Navigating the Metaverse: A Guide to Limitless Possibilities in a Web 3.0 World by Cathy Hackl, Dirk Lueth, and Tommaso Di Bartolo Edited by John Arkontaky ISBN: 9781119898993

Published June 2022 by Wiley in hardcover and ebook, priced £20.99

Navigating the Metaverse serves as a primer on the Metaverse and shares an essential breakdown in the future of online business to get readers past confusion around the new technology, and help them find ways to innovate and spark new customer connections and online revenue streams.

From understanding metaverse basics to commercial strategy and even launching your first metaverse project, readers will find practical and hands-on insight into this cutting-edge technology.

Navigating the Metaverse

In the book, the authors – Cathy Hackl, Chief Metaverse Officer of the Futures Intelligence Group, Dirk Lueth, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Upland, one of the fastest-growing metaverses mapped to the real world and based on blockchain technology, and Tommaso Di Bartolo, UC Berkeley scholar – offer foundational knowledge about the metaverse, metaverse economy, Web 3.0. technology, and more, for people new to the subject. They also discuss the essential connection between metaverse environments, businesses, communities, and digital products that make the metaverse economy such a potent force.

Containing deep dives on topics like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and how to make the most of them, as well as frameworks to help find, nurture, measure, and monetise new innovations in the metaverse, Navigating the Metaverse provides readers – whether entrepreneurs, executives, or innovators seeking a place at the front of the line in a new age of online business – with an analysis of the future of electronic commerce and a technology that looks likely to become as impactful as the Web.

About the authors:

Cathy Hackl is a globally renowned tech futurist and executive with extensive experience working with HTC VIVE, Magic Leap, and Amazon Web Services. She is the CEO of the Futures Intelligence Group.

Dirk Lueth is a serial entrepreneur and early adopter of blockchain technology as the co-founder and co-CEO of Upland. He has also co-founded European and US-based companies in the fintech and digital media spaces, including Financial Times Deutschland and Forbatec.

Tommaso Di Bartolo is a serial entrepreneur with two successful exits under his belt. He is a faculty member at UC Berkeley where he lectures about entrepreneurship and innovation. He is the author of How to Growth Hack Your Startup.

John Arkontaky is a content creator and strategist. He has covered the technology industry as a writer, editor, and journalist. He works alongside industry leaders, managing thought leadership programs for leading tech companies.

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Today sees the launch of a £50,000 investment to support British agriculture in achieving its ambition to be net zero.

The Journey to Net Zero competition has been launched by the School of Sustainable Food and Farming (SSFF) and is supported by Bradford Estates, Harper Adams University, McDonald’s, Morrisons, the NFU and Trinity Ag Tech and Trinity Global Farm Pioneers.

With a total prize fund of £50,000, the competition will award cash prizes of between £5,000 and £20,000 to fund scalable systems or processes which will help farmers to manage their businesses in a sustainable way.

The winners will be announced at the end of this year and their progress will then be tracked and publicised by Farmers Guardian throughout 2023 to spread their learning across the industry.

Announcing the competition, Prof Michael Lee, vice-chancellor of Harper Adams University, said: “SSFF at Harper Adams University is delighted to launch this competition to help our farming community realise this vital transition.

“Harper Adams University, working through our new SSFF and supported by our industry partners, is committed to deliver training and research needed for a just transition to support all UK agriculture, be that through reducing methane emissions of ruminant livestock, improving soil health, or realising biodiversity improvement in mixed cropping systems.

“We are working with some of the UK’s brightest and most innovative farmers and we really look forward to expanding this network through the competition. We realise that the greatest take up of technology and interventions is through seeing these implemented on real farms, hence the excitement around this competition.”

Harriet Wilson, agriculture and sustainable sourcing manager for McDonald’s, said: “Farmers are well known for being entrepreneurial inventors, often driven by the need to adapt to situations on-farm.

“Net zero and the climate challenge is probably the biggest driver of necessity to change that we will face over the next 10 years and the inventive farming mind is well placed to come up with some of the solutions.”

For more information about the competition and to enter, please visit: www.fginsight.com/NetZeroCompetition

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Free intensive courses for women in cybertech and security

Minister for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy Ossian Smyth today launched Smarttech247’s next intake for its Women in Cybersecurity Academy. The Irish firm is offering sixty places for a free intensive course which helps develop skills for a future in cybertech and security. It’s the second time the leading managed security service provider has run the course, as it plays its part in addressing the diversity and skills challenge in the cyber industry.

60 Free Places for Women in Cybersecurity Academy

Women are extremely underrepresented in the fields of computer science and cyber security, and this initiative seeks to increase the number of women choosing to take this career path. Women make up only about 15% of computer science graduates, and many leave the field in their early career – feeling unwelcome in the heavily male-dominated workplace culture. The Women in Cybersecurity Academy aims to combat this.

Fighting cyberattacks at home and abroad

The Academy curriculum has been developed by Smarttech247 experts to cover the knowledge and skills required to tackle the ever-growing range of cyber attacks that threaten individuals and organisations around the world. Once an end-of-term assessment has been completed, a number of the best performing students will be offered placements at one of Smarttech247’s bases in Ireland or abroad. Organisers are particularly keen to raise awareness of the programme among Ireland’s growing Ukrainian community, members of which may have valuable skills to transfer here.

Engaging the Ukrainian community

Announcing the opening of applications today, Minister Smyth said it’s important all talent resources are utilised when it comes to defending against online attacks: “The Irish government takes cybersecurity extremely seriously, and the industry here needs the best talent to stay at the cutting edge internationally. We know women are underrepresented in cybersecurity around the world and I’m delighted to see an Irish leader like Smarttech247 taking the initiative to address the balance, particularly as they look to engage the Ukrainian community”.

Chief Executive of Smarttech247 Raluca Saceanu says Ukraine’s tech industry has been thriving in recent years: “We know from our business that Ukraine has built a really high level of expertise among its tech workforce, and the value of the country’s IT exports was more than $5bn in 2020. As Ireland welcomes thousands of people from Ukraine to live in this country, we believe many of these could be fantastic candidates for the Academy and for the wider cybersecurity scene in Ireland. We’re keen to get the word out that we have real opportunities for the right people”.

Raluca says some previous Academy students have gone on to secure jobs in leading tech and consultancy firms, including Smarttech247: “There are thousands of openings in cybersecurity companies around the world at any one time, and yet, research in Ireland last year showed 27% of companies have difficulty retaining females in their cybersecurity team. Programmes like our Women in Cybersecurity Academy are vital to help address the industry’s gender divide and secure its future talent pipeline”.

A six week bootcamp

Over a 6-week term using remote and on-site learning, students of the Smarttech247 Women in Cybersecurity Academy will have:

Access to expert level knowledge

In-depth industry experience

Experience using the latest sophisticated technologies

The chance to work alongside some of the best analysts, pentesters and threat hunters in the industry

Smarttech247 is seeking applications from women who have, or who are on track to receive at least an undergraduate degree in computer science. The firm is keen to draw on as wide a talent pool as possible, including women looking to return to the workforce and those already working in cybersecurity who want to refine their skills. Assessment will be based on a...

Caroline Hughes is the CEO and co-founder of Lifetise, a Web 3 consumer fintech in the metaverse where people can plan and visualize their goals.

She is a Tech lawyer by training. She an activator in SheEO, a global community of radically generous women transforming the way we fund, support and celebrate women-led Ventures working on purposeful business ventures. She is also included in the Crypto Goddess and God community (CG) of 1,000 thought leaders across finance, fintech and web3 featured in 1 of 1 rare portrait NFTs.

Making waves in Web3 and the metaverse, Caroline Hughes

Caroline Hughes –/ Lifetise –/ SheEO –/

CG Pantheon NFT: Caroline Hughes Goddess NFT :-%23162

Dr. Efi Pylarinou is the No.1 Global Woman Influencer in Finance & the Data conversation by Refinitiv, a Top Thought Leader by Onalytica, and a Top Digital Futurist, Linkedin and Twitter Voice, by Engatica.

A seasoned Wall Street professional & a recognized technology thought leader on innovation topics. Founder of Efi Pylarinou Advisory servicing Big Tech, Financial Services and Fintech clients. She strongly believes in building bridges between the old and the new economy. She shares her passion of content creation with her 190,000+ followers on Linkedin and 18,000+ on Twitter. Join her on the social platforms

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Henry from Irish Tech News speaks with Professor Wulf Kaal about his experience with DAOs, horizontal governance, equity online,and his own project, Menagerie. How does this counter big companies’ data farming? How can this upgrade level 1 governance? We speak about all this and more.

A More Equal Internet? Insights with DAO Expert Wulf Kaal

Bios:

Wulf Kaal is a professor, lawyer, and economist. Originally hailing from Germany, he immigrated to the United States as a young adult, where he worked with top US firms, such as Goldman Sachs and Swain & Moore. He has taught at several universities across the globe, and is the co-founder of Menagerie.is, an internet tool that helps anyone begin their own decentralized community online.

Wulf’s vision is to decentralise the internet in a way that will lead to more equity among users – this includes employing the use of DAOs and combatting data farming by large corporations. He is currently working at the University of St. Thomas Law School in Minnesota, the United States.

Henry Fox is a freelance journalist and student at Coventry University in the UK, currently interning at Irish Tech News. Originally hailing from Limerick, Henry has a passion for all things nerdy, from emerging computer technology to cult movies.

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Fitbit Premium Sleep Profiles became available to Fitbit Premium users from July.

A good night’s sleep can help you feel rested and recharged, while also playing a critical role in your overall health and well-being. Since the introduction of Fitbit’s sleep features in 2009, sleep tracking has been incredibly popular – making information previously only available through a sleep lab accessible to users via their wrist. To date, we’ve analyzed 22 billion hours of sleep data, equivalent to the lifespan of over 5,000 tortoises. (Fun facts: a tortoise lives for up to 500 years and there are 60,000 giant tortoises in the world.)

Fitbit Premium Sleep Profile

We know our users are motivated to gather even more insight into their sleep, which is why today we’re introducing Sleep Profile. This new Fitbit Premium feature offers a new longitudinal analysis of your sleep patterns. It also makes your sleep data even easier to interpret with fun animal characters, so you can take steps to improve your sleep quality and, in turn, your overall health.

Fitbit’s newest feature, Sleep Profile, allows Premium members to garner more insight into their sleep habits via their associated sleep animal and discover long-term trends in their habits so they may take steps to improve their sleep.

What does your Sleep Profile analyze?

Sleep guidance isn’t as simple as getting 7-8 hours rest (everyone is different!) and we have the data to show it through an analysis of 1.87 million sleep logs by a neurologist, sleep experts and research scientists. Supported by sleep science, Sleep Profile analyzes your sleep across 10 key metrics each month, calculates trends and compares them to what’s typical for your age and gender, so you can discover where you have room to improve.

Our research team studied 1,000 different sleep features during its analysis before distilling it down to the key metrics we include in your profile. Ranging from new metrics, including sleep schedule variability, time before sound sleep and disrupted sleep, to previously tracked metrics such as sleep duration, restfulness and REM sleep, these data points portray a holistic month-long view of your sleep patterns and quality.

You’ll also be provided with ideal ranges for each metric – and where you fall within each range – so you can consider where to focus your efforts for improvement. These metrics are shown on a monthly aggregate view for the first time (something that’s nearly impossible to replicate in a sleep lab).

What sleeper type are you?

These critical data points gathered from your sleep analysis inform your designated Sleep Animal, providing a fun way to understand your sleeping style. Our extensive research and testing found six animal archetypes, each chosen for their distinct trends that correlate each animal’s behavior with common user sleeping behaviors and patterns.

How does it work?

Wear your Fitbit device to sleep for at least 14 nights per calendar month to receive an assessment. The more you wear the device to sleep, the more precise the evaluation. Sleep can vary significantly from night to night, so it’s helpful to analyze your sleep data over a longer period from your own sleep environment to uncover more insights into your habits and how you can improve.

As a Premium member you will see your Sleep Profile, including your sleep animal and monthly sleep analysis, on the first day of every month. Animals can change from month to month, and data collected throughout the month will inform the next animal you receive the following month. There is no “ideal” animal – each one can be used to better understand your sleep patterns and how you can improve your sleep quality.

Based on your sleeper type’s behavior, you will see where your sleep patterns compare to others like you – whether it’s setting a more consistent sleep schedule or creating a bedtime routine like trying the mindfulness content found within the Fitbit app to help you fall asleep faster.

Getting quality ...

Dairy drones on the horizon

Irish dairy farmers could soon be using hi-tech ‘dairy drone’ imagery and a form of artificial intelligence to help them decide which fields to let their cows graze.

Researchers at Teagasc, UCD and DCU, funded by the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre based in Teagasc, Moorepark, Co Cork, are currently testing the accuracy of physical and lab-based observations of grass growth against new image-analysing, machine-learning models based on photos captured by drones and static cameras.

The aim is to produce predictive data of the yield and composition of grass growth on pastures. This innovation is designed to help farmers determine the best time and which areas to allow their cows feed, which can improve dairy production and promote the well-being of cattle.

To date, the predictive models based on a simple photograph are resulting in 95% accuracy rates when compared to physical observations.

Deirdre Hennessy, VistaMilk Funded Investigator and Senior Teagasc Research Officer, said that grass and pasture management is vitally important for the success of Ireland’s €5bn dairy industry.

Providing farmers with information easily and quickly

Ms Hennessy said: “It’s not as simple as letting the cows out to eat where and when they want. Farmers are constantly walking their fields monitoring grass growth, paying particular attention to its yield, composition, and its grazing suitability. They must determine when there are adequate quantities available to feed their animals while making sure they avoid having too much grass, leading to waste and poor quality or potentially under grazing”.

“This is very labour intensive and time-consuming, and the research that VistaMilk is funding is designed to provide them with that information more easily and quickly”, Ms Hennessy continued.

Farmers who use PastureBase Ireland are already reducing the need to purchase supplemental food to feed their cattle, improving the cows’ wellbeing. It is estimated that every tonne of extra grass grazed is worth in the region of €172 to a farm, which adds up to a substantial amount of money over the course of approximately 300 days of grazing each year.

“Image-analysing, machine-learning algorithms will work with pictures captured by drones – and even satellites in the future. The potential of what we can do in will only be limited by our imaginations. We can theoretically look at sending out drone swarms that will return their information to a base in a matter of minutes, giving farmers in a whole county the results that will allow them to make better business decisions while farming more sustainably”, said Ms Hennessy.

“I personally think that would be some achievement and a sight to see, if and when it becomes viable. For now, we will continue to prove that our drone captured imaging algorithms work and will leave the scaling up to the next generation of researchers that are following closely behind.”

Irish dairy some of the best in the world

The quality of Irish dairy is, in large part, due to the fact that Irish cows are grass-fed. Currently 5,000 Irish farmers are using a grassland management app called PastureBase Ireland to input their physical observations of grass growth and get results by the time they are finished walking their land. However, there are many factors that can skew the outcomes, including, for example, the subjectivity of observations made by different people.

Ms Hennessy added: “Knowledge of how your grass is growing and what else is in your paddock, such as clover, can make a huge difference to a farm’s profitability and sustainability. The imaging analysis work that is ongoing in VistaMilk and with our partners will make the process more accurate and automated, thereby making it easier for the farmer to make timely and correct decisions on how to manage their fields.”

The improved understanding of the mix of grasses and other plants like white and red clover are reducing the requirement for artificial fertilis...

Techies Go Green, a movement of IT and tech-oriented companies committed to decarbonising their businesses, has announced the launch of its Go Green Ambassador Programme.

These Go Green Ambassadors will be responsible for inspiring and enabling a culture of sustainability among the movement’s signatory community – now more than 250 members – as the world moves towards a carbon neutral future.

This group will raise awareness of sustainability by delivering environmental education through articles and virtual events, while motivating others to be more energy efficient through the adoption of environmentally friendly lifestyles and renewable energy resources.

They will also lead projects and develop initiatives to help reduce signatories’ environmental impact both at work and home, thus enabling and supporting a ‘think green, live green’ approach.

The Go Green Ambassadors include:

Membership Ambassador – Michael O’Hara, Group Managing Director, DataSolutions

Programmes Ambassador – Roberta McCrossan, Group Marketing Director, DataSolutions

Sustainable Technology Ambassador – Francis O’Haire, Group Technology Director, DataSolutions

Sustainability Communications Ambassador – Allan Chapman, Managing Director, Comit PR

Sponsorship Ambassador – Dermott Reilly, CEO, IngeniaTouch

Circular Computing Ambassador – David Dorling, Chief Sales Officer, Prime Computer

Sustainable Energy Ambassador – Conor Daly, Customer Solutions Product Manager, ESB Ireland

Sustainability Measurement Ambassador – John Gladstone, Sustainability Lead, Softcat

Techies Go Green also has a partnership programme which encourages greater engagement and collaboration among the community by allowing member organisations to promote their own sustainability services and products.

These organisations are listed in a directory of Go Green partners which provide solutions to aid greater sustainability and green business practices. They are also promoted via the Techies Go Green website, newsletter and webinar series.

Michael O’Hara said: “Our aim at Techies Go Green is to encourage and enable as many organisations as possible to create a sustainable future, not just for their own business but the wider community and the world as a whole.

“The key to bringing about real change is collective action, driven by verifiably sustainable business practices and lifestyles. However, in order to act, people need to know where to start and that’s where the education piece is so crucial.

“Techies Go Green – led by our Go Green Ambassadors and Go Green Partners – plugs this gap, providing companies with the knowledge and direction around how they can be more environmentally friendly. Together, we can share experience, lead change and drive impact.”

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Future of Motoring

There’s no doubt electric vehicles are the future of motoring. With the government banning sales of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030, many of us have come to realise adopting an EV can be a great way to save money, whilst being incredibly convenient for our daily journeys.

A great start to a likely future trend, as many want alternatives to jetting between locations, but how easy is it to take an electric vehicle on a European road trip? To find out, DS Automobiles have uncovered the most EV-friendly road trips in Europe and the UK.

They have done this by analysing several factors:

The number of charging points per mile of the route.

The number of accommodation spots with electric charging stations per mile.

The number of attractions and restaurants per mile, to find out how much there is to see and do on the trip and whilst the electric vehicle charges.

Discover how EV-friendly Europe’s road trips are below.

Basse Corniche, France

Nice – Villefranche-sur-mer – Beaulieu-sur-mer – Eze – Cap-d’ail – Monaco – Menton

The Basse Corniche route across the beautiful French Riviera is Europe’s most friendly EV road trip. The route scored highest for the number of accommodation spots with EV charging points per mile at 0.41. That’s 0.13 more EV friendly accommodation per mile than the second-best route – the Netherlands to Belgium.

This stunning coastal road scored highest for the number of attractions and restaurants, at 48.16 per mile and 105.53 per mile. Perfect for EV drivers wanting to get a bite to eat or see the sights whilst their EV charges.

So, what kind of attractions can you expect to see on this adventurous road trip? Well, for starters the route itself is filled with beautiful sights of the Mediterranean Sea and the cliffs between Nice and Monaco. You could wander in time through Old Town’s cobbled streets in Nice, or the fortified medieval village of Eze. Monaco has a plethora of top-rated attractions, such as the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, or the opulent Prince’s Palace.

From Ireland or the UK you can catch a ferry to Calais, Brittany or Le Havre and then make your way south to Nice.

The Netherlands to Belgium

Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Bruges

The second most EV-friendly road trip in Europe is the cross-country route of the Netherlands to Belgium. This cultured road trip starts in Amsterdam, through to one of Europe’s hottest destinations – Rotterdam. Then stop off at Antwerp, Belgium’s hip city, before finishing at Bruges.

This trip scored the highest out of all the road trips analysed for the number of charging stations at 18.73 per mile. In total there are a whopping 3,159 charging stations across the route. The road trip scored second-highest for EV-friendly accommodation spots, with 48 hotels equipped with an EV charger – that’s 0.28 per mile.

It’s super easy to get to the Netherlands, catch a ferry from Harwich, Hull or Newcastle. Brits could even take the Eurostar to France and extend your driving holiday from Calais. Irish drivers can spend some extra time seeing the sights by travelling through the UK or France.

Rhine Valley, Germany

Dusseldorf – Cologne – Bonn – Remagen – Koblenz – Braubach – Boppard – St Goar – Loreley – Kaub – Bacharach – Rudesheim – Mainz

Europe’s third most friendly EV road trip is the idyllic Rhine Valley in Germany, scoring 60 out of 82. The route scored highly thanks to its number of charging stations with 459 in total, that’s 1.42 charging points per mile.

You’ll be well-fed on this epic trip, there are 5,303 top-rated restaurants, which works out at 16.44 restaurants for every mile! There are plenty of cultural delights the Rhine Valley is well-known for, such as Himmel und Erde, a dish comprising of potatoes, apple sauce, and bacon. Or, satisfy your sweet tooth with waffles or Spekulatius – a German spiced biscuit.

Atlantic Highway, England

Eastover – Dunster – Selworthy – Clovelly – Bude – Camelford – Fistral Beach – Penzance – Sennen – Land’s E...

A New industry report, including research conducted among 300 Irish construction companies, found labour shortage and access to talent will impact Ireland’s ability to achieve housing ambitions. 85% of Irish construction firms say that the rising cost of materials and sheer level of demand are major challenges facing the construction industry.

Upskilling the construction sector

Irish construction companies have highlighted access to a skilled workforce as a significant barrier to meeting the surge in demand for building new houses and achieving construction targets, according to a new research report published today (Wednesday).

The ‘Construction in Ireland 2022: Building a Workforce for the Future’ research report, conducted by Core Research among 300 construction firms in Ireland and commissioned by Autodesk Construction Cloud, a member of the design and make company, found that two fifths of companies are actively recruiting but skills shortages are proving a headache for businesses of all sizes.

The report, exploring the current state of the construction sector, found that two out of three (63%) companies find it hard to recruit talent, owing to a lack of career options and negative perceptions about working in the industry. One in three construction firms believe young talent is emigrating from Ireland.

Overall, the mood of the industry is positive for this year, even in the face of economic headwinds pushing up the cost of materials, with 38% of companies expecting revenues to increase, while only one in ten expects to see a decrease.

But there are warning signs for the future when it comes to hiring a skilled workforce, which require targeted measures to strengthen the position of the industry and ensure it reaches its full potential, according to the report.

Industry outlook amid inflation backdrop

85% identified the rising cost of materials and sheer scale of demand as the other defining challenges for the Irish construction industry, along with builders stalling one-off projects as a result (81%).

Combined with the labour force blockage, present market conditions have caused some doubts about the achievability of Government’s Housing for All and retrofitting target ambition and timeline.

The research found four in five professionals are concerned about the sector’s ability to meet the housing policy target and requirement of 33,000 homes built per year by 2030.

Only 20% of professionals think the housing targets can be reached with the current workforce, while seven in ten professionals (70%) believe the industry will need a bigger workforce to meet the ambitions.

Some 54% pointed to a lack of people with the necessary skills and expertise required to meet the demand of the National Retrofit Plan.

Recruitment in focus

63%, two in three of every construction company, are finding it hard to recruit the talent they need, with 59% putting recruitment challenges down to a shortage in the availability of skilled labour in general.

It’s a situation that many professionals believe will worsen over the next decade, particularly when it comes to traditional trade skills. Nearly half of those surveyed are concerned about the rarity of trade skills like brick laying and plastering (46%) and carpenters (31%).

Signs of a significant industry image problem were also signalled as an ongoing concern for companies, with professionals saying the industry is less attractive than other sectors (25%), there’s limited awareness of career options (16%) or it’s seen as a career of last choice (15%).

There is also a mismatch between the skills available and the skills needed. According to construction companies, the most challenging roles to fill are fire or health and safety officers (41%), engineers (32%) and bricklayers and carpenters (each 31%).

Construction firms report far fewer challenges recruiting digitally skilled candidates, suggesting businesses might not be hiring these roles at all. Fewer businesses report struggling to recru...