Most Irish people (70pc) feel some level of discomfort around giving their personal information away to product and service providers. Of this group half say it makes them anxious to do so, while the other half say they are very guarded and will not give personal data away unless they “absolutely have to do so”.
Almost half of people aged 55+ (49pc) are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary, compared with just a quarter of people aged 25 to 34.
Women are much more troubled by handing over their personal data than men at 77pc vs. 64pc.
Three times as many men than women don’t give it a second thought (16pc vs. 5pc).
The Compliance Institute say that, with Ireland being at the top of the EU league table for the aggregate fines imposed last year, these statistics give an insightful picture of people’s rightful protectiveness over their information.
Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute commented:
“The large volume of people expressing their reluctance to providing personal information is most likely a consequence of the many data leaks and breaches that have been given prominence in recent Irish news stories.
The younger generation have less reservations around providers accessing personal data, which is perhaps understandable given that they have grown up in an online world whereas the older generation are extremely hesitant to share details about themselves unless absolutely necessary.”
The Compliance Institute survey shone a light on the huge mistrust that exists amongst the general public around social media companies. These giants of the digital world topped the poll as the least trusted entities when it comes to guarding the personal information of users, with six in ten (56pc) people regarding them as the most untrustworthy. Those aged 18-24 were significantly more likely to feel this way at 74pc.
Online retailers came in second place with almost one in five (18pc) saying they would be least likely to trust these businesses with their personal information.
Mr. Kavanagh, added: “Social media platforms such as Facebook and Tik-Tok have exploded in recent years with a huge amount of people, both young and old, sharing personal details and minute-by-minute updates of their lives with their world of followers which results in a large volume of personal data being in the hands of social media companies. From a GDPR perspective, information is considered personal when it can identify an individual either directly or indirectly.”
Other notable findings from the survey include:
Just over one in ten (12pc) say they are least likely to trust government agencies such as HSE, Dept of Social Protection, Revenue Commissioners etc. with their personal data.
Over one in five of those who view Government agencies as the least trustworthy with their data were aged between 25 and 34.
7pc claim they don’t trust banks with their data.
Telecoms providers such as mobile phone or broadband providers as well as, utility providers such as gas and electricity providers came in lowest at 4pc and 2pc respectively meaning, people tend to trust these entities the most with their information.
Mr. Kavanagh concluded, “Cybercriminals are either keeping pace with, or advancing ahead of, the cyber-security measures being put in place and people are acutely aware of the menacing risk of identity theft being on the rise.
Product and service providers collect a vast array of information on people, and even if one piece of data alone doesn’t identify someone, when paired alongside other pieces of data, a person’s identity can quickly become known.”
The Innovation Value Institute (IVI) at Maynooth University has been selected to lead the €7 million Digi+ and ENTRUST programmes that are focussed on sustainable digital transformation and data. The programmes are funded by the EC under the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie programme and Digi+ is also co-funded by Lero and Adapt; both world leading Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centres.
Data Driven technology is viewed by many as the next frontier for agriculture and a crucial component required to achieve a sustainable ecosystem, yet there remains a global challenge with a lack of skills and expertise in this space. ENTRUST tackles this challenge head on through the formation of a doctoral network that brings together 16 leading European research institutions. This will attract top tier doctoral candidates who will emerge as leading experts in addressing current challenges around data governance in agriculture and farming.
They will provide evidence based information in relation to the adoption of Data Technologies in order to allow farmers to unlock data potential while safeguarding their data. The ENTRUST programme will build towards a fair and trustworthy agri-data space that is aligned with the European Data Strategy and Green deal. This places Ireland at the forefront of agri-data driven technology on an international stage.
Speaking on the announcement of the awards, Martin Heydon, Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development said: “I am delighted to announce Maynooth University has successfully been selected to lead the 7m €Digi+ and ENTRUST programmes in these two European research initiatives. I commend the Irish researchers involved for their success in these highly competitive research calls. The research will contribute to Digital innovation which is fundamental to achieving sustainability in all its forms. Ireland’s agri-food sector has been making good progress in embracing technology and innovation in recent years. These awards highlight Ireland has an innovative, competitive, and resilient agri-food sector, driven by technology and talent.”
The Digi+ programme complements the goals of ENTRUST through its multi-sector focus addressing the global challenges of sustainable digital and data ecosystems. Embedded within Ireland’s leading SFI-funded research centres, Lero and Adapt, and led by Maynooth University, it brings together a group of world-leading experts that will develop a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative research leaders, able to face current and future challenges aligned with EU’s Digital and Green Agenda.
Ireland will benefit significantly from this cohort of 20 highly skilled Postdoctoral Researchers that the programme will fund. They will work towards advancing digital transformation practices, addressing vital areas such as new and innovative business models, accelerating digital and data skills, developing forward looking data governance and business models while ensuring alignment to the EU sustainable development goals. Ireland is well positioned to be a leader in the digital and data economy and this €7m investment will contribute strongly to Ireland’s continued sustainability and progression towards world leading status both in the private and public sector.
Professor Markus Helfert, Director of the Innovation Value Institute and the Science Foundation Ireland EMPOWER Data Governance Programme explains: “The cross-disciplinary focus on sustainable digital transformation and data will deliver significant positive impact on multiple sectors including agriculture, health, climate, fintech, construction and manufacturing.
“This investment will drive the co-creation of new ways of doing business, creating value and moving from ‘potential’ to ‘real’ benefits for companies and public sector organisations. At IVI, we are looking forward to working with our partners and prospective new partners to achieve these goals and advancing the digital and data research fields.”
Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University said: “At Maynooth University, we are delighted to play a world leading role towards achieving sustainable digital and data ecosystems. With a growing focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors, Digi+ and ENTRUST are timely initiatives that will address the challenges across the ESG spectrum through a highly collaborative engagement model that benefits from the Digital and Data expertise in IVI.”
Pioneer DJ announces an upcoming series of workshops to celebrate International Women’s Day, which took place on Tuesday March 8, 2023. Throughout the month of April, female identifiers participating in the in-person UK workshops will have the chance to learn new skills and gain insight into effective ways to pursue a career in music.
With 20 places available for each workshop, topics include: An Introduction to DJing, An Introduction to Scratching, and An Introduction to Music Production – which focuses on career progression in the music industry (DJing or otherwise). Participants will learn to use Pioneer DJ equipment under the guidance of international artists, DJ schools, and Pioneer DJ product experts.
The intention behind the Start From Scratch programme is to support minoritised and underrepresented communities. The goal is to create a safe and productive space to nurture talent. Pioneer DJ has a commitment to making sure that there is increased diversity within this industry. Research shows that targeted events like these help close the gap.
Check out the dates, times, and locations for the workshops in the table below and sign up here. More information about International Women’s Day can be found here.
Special thanks go to the incredible partners for supporting this celebratory moment and facilitating workshops and training: On the Rise DJ School, Plastic DJ Academy, Vibra Music School, Cantieri Culturali, Auberge Napoleon, reason Studios, Fluidae Collective, Connect’Her and BoxPark Wembley.
Pioneer DJ, a world-class manufacturer of DJ equipment, announces the release of the OPUS-QUAD. This new professional all-in-one DJ system puts you in control of the music, like the conductor of an orchestra. Introducing a completely fresh approach to DJ equipment that harmonises design and playability, the OPUS-QUAD raises the level of elegance in musical direction and the space the music fills in any venue or environment, helping to create a special experience for your audience.
The role of the DJ is becoming increasingly diverse, with DJs often performing at a myriad of types of venues and events, from clubs and hotel lounges to fashion parties, sports events, product launches, and on live streams. As the musical direction needed from DJs is more diverse than ever, they need to be ready to adapt to different situations. By redefining the ideal all-in-one DJ system for the constantly evolving DJ scene, the OPUS-QUAD has risen to the challenge of harmonising playability and design.
The fresh design of the OPUS-QUAD doesn’t just look stunning – it enhances the unit’s playability too. The distinctively shaped top plate is sloped and has a rounded edge at the front, making it more elegant and comfortable to rest your hands on. With a matte black finish across its body and earth-coloured slits on the front and sides of the unit, the OPUS-QUAD complements the aesthetics of any venue or space. And certain elements that are key to a musical performance are accentuated to make them easily identifiable: for example, the control knobs with copper-coloured markings.
To create a perfect grip for mixing and direct control of the music, the jog wheels have streamlined dimples and a textured finish on the outer and top parts respectively, harmonising playability and design. Hidden LEDs on the jogs emit a gentle glow that matches the colour you’ve pre-assigned to each deck, indicating its playing status while also transmitting a feeling of sophistication to the audience when you DJ.
This new unit, with its game-changing design and evolved features, gives you more flexibility and greater control of the music so you can raise the level of your performances and create a better experience for your audience. The OPUS-QUAD is now available to buy for £2,899. Perfect for those wanting to add a touch of style to their playing environment, this DJ system offers a striking aesthetic to complement any living space or venue. For more information, go to pioneerdj.com.
The Digital Hub has welcomed 29 companies and organisations to its Dublin 8 campus since the start of 2022. Of the 26 companies, 19 are new companies, two are longer-term alumni who have decided to return operations to The Digital Hub and five are companies who had left during 2020-21 and have since returned last year.
Collectively, the new companies are leasing over 16,000 sq. ft. of office space. A total of 48 member companies now reside at The Digital Hub, up from 29 at the beginning of 2022 and collectively employing over 400 people.
Among the companies who joined the campus in the last half of 2022 are Usheru, a collaborative company using data intelligence to transform the filmmaking industry, PatientMPower, a developer of remote monitoring health solutions for patients living with chronic diseases, who return to The Digital Hub, and Henny Penny Vintage, an e-commerce vintage clothing outlet focused on sustainable fashion.
The Digital Hub has also welcomed VM Digital, a digital marketing and production agency, Payoma, a Digital Payment Solutions Provider, and Pocket Forests, a collective group bringing integrated nature projects to urban spaces,to their growing group of member companies in the latter half of 2022.
The creative nature of The Digital Hub’s surrounding area is reflected in a growing sub-cluster of artistic companies residing in the campus. This cluster includes London and Dublin based theatre group Dead Centre, who became members of The Digital Hub in the mid-2022. Dead Centre joins existing groups Block T, field:arts, PhotoIreland and Pallas Projects who also became member companies of The Digital Hub last year. Thanks to the collaboration with Block T and Pallas Projects there are now over 60 artists and craftspeople using studios in Digital Hub buildings.
In 2022, The Digital Hub’s multipurpose spaces including iD8 Studio, Studio 2, and Bay 1 were in high demand for events, rehearsal space, training days and meetings, with over 330 days of the calendar year used as such, collectively across all three locations. Local educational institutes BIMM Dublin and NCAD utilised multipurpose spaces for a number of classes throughout the year. The Abbey Theatre was among five theatre companies which occupied space for rehearsals. 50% of the days booked were by organisations external to The Digital Hub, showcasing the increased demand for flexible networking and collaboration options in Dublin city.
Fiach Mac Conghail, CEO of The Digital Hub, said: “Last year, it was encouraging to welcome a diverse range of innovative companies to The Digital Hub. The increased demand for event and meeting space is reflective of a return to regular in-person gatherings following the challenges that were encountered over the past number of years. Our reputation as a location of choice for Irish and international businesses is evident from an increase in new member companies and the return of alumni organisations over the past year and I look forward to welcoming further innovative companies to our campus in 2023.”
Ollie Fegan, CEO of Usheru, said: “Collaboration is at the heart of Usheru’s operations and joining a campus of like-minded, innovative individuals and businesses is a positive move in developing our business. The Digital Hub is an ideal location with a variety of companies from diverse backgrounds collectively together on one campus in a central Dublin location. Developing technology that supports filmmakers to bring stories to life on screen is a focus of our work and we look forward to developing our operations at The Digital Hub over the coming year.”
Áine Hennessy, Founder of Henny Penny Vintage said: “As the sole operator of a business, it was a great opportunity to join a community of innovative and creative businesses developing solutions to everyday societal challenges. Henny Penny Vintage is shifting a focus from fast fashion to sustainable style by providing quality, vintage clothing for all sizes. The Digital Hub’s community and dedication to sustainable initiatives proved that the campus was a perfect fit to move business operations to an environment surrounded by a supportive network. I look forward to continuing to operate Henny Penny Vintage at The Digital Hub campus.”
The companies and organisations that have joined or returned to The Digital Hub campus in 2022 are:
After the pandemic in 2020, businesses started to see an increase in sales and overall revenue. But by 2022, there were new hurdles to face – rise in inflation, energy scarcity, and the nosedive in the tech industry – explaining the increased need to learn how to keep up with tech trends.
With these challenges, IT leaders are actively seeking innovative methods for supply chain, energy sourcing, and digital skills acquisition to save costs, improve margins, grow, and stay ahead of the curve in 2023.
The strategy begins with understanding the relevant technologies and trends to leverage to impact your business positively.
This article will discuss the trends for businesses in 2023, how you can leverage them, and the benefits they offer.
Key technical trends for leaders in 2023
Here are some tech trends for IT leaders looking for where to invest in 2023:
Accelerated cloud adoption
The results from a survey show that 40% of businesses in North America and Europe have embraced the adoption of industry cloud platforms, while 15% are considering deployment by 2026.
This data indicates that in 2023, the trend will continue to see even more adoption as business owners consider these cloud platforms to manage, connect, and automate their business processes.
The swift adoption is mainly owed to its scalability.
According to Gregor Petri, VP Analyst at Gartner, “Industry cloud platforms turn a cloud platform into a business platform, enabling an existing technological innovation tool to also serve as a business innovation tool.”
Once you determine when and where the cloud platform will fit your workflow and organize the business tech and teams, the industry cloud platform can support a complete set of industry-relevant features.
It will function like a custom software ecosystem to help your business scale efficiently.
Digital Immune System
It is speculated that by 2025, organizations that invest in digital immunity will increase customer satisfaction by decreasing downtime by 80%.
This is because the digital immune system (DIS) combines practices including observability, artificial intelligence, augmented testing, chaos engineering, auto-remediation, site reliability engineering (SRE), and software supply chain security to reduce unprecedented vulnerabilities and improve the reliability of products, services, and systems.
Superapps
A superapp is an app that provides your users with a boutique of core features and access to independently developed miniapps to deliver reliable and customized experiences.
Gartner predicts that by 2027, over 50% of the global population will be daily active users of several superapps.
An example of this latest trend in technology is PayPay, a Japanese payment provider boasting about 50 million users.
PayPay’s significant growth strategy is its integration of third-party miniapps for getting cinema tickets, ordering food deliveries, and bicycle sharing, together with its apps for financial management, retail shopping, and other services.
Mainstream adoption of Web3 technologies
According to McKinsey, the data privacy concerns from regular internet platforms may cause an increase in the general adoption of Web3 technologies soon.
As one of the latest trends in technology, Web3 systems are now employed for daily activities in communication, business activities, or financial transactions and are projected to contend with the standard methods actively.
In the coming years, more people will adopt smart contracts instead of formal agreements and crypto instead of fiat currencies.
For IT businesses to survive this evolution in the Web3-driven world, they need to focus on being more user-centric by emphasizing transparency, investing in data privacy and security, and building communities in the Web3 space.
Transparent data governance
On the topic of data privacy, this is the reality—consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical.
So, by 2023, more IT companies will adopt thorough transparency measures to earn users’ trust with user-first data governance.
This way, users will be more involved in defining their data collection, processing, storage, and disposal.
Adaptive AI everywhere
Adaptive Artificial Intelligence systems like Generative AI models are known for their flexibility and efficient real-time iterations.
They are equipped to immediately adjust to changing real-world production situations by analyzing the datasets’ behavioral patterns.
With the ever-changing, fast-paced market, more businesses will adopt adaptive AI systems to scale efficiency, shorten launch dates, and maximize low resources in 2023.
The rise of the metaverse
We have all heard of the metaverse, and one thing is for sure, by 2023, it will be more mainstream in marketing, events, and general business operations.
IT leaders can position themselves to maximize this information technology trend by developing more products and solutions with the metaverse technology.
Additionally, they can invest in radical data governance policies to protect the business and users’ data in the metaverse.
Ethical regulations for AI usage
Data from FICO’s State of Responsible AI report reveal that almost 78% of companies are “poorly equipped to ensure the ethical implications of using new AI systems.”
So, IT leaders will actively execute policies to bridge ethical gaps in using AI technology by
improving data bias detection,
simplifying copyright for generative AI models to improve transparency
formalizing AI model deployment and management.
prioritizing data privacy and security
The rise of the AI of Things (AIoT)
The AI of Things is an innovative and efficient part of artificial intelligence where AI and the Internet of Things meet.
It involves using AI technologies in IoT devices and systems to independently collect and examine data, make decisions, and automatically take action.
So you can train AI models to be more natural and correct with the data from first-party – Internet of Things devices like Siri and Alexa.
Now that we have answered the question, “what are the next big tech trends?” let’s see some benefits of investing in these trends
Benefits of investing in technology and digital transformation
These digital technologies and changes offer some significant benefits to companies. Let us now see how tech trends impact business:
Alignment with Strategic Business Plans
Modern business structures are more flexible than they used to be. So when you want to choose digital innovations, ensure that they are incorporated seamlessly to handle any workload in hours.
The result will be an increase in overall productivity, especially in IT and DevOps teams. The development cycles will be faster, more flexible, and more efficient to align with your business plans.
Business agility
Over the years, most companies have faced performance challenges uploading important business and company data to the public cloud.
Fortunately, reliable technology trends can impact businesses positively by eliminating scheduled downtime, lowering the risk of random downtime, and ultimately, improving productivity.
Competitive advantage
Exploring the shift to multicloud is the top priority of most IT leaders. On-premises infrastructure should provide IT-as-a-service features and simple API-driven integrations with public cloud services and data portability to the cloud.
These on-premises infrastructures provide modern solutions that give your business that competitive edge.
Optimizing IT systems for greater reliability
With the on-premises architecture, IT teams can reduce costs by leveraging centralized software-defined systems, data reduction, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
The IT team members can now focus on more strategic plans to improve resources, upload, storage, and network resources.
Additionally, this system allows flexible pricing models with an option to “pay as you grow.”
Scalability (increasing pace of product delivery)
You can scale your business seamlessly with a stateless architecture for uploading and storing data.
So, you don’t have to reorganize your infrastructure whenever you want to incorporate new information technology trends.
Final Note
Technology will constantly evolve, and businesses that demonstrate flexibility and adaptability will always remain ahead of the curve.
In the same vein, IT companies that adapt to these technology trends in 2023 will gain the market advantage to stand out from the competition. So, invest in developing user-centric infrastructures to protect your customers and their data from risk.
Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map which celebrates inspirational women in Ireland and around the world for International Women’s Day which falls today, Wednesday 8th March.
Esri Ireland’s female employees have contributed to the map by sharing stories of influential figures who have made positive impacts on their lives. From architects in Africa and swimmers in Sydney to authors in America and botanists in Bantry, this interactive map demonstrates the influence of women across borders.
Esri Ireland is also inviting the public to share their own stories about women who have inspired them. These women can be anyone who serves as a role model, mentor, or source of motivation, whether they have made an impact through small acts in their daily lives or significant contributions in the public sphere. The aim of the map is to highlight ‘lesser-known’ women, showcasing the diversity and breadth of women’s contributions around the world.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity. The purpose is to encourage global conversations on why equal opportunities aren’t enough and why equal isn’t always fair. Everyone starts from a different place in life, so true inclusion involves equitable action. According to recent data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), less than one-third (32%) of Ireland’s information and communications technology (ICT) workers are women.
Esri Ireland embraces a diverse workforce, 40% of which are female. All employees who join Esri Ireland are assigned a career coach who offers mentorship and guidance to help advance their career path.
This June, prepare yourself to deep dive into all things Power Pages, Dataverse, Power Fx, Canvas Apps, Fusion Teams, Governance, Microsoft Teams, Power Virtual Agents, Adoption, Azure, AI, CreatorKit, Connectors and so much more. Alongside the learning, this conference will provide a fantastic networking opportunity for those on the journey of Power Apps implementation who want to share ideas and receive insight from their peers.
You will see some of your favourite Power Platform leaders deliver expert sessions, tutorials and keynotes. Expect to see Charles Lamanna (CVP, Microsoft), Heather Cook (Principal PM, Microsoft), Dona Sarkar (Software Engineer, Microsoft), Chris Huntingford (MVP), Samit Saini (MVP), Nick Doelman (Developer, Microsoft), Luise Freese (MVP), Joe Gill (MVP), Kristine Kolodziejski (MVP) and so many more wonderful individuals.
This year The European Power Platform Conference is very excited to reveal a dedicated Case Study track. The case study track involves a mix of tutorials and sessions covering topics like Power Platform in Airports, Governance & Adoption, Power Platform in Government, Scaling Power Apps organisation wide and more!
With a line-up of exceptional speakers and topics, curated by an independent programme team, we truly believe this programme will provide you with the expertise to power ahead in your career and projects.
The European Power Platform Conference is delighted to offer all Technology Records a 10% Discount Code: TechBuzzIreland
Californian headquartered robotics company, Bear Robotics, has today announced plans to establish a European hub in Dublin. This hub will create 25 jobs in the next 3 years, including roles in sales, software engineers, finance, and operations. The company’s flagship products, Servi and Servi Plus, are fully autonomous service robots that assists staff by alleviating repetitive work like running orders and bussing tables. Servi Plus is designed to meet evolving market demands for higher capacity. It carries 16+ dishes at once, with an expanded 40kg payload and enhanced suspension for transporting liquids and traversing ramps. These innovative service aids are popping up in a variety of hospitality businesses such as restaurants, corporate campuses, hotels, senior living facilities, and casinos around the world.
This new European hub will serve customers across the continent and help expand the company’s global footprint which includes offices in Redwood City, Dallas, Seoul and Singapore. As a part of this European expansion, Bear Robotics has recently deployed a Servi robot in Iceland.
Malachy Ryan, Head of Sales EMEA with Bear Robotics, said: “We plan to make a big impact across European service and hospitality spaces in the next few years. Our first robots have been installed in The Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth . Further robots will be deployed across Ireland and Europe over three to four months. Over the last few years, Ireland has experienced staffing shortages in the hospitality sector. We believe our robots will make a very positive difference for guests and the staff who will have a much better experience serving them.”
Commenting on the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD said: “I warmly welcome Bear Robotics announcement to open a European Hub in Dublin, creating 25 jobs over the next 3 years. This expansion into Europe will provide innovative new ways of working for so many in the service industry and beyond. The use of service robots highlights the importance of technology and how we can use it as a powerful aid in our everyday lives. The new roles in Dublin will provide opportunities for our skilled workforce to join a new and exciting company as they begin their growth into Europe. I wish the team at Bear Robotics all the best with their European Hub and new chapter in Ireland.”
Dónal Travers, Head of Technology at IDA Ireland said: “Bear Robotics’ decision to locate its European Hub in Dublin where it plans on creating 25 new jobs is very good news. The technology employed by the company in the design and development of its robots is exciting and at the very cutting edge. I would like to wish Bear Robotics every success with its establishment in Ireland.”
“As the hospitality industry evolves, we’re committed to meeting market demands across the globe,” says John Ha, Founder and CEO of Bear Robotics.“Our recent deployments in Dublin and Kildare are especially exciting as we believe there is an abundance of opportunities in the ever-growing hospitality and economic engines of the Republic of Ireland. We sincerely hope our automation solutions benefit businesses and elevate service experiences across this incredible region.”
