Tag: #tech

Irish Tech firm Workhuman valued at $1.2bn. #Workhuman #Tech

Irish technology company Workhuman has announced that London-based alternative asset manager Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has become an investor in the organisation, as part of its European investment strategy, acquiring a minority stake in the company from existing shareholders. Morgan Stanley acted as exclusive financial advisor to Workhuman in a highly competitive process. The transaction values Workhuman at $1.2 billion.

Workhuman, the world’s fastest-growing social recognition and continuous performance management platform, develops pioneering technology to make employees feel more appreciated and socially connected at work, creating happier and more productive workplaces for some of the world’s biggest organisations including LinkedIn, Procter & Gamble, Cisco and Eaton. Over five million employees around the world are on Workhuman’s platform, across 160 countries.

Workhuman continues to support organisations globally in building human connections and increasing productivity in the workplace, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first half of the year, more than 300,000 employees have started taking advantage of Workhuman’s Social Recognition and Life Events cloud products. The company has built out its suite of human applications with new features in existing products, and introduced Moodtracker™, an always-free employee survey platform that focuses on making real changes within organisations. In addition, Workhuman is offering special editions of two of its Workhuman Cloud products – Life Events® and Conversations®  – free for any organisation to use until March 2021.

Globoforce co-founder and CEO Eric Mosley.

“We are excited to welcome ICG as a strategic investor, while providing liquidity to some of Workhuman’s earliest supporters,” said Eric Mosley, Workhuman co-founder and CEO. “ICG’s support helps put us on a great path forward as we get ready for the next phase of Workhuman’s growth. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we all need human connection. Our continued double-digit growth and ongoing business momentum is a sign that organisations are craving a way to build better relationships and foster trust with their employees, no matter where they are.”

“Workhuman is a truly unique HR platform provider that we are excited to be in partnership with,” said Benoit Durteste, CIO and CEO of ICG. “The business’s historic performance is testament to the results it delivers for clients and their employees, reaching organizations in more than 160 countries. In the past couple years, and even more so as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations have begun to realize the power and value of their people and have been forced to innovate and thrive in new ways. Workhuman provides them with progressive tools to understand, engage with and better utilize their employees in ways they never could before.”

As part of Workhuman’s strategy to drive growth, three accomplished executives have recently joined the company’s leadership team. Chris DeMeo, formerly of Staples, took the role of VP of Customer Marketing; Dr. Patti Fletcher, who comes from SAP SuccessFactors, joins as VP of Brand Marketing; and Jason Griggs, previously at Workday, takes the reins as SVP of Global Sales.

For more information about Workhuman, please visit www.workhuman.com.

Poly customers get a virtual sneak peek of company’s portfolio of devices for Microsoft Teams #MicrosoftTeams #Poly

Plantronics, Inc. (“Poly” – formerly Plantronics and Polycom) a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration, today announces its global sneak peek at the Poly products working together to deliver a seamless Microsoft Teams Rooms experience.

Poly is embarking on a Poly & Microsoft Collaboration Virtual Roadshow 2020 — a virtual webinar series across Europe, North America, Latin America, Australia, and Asia, where customers will get the chance to learn about the latest, easy to set-up solutions that are powered by Poly MeetingAI. Poly augments the Teams Rooms experience and delivers the same familiar native Microsoft experience underpinned by clever AI.

Taking place throughout June and July, the Poly & Microsoft Collaboration Virtual Roadshow 2020 will feature one of the richest and most complete range of audio and video solutions to drive optimal employee collaboration experiences using Teams.

​“Poly is showcasing how businesses can optimise their use of Microsoft Teams. With an end-to-end portfolio of desk phones, headsets, videoconferencing solutions and managed services, Poly brings together one of the world’s strongest product portfolio aimed at enhancing your Teams collaboration,” said Christophe Herrerias, Senior Manager – Alliances Go To Market, Poly.

Poly’s portfolio of solutions brings flexibility to every Teams experience, supporting productive collaboration for everyone:

Create flexible and collaborative meeting spaces:

  • Poly G10-T, Poly G40-T and Poly G80-T, which will be available later this year, offer audio and video tools that deliver high-quality meeting experiences for users on Microsoft Teams, and give IT managers the ability to easily scale for meeting rooms of all sizes. Poly Room Solution for Teams Rooms will begin shipping upon Microsoft Teams certification in the coming months to select regions.
  • Poly Studio X collaboration bars are purpose-built, integrated solutions that will offer a native Microsoft Teams meeting and calling experience.
  • Poly Studio, a plug-and play USB video bar, offers clear, high-fidelity stereo audio and dynamic video experiences with group framing and speaker tracking technology.
  • Poly Trio C60 conference phones are centre of all types of meeting rooms, and the conference phones deliver quality audio and innovative features such as Poly NoiseBlockAI that reduces distracting background noise.
  • Poly Calisto 7200 has exceptional conferencing performance for huddle rooms.

Optimise the meeting experience for every participant: 

  • Poly CCX series Teams edition desktop phone combines a native Teams solution and premium voice and audio quality so teams can be their most productive in no time.
  • Poly Voyager 4200 and Poly Voyager 5200 office series can connect to a desk phone, smartphone or computer and have a dedicated Teams button to instantly invoke the Teams app. Audio and visual alerts mean you’ll never miss anything and scheduling a meeting, starting a call or checking your calendar becomes quick and easy.

“Microsoft Teams is a hub for teamwork for millions of workers around the world who use the platform every day to share ideas, create content and collaborate on projects. We are pleased that our partnership with Poly is delivering a wide variety of easy-to-use Teams devices and solutions that offer best-in-class audio and video experiences, helping people get work done,” said Kurt Petersen, General Manager Device and Partner Sales, Microsoft.

Poly solutions offer speed and responsiveness for a native Teams experience and a dedicated Teams button. Features also include Poly HD Voice and Poly MeetingAI.

Contact Poly to attend a virtual session and be one of the first to learn about the portfolio of desk phones, headsets, speakerphones, video bars and Teams Room Solutions.

New mini eco-friendly cordless fan from Meaco. #Meaco #Fans

Meaco, a leading UK air treatment manufacturer, is pleased to announce the launch of its latest fan,  the  low energy, low decibel, cordless MeacoFan 260c Air Circulator

 

Weighing in at just 490g – less than half a bag of sugar – this cordless fan can go anywhere. Wherever you need reliable cooling, be it at home, at work, the gym or outside, the portability of the MeacoFan 260c makes it the perfect choice. The lack of a cable means you have the freedom to use it wherever you want without having to worry about trailing wires or having to position it near a plug socket.  Place it in any position to get the best angle for perfect cooling.

Being cordless its perfect for use outside, take it out onto the patio or into the garden to enjoy a cooling breeze whilst you sit outside.  If government allows at some stage this summer it will make a welcome addition for any camping, caravanning, and boating activities.

Getting a good night’s sleep is a priority to most, so the low decibel DC technology of the MeacoFan 260c ensure it is super quiet. “We’re renowned for the quiet fans we design,” comments Chris Michael, MD of Meaco. “All the other fans in our range have already been awarded the Quiet Mark accreditation. I have been using mine on my office desk this summer and have found it to be the perfect fan for keeping cool whilst working and my son has used it a lot whilst home schooling this summer.”

“For home working or schooling the fan is just right, small enough so it does not take up any space on a cramped desk, powerful enough to provide just the right amount of cool air and so quiet that it is never noticed on those Zoom calls!”

A unique feature of the MeacoFan 260c is a useful and attractive nightlight in the base. Many customers have been looking for a combination of a quiet fan to use in the bedroom for themselves or a child and a nightlight.  The 260c ticks each of these and gives a warm glow that can last all night on a single charge.

The fan can be charged via a standard USB Micro C port, directly from a laptop, PC or wall socket. There are four fan speeds to choose from and on a full charge, you can cool on Fan Speed 1 for up to 14 hours. The fan head can be adjusted up or down to aim the airflow as required. A single one-button operation turns the fan on and off and allows fan speed selection. An LED indicates which speed the fan is on, turning off is a one button press.

All in all the MeacoFan 260c is probably most versatile to-date offering a massive range of possibilities and cooling exactly where you need it.

RRP: £29.99 inc VAT

Available from Meaco web site MeacoFan 260c Air Circulator

Available from Amazon; https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08B9GKH8R?ref=myi_title_dp

83% of Northern Irish workers don’t need an office to feel productive anymore. #Jabra #WorkFromHome

Productivity has increased due to the current lockdown situation, according to UK workers. Half (50%) of the workers in Northern Ireland who don’t usually work from home feel more productive than in the office. This is mainly because they experience less office noise distractions (67%) or are less chatting to colleagues (44%). Despite this, many who are currently working from home are looking forward to their workplace reopening and a whooping 78% hope their employer lets them work from home more often in future. These insights are unveiled by research from Jabra among employees who are working from home during the pandemic*.

Flexible working
This pandemic has increased the appetite for flexible working environments. Seven in ten (70%) UK workers who don’t usually work from home say that the current climate has shown that a physical workplace is not necessary to be productive. For Northern Ireland this number is even higher at 83%. For a third of them (33%) not having to commute allows them more time to do work. However, UK employees are demanding clarity on future arrangements as a majority (51%) wish their employer would be clearer about possible working patterns going forward.

Employers should offer better tech

Another challenge for making flexible workplaces a future-proof solution, is technology. Of the people who feel less productive when working from home (25%) almost a quarter (23%) says they are distracted by children, while the same number (23%) blame the lack of equipment. Less than a third of workers (30%) says they’ve been given the right accessories to be productive, but almost half (46%) say they wished their employer offered more tech support.

This is particularly a pain point for Northern Irish employees who are not happy with their employer’s tech support: of those feeling less productive, 38% blames insufficient technology, whereas the majority of home workers (56%) had hoped for more tech support in general. For a third of the nation’s home workers, duals screens and headphones (33% respectively) are essential to their productivity. Other tech considered paramount are a printer (62%) and mobile phones (43%).

Previous Jabra research from 2019 showed that a large proportion of office workers are distracted by the noise of phone calls or colleagues talking. A huge 44% of respondents say they feel more productive at home simply because of the lack of colleague distractions and the lack of office noise in general (67%). But many workers feel less productive because they are not able to easily talk to their teammates, proving the need for the right software and hardware tech for all workers in order to improve collaboration and productivity. Having access to the right collaboration platforms like Teams and Zoom can also help those feeling lonely (5%) to interact with colleagues.

Nigel Dunn, Managing Director EMEA North at Jabra, said: “Being able to both concentrate and collaborate efficiently is key for creating productive working environments, whether in the office or at home. When you have the right equipment, anywhere is an office or meeting room. Whether it is by shutting out noise with Active Noise-Cancellation in headphones or making crystal clear calls, providing the full picture with a 180o camera or omni-directional audio in speakerphones, productivity does not have to be compromised by location.” 

*Research by Opinium, June 2020, amongst 1,000 UK adults who are working from home

For more information about Jabra’s productivity enhancing products, please visit www.jabra.co.uk.

Niio introduces Art for a “Digital Age” #NiioArt #Digital #Zoom #Tech #Art

Niio is fast becoming the standard, ‘go-to’ platform for moving image art, making premium video and new media art accessible on a global scale to a global audience, and offering a fresh alternative to the mundane and traditional streaming media.

The company was created to inspire and connect people through moving image art, which is perhaps the most relevant medium of this generation, while also empowering video and media artists to showcase, safeguard and earn from their art.

 

Niio takes a unique ‘collaborative ecosystem’ approach to enabling the medium, offering art professionals (including artists, galleries, curators and museums) the chance to each have their own branded account on the Niio platform, and to empower them with a broad set of dedicated technology tools to store, preserve, publish, privately and publicly distribute, and professionally play back their digital format works. This has in-turn has positioned Niio as the default moving image art repository and management tool.

Before the business was launched, the team had over 200 meetings with artists, collectors, galleries and curators. They found people placed value in the moving image art world and felt passionately about it, but the sector lacked a market or central hub that was accessible to all of the relevant stakeholders.

 

Artists wanted a platform through which they could store moving image artworks, sell directly to affluent collectors, and make some works available for loan on masse to reach a global audience. Collectors had their own concerns, as there was no platform through which to view and purchase exclusive works that they wanted to enjoy privately. Niio realised quickly that whether a gallery, curator, artist or collector, the digital art world was fragmented, and there was a necessity to create an ecosystem that satisfied all of those players.

We live in a digital age, defined by technology and the growth of the online world, and that is reshaping the way we experience art. Increasingly, it means software and film have become the paint, the screen has become the canvas and a new destination for art. Niio specialises in this new generation of moving image artworks.

 

The next generation of art enthusiasts and collectors consume and experience everything online, that is why Niio calls it the “digital age”, and that is what the art world is starting to adapt to. This has already extended to other areas of culture with the emergence of streaming giants in the film and music worlds. Art is experiencing the same shift, because people crave access and unique, meaningful experiences, and Niio was founded with a mission to meet that demand. The screen is the natural environment for that shift to take place: it is a digital canvas that is accessible globally, and creating artworks that are designed to be experienced through it is a solution that satisfies artists, galleries, collectors, and the art-loving public.

 

When the platform was set up, the greatest challenges facing artists and collectors were access and maintaining value. Art is a scarcity market, and typically you might associate a model that allows for streaming of artworks as being targeted to the mass market.

 

Niio’s answers to those challenges were rooted in the technology and giving complete control of the tools they developed to the artists. Just as when purchasing a physical masterpiece, collectors want to own digital artworks that are not consumed by the masses. Niio spent a lot of time early on implementing blockchain and AI technology to underwrite ownership of artworks obtained through Niio to ensure that people were confident in the integrity of the platform. 

 

Most recently in response to the COVID-19 situation, Niio has launched ‘Moving Art for Good’, a project to bring moving image art directly into people’s homes to give them that crucial dose of daily inspiration. The first step of this is the curation of a collection of moving image artworks as Zoom backgrounds. The collection includes a wide selection of artworks from leading artists, including Quayola’s Camouflage series of abstract landscape algorithmic paintings and Joe Hamilton’s Cézanne Unfixed, which blurs the relationships between painting and the museum. They are free to download and can be accessed here: https://www.niio.com/get/zoom/

Chucklefish and Robotality launch PATHWAY for FREE on Epic Games Store. #Gaming #Pathway

Robotality and Chucklefish today announced that the rip-roaring turn-based strategy adventure PATHWAY and its game-changing Adventurers Wanted update are now free on the Epic Games Store! Download Pathway before 25 June and it’s yours to keep forever!

 

First launched in 2019, developers Robotality listened to community feedback and remastered Pathway in the massive Adventurers Wanted update. Today Pathway features new AI and game balancing, new tactics and abilities, a new loot system, new combat arenas, and even more special narrative events and story to explore. That’s a lot of changes! Whether you’re a fresh adventurer or a veteran explorer, you’ll find something new to discover.

About Pathway

The year is 1936 across Europe and the Middle East. Rumors abound of secret excavations, mysterious artifacts, occult rituals and objects of immense power. In Pathway you’ll lead a team of bold adventurers into the deserts of Northern Africa to unearth ancient relics and uncover hidden treasures before they fall into evil hands.

Pathway is a fast-paced tactics game in a world of pulp adventure. Run for cover, flank enemies and use your team’s special abilities to turn history in your favor!

  • Dynamic Adventures – Discover five campaigns of varying difficulty, with every attempt spawning a new web of narrative surprises and deadly skirmishes.
  • Tough Choices – Explored locations offer hand-crafted narrative events and big choices. Search the well? Save the villagers? It’s up to you!
  • Build your Team of Adventurers– Each of Pathway’s 16 unlockable characters has their own skills and quirks which impact combat and story encounters.
  • Decisive Conflicts – Use cover and positioning in thrilling turn-based squad combat. Learn to make the best of your team’s abilities and equipment to defeat the forces of evil!
  • Hidden Treasures – Trade-in valuable loot to upgrade your team’s arsenal with rare weapons and armor.
  • Recover and Replay – Experiment with different team combinations and abilities until your foes have been vanquished!

After 25 June you’ll find Pathway available on Steam and the Epic Games Store for its usual price of £12.99 / $15.99 / €13.99.

Nintendo Switch, GungHo’s Volta-X Reveals First Official Gameplay Trailer! #NintendoSwitch #Gaming #GungHo #VotlaX

Customize and operate the giant robot of your dreams in Volta-X coming this summer.

Today GungHo Online Entertainment America has released the first official gameplay trailer for their upcoming robot strategy battler, Volta-X coming to Nintendo Switch this summer.

Volta-X blends real-time decision-making and strategy into action-packed 1v1 battles. Customize and operate your own giant robots, called Voltas, and manage a diverse crew of pilots as they build up their base from scratch. Unlock and upgrade new weapons as you climb the ranks, and explore nearly endless customization combinations to improve your roster of Voltas. Manage the Volta crew in real-time PvP battles, to see how the loadouts stack up against the competition around the world.

But it’s not just PvP, players will also be able to dive into Volta-X’s thrilling single-player campaign. There’s more to the life of a Volta pilot than trying to become the best in the World Volta Association (WVA). Follow the characters as they customize their own giant robots and climb the ranks of the WVA tournament. As the story unfolds, the pilots will have to work together to prove themselves as the best of the best, while discovering dramatic secrets about each other, and the global threats lurking in the shadows of the WVA’s past.

Volta-X will be available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch later this summer.

UX Design Institute course sign-ups surge by 220 per cent. #UX #IrishBiz #UXDesign

Irish company, the UX Design Institute, saw a 220 per cent increase in student numbers during the height of the lockdown when compared to the same period last year.  

As people looked to upskill, change careers or enhance their employability, the leader in UX education and certification recorded its highest ever student enrolments in March, April and May.

Switching to another career was the impetus for 60 per cent of new students, with many working in digital marketing, recruitment, HR, sales, customer experience, product and design.

UX designers are one of the most sought-after tech professionals today, with the current crisis creating even more demand as companies look to improve their online presence.

UX design or User Experience design, combines aspects of psychology, design, marketing, business and technology to provide a better experience for a product’s end-user. This can include apps, websites or even everyday items like your computer mouse.

“We’ve had a really positive few months in terms of student enrolments,” said Colman Walsh, CEO, of the UX Design Institute. “Some people have taken on the course because they find themselves in a precarious position at work and are looking for a more future-focused career, others have just decided that it’s a good time to commit to studying because they have more time on their hands.”

UX Launch Picture Conor McCabe Photography

UX post-Covid-19

 

This week the company produced a report looking at the impact of Covid-19 on the UX industry, featuring insights from Deliveroo, Morgan McKinley, cxpartners, Fathom and the UX Design Institute.

The report points to very positive career opportunities in UX as companies expand their online capabilities, not just to remain competitive but to remain viable.

Mark Campbell, Consultant with Morgan McKinley and contributor to the report said: “When it comes to UX, this crisis has meant that user research has become more critical and UX skills more sought after. We’ve seen a big focus on development and data roles as companies focus on improving their online products.”

According to the report industries that were slow to adopt newer technologies will be looking to evolve their model or become obsolete. Competitive advantage will be won by the companies that offer better UX than their rivals.

Conor McCabe

Quoted in the report, Walsh said: “As more and more industries and companies improve their online capabilities in the aftermath of Covid-19, this can only be good news for anybody working in technology, including UX designers. The overall consensus is that UX presents a more future-proof, rewarding and meaningful career for our students – one that we see flourishing far beyond this crisis.”

The UX Design Institute’s Professional Diploma in UX Design is delivered entirely online over 6 months. The next course start date is July 1st and costs €2550.

The company, set up by UX design veteran Colman Walsh in 2013, recently reported a doubling of revenues in 2019 to €2.67 million with steady growth in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and South Africa.

CLCKR Announces a new range to add to its line-up of phone cases and stands. #CLCKR #iPHONE

CLCKR, the mobile phone accessory company, announced today a new range of designs to add to their line-up of phone cases and stands, including Studio (clear), Carbon Fibre effect, Perforated and Saffiano finishes in a range of colours. The products are available to order from https://www.clckr.com/uk/clckr-case

The brand-new range includes phone cases with an in-built CLCKR stand and grip are available for iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone 11 Pro, as well as a universal CLCKR stand and grip that fixes directly to the device. All the cases are drop tested up to 2.2m and are compatible with QI certified wireless chargers.

Protect Your Phone in Style – Available in two colours, Black and Navy Blue, the phone cases or universal stands are available in a choice of four materials:

Carbon Fibre – A stylish and modern effect which also gives extra grip and protection for your device. Priced at £34.99

Saffiano – Made using a PU Saffiano material, the crosshatch effect gives this case a sleek, smart and classy feel. Priced at £29.99

Perforated – Boasting circular perforations give the perfect mix of edgy and sporty and is ideal for everyday use. Priced at £34.99

Studio – The clear design of the case allows you to show off the colour of your device whilst the CLCKR is made from a soft PU material for comfort when using. Priced at £24.99

CLCKR: The accessory you didn’t know you needed

CLCKR is a gadget designed for those who love to live a life of convenience. The universal stand or CLCKR stand cases allow you to watch your favourite TV show or series, hands free, in portrait or landscape mode. You can video call your family and friends or turn your phone into a home office companion.

“We’ve designed CLCKR to be a truly universal accessory which can allow anyone to get the most from their mobile device,” said Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Direct of CLCKR Phil Mullholland.” We’re pleased to announce our four newest designs which are sophisticated, stylish, and robust, complying with military drop test specifications to protect your device while effortlessly making everyday tasks easier.”