Tag: future

Half of Generation Z willing to accept short-term economic limitations for a more sustainable future

Nearly half (47%) of Generation Z is willing to accept short-term economic limitations, such as lower GDP growth, for policymakers to invest in a longer-term strategy that promotes more sustainable growth, according to Dell Technologies research.

The research across 15 international locations captures Gen Z adults’ (18–26 years) voice regarding social and economic recovery strategies. Almost two-thirds (64%) of survey respondents believe technology will play an important role in the fight against climate crisis.

With many of Gen Z willing to bear short-term economic limitations, they ranked sustainable energy (42%), enabling a circular economy (39%) and more sustainable public transport (29%) as the top three investment areas for governments to prioritize. A quarter of respondents (25%) also expressed support for greater sustainability education for citizens.

Aongus Hegarty, President International Markets, Dell Technologies, said: “Gen Z will arguably be the most impacted by public and private investment decisions taken today and will facilitate and maintain a long-term, sustainable recovery. There is an opportunity to earn the support of Gen Z for longer-term strategies that put sustainability at the core of economic growth strategies.”

Gen Z’s confidence that public sector recovery investments would deliver a flourishing economy within 10 years is split: a third globally (32%) have low or no confidence while 38% are undecided and 29% have high or total confidence.

Understandably, there are geographic differences, with Singapore (56%) and Korea (41%) having the most respondents with high or total confidence. Japan (47%) and Brazil (49%) had the highest number of respondents who had low or no confidence.

Respondents said that this digital future must have a strong cybersecurity backbone. More than half (56%) feel there is a need for robust legislation and higher investment in cybersecurity to protect national infrastructures and ensure private businesses meet tough standards. To make this happen, and to improve trust in governments, 38% of respondents want private and public sectors to work together and hold each other accountable.

Closing the digital skills gap and digital divide

Gen Z recognizes the value of developing the necessary digital skills for their future careers. Three-quarters (76%) consider learning new digital skills essential to increasing future career options or plan to acquire them.

Respondents feel their education could have better prepared them with digital skills. Over two-fifths (44%) said school only taught them very basic computing skills, and around one-in-ten (12%) did not receive any education in technology or digital skills. Over a third (37%) claim school (under 16) didn’t prepare them with the technology skills needed for their planned career.

To help bridge the digital skill gap, a third (34%) of respondents suggested making technology courses at all levels of education more interesting and more widely available. A quarter (26%) believe mandatory technology courses up to 16 years will encourage young people into technology-driven careers.

Hegarty added: “It’s clear that Gen Z see technology as pivotal for their future prosperity. It is now up to us – leading technology providers, governments, and the public sector – to work together and set them up for success by improving the quality and access to digital learning. 44% of Gen Z feel educators and businesses should work together to bridge the digital skills gap and with the speed at which technology continues to evolve this will require constant collaboration.”

In response to their views on where governments should prioritize investments to help close the digital divide experience across different locations, demographics and socio-economic groups, Gen Z sees access to devices and connectivity for disadvantaged groups (33%) and connectivity in rural areas (24%) as the most important focus areas.

The research also found:

  • To support economic growth, improving healthcare services (21%), investing in education to help close the skills gap (11%) and investing in sustainable/green infrastructure (11%) were the top three priorities globally amongst Gen Z.
  • Over half (57%) of Gen Z have low or neutral confidence in their personal data being stored compliantly by healthcare providers.
  • Over half (55%) of Gen Z consider flexible and remote working as an important consideration when choosing an employer.

For more information, visit XX and read our research report.

Research Methodology:

Fieldwork was conducted by market research company, Savanta ComRes, from July-August 2022 across 15 locations.

Base: 15,105 ‘Gen Z’ adults (those aged 18-26), with nationally representative quotas set for gender and region in each market. Locations include:

  • Australia (1,018 respondents)
  • Brazil (1,021 respondents)
  • Canada (1,011 respondents)
  • France (1,014 respondents)
  • Germany (1,020 respondents)
  • Italy (1,063 respondents)
  • Japan (1,021 respondents)
  • Korea (1,020 respondents)
  • Mexico (1,005 respondents)
  • Netherlands (1,013 respondents)
  • New Zealand (811 respondents)
  • Singapore (1,022 respondents)
  • Spain (1,019 respondents)
  • United Kingdom (1,041 respondents)
  • United States (1,006 respondents)

Additional resources

The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

Work on developing the technology behind autonomous vehicles began in the 1970s, and it continues apace. The idea behind these vehicles is that they can sense the environment around them and don’t require any human involvement to drive and control them. There are six stages to creating this type of autonomous vehicle. Read on to learn more about these stages, see which stage we’re currently at, and discover the positives, negatives, and challenges of developing autonomous vehicles.

How are autonomous vehicles being accepted by the public?

Public perception is one of the major challenges in developing autonomous vehicles. According to a 2021 American Automobile Association (AAA) survey, only 22% of respondents thought that manufacturers should focus on developing autonomous vehicles. The story is similar in the UK. A 2021 YouGov survey found that only 23% of respondents would be happy to sit in an autonomous vehicle, and 67% said they would be unhappy driving on the same roads as autonomous vehicles. People are also concerned about potential data protection issues and the probable high purchase costs of these vehicles.

It’s important to note that autonomous vehicles have several benefits, such as 360° vision, interconnection between vehicles, and enhanced access for people with disabilities. Despite these advantages, overcoming public mistrust is a significant obstacle that developers and manufacturers face.

The levels of autonomous vehicles

The autonomy of vehicles is categorised by six different levels as follows:

  • Level 0 – no automation present.
  • Level 1 – driver assistance present – hands on or shared control.
  • Level 2 – partial driving automation present – hands off.
  • Level 3 – conditional driving automation present – eyes off.
  • Level 4 – high level of driving automation present – mind off.
  • Level 5 – full driving automation present – optional steering wheel.

Currently, we are at level 2, with level 3 not far away. Level 4 is expected to be reached by the middle of the decade, and optimistic predictions suggest that level 5 will follow soon after. Once autonomous vehicles are at this level, it will be possible to do many other things while you are driving.

It will be possible to access entertainment which is a significant improvement on having to concentrate while navigating miles of long boring roads or motorways. For example, you could use your tablet or smartphone to watch a movie or play a game at Platincasino Ireland and keep yourself entertained during long journeys. Also, if you are travelling to an event, you could get ready during your journey, which is a big time saver.

Safer and reliable mobility

There’s still a long way to go before full vehicle automation is safe and reliable enough to be available on public roads. Technology is still evolving and testing is underway. The main problem with testing is getting enough mileage on roads to demonstrate the reliability of self-driving cars. So, other testing methods are being considered, such as simulation and closed courses. On-road testing has to be the last step for safety reasons.

Collaboration in the industry

There are substantial challenges facing automotive companies and tech companies looking to produce self-driving vehicles. In the case of automotive companies, these challenges are caused by the need for hardware and software, while tech companies face the challenge of producing safe and reliable vehicles. Companies will likely need to collaborate to benefit from their respective strengths and overcome these challenges.

Conclusion

Fully autonomous vehicles will allow us to play games, watch movies, and even get ready for a night out while travelling. However, these benefits are still a few years away. Full automation is categorised as level 5, and we’re currently at level 2. To progress further, developers and manufacturers must overcome public reluctance and ensure the safety and reliability of self-driving vehicles. Work is underway to do this.

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Leitrim and Westmeath primary schools reach national finals of ‘Ireland’s Future is Mine’ digital skills competition

Two primary schools are celebrating today having made it to the All-Ireland final of Ireland’s first national digital skills competition, Ireland’s Future is MINE. The competition is being delivered through a collaboration between Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr. St Hugh’s National School from Leitrim and Moyvore Primary School from Westmeath successfully progressed through the various stages of the competition, which challenges students to think creatively, collaborate and problem-solve as they re-imagine their communities and shape Ireland’s sustainable future through the world of Minecraft.

First announced in September, the Ireland’s Future is MINE digital skills competition challenges primary school students in both Ireland and Northern Ireland to use Minecraft: Education Edition to build critical 21st century skills by exploring fun challenges such as building their own NASA rover and coding their very own polar ice hut. These challenges are aligned to curricula covering subjects from English and Maths to Science, Geography and SPHE.

Delivered by Microsoft Ireland’s Dream Space teachers on Dream Space TV in collaboration with RTEjr, the lessons are designed both to support teachers to deliver digital learning experiences in the classroom and inspire students to think creatively and encourage them to explore the possibilities within STEM now and into the future.

Having successfully progressed through the semifinals, St Hugh’s National School and Moyvore Primary School will now compete in the All-Ireland final, which will be televised in June in a never-before-seen e-sports-style exclusive programme.

Commenting on the competition, James O’Connor, Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “At Microsoft, we’re passionate about ensuring students are given the opportunity to develop the essential skills that are required to fully participate in our increasingly digital economy and society. The ‘Ireland’s Future is Mine’ digital skills competition is designed to do just that while encouraging students to have fun, think creatively and re-imagine a more sustainable future for the communities they live in.

 “We are so proud to see this vision realised in the form of the many innovative submissions we have received from schools around the country. I want to congratulate the Microsoft Education team and RTEjr for their passionate work in bringing this competition to life and St Hugh’s National School and Moyvore Primary School for their dedication and commitment to creating such compelling entries.”

 Suzanne Kelly, RTÉ Group Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content, said: “Congratulations to St Hugh’s National School and Moyvore Primary School for advancing to the All-Ireland final! We have been blown away by the incredible creations that have been built in primary school classrooms across the island of Ireland since September. We should take a moment to say well done and thank you to all the teachers and pupils who signed up and submitted their work. The ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ competition has challenged primary schools across the country and provided students a fun and innovative platform by which to amaze us. We are very proud to have been there to assist them in shaping Ireland’s sustainable future with Microsoft’s Dream Space team and we can’t wait to see what innovations we’ll see next in the final!”

 Microsoft Dream Space TV episodes and a full range of accompanying teacher guides containing direct links to specific curriculum areas, worksheets and extension tasks are available at https://Rte.ie/Minecraft.

St Hugh’s National School’s winning submission can be viewed at https://youtu.be/fiBt3NX_Qms.

Moyvore Primary School’s winning submission can be viewed at https://youtu.be/T8wbL1OCMSk .

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.