Datapac enables faster rollout of vital services for Cope Foundation

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that it is delivering a managed IT helpdesk solution to Cope Foundation following a competitive tender, enabling faster rollout of the organisation’s vital services to over 2,800 children and adults with an intellectual disability and/or autism across Cork City and county.

Founded in Cork in 1957, Cope Foundation is a non-profit organisation which supports people to live a life of their choosing, in their chosen communities. The Cork-based charity provides individuals and families with support services and resources such as education, training and employment opportunities, Community Hubs, residential houses, day services, Arts and Creative Art Therapies and Physical Activity and Sports.

As the organisation grew, Cope Foundation needed to refresh its technology infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the organisation, its employees, and the people it supports. Datapac rolled out a fast and reliable IT support service for over 1,000 employees across Cope Foundation’s 70+ locations which has reduced downtime and boosted productivity right across the organisation. In turn, this is enabling employees to focus on delivering Cope Foundation’s services to children and adults in local communities across Cork.

Datapac’s service acts as an extension of the organisation, supporting employees by quickly and effectively remediating daily challenges such as connectivity problems, issues with devices, and access issues such as password losses or resets. Since implementation, the managed IT helpdesk has reduced the number of support tickets raised by 27%. This has freed up time for the organisation’s internal IT team, enabling them to focus on their core tasks. A key priority for the team is continuing to bolster Cope Foundation’s cybersecurity strategy to ensure that the sensitive information of the people they support is protected. The solution is flexible and will scale as the organisation continues to grow.

Datapac also provides comprehensive software maintenance and support services for Cope Foundation’s server and storage ecosystem. This underpins the organisation’s intranet and email capabilities, ensuring seamless communication for dispersed teams across Cope Foundation’s locations.

In addition, Datapac has rolled out a managed print service to Cope Foundation which has reduced the organisation’s printing costs by 40% annually. Datapac upgraded Cope Foundation’s entire print fleet with no disruption to daily operations, and provided training to employees.

Colin Chapman, Business Relationship Manager, Datapac, said: “Cope Foundation is a remarkable organisation that has been doing incredible work in Cork communities for nearly 70 years. The invaluable services that the organisation provides to families are underpinned by Datapac’s managed helpdesk, which provides employees with access to reliable IT support and enables them to continue to roll out critical resources to those who need them. It acts as an extension of the organisation, with speedy and seamless remediation for day-to-day support queries. Not only does this ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation, but it delivers critical time savings for the IT team. We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with Cope Foundation as it grows and expands its network of crucial services.”

Sean Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, Cope Foundation, said: “Having enlisted Datapac’s services in the past, we knew we could trust them to deliver on this next phase of our journey with an overhaul of our IT support processes. The enhanced service gives us the peace of mind and confidence to support and launch innovative new resources for families across Cork.”

Brian Marshall, IT Manager, Cope Foundation, said: “Datapac have provided us with a managed print solution that has driven down the cost of printing right across the organisation. They now provide us with IT support services and server maintenance that has allowed the IT team to focus on core projects that they would otherwise be unable to. I would happily recommend their services to any organisation.”

Infineon Technologies announces over 100 new jobs in Ireland

Infineon Technologies AG has announced plans to significantly expand its Research and Development (R&D) presence in Ireland within the next four years by over 100 new jobs in the Cork and Dublin sites. The jobs, all highly skilled engineering positions, will be split evenly between the Dublin and Cork R&D sites of the company and will bring the total workforce of Infineon in Ireland to over 300.

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Infineon Technologies’ significant expansion of its Research and Development presence in Ireland. This announcement underscores Ireland’s reputation as a global hub for innovation and technology and will have a positive impact on the communities of Dublin and Cork. The creation of over 100 highly skilled engineering positions across both locations reflects the confidence Infineon has in our talented workforce and supportive business environment.”

“IDA Ireland welcomes Infineon Technologies’ decision to create 100 skilled jobs across Dublin and Cork, reinforcing Ireland’s reputation as a technology hub” said Michael Lohan, CEO of IDA Ireland “Infineon’s choice of Ireland to further expand its presence showcases the business-friendly environment, skilled workforce, and strategic location on offer to multinationals in Ireland. While boosting the technological landscape in Ireland, this investment also fosters continuous growth and innovation in the semiconductor industry in Dublin and Cork.”

“Ireland is an important research hub for Infineon and we are committed to expanding our presence even further,” said Martin O’Keeffe, Managing Director of Infineon Ireland. “The vibrant Irish engineering ecosystem enables us to be a centre of excellence for innovation and R&D for the company.”

“At Infineon, we are committed to actively driving decarbonization and digitalization. As a global semiconductor leader for the automotive industry, we are shaping the future of mobility with products and solutions to make cars clean, safe and smart,” said Thomas Boehm, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Microcontroller Automotive at Infineon. “The strategic development of our research and development sector in Ireland is central to this mission with semiconductor-based system integration and artificial intelligence for highly connected and increasingly autonomous vehicles being among major trends. We’re looking forward to strengthening our team with the high-calibre talent that Ireland has to offer.”

The investment will also see the expansion of R&D facilities in both Cork and Dublin. The Infineon research teams in Ireland are focused on IP development for the automotive and consumer markets. The new hires will help development of new technologies and products that will help drive digitalization and decarbonization on a global scale.

The first positions have already been opened online and include roles in Analog Design, Digital Design, Architecture and Verification.

MEF (Mobile Ecosystem Forum) announces the launch of MEF RADIO

The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) today announces the launch of MEF RADIO – The Voice of the Mobile Ecosystem.

The new station, hosted and produced by MEF, aims to bring the latest industry news, views, trends and thought leadership to the wider mobile ecosystem.

Featuring daily content on mobile technology, with business and Member news, podcasts, debates, interviews, news updates, industry deep-dives, and content from a variety of MEF’s global expertise-led events, MEF RADIO is the ideal accompaniment to your commute or coffee break, or when you want to get the latest updates, but prefer someone else did the work for you!

To check out MEF RADIO content and its schedule see www.mef.media or download the mobile app from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

“Having cut my teeth in radio early in my career, it has remained a medium that I love. It can reach so many people, wherever they are, whatever they are doing. The power of radio today is how it can represent and unite a community. The Mobile Ecosystem Forum is a community of innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals that want to interact, learn and share. We hope MEF RADIO will become the channel of choice when people want to keep up to date on the issues and trends in their industry.” said Dario Betti, CEO of MEF.

Dario Betti, CEO of MEF

MEF is a global trade body established in 2000. As the voice of the mobile ecosystem, it focuses on cross-industry best practices, anti-fraud and monetisation. MEF provides its members with global and cross-sector platforms for networking, collaboration and advancing industry solutions. 

MEF RADIO is available globally via the Internet and can be accessed from the MEF RADIO app. The app can also be downloaded here https://mobileecosystemforum.com/mef-radio/

Dublin City Council and OpenAI Announce Partnership to Show the Potential of AI to Support Europe’s Tourism Industry

Dublin City Council and OpenAI are today announcing a partnership that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to support Europe’s tourism industry. This collaboration comes as Dublin proudly accepts the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2024, underscoring the city’s commitment to innovation in tourism.

The partnership aims to set a new standard for smart tourism innovation across Europe, showcasing the potential of AI to enhance the visitor experience. Key initiatives include:

-Co-development of a Dublin Itinerary Planner Proof of Concept “A Day in Dublin”: Leveraging the advanced capabilities of GPT-4, this innovative tool will showcase how bespoke travel recommendations can make Dublin’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant city life more accessible to visitors. This prototype has been designed to show the potential of generative AI to support unique, bespoke experiences for visitors instead of generic to-do lists.

-Supporting Tourism Across Europe: A hands-on workshop will be held for leaders of smart tourism destinations across the EU this September in Dublin. This session will explore how AI can be utilised in various aspects of tourism, including city promotion, destination branding, tourism engagement, and itinerary planning.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithi De Roisti: “We are delighted to partner with OpenAI to support Dublin and European cities to realise the potential of AI to transform tourism experiences and offerings. Through our EU Capital of Smart Tourism Designation we also look forward to welcoming city destination leaders to Dublin in September for a unique AI and tourism mentoring workshop to support their innovation programmes”

OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs, Anna Makanju:“OpenAI is excited to collaborate with the City of Dublin to support the future of tourism in Europe. Our advanced AI technologies, including GPT-4, have the potential to revolutionize how people explore and experience destinations. We look forward to working together to create innovative solutions that will benefit visitors and cities alike.“

The Dublin Itinerary Planner Proof of Concept is a collaboration between Dublin City Council, OpenAi and Data & Design, a local Dublin based data consultancy. It has been designed to show the potential and power of generative AI to create unique and bespoke experiences that move away from mainstream generic ‘things to do’ lists in cities!

Data & Design Founder Rudi O’ Reilly Meehan: “There is little doubt of the transformative power of OpenAI’s technologies such as GPT-4. This collaboration is about creating tools that harness this power to benefit visitors to Dublin – in this case, by providing tailor-made itineraries created using generative AI. I am delighted to be working with Dublin City Council and OpenAI in building this prototype, and the approach we are taking has significant scope for scaling across other cities and experiences.” 

This partnership marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI into the tourism industry, promising to deliver a more engaging and bespoke visitor experience. Dublin and OpenAI are committed to leading the way in smart tourism innovation, inspiring cities across Europe to explore the possibilities.

Mobile App Protection Solution “DexProtector” Achieves EMVCo Certification for Landmark Fourth Consecutive Year

Licel has announced that DexProtector, its industry-leading mobile app security solution that safeguards over 12 billion downloaded apps, has once again achieved EMVCo SBMP SPT certification. This is its fourth consecutive year of EMVCo certification, underscoring Licel’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge security solutions for mobile apps in an increasingly complex digital payments landscape.

Ivan Kinash, CEO of Licel said, “Being the first software protection tool to be certified by EMVCo for both Android and iOS is a real source of pride for us. And so it’s a great feeling to know that EMVCo has certified DexProtector again. As well as the peace of mind it gives our customers, regular independent testing and verification is also a huge part of our mobile security philosophy. We know the threat landscape is constantly changing and that our solutions need to stay ahead of the curve. As a case in point, last month we released DexProtector 14.1, which comes with a completely refreshed core architecture in response to the increasingly sophisticated nature of attacks, to deliver true multi-layered defence.”

EMVCo, collectively owned by industry giants like American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay, and Visa, is a global technical body responsible for the secure integration of card-based payment products worldwide. As software-based mobile payments (SBMP) quickly become the norm around the world, EMVCo is playing a pivotal role to keep these payments safe.

For Licel, with customers in 85 countries, this achievement is not just a significant milestone to celebrate but a beacon of assurance for businesses relying on mobile applications for their continued growth. It’s also a statement of intent to continue offering innovative and reliable security solutions that businesses around the world can trust.

For more information about DexProtector, please visit Licel’s website at www.licelus.com

Prepare for a Pixel-Art 80s Post-Apocalyptic Powerhouse as You Ride Your Way to Freedom with Turbo Kid!

Outerminds®, a leading Indie studio based in Montréal, Canada, invites you to saddle up your BMX™ all-terrain bike, and prepare for a post-apocalyptic adventure like no other, as Turbo Kid™ rides onto PC starting April 10, 2024!

Based on the beloved cult classic superhero film from 2015, Turbo Kid is an all-new pixel art Metroidvania-style adventure, drenched in jaw-dropping graphics, outrageous weapons, bucketloads of gore, ragdoll physics, BMX bikes and cotton candy.

Set in a retro-futuristic 80s vision of 1997, gamers play as Turbo Kid, our comic-book lovin’ hero as he takes on a manipulative Preacher and his devoted disciples to free a confined Wasteland town from their theocratic rule. A nightmare vision of the 90s, Turbo Kid is set in a world where humanity has broken down, water is scarce, tyrannical warlords roam the Wasteland, and bikes are the steeds of choice for would-be saviours.

Massive worlds crammed full of surprises and danger await as you upgrade and build, blasting, slashing, running, jumping, crawling and yes, riding your way to victory, while immersing you in an original soundtrack provided by the masters of electronica, Le Matos!

Turbo Kid delivers action on an unbelievable scale, check out what’s coming your way!

Pedal to the Metal! – Bike your way through ever-more intense levels in the first Metroidvania adventure to feature the height of human-powered transport technology: The all-terrain bike!


More Gore! – Bucketloads of over-the-top gore rendered in glorious pixel-art and painstakingly precise rag-doll physics.
Turbo Skills = Turbo Thrills! – Rich in the tradition of classic Metroidvania games, Turbo Kid allows you to discover incredible power ups and brutal weapons to make your journey smoother than a single speed BMX!

All-New Story! – Set between the end of Turbo Kid and the upcoming Turbo Kid sequel and developed in collaboration with RKSS, a writer-director triforce consisting of Anouk Whissell, François Simard, and Yoann-Karl Whissell, the brains behind Turbo Kid (2015), Summer of 84 (2018), We Are Zombies (2023), and Wake Up (2023), as well as the producers of the original feature film, Anne-Marie Gélinas, Ant Timpson, Benoit Beaulieu, and Tim Riley.
Play Your Own Way! – Turbo Kid allows you to play as the kid himself, or let loose as ‘Apple’, the fan-favorite character from the movie.

Feel the Need for Speed! – Turbo Kid is a haven for Speed Runners made possible by a fluid and non-invasive narrative design.
Master the Worlds of the Wastelands! – Run, crawl, jump, hang, and bike your way through five sprawling worlds where only heroes dare to ride!

Choose Your Own Path! – Non-linear narrative allows you to complete Turbo Kid in whichever order you see fit and make decisions that will change the outcome of the game.
Beat the Game to Killer Beats! – All-new kickass soundtrack by the legendary Le Matos, electronic band extraordinaire and creator of the film’s original soundtrack!

A Real Page-Turner! – Featuring an exclusive in-game Comic Book! Collect all the pages throughout the game to recreate a brand-new story drawn by Jeik Dion!

Reel-to-Reel Feelz! – Turbo Kid includes an in-game cassette player! Collect the incredible tracks featured in the game and decide which song to listen to while playing!

Mini Games, Massive Fun! – test your skills across multiple mini-games in order to sharpen your skills and gain a buncha’ bonuses!

Proudly featuring as part of the IGN Fan Fest Event, Turbo Kid appeared today on the world’s leading entertainment website, unveiling a shiny new game trailer and demo of the game!

Tech Review – New Bee M51 Wireless Bluetooth Headset

The New Bee M51 Wireless Bluetooth Headset is a handy headset for call and music and ideal for those on the go or those who work in an office environment with decent battery life and comes in a handy carry case which is on the larger size compared to earbuds.

Offering all functions you would find on earbuds this headset has access to your voice assistant you can control your calls and you can manage your music being able to skip and reverse tracks play and pause and higher and lower the volume.

The mic also has a silent button which also acts as your voice assistant button and all the controls are tactile and work well and well placed on the device.

The fit is secure and will not fall off your ear with good noise isolation due to the large tip on the but still comfortable and still fits well in the ear and comfortable to wear.

The main part of the headset is quite malleable and can be moved into any position for all ears as they all differ in size and shape so this will work on anyones ears.

Call quality is also decent and the music is too considering it is not intended for music so to speak but the sound is decent and well balanced although there is no app for me it does a decent job and serves not just as a tool to manage calls on the go but a well rounded audio device in general.

Check the video review below for a detailed look and how it works.

New Bee M51 in case with digital display – techbuzzireland

Specifications

Model:NB-M51

Bluetooth Version: 5.2  / Battery: 115mAh

Charging Box:500mAh (Charging 3 times) Talk Time: About 12 hours

Music Time: About 15 hours /  Standby Time: About 1440 hours

Charging Time: 2 hours / Transmission Distance: 15 meters

Microphones: Dual Microphones / Connection: Bluetooth/Connects to 2 cell phones simultaneously

Digital Display/ Sound Quality: HIFI

BUY

Video Review

LEGO Fortnite introduces Islands with two new LEGO themed experiences

The LEGO Group has today launched two all-new play experiences within Fortnite, for fans of all ages to discover and enjoy together.

‘LEGO Raft Survival’ and ‘LEGO Obby Fun’ are the first in a new series of play experiences within Fortnite, dubbed LEGO Islands, a series of kid and family-friendly LEGO-themed experiences that have been created using Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). They are available to play now within Fortnite, and are borne from favourite childhood memories of some of the LEGO Group’s own developers!

‘LEGO Raft Survival’ combines frenetic multiplayer problem solving with the classic LEGO Pirates theme, as the infamous Blackbeard challenges players and their friends to stay afloat on a raft in unfriendly waters! Players must survive on their raft against the cannon balls shot from the Barracuda Ship, collecting wood and treasures as resources and to build more rafts.

‘LEGO Obby Fun’ is the first official LEGO-themed obstacle course on Fortnite, that offers a LEGO-inspired take on climbing and problem solving through brick-built platforms designed by actual LEGO designers and packed with hot dogs, pizzas, unicorns and much more.

Players are spawned randomly on a section of course inspired by popular LEGO themes (including LEGO Friends, LEGO City, LEGO NINJAGO and LEGO DREAMZzz) and the experience offers a different challenge each time to put their skills to the test, either solo or with friends.

The two LEGO Islands are the first LEGO-themed experiences within Fortnite to follow 2023’s popular launch of LEGO Fortnite, an all-new survival crafting game where the magic of LEGO building and Fortnite collide. The LEGO Fortnite journey is just beginning, with new world building, gameplay features, and more LEGO Style Outfits arriving in updates throughout 2024.

LEGO Fortnite was the first play experience to come from the long term partnership between Epic Games and the LEGO Group to develop fun and safe digital spaces for children and families. All experiences in Fortnite, including LEGO Islands and LEGO Fortnite, utilize the Epic Games parental controls and safety features.

Players within Fortnite can experience LEGO Islands and LEGO Fortnite dressed in their favourite LEGO Styles, available from their Locker, bringing a new dynamic of LEGO fun to the creative games.

And there’s more to come – as the LEGO Group will unveil several more LEGO themed experiences inside Fortnite throughout 2024 and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to introduce players to the first of our creative and fun LEGO Islands series of play experiences within Fortnite,” said Kari Vinther Nielsen, Head of Play & Creator Growth at LEGO GAME. “The power of UEFN, in the hands of our creative teams, is what makes these experiences possible and allows us to expand new genres across Fortnite, infused with LEGO play. We can’t wait to introduce even more as the year goes on – this is only the beginning!”

Mozilla Rise25 awards hits Dublin this year

Mozilla’s Rise25 Awards are back for another inspiring year and now is your chance to nominate the people you believe are making a meaningful impact in your online community. Mozilla will be honoring 25 people who are leading that next wave of AI — who are using philanthropy, collective power, and the principles of open source to make sure the future of Ai is responsible, trustworthy, inclusive and centered around human dignity. 2024’s Awards will feature familiar categories from last year’s, but with a special emphasis on trustworthy AI.

2023 was indeed the year of AI, and as more people adopt it, we know it is a technology that will continue to impact our culture and society, act as a catalyst for innovation and creation, and be a medium to engage people from all walks of life in conversations thanks to its growing ubiquity in our everyday lives.

Mozilla is rising to the challenge through several key efforts: supporting AI builders as they take on the tech giants, introducing our own AI products in Firefox and beyond, and advocating for policies that prioritize human interest over corporate agendas. By recognizing and celebrating the people who are shaping the web today, we are contributing to a positive future for all. We know we cannot do this alone: At Mozilla, we believe the most groundbreaking innovations emerge when people from diverse backgrounds unite to collaborate and openly trade ideas.

Five winners will be selected from each of the below categories, to make up our 2024 Rise25 cohort:

Advocates – Guiding AI towards a responsible future

These are the policymakers, activists, and thinkers ensuring AI is developed ethically, inclusively, and transparently. This category also includes those who are adept at translating complex AI concepts for the broader public — including journalists, content creators, and cultural commentators. They champion digital rights and accessible AI, striving to make AI a force for societal good.

Builders – Developing AI through ethical innovation

They are the architects of trustworthy AI, including engineers and data scientists dedicated to developing AI’s open-source language infrastructure. They focus on technical proficiency and responsible and ethical construction. Their work ensures AI is secure, accessible, and reliable, aiming to create tools that empower and advance society.

Artists – Reimagining AI’s creative potential

They transcend traditional AI applications, like synthesizing visuals or using large language models. Their projects, whether interactive websites, films, or digital media, challenge our perceptions and demonstrate how AI can amplify and empower human creativity. Their work provokes thought and offers fresh perspectives on the intersection of AI and art.

Entrepreneurs – Fueling AI’s evolution with visionary ventures

These daring individuals are transforming imaginative ideas into reality. They’re crafting businesses and solutions with AI to meet societal needs, improve everyday life and forge new technological paths. They embody innovation, steering startups and projects with a commitment to ethical standards, inclusiveness and enhancing human welfare through technology.

Change Agents – Cultivating inclusive AI

They are challengers that lead the way in diversifying AI, bringing varied community voices into tech. They focus on inclusivity in AI development, ensuring technology serves and represents everyone, especially those historically excluded from the tech narrative. They are community leaders, corporate leaders, activists and outside-the-box thinkers finding ways to amplify the impacts of AI for marginalized communities. Their work fosters an AI environment of equality and empowerment.

This year’s awards build upon the success of last year’s programming and community event in Berlin, which brought to life what a future trustworthy Internet could look like. Last year’s event crowned trailblazers and visionaries across five distinct categories: Builders, Activists, Artists, Creators, and Advocates. (Psst! Stay tuned as we unveil their inspiring stories in a video series airing across Mozilla channels throughout the year, leading up to the 2024 Rise25 Awards!)

Why hold the event in Dublin?

Ireland’s history of questioning norms and cultivating independent thought resonates deeply with Mozilla’s mission and our ethos of challenging the default. This tradition carries through to today: Ireland boasts one of the world’s most vibrant tech sectors, and Dublin is its beating heart. With a rich cultural heritage, renowned for its impactful storytelling through literature, music, theater, and film, Dublin provides the perfect setting to explore diverse perspectives and spark creative exchange at Rise25.

So join them as they honor the innovators, advocates, entrepreneurs, and communities who are working to build a happier, healthier web. Click here to submit your nomination today!