Ireland’s most connected building outside of Dublin is set to become host for a new digital radio venture bringing a range of interesting and exciting new radio services to Cork.
Cork Internet Exchange (CIX) is the big success story of Ireland’s IT sector, delivering lightning speed Internet connectivity to more than 100 companies from a state-of-the-art data centre at the city’s Hollyhill Industrial Estate. Now it has been selected by digital radio specialist, Viamux, as the operations centre for a DAB ‘multiplex’ (digital radio transmitter) operating under a test and trial licence issued by ComReg.
Viamux Managing Director, David Duffy says CIX was the obvious choice for the operation: “We’ll be bringing radio services into Cork from around the country over the Internet so a high level of resilience was essential. No one comes close to CIX thanks to a mesh of different providers which ensures a safe, secure and uninterrupted service allowing us flexibility to scale our needs”.
The DAB antenna is located on the CIX tower which offers robust coverage across the entire city and surrounding countryside.
CIX Managing Director, Jerry Sweeney, is delighted to welcome Viamux to the data centre: “Cork Internet Exchange is committed to being Cork’s ‘Edge’ data centre. We see DAB as a logical extension of that mission. We want to make sure that Cork leads in all areas of communications. We are delighted to be able to offer Viamux, the infrastructure they needed to bring DAB to Cork.”
DAB extends listener choice and provides existing analogue and new digital stations with the opportunity to increase audience reach. Viamux aims to bring together partners from local commercial, community, institutional and online radio with their wide range of formats that cater for ethnic, lifestyle, specialist as well as general audiences.
Listeners in Cork can receive the new services by simply running an ‘autoscan’ on their DAB set which will detect the new multiplex which is labelled ‘eirdab’. Currently UCB (United Christian Broadcasters) Ireland and Radio Maria are available with more services joining in the coming months.
Check Point’s cyber security researchers have found new vulnerabilities in WhatsAppthat allow threat actors to intercept and manipulate messages sent in a group chat. This gives hackers the ability to create and spread misinformation from what appear to be trusted sources.
By exploiting vulnerabilities found in communications between the mobile version of WhatsApp and WhatsApp Web, the web-based version, a hacker can:
Alter the text of someone else’s reply, essentially putting words in their mouth
Use the ‘quote’ feature in a group conversation to change the identity of the sender, to make it appear as if it came from a person who is not even part of the group.
Send a private message to another group participant disguised as a public message for all, so when the individual responds, it’s visible to all in the conversation.
Bragi, the makers of the world’s first hearable is at it again! By collaborating with Mimi Hearing Technologies, all devices of The Dash product line are getting even smarter – and personalised.
The Dash series including the Dash Pro, the one and only ear computer in the market – with 27 sensors and its own operating system, now offers a truly personal music experience. Using the Mimi Defined TM technology, an intelligent hearing assessment embedded in the Bragi App, users can now create their personal hearing profile.
The music processing technology enables sounds replayed on Bragi devices or on devices connected to them to be dynamically adjusted to match the users individual hearing ability – music and audio input can now be heard clearly and with detail like never before.
Everyone’s hearing is unique and changes over time. Unfortunately, the audio data of a recorded song or file does not change, it is static. A deteriorating hearing ability causes people to hear those static sounds differently over time – they no longer perceive sounds as they were initially recorded. In order to overcome this challenge, Bragi partnered up with Mimi Hearing Technologies and integrated the patented Mimi Defined algorithm, a technology that intelligently assesses a person’s hearing ability with an on-board six-minute hearing test.
Based on the results of this test, audio sources or played back audio files, as well as the audio from streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify, are adjusted to be aligned with the user’s individual hearing if listened to through any product of The Dash series.
Once the hearing test is completed, users can control the intensity of the Music Personalisation by Mimi Defined via the Bragi App – all while the audio input is continually being adapted to the user’s individual hearing ability in real time. This unique sound personalisation technology can be easily included in the daily use of earphones, even while users are tracking running, cycling or swimming, the music they listen to will be personalised. Audio transparency can be used to choose whether a user wants to hear the world around them or not and connecting to the Bragi App also allows use of the integrated 4D-Menu to start and stop music, select playlists, change activities or take and end a call.
In addition to the music personalisation, the Bragi OS 3.2 update includes an improved connection procedure and a welcome tutorial. The Bragi Updater has also been upgraded, making it even easier for users to update the device.
The Bragi OS 3.2 software update, compatible with The Dash, The Dash Pro and The Dash Pro tailored by Starkey, is free of cost and will need to be accompanied by an update of the free Bragi App, available for Apple iOS and Android.
The Bragi Dash products are available from Currys in the UK and www.bragi.com worldwide with prices starting at £109.96
Edifier is excited to announce its partnership with Cooler Master, an award-winning computer hardware and gaming peripherals manufacturer. The partnership will enable Edifier to further extend its reach into the world of gaming. As part of the collaboration Edifier will gain access to the many gaming and tech events Cooler Master will take part in across the globe. Event goers will have the opportunity to connect with the Edifier brand via Cooler Master gaming setups.
“We are thrilled to partner with Cooler Master and are looking forward to seeing how our two brands will grow together,” said Edifier’s Marketing Director, Audrey Anne-Felix. “Cooler Master products are the perfect example of what a modern-day gamer needs and Edifier products blend seamlessly into this creative tech space.”
To kick off the partnership, Edifier’s e255 Luna Theatre speakers were showcased at the Cooler Master booth during Computex 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan. The activation itself focused around Project Unity – a brand new gaming setup created by Cooler Master and Cory Gregory from Designs by IFR. This setup focused on combining the best PC components, monitors and audio to create the ultimate lighting and gameplay setup utilizing Cooler Master’s new Master Plus+software.
Gregory spoke to the quality of the Luna speakers and the way in which they can be utilized to enhanced any gaming setup. “The Luna Theatre speakers not only look incredible; they gave us some bass in the shooter titles but also clarity when we were listening to music as well which is really what we’re trying to achieve here.” said Cory Gregory from Designs by IFR.
Imagine if you could put on a robotic exoskeleton, become a superhero – just like Tony Stark in Iron Man – and save the world. It’s the stuff of comic books, right? But what if I told you it wasn’t a fiction? What if the ability to enhance ourselves and do things we never thought possible was all around us?
Greg White, Director, Security Operations at ServiceNow discusses the benefits of adopting automation in cybersecurity teams explains more below.
Take the example of the automobile. In the 19th century, we could never have imagined driving down the motorway at 70 miles an hour in our own car. The idea that you could do that in car without a driver would have been unfathomable. But is happening now, and it is happening thanks to automation. And automation is the key to giving regular people far more superpowers – none more so than in the cybersecurity sector.
The automation era
Automation is having its moment. It was one of the biggest topics at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF), and it has featured across the TED and Davos circuit. Economists, business leaders and politicians are trying to understand the future changes that it will bring.
Technological innovation is already changing the skill set required for a wide range of jobs. Greater adoption of automation will result in further incremental improvements that can deliver massive efficiency gains across a wide range of industries.
These changes are largely a good thing. When technology works well, as in the case of the car during the last 100 years, it sticks because it benefits those using it. Today, the right software and automated workflows go a long way to enhancing how we do things, in and out of our working lives.
What this could mean for cybersecurity
With access to more information and data than ever before, IT security teams don’t have enough time in the day to process everything. Moreover, there is currently a massive cybersecurity talent gap. Organisations are struggling to hire and retain cybersecurity professionals in a very competitive climate – such is the shortage, one third of cybersecurity job postings get no views at all according to job site Indeed.
With the right employees in short supply then, automation’s ability to give people superpowers is in much demand. As such, automation is already transforming the way organisations are protected.
For example, the incident investigation process is a typically long and tedious process. It involves cutting and pasting items such as IP addresses, malware hashes and URLs into multiple systems to learn about them, determine if an incident is real and if any action that should be taken. These tasks that are more efficient when carried out by machines and automated systems are stepping into the fold. All of sudden it means that a security analyst can simply see the results of the investigation and then make a decision on how to proceed – their metaphorical superpowered exoskeleton.
When implemented effectively machines and people create a symphony, where machines play the “instruments” of mundane time-consuming work while humans step up into a conductor role, overseeing machines and the benefits of automation in an altogether new way.
For security teams this is vital in enabling them to work more efficiently and focus on critical events quickly. It gives them the bandwidth to step back and prioritise the important things ahead of time, resulting in analysts being able to be proactive and available when a real problem happens.
Technology assisting humans – working together in harmony
Whether its security teams or everyday consumers, users intuitively understand the possibilities of technology. As new devices and tools hit the market, users form organic relationships with the ones that best suit their needs and identities, and find ways to use that technology to create entirely new workflows, concepts and processes. Think of how people interact with their Amazon Echo or iPhone — good technology connects with us.
Automation means making tasks faster, better, cheaper and more reliable, and in sectors such as cybersecurity it is creating another new world around us. Automating the incident investigation process is just the start, but it is already allowing overextended security teams to become superhuman so they take on the real challenges to protect their organisation.
Great news for Irish and Cork company, Metabolomic Diagnostics. Their preeclampsia screening test has won €2 million from EU Horizon 2020 SME funding. This is huge boost as one of only 3 companies in Ireland to get this funding. Enterprise Ireland have backed MD as well as other VCs.
Full statement below
Having been ranked among the top innovations in Europe, Metabolomic Diagnostics is set to receive €2 million in EU Funding under the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument, which received a total of 1280 applications from all over Europe.
One of only 3 Irish companies to receive this funding, the Cork-based biotech company will use the award to commercialise its breakthrough product, PrePsia™. PrePsia™ is a simple blood test taken in early pregnancy, which can identify whether a woman may develop Preterm Preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is one of the biggest risks that women face during a pregnancy, claiming the lives of 75,000 mothers and 500,000 babies annually; survivors of the disease have a lifelong increased risk of developing a range of health problems.
PrePsia™ has the potential to transform prenatal care by allowing clinicians to administer effective treatments early that can dramatically reduce the incidence of the disease thus improving pregnancy outcomes whilst lowering healthcare costs for treating the disease. The EU has clearly recognised the value of PrePsia™ which has worldwide applicability, with the award of this significant funding.
Charles Garvey, CEO of Metabolomic Diagnostics said, “This award will be used to accelerate our go-to-market strategy. We plan to market the product next year, and now with this support from EU, we believe that PrePsia™ has the potential to become part of pregnancy screening programs worldwide. The award is recognition by the European Union of the huge progress we have made to date and the enormous societal benefit that our innovative test will bring to expectant mothers and their babies all over the world.”
Metabolomic Diagnostics has previously been supported by the EU through FP7 funding, as well as private investors, SOSV, Enterprise Equity AIB Seed Capital Fund and Enterprise Ireland.
Sean Burke, Horizon 2020 National Delegate, Enterprise Ireland: “The success of Irish companies in winning significant Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funding has its foundation in Enterprise Ireland supports which are focused on nurturing and developing the innovative solutions and capabilities of our SMEs. This is an excellent win for the team at Metabolomic Diagnostics and we look forward to working closely with the company in the future.”
Dublin-based Solar AdTek, the leading developer and supplier of innovative solar powered lighting for outdoor advertising has completed an upgrade of 1,800 bus shelter units across Ireland and significantly decreased their carbon emissions. SolarAdTek is responsible for the delivery of the bus shelter lighting project which is being funded by the ESB in a partnership arrangement with JCDecaux, on behalf of the National Transport Authority (NTA).
The newly installed lighting reduces operating costs, provides enhanced illumination and most significantly reduces carbon emissions. John Bouchier, Co-Founder, of Solar AdTek said ”As a result of the upgrade, energy usage by the NTA bus shelters has reduced by 88%, saving over 1,000 tonnes in carbon emissions annually. This is the equivalent to the average energy consumption for 461 homes.”
The work has greatly improved the quality of the bus shelters with the removal of all fluorescent tubes and the introduction by Solar AdTek of more environmentally friendly and better-quality roof and ad panel LED lighting.
The bus shelters are now using smart technology to regulate the flow of electrical current, which ensures the shelter lights only come on between the hours of dusk and dawn, thus further reducing energy consumption.
The ESB has funded the project in a partnership arrangement with outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, who have the contract for advertising rights and maintenance of NTA bus shelters in Dublin and around the country.
“We were delighted to have had the opportunity to bring this solution to JCDecaux and the National Transport Authority in partnership with ESB and that the first national co-funded roll-out has now been completed,” said Eoin O’Broin, CEO, Solar AdTek. “We have developed our solar and lighting systems specifically for the outdoor advertising market and have no doubt our model can be both replicated and significantly scaled for international markets.”
Solar AdTek provides solar powered LED lighting systems to illuminate outdoor advertising displays such as bus shelters and billboards. These systems combine a proprietary Solar Control Unit and customised LED lighting modules with best-in-class solar panels and batteries to deliver autonomous, reliable and cost effective off-grid lighting solutions.
The company can replace existing fluorescent tubes with bespoke LED lighting, which provides an energy saving of up to 88%. Solar AdTek’s in-built mobile communications network allows for real time passenger Information signs, remote system diagnostics, advertisement viewers, passing traffic counters and environmental sensors.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan T.D., has announced the launch by her Department of a new website providing free public access to information on thousands of historic wrecks in Irish waters.
The Wreck Viewer is a new free-to-use digital service that has been developed to facilitate easy access to the Wreck Inventory of Ireland Database compiled by her Department’s National Monuments Service. The database holds information on over 18,000 known and likely wreck sites both off the Irish coast and in our inland waterways. These wrecks span the entirety of maritime travel around and within the island, from prehistoric logboats to medieval trading vessels, warships and ocean liners. There are exact locations for approximately 4,000 of the recorded wrecks which are displayed on an interactive map.
The map also provides summary information on individual wrecks and their history, voyage, cargo, passengers and, if known, the circumstances of their loss. Information on the 14,000 wrecks in the database for which locations have yet to be fully confirmed can also be downloaded. Further details of these wrecks will be added to the database as they become available.
The Wreck Viewer will be of value to everyone with an interest in Ireland’s maritime history. It also complements the Department’s Historic Environment Viewer which provides information on archaeological sites across the country from the Sites and Monuments Record compiled under the National Monuments Acts and from the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Speaking today, Minister Madigan said:
‘I am delighted to launch this website today which will allow the public to engage in a new and exciting way with the country’s underwater cultural heritage. The Wreck Viewer provides information on shipwrecks across a wide expanse of time. Of particular interest, in this decade of centenaries, are the stories of those wrecks from the First World War. Over 1000 ships were lost off the coast of Ireland during that conflict, in effect bringing the Western Front to our shoreline and alerting the Irish people to both the grim realities of war and the scale of the tragic loss of life that took place on land and sea.”
The National Monuments Service is tasked with protecting and preserving Ireland’s underwater cultural heritage. The Wreck Viewer will contribute to that goal and will be of use to all marine environment users, the diving community, researchers and to those who might be undertaking development in the marine, lacustrine or riverine environments.
The Minister said that:“This wonderful new on-line service will, I hope, promote a much greater appreciation and awareness of our marine heritage and at the same time provide an essential tool to help the protection of this remarkable resource.”
Netwatch, the Irish security monitoring company, has announced the establishment of Netwatch Group, following investment from global private equity firm The Riverside Company “Riverside”.
The newly formed company sees Netwatch join forces with National Monitoring Centre “NMC” (California), CalAtlantic (Texas) and Onwatch Multifire (Sussex, United Kingdom) to become Netwatch Group, a new global leader in proactive security monitoring services.
Demand for visual monitoring is increasing due to global security threats such as terrorism, school shootings and an aging population. Headquartered in Carlow, Ireland, Netwatch Group will meet this growing demand for enhanced risk management and security expertise through its innovative surveillance technologies.
Speaking at the launch of Netwatch Group today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD said; “This is good news not just for Netwatch, but also for Carlow and the wider region. The company has developed innovative, proprietary technologies which have revolutionised the security market. I would like to commend the vision of David Walsh and Niall Kelly on their ambition to grow their company from its Carlow base which has been realised today with the transformation of Netwatch into a global Group operating on four continents. Netwatch Group has been supported since its earliest days by Enterprise Ireland and is yet another example of how Irish technology companies can win on the global stage. I wish Netwatch Group every success in the future.”
David Walsh, CEO, Netwatch Group said; “Today we are creating a global powerhouse in proactive monitoring services. There is increased demand for visual monitoring from enterprise customers, driven by the continuing evolution of technology and advances such as AI, Deep Learning, 5G and IoT (Internet of Things). We have the proprietary technology, developed by our R&D team in Carlow to meet this demand. We have ambitious growth plans which we will achieve through organic growth and further acquisitions”.
As a new leader in proactive monitoring services the firm will specialise in providing risk management, business continuity and security services to clients across the world. The new company will immediately protect over hundreds of thousands of customers across the US, Europe, Middle East and Africa with a network of six global communications hubs connected by the CRATOS, a technology platform developed by the Netwatch R&D team in Carlow.
Riverside has a track record of international technology investments, having completed more than 85 in its history. The deal is led by UK and Ireland Partner Dr. Martin Scott, who alongside Principal Laura Dillon, will sit on the board of the new group.
DUBLIN : 23/4/2018 : Netwatch merges with UK & US Monitoring Companies to form new global security powerhouse. Carlow & Dublin Ireland, 23rdApril 2018: Netwatch, the Irish security monitoring company, has announced the establishment of Netwatch Group, following investment from global private equity firm The Riverside Company “Riverside”. The newly formed company sees Netwatch join forces with National Monitoring Centre “NMC” (California), CalAtlantic (Texas) and Onwatch Multifire (Sussex, United Kingdom) to become Netwatch Group, a new global leader in proactive security monitoring services. Pictured at the announcement was David Walsh, CEO, Netwatch Group, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD and Martin Scott, The Riverside Company. Picture Conor McCabe Photography.
“Netwatch revolutionised the Irish security market with its business model and innovative remote visual monitoring technologies and has an ambition to lead the sector globally. It now monitors client sites on four continents and has grown rapidly since its foundation. We are delighted to back the management team as they realise their ambitions. This is our first investment in Ireland and we look forward to supporting more Irish companies that seek to become global players in their sectors”, said Scott.
“We are delighted that in Riverside we have secured a partner who shares our vision and aspirations to become a global leader in our sector and we look forward to executing our ambitious growth strategy with them”, said David Walsh.
Enterprise Ireland has supported Netwatch since its establishment in 2002. Speaking at today’s launch, Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland said: “Netwatch is a great example of an Irish company that has achieved success globally through innovation. Today’s announcement is a key milestone in the company’s journey and it will accelerate its growth and further strengthen the company’s base in Carlow.”
David Walsh added: “The U.S. is a key growth market for us and the combined strengths of NMC and CalAtlantic together with the Netwatch offices in Boston, Chicago and New Jersey provides a very strong platform. This along with the addition of 1,000 resellers in the USA will be transformative for us as we grow our presence in the US market”.
“Onwatch Multifire is an important addition bolstering our offering in the U.K. Onwatch Multifire also specialises in remote video monitoring and will be our U.K. HQ. It expands our base in a market that holds significant opportunities and will be the focus of renewed attention for us in the future. Having a significant UK presence also insulates us from the impact of Brexit”, he said.
Netwatch Group also announced the appointment of Samir Samhouri, as Chairman of the company. Mr Samhouri is an industry veteran who developed Xtralis to be a global leader in safety and security technologies. He will work closely with David Walsh, CEO in executing the company’s global expansion strategy.
Advisors to Netwatch were William Fry, EY, Grant Thornton and Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking.
