Category: Tech

Forex No Deposit Bonus 2022 Explained

Forex no deposit bonuses are rewards given to new customers for creating an account. They are good as they sound, completely free, and don’t require any deposit. On Olymp Trade, this type of offer is quite popular in many countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Africa, among others.

What is forex no deposit bonus?

Let’s understand no deposit forex bonus in its simplest way. Forex no deposit bonuses are promotional funds credited into your account to allow you to start trading without using your own cash. It provides traders with an exciting opportunity to make profits without any risk. Think of it as a free incentive to help traders familiarize themselves with the forex market.

These offers are usually awarded to new customers upon the creation of an account. They are popular with traders, particularly those who have little cash to trade with forex.

There are plenty of brokers out there who offer forex no deposit bonuses. The first step to claiming these free promotions is registering an account with your favorite forex broker. Then the forex broker will credit your account with the bonus they offer.

The amount offered depends from broker to broker. It can be as little as $5, but you can find other brokers offering up to $100.

A Guide On How To Select The Best Forex No Deposit Bonus

Forex no deposit bonuses are best suitable for a new customer to enjoy live trade without making any deposit. But finding the best forex broker is quite challenging. Thankfully, this no deposit bonus forex review will get you started. But before we jump in, let’s understand how to apply for a no-deposit bonus.

How to claim a no deposit bonus

To claim a no deposit bonus, you need to create an account with a forex broker and then choose the currency that best suits you. Common currencies include USD, EUR, AUD, GBP, and others. However, the size of the bonus you will receive depends on the broker you choose and their current offer.

A no-deposit forex bonus helps you to get started in forex trading. Just don’t make reckless trading decisions because this money was offered to you for free. In fact, a no deposit forex bonus doesn’t come with a catch. There are strict trading requirements traders need to fulfill before withdrawing the accrued profit.

Terms and conditions

Forex no deposit bonuses come with terms and conditions which traders have to meet. They include:

  • The bonus is offered to new customers with real trading accounts
  • The applicant has to verify his/her personal identity
  • The offers are available to customers who have met the promotion eligibility criteria. These include age, country, etc.
  • The size of the bonus varies from one broker to another.

Steps you need to follow to claim a bonus

  • Create an account with the broker
  • Log into the account
  • Upload documents for verification when needed
  • Claim the bonus

What are the benefits of a no-deposit bonus?

Here are some of the benefits a no deposit forex bonus offers:

  • It provides traders with a chance to acquaint themselves with forex trading
  • You can trade with these funds and earn money
  • They offer an exciting chance to test trading approaches
  • They are free funds to trade without having to fork out your own cash

How to find the best no deposit bonus

Below are tips to help you find the best no deposit forex bonus.

Research

Today, nothing ought to be done without research. In fact, you will be amazed at the number of hits you will find if you type “forex no deposit bonus” into your search engine. Read online reviews about the broker you are just about to sign up for.

Ask for recommendations

Finding the best forex broker is quite challenging, especially if you are new to the forex world. For this reason, don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations from other forex traders.

Read terms and conditions properly

Learn the terms and conditions in advance and know whether they are convenient for you or not.

Conclusion

Creating an account with a no deposit bonus helps you begin trading without risking your own money. The above-listed companies can allow you to trade multiple assets, including forex, and stocks, among others. Remember, each broker has specific terms and conditions attached to these trading rewards.

How to Convert iTunes to MP3 Without Any Effort

Introduction

Do you want to play the songs downloaded from iTunes on some other media player outside the app? Or do you just want to change iTunes music format for any other purpose? If yes, then you’ve landed to the right platform.

In this article, we will introduce you to 3 simple yet effective programs to convert iTunes to MP3 effortlessly. Read it through and learn how to use these tools on your device.

Why need to convert iTunes to MP3?

The first question that pops up in mind is why do you need to convert iTunes to MP3 in the first place. The reason is iTunes downloads your songs and music in the AAC format by default. This format promises better sound quality but it isn’t compatible with most audio players out there.

In addition, it occupies a lot of storage compared to other audio formats. Thus, it’s always a handy option to convert iTunes music or AAC files into MP3, which is a universal format and pretty much runs on any media player.

Part 1. How to Convert iTunes to MP3 With HitPaw Video Converter

Looking for the most efficient method to convert iTunes to MP3 without losing quality? HitPaw Video Converter is a one-stop solution to convert any iTunes song into your desired audio format including MP3.

What makes is so popular is its simple interface and ease of use. Even a 10-year kid won’t face any issue when navigating its features. All it takes is a few clicks to change the iTunes music format. Not to mention, it supports batch processing to let you convert all your files in one go.

In addition, you can save convert any video on your PC into 1000+ audio and video formats. More strikingly, it uses the GPU tech to boost the conversion speed to 90x that of normal programs.

Notable Features

Below are some useful functions of this feature-rich tool:

A powerful program to convert as many iTunes music files to MP3 as you want.

Supports high-quality file conversion.

It lets you convert the music files to tons of audio formats.

Video conversion speed is 90x faster than normal programs.

Supports batch conversion

It also lets you convert files between 1000+ video and audio formats.

Supports free customer support.

Learning how to convert iTunes to MP3 using HitPaw Video Converter is as easy as it can get. Just follow the below instructions to get the job done:

Step 1. First of all, install the program on your PC and set it up.

Step 2. Under the Convert tab, click on the drop-down arrow of Add Files and select iTunes Music.

Step 3. The program will activate the iTunes music feature. Login to your Apple account and select any category on the left panel.

Step 4. Now, select the music files you want to convert. Hit Confirm to let the program parse the files.

Step 5. It will process the files and add them to the Convert tab. Here, choose the output format to MP3 and hit Convert All.

Step 6. Wait until all the files are converted. You can then access them in the Converted tab.

Part 2. Convert iTunes to MP3 with NoteBurner iTunes Audio Converter

Another popular iTunes to mp3 converter that can run on both Windows and Mac. Using this tool, you can easily convert downloaded iTunes audio files to various formats including MP3, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, or ALAC.

While most converted iTunes files are clean and without distortion, it often reduces the audio quality. And in some cases, it gets stuck during the conversion process and takes forever to complete. Thus, it shouldn’t be the go-to choice if you don’t want any hassles.

Follow the below steps to use this program:

Step 1. Run the program on your PC.

Step 2. Click on Add to see the iTunes folders. Import all the files you want to convert.

Step 3. Now, hit the Settings icon to see a pop window. Set the output format to MP3 and also choose a desired location to save your files.

Step 4. Finally, hit Convert and wait until the process is finished. You can click history button to find the converted audio files.

Part 3. Convert iTunes to MP3 With iTunes

Don’t want to use any third-party program to iTunes convert to MP3? Worry not as iTunes comes loaded with a built-in converter that you can use to change the format of iTunes music files.

Aside from format conversion, this feature also empowers users to adjust the audio quality and other conversion settings. Follow the below steps to use iTunes built-in converter to convert AAC files to MP3:

Step 1. On Mac, launch iTunes and head to iTunes > Preferences > General > Import Settings > select MP3 Encoder.

Windows user should go to Edit > Preferences > General > Import Settings. Here, you need to select MP3 Encoder for the Import Using option. Hit Ok to your library.

Step 2. Now, select the songs you want to convert. Then, go to File > Convert/Create New Version > Create MP3 version.

Step 3. The app will automatically convert all the files into the MP3 format.

But note that this method has several significant downsides. Firstly, it reduces the sound quality to quite some extent. Plus, it doesn’t let you convert the old purchased songs as they are encoded in the protected AAC format, barring them from getting converted.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you won’t face any issue in converting iTunes music files to the MP3 format. All the three aforementioned solutions are tested and tried and you can rely on any of them to convert iTunes to MP3.

But as far as our recommendation goes, use HitPaw Video Converter to get lossless conversion. Without any prior knowledge, you can get started with this tool.

Large numbers of millennial and Gen Z workers in Ireland plan to quit jobs and seek new roles in the next two years

A Deloitte Ireland survey released today has found that Gen Z and millennials are concerned about an economic downturn but desire a better work/life balance, and want more flexible working arrangements than they currently have.

The post pandemic ‘Great Resignation’ theme is being witnessed as a global trend, and is also permeating Irish workplaces. Less stress, better career advancement opportunities and more attractive conditions like hybrid and remote working, are driving employees to leave organisations that do not support these needs. Businesses also recognise the challenge with CEOs ranking labour and skills shortage as the number one external issue expected to influence or disrupt their business strategy in the next 12 months, according another recent Deloitte survey of global CEOs.

The Irish participants who took part in the Millennial and Gen Z global study of over 45 countries, responded that they are more willing than ever to leave for fresh opportunities. They are seeking options to provide them with better salary/reward, work life balance, higher flexibility and opportunity offered by employers, and, to a lesser extent, organisations focused on climate change. In the wake of the pandemic, many started to reassess what is important to them and to make decisions based on this reassessment. This makes for an interesting employment climate – full of risk but also full of opportunities.

Gary Notley, Director for Human Capital, Deloitte Ireland said: “The top trend that stood out in the Irish context in this survey is a strong desire and decisiveness around a better work/life balance. The fact that one-in-four of the millennials surveyed have already left their roles due to burnout – no doubt exacerbated by the demands and stresses of the pandemic – shows that this is area employers really need to address and focus on, if they are to retain talent. While Ireland did experience the ‘Great Resignation’, there is however an opportunity to redefine it to the ‘Great Reimagination’. Organisations can recover and thrive by reflecting, revisiting, and reinventing work to better leverage technology, harness the power of workforce, and reimagine the workplace.

“One in two millennials and one in three of Gen Zs said that better work/life balance is the main consideration when looking at an organisation’s offering in 2022.  This correlates with the second trend around mental health. Globally and in Ireland, Gen Z employees have been most affected by anxiety, stress and mental health issues over 2021 and 2022.  

“The concern around the cost of living is much higher in Ireland when compared with global figures, with 55% of Irish millennials citing the cost of living as being their number one greatest concern, in comparison to 36% globally. The fact that three in ten of the Gen Z generation also do part-time work to supplement their income, really underpins this critical issue.

“Climate change is also a key concern with three quarters of both cohorts in Ireland agreeing that the world is at a tipping point in responding to climate change. Concern about this is becoming increasingly pivotal in the decision-making processes of those in their 20s, 30s and 40s,” Notley concluded.

Work/Life Balance and increased cost of living

In Ireland, some employees are at a breaking point – either mentally or financially. As well as cost of living concerns, most of the Gen Zs (75%) and millennials (77%) who took part in the survey prefer hybrid or fully remote work, but less than half currently have the option to do so.

This presents an opportunity for employers to move closer to flexible ways of working, providing the balance so desired by today’s workforce. An additional benefit is that it expands the talent pool beyond the radius of an office location and allows people to factor in cost of living when considering staying or moving on from their current organisation.

Mental Health Factor

Nearly half of Gen Zs say they feel stressed all or most of the time. Millennial stress levels are also high but down slightly from last year. Employers are seen to be making an effort to address workplace mental health issues, with more than half of respondents saying their employer is more focused on workplace well-being and mental health, since the start of the pandemic.

However, many do not believe the increased focus has resulted in any meaningful impact on employees. Employers have an opportunity to rethink this area and impact the health and well-being of employees through assistance and wellbeing programmes, coaching and by building a culture of openness.

Climate Change

Over 90% of all Millennials and Gen Zs globally are now actively trying to impact the environment through positive choices. In Ireland almost one-in-three of both groups ranked climate change and protection of the environment as a top three concern.

Nine in ten of both groups surveyed here said they try to minimise their personal impact on the environment, but only 6% of Irish Millennials and 12% of Gen Zs believe that large companies are taking tangible actions to combat climate change. Their feelings about the Irish Government’s performance rate even more poorly with only 3% of Irish millennials and 7% of Gen Zs here agreeing that they are highly committed to climate change.

Five Methods to Fix Frozen MacBook when Booting Up

Introduction

MacBook laptops sometimes run into the issue of not booting up for some reason. It could be because of corrupted startup file, incompatible operating systems with the MacBook model, bad startup disk, and so on. When these issues exist, it becomes harder to start up the MacBook normally. 

This article provides five simple methods to fix frozen MacBook that is not booting up. It explains these step processes and applicable solutions to scenarios when the Mac is not booting up.

Methods of Fixing MacBook That Is Not Booting Up

Below are the top five recommendations to get your MacBook up and running once again. They are:

  1. Safe Mode Boot

Booting in Safe Mode limits the number of checks and processes that Mac focuses on while trying to boot. It is very useful for performing certain diagnostics to discover the real issue with the laptop not booting. 

To proceed with safe mode, first force shut down the Mac. Next, press and hold down the shift key immediately after restarting the Mac. To get some feedback on the actions you are taking while trying to boot in safe mode, press and hold the ‘Shift + Command + V’ key combination when you restart the Mac. This will boot into safe mode alongside verbose mode. 

You should see safe mode written on the top right corner if you are successful. The safe mode interface also looks a bit different with blocks of color in comparison with the usual transparency. Once you are in safe mode, try uninstalling recent software or undoing recent settings changes. 

  1. PRAM/NVRAM reset

Parameter Random Access Memory is a special memory section that stores data in the Mac for shutting down, volume settings, and screen resolution. Resetting PRAM helps to reset the parameters to the default value and helps to end any process disrupting proper boot-up. 

To reset PRAM/NVRAM, first shut down your Mac. Click and hold down the ‘Command + Option (alt) + P + R’ key combination immediately after restarting. Keep holding down these keys for at least 5 seconds before releasing the keys. This should reset your Mac and allow it to restart normally. In other cases, you boot to the progress bar and your Mac starts up after some minutes.

  1. System Management Controller (SMC) Reset

The SMC is responsible for low-level hardware functions like power button action, battery management, LED, and so on. Resetting the SMC will return the power management settings to default and help to fix the boot failure. 

To begin the reset process, make sure the Mac is shut down by long pressing the power button. After about 15 to 20 seconds, hold down the ‘Shift + Control + Option’ key combinations and press the power button for about 10 seconds. Release the button and restart the Mac to see the result.

  1. Disk Utility option in Recovery mode

A corrupt drive might prove to be incompatible with the startup process because of some corrupt files. Using the recovery mode, a fix for the drive can happen with the ‘First Aid’ feature in the Disk Utility option. The first step is to get the laptop to boot in recovery mode. To do this, first force shut down the laptop. Then proceed to click the ‘Command + Option + R’ key combination immediately after restarting.

When the screen shows the ‘macOS utilities’ menu, your Mac is in recovery mode. Proceed to navigate to the Disk Utility option. From the Disk Utility, select the startup drive and apply for the ‘First Aid’ program on the drive. If there are errors with the startup disk, the Disk Utility will help fix them.

  1. File system check

In a scenario where the file system is the reason why MacBook is not booting up, running a check and slightly modifying it will help fix the issue. Although this step is a bit technical, it is easy and quite straightforward. To begin this process, first shut down your Mac. Restart with and press the ‘Command + S’ key combination. This launches the Mac in single-user mode. You should release the keypress only when a black screen and white text appears on the screen. 

Next, enter the ‘fsck –fy’ command in the command line prompt and click the return key. Wait while the file system modification is ongoing. After the checks are over, you should see either one of the two messages: ‘The volume (Mac name) appear to be OK’ or ‘FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED’.

Proceed to type reboot and press enter to restart your MacBook. 

Data Recovery with iBoysoft

One thing you worry about the frozen MacBook is the data within. There is one effective solution from iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac to recover data from a dead MacBook. iBoysoft offers an effective and efficient data recovery software that helps to recover important data from your laptop. It offers the option to recover your files from the laptop that might have some fault. 

In three easy steps, you can recover your files. First, download and install the iBoysoft tool free from the internet. The second step is to launch and perform a quick or deep scan of the disk you select. Thirdly, preview and recover the files you choose to recover. You are suggested to store these files on an external hard drive instead of saving them in the original location. 

Fortunately, when your MacBook refuses to boot up, iBoysoft data recovery can help you recover your data. Through the terminal, you can launch the iBoysoft tool and save your data to an external device. From the recovery mode, select terminal on the ‘macOS utilities’ screen. 

In the terminal command window, enter the following command: ‘sh <(curl http://boot.iboysoft.com/boot.sh) command to launch the iBoysoft data recovery. From the software interface, select the disk you wish to scan and perform the scanning process. Select the files you need to recover and select ‘recover’. For this data recovery process to work, make sure your Mac has an active internet connection.  

Gadgets and Apps for Back to School / Uni 2022

Whether starting secondary school, going to college or leaving for university in September, no doubt pupils and students already have a long list of everything they need. Ten Four Communications has put together a few additional suggestions – from an alarm clock to get them to lectures on time and multifunctional colour changing lamp for their desk to a reusable notebook/planner to keep them organised – that they may want to consider. 

Groov-e Soundbar 20 

Price: £29.99 

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk from September 2022.  

 

 

This new wireless soundbar from Groov-e is a must have for any student heading to university this year. Providing impressive sound quality, simply connect via Bluetooth to a compatible device to listen to music, watch movies or make hands free calls. Colour changing LED lights make it the perfect addition to any party plus it is lightweight and portable so can be taken anywhere – another room, garden party or even home for the weekend. An integrated stand pops out to hold your smartphone or tablet making it perfect for those who want to binge Netflix series when not studying. Featuring a rechargeable battery it offers 10+ hours of playback on a single charge.  

Price: £34.99 

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk and Smyths Toys  

 

 

 

The Groov-e Astra is a multi-functional, colour changing lamp which features a wireless charging pad and Bluetooth speaker. It is perfect for a student’s desk, getting rid of messy cables and allowing them to charge a mobile phone while working, studying, reading or sleeping.  

Whether users need extra light at their desk to revise for exams, or on their nightstand so they can read before bed, the Astra features 9 LED light modes to ensure they have the right level of brightness. Also, perfect for mood lighting, users can change the colour of the light it emits at the touch of a button. 

Astra’s flexible arm means users can adjust the light to their preferred angle, ensuring they don’t strain their eyes and can work or read more comfortably. Additionally, Astra has an integrated 3W wireless speaker.  Users simply connect a device via Bluetooth from up to 10m away to listen to their favourite tunes.   

  

Price: £49.99 

Available from: TwelveSouth.com or Amazon.com 

   

The Twelve South ParcSlope is a one-piece metal stand that raises a laptop 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 desk setup, it is also small and light enough that it can be moved around the home in the event students want to study from their kitchen island or dining room table. With ParcSlope, 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 laptop.

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. 

  

Price: £299 

Available from Amazon UK 

 

 

Small but agile, Bittle is a powerful robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Designed for coding and fun, Bittle operates on OpenCat, an open-source quadrupled robot platform that offers endless programming and customisation possibilities. Bittle is an ideal tool for teaching, researching and learning about STEM and robotics. 

   

Price: £39.99 

Available from: www.groov-e.co.uk 

 

  

Waking up for school or uni can be hard but with the Light Curve wake-up light, alarm and radio, users can start their day a little easier. The light, which mimics natural daylight, will come on at the selected time, starting off gently and gradually getting brighter until it’s at the optimum level to help rouse sleepy-heads up. When it’s actually time to get out of bed, a chosen alarm sound or radio station will also be activated to help users wake fully.

For those who like to read or need the light on darker mornings to get ready, the Light Curve has 10 levels of brightness using its LED lamp. And for those who want to create more of an atmosphere, one of the seven coloured mood lighting options can be selected.  

   

Price: £39.99 

Available from: Amazon.co.uk   

 

 

Rocketbook notebooks and planners provide a classic pen and paper experience, yet are built for the digital age. Not only can handwritten notes be digitised and sent to the cloud using a smartphone and accompanying Rocketbook app, the ink (when you write using any pen from the Pilot FriXion Line) can then be quickly erased from the pages with a damp cloth, enabling the books to be used over and over again and saving paper in the process. The Academic Planner has been designed for students and approved by teachers. It is equipped with 13 different page types to help you manage class schedules, weekly goals and daily workloads. 

  

Price: £38.99 

Available from: Amazon.co.uk 

 

 

 

Rocketbook has partnered with Panda Planner to combine inspiration with innovation. The Panda Planner features undated monthly, weekly and daily templates to organise your life as well as goals and motivation templates. The innovative synthetic paper allows you to write smoothly with a Pilot FriXion pen then magically wipe your planner clean with a damp cloth to use year after year. The Rocketbook app scans and connects your notes to the cloud to digitally save and share your notes.  

Price: Basic (free), Personal (£5.99 per month), Professional (£7.49 per month) 

Available from: Apple App Store or Google Play 

  

 

Evernote automatically saves notes online and makes them available on all devices so you can access them anywhere, anytime. Ideal for students who do a mix of online and in-person studying or like a change of scenery. The document scanning function is also useful for copying from text books and the Search Handwriting feature identifies words in handwritten pieces.

Siemens establishes R&D operations in Shannon, with a €7 million investment and the establishment of its first global ‘Cloud EDA’ R&D group

Siemens Digital Industries Software will establish a software research and development group in Shannon, Co. Clare. The multimillion-euro investment will focus on High Performance Computing (HPC) in the Cloud for semiconductor design.

The project, which is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, is the first ‘Cloud EDA’ R&D group to be established by Siemens Digital Industries Software globally, and enhances Ireland already a strong reputation of in Cloud Software Development and HPC R&D.

This division is expected to create more than 25 new and highly impactful R&D roles in Shannon over the next three years, focused on delivering cutting edge cloud HPC environments for Siemens EDA workloads.

Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar said: “This is great news from Siemens, investing €7m in Shannon and creating 25 new highly skilled jobs over the next three years. It really demonstrates the skill and reputation of the company’s existing staff here that such a significant investment would be made in such an area of importance for the company. The very best of luck to the new team.”

Joe Sawicki, VP, Engineering, Siemens EDA, said: “We are excited about the new R&D division in Shannon focusing on Cloud development. The cloud represents a step change in capability for our Electronic Design Automation (EDA) customers and harnessing its potential will be key for our continued success.”

Martin Gennery, Sr. Director for Siemens Industries Software Limited and the site lead in Shannon added: “It is excellent to see Siemens demonstrate its continued commitment to Shannon as a strategic location by locating its first software R&D division in Ireland here. Due to Shannon’s central location in the mid-west between Limerick and Galway it has always attracted top talent. This expansion offers an opportunity to work on the latest technologies while benefiting from the work life balance delivered by hybrid working based in the mid-west.”

Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics) has had a significant presence in Shannon for over 20 years, delivering key financial and business operations worldwide. The Shannon operation of Siemens Digital Industries Software currently employs 150 people and is continually growing.

The rapidly expanding software R&D group is commencing recruiting for roles related to a multi-cloud hybrid PaaS/SaaS project including Cloud Infrastructure, Software Development, Application Security, DevOps, HPC & EDA.

Denis Curran, IDA Ireland’s Head of Property & Regional Development said: “Siemens is a longstanding employer in the Mid-West region.  The addition of this new R&D function and the associated transformational impact on the position of the Irish site within the global organisation is significant. I wish to congratulate Siemens on this expansion and wish them every success”

For more information visit https://new.siemens.com/ie/en/company/jobs/search-careers.html

Smart Buildings and IoT: Applying the Internet of Things (IoT) to Create Smarter Buildings

As the world population grows, the majority of the population will be concentrated in urban areas. The cities will become more congested, creating challenges in managing crime, traffic, sanitation, and sustainability.

Smart buildings are one of the best solutions for the challenges with a growing population. Virtually any kind of building can be “smart,” employing automation to control security, lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to become more efficient and comfortable.

Find out how the Internet of Things (IoT) is integral to the smart buildings of the future.

What Is a Smart Building?

Smart buildings are buildings with IoT-enabled devices that use sensors to monitor different aspects, analyze the data, and provide insights to optimize operations. These buildings have a central management system that brings together different processes to make the oversight and responses more efficient. According to Conerney estate agents and letting agents in Dublin, the smart buildings sector is going to grow immensely in the near future.

Some common aspects of smart buildings include real-time data transfer, two-way communication, and automation. 

Key Components of a Smart Building

The fundamental component of a smart building is the ability to connect to a wireless network and collect, share, and analyze data in real-time to develop actionable insights. All smart buildings rely on this technology, along with an intuitive interface that can be used by technical and non-technical users alike.

Wireless Communications

Wireless communications allow the devices in smart buildings to “talk” to each other. Without the ability to share information, the devices wouldn’t be useful.

Real-Time Data Analytics

Real-time data analytics are necessary to provide decision-makers with information to understand the behaviors of the residents and identify patterns to minimize risk and optimize processes for better security and efficiency.

User Interface

If smart buildings are intended for widespread use, it’s important for the interface to be understandable and functional for non-technical users. They will be using and interpreting data differently.

Most smart buildings feature central data collection, reporting and management, and analytics in one streamlined dashboard, which is connected to the cloud. Decision-makers can connect from anywhere, at any time, to respond faster.

Advantages of Smart Buildings

Smart buildings are similar to living organisms. They take in the information from the surrounding environment, communicate with others, and make informed decisions based on what they experience. A smart building does the same by bridging the gap between the digital and physical environments.

Sustainability

Population growth creates considerable challenges with impact and sustainability. With social and regulatory pressures to lower carbon footprints and generate efficient, clean power, the best solution is for decision-makers to have access to detailed usage information and energy monitoring to optimize use.

For example, automated and centralized environmental controls can be optimized for efficiency, such as heating, air conditioning, and lights that only operate when there are residents in a room.

Efficiency

Closely tied to sustainability, smart buildings can improve efficiency by using automation to replace humans for mundane tasks. Smart buildings are quick and efficient to get set up as well, and they require fewer resources throughout their lifecycle.

Reporting

Smart building systems collect data on sustainability and compliance to generate reports. This not only helps to address the growing social and regulatory pressure to become more efficient and sustainable, but it saves decision-makers time in gathering the necessary information.

Personalization

Smart buildings are tailored to the user’s preferences. As more data is collected and analyzed, smart buildings adapt to the preferences of the users and provide personalized resources and efficiency. On the building-wide level, the decision-makers take measures to protect the health and safety of the residents.

Better Customer Experience

Though smart buildings maximize efficiency building-wide and adapt to user preferences, they also provide personalization and an improved customer experience. Devices adapt to the needs of users automatically, but they retain control over certain aspects like climate control or lighting in their personal space.

Health and Safety

Smart buildings offer a lot of advantages for safety. For example, devices can monitor and evaluate the building space to identify risks, such as gas leaks or electrical hazards, and address them quickly.

Space Optimization

IoT devices offer insights into how buildings can be designed and structured to optimize space to adapt to the needs of users, the weather patterns, and more, which maximizes efficiency.

Smart Building Use Cases

Smart buildings have practically no limit to what they can be. Each building can be customized to the specific needs of the organization, but these are common use cases for smart buildings and how they use data to optimize their processes.

Health and Safety

Smart buildings promote safety and health for both users and employees. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, a huge focus is on workplace health and safety. Smart buildings can monitor air quality, optimize cleaning schedules, and adapt ventilation as needed.

Optimization

The devices in smart buildings monitor and control the environment and optimize it with automated responses, such as air quality monitoring or fire equipment testing. Lighting can also be set to adjust to occupancy to reduce energy consumption and make the space safer and more inviting.

Security

Smart technology improves safety in a number of ways. Sensors can be used to track and control power, water shutoff, leak detection, motion sensors, and fire safety. It protects from both environmental risks and crime risks, as well as cybersecurity risks.

User Experience

Over time, smart buildings can store user behaviors and patterns to offer the most current information for the future. For example, devices can monitor the ideal temperature and lighting and adjust it to the ideal levels to ensure both environmental comfort and a well-lit, welcoming space.

Asset Management

Any organization needs visibility of the business processes and assets to provide the best service to their customers. IoT smart tags help decision-makers track their tools and resources. If anything is out of place or stolen, they’ll get an alert.

The Future Is Smarter

IoT adoption is increasing in virtually every industry, and smart buildings are the next big wave as we address the ongoing challenges of population growth and congestion in urban environments. Smart buildings offer numerous advantages, including sustainability, user-friendliness, comfort, safety, and security. 

Author Bio:
Xavier DUPONT

Xavier DUPONT

Xavier Dupont is the Senior Director Product Line, at Lantronix, a global provider of turnkey solutions and engineering services for the internet of things (IoT). Xavier’s and Lantronix’s goal is to enable IoT and their clients digital transformation by providing technology block from sensing, to data collection and visualization.

Top Benefits of Student Engagement and Retention Platforms

People in all spheres, including students and lecturers, have benefited from the continual advancement of technology. Plenty of websites and apps are available to help college and university students manage their schoolwork such as proessaywriting.co.uk. Additionally, students are increasingly using laptops, tablets, and smartphones in class and at home, both for academic purposes and for personal use.

However, the widespread adoption of these gadgets and the shift to the online sphere have resulted in a decline in students’ attention, thus decreasing their engagement in learning activities considerably. Luckily, this is where student engagement and retention platforms come into play. 

What Are Student Engagement and Retention Platforms?

A student engagement and retention platform is a tool that keeps a record of student profiles and academic information. It is the most effective way to capture each student’s personal input, plus it facilitates real-time communication between students and faculty members. 

Every time students interact, their data are added to centralized, unified profiles. This contributes to a more personalized experience for each student and is an excellent way for lecturers to track their students’ performance and understand them better. With apps like the student engagement and retention platform by campusM, educators can gain valuable insight into areas such as student attendance, daily submissions, and interactive activities. 

In addition, a platform like this can be used to promote events, increase attendance, and engage students more effectively. But the ultimate goal is to encourage student participation and retention in the classroom and on campus.

Benefits of Student Engagement and Retention Platforms

The following section outlines a few benefits of using a student engagement and retention platform.

Better Understanding of Student Needs

Detailed analyses and student participation reports can help universities determine which events or methods of delivering courses should be used and which ones should be discarded. With this data, lecturers can plan for the future and make informed decisions.

Automation of Tedious Tasks

Lecturers no longer have to spend hours on time-consuming processes such as grading, marking, and tracking student performance. Engagement and retention apps can make grading assignments, conduct discussions, and manage event participants instead.

Personalized Student Experience

Using engagement platforms allows institutions to tailor learning to the needs of each student. Thanks to the app’s unique features, learning content is customized according to the student’s strengths, interests, ethnicity, community needs, and cultural background.

Furthermore, teacher assistants, with their teacher aide courses, can provide further personalized care, behavior, and experience for the teachers to their students. Students can choose topics that interest them and participate in related activities.Still, these platforms don’t only benefit the students in the long run — they are good for the lecturers, too. Personalizing a student’s experience requires an ongoing team effort, but in the end, the lecturers will also reap the benefits of streamlined workflow, automated alerts, and automatically generated feedback.

Increased Student Engagement

The software tracks students’ participation and evaluates a course’s effectiveness based on their feedback. Moreover, it may be possible to increase engagement and retention levels with emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) — especially for those students who have difficulty following text-heavy courses. This article also provides valuable information on increasing student engagement in the classroom. 

Valuable Student Insights Uncovered

Understanding student behavior allows teachers to make better decisions that will help young minds flourish. A student engagement and retention app enables lecturers to easily create robust reports and generate actionable insights that everyone can use to stay on top of things and take the best possible action.

Universities can also gather information about the common reasons for dropping out. Collecting such feedback allows the faculty to identify at-risk individuals and improve their overall experience.

Unified Student Profiles

The data on student engagement and retention is often scattered across multiple formats and systems. However, with student engagement and retention platforms, this information is easily collected, unified, and organized into a single profile that can be accessed anytime.

Petoi unleashes 20% off Bittle robot dog for Amazon Prime Day

To celebrate Amazon Prime Day (12th & 13th July 2022), Petoi, the maker of futuristic robotic pets, is offering 20% off its palm-sized, bionic robot dog – Bittle. Available from Amazon UK here, Bittle will be reduced from £299.99 to £239.99, a saving of £60. Petoi will also be offering 20% off Bittle accessories including the Additional Battery Pack (was £39.99, now £31.99) and the Intelligent Camera Module (was £59.99, now £47.99).

Small but agile, Bittle is a powerful robot that can be programmed to walk, do tricks and roll around just like a real dog. Bittle operates on OpenCat, an open-source quadrupled robot platform that offers endless programming and customisation possibilities. It is an ideal tool for teaching, researching and learning about STEM and robotics.

Users bring Bittle to life by assembling its puzzle-like frame which is made up of 3D interlocking components, eliminating the need for screws. The bionic construction of legs rather than wheels means that Bittle is able to move more freely over unstructured terrain. With a simple and beautiful design, Bittle can be configured and controlled using Petoi’s official mobile app.

Evolving with an open-source gene, Bittle is built on Petoi’s OpenCat open-source platform which was first launched in 2018 by Petoi’s founder Dr. Rongzhong Li specifically for quadrupled robots. Bittle’s dynamic maneuverability and behaviours are features typically seen on luxury robots but Petoi’s technology is now making it accessible to more consumers.

With a customised Arduino board coordinating all instinctive and sophisticated movements, users are able to clip various smart sensors onto Bittle or mount a Raspberry Pi or other AI chips through wired/wireless connections to inject perception and artificial intelligence capabilities.

Features include:

  • OpenCat framework
  • Arduino compatible motion controller & wireless connectivity
  • Interlocking plastic frame
  • Shock reduction joints
  • Programmable gaits and behaviours
  • 9 x fast, powerful digital metal servos

For more information, please visit https://www.petoi.com.