.
Clothes
When you come home change your clothes so that you are not wearing clothes with pollen, allowing the pollen to spread around the house.
Air purifiers
Consider investing in a HEPA based air purifier to clean the air and remove pollen. This will help breathing and aid the overall wellness of families who are spending more time indoors in close proximity to one another. Using a HEPA air purifier in the bedroom in particular can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a hay fever disturbed night’s lack of sleep.
There are several considerations to make before buying, to ensure the product does the job. It is very important to buy an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, matching the allergy to the filter, and ensuring it is the right size for a room. Meaco’s research has shown that air purifier selection often goes wrong as people buy a product that is too small for their room and cannot clean the air efficiently. The only way to reliably remove pollutants from the air is by circulating the entire volume of air in a room several times an hour, ensuring particles will enter the airflow of a filter, and the air will become cleaner. An air purifier should clean the air volume three times an hour for a mild allergy, five times an hour if you are on medication and eight times an hour if your allergy is serious.
So why should you use an air purifier with a HEPA filter? An air purifier works by removing allergens from the air. The best type of HEPA filter, a True HEPA filter, is made to strict international regulations, and traps most bacteria, pathogens, microbial spores, pollens, and some virus particles. Capturing harmful particles and circulating clean air throughout a room will help in keeping people healthy so their immune system is a tiny bit stronger to fight off any viruses.
Meaco has developed a next generation air purification range that includes the MeacoClean CA-HEPA 76×5 and MeacoClean CA-HEPA 47×5, offering bespoke multistage air purification to suit allergy and room size.
The MeacoClean CA-HEPA 76×5 is the first Meaco product to be Wi-Fi enabled, controlled via phone app. The app gives you control over keeping the air in your home clean and healthy. It can compare the level of pollen readings inside your home with external readings so you can see exactly how much healthier the air is that you’re breathing. A laser sensor reads the number of particles in the air and then shows on the display, so you can see how polluted a room is and watch the progress of the air being cleaned. All this can be done while out and about, so you can return to a home with unpolluted clean air.
The MeacoClean CA-HEPA 47×5 is a more advanced than many standard air purifiers, using True HEPA filters to remove pollen and viruses, along with activated charcoal to remove odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. It has a PCO (Photocatalytic Oxidation) system which is the most advanced anti-bacterial/virus system to date. PCO technology speeds up the reaction time to help kill bacteria and viruses. Another advantage of the MeacoClean is that the multiple filters cover the vast majority of allergens.
The MeacoClean CA-HEPA 76×5 is suitable for rooms up to 76m³, performing five air changes per hour, and its H11 HEPA filter removes more than 95% of the damaging particles from the air. The smaller MeacoClean CA-HEPA 47X5 works in rooms sixed between 29 and 78m³.
In the era of COVID-19 the UK Health and Safety Executive recommends using mechanical air cleaning and filtration units to make workplaces as safe as possible (HSE, 2021). To support this there is an option of purchasing a H13 HEPA filter for the MeacoClean 76×5 to increase cleaning to 99.97% of particles.) H13 HEPA filters are routinely used in laboratory and operating theatres to prevent infection from airborne bacteria and viruses.
Reflecting on a year which has seen many businesses transition to a remote working model, Dell Technologies today outlined how organisations in Ireland can use the learnings from the past year to continue transforming at pace to ensure a digital future.
Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland said: “Over the past year technology enabled organisations to transform their business models so that they can continue to operate in a virtual environment. Embracing digital transformation has ensured that 40% of Ireland’s workforce could move to working from home practically overnight while close to one million young people were able to continue learning from home.
“But after a year of living with COVID, it is essential that Irish business leaders reflect on their experiences and bring the positive learnings into future plans to inform their future growth strategy. From the shift towards ecommerce and the changing nature of work, new business opportunities have emerged. Harnessing these opportunities will require organisations to accelerate the pace both of digital and cultural transformation.
“By embracing digital and cultural transformation at speed in the coming months, we believe businesses will be able to innovative at speed. That’s why today having reflected on the year just gone we’ve outlined some of the most important lessons from the pandemic. In taking these learnings into account, business leaders can ensure that advancements made last year through necessity can be built upon to foster a technology-enabled recovery in the future.”
Jason Ward, Vice-President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Ireland
1. The stay-at-home economy is here to stay
Businesses of all sizes have embraced the flexibility to work and operate from anywhere. SMEs, in particular, have leveraged Cloud technology to develop their online presence with ecommerce sales growing by over 24% in 2020 (CSO, 2020). With consumers increasingly moving online, Irish firms will need to develop intelligent software to personalise and fully-optimise the customer experience and modernise their IT infrastructure to support the growing demand for transactions and buying goods online.
2. The future of work is flexible, but it must be secure
Over recent months, it has become clear that the future of work is flexible. Employees have come to value the flexibility provided by remote working as they use technology to balance work and home commitments. This has been recognised by Government through the National Remote Work Strategy. With 94% of employees seeking to work remotely some or all of the time post-crisis, businesses will need to ensure they have secure devices and networks to maintain a hybrid workforce. Cybersecurity must be embedded at the heart of an organisation and a constant priority of its people.
3.Culture is key to building a productive hybrid workforce
The remote working experiment of the past year has changed the concept of work forever – it is what you do and not a place you go. Now organisations are faced with the challenge of enhancing productivity amongst a workforce located both in the office and at home. To ensure a hybrid workforce thrives into the future, leaders will need to accompany digital transformation with cultural transformation. Built on trust, clear communication and company values, culture will prove key to building collaboration within the team.
4. A new era of always-on connectivity has emerged
Businesses and remote workers have relied on broadband and 4G technology to stay connected in the past year. The coming 12 months will see 5G technology unlock a new era of always-on connectivity. With 175 zettabytes of data to be created worldwide by 2025, 5G will enable businesses to gain real time insights from data wherever it resides – in the data centre, in the cloud or at the edge – and digitise their operations at a speed not seen before.
5. Technology will be consumed as-a-Service
As digital transformation accelerated at pace in 2020, and IT strategies become more complicated, businesses sought to make technology easier to deploy, consume and manage. Increasingly, they began to consume technology as-a-Service with the move to the Cloud enabled through this approach. In the coming year, organisations will move to everything as-a-Service which will help free up IT budget to invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities that will transform the customer experience and to harness the power of data at the edge of a network – not just data in a cloud or data centre. With 75% of business data to be processed at the edge by 2025, this is where business innovation will be unlocked.
