How Technology is helping TUH during the COVID-19 Pandemic #TUH #COVID19Ireland

In recent weeks Tallaght University Hospital has introduced numerous new digital solutions to assist patient care and also enable patients and their families keep in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic. New technology combined with existing innovation has been put in place to support hospital staff communicating with colleagues in order to efficiently treat and diagnose patients as well as helping them provide support for community settings such as hospices and nursing homes.

Speaking about the impact COVID-19 is having on patients and staff, David Wall, Director of ICT at TUH said, “Last December the Hospital launched a five year strategy with a heavy emphasis on Digital Enabled Care, we did not realise that we would be introducing so many elements of that care within a few weeks. With the support of an incredible team of ICT, medical, nursing and Health and Social Care Professional staff the Hospital has been able to introduce a number of new innovations in the Hospital very quickly. The use of this technology is proving to be critical in supporting our response to patients’ needs during this challenging time.  Combined with technology already in use in the Hospital, over the last number of weeks we have been enabling safe and efficient communication between colleagues as well as patients and their families.  Advances in ICT at TUH have facilitated a number of ‘firsts’ for the Hospital including an online interactive lecture series using Zoom, medical teams being able to consult with colleagues using wearable cameras, remote monitoring and virtual visiting.”

Donations from companies, volunteer groups such as Covid4comfort.org and gift cards from Amazon have helped TUH enhance the technology being used in the Hospital.  In ICU and Theatre, Echo Show devices enable two-way video calling so clinicians can consult with team members on video, rather than in person therefore reducing the level of foot traffic into a restricted area. The Hospital is also trialling voice activated, hands free devices that will also enabling communication between patients and their families over Skype.

Commenting on the assisted technology, Prof Paul Ridgway, Consultant Surgeon and Perioperative Director at TUH said, “The smart speaker technology enables our carers to more effectively communicate masked-face to masked-face. I have been very impressed how using Alexa has facilitated very effective staff to staff communications, reducing the need to enter areas where PPE is required saving both time and stock of PPE.”

Redzinc, an Irish based technology company have also donated five pairs of video glasses to TUH for six months. The wearable, point of view, wireless headsets are enabling medical teams to interact with each other in real time in order to diagnose and treat patients.

Dr. Peter Lavin, Consultant Nephrologist and Clinical Director of the Medical Directorate of TUH said, “The Redzinc glasses have been extremely useful and enable us to step into a clinical situation as if we were there. We are using them in theatre, the ED and ICU and they are helping us to reduce footfall into critical areas with vulnerable patients.”

IPad’s been placed on all wards to help patients keep in contact with family and friends at a time when visiting is restricted in the Hospital. The iPads are housed in c leanable, healthcare compliant cases and have been set up with Skype, Facetime and Google Hangout.

Áine Lynch, Director of Nursing at TUH said, “Maintaining a human connection with friends and family is vitally important for our patients and their loved ones. In the absence of face to face visiting, virtual connection has become so important. The nursing staff are helping patients use the technology so they can see as much of their families and friends as possible during this time.”

As one of the two main teaching hospitals of Trinity College Dublin, the hospital specialises in the training and development of staff in the community and so Age-Related Healthcare at TUH have collaborated with the All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care to deliver an interactive virtual lecture series for nursing home staff to update them on changing guidelines and provide clinical education in order to enhance care. Four lectures have been delivered to date with an average of between 300 and 600 participants. Participants can submit questions in real time and themes are identified and answered by panellists.

Speaking about the innovative lecture series, Dr. Dan Ryan, Consultant Geriatrician at TUH said, “We have made the series as interactive as possible and the majority of the hour is dedicated to an open Q&A to provide a platform for answering practical questions that arise from staff. Nursing homes have traditionally been geographically cut-off from centres of learning and this current COVID crisis has exposed a historical lack of education investment provided to care homes”.

Other panellists have included TUH Consultants; Dr. John Cullen, Respiratory Consultant, Dr. Anna Rose Prior, Microbiologist, Prof. Sean Kennelly, Geriatrician with frequent panellist attendance from Dr. Stephen Higgins and Dr. Cliona Lorton, Palliative Care Consultants at TUH and Our Lady’s Hospice along with Claire Noonan, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Older Persons at TUH.

The Hospital Robot Doctor, LUCY, has continued to provide invaluable help during ward rounds to support staff and patients during the pandemic. To help support staff, a number of which are now working in locations outside of the Hospital or redeployed within the Hospital, a staff app has been developed to ensure they are kept up to date with hospital news. Pastoral Care have also launched a video service, “Chat with the Chaplain” enabling chaplains to virtually visit patients and can be access through mobile phone or email.

During this Pandemic, the Hospital is also supporting the care of over 1,000 residents in 14 local nursing homes.  This sector has been particularly severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the TUH specialist team to support these services has used technology to facilitate communication and clinical review. Prof Sean Kennelly, Consultant Geriatrician at TUH said “Unfortunately nursing homes have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, with many residents becoming unwell. We have developed a telehealth outreach service for general practitioners and directors of nursing to our local residential care facilities, including video-consultations to support care in place. The multidisciplinary team has managed over 400 contacts in the last six-weeks, and this link to a specialist service has been essential in supporting these care facilities during a very challenging time.”

Irish millennials lead the swing towards cashless payments. #Payments #Cashless

The Irish are – per capita – leading the globe towards a cashless system. Unfortunately for us, this might not be a good thing. 

Irish business and consumers alike are more cashless than ever thanks to the latter’s expectations of commerce. The fact is cash is diminishing as a payment method globally, and indeed Ireland might just be the number one nation employing digital payments within the next few years. By all credible accounts, Sweden currently carries the title of the world’s most cashless society based on GDP, but adoption in Ireland is continuing apace. 

When it comes to future predictions of which nation will emerge as the one most at home with cashless payments, uptake rates and practical application are key, and Ireland is at the forefront. This has produced some interesting (and challenging) scenarios for business at large, and there’s a palpable perception that so-called ‘old school’ business practices – especially in retail – are going to lose or are already losing customers if they’re not implementing digital payment methods.

Cashless convenience is a ‘sidegrade’ for Irish business

Rather than a downgrade (losing tech, capacity or the ability to service clients) or an upgrade (spending extensively on rebuilding customer management systems from scratch), going cashless for Irish businesses is a ‘sidegrade.’ In other words, the ‘problem’ of going cashless in business is a nice problem to solve. For those businesses taking the plunge, it’s relatively easy to effect and a continuous joy to use thereafter. After all, it implies doing less – no cash box, drop safe, or banking of cash; and it removes the prospect of being swindled with counterfeit or robbed when carrying cash.

Oddly enough, it’s often very large and very small businesses that still need to enact a cashless option. Furthermore, specific sectors or industries tend to lean towards cashless payments or, on the other hand, lag in their implementation. Retail is the most seamless in application, being the coalface for interaction with consumers. That said, B2B transactions often quickly adopt modern consumer conveniences, too. As any IT company in London, Dublin, or New York can attest, implementing systems to render cashless transactions is a regular and growing component of their daily work. For example, UK cash payments have dipped from above 60 percent in the noughties to around 40 percent today. If this trend continues, only around 20 percent of payments will be cash in the country by 2030. Ireland might race ahead a little, being predominantly cashless within five years.

Are there really advantages for a cashless business?

The short answer is yes. 

Whatever the reasons driving cashless transacting – if you offer it, you’re not alienating potential clients. As cashless payments become increasingly commonplace, any business (especially those dealing with consumers) will want to offer the facility of doing so to avoid losing sales. With online shopping being the flagship that’s driving expectations around purchases, consumers are used to super-fast and hassle-free buying.

Adding cashless payment options provides needed and good diversity, rather than the typical ‘fluff’ businesses often add on to themselves when jostling in the marketplace. It’s easy to see how in the next decade or two, every retailer – from the local newsstand to SuperValu – will likely offer all payment options possible, and this will become the norm and standard expectation. Remember when online shopping was a dangerously unfamiliar arena and involved waiting up to three weeks for delivery? Commerce has been working furiously to narrow that gap, and has done so fairly successfully by (partly) driving the swing to cashless transacting. 

Amazon might be the epitome, launching a drone to ship goods speedily, but they’re nothing if not indicative of the consumer service ethic that’s pushing businesses all over the globe. That push seems symbiotic with being cashless and helps to inform it. Some obvious commercial beneficiaries of a cashless economy would be restaurants and those in hospitality who no longer need to keep cash on the premises late at night. Any business with a busy supply chain needed to produce its product or service could win back several hours in their day, too, and all businesses that see large volume will see their insurance premiums dip if there’s no cash on premises.

The significant benefit to all business is that mobile, digital payment potentially provides plenty of customer data to use at your discretion (within GDPR guidelines, of course). Not only will it deliver what payment option they prefer, but what they bought, how often they’re in-store, what they’re buying and how much their overall spend is. That’s meaty intel for any marketer, and will go towards refining presentation and ultimately the consumer experience. As a wholly immersed generation carries their digital acumen into their daily lives, more businesses will need to offer cashless options in order to serve the majority coming through the doors.

Review – The Gaston Luga PÄRLAN backpack for women. #anywherewithGL #Tech #GastonLuga

With a vast variety of bags and backpacks out there today we are spoilt for choice when it comes to carrying our goods but how they look is another matter and the materials used, Recently we checked out the Praper backpack but this time is the ladies turn as we check out the Parlan backpack which comes in a range of colours and is affordable at €99 and looks great too. You also get bag a free 2020 Limited Edition Plånkan Cardholder.

This bag would be considered a bit smaller than the average but still boasts great looks and functionality making it more usable than you might think with two front pockets a secret back pocket and a padded internal pocket to to house your chromebook or netbook with ease and anything up to an A5 sized documents so for the college goer or office folk this is something you perhaps might want to check out as it looks really well and current and looks more expensive than you pay for it.

Pärlan is made from comfortable, lightweight and water-resistant nylon, durable enough go with you anywhere. The inside is compact, but still with enough room for all your daily necessities, and a special compartment that holds up to A5-sized documents. It’s designed with a comfortable fit, and security in mind, with a hidden back pocket where you can store your most precious valuables.

You can also get a 15 % discount using the code TECHBUZZ

BUY HERE 

First look and unboxing. The Groov-e ZEN Wireless headphones with ANC. #Headphones #Tech

A new pair of cans have arrived and this time from Groov-e who make great tech affordable and having test most of their products I can stand by them easily with the feature set you get for the money you pay in comparison to more expensive brands.

The Zen wireless headphones are ideal for those who want an affordable headset packed with all the latest technology. Active Noise Cancelling reduces unwanted ambient sound to provide an immersive listening experience whilst 40mm drivers handle heavy beats well and can reproduce a full range of frequencies so music can be heard as it was intended. Featuring premium, soft foam earpads the Zen headphones also ensure a comfortable listening experience at all times. If you have any questions in the interim as always feel free to ask.

The Groov-e Zen Wireless Headphones are £54.99 available now from www.groov-e.co.uk.

Everyone can play music thanks to the JOUE PLAY INSTRUMENT.. #Music #Tech #JouePlay

Joué Music Instruments, an innovative French-based music company plans to launch its next-generation instrument called Joué Play on popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter starting today. Joué aims to democratize music creation via engaging music instruments and a user-friendly app. 

Designed by Pascal Joguet, co-creator of the multi-touch Lemur controller made popular by artists such as Daft Punk and Nine Inch Nails, the Joué Play is a series of modular instruments that can turn even an amateur music lover into a creative musician. Three years ago, Joué launched its first MIDI controller aimed at seasoned musicians now used by many artists throughout the world today. 

The second generation Joué Play is specifically designed for amateur musicians looking for an easy, fun way to create meaningful music without complexity. Joué Play then introduces budding artists to a whole new way to share and co-create music with others. Crafted in France from sustainable materials Joué Play was designed by experienced musicians to please both touch and ear. 

“We wanted to eliminate the frustration of all people who do not play an instrument because of the complexity of the art. We are therefore delighted to offer simple and fun Joué instruments to a new generation of musicians. “says Joué founder and CEO Pascal Joguet. “At the crossroads of electronic machines and traditional instruments, we have created new types of instruments which encompass the power & ease of the digital world coupled with the expressivity and beauty of the traditional one.” 

Made of natural Beech wood, the Play board supports swappable silicone pads that resemble piano keys, guitar neck, synth keyboard or drum pads in addition to being easy to use: simply plug Joué Play into your tablet or smartphone, launch the app, and start making music. Joué Play’s colourful pads reminiscent of your favourite instruments make the experience fun regardless of music skill level. 

 

Perfect for parents who want their kids to get into music in a simple, fun way. Aspiring musicians alike can make a beat, add a deep pad sound, then switch to a distorted guitar solo in a snap and share it online via the dedicated app which allows you to play, record and make loops on the fly. 

Joué players can then share their music online and even collaborate with others. Easy to carry in a backpack, Joué Play allows creators to make music, jam with friends, practice on the road, or just have fun anywhere. 

Joué Play has won a 2020 CES Innovation Award and was named by TIME MAGAZINE, WIRED and Techcrunch as one of the best new products of CES 2020. 

Music lovers will have a chance to reserve their Joué Play via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that opens to backers starting now, and runs until June 8th, 2020. Backers will have a chance to purchase the entire bundle which includes the Joué board and four instrument pads (drums, piano, guitar, and synthesizer) for a low $289. 

WhatsApp popular in Europe but Irish prefer Zoom during the COVID pandemic. #Messaging #Apps #Zoom #WhatsApp

Over the last few weeks the use of Messaging apps has surged due to the covid pandemic and has changed the way we communicate for some and some apps in particular have seen an astronomical rise in use such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Video messaging is a huge thing today and may be the norm for some time to come yet and could be a new move going forward in how we communicate which might make some businesses rethink their strategy.

Our friends at picodi have sent over this study to showcase what apps are being used

In 14 countries — including Ireland — the most popular messaging client was Zoom. The interest in this app skyrocketed mostly in the northern European countries (United Kingdom, Norway), in some Baltic countries (Lithuania, Estonia), as well as in Ukraine and Moldavia.

Skype gained popularity in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Greece. Similar to Skype, Viber and Microsoft Teams ruled only in four countries. The popularity of both messaging clients increased in the Balkans. Microsoft Teams won in Liechtenstein and Viber ranked first in Belarus. Denmark was the only country where Google Meet took first place among other messaging clients.

See the full report HERE 

co:dublin launches to support local Dublin businesses during Covid-19. #supportlocal #codublin #business

co:dublin has launched it’s directory of local Dublin restaurants, cafes, shops, and other services around the city that have adapted their business offerings to stay operating during the Covid-19 shut down.

co:dublin is a 100% volunteer based project, set up as more and more local businesses struggle to stay operating and keep staff. The directory lists businesses lucky enough to be able to adapt online and service their customers throughout the lockdown by switching to a delivery or takeout service, offering gift vouchers, or streaming online classes.

The site already lists 36 local businesses including cafes like 3fe, who are now re-opening within social distancing parameters as well as restaurants like BuJo Burger and Fallon & Byrnes who are now delivering meals and drinks while everyone stays at home. Health and wellness studios like Flux Lab, and Reformation are featured as they have been able to move classes online.

The site also lists Vouch For, another Irish non-profit launched by Recroot founders, Cian Farrell and Nev Flynn. Vouch For allows customers to purchase digital vouchers for their favorite restaurants around Ireland that can be redeemed at a later date when business returns to usual.

co:dublin was launched by Web Summit VP, Aoileann Ni Chuilleanain, Web Summit alumni, and now early-stage investor at Techstars Investments, Declan Kelly, and product designer Jaqueline Chen both based out of Berlin.

“We got in touch with Jaqueline Chen and set up co:dublin as we know how integral local businesses are to the cultural and social fiber of our community. Small business owners in Dublin have been incredibly creative adapting to social distancing and government guidelines. They’re working endlessly to keep their businesses operating in some capacity and keep their staff employed. – says co:dublin host, Aoileann Ni Chuilleanain.

She adds – “We want co:dublin to drive as much local support online to those who had worked so hard to set up shop in the first place and help them survive. Covid-19 is testing them greatly and hopefully, co:dublin and Vouchfor can play a part in supporting them”. 

Useful links:

co:dublin website: http://www.codublin.co/

co:dublin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codublinco/

Vouch For website: https://www.vouchfor.ie/

Vouch For Twitter: https://twitter.com/vouch_for

Vouch For Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vouch_for/

ACTAFUN launches virtual activities during COVID lockdown in Ireland and more. #ACTAFUN #VirtualActivities

It’s been weeks since we’ve all been stuck at home, some working from home, some have taken exercise to another level while others are binge-watching everything and anything. We are in need of human connection more than ever and we are in need of experiences, “Unforgettable experiences” to be exact. Why ?..because we are social beings, so the need for doing new things, experimenting and creating unforgettable memories with the people that we love and care about is in our nature. 

 

Unfortunately, activities (indoor and outdoor), meetups, travelling, and other basic human necessities have been temporarily taken away from all of us when COVID-19 began. Knowing the impact of this lockdown and self-quarantine phase on people’s psyche and their need to be social and bond with others, the activities booking platform  “ActaFun.com” had a pivot to align with our sudden reality and quickly launched virtual activities, providing us with unique experiences. 

 

What do we mean by virtual activities? – these are activities that users can do from the comfort of their homes while respecting the social distance safety guidelines. 

Online Jiujitsu and Self-defence classes by Jaqueline Almeida, every Wednesday (6:30 pm) and Saturday (11 am). This class will teach you useful self-defence and escape techniques improve your muscle memory and to protect you when in a difficult situations  https://actafun.com/activity-details/287 

Are you a coffee lover that is missing their favourite coffee spot during this quarantine period? We have top quality home brewing coffee classes By Matt Coade – The Best seller Cafe’s head barista https://actafun.com/activity-details/279

Dance, tone up, burn calories and learn some amazing moves for your post quarantine nights out with AfroDance provided by Kareen SK from the Caribbean islands (Dominica/ Guadeloupe). https://actafun.com/activity-details/289

Dave O’Dwyer will be hosting his famous laughter Yoga classes. Besides being easy to do, laughter yoga can help to reduce stress, encourage a more positive outlook, and help you feel more refreshed and energetic, in other words, “its great crack” https://actafun.com/activity-details/284

The activities above have been the most popular ones, there’re are more free and paid online activities like juggling classes, Fitness classes available on Actafun.com 

 

All virtual activities are bookable internationally through ActaFun’s website (ACTAFUN.COM) and their App, with classes taking place on Zoom.  Now you can book an experience for you and your friends/family in Spain, Canada, Ghana, New Zealand or anywhere in the world (with Wifi access of course) and have a great laugh with them regardless of where you all are. Use the code “LetsHaveFun” to get 20% off any of their paid virtual activities in this article. 

 

If you have a unique skill or teach a class that you would like to host on ActaFun, send an email to their virtual project manager Andrew@actafun.com.  

How to create an effective business continuity plan. #Business #IT #CyberAttack #DisasterRecovery

Business continuity plans have come to mean instructions or procedures any business should follow in the face of a successful ransomware or other cyberattack. Although IT issues are often the most debilitating when it comes to getting things back to normal, ‘business continuity’ anticipates and includes responses to other disasters, like fire, flood and theft, too.

There are business processes, partners and suppliers, human capital, data and other assets to protect in the event of a disaster. While each dark episode in the life of a company will be unique in certain aspects, enterprise can avail itself of an essential toolkit – the business continuity plan – when things go wrong. Always variable and often unexpected, business calamities demand a strategy for the maintenance of business as usual, regardless of how unusual circumstances might be in the moment.

That strategy will optimise continuity and minimise negative implications, resulting in an overall minimisation of longer-term repercussions on business profitability. It’s often grisly and as often demanding of sudden decisions that are extraneous to the core plan, but the core plan is essential as a guidebook for the promptest and least stressful restoration of business, in order to maintain cash flow and overall profitability. Force majeure events (the Covid 19 lockdown is a classic example), physical destruction or damage to business premises, or a wholesale sacking of company data are all events capable of ending business for good. The stakes are high, and the fittest companies have a ready template of action for such dark moments.

Business continuity plans and Disaster Recovery (DR)

Disaster Recovery (DR) centres on restoring IT systems after a ransomware or other cyberattack. Often confused with a business continuity plan, DR protocols may well be the most important component of a business continuity plan, yet they remain but one component of an overall plan.

 

With that said, it’s common to modern enterprise that almost nothing can be resolved without IT in place and running smoothly, hence the need to develop a reliable business continuity plan template with IT support well ahead of time. Business continuity is absolutely essential to map out while it’s still completely unnecessary. On the plus side, IT architecture lends itself to backup and security, and with typical Irish zeal and prowess in the arena, a detailed and ultimately successful continuity plan with adept DR protocols can be effectively formulated ahead of any possible disaster.

IT considerations for a business continuity plan

  • Storage. Where and how is data stored? What are the alternatives on access and/or storage if that particular access door closes? A company needs to know exactly how it will access what data it needs to roll on without hiccupping in the event of a complete denial of access or loss (removal) of working data.

 

  • Who are the key personnel in making IT continuity happen, and what are their responsibilities? It might seem a stupid question, but do they then have the authority or clearance (with accompanying credentials) to act on their responsibilities? Disaster recovery is a moment of unusual trust and professional performance – everyone needs to understand that, be equipped, and up to the task.
  • In the event of hardware damage or loss, where are new machines coming from, what or how much is needed to tie them into current daily operations, and what aspects of the current IT system or systems might snag on replacements of this nature?

Some broader considerations for business continuity plans

  • Manufacturing, sales and deliveries or service provision, as well as HR considerations feature in any decent business recovery template. How will normal comms evolve (or dissolve) during recovery? Would majority remote work be best, or perhaps a secondary location should be established that ultimately costs less and facilitates more in the event of a calamity? What functions can be contracted out?

 

  • To answer all the above questions, a business impact analysis will have been tabled and tested for validity way ahead of genuine disaster striking a company. This analysis will identify the most crucial aspects to maintain business continuity. A business impact analysis acknowledges vulnerabilities and doubles down on safeguarding these, while also looking at cost implications on all aspects of the business – what it will cost to put in place and what it might cost when absent. Generally, the latter costs a whole lot more in a typical disaster scenario.

Testing, testing, one two three

Disaster Recovery may be well-sorted by IT support in the event of catastrophe, but any successful, comprehensive business continuity plan has to factor in what happens with people and processes, too. Quite remarkably, the way in which a company performs under such adversity can often enhance client relations and go towards an overall greater profitability in the future. If ever there was a test of a business’ professionalism and real caring, it’s what it does and how it handles its clients in the event of disaster.

Effective disaster management can elevate a company’s reputation and generate an immense amount of goodwill, too. Being prepared and making the best of getting back on track can increase any company’s listed market value, plus boost customer numbers and overall confidence.

Such effective behaviour must include testing. Testing of a mock wholesale collapse of systems, testing of alternative (disaster) protocols, and testing of everyone’s ability to keep the wheels turning in a trial scenario. It might seem silly when everything is going well – much like those school drills that practise fire alarm responses – but testing a business continuity plan is as essential as formulating it in the first place. Companies that discover gaps in their contingency plans while suffering catastrophe are unlikely to be around afterwards. Testing allows for improvements and the fine tuning of the continuity strategy details. 

The business impact assessment informs the drafting of the business continuity plan. That plan contains the DR component and goes on to address all aspects of the business. And it’s in the testing – regularly and repeatedly – that an enterprise will ready itself to survive even wholesale shutdowns or failures, and go on to a better future.