Category: Tech News

Technology company with Cavan roots revolutionizing the processing and publication of data

A technology company based in the Ormeau Baths in Belfast, and founded by a brother and sister team from Cavan, is revolutionising the processing and publishing of data.

The Sensible Code Company, founded by Aidan and Áine McGuire from Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, has developed Cantabular while working with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the UK over the last two years.

At the end of March, ONS released its ‘create a custom dataset’ product, as part of its publication of Census 2021 statistics for England and Wales.  The product has enabled the ONS to put the power in the hands of data users to find and download multiple combinations of data they are most interested in, a move which the ONS described as ‘a unique innovation for official statistics’*, allowing the release of census statistics ‘far more quickly than ever before.’

The Sensible Code Company also worked with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), on a flexible table builder for the 2021 Northern Ireland census results, using Cantabular. When it was launched in June, the Director of Census & Social Statistics at NISRA Dr David Marshall, said it marked a ‘watershed moment’ for the census in Northern Ireland. “The release of the Census 2021 Flexible Table Builder marks a watershed moment for the census in Northern Ireland. This is the first time the end-user can build their own tables online. This is a positive step forward from the old ways of publishing pre-defined tables. This has been made possible with the use of software developed here in Belfast and NISRA is excited to welcome this new development,” he said in a tweet.

Cantabular is modernising and automating the processing and publication of data because it is fast, safe and reliable; its high speed algorithms collapse the time needed to create tables of data, meaning that data can be published twice as quickly as before; its automated privacy processes provide a high level of control of data, making the sharing of data easier and safer; and its easy-to-use interface and automated systems increase reliability, reduce errors and improve efficiency.

Áine McGuire, the CEO of The Sensible Code Company said: “We are delighted to have collaborated with the ONS and NISRA on the publication of Census data and we are excited about the impact that the Cantabular software will continue to have. We see Cantabular as a force for public good because it modernises the processing and publication of data – making it fast, safe and reliable. How data is used matters because it can help solve problems and enhance decision making. The quicker Government has access to data, for example, the quicker it can make informed decisions in the interests of its citizens.”

Mike Thompson is the Cantabular product manager with The Sensible Code Company. He said; “Our mission at Sensible Code is to help the public sector use data for the public good so seeing the ONS census results published twice as fast as before, and with so much more flexibility than before for users, is a real milestone for us. Just over two years ago on Census Day, millions of people throughout England and Wales filled in census returns creating a common data resource of enormous value to central and local government, the economy and wider society. Thanks to the Cantabular software, users can now get data for many sets of variables they are interested in and complements a suite of innovative census products.”

Viatel Technology Group unveils new AI Service for Microsoft Teams

Viatel Technology Group, a leading provider of cybersecurity, cloud, communications and digital transformation solutions, today launched its latest innovation – a secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool designed to keep privacy-conscious organisations agile and at the forefront of technological change. Built on Microsoft’s Azure Open AI platform and integrated into existing Teams’ environments, vAI for Microsoft Teams enables organisations to harness the transformative potential of Generative AI while ensuring the highest level of data security and compliance.

At the core of vAI is a steadfast commitment to privacy and security. Damien McCann, Chief Commercial Officer with Viatel Technology Group, is enthusiastic about the new offering, “By harnessing the power of ChatGPT in a secure enterprise environment, we unlock immense potential. Security is of paramount importance. By keeping critical information within the customers own Azure subscription, our vAI solution empowers organisations to confidently embrace the AI revolution, knowing that their critical information remains protected.

“At Viatel we are committed to partnering with our customers as they navigate the ever-changing digital landscape,” Damien continues. “Our focus lies in delivering secure and scalable solutions, that help public and private sector enterprises to embrace new technologies and achieve their strategic objectives. With our extensive expertise in digital transformation, we are confident that this latest innovation will enhance our ability to help customers optimise performance through technology.”

Finian Nally, Head of Microsoft Cloud Solutions with Viatel Technology Group, elaborates on the range of benefits for organisations that leverage AI technology while safeguarding their data. “With vAI, organisations can now effectively and securely enable their employees to leverage the power of Generative AI at their fingertips. This will invariably improve efficiency and drive innovation, freeing teams from mundane tasks and empowering them to focus on strategic growth initiatives.

“vAI deployments are customised to the unique needs of each organisation and our ambitious deployment model ensures businesses can be up and running in as little as five days. As AI propels business expansion, vAI grows with each organisation, providing a fully scalable solution to maintain a competitive edge.”

Recognised for delivering innovative and industry-leading solutions in cloud, cybersecurity, communications and digital transformation, Viatel Technology Group recently announced the acquisition of Sungard Availability’s Irish cloud business, marking its eighth successful acquisition since 2020. The technology group’s commitment to excellence was recently recognised when it was named ICT Company of the Year at the Chamber Ireland InBUSINESS Awards.

To witness the capabilities and possibilities of vAI, the Viatel team invites interested parties to request a demo by contacting them at vai@viatel.com or visiting viatel.com/vai.

Introducing JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kit

JOBY – the reference brand for content creator gear that empowers creators and helps uplift their creativity has announced the launch of the new Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits as part of their extensive range of lighting for smartphones and cameras.

Designed to help creators achieve the perfect lighting in any on-the-go or at-home-studio situation, the JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits will make any video content stand out.
Both products are part of JOBY’s ongoing dedication to empower over 40 million creators worldwide; helping to uplift creativity and provide an ecosystem of products that is simple to operate and capable of creating unconventional content. The Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits are the latest additions to the popular Beamo range that help to light up the content creation process making it easier and more fun. 

The Beamo Studio Kit is JOBY’s one stop YouTube home studio lighting kit. Ideal for anyone looking to start up their own YouTube channel, it contains everything needed – including the Beamo Studio Key Light and Beamo Studio Background Light – to create top quality videos from home.

The built in soft-lens diffusion of the Key Light ensures the best image quality for recording a YouTube video from the comfort of a home studio. It features 10 brightness levels and 3 color temperatures to choose from to match the tones and effects to whatever content is planned. The table stand means the Key Light can be adjusted for use, raising it to the ideal height (68-85cm) as needed. The included phone mount is supported by a flexible GorillaPod Arm for easy angling and framing, and the cold shoes on both the key light and phone mount allow a JOBY Wavo mic to be added to improve audio quality.

Looking for a way to really make videos pop? The Beamo Studio Background Light is a one-of-a-kind addition that allows users to add color to a background without the need for background paper or paint. With 12 colors and 10 brightness levels to choose from, the lighting can be mixed up to create a unique look that reflects any content creator’s style.
Both lights are USB powered making them easy to use anywhere. 

The Beamo Studio Kit is available in various kits:

Beamo Studio Creator Kit: covers all you need to start a channel from your home, including a key light, a color background light and a microphone.
Beamo Studio Deluxe Kit: a one-stop lighting solution for your home video studio including a key light and a color background light to get your channel started.
Beamo Studio Key Light
Beamo Studio Background Light.

The Beamo Reel is designed for content creators who are always on the go. Perfect f

or a travel vlogger filming an action-packed video, or an IRL creator filming a daily routine, this compact and lightweight LED light is great for capturing high-quality footage anywhere, from a smartphone or camera. 

The brightness is controlled by simply twisting the rim of the light whilst vlogging – meaning users no longer have to reach to the back of the LED to guess where the buttons and dial are located. It could not be easier to adjust the lighting during a video thanks to this simple yet effective design.

The ergonomic design fits nicely into your palm for handheld lighting, and the standard ¼” thread on the bottom allows it to connect to any JOBY tripod. In addition, Beamo Reel can be easily mounted to a camera or smartphone clamp thanks to the included cold shoe adapter and it can also stand on the table or on the ground by itself, making it a versatile tool for content creation.


Available in 3 models:
Beamo Reel which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser and offers three different white color temperature options.
Beamo Reel Color which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser, offers three different white color temperature options and 12 additional preset RGB colors.
Beamo Reel Creator Kit, an all-in-one kit that includes the PodZilla Medium mobile tripod kit, Wavo Mobile vlogging microphone, and Beamo Reel LED light. This ready-to-vlog bundle stabilizes your phone, captures crispy audio, and provides easy-to-use soft lighting.

JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kit are the newest additions to the successful Beamo Range; the Beamo RingLight 12”, the Beamo RingLight for MagSafe, and the Beamo and Beamo Mini. The perfect integrations to the Beamo lighting suite, these innovative new products will help make any creators lighting goals a reality.

Exclusion epidemic: Jabra research reveals Millennials feel most ostracised in hybrid meetings

After years of resisting, many workers are now back in the workplace , bringing with them the return of in-person meetings. In fact,58% of all meetings are now held in meeting rooms, with roughly half of them involving online participants. The rise of hybrid work has resulted in new challenges in terms of inclusivity and the understanding of meeting room technology according to Jabra’s 2023 edition of its Hybrid Ways of Working Global Report conducted amongst 304 UK respondents (1,845 people in the total of six key markets worldwide).

Jabra’s new report uncovers the state of meetings in hybrid work, including the largest barriers and opportunities for employees and organisations. As hybrid work continues to impact employees’ habits and behaviours, leaders need to rethink their overall working models to ensure effective collaboration.

Bridging the generational gap in hybrid meetings

We are currently living in an era of a multi-generational workforce with very different life experiences and perspectives. Whilst technology and autonomy can go a long way in enabling inclusive, productive, and creative meetings, there are still other dynamics to look out for which can cause people to feel left out. 

According to Jabra’s research, when asked how often they feel left out of the conversation in online meetings, Millennials were over 4 times as likely as Boomers to say they feel this way. Similarly, Gen X and Boomers were more than two times as likely to say they never feel left out of a conversation. 

Although Millennials are “digital natives”, they are also some of the youngest and least experienced employees, meaning they may lack the confidence to speak up in meetings. Leaders must be mindful of these intergenerational dynamics and effectively use meeting technology to create a more inclusive hybrid meeting culture. This gives each employee the confidence to share fresh ideas and actively participate in discussions in a way that best suits them.

Using video in meetings can have a positive impact on your career 

Should you have cameras on or off in an online meeting? When it comes to presenting ourselves as professionals in online environments, the verdict from employees is clear: using video can have a positive and empowering impact on your career. 

Jabra’s research found 55% of employees believe that using video impacts how they perceive their colleagues in meetings. They agreed that their colleagues using video seem more competent, more engaged, and more trustworthy in meetings than those who do not. However, similar to the way that Millennials feel left out in online meetings, the research also found that they feel pressured to have their cameras on. 

When employees can’t join a meeting in a way that works for them, remotely or in-person, employers run the risk of exacerbating existing issues within their teams, such as inequalities or negative social dynamics. Therefore, before leaders create mandatory video use policies, they must first be aware of the challenges that those policies can create.

Accessibility and training can drive meeting room technology adoption

At the beginning of the pandemic, employees all over the world were forced to adapt overnight to fully remote meetings. Even though employees are increasingly returning to the office, there is still at least one person joining from a remote location. 

According to the research, not enough has been done to support those returning to the office to get familiar with meeting room technology. In fact, 45% of employees say they’re hesitant to take meetings in a meeting room because they’re less comfortable with the technology compared to just using their own laptop.

As organisations around the world continue to upgrade their office meeting rooms, it’s essential that comprehensive training and guidance for employees is provided. By ensuring employees can use the technology, business leaders can maximise the benefits of their enhanced meeting rooms and foster a seamless transition into the hybrid work environment.

Holger Reisinger, SVP at Jabra said, “As we all know, hybrid work is now the norm for millions of knowledge workers worldwide, bringing with it new challenges to the way we collaborate with one another. While employees speak to the well-being benefits of flexible work, many employers have struggled to lead widely distributed teams. Moving forward, it’s essential that leaders give employees the tools they need and allow them to join meetings from where it best suits them. This will instill trust, empower decision-making, and allow the best ideas to rise to the top.”

 

Download a copy of the full report here: https://www.jabra.com/hybridwork/2023 

ClickUp announces EU data centre in Ireland

ClickUp, the productivity platform that brings work together in one place, announced today that it is expanding its investment in Europe with localised data hosting in its European data centre. ClickUp customers who are subscribed to the company’s Enterprise plan will now have the option to host their data in ClickUp’s European region at no additional cost.
Operated by Amazon Web Services, ClickUp’s European data centre is based in Ireland. With complete ownership of their data, customers will have peace of mind that all their data will meet European data hosting requirements. In addition, they will experience increased performance and the ability to scale operations without compromising speed or efficiency. ClickUp will begin migrating eligible workspaces on July 31, 2023.
“This is a landmark moment for ClickUp as we scale to support our largest customers and their increasingly complex security and privacy compliance requirements,” said Richard McGuinness, VP of EMEA Sales at ClickUp. “With localised data hosting, we are proud to deliver even more capabilities to support the largest businesses in the world and their unique needs across geographies.”
This milestone comes after ClickUp announced the opening of its European HQ in Dublin in March 2023. ClickUp is further enhancing its presence in EMEA with additional local support to improve the experiences of the nearly 700,000 regional teams using ClickUp.
If you are a ClickUp customer interested in migrating to the new European data centre, contact the ClickUp sales team through the form here.

Evolve IP EMEA Launches ‘Hot’ Summer Sales Campaign

Evolve IP EMEA has teamed-up with some of its top technology partners to launch a ‘sizzling’ summer program – designed to turn up the sales heat for reselling partners.

The leading global collaboration provider has developed various ways resellers can fire up sales, with offers and free product trials being highlighted in bi-weekly webinars running until the end of September.

They can take advantage of compelling opportunities from Webex, Akixi, Mondago, Dubber and Snom.

These summer incentives offer a try before you buy plan, licensing upgrade, new pre-packaged business tool, a free headset offer, plus additional integrations that provide business insights using next generation UC technology and CRM integration. 

To effectively support reselling partners, Evolve IP EMEA is hosting quick fire webinars every two weeks, offering tips and advice so they can make the most of the
opportunities available, starting tomorrow, Wednesday 19th July at 13:00 GMT.

Evolve IP UK Sales Director, Jamie Hughes, highlighted: “Throughout the program we will be sharing insights and tips to help resellers roll out these additional tools and services to their customers, enabling them to maximise sales success.

“Plus, we have scheduled a series of short webinars, providing our reseller partners with a simple breakdown about what each offer comprises. We want to make sure our partners get the most out the incentives available to turn up the sales heat this summer.”

Hughes added: “We also want to make this a valuable and exciting opportunity for our partners. Our friendly dog mascot for the campaign is there to get people engaged. Our campaign aims to add more ‘bite’ to reseller sales at what can traditionally be a quieter time of the year – so they can re-engage with their customers about a range of high-quality products and services.”

The campaign, also being run in the Netherlands, is being hailed a great opportunity for all reselling partners to introduce new products to their customers.

Eric Fronik, Evolve IP’s NL Sales Director, commented: “This is a great opportunity for our new partners to engage with their customers during the slow summer months. As a service provider we want to be able to support them and their growth.”

More information can be found at: https://www.evolveip.net/en-gb/summer2023  

SuperNode invests €40m in R&D Initiative in Renewable Transmission Technology

SuperNode today announced plans to continue its growth in Ireland through an investment of more than €40 million. This investment is intended to design, develop and manufacture High Temperature Superconducting (‘HTS’) cable systems. SuperNode is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

SuperNode, is a technology company with 60+ staff operating out its Dublin technology centre, that develops revolutionary superconducting transmission technology for the renewable energy transition. Superconducting cables can transfer renewable electricity with reduced losses, costs and footprint compared to conventional cable technology. SuperNode uses liquid nitrogen to cool its cables to cryogenic temperatures and into a state of superconductivity, enabling incredibly efficient and high-density power transfer – up to 5 times more power than conventional cables at much lower voltage levels. SuperNode’s superconducting cables will be commercially available by the end of the decade and will be a key technology advancement to enable the renewable energy transition.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD said: “I am really pleased with the significant investment announcement of over €40 million in R&D from SuperNode. This exciting new project, using revolutionary High Temperature Superconducting (‘HTS’) technology, will allow for renewable electricity transmission, with reduced losses, reduced costs and, importantly, a reduced energy footprint. It is another step towards a green and cleaner environment for us all, and as a Government, we support and encourage green initiatives that work towards our Sustainable Development Goals. SuperNode’s technology will be key to enabling growth in Ireland’s renewable energy network and I wish to thank them for this investment and wish them the best with the project.

Commenting on the announcement, John Fitzgerald, CEO SuperNode said: “We are grateful for the support of the IDA and the Irish Government towards the advancement of our ground-breaking superconducting transmission technology. This endorsement reinforces the Irish Government’s mission to address climate change effectively and displays a commitment to supporting innovative solutions. With the right support from Government, Ireland can become a European hub for critical Grid and Renewable Energy Enabling Technologies – SuperNode is excited for the opportunities that lay ahead.”

Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland said: ‘’SuperNode’s commitment to investing €40 million in research and development in renewable energy innovation is really welcome news. Sustainability is a key area of focus for IDA and this investment showcases great dedication in shaping a sustainable future for all. I wish SuperNode great success with this project.’’

Dublin set to be home to new international arts and technology festival – Beta

The Digital Hub, in partnership with Aisling Murray and with the support of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), are putting in place plans for a new international arts and technology festival for Ireland. Beta, which will take place across 4 days in November, is seeking to critically engage with technology’s impact on society through a combination of creativity, debate, and experimentation.

Beta will focus on a number of key themes which are dominating the technology discussion at present, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, data rights and sustainability. The festival has identified a need to bring together Ireland’s research and digital arts communities in order to foster a discussion about how the two disciplines can combine for the benefit of society.

Beta is led by Aisling Murray, a curator and creative producer with 15 years’ experience across exhibitions, festivals, literature, spoken word, theatre and dance. She most recently worked with the Goethe-Institut Irland in developing their Quantum Technology Art residency and curated the inaugural art and science stage at Electric Picnic funded by SFI. Prior to this she worked for Science Gallery Dublin where she produced national and international creative programmes converging art, science, technology and society.

Ultimately, the festival organisers are aiming to position Ireland as a leader in the intersection of art and technology programming in an audience-centred way to engage the public playfully and critically with new technologies. Beta will also include performances, discussion, workshops and a nighttime programme over the 4 days.

Beta has already confirmed a number of acclaimed artists to participate in this year’s festival including Libby Heaney, Leon Butler and Peter Power.

Two unique works have been commissioned to support the launch of Beta. Artist Leon Butler has imagined what the identity of a festival of art and technology could be and has generated a new font seen in the Beta logo. The final logo almost looks hand drawn or screen printed with beautifully imperfect edges – this intersection of cutting-edge technology and human creativity is exactly what Beta will explore with the festival.

Beta’s website, which launched today, features a new commission from artist and designer Farouk Alao. Specialising in 3D motion and web design, he has drawn inspiration from nature, his world, and human emotions. His vision explores the intersection of reality and imagination. The motion piece on Beta’s website, called the Beta cube, positions Beta as a centre point in which art, technology and creativity resolve and makes use of the unique font designed by Butler.

Beta is also launching a new international residency in partnership with transmediale in Berlin supported by the Arts Council of Ireland. Transmediale is one of the leading and longest running festivals for art and digital culture in Europe. The Beta x transmediale residency will bring together four artists from Ireland and Germany to explore critical perspectives on artificial intelligence and digital art. Taking place as a hybrid residency with 2 weeks online, 3 weeks in Dublin, Ireland and 3 weeks in Berlin, Germany, the residency programme will provide space, resources and mentorship to four artists to develop new artworks that generate new imaginaries around climate resilience and political polarisation.

Aisling Murray, Director of Beta, said:

“Beta has the potential to really put Ireland on the map in terms of the intersection of research, technology and digital arts. Each of these disciplines continues to grow from strength to strength, which is why it’s very timely that Beta is now coming to fruition. The Digital Hub are the ideal co-founder for this with their experience both creatively and with industry, I’m so grateful for their support and excited to create an anchor point in the year for the communities interested in these themes.. I’m hugely excited for what is going to be 4 days of immersive content, performance and discussion in Dublin 8. The Liberties is a really important aspect of this festival, steeped in history, culture and innovation it is the perfect meeting place for what we want Beta to symbolise.”

The Digital Hub has a strong track record in supporting digital technology industries, creative enterprises, and community learning programmes in Dublin 8 and beyond. Beta is aimed to be both the culmination of various activities within the Liberties campus, as well as a starting point for further discussion on how to make complex technologies more accessible to communities.

The Digital Hub and Aisling Murray are being supported in its preparations for Beta by SFI, The Arts Council, Project Arts Centre, Goethe Institut, Alliance Française, British Council, ADAPT Research Centre, and NCAD Gallery. More information: https://betafestival.ie/

OECD – Growth of mobile data usage continues – but at a slower pace

Mobile data usage continues to grow, but at a slower pace, according to new OECD broadband portal data released on 13 July. Data usage per mobile broadband subscription in OECD countries grew 17% in 2022, compared to an average annual growth rate of 29% between 2017 and 2021. Nonetheless, the volume of mobile data usage overall per subscription has doubled in four years, from 4.7 gigabytes per month to 10.4 GB in 2022.

Of note is the range of mobile data consumption volumes registered across OECD countries, spanning from 4.3 GB per user per month to 42 GB – a 10-fold difference between the lowest and highest volumes observed. The five countries with the highest data usage levels – Latvia (42 GB per month), Finland (40 GB), Austria (30 GB), Lithuania (28 GB) and Iceland (24 GB) – consume three times more data than the OECD average. This gap, between the leading countries and the OECD average, has continued to widen year on year.

Range of mobile data usage per month in OECD countries, 2022

In the fixed broadband segment, fibre is now firmly established as the leading connection technology, accounting for 38% of all fixed subscriptions at the end of 2022, up from 28% in December 2019, shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belgium, Costa Rica, Austria and Israel increased their fibre connections by more than 40% in 2022. Fibre as a share of all fixed broadband now exceeds 80% in Iceland, Japan, Korea, Spain and Sweden, and is greater than 50% in a further 10 OECD countries (Chile, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia). By contrast, the DSL share of total fixed subscriptions has continued to fall, from 40% five years ago to 24% today, while cable has maintained a steady share over the last five years of around 33%.

Overall, fixed broadband subscriptions are still growing in almost all OECD countries, reaching a total of 481.6 million in December 2022 and averaging 35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. This compares to 433 million at the end of 2019 – an increase of 48.6 million, or 11.2%, in three years. Switzerland had the highest penetration rate of 48 subscriptions per 100 people, followed by France (47), Norway (46) and Korea (45).

Mobile broadband subscriptions also continue to expand, despite very high penetration rates, growing by 13% between 2019 and 2022. Total subscriptions reached 1.76 billion in December 2022, up from 1.56 billion three years earlier. Estonia and Japan top the ranking for mobile broadband penetration, with 204 and 197 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, respectively. The United States and Finland, with 176 and 160, respectively, are not far behind.

The rollout of 5G continues apace. As of July 2023, it was available in 37 out of 38 OECD countries. For the 20 OECD countries able to provide relevant data, the share of 5G in total mobile broadband subscriptions averaged 21%, with the highest share in Denmark (54%), Korea (45%) and Japan (26%).

Machine-to-machine (M2M) SIM cards are once again experiencing the highest growth rates of all indicators, with a 14% increase in one year. The two leading countries are Sweden (222 M2M SIM cards per 100 inhabitants) and Iceland (191), followed by Austria (128), the Netherlands (86) and Norway (72). The issuing and registration of M2M SIM cards by national operators for international usage in Sweden and Iceland accounts for their elevated numbers.

Download broadband data, charts and penetration maps by country at http://oe.cd/broadband.