Galway-based EnteraSense secures €3.5m funding through Horizon 2020 and private investment. #MedTech #EnteraSense

Galway-based medtech startup EnteraSense has achieved a double milestone, raising €1 million in a Seed round as well as securing €2.5 million through one of the latest European Union Horizon 2020 grants.

The combined €3.5 million will be used to help commercialise EnteraSense’s technology, build the team to nine members, and further the field of diagnostics.

Founded by serial entrepreneur and CEO, Donal Devery, EnteraSense has developed a capsule that can detect bleeding in the gastrointestional tract. Post surgical patients who are at risk of further bleeding can have the capsule attached to their stomach to monitor and detect bleeding and thus ensure they get appropriate and quick treatment if needed. To complement this, patients who present in ER and have suspected GI bleeding can swallow the capsule for a quick and easy diagnosis. This will mitigate unnecessary endoscopies which are invasive and in a lot of circumstances unnecessary.

Devery, along with EnteraSense MD, Daragh Sharkey and Programme Manager Chiara Di Carlo, has licenced the groundbreaking technology from Harvard University in Boston. The NDRC-backed company has successfully run initial trials to prove and validate the capsule. EnteraSense will move towards ‘First in Human’ studies by Q3 2019 and hope to be commercial with FDA and CE approval by mid 2020.

The two-year, H2020 EIC-FTI project grant – itself valued at €3.55m – is spread across four parties, with EnteraSense leading the research. Anecto, also based in Galway, Steripack (Poland) and a hospital in the Czech Republic are the other members of the project and will add significant expertise and value to the overall project aim of launching the product for patient use by mid 2020.

Each of these parties have specific and quantified deliverables with the overall goal of commercialising EnteraSense’s technology, and this grant significantly accelerates this process.

NDRC invested in EnteraSense in 2016, providing an integrated offering of knowledge, experience, expertise and a modest amount of capital to help EnteraSense attract follow-on investment. This initial funding validated the project and allowed EnteraSense to leverage the reputation of NDRC to attract further investment from valued shareholders.

EnteraSense’s current investor base includes physicians from the USA, a private equity fund based in Ireland, a Dubai based strategic investor and local Galway business people.

Donal Devery, founder of EnteraSense: “We want to improve patient outcomes and drive cost down for the health system. Each process and function within the deliverables associated with the grant will help us achieve this goal.

“The fact that physicians are among our investors shows just how exciting EnteraSense’s product is. The EU’s backing only underlines that.”

Daragh Sharkey, MD, EnteraSense: “The most important aspect of this grant is that the European Union has independently validated our project. EnteraSense ranked 4th out of 200+ entries and this shows the potential and value of the project.

“We are lucky to have such a strong and visionary team behind this project and now it is complimented by very focused and committed partners who believe in our vision and technology. This is further re-in forced by the early stage investors who we have on board.”

Dr Matt Ben, Gastrointestinal Physician New York, investor in EnteraSense: “As a GastroIntestinal physician, I could immediately see the potential of this unique technology. Upper GastroIntestinal bleeding has a high mortality rate and can cause serious problems for patients and a solution to mitigate this is very welcome.

Get a 20% discount on your next purchase with @noreve and us. #tech #noreve #TECHBUZZ20 #Mobile

We have just started a new year and many of us will have got a brand new shiny mobile phone or tablet for Christmas. We have been using cases from Noreve some years now and they are a premium case and each one is hand-made and comes in a wide range of colours and text textures to suit everyone’s needs.

 

We have teamed up with Noreve and can now offer you a 20% discount in your next purchase throughout their store and there is plenty to choose from. All you need to do is enter the code TECHBUZZ20 at the checkout to get your special discount. This is on offer from January 6th right through till the 20th of January.

Currently we are checking the Leather case for the Google Pixel 3XL which you can find HERE or you can just browse through their store HERE and the beautiful hand made cases on offer.

 

Zoi Launches Real-Time Translation for International Meetups, Showcasing at #CES2019 #ZOI #AI

The need to remove language barriers has never been greater. According to a 2018 survey of international meeting professionals by Successful Meetings, international meetings 94% believe that the number of international meetings will either increase or stay the same over the next twelve months; 94% also responded that the budget for international meetings will also either increase or stay the same during the same time period. It’s no surprise that 49% of professional international meeting planners identify “communications / language barriers” as the “most challenging aspect.”

Meeting veterans clearly agree that language barriers are hugely challenging — and the resulting “cultural misunderstandings” can sabotage any change of an effective communication channel.

Creating a Better Platform
Companies know that expanding their operations and influence globally requires a workforce that can communicate effectively in multiple languages; however, roughly two-thirds of business executives surveyed by Forbes Insights said that less than half of their employees have professional proficiency in more than one language. So having a multilingual team, while an ideal solution, is not always the most realistic for many companies operating globally. 

Nick Yap, CEO of Zoi, says that his company is poised to ease the challenge of multi-language meetings and presentations: “We are offering real-time translation and searchable transcription records all under one roof.”

Zoi will be launching its AI-powered software assistant in January at the CES Show 2019 in Las Vegas at Eureka Park / Holland Pavilion, Hall G 51726, stand 25, Sands Convention Center (Tech West) and it will be deployed by the event’s organization during all plenary sessions in Holland Pavilion. 

Its combined features of live-subtitling, auto translation and storage serve to remove language barriers, create a shared knowledge center and save both time and misunderstandings for those looking to maximize their meeting efficiency on the global stage. Please visit www.zoimeet.com for more information, including pricing options. Offerings range from trial version, to Organization or Professional Subscription.

Lifesum launches Google Assistant app, allowing users to log food and water with their voice. #Lifesum #Apps

Lifesum (www.lifesum.com), the Swedish digital health company with 30 million users, today announces the launch of its Google Assistant app, allowing users to log meals, water intake, and body weight quicker and easier than ever before – by simply using their voice. This news is for immediate release

Lifesum is the first app of its type to provide voice functionality for on-the-go, hands-free tracking, which is designed to provide users with an even greater understanding of their diet by encouraging them to log more of what they eat and drink, with more details of a meal to be inputted within the Lifesum app at a convenient time.

The voice tracking capability, which works on a variety of devices including Google Home, Android phones and iPhones, is activated when a user says: “Hey Google, talk to Lifesum”, allowing them to track the following:

  • Meals and snacks – Logs both in a variety of sizes. Lifesum will provide tips based upon the size of the meal logged, e.g. suggesting advice on how to alleviate heartburn if a large meal has been logged.

  • Water – Track water intake by saying “Track a glass of water” or “Add three bottles of water”.

  • Weight – Update Lifesum with their body weight at any time, invaluable for those who want to lose, gain, or maintain their weight.

The company also announces the introduction of brand new daily Challenges, which are tasks presented to users based on their own dietary needs and targets.

To keep on track to hit their targets, users can vocally ask for an overview of their progress and be presented with the number of calories they have consumed that day, how many are needed to reach their target, their last recorded body weight, and their weight goals.

 

Study by Targus reveals UK as the most unfit country in Europe. #Targus #Fitness #Tech

Targus – a global leader in mobile accessories – has carried out research revealing that workers in the UK have the worst fitness habits in Europe. Results showed that over half of the nation admitted they struggle to fit in exercise around their working lives and an alarming 10% admitted to doing no exercise at all – the highest percentage compared to any other country.

The survey – conducted by OnePoll and carried out in seven countries across Europe – uncovered the key factors that are restricting people from living more active lifestyles, with a poor work/life balance and stress cited as the main reason by consumers.

Given a large part of the Dutch workforce pursues a healthy work/life balance with an average four-day working week, it comes as no surprise that respondents from The Netherlands topped the charts as the most active European country, with 45% of people exercising four times a week or more. Similarly, the Dutch also appeared to have a more positive work/life balance, with 70% claiming they do not struggle to find time to exercise.

Raphael De Perlinghi, EMEA Director at Targus, said: “People are nowadays far more aware of both the physical and mental health benefits an active lifestyle brings. However, these survey findings show there are still many people across a number of countries that are struggling to engage in regular exercise, due to both a lack of time and stress. With Targus’ Work and Play range of backpacks specifically designed for professionals looking to include sport into their daily routines, we wanted to offer the ideal accessory that essentially combines work and life.”

No gender gap in the gym

When it comes to the frequency of exercise among the sexes, men and women are just as health conscious across the continent with two thirds of men (67%) and women (64%) carrying out some form of activity at least twice a week.

There was, on the other hand, a contrast when it came to accessorising for the gym, with men (74%) much more likely to exercise if they can fit their work and gym stuff into just one bag, compared to women (59%).

De Perlinghi added: “The research revealed that men are far more swayed by convenience when it comes to exercise, especially when it comes to gym gear. We factor these requests into the design and creation of our products in order to deliver what is sought after in the market – our Work and Play collection carries not just your tech, but your gym stuff too, so you no longer have an excuse for not pursuing that before or after work exercise!”

Review – Littlebits Base Inventor kit. #Tech #Kids #Education #LittleBits

The introductory base inventor kit from LittleBits includes everything creative kids need to turn their ideas into inventions! With relevant parts and gadgets such as sensors, battery’s and light plus much more the inventor kit brings a whole new level of education to kids in the fields of (engineering, science, technology, art, mathematics) this kit will help them improve and learn new skills for these types of subjects/fields it does it using the simple yet very well laid out designs and videos that also make it easier to follow on the app teaching the kids to build and develop their technical skills and also building skills.

There are over 12 inventions in the kit and a free app guide to help the kids through the fun inventions would also be a very good family activity for parents to do with their kids.  Building fun inventions, like a voice-activated robotic gripper arm or a room-protecting Intruder alarm. Then kids are challenged to create their own inventions to improve their room, community, Etc. They gain a lifelong skill that will improve their future and they also do it by having fun and taking part in the building activity.

Product features:

  • Include in-app instructions for over 12 activities.
  • Tech sensors,
  • paper templates for each activity,
  • 2 mounting boards,
  • LED light,
  • motor,
  • stickers,
  • free inventor app
  • Battery.

Product specifications:

  • Skill Level Beginner and upwards.
  • Educational Objective(s) (sensors, lights and templates..
  • Assembly Required No.
  • Batteries Required? Yes.
  • Batteries Included? Yes.

First use & packaging of the inventor kit

The first impression of the boxes is nice packaging but not very well laid out to what the idea is as is a lot going on the front and back of the box but is a nice size for the amount in it.Very easy to open this packaging as in this kit it is only a matter of sliding the main box out and everything inside is nicely organised and placed inside the box with the instructions placed on the top as seen below.

Labelled clearly like in the pictures and the app will show a picture of the template needed they are labelled at the top..

Template #1 – Template #12 – The labelling on all the paper cut-outs listed.

App & App instructions to make an invention

This app is available on any smartphone or smart device.

First look when the app opens:

The Littlebits Inventor kit had an easy layout, simple and quick to follow. This was thought out and designed clear and simple to follow. The bright colours give a very good outlook purple contrasting with the plain white background in an eye-catching way. The colours would keep your attention and interest.

Some Inventions available to make on the app
The steps to making one of the inventions:

The invention made below is invention number 1 which is called stuff protector. The App will show pictures of parts needed to build this invention and guide the user step by step through the building process both by picture and video.

All the paper templates to make the different inventions
Grab Template 5 below
Follow the video the app plays of folding the lines when next is pressed

Once the video is followed the template is done & the circuit can build.
Parts needed for the circuit

Video for building circuit snips

Then the invention can be then put together.

The above shows a completed invention. The downloaded the app is filled with some educational slides of information about the parts that are used in the process.  The parts were clearly laid out with a video making the building process a lot easier.  The app is a great visual aid, beneficial and useful.

Some pictures of the inventions made:

Compared Kits:

 

                        Base Inventor Kit Kit Electronic Music Inventor Space Rover Inventor Kit
Recommended Age 8+ 8+ 8+
No. of Activities 12+ 12+ 30+
Feature Bits proximity sensor, servo, sound trigger keyboard, oscillator, speaker, accelerometer 2 DC motors, light sensor, Bluetooth control hub, servo
Great For New Inventors Music Lovers Space Buffs
In – App Instructions ✓ ✓ ✓

 

Note: Not suitable for children under 8 years.

Conclusion:

The Littlebits Inventor kit is an educational kit for kids aged 10 and upwards. Younger kids would find a difficulty using the parts and app together. This kit is educational and could help kids develop in many ways and would also be good for a family activity for kids and guardians to bond. It can also work through the phone via the app allowing a group of kids could get together and socialise and work together to invent and create new ideas as the app suggests. The app itself is excellent easy is to follow especially nowadays that most kids use tablets, phones and smart devices. It is educational, encourages kids to think of ideas on their own all while teaching them how to build and create.

The kit itself is very easily laid out simple to attach and nothing too complicated or dangerous to kids. This is an ideal gift to kids 8 and upwards as will guarantee hours of fun and learning as it takes approximately 12 min to 1 hour to build some of the inventions depending on the user.

The kit is expected to last a long time with free instruction on the app used via any smart device. There are 12 different ideas ensuring hours of entertainment and learning fun. This is a great product for those interested in building.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/littleBits-680-0023-Base-Inventor-Kit/dp/B07BFQN5KH

£76.00

Review – Ringke Magnetic Gear Car Mount Holder from Mobile Fun #Motoring #Tech #Ringke

Phone mounts come in all shapes and sizes some are effective and some are not be it long or short term and I have gone through some amount of these over the years with them mostly giving in after a few weeks, In particular those that stick to your window via suction cup and what gives on these is usually the grip that holds the device.

This new one we got in from Mobile Fun is a good one in more ways than one. Its small and can be placed anywhere in the vehicle and has really strong magnets. I have tried several of these types before and the magnet is very strong compared to ones of old and you get two different sizes of magnets in the box. With the Ringke Car mount holder you have 360 degree access to your device and this is also ideal for larger phones too which is now the trend. If you want a small no obtrusive strong magnetic mount this is the one to get.

BUY HERE 

MOBILE FUN XMAS RANGE 

Review – The Sennheiser Momentum Free. #Sennheiser #MomentumFree #Headphones #tech

Sennheiser have been a brand I once exclusively just used years ago before I got into the tech review scene, but I went off on another tangent with others over the years and now I see what I have missed overall when it comes to quality,style and sound.. These in short are top notch but you will be paying a price for them but that is something an audiophile is willing to pay for headphones that give you everything in once package which these do.

The headphones can pair with two devices at once which is great and something that needs to be seen more across the board here. With the Momentum Free you also get magnetised tips so they wont dangle all over the place when sat around your neck and they also come with a cool leather case to store them too which is a welcome package in the box.

There is no battery indicator here on these which is one annoyance,even when connected to an Android smartphone it does not give you the percentage level like most headphones do but if you hit the volume down key you get a robotic voice giving you a status but nothing concrete. For example my last reading was called out as “you have below one hour playtime”. You do have a blue and red LED light flashing here but this is for status and a red flashing light means its time to juice up via micro USB.

When it comes to music these are great across all genres and so on with a nice deep bass and crisp and clear and really enjoyable as a whole and then you have the CapTune app which only enhances the experience overall, The CapTune app is similar to what others have out there and again it works well and its free and you should use this app to get the best experience out of these.The built in in-line remote is one of full functionality here and very tactile with clicky buttons and the outer two being slightly angled for assurance you have hit the right one if using blindly.

These I feel are not for joggers or gym goers due to how they are weighted and will pop out once you start to warm up,.ie sweat but you can get away with light workouts or jogging runs. For the average consumer who commutes will be fine but the battery life is a second downfall here with around 6 hours or playback which for many is sufficient but for those who have long commutes they would need a battery back up as there is no option to plug-in direct here heapdhone jack.

BUY HERE