Tag: research

More than half of organisations in Ireland now using AI

New research from KPMG reveals the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed in Irish organisations’ finance operations – with compelling levels of ROI and a wide range of benefits including better data and decisions, lower costs, and greater ability to predict trends. Over half of organisations in Ireland (54 percent) are now using AI across their finance function, lower than 71 percent seen globally. Meanwhile, over two-thirds (66 percent) are implementing some level of workflow automation in financial reporting. The report, titled “AI in finance”, covers 2,900 organisations across 23 countries and includes 100 responses from Ireland.

Commenting on the research findings, Keith Stafford, IT Audit Partner at KPMG in Ireland, said, “Our research confirms AI is continuing to have a profound effect on how companies operate, including their systems, processes, controls, and governance over all areas of the finance function, and this is set to accelerate in the next few years. AI will transform not only the technical aspects of financial operations but also fundamentally reshape strategic decision-making and risk management practices. The increasing adoption of AI reflects its critical role in driving efficiency, accuracy, and predictive capabilities, which are essential for staying competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

The integration of AI in financial services is not just a trend but a transformative shift. Our research highlights the significant strides companies are making in AI adoption, as well as the challenges they face. It is essential for organisations to invest in talent development and establish robust guidelines to harness the full potential of AI responsibly.”

AI Adoption Trends

The research indicates that AI adoption is most prevalent in Treasury Management, followed closely by Financial Planning, Accounting, Tax, and Operations and Risk Management. This trend underscores the growing adaptation of AI to streamline and enhance financial processes. The research also finds two-thirds (66 percent) of companies have implemented some level of automation in their financial reporting workflows. Additionally, 25 percent of respondents plan to adopt automation in the near future. This shift towards automation reflects the industry’s commitment to improving efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.

The top benefits of AI identified in the research include:

  • Enabling better data-driven decisions (38 percent)
  • Lowering operational costs (37 percent)
  • Enhancing the ability to predict trends (36 percent)

ROI of AI Initiatives and Investment

Almost half (49 percent) of those surveyed reported that the return on investment (ROI) of their AI initiatives is meeting or exceeding expectations, compared to 65 percent globally. This highlights the tangible benefits that AI brings to the financial services sector, encouraging further investment and innovation. AI is also now reported to account for nearly 15 percent of the IT budget for businesses, with projections indicating that this figure is set to double within the next three years.

Challenges and Guidelines

Despite the promising trends, the research highlights limited AI skills and talent as the biggest barrier to AI adoption. Companies are facing challenges in finding and retaining skilled professionals who can effectively implement and manage AI technologies. Nearly half (45 percent) of the surveyed companies have established AI control guidelines to ensure the responsible use of AI. These guidelines are crucial in maintaining ethical standards and mitigating risks associated with AI deployment.

Finally, the study also reveals that companies are increasingly looking to auditors in particular to provide more communication and insights about AI. This demand for transparency and guidance emphasises the need for auditors to stay informed and proactive in their approach to AI-related matters.

HEAnet Unveils Ambitious Strategy to Advance Education and Research in Ireland

HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, is proud to announce the launch of its Strategy 2025–2030. 

HEAnet, Ireland’s National Education and Research Network, plays a pivotal role in supporting the country’s academic and research communities. By delivering high-speed internet connectivity and ICT shared services, HEAnet connects over one million students, researchers, and staff across all levels of the Irish education and research sector. Our network not only facilitates access to essential online resources but also ensures that Irish learners and researchers are linked to global academic and research networks through our partnership with GÉANT.

With a vision to empower excellence in education and research, HEAnet aims to be a trusted partner, driving technological innovation for the advancement of this sector. The HEAnet Strategy 2025-2030 seeks to address the ever-growing demands of the education and research community through key focus areas and foundation enablers. The new strategy focuses on five strategic areas:

1. Network– Delivering world-class network connectivity. HEAnet will strengthen Ireland’s education and research infrastructure with a resilient, scalable, and energy-efficient network. Through key upgrades and expanded international connectivity, we will meet growing demands and position Ireland as a global hub for education and research data.

 

2. Security – Strengthening the security capability and resilience of Irish education and research. HEAnet will expand its security services, including further expansion of our SOC and SIEM solution. In collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, we aim to strengthen the security posture of Ireland’s education and research sector, reducing risks and enhancing resilience.

3. Research  – Driving collaboration and innovation to support global research ambitions. HEAnet is committed to driving research excellence by supporting FAIR data management, advancing national research infrastructure, and fostering collaboration. HEAnet will enhance Open Science efforts, helping Ireland’s research community to innovate and excel on the global stage.

 

4. Sustainability – Leading the way in environmental, social and economic sustainability. HEAnet will integrate sustainability across environmental, social, and financial dimensions. We will significantly reduce our carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency, and ensure a sustainable funding model, contributing positively to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and the wider community.

5. People – Empowering Our People to Achieve Excellence. At HEAnet, people are our most valuable asset. We will foster a culture of growth, inclusivity, and excellence, offering expanded development opportunities, promoting EDI, and cultivating talent pipelines to ensure long-term success and a thriving, diverse workforce.

HEAnet CEO Ronan Byrne remarked, “Our Strategy 2025–2030 outlines our ambitious and forward-looking strategic direction to the end of this decade. This strategy represents a significant milestone for HEAnet, as it sets the stage for a transformative journey that builds on our past achievements while charting a course for a future filled with opportunities and growth.”

The full strategy is available on HEAnet’s website: www.heanet.ie/heanet-strategy 

AI PCs Can Help Users Reclaim Time on Chores: Intel Research Finds

An Intel-commissioned consumer survey of 6,000 respondents across the U.K., Germany and France identified that people lose nearly 15 hours a week on “digital chores,” such as meeting transcriptions or drafting emails. At the same time, AI PCs offered a potentially transformative impact on peoples’ lives, saving individuals roughly 240 minutes a week on routine digital tasks. But the study also highlighted that current AI PC owners spend longer on tasks than their counterparts using traditional PCs. Study results show that greater consumer education is needed to bridge the gap between the promise and reality of AI PCs.

“The AI PC offers consumers the opportunity to unlock greater creativity, productivity and, perhaps most importantly, time to do what they want. But these benefits can only be achieved if people are able to effectively harness AI’s potential to augment the way they live and work. Our role as technology leaders is to support this transition to AI-assisted living and equip consumers with the knowledge they need to use an AI PC efficiently and ethically.”  said Robert Hallock, Intel vice president and general manager of Client AI and Technical Marketing.

Why It Matters: The transition to AI PCs represents a big leap forward in personal computing. Understanding the potential of artificial intelligence and learning how to integrate it effectively into daily routines can unlock unprecedented levels of productivity and efficiency. But it requires a change in mindset and new skills. The study reinforced the need for greater awareness of the benefits and potential of AI PCs and the need for further education on how to use the technology to its full extent.

Intel’s report around the research, titled “Reclaim your day: The impact of AI PCs on productivity,” seeks to understand both personal and professional consumer computer habits and identify the potential for AI PCs to optimize efficiency and return time to people. It found that people spend an average of 899 minutes on administrative tasks on their personal devices a week, with coding (78 minutes), data analysis (74 minutes) and video editing (68 minutes) identified as the most time-consuming tasks.

While AI PCs are proven to promote productivity gains, with early data suggesting they can save users around 240 minutes a week on routine tasks, many consumers aren’t aware of these benefits or don’t know how to access them. Despite AI PCs becoming more available to people, 86% of respondents have either never heard of or used an AI PC. Meanwhile those respondents who already own an AI PC are actually spending longer on digital chores than those using a traditional PC. This suggests that consumers are spending a long time identifying how best to communicate with AI tools to get their desired outcomes.

While AI boasts the ability to process text near instantly (compared to the average human typing speed of 40-60 words per minute), that doesn’t necessarily mean consumers will save time when transcribing meetings or drafting copy if they don’t know how to use the technology. As technology providers, there is a duty to provide meaningful education on AI implementation to enable consumers to explore other passions with the time they’ve claimed back.

The survey also discovered prohibitive misconceptions around these products, with 44% of respondents seeing AI PCs as a gimmick or futuristic technology, and 53% believing they are only for creatives or technical professionals.

How Awareness Brings Interest and Opportunity: Survey findings indicate a correlation between greater awareness of AI PCs and adoption of the technology. While only 32% of respondents who aren’t familiar with AI PCs would consider purchasing one for their next upgrade, this percentage jumps significantly to 64% among respondents who have used one before. This shows a promising outlook for consumer interest in AI PCs, but also demonstrates the need to drive awareness around real-world use cases of this emerging technology.

Respondents in Germany were the most aware of AI PCs, with 28% either owning or having used one compared to just 8% in the U.K. and 7% in France. The German market also had the least worries about the privacy and security of their data when using an AI PC, with only 12% of respondents claiming to be very or extremely concerned. This suggests that the German market is the most willing to engage with new technology compared to the U.K. and France, and that there is work to be done to drive greater awareness of AI PCs across Europe.

When asked which feature of an AI PC they would most likely use, respondents identified real-time language translation (39%), file search optimization (35%) and enhanced cybersecurity (32%) as the most enticing features. And 40% of consumers also feel positive about the adaptive capabilities of AI PCs to understand their habits and provide a more personalized experience.

What is an AI PC: An AI PC is the next evolution in personal computing, integrating artificial intelligence capabilities directly into its hardware and software. Unlike traditional computers that either lack AI capabilities or rely heavily on cloud services, AI PCs bring all the computing power into one place. This means that AI workloads running on the PC, such as generative AI, can be based on the user’s local data and personal preferences and don’t require an internet connection. All of this adds up to better data privacy, better efficiency and the option to personalize the computing experience.

Intel recently launched the Intel® Core™ Ultra 200V series processors, delivering exceptional performance and long-lasting battery life, underpinned by AI. Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors deliver up to 120 total platform TOPS (tera operations per second) across central processing units (CPU), graphic processing units (GPU) and neural processing units (NPU). The fourth-generation NPU is up to 4x more powerful than the previous generation and is ideal for running sustained AI workloads while remaining energy-efficient.

Jabra research shows more than three-quarters of UK office workers don’t use AI

Jabra, a global leader in enterprise audio and video solutions, reveals that while UK leaders (70%) have strong levels of trust in AI, very few UK office workers (23%) are using it in their daily roles, or even their personal lives (25%). This disconnect suggests that even though leaders are optimistic about AI’s potential, they may yet lack the necessary vision or skills to effectively implement it across the workforce. 

The study, conducted among 1,800 AI decision makers surveyed across 6 countries and 4,200 employees from 14 countries, highlights that despite strong enthusiasm for AI, there is a clear disconnect between trust in the technology and its actual use in the workplace.  

In the UK, 84% of UK decision-makers express strong interest in AI. The UK is among the top countries with highest intent to plan additional budget for AI (53%) alongside Germany, with India leading the way followed by Japan. This is above the global average (49%). 

Nearly two-thirds of decision-makers (64%), along with 46% of employees, believe AI can improve their work. Yet, the vast majority (83%) of leaders acknowledge that they need to better understand the workplace benefits and how AI can improve efficiency. Nearly half of employees (47%) see AI as a buzzword used by every company at the moment.  

This lack of understanding has left many business leaders in a ‘wait and see’ phase – engaging in much discussion but taking little concrete action. 

Without a well-defined roadmap, employees are struggling to understand how AI will be integrated into their daily tasks and the broader company strategy. More than a third of UK employees are afraid that AI is coming for their job (37%).  

Jabra’s study reveals additional challenges and demographic considerations that are hindering adoption of AI:   

  • 85% UK of employees wouldn’t trust AI for tasks that require creativity and innovation. This reluctance isn’t just about trust, it’s also about the satisfaction that comes from being personally involved in these tasks that are considered more meaningful. 
  • Globally, there’s a clear generational divide in AI adoption, with 47% of Millennials and 37% of Gen Z indicating they feel positive about AI versus only 15% of Boomers. Adoption wise, 28% of Millennials and Gen Z use AI day to day at work, versus just 15% of Boomers.  
  • Around the world, AI decision-makers are relatively young – 58% are between the ages of 18 and 39 – and 71% are not from the IT department.  

 

Paul Sephton, Head of Brand Communications at Jabra, said: “We see many UK organisations eager to jump on the AI wave, but some are still dancing in the dark when it comes to effective implementation and meaningful use. As tools rapidly shift toward voice-driven input rather than text alone, it’s crucial for organisations to recognise how this evolution will change our interactions with AI and enhance productivity.” 

“To avoid what we call “AI-washing” – simply jumping on the AI bandwagon – organisations must carefully evaluate the productivity gains that AI can offer and actively involve their employees in this journey. AI’s implementation must be thoughtful – it’s not just there to enhance productivity, but to foster a more connected and capable workforce, driving innovation and collaboration at every level.” 

Read more and download full report here:   

https://www.jabra.com/thought-leadership/ai-at-work

See our Jabra reviews 

Irish research group DIAS involved in world first lunar-Earth flyby

A team of three researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) will play a key role in the first ever spacecraft attempt to fly past the Moon, and then past Earth.  The flyby is set to take place over tomorrow and Tuesday (19-20 August).

The manoeuvre is part of the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. As well as conducting detailed observations of Jupiter and its moons, the mission will be investigating Jupiter’s moons as possible habitats for life.

The lunar-Earth flyby will be an opportunity for the DIAS team to test their ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon, in preparation for the actual flybys of Jupiter’s moons.

Senior Professor Caitriona Jackman, Dr. Mika Holmberg and Dr. Hans Huybrighs are all members of the DIAS Planetary Magnetospheres Group, which is the only Irish research group involved in the mission.

Commenting on DIAS’s role in the flyby, Prof. Caitriona Jackman, Associated Scientist and Head of the Planetary Magnetospheres Research Group at DIAS, said “We will be monitoring the flyby with trepidation as it’s an extremely challenging undertaking – the slightest mistake could take Juice off course and spell the end of the mission.

“This is the first step in Juice’s journey through the solar system on its way to Jupiter. The spacecraft will use the gravity of the Moon and then Earth to bend its path through space and redirect it on course for a flyby of Venus in August 2025. This will help to ensure it arrives at Jupiter with the right speed and direction. It’s a journey that requires perfect accuracy and in-depth planning.”

“Having this opportunity to test our ideas about the spacecraft’s behaviour in the environment of a moon is truly exciting and will be a huge boost in confidence for our research once Juice arrives at Jupiter. The encounter of Earth’s moon is a practice-run for when we get to Jupiter, where we will study moons with underground oceans that might support life. I’m extremely proud of the work carried out by our research group so far, and that we can be part of such an important mission.”

DIAS expertise

DIAS’s work on this mission will explore how the spacecraft itself affects the measurement of particles, and will use an advanced computer model to investigate this. Commenting on her involvement in this mission, Dr. Mika Holmberg, Research Fellow at DIAS and Co-Investigator on the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation Instrument, said “The measurements from the lunar-Earth flyby could have a significant impact on our research going forward. The effects of the interaction between the spacecraft and its environment influences our interpretation of the measurements. For example, it might change our understanding of where the moon particles that we are trying to detect come from, or how many there are.

“The computer simulations account for the environment of the spacecraft and models how the moon particles will be affected, so that we can correct potential misleading effects for later in the mission. When Juice flies by the Moon we have the first opportunity to test our correction techniques during an actual moon encounter, which is exciting. It’s the perfect opportunity for us to calibrate our instruments and smooth out any remaining issues, and who knows what it could lead to!”

Dr Hans Huybrighs, Research Fellow at DIAS and Associated Scientist of the Particle Environment Package instrument explains that the main objectives of the mission are to study the abilities of Jupiter’s moons to host life, which requires accurate and detailed measurements. “Jupiter’s moons slowly release particles from their surface. In some cases, this release could happen through water eruptions that produce 100-kilometre-tall plumes. By detecting these particles, we can learn more about the moons’ potential to support life. Investigating how Juice can best detect these plumes is one of the topics we are working on at DIAS.”

DIAS as a leader in space research

Commenting on DIAS’s role in space research, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS said, “It’s fascinating to follow the spacecraft’s journey through the solar system with incredibly complex manoeuvres. Scientists around the world have been carefully planning this route over the last 20 years and it’s a huge honour that DIAS is playing a role in this mission. This flyby is hugely important as it’s one of the few opportunities to make certain measurements and adjustments during Juice’s eight-year journey to Jupiter.

“DIAS has a long history in being at the forefront of Ireland’s involvement in cutting-edge space research with the James Webb Space Telescope, and now our contribution to the Juice mission. We have been following Juice’s progress closely since its launch in April 2023. We are very proud of the work of our researchers, and we are looking forward to updates on the progress of the flyby.”

The Juice mission is being led by the European Space Agency, of which Ireland is a member state. 18 different research institutes, 23 countries, 83 different companies and more than 2000 people have contributed to the mission.

DIAS’ work on this mission is funded by Science Foundation Ireland and a European Space Agency fellowship held by Dr. Mika Holmberg. Further Information about DIAS’ involvement in the Juice mission can be found here: https://www.dias.ie/cosmicphysics/astrophysics/astro-Juice/

Jabra’s research reveals how audio volume affects performance and office vibe

9 in 10 (92%) UK workers say getting work done, being able to focus on work, and maintaining good mental health are equally important. But according to Jabra’s latest research, the role that audio plays on cognitive, emotional and physical wellbeing in the workplace cannot be undersold. Nearly three quarters (71%) of UK respondents say working in a loud environment makes them mentally tired, and that clear and high-quality sound enhances their ability to focus on tasks.  

The research was carried out amongst 2,000 knowledge workers across France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The findings revealed that improving neurodiversity in the workplace and creating an inclusive space can positively influence mental wellbeing and productivity, ultimately encouraging better mood and providing organisations with a competitive advantage.   

Office buzz or a productivity buzzkill? 

While organisations are continuing to push for employees to return to offices, half (50%) of UK respondents say they are stressed by noise at the office not allowing them to focus. 

Jabra’s research found that 47% say it was difficult for them to be productive at work when colleagues were taking calls at their desks without headphones. Meanwhile, 49% reported it was equally difficult to lead or participate in calls when colleagues are taking calls from their desks without headphones. To avoid noise and limit distractions, over half of UK workers (53%) say they are expected to take calls or online meetings away from their desks in a separate room and use professional headphones (66%).  

The findings show the impact noise has on overall productivity and performance. With 72% saying clear and high-quality sound enhances their ability to focus on tasks and projects, it is critical that leaders do all they can to provide the right technology and a conducive environment for employees returning to the office, to avoid the productivity buzzkill.  

Loud environment and its impact on mental wellbeing  

Poor audio quality has negative consequences on work and wellbeing, with 58% of UK workers saying poor quality audio during conference calls negatively impacts their wellbeing.  

The impact loud environments have on mental health and wellbeing is clear: nearly three quarters (71%) say working in a loud environment makes them mentally tired. Furthermore, six in ten respondents agree that working in a loud environment makes them physically tired (60%) and it is difficult for them to feel passionate about their work when working in such an environment (59%). 

Workers also believe higher-quality meeting audio can positively impact their interpersonal skills in the workplace through clearer communication (46%), improved collaboration (44%), and enhanced communication skills (39%).  

While noise has a negative impact on overall mental health and wellbeing, workers believe employers have a responsibility to address audio issues in a variety of ways. This ranges from providing noise-cancelling headphones as part of standard office equipment (36%) and allowing employees to work from home more frequently (39%). Over a third (34%) say their employer could also designate specific areas for different types of activities such as quiet zones or collaborative zones to ensure employees have the options available in the offices for optimal performance and mental wellbeing.  

Inclusive and neurodiversity in the workplace fuels business results 

Neurodiversity refers to the diverse number of ways a human brain processes information. It highlights there is no one-size-fits-all approach to how people approach a similar situation. The research findings show that this concept applies to the workplace too.  

Despite being a relatively new concept to UK workers, with 21% saying it was the first time they were hearing about the term “neurodiversity”, around 7 in 10 believed that neurodiversity in the workplace can improve business through increased creativity (72%) and collaboration (74%) – ultimately driving better business results (71%).  

It is clear from the research findings that audio levels have a varied effect on workers and can have a profound effect on overall health and quality of life. Improving neurodiversity in the workplace can be a way to boost work performance (61%), and employees are more empowered to “bring their whole self to work” in an inclusive workplace (60%). With a positive impact on both business and employees, nearly two thirds (64%) of UK workers agree that employers should invest more in creating an inclusive, neurodiverse workplace. Gone are the days where workplaces solely catered to a single type of employee, and an evolution is needed to ensure employers are catering to different individual needs within the workforce.  

Nigel Dunn, VP EMEA North at Jabra, said: “The way of work is constantly evolving, and with the return to the office, UK workers are struggling with the ability to focus in the workplace. Sound type, intensity and individual sensitivity play significant roles in how we function at work and have a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing, and productivity and performance. GN’s recent “Listen to This” campaign highlights the strong link between audio and our overall cognitive and mental wellbeing. UK leaders need to invest in creating an inclusive and neurodiverse workplace, combined with high-quality technology to ensure workers can bring their true and best selves to work and thrive professionally and mentally.”  

Please see here for the full report

Datapac’s technology supports horse health and wellbeing for the Irish Equine Centre

Datapac, Ireland’s leading technology solutions and services provider, is today announcing that its technology is helping to drive equine disease diagnosis and research for the Irish Equine Centre (IEC). Founded in 1983, the Kildare-based IEC is a leading scientific and diagnostic service provider dedicated to the health and wellbeing of horses.

The IEC’s existing IT infrastructure was no longer able to keep pace with the growing technology demands of the equine diagnostics field. Following a competitive tender, Datapac delivered a complete refresh of the centre’s IT ecosystem to support the rollout of a wide range of services, including laboratory diagnostics, disease surveillance, and research on equine health and biosecurity.

The solution is underpinning continued growth and success for the IEC, which has just launched the Pet Vet Lab, a new service dedicated to advancing the health of household pets. It offers a ground-breaking screening service directly to pet owners, producing a personalised probiotic which is unique to each pet.

Datapac’s fully managed solution includes a comprehensive overhaul and integration of the IEC’s networking, compute, and storage infrastructure, built on Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) hardware and software. As the leading diagnostic service provider to the Irish equine industry, infrastructure uptime and resilience is vital for the IEC. The technology provides robust cloud data backup and recovery, with the ability to restore data in minutes in the event of an incident.

Advanced de-duplication vastly reduces the size of data storage, with up to 90% data capacity savings, and has significantly reduced cloud hosting costs for the centre. It also ensures speedy access to applications and data, boosting productivity for the IEC’s 69 employees.

Meanwhile, in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, Datapac’s Managed Threat Ops service provides round-the-clock monitoring, response, and neutralisation of cybersecurity threats. The IEC also serves as a teaching centre for third-level veterinary students and Microsoft Office 365 software with individual accounts and storage space provides a seamless user experience.

In addition, Datapac has enhanced connectivity across the IEC campus, implementing a wireless network solution and upgrade to next-generation Wi-Fi 6. The consolidation of technologies coupled with support from Datapac engineers for day-to-day technical queries has reduced the burden on in-house IT resources, freeing up time to focus on driving innovation for the centre.

Michael Mahady, IT Manager, Irish Equine Centre, said: “We had worked with Datapac in the past, and knew that its skilled team was best placed to deliver on our key objectives as technologies continue to advance. The flexibility and high level of data protection provided by the HPE Simplivity platform is of the utmost importance, as secure backup and business continuity is crucial to enable us to continue to roll out our services and resources. Furthermore, Datapac’s solution provides the benefits of a smaller storage footprint while retaining the operational horsepower of a much larger system to support the early detection and management of diseases. Reliable access to Datapac’s experts is invaluable and gives us the peace of mind to focus on delivering value-adding projects for the centre.”

Colin Chapman, Business Relationship Manager, Datapac, said: “The Irish Equine Centre does such important work to promote horse health in Ireland, and our technology infrastructure overhaul is providing the proactive support and increased capabilities to continue to advance these vital services. Our solution has future proofed the IEC’s IT systems which will help the centre to grow and innovate in line with evolving industry demands. We are looking forward to building on our relationship with the centre as it continues to develop its cutting-edge resources.”

More than 7 in 10 use their smartphone as soon as they wake up.

New Deloitte research shows that smartphone use is ingrained in our daily lives. A total of 96% of respondents say they own a smartphone, up from 94% last year.

Mobile phones are now the preferred device for browsing shopping websites, making online purchases, online searches, banking and playing games.

The survey also found that about two thirds of adults (67%) wish they spent less time on their devices.

The 67% finding is up significantly from 51% a year ago with 18-34 year olds more likely than any other age group to think they are using their smartphones and other devices too much (82%).

Women are also more likely to want to reduce time spent on their devices with 74% expressing this view compared with 61% of men.

A total of 98% of 18-75 year olds use their smartphone every day, with more than a third doing so during mealtimes and 74% saying they do so as soon as they wake up compared with 59% a year ago.

The survey  shows the percentage of people who check their phone at least 50 times a day remains at 36% while the percentage who check theirs at least 100 times is also unchanged at 16%. Half of respondents (52%) say they tend to stay awake later than planned because they use their devices into the night. The number of people staying awake later than planned is up from 49% last year, and it’s up from 62% to 69% among 18-24 year olds and from 64% to 68% among those aged 25-34.

 While the research shows the majority of people want to use their smartphones and other devices less, some wish they could do more with them when they do use them. 

Just over a third (34%) would like to replace their existing passport with one that is integrated into their smartphone and 33% would like their driving licence integrated. A total of 18% would like to use their smartphone to unlock their house and 17% to unlock their car.

There has been an increase in the number of people who own wearables, such as smartwatches, (50% to 67%), and Smart TVs (66% to 71%) in the last twelve months. One in five respondents (20%) say they have an external security camera or video doorbell, up from 16% a year ago.

More than half of respondents use their smartphone or smartwatch to make in-person mobile payments. Almost two in five (38%) of adults regularly do so and 13% say they do so occasionally.

Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the smartphone market. A total of 37% of adults say they own an Apple phone and 38% own a Samsung phone. Apple remains the most popular brand among 18-34 year olds.

Aside from price, battery life, storage capacity and camera quality are the three most important features for consumers purchasing a smartphone.

 Commenting on the findings of the Deloitte Consumer Trends report, John Kehoe, partner, Consumer & Technology Business audit and assurance group, said:

“These results re-affirm how important the smartphone is in our daily lives and show that it is likely to further consolidate its status as the most successful consumer device. While many people wish they could reduce the extensive amount of time they spend on their smartphones, it is clear that they are the preferred devices for everything from banking to online search, browsing, playing games and shopping. People are now increasingly using their phones to make in-person payments and our survey shows many would also like to use them for identity identification too, which is something that is likely to become possible in the future. The European Parliament and Council of the EU have already started to move towards the adoption of ID technology by reaching final agreement on European Digital Identity Wallets, a move which is now subject to formal approval. If approved, the wallets will serve as a form of national ID card which could be used for both online and offline public and private services across the EU.”

Entertainment

The survey included questions on entertainment. A total of 74% of respondents have access to video streaming services with the average person having more than two. Netflix is still the market leader at 62% and Disney+ continues to grow, up 3 percentage points to 36% compared to 33% in 2022.

Close to a quarter (24%) of respondents cancelled a video streaming service in the last twelve months with the main reason being that it wasn’t used enough (33%), was too expensive (24%) or they need to spend less on subscriptions due to the rising cost of living (23%).

The number of people who resubscribed to a streaming service they had previously cancelled increased from 12% to 16%, but 41% did not change their subscriptions in the current year, a figure that remains consistent with the previous year.

More than a third of subscription holders (36%) say they share access to their accounts between two or more households. The incidence of sharing is most widespread among the youngest age group with 60% of 18-24 year olds sharing an account.

A total of 36% of all adults say they would pay extra to keep sharing a video subscription account if their provider prevented it, but 7 out of 10 say they would not consider taking out a second account at full price. When it comes to paying for streaming services, the majority of respondents (31%) say they would still prefer to pay a full-price subscription with no ads.

Commenting on the entertainment findings, Colm McDonnell, partner and Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications, said: “We’re seeing more streaming services explore new payment models for subscribers and our reports finds that while full-price subscriptions and no ads is the most popular payment method for consumers, around 1 in 10 would prefer half-price subscriptions and 5 minutes of ads per hour during each programme or before each programme. At Deloitte, we believe providers are likely to shift from growth at all costs to making it easier for all their subscribers to get enough value for the price they pay. It is likely that providers will start to introduce an increased number of on demand tiers for customers to choose from. This will include options from cheap ad-supported offerings and gated content to premium tiers with instant access. Users may find it harder to wade through the options, but tiering could help them get more of what they want, and less of what they don’t.”

ESA Director comes to Ireland in “landmark” visit for space research community

Director of Science at the European Space Agency, Prof. Carole Mundell and her senior executive team attended an event, hosted by Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), at DIAS Dunsink Observatory as part of a national visit last week.

The European Space Agency (ESA) group has been conducting a tour of all ESA member states. Ireland joined the ESA as a founding member in 1975 and has contributed to space missions along with the 21 other member states.  Commenting on the event, Dr. Padraig Doolan, Irish Delegate to the ESA within Enterprise Ireland said, “The recent visit by the Director of the Science Programme of the ESA, Prof. Carole Mundell, was a landmark event for the Irish space research community. While Ireland’s success on the industry side of space is reasonably well-known, this occasion provided a platform to recognise and celebrate the substantial breadth of expertise and talent that exists among the academic community in Ireland.

“During her time here, Prof. Mundell met with multiple research groups, stakeholders and seven universities from across Ireland at the event, hosted by DIAS Dunsink Observatory. She also engaged with several Irish-based senior scientists specialising in the areas of fundamental physics, galaxies and cosmology, heliophysics, planetary science, star formation and exoplanets, and stars and stellar evolution, as well as hearing first-hand from the team behind the successful development and launch of Ireland’s first satellite, EIRSAT-1.”

Host of the event Prof. Caitriona Jackman (Senior Professor and head of the DIAS Planetary Group), noted that “the day provided an opportunity to showcase some of the highlights of Irish space science and astronomy. Irish-based scientists engage with ESA on many levels, ranging from our formal positions as named investigators on missions like Solar Orbiter and JUICE, to our service on ESA working groups and mission selection panels. Our group of senior scientists laid out our ambition for increased engagement with the future portfolio of ESA missions from technology development to science exploitation.”

DIAS involvement

As part of the event hosted at DIAS Dunsink Observatory, DIAS scientists including Prof. Caitriona Jackman, Dr. Hans Huybrighs and Dr. Charles Bowers from the DIAS Planetary Group presented examples of their work on the magnetic environments of Mercury and Jupiter. Prof. Peter Gallagher, Dr. Shane Maloney and Dr. Sophie Murray highlighted Ireland’s formal involvement in the Solar Orbiter mission STIX instrument, and their leading Space Weather forecasting work. Prof. Tom Ray, co-primary investigator on the mid-infrared instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope, provided updates on DIAS activity on the development of detectors for space, as well as looking to future missions like Ariel.

The event was attended by representatives from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE), and Enterprise Ireland (EI), including the Irish Delegation to ESA.