Category: Tech News

Irish Motorsport Tech Start Up Raises €300,000 in seed funding. #Tech #StartUp #Motorsport #Motoklik

Motoklik, an Irish Motorsport Tech start-up, has raised €300,000 in seed funding from investors and Enterprise Ireland. Along with supporting the creation of 10 roles, the funding will also be used to complete the commercial design of the product and launch it into the market.

The company, which was founded in 2018 by Jens Köpke, a former Research and Development Engineer with Bausch and Lomb, and Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur category winner, is seeking to make racers faster and safer by improving their suspension setup.

Jens has been racing off-road motorcycles for over 20 years. In 2016, he injured himself in a crash caused by an incorrect suspension setup. As a result, he had the idea to create Motoklik.

Motoklik’s product aims to reduce the need for riders to rely on the “feel” of their suspension setup. Market research carried out by Motoklik revealed that 90% of racers report issues with their suspension setup, such as being too stiff or soft, but lack data on what is the cause and extent of the problem.

Motoklik has developed a cloud-based Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning platform in collaboration with the European Space Agency. Via a mobile app, it links to an in-house developed motorcycle suspension position monitoring system that provides racers, and race teams, with information on the best suspension setup for current track conditions.

Mr Köpke said the investment will put Motoklik in a position to take advantage of the booming off-road motorcycling sector and prove the technology works in one of the world’s toughest environments.

Caption: Motoklik CEO and founder, Jens Köpke. Credit: Motoklik.

“Motoklik is a ground-breaking product in Motorsports,” says Mr. Köpke. “Where previously data acquisition and management was only for top end race teams, now our AI and Machine Learning system can help teams and racers at every level to find the best setup, letting them concentrate on one thing – Winning!”

Welcoming the funding announcement Enterprise Ireland’s Niall McEvoy, Manager HPSU said, “We are proud to support Motoklik’s fundraising round to create 10 high value add jobs in Kilkenny over the next couple of years. Motoklik has developed a light, affordable, robust system to measure suspension movement developed for motorbikes.  Jens Köpke is passionate about motor racing and his own experience drove him to use cutting edge technology to ensure that the sport is safer.  This is a significant development for Motoklik and we look forward to working with Jens and his team in internationalising this innovative offer on this exciting venture.”

Motoklik is an ESA BIC (Business Incubation Centre) Ireland supported client company. ESA Space Solutions Centre Ireland Manager, Peter Finnegan, commented that, “Motoklik is an interesting example of another Irish company that is utilising Earth observation data to enhance its product offering. The company’s innovative use of technology to address a problem experienced by motorsport enthusiasts has global applicability.”

Financing – The new investment is led by a number of local investors and Enterprise Ireland, as well as further funding through the European Space Agency. As part of the process former Merlyn Showering CFO, Michael Kilcommons will join the board of directors.

Konftel celebrate another year of unprecedented success and announce partner awards. #Konftel @ExertisUK @ExertisIreland

Conferencing and collaboration specialist Konftel has recognised a year of unprecedented success by announcing a series of awards, in tribute to some of its top performing distribution partners.

Global annual sales growth reached levels never before seen in over 30 years of business – as 2020 reinforced the company’s successful transition into a major video conferencing player, with high performance cameras and flexible video kits, complemented by its renowned audio innovations.

Each year Konftel highlights its key distributors around the world with a special Konftel accolade, spanning best partners and largest growth, across different territories. The company says during 2020 their dedication was more relevant than ever following a huge shift to remote working and video meetings – as part of a dedicated two-tier route to market.

“When the majority of office workers around the world suddenly needed effective distance meeting solutions to continue to perform, our partners and their reseller networks rose to the challenge and played a frontline role  to help them transition,” says Tommy Edlund, Director of Global Sales at Konftel. “We think it is vital to recognise their supreme efforts in keeping the world productive during such challenging times. It feels extra special to hand out the awards to some of our most skilful partners this year.”

High-quality video kits such as the Konftel C20Ego and award-winning C50800 Hybrid have been designed as a ‘perfect fit’ for today’s dispersed workforce trends. In mid-February, Konftel added the Konftel Cam10, a business class webcam for desktop users who demand professional quality personal video meetings, to its expanding portfolio.

“We are living in different times and a different world, especially around distance working. The world is holding its breath about the successful rollout of a vaccine, but even when people do return to the office in bigger numbers, expectations around flexible and agile working have changed forever. We won’t go back to before,” says Edlund.

Konftel recognises the importance of its devoted distribution partners to ensure growing numbers of end users can ‘come together even when apart’. Its hall of fame comprises:

UK & Ireland Exertis (UK) Limited (Best Partner)

North America Jenne Inc (Best Partner and Largest Growth)

Western Europe Exertis PRO AV (Best Partner and Largest Growth)

Central Europe KONTEL Spolka Z Ograniczona (Largest Growth)

Eastern Europe Stanford Europe (Best Partner)

Northern Europe PeBeCom AS (Largest Growth)

DACH Komsa Kommunikation Sachsen AG (Best Partner) and Herweck     AG (Largest Growth)

Southeast Asia VExpress Distribution (Best Partner)

Northeast Asia Control Tech Group Ltd (Best Partner) and Kaul Data System Inc (Largest Growth)

“The world has changed and Konftel has evolved too as we further strengthen our position as a leading video conferencing specialist – backed by a loyal and dedicated distributor and reseller base, that underpins our fully committed two-tier business model, with no direct sales.”

Edlund continued: “Our strong partner network, combined with an expanding and innovative product portfolio has catapulted Konftel further forward and helped organisations across the globe successfully transition to more hybrid ways of working. We expect these trends to continue for the long term, based on sustainability, agility and high performance visual and audio technologies.”

In addition Konftel is also inspiring more ‘greener’ ways of working, as demonstrated by its Climate Neutral Certified status. Edlund points out how many more rooms need to be adapted for video conferencing, especially when people return to the workplace and almost every meeting will have at least one participant joining from a distance. He highlights how sustainable climate friendly products are particularly important in relation to the large volume of hardware investments, catering for the hybrid workplace.

He concluded: “2020 saw massive changes which will never go back to the way they were before. Conferencing is a proven and effective environmentally friendly alternative to business travel, and it will continue to play a key role as working life evolves. We are ideally placed to help resellers transition their customers to more hybrid ways of working as the digital transformation journey gathers pace in 2021 and beyond. Our high sales growth demonstrates this and we thank all our partners everywhere for their valued support.”

Mothers Day Gifts 2021. Buy one pair of Paris TWS get another free. #Urbanista #CLCKR

Urbanista announces a special Mother’s Day Offer – buy one Urbanista Paris and get a second one for free, so you can treat yourself and your mum this Mother’s Day.

Let’s hear it for mums this Mother’s Day and give the gift that keeps on giving. Urbanista Paris true wireless earphones offer superior audio quality and include a wireless charging case delivering more than 20 hours of total playtime.

If you can’t be together in person this year, stay in touch with Paris. The touch controls make it easy to navigate seamlessly between music and calls so you can check in with mum while you’re on the move.

Add two pairs of Paris to your shopping cart and the full amount of one pair will be automatically deducted at checkout. The package is available for £99 and will be available from 4th March until 14th March at www.urbanista.com/uk/mothersday in the UK only.

STAY IN TOUCH WITH MUM HANDSFREE WITH CLCKR STAND AND GRIP

Make your virtual Mother’s Day easier this year with a little help from us. Treat your Mum to a CLCKR Stand & Grip and enjoy your Zoom dinner hands-free!  Shop now: https://www.clckr.com/uk/ Type CLCKR review into Google to see all our reviews on top of You Tube…

Edifier launches the TWS1 Pro True Wireless earbuds. #Edifier #TWS1Pro

Edifier® International, prominent designer and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets announces an update to the popular TWS1 earbuds; the TWS1 Pro.

The previous TWS1 receives a full ‘core’ upgrade in the new TWS1 Pro earbuds. Now featuring Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring technology, bud-to-bud role-swapping is supported and is even more seamless than before. Both earbuds use this technology to connect to your mobile phone, providing a more stable, wireless signal transmission which makes it easier to switch between single ear and binaural uses. 

The TWS1 Pro also feature the latest Bluetooth v5.2, using the newly upgraded Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset, which provides a faster transmission, lower power consumption and a more stable link. The second generation of Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Technology ensures the lossless and low-latency transmission of audio. These two technologies work in harmony to create an immersive, reliable listening experience with minimal interruptions. The high-quality PU and titanium diaphragms in each earbud provide crystal clear sound with punchy bass and rich details, producing a true representation of your chosen audio. 

Phone calls are also clearer, thanks to the Qualcomm cVc8.0 Noise Cancellation Technology which supresses external environmental noise, resulting in more confident, smoother communication and stronger call sound transmission. 

Thanks to the low-power consumption chipset and high-capacity lithium battery, the TWS1 Pro features up to 12 hours of playback time. There is also the added security of knowing that the travel-friendly charging case gives an additional 30-hour playback time before needing mains charging. The TWS1 Pro also utilizes fast charging, which allows for the earbuds to be fully charged in only 40 minutes. 

Main Features:

  • Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring technology to support dynamic and seamless bud-to-bud role-swapping. 
  • Bluetooth v5.2 and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive provides stable and secure, low-latency transmission. 
  • cVc8.0 Noise Cancellation Technology ensuring clear phone calls. 
  • Up to 12 hours playback, an additional 40 hours using the charging case and supports fast charging in 40 minutes.
  • Stylish Ivory and Dark Grey colours. 

 

Specifications: 

Sound Pressure Level 95±3dBSPL (A)
Frequency response 20 – 20KHz
Impedance 16Ω
Wireless connection Bluetooth v5.2
Charging time 90 min
Connections Type – c

BUY HERE

OPPO to launch Find X3 Pro, its first end to end one billion colour smartphone. #OPPO #Tech #AwakenColour

The world-leading smart device brand, OPPO, today announced the launch of its high-end, billion colour flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X3 Pro. Building on the success of Find X2 Pro, OPPO marries breathtakingly high-end design with best-in-class technology across the board. Join OPPO and #AwakenColour at the global Find X3 Series launch event, which will be streamed live via OPPO’s YouTube channel at 11:30am GMT on 11th March 2021.

At OPPO INNO Day 2020, OPPO announced its ground-breaking 10-bit Full-path Colour Management System as part of its commitment to experiential excellence. Now, the technology is ready to be shared with the world in the OPPO Find X3 Pro.

OPPO’s Full-path Colour Management guarantees integrity at every point when it comes to colour. The results are true-to-life, evocative, rich visual experiences, from capture, to encoding, storage, decoding and display.

The Find X Series has always been ahead of the curve, combining human-centric design with OPPO’s unwavering passion for innovation to benefit humankind. In the OPPO Find X3 Pro, OPPO focuses on the full-spectrum of colour management, from high-impact enjoyment and eye safety, through to accessibility.

The OPPO Find X3 Pro isn’t just a colour powerhouse. Its screen also delivers excellence across resolution, screen refresh rate, and high dynamic range content, bringing users the clearest, most accurate, smooth, and comfortable display to date.

Committed to capturing the moment, the OPPO Find X3 Pro’s camera capabilities have been tuned to empower photography and video capture at the highest quality in a range of scenarios.

Additionally, the OPPO Find X3 Pro is powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 888 Mobile Platform, which brings an exceptional 5G experience and incredible performance, creating a symphony of highlights to excite and delight with every curve, swipe and tap.

 Join the global online product launch event to #AwakenColour at 11:30am GMT on 11th March on OPPO’s YouTube channel.

Dalata records one million guest interactions on new contactless platform from Granite Digital. #GraniteDigital #Dalata #Hotels

Granite Digital, Ireland’s leading full-service digital agency, today announces that it has delivered Ireland’s first fully contactless hotel guest services platform for Dalata Hotel Group, which has already reached one million guest interactions. Developed in collaboration with Dublin-based hotel booking software provider P3 Hotels, the innovative web portal is transforming the hotel guest experience, as hotels continue to adapt to operating under COVID-19 restrictions.

Dalata is Ireland’s largest hotel operator with two leading brands – Maldron Hotels and Clayton Hotels – as well as managing a portfolio of further partner hotels. The group has implemented the contactless solution across its 44 owned, leased and operated hotel locations in Ireland and the UK. Many guests will utilise the platform within it’s first 12 months.

The digital platform is designed to aid social distancing and COVID-19 safety protocols in hotels by enabling contactless check-in, check-out and hotel services, as well as securely and seamlessly facilitating the track and trace process for all visitors. Physical interaction is minimised, with hotel patrons accessing the platform through a link in their check-in email and using pick-up and drop-off boxes for room keys on arrival and departure.

Robert Carpenter, Co-Founder, Granite Digital and Stephen McNally, Deputy Chief Executive, Dalata Hotel Group

From the web-based portal, guests can browse hotel information and services, order in-room click-and-collect dining, reserve breakfast and dinner slots and book swimming and gym sessions. The portal also facilitates instant messaging so guests can order additional towels, toiletries, all linen supplies and cleaning services.

To guard against the spread of COVID-19, Dalata is also operating a revised cleaning regime for each hotel room and public space across its locations. It is working with global certification leader Bureau Veritas to ensure compliance and best practice with regards all health and safety measures in the hospitality sector. In combination with its newly launched digital platform, Dalata is seeking to offer guests peace of mind as well as a transformed visitor experience – leveraging technology to deliver convenience and more responsive services.

Stephen McNally, Deputy CEO, Dalata Hotel Group, said: “This new platform is now operating really well across the Dalata Hotel Group, and guest reaction has been excellent. The software is a landmark development for the hospitality sector in Ireland. It is the result of deep consultation with our innovative technology partners Granite Digital & P3 to develop a platform that can not only help achieve compliance with COVID-19 measures, but also revolutionise guest interactions for a more connected world.”

“The health and safety of our valued guests is paramount and the online platform is a cornerstone of our thorough approach to creating a clean and safe environment in each of our hotels. Looking to the future, we wanted to put digital at the heart of the guest experience so visitors can enjoy the same level of information, interactivity and responsiveness that they are accustomed to in other sectors. This platform helps us to do exactly that.” 

 Robert Carpenter, Co-Founder, Granite Digital, said: “Both the Maldron and Clayton Hotel brands are highly regarded and well-known in Ireland and increasingly growing in strength in the UK. It was fantastic to work with a true leader in hospitality who was so open to applying innovative ideas to address the significant challenges posed by COVID-19.

 “The clever application of digital technologies to traditional sectors and processes can be the key to unlocking these challenges and carrying Irish businesses through this crisis and beyond. By moving quickly to bring this platform to the market and rolling it out to all of its hotels, Dalata has demonstrated the almost instantly transformative impact that customised digital solutions can have.”

NEW EDIFIER D12 Speaker – Compact Bluetooth speaker with 4 sound units for clear, balanced sound with high-low frequency separation and deeper tones

Edifier International, prominent designer and award-winning manufacturer of consumer audio electronics for both the lifestyle and multimedia markets announces the new D12 multimedia speaker system.

The D12 delivers outstanding sound. Featuring   2 x 4-inch woofers for optimum bass response and naturally fine-tuned sound produced from 2 x 19mm silk dome tweeter this compact speaker outperforms many other speakers in its class. Although it is an integrated speaker, the D12 is designed with two independent cavities to avoid phase interference between the left and right channels giving a sound that is more exact.

If you want crystal clear audio that catches every tiny nuance in your music, then the D12 is well worth hearing. A total of 70 watts (RMS) of distortion-free power output makes sure you get crystal clear and uncompromising sound everywhere in the room.

The D12 has versatile connectivity options. There are Bluetooth 5.0, RCA, AUX inputs available with a Line-out port for an extra subwoofer or active speakers to be connected to multiple audio devices at the same time.

With a quality wooden enclosure that reduces acoustic resonance, the D12 compliments any room’s décor.

Additional Features:

Easy set up

Unlike many other complicated speakers, you don’t have to struggle to set it up, and it won’t take up too much space. Place it wherever you want, such as your living room, study room, dining room, or bedroom, just connect to the power supply, and it’s ready to use.


Easy Operation  – The Three top-mounted knobs (Bass dial, treble dial, volume control/input  selector) allow for simple, accurate control of the treble, bass, and volume/input.

Wireless Remote Control included

Audio Source Indicator – The Audio source indicator clearly shows input mode.

Price & Availability: The D12 is available from Amazon, K & B Audio, Tech4.co.uk and other online stockists at  SRP £79.99

Electric Ireland launches new ‘Home Electric+’ electricity plans for customers with Smart Meters installed. #brightertogether

Electric Ireland customers who have had a Smart Meter installed as part of The National Smart Metering Programme will experience the benefits of Smart Meter technology for the first time when they choose one of Electric Ireland’s customer focused ‘Home Electric+’ plans. 

 The National Smart Metering Programme will ultimately see ESB Networks replace 2.4 million electricity meters with next generation Smart Meters. As part of the programme, all households in Ireland will receive a Smart Meter and once installed, they will be able to experience the benefits of the new technology.

Approximately 250,000 of all households in Ireland have had a Smart Meter installed over the last 18 months.

 Electric Ireland is today launching a range of unique plans for their customers who have had a Smart Meter installed. Customers who avail of these plans can, over time, better understand their energy usage, lower their overall consumption (particularly at peak times) and in turn reduce the costs of their electricity bills and carbon footprint. Electric Ireland’s free ‘Home Electric+’ plans all have the following benefits:

  • Personalised insights on electricity usage via an online account portal (insights build incrementally over time).
  • Monthly emails that communicate which appliances are using the most electricity (available after 4 months data).
  • A monthly billing option and bill prediction alerts (billing is currently bi-monthly). 
  • Regular reviews to ensure that they are on the right plan.
  • Eliminates need for manual reads and estimated bills.

Electric Ireland’s ‘Home Electric+’ plans will enable customers to save money by availing of cheaper electricity at different times of the day – options include:

  • ‘Home Electric+ Night Boost’ offers a cheaper electricity rate at night (11p.m.-8a.m.) and a super cheap “boost” period from 2-4 a.m. when customers can charge their Electric Vehicles for just over 5c per kwh.
  • ‘Home Electric+ Weekender’ offers Saturday or Sunday electricity for free.
  • ‘Home Electric+ SST (Standard Smart Tariff)’ offers Day/Night/Peak rates giving increased flexibility and control over their home usage.

 

Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Electric Ireland, said:  “As Ireland’s leading energy provider, Electric Ireland is committed to providing our customers with transparency so that they can better understand what is driving their electricity usage. The introduction of our new Smart Meter offerings is a landmark day for us and our customers. Less consumption of energy at peak times means reduced carbon emissions, as well as reduced bills for households and businesses. Customers can use the insights we provide to discover how and when they use electricity so that they can change their usage patterns to make savings.”

 She added: “At Electric Ireland we also see Smart Meters at the forefront of enabling our customers to make positive changes in addressing climate action. We are delighted to bring this service to our customers at a time when reducing household costs is of upmost importance. From today, Electric Ireland customers can start availing of the benefits of our Smart Metering services and we are here to support them on that journey. Not only will Smart Meter customers see the end of estimated bills, but they can also now choose a new, innovative and free plan to suit their individual needs, while continuing to enjoy their enduring discount rate of up to 8.5% on gas and electricity.”

The new Smart Meter plans are inspired by research results from the Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Research Tracker*, which highlighted a recent significant increase in customers’ desire to make positive energy usage changes, and an expectation that their energy company should play a key role in supporting them on the move towards a low carbon future. Smart Meters are well placed to help deliver on this customer ambition: 82% of consumers want to reduce the amount of energy they use and 87% indicated they would look to their energy provider to offer real-time, digestible information on their energy usage and efficiency. And for Electric Ireland customers, this will be delivered through personalised insights available via the suite of free ‘Home Electric+’ plans.

 Smart Meter plans are available from today to Electric Ireland residential customers that have had a smart meter installed in their home. Smart meters have been installed in parts of the following locations: Dublin (North, South, Central), Sligo, Limerick, Cork City, Bandon, Portlaoise, Navan and Drogheda. These customers would have received a communication from ESB Networks when the Smart Meter was installed.

 Smart Meter services are the latest solution to be introduced as part of Electric Ireland’s Brighter Together Energy Programme. Launched in 2020, the programme is designed to support homes, businesses and communities to maximise energy efficiency and collectively contribute towards a low carbon future. The National Smart Metering Programme will eventually see up to 1.3 million Electric Ireland customers avail of Smart Meter technology and services by 2024. Electric Ireland will support its customers on their Smart Meter journey with educational content on its ‘We’re Brighter Together Hub’.  There will also be on-going direct communications with customers as their Smart Meters are installed, ensuring they are aware of the best-in-class benefits of the programme for their homes and businesses.

 To be part of the change and to find out more visit: electricireland.ie/smart-meters

Irish Software Engineers Adopt Latest Tools To Streamline App Development

Irish software engineers are adopting the latest tools to streamline web app development. According to recent reports, over 75% of digital agencies identify poor app design as one of their most significant weaknesses. With growing demand throughout the industry, it is essential to improve design and development procedures. Importantly, this starts with investing in the right resources. As a software development enterprise manager, you need to integrate the latest innovative tools to streamline your web app development. This way, you can build professional, high functioning applications for your clients. Read on to learn about the latest tools Irish software engineers are adopting to streamline web app development. 

Web Development Frameworks

First, many software engineering firms in Ireland are adopting web development frameworks to streamline their development procedures. Typically, these tools serve as the starting point to develop dynamic web applications. With many frameworks, you can easily create front-end applications without complex plugins. This is because these tools often include well-designed templates, MVC architecture, and code generation features. In addition, many expressions are similar to code snippets. For example, they are commonly enclosed within brackets and do not use any loops or conditional statements. Furthermore, many web development frameworks include integrated tutorials or have published online courses. With these resources, you can efficiently learn how to use them. Definitely, Irish programmers are using web frameworks to simplify the build process. 

Centralized Repositories

In addition, Irish development professionals are also installing centralized repositories to streamline their web application developments. For example, Golang development teams are increasingly integrating GoProxy. Notably, these public centralized repositories are available to developers across the globe. Additionally, you can use these tools to host your open-source Go modules. Often, these are available in publicly accessible version control system (VCS) project repositories. Many of these, such as JFrog GoCenter are available to Golang developers for free. Of course, many developers around the world are learning Golang for its simple syntax and these increasingly accessible resources. Undoubtedly, Irish developers are installing centralized repositories to streamline module hosting.

Next, application development enterprises in Ireland are also using advanced code editors to increase coding efficiency. Many code editors include well-designed features and quick, high-performing user interfaces. For example, many of these systems can leverage various keyboard shortcuts. Indeed, this allows developers to perform simultaneous editing. Often, you can make the same changes to multiple selected areas at once. In addition, these editors allow you to navigate to your files, symbols, and lines with ease. When you’re spending full work days using a code editor, shaving seconds off your basic programming procedures adds up. For this improved efficiency, Irish developers are implementing advanced code editor tech to make working a happier and healthier experience. 

Source – Freepix

Frontend & Backend Tools

Moreover, Irish web app developers also use frontend and backend tools. Many backend tools include frameworks, database management systems, and API collaboration platforms. These innovative tools support some of the top web design trends for success. Importantly, many databases can provide multi-user access, easy set up procedures, and little maintenance. In addition, API collaboration platforms are designed to streamline communication, so you can create APIs faster. On the other hand, many developers use front end tools to streamline their programming processes. For example, some frameworks use JSX, which allows you to quote HTML and tag syntax to render sub components. Many frontend tools are also built with low-code interfaces for a more intuitive drag and drop interface. 

Prototyping Tools

Furthermore, software engineering agencies in Ireland are also using prototyping tools for their web app development projects. These are great tools to improve customer interaction and collaboration across your UI and UX design teams. For example, some high-fidelity prototyping tools include multi-player editing, easy sharing, and inline commenting features to boost collaboration. In addition, many components are reusable, so your team can get client approval faster. Of course, the best prototyping tools offer preview modes as well. With many low-code options available, this is a great solution to increase efficiency on your design teams. In short, many Irish developers are adopting prototyping tools, especially for UX and UI design techniques. 

Irish software engineers are adopting the latest tools to streamline web app development. First, web development frameworks are an essential starting point for any web application. Next, code editors are great resources to increase programming efficiency. In addition, centralized repositories are often easily accessible, especially for Golang teams. Moreover, frontend and backend tools are key building blocks for any project. Furthermore, install a prototyping tool to increase your design team’s efficiency. Consider these points to learn about the latest tools Irish software engineers are adopting to streamline web app development.