Latest Technology Stories
Simulating tomorrow’s cities – overcoming challenges of increasing urbanisationMay 23, 2017
Digital 3D urban simulations are helping engineers to determine wind loads for new buildings, prevent flooding and identify changes to improve building constructions, while also helping police to improve safety measures
Operation simulation – new surgical training centre to feature cutting-edge technologyMay 9, 2017
This autumn, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland will open Europe's largest clinical simulation facility, where cutting-edge technology will enable students to master skills before operating on patients
‘Animated Language Learning’ program reaches 300 families with autismApril 24, 2017
With the help of his 19-year-old son, who was diagnosed with severe autism as a child, engineer Enda Dodd's Galway-based startup provides an innovative autism speech- and language-learning program offering hope to families worldwide
Software allows for use of drones and insect biobots to map disaster areasApril 24, 2017
Researchers have developed a combination of software and hardware that will allow them to use drones and insect cyborgs, or biobots, to map large, unfamiliar areas such as collapsed buildings after a disaster
Manufacturing the connected car of the future with cloud computingApril 11, 2017
Cloud computing, mobile devices and even digital twinning are increasingly used in automotive manufacturing – especially for connected cars equipped with internet access and wireless local area networks, writes Jonathan Wilkins
UCD spin-in OCE Technology reaches for the stars with satellite technologyApril 11, 2017
As OCE Technology launches its satellite subsystems to Europe's commercial space market, Barry Kavanagh outlines the technology behind the new range, which derives from satellites used in China's space programme
Extensive data centre testing is vital to balance electrical and thermal loadsMarch 28, 2017
Mark Templeman highlights why load-testing data centres should accurately emulate the loading on the electrical system, back-up system, automatic transfer switches and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
Generation Z versus the machine – the future of work in the age of automationMarch 28, 2017
Many people, especially millennials, worry that technological innovation will lead to the demise of human jobs. Stephen Parker explains how businesses can use technology to enhance jobs rather than replace them
Data protection risk reduction – engineering to get it rightMarch 14, 2017
With the European General Data Protection Regulation coming into effect next year, Declan Brady outlines the terms of the legislation and offers ten ways that engineers can reduce their risk
Technology and standards: a close connection?February 28, 2017
The PC has been ubiquitous and interoperable since the '80s, while the PLC lags behind, despite years of work on IEC standards. Nick Boughton contrasts the relationship between technology and standards in commercial and industrial spheres
New ‘electron gun’ could help enable X-ray moviesFebruary 28, 2017
A low-power tabletop source of ultrashort electron beams could replace car-size laboratory devices, engineers report
The new standards for robot ethics – three things humans can learnFebruary 15, 2017
The British Standards Institute’s standards for robot ethics focus on safety, human contact, robotic deception and possible sexism or racism from self-learning artificial intelligence systems. What must industry learn from the standards, asks Graham Mackrell
Tin-based alloys offer platform for energy-efficient electronic devicesFebruary 15, 2017
Prof Eoin O’Reilly and his Tyndall colleagues aim to create energy-efficient devices for future internet platforms from metastable alloys, thereby leveraging existing mass-production approaches to new functionality and capabilities
Wearable, low-cost sensor to measure skin hydration and detect dehydrationJanuary 31, 2017
Engineers have developed a wearable, wireless sensor that can monitor a person's skin hydration to detect dehydration before it poses a health problem
Local authorities 2.0 – councils and the use of web and mobile appsJanuary 17, 2017
The methods of data collection and processing by councils are inefficient in this technological age, writes Aidan Lynch. He outlines how a proposed Local Authority Complaints System would streamline data collection for more efficient handling
Improving the resilience of Ireland’s rail network: a decision support tool for slope assetsDecember 13, 2016
Irish Rail's decision support tool provides risk assessment, prioritisation and cost/benefit investment analysis of its earthwork assets. The development process also included the world’s first network-wide geotechnical slope analysis, writes Catherine Joyce
Pioneering nanotechnology that captures energy from people could power mobile phonesDecember 13, 2016
The days of charging mobile phones with finger swipes and powering Bluetooth headsets simply by walking is now much closer, say engineers as they have created a new way to harvest energy from human motion
Award-winning GIS system balances business risk and requirements for ESBNovember 29, 2016
ESB Networks has won an international award for its geographic information system, which manages and maintains all assets to optimise performance and support safety improvements. ESB's Adrienne Behan looks at the challenges overcome in developing the new system
Cloud of Things: simple and efficient device management for Industry 4.0November 29, 2016
In order to profit from the Industrial Internet of Things, companies need access to machine-to-machine technology, a good cloud strategy and the right service provider, writes Dr Alexander Lautz, senior vice-president M2M at Deutsche Telekom
An optical / near-infrared detector array to help study stars, galaxies and planet formationNovember 15, 2016
Tom Ray, of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, discusses the latest developments in the study of stars, galaxies and planet formation. Ireland is well placed to lead the way in this area over the next few years