irishsilicon.com

my broadband manifesto - lay pipes as you fix the roads

liam noonan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:44:05 PST

With a general election happening next week I have decided to highlight to all political parties a cheap and effective way to bring broadband to all of Ireland and we the tax payer will own the infrastructure,

The idea is deceptively simple but practical, as roads are being fixed or dug up some extra pipes should be laid also. We can then at a later date place fibre optic cabling into these empty pipes.

It will take a few years but the costs are minimal and we can charge the ISPs to use our fibre.

Kilkenny down fall video, beaten by Tipperary in 2010 hurling final

liam noonan — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 04:44:00 PST

We created the following video in recognition of the contribution that Upperchurch Drombane made to the Tipperary's senior hurling team 2010.

Terrestrial Irish Digital TV Saorview has arrived

liam noonan — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:02:08 PST

I have been on a long hiatus from this web site due to a number of project and work commitments but I have come out of hibernation to mention that Ireland finally has terrestrial broadcasting of digital channels. Up untll now our reception of RTE1 and RTE 2 was so bad you couldn't watch a hurling or soccer match on the TV as you could not read the scoreboard. With the advent of the digital broadcasting service we now have crystal clear pictures which meant our loss to south africa in the rugby while disappointing looked good on the TV.

The best part about the digital service was that no extra hardware had to be purchased or installed. Our TV in the sitting room has a built in MPEG4 digital decoder and we have a UHF aerial in the attic (not outside, but inside) for TV3 and TV4.

All I had to do was scan for digital channels and it found the 4 Irish TV channels. 2 High Def test channels and 10 digital radio channels. The TV guide feature is very nice and similar to the EPG service on satellite. The high definition test channels are stunning and slates on a roof never looked so beautiful and clear. The service is under testing and is due to be officially launched in spring 2011.

All in all I am very impressed with digital TV. RTE has more information about Saorview and how to receive it. At the end of 2012 the old analogue transmission will be switched off as mandated by the EU. Every home will need a digital receiver for each TV. RTE 2 has switched to High Definition Lite since Dec 2nd 2010 which means that the cheap SD receivers will no longer display the channel.

The only option for home owners is to purchase a set top box that supports high definition. Powercity sell the only approved saorview box (as of Nov 2010) which is made by walker for 100 euros including delivery. More boxes are expected to appear on the irish market in early 2011. Hopefully competition will drive down the prices to reasonable levels.

Software Development graduates are in demand in Ireland

liam noonan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:21:42 PDT

With the news today that AOL is to hire another 20 software engineers (They hired 50 in June) and the fact that Amazon are looking for Java developers, I am still surprised that the interest in software development and ICT at a national level is still quiet muted. In a economy with rising unemployment students should consider a rewarding and challenging career with good prospects in software development. This includes a myriad of domains such as enterprise, sustainable energy, embedded systems etc.

Another multinational that is hiring is Google. At the moment they are looking for C, C++, Python, Perl, Java Experts in Dublin. They also recently announced they are going to create 200 new jobs at a new operations centre.

The new B.Sc (Honours) in Computing (Smart Sustainable Energy) degree focuses on developing and designing innovative sustainable energy technology that solves energy problems. This innovative programme is essential in supporting the development of Ireland's smart green economy. This programme addresses the requirement for a low carbon high-tech economy with the potential to create 80,000 jobs over the next decade as identified by the Green Enterprise Group in Dec 2009. The course is unique in Ireland and is built upon Tipperary Institute's expertise in the sustainable energy sector. The course will commence in September 2010 and students can apply through the CAO, the course code is TI020 for level 7 and TI004 for level 7.

These graduates will focus on the design and implementation of new innovative systems which integrate technology with sustainable energy sources. Careers in this area include the following sectors:

Energy Management Systems
Electric car charging systems
Building Management Systems
Automated energy controls for Industrial buildings
Mobile communication solutions for energy systems

Download the Brochure

Built to Spill - Carry the Zero

liam noonan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:18:38 PDT

This american band are enjoying a revival and recently supported Dinosaur Jr at the Black Box in Galway. Its not often the support band rivals the headlining act

Smart Sustainable Solar Homes require Smart Sustainable Software Developers

liam noonan — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:12:26 PDT

A colleague of mine attended the European Solar Decathlon in Madrid. The objective was to build a 43 sqm solar powered home. These homes relied on a mix of clever building design, renewable and sustainable energy systems and the integration of smart technology to manage the home and its energy usage. The team members from various institutions contained a mix of builders, designers, renewable energy engineers and software developers. Several of the teams had a least 3 software developers on their team. The language of choice being C++. The technology platform of choice for building automation was Siemens Apogee

The house pictured above is the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera Valencia's SMLHOUSE

The students who will commence our new Computing Degree in Smart Sustainable Energy (CAO Code TI020) will be studying both C++ and Building Automation systems and hopefully in the future will play a part in these Solar Decathlons.

CAO deadline is July 1st for Smart Sustainable Energy Degree

liam noonan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:13:57 PDT

The closing date for change of mind in 17.15 on July 1st For students who wish to apply for our new 4 year level 8 in Computing in Smart Sustainable energy the CAO code is TI020. The 3 year level 7 programme in Computing in Smart Sustainable Energy is TI004 on the CAO

These graduates will focus on the design and implementation of new innovative systems which integrate technology with sustainable energy sources. Careers in this area include the following sectors:

Energy Management Systems
Electric car charging systems
Building Management Systems
Automated energy controls for Industrial buildings
Mobile communication solutions for energy systems

Download the Brochure

Sustainable energy use means more plumbing connections

liam noonan — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:07:20 PDT

At a recent visit to the Cloughjordan Eco village we saw how a sustainable community requries a new generation of water cylinders which connect to a district heating system. These 800 litre tanks contain a smaller 250 litre tank for domestic hot water and the outer tank is used for underfloor heating or radiators.

The image above only shows 30% of the connections to the tank. This evolution in heating design is matched by the evolution in heating controls which students of the Smart Sustainable Energy degree will study.

iButtons - miniaturising the monitoring of building environments

liam noonan — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:07:27 PDT

I am experimenting with a Maxim iButton with a view to incorporating the device into our new computing degree in Smart Sustainable Energy Curriculum in Tipperary Institute.

"The iButton is a computer chip enclosed in a 16mm thick stainless steel can. Because of this unique and durable container, up-to-date information can travel with a person or object anywhere they go. The steel iButton can be mounted virtually anywhere because it is rugged enough to withstand harsh environments, indoors or outdoors. It is small and portable enough to attach to a key fob, ring, watch, or other personal items, and be used daily for applications such as access control to buildings and computers, asset management, and various data logging tasks."

The unit is the size of a watch battery and slightly bigger as you can see above it is smaller than a 20 cent coin.

Application development is supported through Java APIs and a number of other options.

There are four components fundamental to any iButton application:

iButtons
A host system: this can be a PC, a laptop, a handheld computer, or an embedded system.
A reader/writer device to get information into and out of the button. This can be the Blue Dot, a pen-style probe, or a handheld device.
A layer of software to interface iButtons to computers and produce the desired information in the desired format. Several software development kits (SDKs) are downloadable from this site at no charge. For a list of SDKs and links to download, see this page. We also offer 1-Wire Drivers for Microsoft platforms, along with the OneWireViewer, a demo application that can read/write/exercise any iButton.

Smart green retrofit electricians needed for the irish market

liam noonan — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:43:21 PDT

Houston Neal at electrical estimating software advice has a great article about the potential work out there in America for electricians who can provide technology to assist in the reduction of energy for homes and businesses.

The article cites several sources which highlight the growing demand for green retrofit. This is evidenced in Ireland through the SEAI Home Energy Saving Scheme

Houston identifies 5 key areas which are:

Relamping - replacing standard lighting with energy efficient lighting
Daylight harvesting - using technology to reduce the use of electrical lights
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Retrofits
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems and Wind Turbines - Grid ties etc
Energy Management Systems and Monitoring Devices - Which is of particular interest to us in Tipperary Institute as it focused on the convergence of technology and sustainable energy management

Full article can be found here

Smart Home's connected technology will help drive house sales

liam noonan — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:14:01 PDT

Constructech.com reports that a smart home is more attractive to buyers, who are looking for value add services being integrated into their prospective purchase.

"Industry data suggests three areas of connected home technology will fuel consumer demand moving forward, including home theater, MRAV (multiroom audio/video), and energy management. These technology systems not only add attractive options for buyers, but can set a builder apart as cutting-edge."

In this tight economy builders of new homes will need their properties to stand out, this akin to buying the car and getting air con, sat nav and cruise control thrown in for the same price.

Students in Tipperary Institutes new Computing degree in Smart Sustainable Energy will study this convergence, the associated technologies and develop their own unique solutions

ESB Networks have a requirement for graduates who can integrate IT applications with renewable/sustainable energy

liam noonan — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:04:00 PDT

On the 16th April 2009: the ESB announced a series of initiatives to create and sustain up to 6,000 jobs and training opportunities in the economy. Up to 3,700 new jobs will be created outside the company in Ireland, supporting the delivery of ESB's ambitious strategic framework in the following areas:

• Smart networks

• Smart metering

• Electric vehicles

• Wind energy

• Property construction

• New technologies (Eco Fund)

• Energy service (home insulation)

• Others (Telecoms, Biomass, Green Fleet)

In addition, ESB will sustain a further 1300 jobs, also outside the company, by its commitment to the ambitious ongoing investment programme in the company's power generation and networks infrastructure.

This major initiative highlights the requirement for graduates who can design and develop applications that can integrate with sustainable technologies.

Tipperary Institute has launched their new B.Sc (Honours) in Computing (Smart Sustainable Energy) degree, which focuses on developing and designing innovative sustainable energy technology that solves energy problems. The course is unique in Ireland and is built upon Tipperary Institute's expertise in the sustainable energy sector. The course will commence in September 2010 and students can apply through the CAO.

CAO code TI020 is the 4 year honours degree in computing in Smart Sustainable Energy

CAO code TI004 is the 3 year ordinary degree in computing in Smart Sustainable Energy

Press Release - http://www.tippinst.ie/news/bsc_computing_smart_sustainable_energy.html

Brochure - http://www.tippinst.ie/courses/TI004/ti004.pdf

For more information visit the Tipperary Institute website http://www.tippinst.ie/ or contact Dr Liam Noonan in the ICT Dept at 0504 28000

Careers in the Smart Green Economy and the requirement for graduates who can integrate IT with sustainable energy

liam noonan — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:56:00 PDT

Minister Eamon Ryan has identified an important niche in the green sector that Ireland can be a world class leader in. The development of applications that can integrate with sustainable energy sources and devices is a rapidly growing area.

Environmental regulations and policies as well as the increased awareness of reducing green house gases and preserving natural resources have led to the rapid increase in the demand for technical solutions that will measure, control and reduce energy utilisation as well as measure and condition the indoor environment.

The National Development Plan 2007-2013 and the current Programme for Government have each identified Ireland's future energy needs as a national priority. Additionally, the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 listed energy as a research priority and proposed the establishment of a National Energy Council. Most recently, new Building Regulations for have been published, which includes a mandatory minimum renewable energy requirement. This is the first step to ensuring that the management, measurement and control of energy comes part of our every day lives.

The emphasis on energy in the Government White Paper and National Development Plan indicates a long-term demand for expertise in technology that integrates with sustainable energy systems. This mirrors an increase in career opportunity globally, where a cumulative investment of $20 trillion is estimated by the International Energy Agency as being required in the period 2005 - 2030.

The importance of integrated technologies and how they can assist in the reduction of energy consumption has been identified by the 2009 EUROSTAT report Data Collection Handbook on Environmental Goods and Services Sector (ENV/EXP/WG/07 2009). This finding is backed by the report of the High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise. Chairperson of the Group, Mr. Joe Harford, stated "I see a need for Ireland to be able to respond quickly and flexibly to capture new opportunities. Implementation of this Report is essential in order to maximise the potential for Ireland in the green enterprise sector. We need to gain a significant foothold and a competitive advantage in the short term as competition for investment and ideas in this sector is growing across the globe".

Not surprisingly, a proliferation of energy related industries has grown to meet the resulting market demand for efficient heating and electrical generation systems based on sustainable sources. However, if Ireland is really to progress on energy issues, it needs many more graduates trained specifically in development of applications to control and monitor energy usage and generation for industrial, commercial and domestic buildings.

There is a requirement for graduates who will focus on the design and implementation of new innovative systems which integrate technology with sustainable energy sources. Careers in this area include the following sectors:

Energy Management Systems
Electric car charging systems
Building Management Systems
Automated energy controls for Industrial buildings
Mobile communication solutions for energy systems

CAO code TI020 is the 4 year honours degree in computing in Smart Sustainable Energy

CAO code TI004 is the 3 year ordinary degree in computing in Smart Sustainable Energy

For more information visit the Tipperary Institute website http://www.tippinst.ie/

TI's Smart Sustainable Energy Computing Degree is now on the CAO

liam noonan — Fri, 28 May 2010 06:55:24 PDT

Our B.Sc in Computing in Smart Sustainable Energy is now on the CAO. The 4 year honours degree is TI020 and the 3 year ordinary degree is TI004

This programme is a response to take advantage of the exciting opportunities (Internationally and Nationally) that exist to maximise energy efficiency and renewable energy through the use of software and IT applications.

Tipperary Institute's expertise in sustainability with projects such as SERVE and Cloughjordan eco village providing us with the practical considerations and theoretical knowledge that will be required of graduates.

Press Release Tipperary Institute announces new degree focussed on low carbon high tech economy

Brochure - http://www.tippinst.ie/courses/TI004/ti004.pdf

Dinosaur Jr Concert Galway May 10 2010 - A master class in guitar playing

liam noonan — Tue, 11 May 2010 03:14:06 PDT

Really enjoyed the Dinosaur Jr concert last night in the blackbox in Galway.Great gig and the band blew me away with their energy and sound. The support band Built to Spill were excellent. 3 guys playing lead guitar is an amazing experience.