Videogames Mental Health Charity, Safe In Our World (www.safeinourworld.org), today announces the launch of a dedicated hub for Covid-19 resources, information, and advice.
With the advent of lockdowns across Europe and the US, Safe in our World, the videogames mental health charity has launched a new hub for those in need of support, advice and information in these unprecedented times. The Covid-19 hub is available online, and will be updated regularly: https://safeinourworld.org/covid-19/
Launching today, the hub offers advice on managing stress, coping with isolation, relaxation and excise techniques, as well as highlighting videogames that may aid those suffering, or finding it hard to cope with the changes in daily life.
Leo Zullo, Chairman of Safe in our World said, “As a charity, we’re doing our best to support those around us, and the wider industry. Whether working from home within the industry, or our players, everyone will be adjusting to a new normal. This dedicated hub is designed to signpost techniques to help deal with the challenge of isolation. We’ll continue to do everything we can to help.”
Officially unveiled in 2019 on World Mental Health Day, Safe in Our World is an accredited charity supported by industry luminaries, veterans and ambassadors across the world, and its mission is to create an online destination where people can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry. Safe in Our World aims to enable conversations by destigmatizing the mental health conditions; helping a generation of creators, professionals and players come together in support of each other.
In 2020, Safe In Our World will continue to make more announcements and share updates on its efforts and impact to the global gaming community.
Safe In Our World is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1183344 but its objectives and mission is global.
Together With Non-profit Partner, To Write Love On Her Arms, Skullcandy Looks To Bring More Awareness To Mental Health Issues By Celebrating A Feel-good Mood Every Month
PARK CITY, Utah, April 7th, 2020 – Skullcandy announced today the launch of MOOD BOOST, a vibrant and uplifting program, combining colourful new designs with inspiring content from musicians, athletes and artists.
Every month, MOOD BOOST will spotlight a positive mood and collectively lift spirits through:
Exclusive music artist content Four fast-rising music stars have joined the campaign to represent a diverse range of music genres and world views: Rapper Rico Nasty; Latinx singer-songwriter, Cuco; Indie-pop singer-songwriter Gus Dapperton and London-based pop sensation, Rina Sawayama.
Insightful athlete content As a brand founded at the intersection of music and board sports, Skullcandy will also profile its rich roster of surf, skate and snow athletes through interviews designed to offer uplifting stories. Followers will hear from iconic professional athletes like surfer Coco Ho, snowboarder Mark McMorris and skateboarder Jenn Soto, among others.
Limited-edition product/art bundle drops The hottest Skullcandy true wireless products will be released in small-batch, custom colorways and bundled with free limited-edition art prints by renowned graphic designers and pop-culture artists, including London-based Tina Touli and design duo Rude, as well as New York City artist Queen Andrea and France/Asia-based Paiheme Studio.
“As we looked to create our new take on moods and music, we wanted to listen carefully to the voices of our core customers. It became very clear that mental health is a critical topic for them. Mood Boost is our way of shining a spotlight on this issue and ways to seek help,” says Skullcandy Chief Marketing Officer, Jessica Klodnicki.
Part of every bundle sale will benefit To Write Love on Her Arms to help directly fund treatment and recovery for youth suffering from depression and addiction.
“Music can play a big part in coping with depression and anxiety. Music reminds us that it’s okay to feel and it’s okay to be honest, and those truths relate directly to mental health,” says Jamie Tworkowski, Founder, To Write Love on Her Arms. “We couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with Skullcandy. Our dedication to helping people find hope fits perfectly with their Mood Boost program”
The campaign kicks off April 7 by celebrating the mood ‘Blissful.’ For the next 12 months, Skullcandy will explore and spotlight additional moods such as ‘Original,’ ‘Strong,’ ‘Hopeful’ and ‘Determined’ — all designed to bring a daily dose of positivity to the social feeds of the brands’ many followers.
“Our younger customers believe that, if they buy from us, we should have a greater responsibility to the issues facing their generation,” added Klodnicki. “Mood Boost is an important answer to their request that businesses do good in the world.”
About To Write Love on Her Arms To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since 2006, the organization has responded to more than 250,000 messages from individuals in 100 countries. TWLOHA has invested over $2.6 million directly into treatment and recovery. More about the story behind the movement can be found at https://www.twloha.com
About Skullcandy® Skullcandy is the original lifestyle audio brand with the mission “to unleash the visceral power of music for all.” Based in Park City, Utah, Skullcandy designs, markets, and distributes audio products around the globe. The company’s web site can be found at https://www.skullcandy.com.
Nokia has today published its annual sustainability report, covering the company’s sustainability performance in 2019 and focusing on four priority areas: improving people’s lives with technology, climate, conducting business with integrity, and people.
The publication of Nokia’s People & Planet Report 2019 coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic. With entire countries in lockdown, and people asked to stop or minimize their physical interactions, network traffic has been spiking around the world, demonstrating the critical roles of networks and connectivity.
“Nokia’s People & Planet Report 2019 looks at how we can improve the lives of people – our employees, customers, and wider society – and better care for our environment at the same time. The context our report is being published in has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the fundamental issues remain the same, and, if anything, now have greater urgency because of the challenge the world faces,” said Rajeev Suri, President and CEO of Nokia, in a blog post.
“Trends and technologies that were already happening will speed up. So more remote working and video conferencing will increase the need for better connectivity. The power of 5G and lower latency times won’t be abstract terms for the majority of people, but suddenly critical for everything from digital health to financial trading, to virtual classrooms, to government and international diplomacy,” he continued.
“We are playing our part to keep the world connected through the pandemic. And we want to play our part in building a better world for everyone when this crisis is over,” Suri said.
Nokia’s sustainability achievements in 2019 included:
In 2019, the networks Nokia supplied to its customers supported 6.4 billion subscriptions worldwide
In October 2019, Nokia completed its first external human rights assessment for the Global Network Initiative (GNI). The GNI board found Nokia had made good faith efforts over time to implement the GNI Principles on freedom of expression and privacy.
As part of Nokia’s inclusion and diversity work in 2019, Nokia closed the unexplained pay gap based on pay equity analysis we conducted with Mercer.
In May 2019, Nokia launched its Helping Hands volunteering and engagement program for employees. Through Nokia’s community investment programs, the company has cumulatively improved the lives of 1,633,500 people globally since 2016 – a strong performance against its 2025 target of 2,000,000 people.
At the United Nations 2019 climate summit, Nokia joined a group of 87 companies in committing to recalibrate its existing science-based climate targets in line with the 1.5°C warming scenario.
Nokia delivered zero-emission products to over 150 customers globally.
46% less energy was used on average in the customer base-station sites Nokia modernized in 2019 compared to those where its customers did not modernize.
The People and Planet Report 2019 is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative GRI Standards and is compliant with the UN Global Compact. The selected key sustainability indicators have been assured by the independent auditor of Nokia, PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy.
You spent a good deal of money on your laptop and you most likely have some incredibly important information on it, so why would you run the risk of damaging it through sheer carelessness? We review quite many laptop bags here on techbuzz but how else can we protect our expensive laptops?? This infographic from foamfabricators.ie offers a comprehensive guide on how to protect your laptop from spillages and falls plus more.
After providing communication support to medical staff on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus in the US and Japan, Pocketalk, a global leader in connecting conversations and removing language barriers, today announced it will be donating 500 units of its AI-powered translation device, Pocketalk W, to qualifying medical facilities, first aiders, testing sites and those in need of translation services. Pocketalk W devices, including those connected by the smart SIM card, V-Sim which will come with free connectivity donated by Vodafone, will be dispatched on a first come first-served basis, with a maximum of three units per organisation or NHS trust. Those interested can apply by filling out the form on the Pocketalk website.
Pocketalk has been used as an emergency communications tool to break down communication barriers between two people when it matters most. First responders recently aboard the Diamond Princess cruise line quarantined in Yokohama, Japan used Pocketalk as a quick and accurate support to speak with potentially ill passengers in more than 50 languages. What is more, it removed the need for a human translator, preventing even more people being exposed to the virus. Furthermore, in the US, Pocketalk has also been used in healthcare organisations that need translation support.
Medical professionals having to communicate with patients during this global pandemic will benefit from the following features:
74 languages addressing 90% of the world’s population
Handheld translator designed for instant and accurate two-way communication at the touch of a button
Elimination of the need for a human translator, reducing both waiting time and potential exposure of others
“The health and safety of all people, especially first responders putting themselves at risk for others, is our number one priority when connecting the world through conversation,” said Noriyuki Matsuda, Founder and CEO of Pocketalk. “We hope that, through our donation, we are able to provide accessible translation services to those communities who need it most during this global health crisis.”
To apply for a donation of Pocketalk units, applicants must be employed by a healthcare organisation in Europe. Requests will be selected based on a first-come, first served basis for those most in need.
We have an abundance of smartphones to pick from today however when it comes to phones for the older generation there is not so much out there and we have a huge demographic here too with the older population and the market potential is huge here for manufacturers to tap and emporia have a range of mobiles to just do that.
Ok so we have Doro which we do not see much of anymore and Nokia who recently released some detox phones which keeps things simple but emporia have gone about it in a different way which makes like much easier for the older generation who now want access to smartphones but with the current offerings out there they are to complex or be it a sales person will try shove an iPhone down your neck. First look at the walkthrough below and see what we are dealing with.
To start you get everything in the box including really good user guides and you also have tutorials on the device, The phone has a light skin on top with a tiled effect which reminds you of Windows Phone plus you have access to the play store too and here is how it differs from your standard Android experience with no convoluted mess or sub menus or having someone look for a feature buried in a sub menu and simplicity is key here as well as the big tiled visual approach.
Build quality and looks are typical however it is a sturdy device and feels solid in my opinion it does have bezels all round which is a step away from the current trend but it is not a phone to make a statement with and is well balanced and in line with low to mid tier devices on the overall look.
The phone is not a powerhouse but mid tier with a decent camera and video function that will do fine for the target market but is no way near flagship but this is not a flagship device but a device to make life easy, I did try load some heavy apps on this to see if they would buckle the device and they did some would not even open but for the likes of social media,email general browsing and a few apps you will be fine with a full days battery too, Again this would depend on user.
The menu layout is really simple to follow and again you have a really good user guide included in the box should you have issues or check the video above for more, On the top you have a battery status indicator and a settings wheel with a notch effect and your signal bar then you have a big wallpaper box which can be changed and you four shortcuts and of course these can be changed to whatever suits you best.
Swiping to the right gives you four contact spaces again tiled and an option for your own number and to finish off that page you have a voicemail and emergency contact tile which is where you place what number suits you best and this is complemented by a button on the rear of the phone to call someone quickly in an emergency. Swiping to the left gives you a list of apps and again you can change these if needed to suit your personal needs.
Your “all apps tile” will give you access to the apps drawer and here is where you can pick if you need to make one into a shortcut on the previous screen. When it comes to performance I did find the device laggy sometimes but there is updates coming for it so hopefully that might iron that out. Performance overall was fine sometimes the camera was laggy too and I would advise buying an sd card for storage if you plan to take many photos or video. You can see the performance of the camera below and judge for yourself.
1 / 7
Whilst this phone is not flagship and can be laggy at times it does what it is meant to do for its target market and more with all the mods and cons you tend to find on your typical smartphone today but in a simpler format for a generation that is moving to smartphones to stay connected with family and friends around the world without the convoluted mess you find in your average smartphone today. It does the job really well makes life easy with big tiled icons and numbers and a simple menu structure and offers security with a one push button to call an emergency number on the back,decent battery life and camera to boot. It is a job well done and executed.
Having successfully deployed connectivity services for several market leaders in Europe, such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Jaguar Land Rover, ranging from vehicle manufacturers to service providers Transatel announced today the launch of IoV Connect a global cellular connectivity platform specifically designed for the sector of motorized vehicles.
Available as of today in PaaS mode, the platform is dedicated to solving vehicle manufacturers’ greatest challenges currently not being addressed by the market. The platform’s first key differentiator is ‘MNO selection at network-level’. Any addition, removal, change of host radio network anywhere in the world is programmed at network level and thus implemented instantaneously, not requiring complex Over-The-Air SIM profile update campaigns.
The second key differentiator is end user management, for which most connected car platforms come unequipped. Leveraging on Transatel’s 20+ years’ experience in launching mobile B2C offers around the world, IoV Connect offers the professional tools, insights and expertise to cover all aspects of pricing, marketing, billing, customer experience, customer care and regulatory compliance. Last, IoV Connect offers a fully re-brandable service for onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, complete with marketing and end-user support services: Ubigi.
Complexity reduced: One integration for global deployment
Requiring but a single integration to cover the world (160+ countries to date), IoV Connect caters to vehicle manufacturers wishing to avoid the cost and/or complexity of multiple integrations with Mobile Network Operators. Most existing IoV platforms are feature-rich but rely on the aggregating of multiple
Mobile Network Operator profiles. As a vehicle manufacturer, you therefore still need a Service Agreement with the MNO in question. In the case of IoV Connect, Transatel is the MNO. Manufacturers no longer need to sign Service Agreements with Mobile Network Operators, simply Access Agreements, which greatly reduces complexity. Moreover, manufacturers benefit out-of-the-box from 160+ Access Agreements already bundled into the IoV Connect platform.
Creativity enabled: Configuration at network level
With most existing connected car platforms, manufacturers deciding on a change in Mobile Network Operator or a feature update must rely on costly (€0,60 to €1/SIM) Over-The-Air campaigns to reconfigure the SIM profiles inside their vehicles. Any inaccessible vehicles, such as garage-parked, or cars in motion, etc., will need to proceed physically to the dealership for a SIM profile update, with all that this entails.
Thanks to a configuration at network level, any switching of underlying host radio networks, or any new ‘connected vehicle’ feature developed, is instantly and seamlessly made available to vehicles across continents. The process, remaining perfectly transparent for the end user, leaves a lot of room for innovation at every turn.
Flexibility at every stage: Productized features, but tailored implementation IoV Connect offers a combination of productized features with full implementation, geographical scope and process flexibility.
Future-proofed: A secured solution for vehicle connectivity
Transatel has long been concerned with Security for the IoT and has developed a system for airtight connectivity. [3] IoV Connect has therefore been modeled considering the critical factor of security for vehicles, and this, at three levels.
First, as a licensed operator without spectrum, Transatel have their own non-geographic MNC (Mobile Network Code). The underlying resources used are therefore inaccessible from the exterior. For example, in the typical case of hacking with a massive brute-force attack via SMS, the only SMS accepted by the vehicle are those from the OEM’s authorized servers. The unwanted SMS can’t even reach the authentication process and therefore drain the vehicle’s battery in the process.
Second, all the software and firmware updates are not conducted via the internet.
Third, IoV Connect SIM profiles are embedded with security keys for authentication purposes, to further shield vehicles from unwanted intrusions. Of course, IoV Connect is compatible with any form of additional security processes and add-ons desired by the manufacturer.
IoV Connect’s security solution protects against threats and cyberattacks with a full set of services:
A secure architecture for Data and SMS: Private APN, vehicle isolation, public non-exposure, certified architecture
Global security functionalities on the architecture: Threats analysis, traffic filtering, SMS firewalling
TAC/IMEI lock
Getting a share of the value created by connected services
Caught between the GAFAM who control the apps, and the MNOs who control the connectivity, vehicle manufacturers are understandably trying to secure their share of the revenue created with the increasing use of apps within their vehicles.
Acting as an abstraction layer to MNO networks, IoV Connect enables OEMs to reap a share of the value generated from the connectivity services offered within their vehicles (whether from telematics, infotainment, or Wi-Fi on board). Manufacturers can also monetize the data collected and the access/visibility to their end users.
Last, IoV Connect enables manufacturers to retain their independence and bargaining power vis à vis MNOs and thus control their connectivity service and financial equation.
Bertrand Salomon, Transatel Co-CEO: “I’m excited about this launch, because it’s the result of years of observation and exchanges with the industry, and years of hard work from Transatel teams. IoV Connect can turn any complex, global Connected Car project, into a manageable enterprise with clear milestones and beneficial outcomes. By making things simple and global by design, we help manufacturers focus on their core activities and gain global economies of scale. We intend to prove that our platform for the Connected Car, both industry-specific and fully managed, is the safest option, and the most scalable and cost-effective business model for auto manufacturers, right up until they’re ready to become fully licensed telecom operators themselves!”
A global emphasis on working from home combined with advice to minimize COVID-19 transmission from shared surfaces even within a home, will help cement the benefits of smart home voice control for millions of consumers. Last year, 141 million voice control smart home device shipped worldwide and, despite the key China market being impacted during the first quarter of 2020, the value of voice control during the pandemic will ensure that this year, voice control device shipments will grow globally by close to 30% over 2019, states global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.
“A smarter home can be a safer home,” says Jonathan Collins, Research Director at ABI Research. Key among the recommendations regarding COVID-19 protection in the home is to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g., tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks). “Voice has already made significant inroads into the smart home space and voice control can mean avoiding commonly touched surfaces around the home from smartphones, to TV remotes, light switches, thermostats, door handles and more. Voice can also be leveraged for online shopping and information gathering.”
But it is in conjunction with other smart home devices that voice brings greater benefits. Voice can be leveraged to control and monitor smart locks to enable deliveries to be placed in the home or another secure location directly, or monitored securely on the doorstep until the resident can bring them in. Similarly, and smart doorbells/video cameras can also ensure deliveries are received securely without the need for face-to-face interaction or exposure. “Such delivery capabilities are especially valuable for those already in-home quarantine or for those receiving home testing kits,” explains Collins.
“In the long term, voice control will continue be the Trojan horse of smart home adoption. COVID-19 is part of the additional motivation and incentive for voice control in the home that will help drive awareness and adoption for a range of additional smart home devices and applications,” Collins says. Greater emphasis and understanding, and above all, a change of habit and experience in moving away from physical actuation toward using voice in the home will support greater smart home expansion throughout individual homes. A greater emphasis on online shopping and delivery will also drive smart home device adoption to ensure those deliveries are securely delivered.
Precautions for COVID-19 will bring new routines into many millions of people’s daily lives in and around their homes. “Smart home vendors and system providers can certainly emphasize the role of voice and other smart home implementations to improve the day-to-day routines within a home and the ability to minimize contact with shared surfaces, as well as securing and automating home deliveries. There is role for integrating smart home monitoring and remote health monitoring with a range of features, such as collecting personal health data points (temperature, activity, heart rate) alongside environmental data (air quality or occupancy) to help in the wider response and engagement for smart city health management,” Collins recommends.
CLCKR, the mobile phone accessory company, reveals its tips to keep entertained, productive, and in contact with colleagues and loved ones during this period of home isolation. CLCKR’s patented phone grips and cases are invaluable and versatile products with numerous uses – both for work and for play.
Be Productive
Working from home is the new normal but very few of us have the ideal setup ready and waiting. Make things a little easier for yourself by placing your phone with CLCKR in portrait mode next to your laptop or desktop computer and use your device as another screen to easily communicate with colleagues via video conference, view documents, or access your calendar.
Stay In Touch With Family
During these unsettling times, we need to be checking in with loved ones virtually rather than visiting them in person. Put your phone with CLCKR in landscape mode to catch up with parents and grandparents through your favourite video call app. It’s easier than ever to show someone you care, even though you can’t be there in person.
Meet Up With Friends
Hanging out in the pub isn’t possible, but happy hour needn’t be cancelled! There’s a burgeoning trend for groups to have dinner together in their respective homes over Facetime and Skype, or clink glasses virtually through Houseparty or Zoom. CLCKR is a handy tool to keep your phone in place in either portrait or landscape orientations, and stop it slipping around while you enjoy catching up with friends.
Try Isolation Dating
If you scheduled a date before the current crisis and are now about to cancel it, why not try the new craze for isolation dating instead? Switch the date’s location from that pub/ bar/ restaurant to your own home and meet your match online instead. Standing your phone up with CLCKR means you can concentrate on the date rather than the angle of the camera. Sparks might still fly as you chat through your phone screens, but if they don’t, it’s much easier to hang up than climb out the bathroom window!
Keep Entertained
Binge-watching your favourite film or TV streaming service will keep you entertained for quite some time while in isolation. Switching CLCKR to landscape mode while lying in bed or on the sofa makes watching YouTube videos, movies, and all sorts of other content, easy and handsfree.
Boost Your Social Media
If you have a little extra time on your hands, why not create some content for your social media accounts? During isolation, many people are filming their home workout regimes for Instagram Stories, posting comedic clips on Facebook, or sharing their musical performances and creative challenges on Twitter and TikTok. CLCKR makes recording and taking selfies a breeze.
Above all, stay safe and stay home!
There are two different CLCKR products available: The Universal CLCKR fits onto any device, is slimmer than any other product on the market and comes in a variety of colours and designs, all while being compatible with most wireless chargers. The CLCKR case with in-built stand is available for various iPhone devices.
