New A.I. artist discovery platform connecting artists to the music industry. @AndrsonMusic partners with @MakeAWish_ie #Andrson #AI #Music #Uploaded

Andrson, an A.I. artist discovery platform, has launched Uploaded – an international song competition offering emerging musicians the chance to win a grand prize of €10,000. Open to artists globally, the competition runs until 30th November 2020 with monthly prizes available and will culminate in a live event showcase to declare the eventual winner – due to be held in Dublin, February 2021. Uploaded will not only reward unique musical talent, but will showcase some of the world’s best undiscovered artists.

Launching this week, Andrson invites all aspiring and emerging musicians, across all genres of music to enter by submitting an original song which will be judged by top level music industry execs. With no limit on the number of submissions, artists can enter up to one song per month until the competition closes in November – creating as much music as they like.

 

Each month, twenty-three artists will be chosen to advance to a semi-final whereby eventually the long list of semi-finalists will be whittled down to a shortlist of 10 talented finalists – chosen by a leading panel of handpicked judges from the music industry. The 10 finalists will then be invited to perform live in Dublin next year for a chance to battle it out to win €10,000. Additionally, a second prize will be available at the event offering the public a chance to vote for their favourite artist in the People’s Choice award and a cash reward of  €2,500.

To enter the competition, artists can simply download the Andrson app from the App Store or Google Play, then upload their chosen song and lastly complete the entry form on the contest landing page. The grand final will take place in Dublin, in February 2021. The 10 finalists will be invited to perform their songs live in front of fans, music industry execs and a select panel of judges. Winners will be announced during the evening. 

 

Neil Dunne, Co-Founder of Andrson, commented: “We want to be a source of inspiration and support all budding musicians globally. By launching Uploaded, we hope we’ve created a space whereby not only can their music be heard by the right people but we will hear the incredible talent from some of the best undiscovered musicians.  

 

To launch Uploaded, Andrson has partnered with children’s charity, Make-A-Wish Ireland. Twenty percent of sponsorships and donations from the competition will be committed to the charity – raising vital funds to help grant wishes to seriously ill children.

 

Uploaded is an opportunity for all budding songwriters to showcase their talents whereby their music will be judged on originality, lyrics, melody, composition, production and the potential to be a ‘smash hit’.

A sound-driven A&R platform, Andrson is a brand new A.I.-powered tool which connects emerging artists to the right industry professionals, helping them to become discovered. For more information and to enter Uploaded, head to andrsonuploaded.com.

workair expands remote-working services to support businesses hit by Covid-19. #workair #cloud

Leading Irish cloud-communications company workair has expanded its suite of remote-working services to enable Irish businesses to continue to work in a distributed way and survive the Covid-19 crisis.

The company’s move to grow its offering comes as details of the new Programme for Government’s measures for remote working emerge.

workair is providing a new unified communications platform which supports remote, mobile, and home-based workers to collaborate and connect with customers at any time and on any device.  It follows workair’s recent support for leading health insights company LetsGetChecked, which enabled the latter to continue its development of critical new Covid-19 testing services that confirm patient results within 48 hours.  LetsGetChecked has just raised $71m in funding as the start-up sees huge demand for its at-home health testing kits.

In parallel with its partnership with LetsGetChecked, workair has been ramping up its services to meet surging demand for distributed and remote working solutions since the Covid-19 outbreak.  It has enabled other companies challenged by the recent national lockdown restrictions, such as travel agency Hannon Travel, law firm Whitney Moore, HR software company Intelligo, and Eden Recruitment, to continue servicing customers in an innovative, efficient and cost-effective manner.

 

Stephen Mackarel, Managing Director of workair Ireland, said: “With countries, economies and the whole business world grappling with the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19,  companies need remote solutions to help sustain their businesses, reduce costs and drive efficiencies in what is the toughest of times. Already focused on cloud-based solutions for every type of business, we have been ramping up our fully-functional remote-operation services since the outbreak, and now our unified platform will further enable our clients’ staff to continue to be productive and customer-focused remotely in this incredibly challenging environment. Companies of all sizes in Ireland are dealing with massive financial, operational and CRM challenges and business managers are having to work out totally new ways of leading.  Our single, unified technology solutions will drive efficiencies, keep costs down, provide performance metrics and ultimately support enterprise recovery in the new Covid-19 business world.”

LetsGetChecked is a leading health insights company that allows customers direct access to a wide range of testing options and clinical services from home.  The company recently announced it is to offer innovative new testing services to those working within the healthcare system and to at-risk groups as part of the fight against Covid-19.

Since partnering with LetsGetChecked 12 months ago, workair has been helping the company to provide 8×8’s unified communications solution across its worldwide base.  The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated LetsGetChecked to make a more rapid deployment to enable remote-working solutions for its staff following the closure of its Dublin and New York offices.  Within 10 days, workair helped LetsGetChecked to re-activate its call centre operations, enabling its customer-support staff in Ireland and New York to operate remotely and continue critical work enabling testing services for the Covid-19 disease.

Mark Donaghy, Product Manager at LetsGetChecked, said: “It’s been great to be a part of such a tangible example of businesses pulling together like this. LetsGetChecked has seen a huge increase in test orders because our customers can safely test from home without putting themselves or others at risk.  Thanks to the quick turnaround from the workair team, we have been able to keep this vital medical service going at a time it is needed most and we are now actively testing and supporting healthcare workers with our coronavirus testing solution.”

With more than 30 existing clients already using its cloud-based technology to support employee productivity and customer engagement, workair is leveraging its expertise to help many more companies support their staff to make the transition to effectively work from home easier in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.  Since the outbreak in Ireland, the company has been working closely with existing clients, as well as providing solutions to new customers, enabling SMEs of all types to continue to effectively run their day-to-day business, ensuring their staff can work remotely to service customers in Ireland and abroad.

workair provides unified communication platforms for businesses of all sizes through various communications, meeting, project management, customer engagement and analytics tools. workair provides a seamless and easy to use experience by providing all of these services in one central location, increasing efficiency and reducing costs in a manner that connects effectively with existing CRMs.

workair has well-established partnerships with leading, award-winning communications providers with a global footprint. Unified platforms from 8×8, Ring Central and LogMeIn enable workair to provide customized solution to meet specific businesses’ needs.  workair is making enterprise grade solutions affordable to businesses of all sizes, future proofing businesses in their transition to the cloud. Voice, video, Instant messaging, analytics and  meetings removes the need for employees to switch between multiple platforms and applications, bringing all services onto one user-friendly platform. workair’s offering reduces both complexity and cost while fostering a collaborative work environment by enabling employees and customers to be connected anywhere and on any device.

Since its launch, workair has worked with businesses in many sectors including the motor, auctioneering, law, recruitment, travel, financial service, and healthcare industries with cloud-based solutions benefitting management, employees, and customers.

Garden ‘Field Trip’ with Google Pixel 4 #Gardening #Pixel4 #GoogleLens #Wildlife

As summer arrives thoughts are turning towards our gardens and balconies and I wanted to share some ways people who might be new to gardening can use Google Lens to discover more of their garden and help children discover a love for their garden.

Whether it’s using Google Lens to identify a flower or insect, brushing up on gardening skills with Google Assistant, following outdoor DIY tutorials or even mastering the art of photography, there’s hours of fun (for adults and children) to be had on your doorstep. To get started, please find a selection of tips and tricks below using features on Google Pixel 4.

 

Fred Brewin, senior product manager for Google Lens, says: ‘There’s magic in the change of a season that makes people want to get closer to nature. We want to help people learn more about the environment around them, and we have a nifty AI-led tool to help. Google Lens can easily identify plants and flowers using your camera on Pixel 4 and other Android/iOSdevices with a simple tap.’

Garden ‘Field Trip’ Pixel 4 Tip Sheet 

Name that flower!  Google Lens: Now your little ones can become the ultimate flower expert by using Google Lens to identify what’s growing in the garden. Challenge them to find as many different species of flowers as they can and once done, move onto plants and insects. You can also encourage them to ask Google Assistant for handy facts as they go along.

  1. Open the camera on your phone, hit more and then press Google Lens

  2. Point your camera at the flower to identify the plant

  3. Swipe up to learn about the discovery

You can also use the folder of stock images to create your own eye spy checklist, or if feeling creative make your own.

Channel their inner artist 

Portrait Mode: Help creativity blossom by showing kids how to take beautiful snaps of the garden. Colourful flowers are perfect to photograph and now Portrait Mode on Pixel 4 makes it easier than ever to take a crystal clear shot. Photograph insects, trees or even clouds and different textures such as bark and grass. What’s more, why not try drawing or painting the photographs when returning inside.

 

  1. Open up your camera and tap the menu icon

  2. Select Portrait mode and tap on the screen to focus on the flower

  3. Older kids can play around with the brightness and shadows slider to make the subject pop

Grow your own

YouTube Tutorials: If spending more time in the garden has you feeling green fingered, create a vegetable or flower patch with help from YouTube tutorials.

 

  1. Simply download the YouTube app

  2. Search for a video such as: ‘How to create a vegetable patch’ or ‘How to grow tomatoes’

  3. Watch step-by-step tutorials on your phone right from the soil bed

  4. What’s more, motion sense on Pixel 4 means you simply have to swipe to pause a video, so there’s no need to take off your gardening gloves

Make something extra special 

YouTube Tutorials: Once you’ve mastered the flower beds, why not start a mini building project with the whole family. Whether creating a bird feeder, bug hotel, worm tower or even a magical fairy garden, there’s a host of YouTube tutorials to follow. Please find example videos at the end of the tips.

Learn more about the world around you 

Google Assistant: Kids can learn more about the world around them with help from Google Assistant. Simply say “Ok Google” followed by your question.  For example, say:

 

  1. Ok Google, tell me about bumble bees?

  2. Hey Google, what is a ladybird?

  3. Ok Google, what are the best flowers to plant this season?

  4. Hey Google, what are the best plants for growing at home?

Bring the magic of the garden inside

Google Assistant: There’s also fun to be had if it’s rainy outside. Google Assistant can recreate the sounds of animals, birds and insects such as the sound of bumble bees or even a woodpecker. So, when telling a story about the garden or teaching your children about creepy crawlies and birds Google Assistant can help bring the lesson to life. For example, try saying:

 

  1. Ok Google, what sound does a pigeon make?

  2. Ok Google, make the sound of a robin?

  3. Hey Google, what sound does a dove make?

  4. Ok Google, what sound does a bee make?

  5. Ok Google, what sound does a fox make?

  6. Hey Google, what sound does a butterfly make?

Garden DIY Project YouTube Tutorials:

Simply say ‘OK Google, play’…followed by the below titles to bring up the video.

 

How To Make A Bird Feeder 

How to make your own fairy garden

Bug Hotel: How to Make a Home for Beneficial Insects

 

How To Make A DIY Worm Tower

How to make a bee hotel

Fun Kids’ Crafts: Painted Pots

Own The Room Launches First-of-its-Kind Virtual Training with Integrated Technology. #LifeHikes #VirtualTraining #AI

Own The Room, an international leader in learning and development, announces an innovative approach to communications training that combines world-class virtual coaching sessions and LifeHikes, an AI-driven mobile application. As companies adapt to virtual operations and take initiatives to foster a culture of openness and change, this digital learning solution empowers teams to strengthen their communications with added layers of impact, connectivity and engagement. 

Own The Room’s virtual training programs feature live, interactive, skill-based lessons led by certified Coaches who have helped thousands of professionals advance their communication and presentation skills. Companies who enroll in the online training pair their virtual sessions with the newly launched LifeHikes® app to enhance the learning experience, get actionable metrics, and track progress during and after the virtual training. Together, it’s a transformative experience that leads to long-lasting results for participants and delivers insights to help employers quantify their training investment. 

“At Own The Room, we want to train the world and give everyone the tools to unleash their potential,” says Own The Room Founder and Coach Bill Hoogterp. “In a time when it is more important than than ever to listen and speak out, our virtual offerings with human-centered technology empower everyone to find their voice and have as much impact as possible.” 

Developed by a team of industry-leading engineers, scientists and communication Coaches, LifeHikes® features interactive lessons led by expert Coaches. It offers a robust library of practice prompts that can be completed in-between virtual team trainings, visual reports, video playback, and personalized feedback that reveal each user’s strongest skills and areas for improvement. The app also includes a Virtual Reality feature, which enables users to deliver presentations to a realistic audience in a conference room or interview setting. 

To learn more and enroll in an Own The Room virtual communications training program, please visit: https://owntheroom.com/virtual-sessions/ or contact team@owntheroom.com.

Heficed Paves the Way for Widespread IP Accessibility for Equinix Clients #Heficed #Equinix #IPv4

Heficed, the provider of network infrastructure solutions, announced they are bringing the IP Address Market to the Equinix platform. This will provide widespread accessibility to IP assets for Equinix customers, levelling out the playing field for companies with limited capacity to build their own IP infrastructure and contributing to the growth of the world’s largest ecosystems of interconnected partners.

In order to provide continuous quality service, businesses need sufficient IP resources to sustain the growth of their operations. IP Address Market will enable Equinix clients to access a vast amount of IPv4 addresses, paving the way for streamlined and accelerated scalability.

The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses has put up new barriers for scaling business; the IP Address Market helps Equinix clients break through these obstacles with the resources needed to grow and sustain their operations much faster, and without aggravating the IP shortage issue.

IP exhaustion was a predetermined problem, as no one had anticipated the scale at which the internet would evolve; the 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses were not meant to sustain the rapidly growing IoT market and the vast amount of always-on connections. In 2019, the last regional internet registry ran out of available IPv4 addresses, escalating the issue even further.

The IP Address Market mitigates the problem as it enables unused IP addresses to reenter the market. Consequently, it provides access to extensive IPv4 resources, enabling businesses to lease necessary IPs and continue scaling their operations without contributing to the current strain placed on the market.

“IPv4 shortage has had its effect on hindering technology development and limiting operational expansion,” says Vincentas Grinius, CEO of Heficed. “We developed the IP Address Market with the goal to support businesses in overcoming the challenge and provide them with the much needed IPs. That’s why we are excited about presenting Equinix customers with more opportunities to scale their ventures.”

This will further accelerate the development of the IP Address Market and bring the concept of IP leasing one step closer to being recognized as the new industry standard, enabling more efficient resource allocation and helping to build sustainable IP infrastructures.

Recently Heficed enhanced their Geolocation search feature, enabling IP address selection by the desired location. In the near future, the company plans to roll out additional features, such as Take Away IPs (TAIP), Bring Your Own IPs (BYOIP), and automated IP health checks. The end goal is to have full operational sustainability with zero need for provision.

An innovative new APP to keep parents sane and CHILDREN having FUN whilst LEARNING FINANCIAL LITERACY! #Nestlums

Launching today, Nestlums is a new mobile app which offers modern money training for children through a unique, character-driven, gamified experience, without connecting to a bank account or touching any real money.

The modern digital world presents new challenges in teaching children about money. Research released today by Cauldron shows that in 1 in 4 UK families, a child had made an unauthorised purchase online. A third of parents also said that they were unsure their child has the necessary understanding of financial literacy concepts for their age. 

As families have been spending more time at home, it is likely children are also spending more time online. The Nestlums team hope the app can provide tangible support in building financial understanding, especially where digital money is concerned.

Created for people who want their children to develop good financial habits early, Nestlums harnesses the power of play to make a typically uninteresting subject engaging and rewarding. In the app, charming ‘Nestlum’ characters encourage kids to earn virtual currencies through the successful completion of real life tasks, set by parents in the app. Upon completion, children can then go on to manage, save and spend their earnings.

 

“We know that getting to grips with money can be hard for kids, especially as it becomes increasingly less visible in the modern world. My seven year old daughter barely has a clue what’s going on when I tap my card in a shop!” explains Wayne Travis, Creative Director from Cauldron. “With the growing prevalence of virtual currencies and the rise of the dreaded in-app purchase, we wanted to reinforce the idea of earning money honestly, appreciating the value of money even if you can’t see it or touch it, and not blowing it recklessly.”

 

Nestlums features two virtual currencies: ‘Gems’, which let kids unlock and play games within the app, and ‘Coins’ which represent a tally of real world money that can be honoured by parents as actual pocket money outside of the app.

 

“We designed the wise little creatures in Nestlums to tune into a child’s innate sense of empathy, and give them something to bond and play with as they progress. We’ve always said to parents: if they won’t listen to you, maybe they’ll listen to the Nestlums!” explains Fox Rogers, Design Director at Cauldron. “We are striving to create responsible financial behaviours that translate into the real world.”

 

Nestlums is the first public initiative from Cauldron, the recently re-branded creative arm of fintech pioneers Thought Machine, and has been created in partnership with BAFTA award nominated games developers Glitchers.

The app is aimed at younger children who do not yet have their own bank account or smartphone, and is intended to live on the parent or guardian’s device. Nestlums has been specifically designed as a safe space for children to learn financial behaviours. For example, the app does not connect to a bank account or card and features a secure ‘grown-ups’ section for managing a child’s tally of coins against money spent/honoured in the real world. 

“Multiple children can be set up in Nestlums, and there is no limit to the number of tasks that can be set, rewards given, or games played, allowing Nestlums to be adapted to suit every family.” says lead Game Developer, Max Scott-Slade at Glitchers. 

 

Nestlums can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for a one off payment of £2.99, and features no subscription charges, in-app purchases or advertising.

For more information on Nestlums, please visit: https://www.nestlums.io  

Give the The Gift Of Sound This Fathers Day. #FathersDay #Tech #Audio

Some more fathers day tech ideas just in case you have no ideas this is our second pick of what might be a good idea to pick up on the special day coming very soon. Unexpected and unique, these are the excellent gadgets fit for any father figure who loves music. Whether it’s an award winning music streamer, speakers or true wireless earbuds,here is a great selection.

NAD M10 Streaming Amplifier

 

The audio world has shifted. Where once available solely on discs, the best quality of music is now delivered over the internet. Not only does it sound better, but entire catalogues of recorded music are more accessible than ever before. Curated playlists make music selection and discovery easy and fun, while multi-room wireless audio multiplies the possibilities. With the NAD Masters M10 it will combine all of this goodness with state-of-the-art amplification to make it an all-in-one solution that will transport you to your favourite musical destination.

CLCKR: The Handy Tool for Dads

Whether your Dad is a DIY king or not, this CLCKR phone stand and universal grip is the handy tool that all Dads need. CLCKR handily holds your device in different viewing positions so you can use your phone to stay in touch with family and friends, binge watch your favourite tv series or videos or teach Dad how to take a selfie! SEE OUR REVIEW 

Bluesound Flex 2i Hi-Res Music Speaker

The Bluesound Pulse Flex 2i is an Award Winning, portable wireless multi-room music streaming speaker. Pair them together for stereo sound. Simply plug it in and connect it to your WiFi and control from anywhere in your home. Connect to your Amazon Echo or via AirPlay 2, letting you play music direct from your voice/device. Compatible with all your favourite streaming services including; Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer – all in 24-bit, high resolution.

For the Keep Fit Dads Urbanista Athens

Whilst your Dad might not be able to go to the gym this Father’s Day, he may like to enjoy running, cycling or some entertainment on his daily walk. Urbanista Athens true wireless sports headphones are the perfect workout companion. They have a IP67 fully waterproof rating so you can sweat, swim or shower with these headphones and they have 8 hours of charging time and a total of 32 hours charge from the case, that means Dad won’t need to look around for his charger for a while. SEE OUR REVIEW

Urbanista Collaborates with Kojey Radical on ‘Sound and Silence’ Campaign. #urbanistalife #TWS

Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, releases the campaign ‘Sound and Silence’ created in collaboration with London-based artist, rapper and creative talent, Kojey Radical. ‘Sound and Silence’ celebrates the launch of their latest product; Urbanista London, an active noise cancelling, true wireless earphone.

Image: Kojey Radical wearing Urbanista London

Priced at £129 MSRP, London is available in four stylish colours and boasts full compatibility with iOS, Android and Windows devices.

The campaign film, directed by Gustav Stegfors, tells a story about how we are inspired by the sights and sounds of our urban surroundings, through the leading features of the product. The film reflects how we need the silence of our own space to be creative and express ourselves, while living in busy urban environments.

“We are shaped by the city. In its silence, we find rhythm. In its sounds, we find inspiration. Sound is the most important tool for expression. Silence is where music is created from scratch. When there is sound, there is silence.” The emotive and illustrative words heard on the campaign film, that support and build its storyline, were created and recorded in collaboration with London-born Kojey Radical. The genre defying rapper offers an important, urgent and crucial voice for our musical landscape. The ferocious young artists most recent project ‘Cashmere Tears’ explored an acutely personal journey of topics, and cemented his unapologetic approach to his artistry, vision and output. Kojey, who has previously worked with Adidas, Burberry and Hennessy, explains: “I have been really inspired by this project because I create my work from my life and my experiences. I am often using my city and surroundings as a source of inspiration and the idea of finding my sound during moments of quiet, is something which is close to my heart.” 

Music and sound are a very important parts of our daily lives and with Urbanista London, you can choose to make surrounding sounds disappear, to relax, to breathe and to have full focus on the music that you are listening to with ‘Active Noise Cancelling’ (Silence), or enhance important sounds that you wish you to let in, whilst still being able to hear the audio on the earphones using ‘Ambient Sound Mode’ (Sound).

These two opposing features are cleverly represented by the models in the video, their styling and the film’s surroundings.

Image: Urbanista London ‘Sound and Silence’ campaign

Urbanista aptly named their new product after London as a vibrant city full of contrasting spaces, from the bustling streets to the peaceful parks. The city in itself acts as a place that reflects sound and silence. Tuomas Lonka, Brand and Marketing Director at Urbanista, comments: “We wanted to work with Kojey on the campaign as he represents what London is to us through his individual style, music and creativity. Kojey’s input and contribution to the campaign have been essential in bringing to life the look, feel and soundscape of the Urbanista London campaign film.”

To watch the full campaign film by Urbanista and Kojey Radical click here: https://youtu.be/wiSHxmcVhEo

Urbanista London is available in four colours: Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue) and is now available for pre-order at www.urbanista.com/london. Priced at £129 / SEK1499 / EUR149 / USD149 / 269 AUD MSRP.

Synctuition launches mindfulness app for free worldwide as mental health crisis looms #MentalHealth #Synctuition

Research commissioned by Synctuition indicates the Republic of Ireland is on the verge of a mental health crisis as they make their mindfulness and relaxation app free for everyone in the country

With the world on the brink of a mental health crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Synctuition, the most advanced mindfulness and mind relaxation app backed by 106 scientific studies, today announces that their platform will be made free to people in 14 countries, in June and July 2020. The announcement comes as new research from Synctuition indicates that over three quarters (76%) of adults in the Republic of Ireland have experienced severe anxiety since the start of the pandemic, whilst the company reports a surge in demand and usage over the past few months, becoming one of the top three highest grossing mindfulness apps globally.

This new offering comes at an important crossroads in the way society examines  how various global events, such as COVID-19, mass unemployment and global riots, has affected the mental health of people worldwide. With psychiatrists and psychologists calling for research into the impact of COVID-19 on our mental health, Synctuition polled 1,011 adults aged 18+ from across the Republic of Ireland between 12-22 May 2020, and found that 18-35 year-olds are experiencing greater anxiety than over 55s (84% vs. 65%). Three out of five Irish adults (58%) are most concerned about the economy, followed very closely by the health of their family (57%). Three in 10 (30%) cited concern for the Government to be able to get us through the pandemic. This is felt more strongly by older respondents (aged 55+) where 40% said this, compared to only 27% of those aged 18-34.

With a responsibility for us all to support those in need, today’s research also paints a poor picture for employers. Only two in five workers (40%) feel supported by their employer with younger workers struggling more with isolation than their older counterparts. More than two fifths (40%) cited lack of socialising as one of the most stressful parts of working remotely, compared to 32% of those aged 55+. 21% say their employer is more concerned about their bottom line than their employees’ wellbeing, 11% say their employer is making more demands on employees and 10% think their employer has treated their employees poorly.

The research also indicated that:

  • When it comes to how employers could be doing more to support their employees’ mental well-being at work, over a third (34%) want more communication with their teammates and nearly a third (29%) would like access to well-being solutions like mindfulness apps.
  • Interestingly demand for wellbeing solutions such as mindfulness apps outstripped demand for access to financial advice (18%) and this is despite that two fifths (41%) of workers are fearful that they will lose their jobs.
  • Despite high levels of anxiety throughout the population, there are rays of sunlight, with the majority of people feeling productive (96%) and feeling optimistic about the future (95%).

Developed over 10 years, Synctuition is the world’s most advanced audio relaxation program. Backed by 106 scientific studies, Synctuition has already reached 4 million users. Whilst being entirely self-funded, the platform has become the third biggest mindfulness app in the US since launching 18 months ago. Dr. Prudence Hall, an author,  and Synctuition mental health advisor said:“Being a part of the development of Synctuition was such a unique experience — incorporating so many disciplines and striking a balance of scientific studies and mindfulness modalities. For listeners to be completely transported to a different world in just 25 minutes could truly transform their state of mind and improve mental health. Personally, integrating the program’s journeys into my own self-care regimen has brought me peace and serenity throughout the current lockdown on numerous occasions.”

Urmas Reinsalu, the Estonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, sees Synctuition as a vital tool for the current time. He said: “I’m proud that Estonia is leading the way in developing so many different technologies to combat the challenges of the current time, and one of the most pressing of these challenges is the mental health crisis. People are struggling to cope with the effects of staying indoors, and people are worried about spreading the virus if they do go out, and their recent research has shown that people are very concerned about their loved ones and their friends. It is vital that people are given all the available materials to help them deal with the stress and anxiety they are currently feeling, which is why Synctuition’s global announcement today is so important.”

Michael Burich, the Co-Founder and COO of Synctuition, said: “Increased loneliness, isolation, anxiety, stress and worry about an economic recession are creating significant dangers to people’s mental health and wellbeing. We are very worried about the future and the mental health crisis that is emerging. Unemployment in the Republic of Ireland has already jumped to record rates over the pandemic period, and unemployment has a direct increase in mental health crises, suicide rates and drug overdose death rates. It is deeply concerning that millions of people’s mental health could be affected for years to come due to the pandemic, and we want to save the lives of those that may be experiencing severe mental hardship due to the current situation. This is why we’re offering our platform for free, with no strings attached.  I’ve been touched by how the international community has come together to offer their support for those in need, but there is almost nothing being offered by the government to support mental health. We want to raise awareness around this neglected issue and offer a helping hand to those in need.”

He added: “Neurological studies over the past decade have shown the positive impact mindfulness can have on helping combat stress and anxiety, giving people a new perspective on stressful situations; building skills to manage stress; focusing on the present; and increasing patience, tolerance, and imagination. As our research shows, the majority of people in the Republic of Ireland are feeling optimistic about the future. We would like to use this as a platform to build on to keep people feeling safe, supported and happy.”

“2020 has been a challenging year for many reasons, with anxiety heightened, loss, pain and injustice all afoot. It’s clear that community and connection is more vital than ever. It’s great to see that Synctuition are working to help others during this time of uncertainty and I am so pleased they are in partnership with the Happy Place Virtual Festival,” Fearne Cotton, Synctuition User.

The app has now been made available for free from the now until 31st July 2020 to the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, Amsterdam, Australia, Belgium, Dubai, Israel, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

You can find out how to download the app for free here: https://synctuition.com/24hpositivity/ireland

OR Android HERE or iOS HERE