Did you know that insurance premiums in the US exceed one trillion dollars annually? This highlights the central role that insurance companies play in many sectors.
When a personal injury claim is made, several parties are involved. However, the insurance company plays the most important role.
Understanding this role can make the process clearer. It can also help claimants navigate the process more effectively.
In this article, you will learn about the essential role of insurance companies in personal injury defense cases. Read on to examine their strategies and effects on case resolutions.
Evaluating Claims
One key role of insurance companies is evaluating claims. They check if the injury was caused by their client’s actions. This involves:
gathering evidence
speaking to witnesses
reviewing medical reports
The company may also consult experts to understand the extent of the injury. They look for any signs of fraud or exaggeration in the claim.
If there is enough evidence to support the claim, they may offer a settlement. If the evidence is weak, they may choose to challenge the claim in court. A thorough evaluation helps the company decide whether to fight the claim or settle.
Legal Representation
Insurance companies provide legal representation for their clients in personal injury cases. Once a claim is filed, they engage attorneys well-versed in such matters. This is to protect the interests of their policyholders.
These legal experts navigate the complexities of the legal system. They offer strategic advice and craft compelling defenses. This often leads to more favorable outcomes.
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Settlement Negotiations
After assessing a claim, insurance companies play a key role in settlement negotiations. They aim to reduce the financial impact on their clients or defend injury claims.
By settling, they can avoid long court battles. This saves time and resources. Settlements are also faster resolutions than going to trial.
Insurance companies also help ensure that their clients are not burdened by prolonged legal proceedings. They may offer a settlement that is lower than what could be awarded in court. This approach helps prevent uncertainty and additional costs.
Risk Management
Insurance providers also focus on risk management. They analyze claims history and study common injury trends. This helps them improve their policies and cover acceptable risks.
It protects their clients and strengthens their financial position. By doing this, they can make better decisions in legal defense strategies.
Underwriting Policies
Insurance companies are responsible for underwriting policies. These policies set the coverage provisions for their clients. In personal injury defense, understanding the policy language is important.
The terms decide coverage limits and the scope of protection. This affects how defense strategies are planned. Insurers must make sure policyholders know their coverage to avoid surprises during claims.
Public Relations and Reputation Management
Insurance companies play a key role in public relations during personal injury disputes. A well-handled case can improve their image.
They communicate effectively and stay involved in the community. They also work to maintain a positive reputation, even in tough cases.
Managing Personal Injury Defense Cases
Insurance companies play many roles in personal injury defense. They evaluate claims, provide legal representation, negotiate settlements, and manage risks.
These actions help resolve cases efficiently. For those dealing with personal injury claims, understanding the role of their insurance provider can be very helpful.
Don’t stop here, there’s so much more to learn about on our website. Browse our other blog posts for more information.
TheEIT Jumpstarter Grand Final event is an annual culmination of a pre-acceleration programme that supports European innovators and entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into market-ready start-ups. It focuses on fostering entrepreneurship and developing start-ups scene in Central-Eastern and Southern Europe.
This year the Grand Final will be part of the bigger EIT Community conference “The next decade of innovation for the future of Europe”, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of theEIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS). This is a key initiative under Horizon Europe aimed at reducing regional disparities in innovation across Europe. The EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final will include a dynamic live pitching session, followed by an awards ceremony to celebrate the top start-ups in each category.
48 New Start-ups Poised to Enter the Innovation Scene
This year’s EIT Jumpstarter Grand Final will take place in Budapest on November 28th, showcasing 48 start-ups. The top six from each of the eight categories — Food, Health, Manufacturing, Raw Materials, Energy, Urban Mobility, New European Bauhaus, and Rebuild Ukraine — will be awarded up to €10,000. These categories align with the EIT Community’s mission to bring innovative solutions to global challenges. Additionally, in recognition of the EIT’s strong presence in the Western Balkans, the competition will feature a special prize for a high-potential start-up from the region. In total the best teams will receive almost €150,000.
“The pipeline of start-ups established in non-Western countries through programmes like EIT Jumpstarter is growing every year, and many ventures from previous editions have now reached multimillion valuations. This is particularly important for regions in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, where the start-ups create new jobs, bring new skills and stimulate entrepreneurship in the region,” says Marta Kaczmarek, leading the EIT Community Strategic Regional Innovations Cluster, coordinating such activities as the EIT Jumpstarter Programme.
“Considering that every euro invested in the programme generates 30 euros in external funding for newly built start-ups, EIT Jumpstarter truly serves as a springboard for talented founders,” adds Marta Kaczmarek.
EIT Jumpstarter in Numbers
Since 2017, the programme has trained 1,180 participants, leading to the establishment of 124 new start-ups and contributing to the creation of 2,100 new jobs in the countries, which are considered emerging and moderate innovators, according to the European Innovation Scoreboard. These start-ups collectively attracted €150 million in external investment up until now. EIT Jumpstarter is open to more than 22 countries and regions and is led by EIT Health in collaboration with EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Urban Mobility.
Throughout the seven-month programme, participants identify and validate the best business model for their science-based innovative ideas. Participants learn how to refine their concept, conduct market segmentation, develop a strong customer value proposition, manage financials, understand investment and legal basics, and more. Graduates of the programme possess the skills and knowledge to launch their companies. As part of the alumni community, they receive further support, including various financial options, and dedicated advice from the EIT Communities regarding the next stage of their start-up journey.
Virgin Media is shaking up the Black Friday season by turning it ‘Red’ with a series of fantastic offers across its Broadband, TV, and Mobile services. Starting from November 12th, Virgin Media is inviting customers to experience top-of-the-line connectivity, entertainment, and mobile plans at outstanding prices with exclusive free gifts and savings.
The headline offer for new customers, is a FREE 43” TCL 4K Smart TV when they sign up to Virgin Media’s ultrafast, reliable 1Gb broadband combined with Virgin Media’s popular ‘Streaming TV’ package, perfect for immersing themselves in the latest and greatest entertainment.
Virgin Mobile customers also have plenty to celebrate this ‘Red Friday.’ Those who purchase a Samsung Galaxy S24 (128GB), Apple iPhone 14 (128GB), or Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) from November 12th will receive a complimentary pair of JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds (RRP €149.99), delivering premium sound quality to match their top-tier devices.
Virgin Mobile is also offering upfront savings and reduced monthly fees on some of its most popular handsets. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, now available for €199 upfront and €40 per month, offers customers an €80 saving. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy S24 (128GB) can be purchased with no upfront cost and a reduced monthly bill of €35, giving customers a €5 monthly saving.
“Our ‘Red Friday’ deals are our way of giving back to our customers with offers that bring exceptional value across broadband, TV, and mobile services,” said Paul Higgins, VP of Commercial at Virgin Media Ireland.
“From fast, reliable internet and immersive entertainment to cutting-edge mobile devices, we’re committed to providing unbeatable experiences for Irish households. This Black Friday, Virgin Media is making it easier than ever for customers to access the very best in connectivity and entertainment at incredible prices.”
All free gifts with Virgin Mobile are subject to availability, available for a limited period only, and are provided at the time of purchase with delivery or upon collection.
Free TCL 43” 4K Smart TV is subject to availability, available for a limited period only, and will be within 5 days once the customer has been installed for 28 days.
All offers are subject to application check, availability, and contract terms and conditions.
With smart glasses coming back, blending the digital with the real world is increasingly seamless. Smart glasses, which can place digital information directly in our line of vision, are burgeoning far beyond any novelty and becoming both practical and fashionable devices.
Put alongside crypto, these spectacles make the experience of playing on crypto casino websites way more immersive and engaging.Smart glasses might redefine how players interact with the online gaming worlds: from live streaming with real-time virtual dealers to augmented reality, there’s a huge amount going on here! This will make every game instance feel more distinctive and captivating. Even big brands like Ray-Ban and Facebook are interested in this space – and they’re far from alone.
Smart Glasses Bring Crypto Casino Experiences to Life
Imagine entering a casino where the key details of every game appear before your eyes at a glance. That virtual experience is something smart glasses/wearable technology can offer in the world of online gaming. With digital information superimposed onto the physical environment, smart glasses could enable players to see statistics, principles, and advice in real-time without interrupting their play.
For people who are fanatical blackjack or poker players (and these are two of the top card games in most casinos these days), this is a massive development. No more having to sit on the sidelines watching the other players enjoying themselves while you judge if a given table feels like a good fit to you. All the relevant information could be there at a glance. You wouldn’t even need to manually look anything up: the information would just be there.
Of course, in the digital world, this kind of information is usually accessible if you want it, but it’s a revolutionary breakthrough for those playing in physical spaces. Even on the crypto casino websites, having this info just floating in front of you when you need it would be a vast improvement from having to navigate to a different page to access it – potentially breaking the flow just when you are getting immersed. The added level of engagement that this brings could make gaming worlds feel more immersive than ever before.
This interactivity would be particularly beneficial to players on crypto casino websites, where a wide range of games are available, from virtual slots to digital poker. Smart glasses could offer an experience in which each turn and every game feels much more immersive, injecting something extra and encouraging players to stay invested. Through real-time overlays, players gain a new level of control over their experience, which is a massive benefit to everyone.
How Smart Glasses Tailor Social Gaming Experiences
Smart glasses tailored for gaming could mean every user’s experience is unique, amplifying the appeal of crypto casinos by adding an immersive, customized touch. Social interaction and connectivity in virtual gaming smart glasses have the potential to create a more social experience within crypto casinos.
In crypto casino games, socializing could mean chatting with friends, seeing their reactions, or even “sitting” together at virtual tables. These interactions, facilitated by smart glasses, could make crypto casinos more than just gaming platforms — they could become social spaces where users connect, share experiences, and enjoy a heightened sense of togetherness.
Upgraded Privacy for Crypto Casino Users
It is absolutely necessary that users in the crypto casino world maintain their personal privacy, and an added layer of protection for sensitive information comes in the form of smart glasses. Equipped with the ability to show information only to the person wearing them, smart glasses are a major step forward for anyone who values data security. Players can manipulate their digital wallets or crypto assets on a screen only visible to them. This newly improved privacy is in line with what crypto players want. Security and anonymity: these are the main features which they look for in online interactions.
No more worrying about who may be looking over your shoulder – these glasses are – literally – for your eyes only. This means that it is both easier and also much safer to take care of things while out wandering around than has ever been possible before.
The Future of Smart Glasses in Crypto Gaming
As smart glasses and other forms of emerging technologies become more integrated into our digital lives, they bring all kinds of fresh possibilities into this ever-popular field. To begin with, one’s experience of gaming online at a crypto casino is growing ever more immersive and enriched thanks to these new gadgets. Smart glasses combine AR, social features, and heightened privacy: they are about to level up the experience of being in a crypto casino, taking things well beyond what we thought possible several decades ago. The future of crypto gaming looks bright and with accompanying games that make the most of the tech, we foresee amazing things here. Only time will tell exactly what this space holds and what new, exciting hardware might still be on the horizon!
The Skullcandy Sesh Active ANC are the latest earbuds on offer and a mighty pair they are too and deliver all round as expected and these are the new updated version of the old Sesh ANC you could say.
These are slightly larger earbuds and fit well in the ears despite their size and for me not my usual favourite styled earbud but once fitted with the right tips they were fine after a few days testing and they grew on me and of course sounded great with all the options available minus one I love that Skullcandy offer.
The case they come in is pretty cool too and kept simple just like the earbuds and this case will slip into any shirt or trouser pocket or tech bag.
There is 12mm drivers packed in these earbuds which might be a factor in their size and with the EQs on the app and other options you can customize these to your own needs and not only that these have multi pairing which for me is ideal working on two devices all day long and not only that can be used individually effectively doubling your battery life.
You can have spotify on tap or take a photo with these but this there is no hey skullcandy feature this time which makes sense at the price this is one of my favourite features they do offer on other products and missed here however no big deal as everything else is there that I need including access to my voice assistants.
The sound is great and they get plenty loud too with adjustable stay aware mode and ANC of course which works really well even on calls on a windy day all was clear both ends and the ANC is decent here.
You have also got low latency built in and clear voice smart mic making these an overall greatly packed pair or earbuds with features for all.
The sound overall is great and highs lows and mids fine, loud no lag latency or tinny sound noted when maxed out and great direction too putting you in the center stage and an overall great audio experince and that goes for podcasts and gaming too.
See the video below for more and what you will find.
The App
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Features
28 Hours Total Battery Life (ANC On): 7 hours in earbuds, 21 hours in case
48 Hours Total Battery Life (ANC Off): 12 hours in earbuds, 36 hours in case
Iarnród Éireann has unveiled the first five-carriage train of the new DART+ Fleet, at Inchicore Works in Dublin.
The new DART fleet which will enable Iarnród Éireann to improve the customer experience across the Greater Dublin Area, including capacity, accessibility and customer information.
The five-carriage train is the first of 185 carriages already on order from rail manufacturer Alstom, and entering service from early 2026 onwards. The trains were purchased in two orders as part of a framework agreement which provides for up to 750 electric/battery electric carriages over a ten-year period
The fleet orders, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under Project Ireland 2040, are part of the wider DART+ Programme. DART+ is a series of infrastructure projects which, together with train orders, will double the capacity and treble the electrification of the Greater Dublin Area’s rail network. The DART+ Programme is a key element of the NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, 2022-2042. DART+ will facilitate sustainable mobility and development to enhance quality of life in our capital and its surrounding counties, through a series of fleet and infrastructure projects. The DART+ Programme is being delivered by Iarnród Éireann on behalf of NTA.
Including the first train, a total of 155 out of the 185 carriages on order are battery-electric which deliver more capacity for commuters in advance of electrification of the lines on which they will operate, with the balance of 30 being electric-only. The first trains will operate on the Drogheda to Dublin Commuter route, with recharging facilities under construction at Drogheda Station.
The arrival of the new fleet, from Alstom’s Chorzów facility near Katowice in Poland, marks a significant milestone in Iarnród Éireann’s journey to become the backbone of the sustainable transport network in Ireland.
The carriages are the first part of the largest and most sustainable public transport fleet order in Irish history and, once operational, will further improve network accessibility and customer experience by offering:
Independent access with low-floor height doorway being equipped with an automatic retractable step, offering the potential for unassisted level access from suitable platforms, aligned with platform enhancements.
Wide gangways between carriages creating an open and spacious environment.
Improved facilities for wheelchair users, families and cyclists, with dedicated wheelchair and family spaces.
Transformed customer information systems on-board including large, high-resolution onboard displays with real-time updates, door illumination and additional features designed for the needs of sensory impaired customers including inductive hearing loops.
An advanced on-board CCTV system with cameras throughout every carriage, to enhance safety and security for customers and employees
As the first train in a brand new fleet on the Iarnród Éireann network, the carriages will now begin a rigorous regulatory approval, and testing and commissioning process, at Inchicore Works and on the Greater Dublin Area rail network, before entering service in early 2026.
Each 10-carriage train, made up of two of these five car train sets joined, will be the longest train size operable by the new fleet on current infrastructure, and will have capacity for at least 1,100 customers.
More carriages will arrive steadily over the coming months, with each set undergoing the testing and commissioning process.
Today, Prime Video announced a November 26 premiere date and released the official trailer and key art for It’s in the Game: Madden NFL. The docuseries will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. It’s in the Game: Madden NFL is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime Video members enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.
It’s one of the biggest video games of all time, a groundbreaking brand that became a worldwide phenomenon, spanning generations—but it almost never happened…
It’s in the Game: Madden NFL reveals the never-been-told story of Madden NFL, from its archaic 8-bit origins to its success as an annual must have—against all odds. For the first time ever, EA SPORTS is opening their vault of rare and never-been-seen footage, while also allowing cameras to follow along as the team finishes the next generation of the game. What started as an unlikely pairing between a computer whiz and a football legend, ignited a revolution and triggered a seismic collision between the worlds of jocks and geeks. They should have failed. Instead, their game changed the game—and our culture, too.
Presented by Prime Video and A+E Factual Studios group, the It’s in the Game: Madden NFL is produced by the A+E Factual Studios group, SMAC Productions, Misher Films, and MTP. The series is executive produced by Kevin Misher and Andy Berman of Misher Films; Michael Strahan, Constance Schwartz-Morini, and FredAnthony Smith of SMAC Entertainment; Mike Tollin of MTP; Sandy Montag of The Montag Group; Steve Ascher, Kristy Sabat, and Jessica Conway of A+E Factual Studios; Daryl Holt, Seann Graddy, and Julie Foster of EA SPORTS; and Nathan Caswell, Jeremiah Zagar, and Jeremy Yaches of Public Record. Caswell and Zagar are set to direct.
Almost seven in ten people (68pc) have never switched their current account, with over a quarter (27pc) holding back due to perceived difficulty. Meanwhile, among the one-third (32pc) who have switched, the majority (23pc) found the process to be straightforward.
Capital Credit Union’s Member Survey, which gathered insights from approximately 3,700 adults, explored attitudes towards switching accounts and the use of digital technology for financial transactions. Notably, women were less likely to have switched, with 71pc of women reporting they haven’t switched compared to 64pc of men.
People in their 50s and 60s were most likely to say they found switching a difficult process as reported by 1 in 10 of this age cohort.
On the use of digital technology, survey highlights include:
More than eight in ten (81pc) use digital technology—computers, smartphones, or tablets—for most or all financial transactions, including paying bills, making purchases, or investing.
Digital usage decreases with age: 96pc of people in their 20s use digital tools for nearly all transactions, compared to 90pc of those in their 40s, and 61pc of those in their 70s.
The numbers in their 60s, 70s and 80s making use of digital banking for all or most of their banking was relatively high at 71%, 61% and 59% respectively.
“These results reveal a clear need for greater awareness around the ease and benefits of switching accounts. With nearly seven in ten people never having switched, perceived complexity is evidently holding many back. However, for the 32pc who did switch, most found it straightforward, indicating that the perceived difficulty often outweighs the reality. We all know that ‘household admin’ tasks like switching accounts can be daunting, which makes it essential for financial institutions to streamline the process and communicate these improvements effectively.
The strong shift toward digital banking, especially among younger users, also highlights the importance for financial institutions to invest in intuitive, accessible digital solutions. The numbers in the higher age brackets making use of digital banking were also very encouraging. By addressing both the concerns around switching and the demand for seamless digital experiences, financial providers can better support consumers in making informed choices that enhance their financial wellbeing.”
The international student design competition, which has now supported more than 400 problem-solving inventions from young engineers and scientists worldwide, received nearly 2,000 entries this year.
Speaking of the 2024 winners, James Dyson said: “We started the James Dyson Award nearly 20 years ago to encourage students at university to solve problems. And we’ve had thousands and thousands of entries since. It’s wonderfully encouraging to see how many students have solutions to severe global problems. Instead of sitting back and talking about it, they’re doing something about it – and that’s what the James Dyson Award encourages. We’ve got two brilliant winners this year which we’re thrilled to support, and I hope the Award will give them a springboard to future success.”
James Dyson surprised Olivia, Shane and Danial with the exciting news during an online video call.
Medical Winner – Athena, by Olivia Humphreys from Ireland.
The problem
Some 65-99% of patients going through chemotherapy will be affected by chemo-induced hair loss. Current hair-loss prevention techniques commonly use scalp cooling, a method which involves applying ice cold temperatures to the scalp before, during, and after chemotherapy, which can be very painful for patients. It mitigates hair loss by shrinking blood vessels and limiting blood flow to the scalp. After chemotherapy, cooling can also help hair grow back faster and stronger.
However, the availability of scalp cooling is limited due to its high costs. This year’s Medical Winner is from Ireland where the Minister for Health estimated the total cost of installing a scalp cooling machine at €216,000, with additional costs needed for staffing as the treatment requires additional help to operate the equipment.
Ensuring the equipment fits the patient properly and the extended time it means someone needs to be in hospital for are additional hurdles. There are cheaper, manual cooling alternatives available, yet these are less powerful, and they don’t provide long-lasting effects.
Not all hospitals offer scalp cooling for patients too. In fact, in Ireland, scalp cooling is only available in eight out of the country’s 86 hospitals.
The solution
Olivia Humphreys, a 24-year-old product design and technology graduate, invented Athena to tackle these issues after witnessing the impact of chemotherapy-induced hair loss when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Having spent time with her mother during treatment, Olivia was inspired to reimagine hair-loss prevention technology.
Athena is a portable, thermoelectric hair-loss prevention device that uses scalp cooling. It’s more cost effective and timesaving than current hospital models, without compromising on the quality of treatment. For those exploring advanced hair wellness solutions and scalp care.
Current scalp cooling products use refrigeration technology requiring constant plugged in power. The patient must arrive at hospital 30 minutes early and stay for 90 minutes after infusion for pre and post scalp cooling. Battery powered Athena, weighing around 3kg, consists of a carry case and a cooling headpiece, that fits to different head shapes, and enables people to spend less time in hospital on a chemotherapy infusion day. It works by using low-cost thermoelectric semiconductors called Peltiers, and these cool a tank of water, which circulates the cold water around the head with the smartly designed headpiece.
With Athena, patients can start and end the scalp-cooling process themselves from wherever they wish, such as the comfort of their own home. At full power, it can run for 3.5 hours, allowing the patient to commute to and from the hospital while cooling, and move around during infusion, such as for bathroom visits. Athena aims to give control back to patients during a time when they usually have little of it.
Athena is patient-centric and so Olivia also chose bright colours for the device’s materials as a change from conventional, clinical colours found in hospitals. Taking its name from the powerful Greek Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy, for Humphreys, Athena is a symbol of resilience, which is a quality often seen in those living with an illness as serious as cancer and going through the necessary treatments.
The estimated cost for Athena would be around €1,000, according to Olivia, which is significantly less than industry machines which start at around €20,000. Athena has the potential to make hair-loss prevention more accessible and affordable for both patients and healthcare providers – Olivia’s ideal scenario would involve partnering with hospitals and charities to offer Athena through a rental or loan scheme.
To take Athena to the next level, extensive research and development is required, and the James Dyson Award prize money will kickstart this. Long term, Olivia is exploring novel technologies for future hair loss prevention methods beyond scalp cooling.
James Dyson, Founder of Dyson, said: “I haven’t had cancer, but members of my family have had cancer and hair loss is a particularly depressing and debilitating part of chemotherapy treatment. You can freeze your scalp which you have to do in special facilities, but these aren’t always available, are costly and it’s very painful. This year’s Medical Winner, Olivia Humphreys, has tackled this problem by designing Athena, for portable scalp cooling. You can wear it while you travel, you can wear it in the car to and from hospital, you can use it at home – it’s a low-cost alternative available to everybody, with the potential to make a real difference.”
Speaking about the development of Athena, Olivia Humphreys said: “I decided to build a working prototype to test the capabilities of the Peltier semiconductors. Using a Peltier computer cooling fan system, a diaphragm pump, my mum’s old suitcase, and my dad’s plane battery, I was able to create a strong proof of concept to gather valuable feedback to develop the concept. Following this, I focused on the product’s form, creating cardboard and foam models and determining functionality aspects and touchpoints to ensure the best user experience. Ultimately, I arrived at my final model, Athena, which was crafted using SolidWorks 3D CAD modelling.”
On winning the James Dyson Award, Olivia said: “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, ambition, and commitment that went into creating Athena. The recognition from the James Dyson Award validates not just my efforts, but also the stories and insights shared by people who’ve experienced cancer treatment. My mum inspired this journey, and it’s incredibly emotional and rewarding to have my project reach this level. The Award has motivated me to recognise my potential, and it opens up exciting opportunities for me as a young designer and innovator.”
Professor Mark Beresford, Consultant Oncologist at the Royal United Hospital Bath, said: “Hair loss is one of the most outward and distressing side effects of chemotherapy. Current scalp cooling techniques can reduce the risk or extent of hair loss, but need to be attached in the chemotherapy unit for a period of time before and after the chemotherapy infusion, committing patients to a long day in hospital. This new mobile version will allow patients more freedom, reclaiming some of their day, and also free-up valuable chemotherapy chair time for other patients to receive treatment.”
Liz Yeates, CEO of the Marie Keating Foundation, said:“I want to congratulate Olivia for creating the mobile scalp cooling device and being awarded this year’s global winner of the James Dyson Award. Any invention that can help prevent hair loss for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy would be so positively received. When I went through cancer, there was no option for me to use a scalp cooling device, and losing your hair can be one of the most devastating impacts for most people. This device offers new hope, and it could make a real difference for those facing chemotherapy in the future. Any use of scalp cooling should always be under the guidance and direction of the patient’s oncology or cancer care team.”
Sustainability Winner – airXeed Radiosonde, by Shane Kyi Hla Win and Danial Sufiyan Bin Shaiful from Singapore.
The problem
Every day, weather stations worldwide launch devices via weather balloons that gather critical atmospheric data for accurate weather forecasting. These small devices, called radiosondes, measure air pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction and transmit this data back to ground stations, helping meteorologists track weather patterns and forecast conditions. However, current devices are single-use and contribute to tonnes of plastic and e-waste globally.
After reaching high altitudes, the balloon carrying the device bursts, and the sensor descends rapidly, often crashing in remote and costly-to-retrieve locations, without collecting further atmospheric data as it falls.
There are 1,300 weather stations around the world, and it’s predicted they release at least two single-use radiosondes per day. So, over a year, almost one million radiosondes are released, costing $190million and estimated to cause 48 tonnes of e-waste.
These devices are crucial to the rapidly growing weather forecasting industry, valued at over $2.25 billion in 2023 and projected to reach approximately $5.23 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by the rising demand for precise weather forecasting across sectors like agriculture, energy, transportation, and aviation. Extreme weather events have increased the demand for better forecasting systems too.
The solution
This year’s global Sustainability Winner aims to make weather forecasting more eco-friendly. AirXeed Radiosonde is a reusable device tackling the amount of e-waste created by single-use radiosondes on the market. It also aims to increase the amount of atmospheric data these devices collect, improving quality of forecasting.
Young engineers Shane Kyi Hla Win and Danial Sufiyan Bin Shaiful, from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, drew inspiration from nature to create airXeed Radiosonde. Their focus was to improve the descent and end-of-life of a radiosonde to make them reusable, reducing e-waste and minimising pollution in remote areas.
The team used the autorotation of maple seeds in their solution. A maple seed’s asymmetrical shape creates lift and drag, allowing it to spin like a helicopter as it falls. Shane and Danial applied this principle to their radiosonde design, enabling it to spiral during descent. This not only slows the device, preventing damage upon impact with the ground, but also increases the likelihood of it landing in an accessible location, making retrieval and reuse easier. The team used machine learning to optimise this design for the best flight performance. AirXeed’s controlled descent allows it to collect and transmit more atmospheric data to weather stations, as traditional radiosondes cannot do this.
To avoid collision with aircraft, and very windy conditions that could deviate the descent, Shane and Danial’s device stops auto rotating when passing through aircraft cruise altitude. It enters a dive mode to increase its speed. The team have also added an onboard controller to manage the device’s stability and flight path to land without impact near the closest collection zone for reuse.
This controller is enhanced by machine learning to estimate wind speed and direction onboard, as well as select the best landing location. Collection zones would be established based on weather patterns and local government collaboration. Equipped with GPS and flight navigation, the radiosonde would select the optimal collection zone from multiple options at each weather station, ensuring a smooth return based on weather and flight trajectory.
Shane and Danial prioritised sustainability in their material choice, using balsa wood and foam for the lightweight wing and cowling. Modular components allow for easy replacement and recycling of worn parts, catering to industry needs.
After winning the James Dyson Award, Shane and Danial hope to collaborate with more weather stations and weather sensor manufacturers for real-world trials to gather data and feedback to improve their invention, to ultimately bring airXeed Radiosonde to market.
James Dyson, Founder of Dyson, said: “Weather balloons that collect atmospheric information fall back to Earth and pollute the environment with electronic waste. Shane and Danial, our Sustainability Winners, have found a way of returning these devices to Earth highly intelligently to where the operators want them to land. AirXeed Radiosonde uses the maple seed principle, helicoptering down gently but also plummeting in areas where there are likely to be planes. This is a reusable weather detector, saving environmental waste and saving money. I think it’s a very clever idea.”
On winning the James Dyson Award, Shane said: “Winning the James Dyson Award global sustainability prize is a huge step forward for us. It shows that our design has potential and gives us a platform to showcase how airXeed Radiosonde can positively improve the weather industry – hearing it from James Dyson himself makes it even more special. It’s incredibly motivating to see such a prominent figure in innovation take the time to encourage young inventors like us, developing solutions that are sustainable and address critical global challenges”.
On what’s next for the team, Danial said: “With the Award’s recognition, we hope to connect with experts in the weather industry, secure partnerships and attract funding to further test and develop our design. It’s a huge boost in our journey towards turning airXeed Radiosonde into a fully realised solution that can reduce electronic waste and make weather monitoring smarter
