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.
FUZE Technologies, creator of the popular FUZE4 Nintendo Switch coding platform is so excited to announce their coding competition in association Wireframe Magazine.
Have you always wanted to become a game developer or perhaps you have a ready-made game concept that’s just waiting to be put in to action? Code your game using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch. It can be any genre or style you like, as long as it’s retro-themed, coded using FUZE, and submitted via the platform by the closing date: Monday 19 April 2021.
What’s that, you don’t own FUZE4 Nintendo Switch? No problem! To support the competition FUZE is giving away up to 200 copies of its award-winning coding application worth £12.99 each, that’s over £2,500 worth of Nintendo Switch software for free!
Using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch entrants can create their game(s) and submit it to the judging panel for the chance to have their work appear on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform. Perfect for beginners and more experienced coders alike, FUZE4 Nintendo Switch is easy to use with step-by-step tutorials to get you started, even if you have no prior coding knowledge. There are no limits to the kind of games you can create – the only thing that can hold you back is your own imagination.
The competition will be announced in issue 48 of Wireframe Magazine which is available to buy from various newsagents and online, or can download for free from https://wireframe.raspberrypi.org/ from the 4th of March.
Full competition details along with instructions to claim your free download code are available at www.fuze.co.uk/wireframe.
You can enter multiple times and even win multiple prizes. Entrants can be any age but those twelve years or under must communicate via a parent or guardian. The competition closes on the 19th April 2021, so there’s plenty of time to get your entries in. The full list of prizes include:
5 Evercade handheld consoles and game packs worth over £530
16 Retro Fusion books worth over £300
2 My Retro Computer cases worth £378 A whole lot of Kudos and the chance to see your game published and available on Nintendo Switch via the FUZE platform!
Twelve South, a leading designer of Apple accessories, today introduces the new redesigned ParcSlope, a sleek metal dual-purpose stand that elevates MacBook screens and angles iPads for more comfort and productivity. ParcSlope is available now for £49.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
The Twelve South ParcSlope is a one-piece metal stand that raises a MacBook screen to an optimum viewing position while keeping the keyboard angled and low to the desk for comfortable typing. Whilst the ParcSlope is a great addition to any home office set up, it is also small and light enough that it can be moved around the home in the event users want to work from their kitchen island or dining room table. With ParcSlope, MacBook users will enjoy better ergonomics that help to relieve shoulder and wrist pain, a video call friendly viewing angle and an open wedge design that allows for increased airflow and a cooler, quieter MacBook.
For iPad users, ParcSlope angles the device to a wrist-friendly 18-degree angle that’s perfect for sketching, creative work, note taking or performing music. The matte black easel stand is sturdy and holds every iPad (except iPad mini) in a landscape or portrait mode. ParcSlope even allows users to turn their iPad into a mini desktop by pairing it with a wireless keyboard providing an even smarter way to work.
A must-have for MacBook and iPad users, this versatile modern stand also features tiny ridges along the top that are just enough to allow the MacBook screen to swing freely open, while a lip at the front of the stand enables users to open their MacBook with one hand while gravity holds the notebook in place. Additionally, an oval cutout at the back of the stand holds cables securely when an iPad or MacBook is not in use.
The Twelve South ParcSlope is available now for £49.99 from Amazon.co.uk.
Today Samsung announced the launch of Wildlife Watch, an ambitious new pilot that is using technology to help fight back against poaching in the African Bush. The pro-grade cameras in Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) handsets will capture live footage that will be streamed 24/7 from the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa, part of the Kruger National Park. Everyone is invited to Take the Watch and become a virtual ranger, helping to protect endangered animals from poaching by monitoring them in their natural habitat and enjoy live sightings of these spectacular animals from home.
Samsung has joined forces with African technology pioneer Africam to reimagine one of its latest Galaxy mobile devices in an initiative that uses technology to help make the world a better place. Africam’s profit for purpose model means they charitably support The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit; an all-female troop who use non-violent methods to prevent poaching, which has surged during the pandemic as illegal hunters take advantage of the sudden fall in tourism. Through the Wildlife Watch initiative viewers will be closer to the work of the rangers, see the animals they protect and have the opportunity to donate to support them.
South Korean born, Berlin Based DJ, producer, and fashion designer Peggy Gou, who loves animals – especially giraffes – is fronting the initiative to champion and encourage people to take part, take the watch and raise awareness.
Four Samsung Galaxy S20 FE handsets have been installed as additional cameras in the bush, boosting the reach of the existing Africam infrastructure in the Balule Nature Reserve by over half for the duration of the pilot. The pro-grade camera in each handset is being used to capture animals for the live stream. Supporting the rangers in their daily tasks, the bigger pixels, enhanced camera AI and 30x Space Zoom including 3 x Optical Zoom in the handsets have improved the quality of the photos the Black Mambas are able to take whilst on patrol. From a distance and even in low light and the unreliable conditions of the bush they can send clear and detailed images back to their base as evidence for investigations into poaching activity.
A camouflaged jeep fitted with a Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will also be used by the rangers for surveillance patrols, and the live streamed action will bring you closer to the rangers and their daily experiences.
Samsung’s Galaxy upcycling programme aims to solve social needs, lengthen product lifecycles, and reduce waste by reimagining phones into new roles. Repurposing existing products to serve a critical new function is a great way to avoid needing to create new products. As part of the Wildlife Watch initiative Samsung handsets are being redeployed by the rangers as CCTV cameras for perimeter fences, as well as adding crucial tech support to improve the rangers’ daily patrols.
By becoming a virtual ranger and taking the watch on wildlife-watch.com, you can alert rangers if you see animals in danger or signs of poaching, share what you see via snapshots on social to encourage others to take part and donate to The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. With different camera views it’s never the same watch twice, and you might witness elephants, lions and even giraffes in the wild from your sofa.
Animal loving DJ, producer, and fashion designer Peggy Gou, said, “We all love these magnificent animals, but the harsh reality is poaching is on the rise all across Africa. It’s amazing to think a device we use every day can help tackle such an important issue. The ability to become a virtual ranger and support the incredible real-life rangers battling against poaching, is really exciting.”
Mark Notton, Senior Director Mobile, Samsung Europe said, “As our lives have become more virtual, the power that technology has to bring people together to do something good and for the benefit of everyone has never been clearer. Wildlife Watch is a truly exciting pilot, and by repurposing one of our latest handsets in this way, we hope increased eyes on these incredible animals will not only support existing surveillance and raise awareness but bring pleasure by letting people see and learn more about wildlife from home.”
Committed to using technology as an instrument for good, Wildlife Watch supports The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan adopted by 193 United Nations Members, by addressing Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land – of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Samsung has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch an education and donation-based mobile app – Samsung Global Goals. Currently on 100M+ Galaxy smartphones worldwide it has raised more than $1.5M in donations for the UNDP and provides millions of individuals the opportunity to make the world a better place and take action to achieve the 17 Global Goals.
Wildlife Watch will be live for two months (25th February – 8th April 2021). During which time, Samsung hopes to bring many people’s eyes back to the animals that have been forgotten during the pandemic. To watch the live stream and help protect vulnerable animals, go to wildlife-watch.com.
Gitzo, world-renowned for over 100 years for setting the industry’s standard for innovative camera accessories, launched today the Légende Tripod and Camera Backpack. Engineered to last a lifetime with low environmental impact, the Légende combo is inspired by the storytelling power of photography: transferred from one generation to another while creating eternal stories. The Légende products are designed to address “throwaway culture” by creating the smallest environmental footprint possible through sustainable materials built for optimal performance throughout its entire life and backed by an unlimited warranty. The Légende Tripod and Camera Bag is available today for pre-order onwww.indiegogo.com and will ship to photographers in June 2021.
“As photographers, we photograph the wonders of the world and capture its beauty through our lens, so we wanted to create a product that would reduce its negative impact on the very planet that inspires us,” said Marco Pezzana, CEO of Gitzo. “We set out to create a product that was forever repairable, could withstand any adventure, and would never be thrown away. After months of design and development, we’re very excited to bring Légende to photographers across the globe.”
Unmatched Manufacturing Quality backed by Expert Craftsmanship
Gitzo continues cementing its legacy for manufacturing excellence, innovation and quality that lasts a lifetime as the Légende Tripod and Camera Bag are built to survive all of life’s adventures. Using high-quality materials in its premium design, the Légende products are made to be everlasting as a lifetime companion for generations. The travel tripod is lightweight and features one hundred percent carbon fiber legs for superior strength and stiffness. In addition, the precision aluminium leg locks provide ergonomic control with both knurling and rubber inserts.
Unlimited Warranty and Maintenance for the Eternal Story Those who own the Légende tripod and backpack receive the exclusive benefit of an unlimited warranty, designed to usher in a circular economy that brings an end to the “throwaway culture.” The Légende Tripod is crafted of 170 individual parts that can be repaired instead of having to replace the tripod in case of damage. One hundred percent of the tripod parts are replaceable and seventy percent of those can be done by the owner, so the part will be shipped out directly for simple repair at no extra charge.
Sustainable Materials Reinforce Légende’s Earth-First Approach Légende pushes to create the smallest environmental footprint possible with the use of sustainable materials that complement the unlimited warranty. One hundred percent of the backpack’s main exterior fabric is made up of recycled polyester and sixty-five percent of the entire bag weight is comprised of recycled fabrics. Additionally, the Eco Leather tripod strap and backpack details are made of cruelty-free, environmental-friendly, and non-toxic synthetic leather. It is light and extremely soft with great performance.
Supporting the Next Generation of Photographers Légende backers will contribute to the development of Gitzo’s Wild Shots Outreach educational program, which seeks to educate the children bordering the Kruger National Park about conservation and photography. Five percent of campaign sales will go towards this program that will help the students by opening up eco employment opportunities and instilling the value of our protected spaces.
Légende Tripod Tech Spec Highlights
Weight 1.45kg
Payload: 8kg
Leg angles: 25°, 70°
Minimum Height: 43cm
Maximum Height: 165cm
Panoramic Rotation: 360 °
Front and Lateral Tilt: -90° / +40°
Availability
Available today through Indiegogo.com, the Légende tripod and backpack will be ready to ship in May 2021. Kit pricing will start at $699 for super early birds who will get a Légende Tripod, Backpack and Gitzo Mini Traveler.
Motoklik, an Irish Motorsport Tech start-up, has raised €300,000 in seed funding from investors and Enterprise Ireland. Along with supporting the creation of 10 roles, the funding will also be used to complete the commercial design of the product and launch it into the market.
The company, which was founded in 2018 by Jens Köpke, a former Research and Development Engineer with Bausch and Lomb, and Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur category winner, is seeking to make racers faster and safer by improving their suspension setup.
Jens has been racing off-road motorcycles for over 20 years. In 2016, he injured himself in a crash caused by an incorrect suspension setup. As a result, he had the idea to create Motoklik.
Motoklik’s product aims to reduce the need for riders to rely on the “feel” of their suspension setup. Market research carried out by Motoklik revealed that 90% of racers report issues with their suspension setup, such as being too stiff or soft, but lack data on what is the cause and extent of the problem.
Motoklik has developed a cloud-based Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning platform in collaboration with the European Space Agency. Via a mobile app, it links to an in-house developed motorcycle suspension position monitoring system that provides racers, and race teams, with information on the best suspension setup for current track conditions.
Mr Köpke said the investment will put Motoklik in a position to take advantage of the booming off-road motorcycling sector and prove the technology works in one of the world’s toughest environments.
Caption: Motoklik CEO and founder, Jens Köpke. Credit: Motoklik.
“Motoklik is a ground-breaking product in Motorsports,”says Mr. Köpke.“Where previously data acquisition and management was only for top end race teams, now our AI and Machine Learning system can help teams and racers at every level to find the best setup, letting them concentrate on one thing – Winning!”
Welcoming the funding announcement Enterprise Ireland’s Niall McEvoy, Manager HPSU said,“We are proud to support Motoklik’s fundraising round to create 10 high value add jobs in Kilkenny over the next couple of years. Motoklik has developed a light, affordable, robust system to measure suspension movement developed for motorbikes. Jens Köpke is passionate about motor racing and his own experience drove him to use cutting edge technology to ensure that the sport is safer. This is a significant development for Motoklik and we look forward to working with Jens and his team in internationalising this innovative offer on this exciting venture.”
Motoklik is an ESA BIC (Business Incubation Centre) Ireland supported client company. ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland Manager, Peter Finnegan, commented that, “Motoklik is an interesting example of another Irish company that is utilising Earth observation data to enhance its product offering. The company’s innovative use of technology to address a problem experienced by motorsport enthusiasts has global applicability.”
Financing – The new investment is led by a number of local investors and Enterprise Ireland, as well as further funding through the European Space Agency. As part of the process former Merlyn Showering CFO, Michael Kilcommons will join the board of directors.
It is of utmost importance that the information about the conditions of a patient’s health is continually available and accurately documented. So, they can be well tracked and guide the physician’s decisions in treating the patient. Information that is recorded on paper is not reliable and causes a delay in data entry. Patient monitoring devices help ensure that the healthcare professional has easy access to updated information about a patient’s health status, especially vital signs.
Patient monitoring accessories are sophisticated devices that ensure that the information about a patients’ health status is always available and accessible to medical professionals. Besides the ones found within hospital buildings, some are automated to work with mobile devices and operating systems, while others are designed as wireless wearable devices. They are especially needed for patients with chronic or terminal diseases. Inthis article, we would be exploring the benefits.
Easy Access to Information
By providing full and easy access to data about a patient’s health, patient monitoring devices ensure that decisions reached concerning treatment and care are well informed. Also, speed up the recovery time of the patient.
Error Reduction
An error in the recording of a patient’s vital signs, for instance, can result in wrong dosage or therapy, which may lead to worsened health conditions or death of the patient. This has been a common case with hospitals that lack the automated structure of recording data on the health of patients. Some handwritings get misinterpreted or illegible while in other cases, some details are not recorded and are ignored until they lead to severe complications. According to statistics, 10-25% of patient information that is manually recorded contains errors. Patient monitoring devices ensure that medical professionals are updated with accurate facts to reduce cases of errors to the barest minimum.
Remote Solution
Some patient monitoring systems and devices have been designed and automated to make it possible for medical professionals and caregivers to gain access to patient data while the patients are comfortably convalescing at home. This helps save the unnecessary time and costs of sleeping on hospital beds or constantly visiting the hospital. Some of these machines have been designed to work with mobile devices and applications. This makes the system friendly and easy to use by the medical practitioners and patients. An app or a wireless device designed as a bracelet is a good idea for progressive recovery without stress.
Reduced Costs and Saved Time
Patient monitoring accessories save or totally remove the time spent on manually transcribing patient data on paper charts or spreadsheets. This is to ensure that the healthcare professionals spend vital time attending to the patients and to improve efficiency and the health condition of the patient.
This also saves a lot of money spent on treatment. Healthcare is expensive and gets more expensive with time. By providing the medical professionals with updated patient information, the diagnosis, and treatment of the patient will not only be speedy and accurate, but it will also save the patient unnecessary expenses on repeated appointments, medical tests, and staying in the hospital for a long period.
Conferencing and collaboration specialist Konftel has recognised a year of unprecedented success by announcing a series of awards, in tribute to some of its top performing distribution partners.
Global annual sales growth reached levels never before seen in over 30 years of business – as 2020 reinforced the company’s successful transition into a major video conferencing player, with high performance cameras and flexible video kits, complemented by its renowned audio innovations.
Each year Konftel highlights its key distributors around the world with a special Konftel accolade, spanning best partners and largest growth, across different territories. The company says during 2020 their dedication was more relevant than ever following a huge shift to remote working and video meetings – as part of a dedicated two-tier route to market.
“When the majority of office workers around the world suddenly needed effective distance meeting solutions to continue to perform, our partners and their reseller networks rose to the challenge and played a frontline role to help them transition,” says Tommy Edlund, Director of Global Sales at Konftel. “We think it is vital to recognise their supreme efforts in keeping the world productive during such challenging times. It feels extra special to hand out the awards to some of our most skilful partners this year.”
High-quality video kits such as the Konftel C20Ego and award-winning C50800 Hybrid have been designed as a ‘perfect fit’ for today’s dispersed workforce trends. In mid-February, Konftel added the Konftel Cam10, a business class webcam for desktop users who demand professional quality personal video meetings, to its expanding portfolio.
“We are living in different times and a different world, especially around distance working. The world is holding its breath about the successful rollout of a vaccine, but even when people do return to the office in bigger numbers, expectations around flexible and agile working have changed forever. We won’t go back to before,” says Edlund.
Konftel recognises the importance of its devoted distribution partners to ensure growing numbers of end users can ‘come together even when apart’. Its hall of fame comprises:
UK & IrelandExertis (UK) Limited (Best Partner)
North AmericaJenne Inc (Best Partner and Largest Growth)
Western EuropeExertis PRO AV (Best Partner and Largest Growth)
Central EuropeKONTEL Spolka Z Ograniczona (Largest Growth)
Eastern EuropeStanford Europe (Best Partner)
Northern EuropePeBeCom AS (Largest Growth)
DACHKomsa Kommunikation Sachsen AG (Best Partner) and Herweck AG (Largest Growth)
Southeast Asia VExpress Distribution (Best Partner)
Northeast AsiaControl Tech Group Ltd (Best Partner) and Kaul Data System Inc (Largest Growth)
“The world has changed and Konftel has evolved too as we further strengthen our position as a leading video conferencing specialist – backed by a loyal and dedicated distributor and reseller base, that underpins our fully committed two-tier business model, with no direct sales.”
Edlund continued: “Our strong partner network, combined with an expanding and innovative product portfolio has catapulted Konftel further forward and helped organisations across the globe successfully transition to more hybrid ways of working. We expect these trends to continue for the long term, based on sustainability, agility and high performance visual and audio technologies.”
In addition Konftel is also inspiring more ‘greener’ ways of working, as demonstrated by its Climate Neutral Certified status. Edlund points out how many more rooms need to be adapted for video conferencing, especially when people return to the workplace and almost every meeting will have at least one participant joining from a distance. He highlights how sustainable climate friendly products are particularly important in relation to the large volume of hardware investments, catering for the hybrid workplace.
He concluded: “2020 saw massive changes which will never go back to the way they were before. Conferencing is a proven and effective environmentally friendly alternative to business travel, and it will continue to play a key role as working life evolves. We are ideally placed to help resellers transition their customers to more hybrid ways of working as the digital transformation journey gathers pace in 2021 and beyond. Our high sales growth demonstrates this and we thank all our partners everywhere for their valued support.”
Urbanista announces a special Mother’s Day Offer – buy one Urbanista Paris and get a second one for free, so you can treat yourself and your mum this Mother’s Day.
Let’s hear it for mums this Mother’s Day and give the gift that keeps on giving. Urbanista Paris true wireless earphones offer superior audio quality and include a wireless charging case delivering more than 20 hours of total playtime.
If you can’t be together in person this year, stay in touch with Paris. The touch controls make it easy to navigate seamlessly between music and calls so you can check in with mum while you’re on the move.
Add two pairs of Paris to your shopping cart and the full amount of one pair will be automatically deducted at checkout. The package is available for £99 and will be available from 4th March until 14th March at www.urbanista.com/uk/mothersday in the UK only.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH MUM HANDSFREE WITH CLCKR STAND AND GRIP
Make your virtual Mother’s Day easier this year with a little help from us. Treat your Mum to a CLCKR Stand & Grip and enjoy your Zoom dinner hands-free! Shop now: https://www.clckr.com/uk/ Type CLCKR review into Google to see all our reviews on top of You Tube…
Kerry County Council became the first local authority in Ireland to trial a zero carbon Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) powered by compressed renewable gas. The truck was supplied by Scania dealers, T. Nolan and Sons in Castleisland, and fuelled using carbon neutral renewable gas from the national gas network supplied by Gas Networks Ireland.
During the two-week trial, Kerry County Council used this clean transport solution to move road salt from Co. Tipperary.
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen said:
“Meeting Ireland’s climate target is a big challenge and transport is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. We are delighted to do our bit in Kerry and trial trucks powered by renewable gas as a viable option to reduce our fleet emissions.”
While only 4% of vehicles on Ireland’s roads are classified as HGVs and buses, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector. Compressed natural gas (CNG) can reduce HGV well-to-wheel emissions by up to 23% (Cenex 2019) compared to diesel and deliver cost savings for operators of up to 35% (Cadent 2016).
However, as the volume of carbon neutral renewable gas on the national network increases into the future, hauliers and fleet operators who have made the switch to gas will increasingly reduce their carbon footprint without changing a thing.
Renewable gas is structurally identical to natural gas and compatible with the existing infrastructure, technology and vehicles. With locally supplied renewable gas now on the Irish network, gas is the affordable, proven and sustainable long-term solution for Ireland’s fleet managers and hauliers.
Gas Networks Ireland’s CNG Program Delivery Manager, Declan O’Sullivan, said:
“We are delighted that Kerry County Council has joined companies around Ireland in experiencing the emissions and cost savings associated with using both natural and renewable gas in HGVs.
“Gas Networks Ireland is on a journey to decarbonise the transport sector. Renewable gas, which is entering the gas network today, enables carbon neutral transport, as CNG vehicles operating on natural gas today are future proofed for renewable gas.
“By delivering a network of CNG filling stations and enabling the introduction of renewable gas to the network, we are supporting hauliers and fleet operators to make a sustainable switch to a carbon neutral fuel.”
On March 1 Gas Networks Ireland announced a €2.9m CNG Vehicle Grant scheme to support the purchase of up to 400 gas-powered trucks, buses and vans and help drive a more sustainable transport sector.
The Grant will cover 20% of the difference between CNG and diesel-powered vehicles, capped at €5,000, with a maximum €60,000 available to any one applicant. Grants can be used towards the costs of vehicles registered from 2020.
The CNG Vehicle Fund is co-financed by the European Union’s TEN-T Programme under the Connecting Europe Facility as part of the Green Connect Project. Applications are now being accepted at www.gasnetworks.ie/cngvehiclegrant.
