Tag: Digital

Why to Implement Digital Signage: Key Benefits & Opportunities

You can expect the long-term benefits of using digital signage in marketing campaigns. There are various ways to use digital signage, from tiny displays to massive display walls. By inviting consumers to participate in market research, locate stock or browse product options, interactive digital signage may take engagement to a whole new level. In some instances, digital demonstrations of items or services are offered on storefront signs. You will want to collect as much information as possible such as digital signage pricing, before making a choice that might have a long-term influence on your organization. Likewise, consider the following advantages and opportunities before launching into the creative process with digital signage.

Increased exposure

Unlike print runs and email lists, digital signage in high-traffic locations allows you to reach an almost infinite number of people. It’s also possible to show more messages at a higher frequency and control when and where they appear. You can show a digital sign on any device with a screen. If you like, you may send messages to all of these devices simultaneously or any combination of them.

Self-service

It’s clear from recent research that internet users prefer self-service over calling customer support for help. One possible implementation is a self-service digital signage that enables customers to browse inventory or ask inquiries. When conventional customer service is too time-consuming or expensive, our service provides a cost-effective and rapid alternative. It is essential to have a strategy for swiftly and readily giving clients the information they need to purchase.

Customers who are left waiting and dissatisfied are the last things you need. They may go through with the transaction, but they may never return.

Attention-grabbing

Overall, digital signage is a great way to draw attention to a business and attract new customers. People are attracted to these things because of their intrinsic uniqueness. In addition, the displays are frequently rated highly for their aesthetic attractiveness. It is common for the colors to be considerably more brilliant and dazzling than on a print sign. A lot of attention has been paid to this issue.

When it comes to material and its presentation, you have a wide range of options for drawing attention. The usage of animations and movement may be quite beneficial. Our eyes easily detect moving objects and changes in the environment.

You can show off the sign better using these effects. On the other hand, you may utilize it to draw attention to certain aspects of your content. One way to draw attention to your standout product is through animated visuals.

Increased flexibility with reduced risk

Businesses need every tool they can get their hands on to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of their customers, prospects, and staff. In the digital era, “Mad Men” type marketing efforts are rare because there is too much risk to invest in a static message that may not connect with your audience as you think it would. Yet, it is here that digital signage has had a significant impact.

With the unprecedented ability to handle material remotely, the chance of a catastrophically unsuccessful marketing campaign is much reduced since any advertising may be modified or replaced totally in seconds – not days or weeks. The cloud-based system allows users to make modest changes to their website and full-scale rebranding from any location in the globe.

Interactivity

Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, and they are accustomed to using touchscreens to access information. Your digital signage may provide a more immersive experience for your audience if you include interactivity, such as a voice or touch user interface. Using self-service kiosks, customers can easily find the information they are looking for and get to the parts of the process that matter most to them. You may also provide a wide range of alternatives on a single screen using touchscreens, such as interactive wayfinding, directories and menu boards. The use of interactive displays also allows your personnel to provide a more customized level of service to customers.

Whether it is a single screen or a worldwide network, digital signage displays are the best way to communicate effectively. Regardless of your audience, they are used to seeing information presented graphically, dynamically and in real-time. Digital signage can assist any business and provide solutions for hospitals, schools,  banks, hotels or government offices to attract and retain customers.

What is a Digital Marketplace: A Short Introduction

The global pandemic helped to turn our lives into a digital world much faster. The growth of digital marketplaces escalated immediately. Digital marketplaces help drive ecommerce. The data marketplace concept is also getting more and more popular among companies as they see the huge benefits and opportunities that these types of marketplaces provide.

According to a McKinsey & Company report, before the pandemic, the top 100 online marketplaces made up half of the global sales with $2 trillion. And Statista reports that by 2024, ecommerce will account for more than $6 US billion dollars in sales. 

The definition of the digital marketplace

Digital marketplaces are online platforms that provide a safe virtual environment for both buyers and sellers, offering their services or products. Thanks to digital marketplaces, buyers are able to quickly and easily find the needed people who provide products meeting their budget and requirements.

It takes several years for digital marketplaces to build up their reputation. Key aspects in building a successful marketplace include having a clear strategy, vision, and the right buyers or sellers.

For instance, a platform that aims to sell 3D models must attract skilled 3D designers and artists to offer their creations, while also targeting a niche market of buyers who have an interest in purchasing 3D assets. By fostering a community of talented creators and enthusiastic buyers, the digital marketplace can establish itself as a go-to destination for high-quality 3D models, ensuring its long-term success and growth in the competitive market.

Types and examples of digital marketplaces 

The number of digital marketplaces will only grow, and the demand for such platforms will increase over the next few years. The marketplace business, serving customer-centric goals, is complex. However, it offers numerous opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Here are different types of marketplaces and the markets they serve:

 

  1. Business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplaces. This is considered to be one of the most saturated categories with huge competition. Great examples of B2C marketplaces include the ecommerce giant Amazon. There are also many niche B2C marketplaces, which are focused on certain categories like electronics, apparel, and home improvement.
  2. Business-to-business (B2B) marketplaces. B2B marketplaces offer sheer monetary potential and are more niche as well as vertical industry-focused. The most famous examples of B2B marketplaces include Alibaba and Amazon Business.
  3. Peer-to-peer (P2P) or consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplaces. Marketplaces like eBay, TaoBao, Etsy, and Airbnb have a unique feature — consumers here are both sellers and buyers. 
  4. Consumer-to-manufacturer (C2M) or consumer-to-business (C2B) marketplaces. The biggest example of such a marketplace is PinDuoDuo. In just a few years, the C2M model has gained a 4% share of the global ecommerce business and is projected to expand beyond China. 
  5. Service-to-consumer (Se2C) marketplaces. This is a growth category with numerous local examples like HomeAdvisor in the United States, UrbanClap in India, and hipages in Australia. 

The role of AI tools in digital marketplaces

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an essential part of many industries, including e-commerce. Digital marketplaces are no exception, as they utilize AI tools to enhance the user experience and improve marketplace operations. You can discover and compare the most popular AI tools available online at Arktan and similar trusted websites and see which AI tools work best for your business needs. Some common ways in which AI is used in digital marketplaces include customer segmentation, personalized recommendations, predictive analytics, and fraud detection.
AI tools can also help automate certain tasks for marketplace owners and sellers. For example, chatbots can handle customer inquiries and provide 24/7 support without human intervention. This helps to improve response times and overall customer satisfaction.

In addition to improving the user experience, AI tools also help digital marketplaces to gain insights and make data-driven decisions. By analyzing user behavior, marketplace owners can identify trends, understand customer preferences, and optimize their platform accordingly.

There are also data marketplaces with an online transactional architecture. These facilitate data sharing and enable data monetization. Data marketplaces leverage relevant data and offer several kinds of data to reveal new revenue opportunities and save valuable company resources.

Any organization can build this type of marketplace using various data products, including queries, reports, data services, APIs, ML models, and more. 

Opportunities that digital marketplaces provide

Many successful marketplaces offer a wide variety of advantages and opportunities for users. The main benefits of digital marketplaces include:

Access to advanced analytics. Using sophisticated analytics to analyze the competition and adjust marketing campaigns, pricing, and offers is very useful. Data allows you to drive certain product lines, optimize business processes, ramp up manufacturing, and improve operations. By doing so you can meet demand and gain more profit and better outcomes.

Personalization. Digital marketplaces offer advanced AI-based technologies and tools to personalize the customer experience and better engage with clients. Through most of the marketplaces available, sellers can build long-term one-on-one relationships with their buyers.

Post-sales support. This is an important aspect of the overall customer experience. And as marketplaces are focused on customer experience and satisfaction, they provide the needed tools for post-sales support. This helps sellers build long-term customer relationships and develop lifelong fans. And this all is managed by the marketplace operator.

Global reach. Digital marketplaces allow their users to reach international sellers, buyers, and partners. In a global economy, businesses can have a huge reach with global marketplaces, providing services and products to people that wouldn’t be able to reach through local marketplaces. This helps to boost revenue and get much more opportunities than with local marketplaces. 

Marketplaces, specifically data marketplaces, involve data monetization, allowing businesses to generate economic value from their target organizations.

Not all types of marketplaces offer all these advantages, but still knowing these may help potential sellers or buyers when they’re considering using a digital marketplace. It’s also worth mentioning that each type of marketplace has its unique challenges regarding payments, financing, logistics, and fulfillment needs. 

Conclusion

Digital marketplaces will grow even more throughout the years. And as data gets more used by various businesses, demand for data marketplaces in the data economy will increase tremendously. 

 

With all advantages and opportunities like personalization, global reach, and sophisticated analytics, digital marketplaces offer to their users, it’s safe to say that they will play a great role in the future of business.

A.I. predictions to tackle the ‘3 seconds rule’ in (digital) advertising

SAAS-tool Brainsight predicts viewing behavior and visual performance of (digital) ads and videos

New developments in artificial intelligence show that A.I. models are excellent predictors for viewing behavior. In today’s attention economy, consumers are time-poor and easily distracted, which is why the marketing industry often refers to the so-called ‘3-second rule’, indicating that advertisers need to get brand recall and their message across instantly; quite a challenge for creatives and digital marketers. With new A.I. tools entering the market it is possible to pretest ad-performance and tackle this issue.

Most digital ads are tested post-live, for instance with A/B testing. Researching performance of (digital) out-of-home is even more difficult and sophisticated. By combining neuroscience and A.I. research, visual attention and visual clarity can be predicted in advance.

Predicting viewers’ attention

In the past years, studies* have been conducted by renowned universities, like MIT, to research and map viewing behavior. It appears that instant visual attention is influenced by elements like color, size, contrast, shape, location, etc. With the help of A.I. and machine learning, predictive models have been developed, the latest with accuracy rates of 94% compared to live eye tracking research.

Now that visual attention can be made predictive, new commercial tools enter the (digital) marketing industry to help them with the 3-second rule.

Eye Tracking Heatmaps

Researching visual- and viewing behavior is generally conducted with eye tracking technology, where dozens of people (‘s eyes) are being tracked while they watch images and videos. With heatmaps, the consolidated data of their gaze-points are visualized, showing where people (do not) look, how their attention is distributed and whether they focus on only a few or many parts in the image. These are all indicators of visual attention. Did viewers see your logo? Was your ‘call-to-action’ button overlooked?

“Apart from qualitative research for large budget productions, data-analytics has become the norm for testing ad-performance. But data only comes in after a campaign has been launched. Predictive A.I. models are a cost-efficient way to pretest and optimize designs before starting a campaign,” says Roger van der Spek, Managing Director of Braingineers, an Amsterdam-based neuromarketing research/tech agency.

Predictive A.I. tools

Predictive models have found their way to the market with tools that can instantly create eye tracking heatmaps, without the need for extensive research. Pretesting viewing behavior will therefore become more common and with a fraction of the cost of live-eye tracking research, also smaller marketing agencies and independent professionals can use this method. Roger: “With online tools, pretesting or benchmarking ad content on clarity or attention can easily be done instantly, by one person and from any location.”

Brainsight

The latest tool in the market is Brainsight  by Braingineers.

Max van Kaathoven, founder and CTO, explains: “In the past years we’ve conducted hundreds of neuromarketing-studies for digital customer journeys, always including eye tracking. By combining the latest A.I. models with that expertise and data, we have been able to develop a front-running tool.”

Xtremepush earns ‘top 50’ ranking in G2’s 2022 Best Software Awards for Marketing and Digital Products

Xtremepush, the Irish based, enterprise customer data and engagement platform, earns 36th place on G2’s 2022 Best Software Awards Marketing and Digital Advertising Products list. To feature on this list is to be among the world’s best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users.

G2 is the world’s largest and most trusted software marketplace, helping more than 60 million people every year make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews. Thousands of companies’ partner with G2 to build their reputation, manage their software spend and grow their business — including Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoom, Adobe and more so to feature on this list is to be among the world’s best software companies and products

This is Xtremepush’s debut on one of G2’s Best Software lists, earning its place this year thanks to the hard work and innovative spirit of the entire XP team. Tommy Kearns, Xtremepush CEO, commented: “This is a huge achievement for everyone at Xtremepush and a testament to how hard everyone has worked to turn our CDEP [Customer Data and Engagement Platform] into a world contender.

Inclusion in G2’s best software list for Marketing and Digital Advertising Products is proof that we’ve created something special, not just from a product perspective but as an organisation too. The thing that really excites me is the best is yet to come.”

Access to Technology Has Played a Critical Part in Europe’s Digital Transformation Development

Digital transformation is one of the most important initiatives that organisations undertake in order to stay competitive in today’s digital age.

The rate at which technology is evolving is astounding. It seems like every day, there is a new piece of hardware or software that can help organisations improve their productivity and efficiency. 

According to Contino’s Europe digital transformation report, the rise of technology has allowed organisations to move from traditional methods of doing business to more efficient and effective digital transformations.

The field of digital transformation has been greatly helped by this influx of technological advancements like digital products and some of the most innovative tech leaders from across Europe have managed to integrate technology as part of their strategy to great success.

In this post, we’ll look at how business executives have used technology to help their businesses succeed as well as the current state of digital transformation in organisations.

Here are some the tech leaders from the Europe digital transformation report that managed to use technology effectively with great results.

Paul Whyte

Paul Whyte is the Managing Director of Best Food Logistics, a leading provider of food logistics, warehousing and distribution.

Paul has been in the industry for over 20 years and has worked on many different projects with some of the world’s largest retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. 

He has also led Best Food Logistics’ digital transformation strategy which includes implementing a new warehouse management system (WMS) that allows customers to track their orders in real-time and gives them access to live inventory updates. 

Paul believes that embracing technology is key for businesses looking to grow and be more profitable than ever before and to transform a loss-making food logistics company into a market-leading data aggregator. Strong project governance is critical to digital transformation success. 

“Carefully managing the execution of a technology implementation is critical: tracking risks, logging issues, flagging barriers to change and celebrating sucesses” said Paul.

It is important to communicate your case for change to create belief across stakeholders, spend the majority of time on change management and strong project governance is essential.

Paul also stresses that technology should be used as an enabler for businesses looking to improve their operations and grow sustainably over the long term.

Best’s on-time deliveries increased from under 40% to over 95%. Customers can now see the company’s success, as well as that of its partners, through the portal and a simple mobile app.

Best’s business rates have improved and expanded. In 2020, Best’s success resulted in it being bought by Booker Group, a Tesco PLC subsidiary.

Fumbi Chima

Fumbi Chima was the Global Chief Information Officer of Adidas at the time of Contino’s report and she is now currently is the BECU’s executive vice president and chief information officer. 

Fumbi has extensive experience in the area of digital transformation, process improvement and technology enablement. She believes technology has a significant part to play in organisations that want to change their business models and operations. 

For firms wanting to future-proof their business, understanding, anticipating, and servicing the consumer with technology is critical.

She believes that successful companies focus on creating aligned incentives throughout the business and are ready to pivot when needed. They also understand that there is no such thing as “done” in the digital age – it’s an ever-changing landscape.

“Customer journeys keep evolving. Behaviours change. Transformation is a journey; you can never stick a pin in it and say that you’re done”

The strategy has resulted in faster throughput of superior products that are more personalised and more responsive to the customer. The flexibility of the new model also gave Adidas the ability to pivot, which is critical when the world is changing so rapidly

Debra Bailey

Debra Bailey leads the technology and digital agenda for O2 in the UK, including developing new propositions, platforms and customer experience to drive growth in both retail and enterprise markets.

It is important to understand the business challenges, automate business processes from end-to-end and build with the future in mind.

She was able to achieve digital transformation by unifying technology and businesses to help digitally connect customers with the things that matter most to them. 

Debra said, “The business challenges are what drives the beahvour of the supporting functions, including I.T. Understanding them is the first port of call.”

After less than a year of the new operating model, O2 has already hit their target of a 10% lift in speed-to-value, is on track to hit 2022’s target of 25% and has a huge target of 75% by 2024.

Conclusion

Technology has a critical role to play in the process of digital transformation, and businesses that don’t embrace it will struggle to keep up with the competition. 

Leveraging technology can help organisations optimize their processes, become more productive and creative, adapt to changes faster, reduce costs and increase revenues.

If you’re looking to succeed in the digital era, your organisation needs to start its journey of transformation as soon as possible.

Dell Technologies makes ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme available on-demand

Dell Technologies today announced that it is making its pioneering ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ educational programme available on demand due to the significant demand amongst those working within the healthcare sector.

The programme which provides healthcare professionals in Ireland with the tools and knowledge to apply new technologies within healthcare settings has been rolled out in partnership with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Since its launch in September of last year, the online course has provided 1,400 healthcare workers and leaders with the opportunity to develop much sought-after skills to accelerate the digital transformation of Ireland’s healthcare system.

Due to the significant demand for the programme, everyone involved in providing healthcare services in Ireland will have the ability to upskill and play an active role in transforming the way healthcare services are designed, developed and delivered into the future. To register for the on-demand content, visit: https://dell.to/3pNLugL.

This comes as the Government this week unveiled its new National Digital Strategy, entitled ‘The Digital Ireland Framework’, which sets target in the provision of digital public services. The strategy includes the phased deployment of electronic health record systems, telemedicine, remote care monitoring solutions and the greater use of ePharmacy and ePrescribing.

Participants of the ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme to date have gained unique insights into the importance of cyber security, data analytics, next-generation remote imaging, diagnostics and machine learnings as well as the organisational change required to adopt technology in healthcare. These insights will help healthcare workers at all levels to support the roll-out of emerging technologies, connected health, and personalised health solutions which will help to improve patient outcomes.

Speaking about the course, Jason Ward, Vice President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland, said: “The past two years has demonstrated the benefits of embracing technology to empower our frontline workers while meeting the needs of patients. We now have an opportunity to accelerate the pace of digital transformation to meet the goals of Sláintecare.

 “That’s why we’re delighted to see so many people from across the healthcare system take part in our ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme in the past five months and gain the skills to help Ireland become a European digital leader. By gaining the skills to apply digital tools withing GP surgeries, hospital settings and many more, our healthcare workers can become digital change makers. 

 “To ensure that every person in the healthcare sector has an opportunity to take part in the ‘Digital Futures in Healthcare’ programme, we are making the course available on-demand for free. I would encourage anyone interested to register and help unleash a new era of healthcare transformation in Ireland.” 

Included among the subject experts delivering the programme include Ryan Heynes, Healthcare leader for Dell Technologies Ireland; Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE; and Neil O’Hare, CIO and Professor of Health Informatics at Children’s Health Ireland. The final two sessions of the programme focused on ‘Emerging Technologies in Healthcare’ and ‘Connected Healthcare’ will go live on February 16th and March 24th respectively.

The Rise of the Digital Nomad and Tools You’ll Need for the Nomadic Lifestyle

There’s little doubting the world of work is changing – and changing rapidly. Where once it was the case employees were required to suffer the humdrum Monday-Friday, 9-5 (including the often-draining daily commute), the considerable advances in connection speeds, technology and devices in recent years have heralded a new age of the remote workforce. 

The move to freelance and gig working had already been growing momentum towards the end of the last decade however, with the emergence of Coronavirus and the resulting lockdown and isolation measures that ensued, employers had little choice but to embrace the concept of a geographically remote workforce. 

Of course, the tech required to let full-time staff work from home is pretty much identical to that needed to allow freelancers to also join the throng, helping increase the trend for so-called digital nomads – employees happily working in a third-party capacity, untethered by the traditional confines of office space and geographical proximity. 

Jobs best suited to the digital nomad model

As the web and technology have come to play an increasingly important role in all aspects of our business and social lives, so the blurring between the real and virtual worlds has continued apace and, these days, it’s almost impossible to think of any aspect of life that isn’t (at least to some degree) mirrored in the digital realm. With so much real-world information now also stored digitally, there is barely a single aspect of commerce that doesn’t now rely on electronic assets. 

While there are certainly some jobs that are particularly suited to nomadic workers (e.g., programming, design, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), online marketing, etc), in truth, the majority of jobs now rely on working with computers and data. Any job that involves the production of information in a digital format could, feasibly, be performed remotely by a nomadic workforce. 

The minimum requirements

Of course, to work online, you’re going to need a reasonably fast connection (the faster the better) and some kind of input device – a laptop is typically the preferred tool of choice. With WiFi now so ubiquitous in most developed nations around the world (not to mention the fact we pretty much all own connected smartphones these days), getting online should not prove a problem. Don’t forget a pair of classic Ray-Ban​, they’ll protect your eyes wherever you go!

Other tools you might want to consider

A laptop and means of connection are prerequisites; however, you could also consider:

Cloud storage – Essential for backing up files

Speakers – Speakers are particularly useful if you’re producing multimedia work but are also great for powering your Spotify work playlist

External hard drive – For when your cloud connection is running slow

A capacious, secure backpack – Required to carry work essentials safely

Travel sleep kit – Handy for when you’re pulling long hours on the road

Universal travel adaptor – An extension lead capable of plugging into any foreign power supply to keep your devices charged and working

All-in-one external power bank – Essential for when you can’t find power but need to get some juice to your gadgets. Choose a model that can power all your kit – from your laptop to mobile phone and speakers.

NAD Launches New M23 Hybrid Digital Stereo Power Amplifier

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, takes value and performance to a whole new level. The M23 Hybrid Digital stereo power amplifier (£2999 / €3499 / US$3499 / CDN$4599 MSRP), available in January 2022, builds on the Purifi Eigentakt amplification technology first introduced in the acclaimed M33 BluOS Streaming Amplifier – a once-in-a-decade amplifier innovation that will define the pinnacle of power and performance in the category for years to come. Continuing NAD’s long-standing tradition in identifying and developing cutting-edge amplification technology, Eigentakt nearly eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion and noise while its load-invariant frequency response can drive even the most demanding of loudspeakers to their highest performance.

According to Cas Oostvogel, NAD’s Product Manager, “The sonic character of the M23 is reinforced in the story told by the numbers. This is an amazingly powerful and transparent amplifier bringing new levels of refinement and dynamics at any level and sets a new benchmark for performance and value in its category.”

Powerful Eigentakt™ Amplifier Technology
The Masters M23 Hybrid Digital stereo power amplifier features Eigentakt™ amplifier technology, manufactured by NAD under license from Purifi. This new technology nearly eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion and allows for an even, wide, and load-invariant frequency response.

In common with the previous generations of NAD Hybrid Digital technology but unlike most Class D amplifier designs, the M23 offers a minimum of 200W per channel with amazing reserves of dynamic power at lower impedances. It is capable of beyond 260W dynamic power per channel even into 8 ohms, and beyond 520W into 4 ohms. It can effortlessly power any loudspeaker to live performance levels with amazing efficiency and low power consumption.

The M23 in bridge mode is the perfect addition to expand the power of an M33 BluOS Streaming Amplifier to create a 2 x 700W system or is an easy upgrade to power any high-performance separates system.

Thanks to the advanced Purifi Eigentakt amplifier technology, all this power comes at a lot less cost than traditional technology while delivering improved performance!

A Diverse Performer
It is easy to find amplifiers that can excel in one or two areas. The M23 HybridDigital stereo power amplifier featuring the Eigentakt amplification technology provides nearly unmeasurable distortion, ultra-high damping factor, and unconditional stability with any speaker.

Leaving old fashioned and power-hungry linear power supplies and Class A/B output stages behind, the M23 features proven switch mode power supplies and Class D output stages that are very linear over a wide bandwidth and provide consistent performance into all speaker loads. With tight, detailed sound, amazing control, and transparency, the M23 is a stereo power amplifier that truly does break down barriers to audiophile-grade sound.

The M23 is the perfect addition to expand the power of an M33 BluOS Streaming Amplifier or power any high-performance separates system.

The M23 features all alloy casework that is elegant yet practical. Rigid panels with magnetic iso-point feet provide a solid foundation for the multi-layer circuit boards and intricate internal construction. The M23 employs a completely modern and fresh take on the traditional stereo amplifier, with a combination of features, performance and value for money not found elsewhere.

Key Features of the NAD M23 Hybrid Digital Stereo Power Amplifier

– Purifi Eigentakt™ amplifier technology
– Continuous Power Output: 2x200W into 8 ohms; 2x380W into 4 ohms
– Dynamic Power Output: 2x260W into 8 ohms; 2x520W into 4 ohms
– Bridged Power Output: 700W mono continuous into 8 ohms
– Virtually immeasurable noise, harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion
– Wide, flat frequency response into any loudspeaker load
– Balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) auto-sensing inputs
– Three-position adjustable gain control
– 12V trigger input

‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’: Microsoft & RTÉjr launch exciting new digital skills competition for primary schools.

Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr today announced they are joining forces to launch an exciting new national digital skills competition which will challenge primary school students across the island of Ireland to use Minecraft: Education Edition to help shape Ireland’s sustainable future.

This week, every primary school in the Republic of Ireland will receive a unique code in the post so they can register for a Minecraft: Education Edition account to take part in this exciting initiative. Primary Schools in Northern Ireland will also be invited to participate and will be able to use their existing Minecraft: Education Edition accounts to compete in this first-of-its-kind competition.

Primary Schools are invited to tune into rte.ie/learn from 30th September where they will be able to watch Dream Space TV which features amazing Minecraft: Education Edition Lessons that will run for six weeks. Delivered by the teachers of Microsoft’s Dream Space, the lessons are designed to support teachers to deliver digital learning experiences in the classroom.

Throughout the six weekly online episodes, students will be learning how to use Minecraft: Education Edition through the medium of fun challenges! These challenges will be aligned to both the Republic and Northern Irish curriculums covering subjects from English, Maths, Science, Geography, SPHE and more. Microsoft’s Dream Space team will also provide each school with comprehensive teaching guides to ensure that participating schools are supported throughout the episodes and for their competition submission.

Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr today announced they are joining forces to launch an exciting new national digital skills competition which will challenge primary school students across the island of Ireland to use Minecraft Education Edition to help shape Ireland’s sustainable future.
Pictured participating in a special Minecraft session in DCU were Amy Byrne and Conor Gannon from 5th class in Glenasmole National School participated in a special Minecraft session in DCU St. Patrick’s Campus. Full details can be found at http://www.rte.ie/learn. Pic:Naoise Culhane

With the necessary skills to participate in the competition developed during the first five episodes in the sixth and final episode details of the nationwide competition will be revealed. It is during this episode on November 11th that full details of the competition will be revealed, and students will be challenged to shape Ireland’s sustainable future through the medium of Minecraft. Schools will go head-to-head with the finals expected to take place in April 2022.

Speaking about the launch of the competition, James O’Connor, Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “At Microsoft, we believe in the power of technology to inspire young people, ignite their imaginations and help them to see the world in a variety of new ways. Our Dream Space experience is one of the ways in which we make this possible. We’ve been delighted to work with the team at RTÉ to make Dream Space available to more students over the past year as the country navigated different stages of the Covid-19 emergency from home schooling and hybrid learning models. We’ve since reached over 40,000 students via our virtual offerings and at Microsoft we’ve been excited to see the impact that the experience has had on students and teachers right across the country.

 “We’re now growing this collaboration with RTÉjr through the launch of this nationwide competition for primary schools today. This inclusive competition will help ensure that young people across the country can experience how technology can shape their world and how the skills they develop can reshape Ireland’s future. I know the Dream Space team have an exciting series coming up which will introduce students to the amazing world of Minecraft: Education Edition and guide teachers on how to introduce this educational tool into the classroom. We hope all primary schools will avail of this opportunity and we look forward to supporting you all on this learning journey over the coming months.”

 Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s and Young Peoples’ Content said: “Today’s kids are Digital natives and its vital that their experience of the global online community is a positive one. When the opportunity arose for RTÉ to connect with every kid in Ireland and show them how to code through gaming, we jumped on it. Everyone in the school yard knows what Minecraft is and now thanks to Dream Space TV & Minecraft: Education Edition, we’re bringing it directly to every school in Ireland. It’s coding, innovation, creativity, and teamwork, all wrapped up in one incredibly exciting experience. There’s something for everyone here.

 “This competition will really challenge our school kids and give them a platform to amaze us.  It’s very exciting and it’s never been done before here in Ireland. We’re very proud to be able to play an equal part in this with our colleagues in Microsoft Dream Space.”

To participate in the competition schools will need a Minecraft: Education Edition account. Primary schools in Northern Ireland already have access to a Minecraft: Education Edition account but Microsoft will be making accounts freely available to participating primary schools in the Republic of Ireland for a nine-month period to allow pupils to take part. Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that allows teachers to deliver a variety of curriculum lessons to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. The learning platform offers teachers an alternative teaching and learning tool to engage pupils and ignite their passion for learning.

Using the code provided in the post, primary schools in the Republic of Ireland can register for their Minecraft: Education Edition accounts at www.irelandsfutureismine.com. The Microsoft Dream Space TV episodes and a full range of accompanying teacher guides containing direct links to specific curriculum areas, worksheets and extension tasks will be available at www.rte.ie/learn.