Category: Tech

Civica pilots smart technology in Belfast parks. #Civica #AI #IoT #AmazingSpaces #SmartPlaces

Civica, a market leader in business-critical software applications, digital solutions and managed services, is taking part in a smart pilot project to help Belfast City Council manage its parks and open spaces.

The ‘Amazing Spaces, Smart Places’ initiative will be trialled for two weeks as part of the Council’s Smart Belfast programme to gain a deeper understanding of how residents and visitors alike use green spaces in the city.

Following a competition launched in October 2018, five companies including Civica were selected to explore how data and innovative cloud technologies can help Belfast City Council manage its open spaces, looking at safety and usage issues, alongside encouraging more visitors.

Jake Mercer and Laura Soutar, Civica Software Engineers, with Councillor John Kyle, Deputy Chair of People and Communities Committee, Belfast City Council

Civica’s Belfast-based Innovation Team created the Park Keeper solution for the competition, based on the company’s SensAI cloud software. Civica’s pilot project is based in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens and uses a network of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to track anonymous WiFi connection data to record footfall and better understand the flow of people through the park. Following the pilot, Civica will provide analysis and data reports into flow and occupancy which will help the Council make better informed decisions for the future.

Councillor John Kyle, deputy chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “We’re committed to working creatively with companies to encourage innovation in areas such as big data and new technologies, to come up with smart solutions to everyday challenges for our city.

“This pilot project gives us a unique opportunity to capture important data which will help Council improve how it manages our city parks and open spaces, and further enhance the experience for all users.”

Mark Owens, Managing Director, Northern Ireland for Civica added: “We’re delighted to be working with Belfast City Council on this challenge to explore how cutting-edge cloud technologies can help build better and safer parks and community spaces. We look forward to seeing the results alongside the potential to innovate and collaborate further on digital projects across the city in the future.”

Mark Owens

Phase one trials are taking place in Botanic Gardens, Victoria Park, Connswater Greenway, Girdwood Community Hub sports pitches and City Cemetery. The projects use a range of technologies to capture and analyse data including IoT, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and community currency apps.

The project has been jointly funded by Belfast City Council and the Department of Justice via the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), as well as funding from Dublin City Council.

The Civica Group’s leading innovation programmes cover a range of technologies from robotic process automation to IoT, connected devices, AI, and blockchain programmes, helping organisations transform the way they work. Civica has recently partnered with the University of Bath to back the training of the next generation of AI leaders, exploring ideas in accountable, responsible and transparent AI.

Premium Tech gifts with a difference for Fathers Day. #Tech #FathersDay #Audio

Fathers Day is around the corner and if you have a pocket that can shell out on some goods these are a few examples below of what is on offer and these goods are especially good for the audio fan so you can start dropping hints now…

Bluesound Pulse 2i: Compact Wireless Multi-Room Music Streaming Speaker.
The PULSE MINI 2i takes decades of high-fidelity audio legacy and squeezes it into a tiny box. Delivering rich and detailed sound, the PULSE MINI 2i can easily fit into small living spaces, all the while providing an outstanding music experience.
Price: £499
More Info: https://www.bluesound.com/products/pulse-mini-2i/
PSB Alpha Speakers:
The globally-acclaimed Alpha Series of speakers offer five models to fit the needs of any audio setting. The Alpha Series of speakers offers audiophile sound quality at an affordable price but not at the expense of appeal and style.
More info:  http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/alpha
PSB M4U 8: PSB’s flagship travel headphone, the M4U 8, has noise cancellation and lots of ‘first class’ features for travellers, loaded into a very premium product. One of the best noise cancelling products and a strong, understated, contender within its category. I have personally tried and tested these and they are probably the loudest headphones I have tried..
Price: £299
Shure MV88+: Premium digital stereo condenser microphone for mobile high-fidelity video and audio recording. For astonishing audio, anywhere. You can see our review soon on this..
Price: £199

First look at the SJCAM ion series TOTEM 4K. #SJCAM #ActionCams #4K #Tech

SJCAM recently launched an array of action cams and today we check out the Totem model which features a 2” LCD touch screen and a 166° A+ HD wide angle lens, external microphone  and image stabilization (Gyro). With up to 80 minutes of battery life, Totem will record 4K at 24fps (interpolated), 2K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps or 30fps and 720p at 120/60/30 fps. The field of view can be set to wide, middle or narrow, making sure you get the footage you want.  RRP £119.99

We will be testing this out over the coming weeks so if you have any questions feel free to ask us below or on our social channels, Check out what you get on the TOTEM 4K as we dive into the UI so you don’t have too..

BUY HERE – https://sjcam.com/

First look and unboxing. The Skullcandy INDY true wireless earbuds. #Skullcandy #TrueWireless

Recently we checked out Skullcandy PUSH and VENUE which came in a superb colour and they have really good audio as I expected  and you can see those reviews linked below you should check them out if you want a great audio experience with an affordable price.

0-16-12,9,0HDR compose failed.

Skullcandy Venue Review                 Skullcandy PUSH review  

Today we check out the all new INDY which are the dubbed pencil styled true wireless similar to iPods and the Urbanista Stockholm we just reviewed. With simple controls and ease of use I hope they sound as good as I always expect from Skullcandy and to date have not let me down. Any questions hit us up as always and we will gladly answer..

BUY HERE  –  https://www.skullcandy.eu/shop/earbuds/bluetooth-earbuds/indy

 

Groov-e launches affordable true wireless earphones with voice assistant. #TrueWireless

Groov-e, a leading UK tech brand, today introduces its newest true wireless headphones, the SoundBuds. Boasting the latest technology, the SoundBuds, at just £59.99, include a ‘touch to talk’ feature which gives users access to their AI assistant without opening the phone. Simply press a button on the side of the headphones and speak directly with Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa. Using voice commands users can cue music, ask for directions, set calendar events and make phone calls quickly and easily when on-the-go.

Allowing users to be free from any cables or neckbands, the SoundBuds offer uncompromised, completely wireless sound with impressive stereo audio quality. A sleek, compact and minimalistic design makes the SoundBuds perfect for anyone, whether they’re commuting, exercising or taking calls from the office.

Featuring Bluetooth V5 technology, users are able to connect the SoundBuds seamlessly with any smart-device that’s up to 10 metres away. They deliver up to four-hours of battery life from a single charge, and up to 14 hours in total with the pocket friendly charging case. Perfect for on-the-go and completely hassle free, the SoundBuds automatically turn on and connect to each other once taken out of their charging case, or just use one at a time for a mono version on calls.

Comfortable and lightweight, the SoundBuds come with extra earbuds to ensure users get the perfect fit. Featuring a built-in mic and on-earbud controls, users have the power to answer or reject incoming calls or switch their music without a wire or device in sight.

Kunal Patel, Director, Groov-e said: “With our latest launch we are proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a quality pair of true wireless headphones. With the SoundBuds coming in at £60, this offers a step up to our Playbuds, packed with technology such as our voice assistant guide and Bluetooth 5.0.”

The SoundBuds true wireless earphones are available now from www.groov-e.co.uk for £59.99

RICOH – 57% of Irish office workers eye up four-day work week. #4DayWeek #Office #RICOH

Over half (57%) of Irish office workers believe that a four-day working week is likely in the near-future as technology makes work practices more efficient, according to a new survey by Ricoh. The study also found that 43% of Irish workers expect all or part of their roles to be automated within the next five years as a result of technological advancements. I for one would certainly be up for a 4 day week but how about you???

The research, commissioned by Ricoh Europe and conducted by Coleman Parkes, involved 4,580 office workers from across 24 countries, including 150 from Ireland.

The survey also revealed that salary (54%), flexible working hours (39%), learning opportunities (38%) and a work-life balance (37%) are the top priorities for workers when looking for a job.

In terms of flexible working, more than a third (38%) of those surveyed cited it as an approach that would increase productivity in the workplace. Moreover, 35% revealed that the opportunity to work remotely more often would also boost output, with 31% identifying better tools to facilitate seamless remote working as an impactful strategy.

The findings showed that Irish employers are lagging behind their UK counterparts in facilitating flexible working options for employees. Only 41% of Irish workers feel that their employer frequently adapts its working practices to their needs, in comparison to 54% of their UK counterparts.

This sentiment is felt across all generations of the workforce in Ireland with less than half of workers agreeing that their employers are doing enough to keep up with evolving employee needs. The most recent generation to enter the workforce (Generation Z) is least impressed, with only 36% agreeing that their employers frequently adapt to meet their requirements.

Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland and UK

Chas Moloney, director, Ricoh Ireland & UK, said: “There is no doubt that the concept of the traditional workplace has changed significantly in recent years. Interest in and appetite for a four-day work week is growing – people want to work less hours but be more effective and productive with the time they spend working.

“Therefore, it’s very disappointing that Irish business leaders are not recognising this trend and adopting more flexible ways of working to motivate, encourage and retain staff. After all, a happier workforce often equates to increased employee productivity, business performance and company growth.

“Understandably, it is more complex nowadays for employers as they have to meet the expectations of four different generations in the workplace. However, it is crucial that they do so and it’s clear from our research that every generation wants to work smarter.

“If Irish business leaders are to succeed and make the concept of the four-day work week a reality, they need to enable individual workstyles with the right technologies and agile approaches. Otherwise, they could find themselves struggling to attract, keep and empower people.”

Paradyn launches high-speed connectivity service set to deliver €1.5M revenue boost. #IT #Paradyn

Paradyn noted an increased demand for improved network connectivity amongst its customers, as businesses utilise a growing number of cloud-based applications. Traditional networks are unable to maintain the strong speeds and optimised connectivity required to facilitate the growth of cloud computing. Scaling legacy network solutions to overcome this challenge is time-consuming and costly. Paradyn designed its SD-WAN service as a cost-effective alternative which can deliver a high-speed, secure, and reliable connection across multiple locations.

Paradyn’s new service can cut businesses’ wide-area network costs by up to half in comparison to traditional configurations. Automated network changes reduce the number of people required for installation, management and support, with specialist hardware no longer needed, and a range of efficiencies stemming from improved performance all contributing to lower network costs.

Several of Paradyn’s customers are already piloting the technology and there is particular interest amongst companies who prioritise data security. Paradyn has built in security across every aspect of the service, including a range of managed security features. Connections to a company’s network made remotely and across different office locations can all be managed and secured centrally. This also enables users to easily define, implement and manage network policies that make the most sense for each location, with the deployment of policy changes reduced from a matter of months to days.

Cillian McCarthy, CEO, Paradyn, said: “At Paradyn, we receive consistent feedback from customers that connectivity speeds and consequent sub-optimal application performance are some of the greatest barriers to their digital transformation projects. SD-WAN can overcome these challenges seamlessly and we’re thrilled to bring to the market a managed network solution that will greatly enhance our customers digital experience.

Cillian McCarthy, CEO, Paradyn

“Now is the perfect time for businesses who need to connect multiple locations to consider how to do so in the most efficient and cost-effective way. While there are many significant benefits to SD-WAN, there are also many elements at play and many decisions to be made which can make adoption seem complex. That’s where a managed service provider like Paradyn comes in. We can manage every aspect according to the customer’s needs, with all the work taking place in the background so end-users can simply enjoy a seamless experience with all applications and services working exactly as intended.”

Pocketalk, the two-way voice translator instantly translates 74 languages. #Pocketalk #Travel #Language

Pocketalk™, the portable, AI-powered instant voice translation device, is coming to the UK to empower travellers to converse quickly and easily with people in a multitude of languages. With the ability to translate 74 different languages bidirectionally, Pocketalk makes it easy for users to understand others and be understood by others. The Global SIM embedded, “Built-in Data” model is available with two years of all-you-can-use mobile data coverage in 128 countries and regions. Pocketalk “Built-in Data” model is available on Amazon for £259.00.

The winner of the ‘Innovation Award in Mobile Computing’ at IFA 2018, Pocketalk allows people to converse naturally, not just in stilted statements or phrases and with no dictionary in sight. Small and compact, the device comfortably fits in the pocket, so it can be taken anywhere, eradicating the need to pass a smartphone back and forth.

Designed with simplicity in mind, Pocketalk combines the best speech-to-text, translation and text-to-speech engines from around the world. Using Wi-Fi, mobile data or a personal hotspot to connect to the internet, Pocketalk is able to provide the most accurate translations possible with a push of a button. It uses the most robust language engines and cutting-edge cloud technologies for highly accurate translations.

Unlike many smartphones, Pocketalk comes with dedicated dual noise-cancelling microphones to pick up every word even in noisy environments making it perfect for use outdoors or in restaurants, train stations or airports. Additionally, whilst having no lag time and a simpler interface than a smartphone, users no longer have to waste the battery on their phone to use it. Pocketalk has around seven hours of battery life whilst being used intermittently or around five hours if it is in constant use. There is also the option to put the device into sleep mode to preserve up to 10 days battery life with the touch of a button.

Noriyuki Matsuda, CEO and founder of master company Sourcenext, stated, “The need to connect cultures and make the world feel a little smaller is stronger than ever and that’s exactly our goal with this device. We developed Pocketalk to help people of all backgrounds providing them with an instant open line of communication and foster a mutual understanding and respect among different cultures. When you have the right tools, language is a gateway and not a barrier.”

With its easy-to-use interface, Pocketalk is a great device for people who are constantly travelling, working with colleagues of different nationalities or those who wish to fully immerse themselves in a country’s culture. The device is available in white, black and gold with its own global sim for two years so, unlike with mobile data on a phone, there are no hidden charges.

The Pocketalk two-way voice translation device is available with a two year global sim for £259.00 from Amazon UK and $299.00 from Amazon US.

For more information on Pocketalk, visit www.pocketalk.net

Car hacking methods + prevention tips. #motoring #hacking #tech

Protecting your vehicle against cybersecurity attacks is surprisingly painless — if you know where to begin. In order to protect yourself against a potential car hacker, you need to think like a hacker — which starts with knowing your car’s vulnerabilities. Points of entry can include your entertainment system, keyless entry remote, and even USB ports.

 

Once a hacker has gained control of one or more of your car’s electronic control units, they can control anything from basic dashboard functions to the engine and brakes. Thankfully, this isn’t common — but it is possible, as demonstrated in 2015 by white-hat hackers.

Want to learn more? This animated infographic outlines five different ways a car can be hacked and steps you can take to protect your ride.