Tag: families

Irish start-up brings first ever Irish-voiced robot vacuum into homes for Christmas

Irish families looking for a smarter way to stay on top of housework this Christmas now have a new voice in the home, and it’s proudly Irish. West Cork-based home robotics start-up HomeBot Ireland, founded by Clara Mulligan and husband Alan O’Neill, has just launched its latest innovation: Glider 6-in-1 robot vacuum and mop, now available with voice guidance in a real Irish accent, voiced by none other than DJ Louise Clarke.
With self-emptying, self-washing and drying functions, suitable for all floor types, the Glider is designed to make home cleaning effortless and fun ahead of the festive season. The Irish voiceover not only makes set-up and daily use easier, it also adds personality and warmth. With accessibility in mind, the voice makes the product more accessible to the elderly and people with mobility issues, and is much more family-friendly, by helping warn children and pets of its presence.
 “I was absolutely delighted when Clara asked me to lend my voice to the new Glider. It’s great to be part of a project that supports Irish families and makes life a bit easier, and a bit more fun. I am always very happy to support local Irish family-run companies”, said Louise Clarke.
Founded in 2024 by Clara Mulligan and her husband Alan O’Neill, HomeBot Ireland was inspired by Clara’s father-in-law, who struggled to maintain his garden during the COVID lockdowns. The company’s first product, Buddy, a user-friendly, wireless robotic lawnmower, quickly became a best seller. One year later, HomeBot Ireland has grown into a national brand with a suite of smart robotic cleaners, including vacuums and mops, all designed around the real needs of Irish families.
“We’re building products that actually work for Irish households, whether new or more traditional, for example with door saddles or no Wi-Fi in half the rooms,” said Clara Mulligan, co-founder. “Everything we do, from design to customer care, is grounded in empathy, practicality, and real problems our customers face.”
With support delivered fast via WhatsApp, HomeBot Ireland has earned a reputation for real-time, human-first customer care. “We live in West Cork, and when people message us, it’s us replying. That’s what makes us different, and why people keep coming back”, Clara adds.
“We are growing steadily and with purpose. We want to bring smart, simple, sustainable tech into Irish homes and give people their time back, one robot at a time”, added Clara.

Dell Technologies collaborates with Crann Centre to harness AI for social good

Dell Technologies has today announced that it has teamed up with the Crann Centre, a Cork-based charity, to develop an AI-powered solution that enhances care for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities. This collaboration has resulted in the development of a bespoke AI-powered intake application that reduces the administrative burden on Crann staff, streamlines intake processes, and enhances organisational efficiencies and service delivery.

The collaboration began as a local volunteering connection, and it has since evolved into a relationship that harnesses the power of AI to support how care is delivered to families living with neuro-physical disabilities. Dell Technologies’ Global Presales team worked closely with Crann to streamline their intake process, reducing processing time by 33%, enhancing data capture, and improving the overall experience for families.

The solution has transformed how Crann performs its client intake appointments, improving the consistency and quality of data captured. The final step, currently in progress, will be the full integration of the app with Crann’s Salesforce system to ensure a single and reliable data source.

With fewer administrative burdens, the Crann team can now devote more time to delivering personalised support, strengthening relationships, and improving care outcomes. This collaboration is a testament to how AI can be used for societal good, increasing Crann’s capacity to serve more families without requiring additional resources.

Speaking about the collaboration Des O’Sullivan, Vice President, Dell Technologies Customer Solution Centres said “At Dell Technologies, we believe innovation truly matters when it drives meaningful change in people’s lives. Through a shared commitment of making a difference, our team at Dell Technologies collaborated with Crann to develop an AI-powered solution keeping in mind Crann’s deep-rooted commitment to family-centred wraparound care.

“With the AI-powered solution that our team helped to create, Crann has increased capacity, allowing them to serve more families than requiring additional resources. The benefits extend far beyond efficiency; Crann team members now have the time and space to focus on deep, meaningful interactions with clients and their families, strengthening emotional and practical support.

“As we look to the future, we’re proud of what has been achieved. Our Dell Technologies team in Ireland and our broader Global Presales team has been at the heart of this journey, bringing Dell’s AI innovation to life in a way that delivers real and lasting value to our community partners.”

The Dell-built solution is designed with future scalability in mind, offering a framework that can be adapted across sectors such as education and customer service.

Crann, which offers wraparound services focused on improving independence and wellbeing, now has increased capacity to deliver support that spans generations underpinned by a shared commitment to personalised care and innovation.

IFA 2025: Ticket sale for private visitors open now!

IFA Berlin, the world’s largest event for home & consumer tech, has officially opened the ticket sale for private visitors for its 2025 edition: ifaberlin.seetickets.com. The event will take place from 5 to 9 September 2025 at Messe Berlin. 

This year’s ticketing model introduces new access times and an adjusted price structure – with a clear focus on comfort, inclusivity and value to enhance the visitor experience across all audience groups. Furthermore, select exhibition halls are under renovation during the event, and the updated entry structure is designed to ensure better crowd management and smoother operations.

New ticketing structure. Same WOW. 

IFA 2025 places greater emphasis on accessibility, comfort, and value. The updated ticketing model reflects how most guests plan their time at the event, while enabling more focused access to exhibits, activations and features.

The opening hours of IFA 2025:

  • Private visitors:
    Friday, 5 September: 12:00–18:00 
    Saturday to Tuesday, 6–9 September: 10:00–18:00

  • Families, school groups & visitors with disabilities:
    Daily, 5–9 September: 10:00–18:00

  • Trade visitors, professionals & media:
    Early entry with access to the Trade Visitor Lounge from 08:00 via “Messe Süd” entrance, exhibition access from 09:30.

These adjustments ensure a safer, more relaxed and comfortable experience during peak times – particularly on Friday mornings, which continue to be reserved for political, media and business delegations as well as for families, school groups and visitors with disabilities. To avoid missed moments, major public programming will start after 12:00 on Friday.

Fair pricing that prioritises experience 

Following the special pricing during IFA’s 2024 centenary, ticket prices have been adjusted for 2025 to reflect a fair balance of access and experience.
Visitors who book in advance online save up to 22%:

  • Adults: €19.50 advance / €25.00 on site
  • Students: €12.00 advance / €14.00 on site 
  • People with disabilities: €12.00 advance / €14.00 on site (free companion ticket)
  • Kids: Free admission for children aged 15 and under
  • School Group: €39.00 (2 teachers + up to 33 students) 
  • Family: €39.00 advanced / €50.00 on site (2 adults + up to 3 children)

Meanwhile, the IFA Sommergarten will once again host concerts and live programming, with separate tickets available for all IFA visitors. Each IFA Sommergarten ticket includes same-day admission to IFA.

Join them in Berlin from 5 to 9 September 2025 – where inspiration, entertainment and next-gen tech come together. More information at ifa-berlin.com.