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The Digital Bra

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In excess of 85% of women currently wear a bra that doesn’t fit properly, which naturally causes discomfort and can lead to medical or self esteem issues. Judy and Tiny van Niekerk of The Digital Bra spoke with us at the recent Web Summit in Dublin, about her startup currently featured on Kickstarter, which aims to tackle this problem.

With a philosophy that every woman’s shape and size is as unique as their fingerprints. Currently, choosing a bra is based upon 3 measurements, which often leads to the incorrect choice being made, a choice that leads to bras being to big and not offering enough support or too tight, cutting into the skin. The Digital Bra seeks to remove that decision making process for women.

Aimed at the 85% of women who choose the incorrect bra size, the digital bra uses your smartphone’s camera to scan your body shape, taking in over 120 measurements instead of the 3 noted during traditional measuring. These measurements are then sent to the team at The Digital Bra who will in return offer you a best suiting choice of garmets which can ship to you within 2-3 weeks, bearing in mind they are hand made.

the digital bra irisThe use of technology does not stop with the measurement process. Xstatic is a material containing 99.99% silver. This material is micro-bacterial which reduces the number of times the garment must be wash while also remaining odor resistant. The material also regulates temperature ensuring further improvements to the comfort. Van Niekerk believes that while the bra is extremely comfortable and functional, the “pastel colours” chosen by the team ensure the Digital Bra remains a “beautiful, attractive and sexy bra”.

the digital braGiven the importance of protecting data in a connected world, we raised our concerns with The Digital Bra’s team about women needing to pose naked in front of the camera. Rest assured, the images are never captured or saved images. Instead, the 2D cameras are used to capture a 3D “mesh” file. It is this mesh file which is shared with the garment making team, ensuring your privacy is safe at all times.

Given the requirement to have a friend or partner assist with the capture of the measurements, we queried “would women be too self conscious to have someone helping?”. “We’ve spoken with plenty of women, particularly those in their thirties and they are just so tired of their bra not fitting, they don’t care what they have to do to get a comfortable bra!”

The Digital Bra is currently in the Kickstarter phase, meaning you can get on board and pick up a discounted Digital Bra.

Web Summit: What will drive adoption for home automation?

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On the final day of Web Summit, the Machine Summit stage attempted to solve the modern day mystery; what will drive adoption for home automation.

Protecting data

What will drive adoption for home automation?

As we pointed out on day one of this year’s Web Summit, protecting the data created by connected devices is of the utmost importance. George Yianni, Head of Technology with Philips and particularly focused on their Hue lighting systems, describes their approach to data as almost being hygienic. “The fears I have about the explosion in connected products is that one will do something wrong” Yianni outlined, before adding that “the vast majority take data capture and usage extraordinarily seriously”. His on stage colleague, Logitech’s Bracken Darrell provided a poignant comparison between current anxieties and the unlikelihood that twenty years ago many would have believed our credit card details would be stored in a hackable cloud.

The physical space

Chair of the talk, Andy O’Donoghue joked about Ireland’s buoyant housing market, before asking if the actual building process was something of interest to the home automation industry. Yianni described the stance of Philips as focusing on the consumer and selling individual solutions, but did find the “commitment” of some construction jobs now going ahead with no light switches as brave, considering there would be “no way back” for these adopters. 

What will drive adoption for home automation?

From here, the conversation was clearly getting to the crux of the issue. Home automation technology would have to push past simply being a cool gadget to being a meaningful service in the home. Mike Harris, founder of Zonoff, gave the example of smart locks being able to allow access to emergency responders when necessary. The panel nodded together that this could be considered a life or death development, considering the large percentage of over 70 year olds who die from falls in the home.

Is the best interface no interface?

This question stems from a term bandied about earlier in another talk that “no interface is the best interface”. While minimal interface usage is preferred, end users are unlikely to have programming ability and while every effort to utilise sensors, locations and trends, users will always require some place to input their requests.

What will drive adoption for home automation?

It becomes increasingly clear from listening to several speakers over the course of Web Summit that a certain degree of data bartering must occur between IoT services and end users. Online shopping requires some of our most sensitive data to be shared online, but we barely give it a second thought. Yet the idea of using a device such as the August Smart Lock to allow a courier to drop something to our home when we’re away is something we’re far from comfortable with.

However, if the bartering of data to service can weigh in tip of the consumer, such as the convenience of cheap prices online and products delivered to your home, people will user the service. In order to drive the adoption of home automation, technology must come with a feeling of “how did I ever live without it”.

Irish Startup ClubApp at Web Summit

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We’ve been trawling the 2015 Web Summit looking for our favourite Irish startup and have stumbled upon ClubApp.

If you follow sports, you’ve probably had a few sneaky looks at Livescore while at mass or work. ClubApp provides a similar, though much better looking, live scoring system for major leagues, but goes a step further to provide a medium through which smaller teams can also receive a top level of coverage.

Speaking with Goos3D at Web Summit 2015, ClubApp CTO, Pratheesh Chambeth highlighted the importance of ensuring the app remains simple to use but good looking. Chambeth outlined how each club can have two admins who look after live scoring and event updates in games, with the app already gathering a particularly strong following in Cork and Kilkenny. He continued to let us in on some updates hopefully planned for January launch which could bring coverage of local GAA to a whole new level.

ClubApp TVAn existing feature, ClubApp TV, provides a match data centre made available in Super HD through a web-app. Just imagine this on in your local for those who couldn’t make it to the game and no televised coverage was available. “Whenever there is a big Cork City match, Soho (a bar in cork) puts ClubApp TV on for their customers to follow the game”. Chambeth continued to outline hopes that a January release could see those who update scores and game events also provide live video coverage. Just to give some context, this means the lads who moved to Australia from Kilmoyley, Co. Kerry could watch their old parish playing a small minor hurling game thanks to the ClubApp.

But the lads of Kilmoyley wouldn’t be the first to use ClubApp to keep track of events back home when their away. Padraig Harrington has given the app his seal of approval for keeping up to speed with home when on tour.

We might be guilty of some classic blue sky thinking there, but should the masses take to using ClubApp, it could change how we interact with, and absorb information relating to, our local teams. You can download the ClubApp for all platforms, allowing you to track or provide live match data for your club now.

Fallout 4: Gameplay Trailer

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It’s installed on the Xbox waiting for the launch clock to reach zero,  but Bethesda are keeping the teasing going with another Fallout 4 trailer.

The fifth in the game’s series, or third since Bethesda took on the franchise, is the most anticipated game of 2015. With launch due next week. Here’s the latest trailer in case your appetite needed further whetting.

Does Ireland even like Tech?

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As one of the world’s biggest tech conferences gets set to wrap up tomorrow, Web Summit leaves behind a legacy of treachery, crap WiFi and €20 hot-dogs. Does Ireland even like tech or are Web Summit crying over spilled milk?

Negativity has a wide reach

Good news doesn’t travel fast at all. Bad news on the other hand, goes like the clappers. Imagine yourself in conversation with someone who doesn’t have more than a passing interest in technology where the topic switches to Web Summit and the move to Lisbon. There are two inevitable ways this conversation goes.

In the red corner we have the Web Summit, big technology phenomenon with a perception of outgrowing boots and forgetting roots. In the blue corner we have the government. Another group who the general public are only delighted to give out about. The perfect storm, where no-one knows what to complain about, but gives out anyway.

The government is a whipping boy for every nation, but just why do so many people feel that Web Summit deserves the slating it gets? Well it’s more complicated than that.

Are we even giving out about Web Summit?

Okay, so Food Gate didn’t help them, there’s no defending the state of that €20 hot dog lads, but ultimately people enjoy slating Web Summit in a “good enough for them” manner of fashion. The irony of poor WiFi at a tech conference is just to sweet to pass up, with us admitting we’ve been caught up in the furore a few times.

We don’t believe people are aggrieved about the Web Summit leaving Ireland, they are more upset that a tech conference born and raised here is flying the coup. People have a testy relationship with technology at the best of times. It may be their phone doesn’t work the way they want it to or their broadband speeds are shite, but either way technology is rarely what makes life easier; quite the contrary.

There is also a very understandable and human reason. The technology industry is seen as a young people’s workplace where money is made big and quick. It’s an industry that grew quick, leaving many behind who could now only see these new big money makers in workplaces with bean bags, flexible hours and free Macbooks.

News of new tech jobs break on a weekly basis, but it’s more common to find conversation surrounding tax breaks for big tech companies in Ireland than celebrating some of the world’s biggest companies choosing a little island in the west of Europe as home…

So does Ireland even like tech then?

The Lisbon debacle is the perfect microcosm for Ireland’s attitude towards technology. The ill advised leaking of emails between Paddy Cosgrave and government officials shows the government could have done more to keep the event in Ireland, but thought it unlikely the Web Summit would go anywhere and so kept efforts to a minimum.

The huge concern for us, is the lack of Irish startups as we walked through the Downtown area of Web Summit. You’ll hear Dutch pitches, German pitches – the whole lot, but one of the only Irish accents we heard pitch today was for a UK company. Chances are that non-Irish investors will be giving their cash to non-Irish startups, with us celebrating the 3 day event that brought them together.

The tech scene in Ireland is a false economy, not because of taxes but instead because the successes we celebrate are not homegrown. For us to truly be able to say Ireland loves tech, we must first be a nation where startups receive unrivaled support, encouragement and adoption; much like Portugal. Portugal is a country that loves tech.

Best Startups at Web Summit 2015

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Now that we’ve nailed down Automation, Big Data and the protection of that collected data as a key topic at this year’s Web Summit, we’ve shifted our focus towards the best startups at Web Summit 2015.

Frink – Free drink

Frink drink app web summitGiven the tendency of the Irish market to enjoy the odd pint, Frink should prove massively popuilar for Night Summit attendees. Frink, a Greek company based in Athens, exists to drive punters to bars and clubs by offering them their first drink free. There is no cost to you as the user, with the pub being happy in the knowledge there is no such thing as going for one pint.

It’s really that simple, but you’ll need an Android phone, with the iOS app still in the works. So if you’re around the Dublin area tonight you can avail of a Frink in selected bars, including Café en Seine and Bruxelles.

Well Dressed – Mens personal smartphone stylist

welldressed app web summitIf you’re heading out for a pint, you can’t be looking like you were dragged through a bush backwards. WellDressed uses a simple selfie to find an outfit that will have you ready to go on the pull. While women are generally concerned about their shape and how clothes sit on the body, WellDressed instead focuses on men’s faces and skin tone to find outfits that accentuate the face. Apparently, that’s what men do!

The wardrobe that the app references is two fold. WellDressed recommends clothes to you which you can purchase, or it will choose from the wardrobe you already own after you’ve uploaded the contents. The choice of clothes put out by the app even changes depending on season an weather to make sure you don’t freeze your nuts off!

WellDressed, your personal stylist, is currently available for download on iOS.

Teamer – The smart five-a-side solution

After getting all dressed up to hit the town for pints, are you the one who pulls the plug on five-a-side at the last minute. We all have that one mate who bails leaving the game hanging by a thread. Teamer is a smart solution where you can manage team lists for sports teams. Typically, your five-a-side team is likely to have a base of 18 players who swap in and out as time permits every week. Teamer allows you to manage that list, have a starting ten and guys on standby too!

Teamer can even manage the payments too, so that guy who sneaks away every week to get money from his car will finally be paying up!

The use of the app is free, with a small charge in place should you manage payments through the app too.

Web Summit: LIVE Blog – Day 2

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Awkward RTÉ Web Summit Interview

The back and forth battle between Web Summit and the Government would appear to have dragged RTÉ into the equation, as seasoned reporter Sharon Ní Bheoláin absolutely grilled Daire Hickey on RTÉ News this evening.

Sharon began the interview by trying to land an early punch, stating “I should say we had expected to speak to Paddy Cosgrave, who had pulled out before we came”. Now we’re not going to sink to the joke making level that we really want to here, but as much as Paddy is the figurehead of Web Summit, Sharon showed little recognition to Daire, who in fairness did co-found the event all those years ago.

If you’re hoping things get better they don’t, as this was car crash TV at its finest. Before watching the clip, natural instincts kicked in, as a voice inside my head started shouting – “get the popcorn, that Daire lad is going to clean the head off her”, but how wrong the voice in my head was!

Daire remained calm throughout, but Sharon was like a dog with a bone, constantly interrupting and cutting across the tech conference co-founder. Whether or not she had an editor in her ear or not remains unclear, but either way, we’d love to know a little more about what set the mood at hypertense.

Totes awky momo.

Web Summit: Day One

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Well the wait is finally over and the first day is already done and dusted. It’s just like Dublin Bus. You wait for it for ages then it just flies past when it comes around. With that in mind, here’s what we took away from Web Summit: Day One.

Privacy versus Big Data

Last year was the Internet of Things and how the world is becoming more and more connected. With all this connectivity, we are producing an insane amount of data on a wide range of areas we’ve never had before. Standing in the way of progress and further data collection is how we protect these data sets.

Within the coming years, this topic is likely to take centre stage in the tech world.

 

The benefits of trusting technology

Once the apprehension that surrounds sharing our lives with technology can be moved to one side, the benefits are manifold.

Smart Cities

Speaking at the Machine Summit, Gary Bloom, CEO of MarkLogic, used Dublin as an example of a non-smart city, rife with inefficiencies.

The Dublin Dashboard provides us with a great example of data sources not utilised by local governments and councils for a host of reasons, the obvious being commute times. Ben Wellington gave a great TED talk on the worst place to park in New York, found out using Big Data, which is largely available to the public. Such data is now slowly trickling into the public domain in Ireland too.

Autopiloted driving

This is really the symbolic metaphor for our trust in technology. In cinema, we’ve been wowed by the thought of self driving cars. Tesla are leading the way on this becoming a reality as autopilot is gaining a stronger place in the public eye, but will people ever trust a car to do the driving? Audi’s Sven Schuwirth makes a different point that might just make people think differently about the adoption of technology that puts greater weight in the benefits to the risks.

 

Smart farms

Sure given Ireland’s agricultural backround, we can’t just focus on the connected big schmoke! Drones are everywhere these days and they are almost certainly going to be the big gift this Christmas, but commercial drones are also exciting, offering new methods of reducing losses in and increasing yields for farmers.

Jono Millan of DroneDeploy described how drones carry something more important than physical items. Instead they carry with them huge amounts of data. He continued to describe certain drones in the field which are LTE enabled, meaning they can constantly beam data to the DroneDeploy database, giving farmers amazing data on how their crops are performing.

All of these sound great right? Of course, but we have to overcome some major trust issues that we have with Skynet Big Data and how its used, share and regulated.

Fear not, this is just the Web Summit round up at the end of Day One!

We’ll be back on the LIVE blog in the morning, bringing you even more tech news and updates as the day goes on.