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WHEN AMAZON FIRST unveiled its demo of a drone delivery service, the hype surrounding them was at an all-time high.
That buzz has died down, but what it and others initiatives have shown is it’s an industry that’s quietly growing in popularity with both businesses and regular people.
So it’s probably no surprise that of the many conferences that are held here, there would be one dedicated to that very subject.
It’s something that Phil McNamara decided to organise last year and is now preparing to hold its second Drones Data X conference in Westport. It takes place straight after the Web Summit on 6 November, and it expects to accommodate 450 to 500 people, a jump from the 150 people who attended last year.
The Web Summit’s move to Lisbon next year is a hit for it, but its organiser, Phil McNamara, originally from Galway but based in the US with VoxPro, is confident that it has enough to keep people coming back after this year.
“It’s going to make it harder for us as we do benefit from the huge amount of people who came over for that”, says McNamara. ”But at the same time, we’re standing on our own two feet, and attract people on our own merit. So we’re hopeful it will be bigger and stronger next year”.
The attraction is the fact that it’s more a gathering than a conference. While there are talks and discussions about the industry, the real draw is the location itself.
Part of its draw is going to Achill Island where the likes of kitesurfing, hiking and other activities happen after the talks. The idea is it allows people to get to know each other in different surroundings, and it’s something that McNamara feels would encourage people to come back to future events.
It’s a much better way to get to know people [and] it’s also a big leveler. Some of these people, they’re very famous in their own field, but you take them out of that and put them on a surfboard, and see them falling off just like you… [to see that they're the same as you] that’s what makes it nice.
But there’s still an underlining interest in how the industry is going to pan out, and how quickly it’s growing. In Ireland alone, there are 75 companies that have a licence for flying drones and the rural landscape presents opportunities for testing and development that wouldn’t be possible if you’re closer to more urban areas.
It also brings its own opportunities with McNamara saying people are more willing to come here to talk about drones than other subjects because of the excitement around it.
“It’s a really good way of attracting people into the country”, he says. “If I say ‘we want you to talk about drones’, then people are more willing to get into that because it’s an exciting area.”
There are a lot more companies getting into drones and the whole scene in Ireland is really picking up… Ireland has a massive opportunity to present itself as the best place to start a drone company, to do drone testing, and develop drone software.
One of the speakers at the event is Romeo Durscher, the director of education at DJI, who likens the development of drone technology to the moon landings, not because of what happened but how they got to that point.
“I always compare it to the 1960s where JFK said… we’ll walk on the moon”, says Durscher. “What’s more amazing is all the things that got invented along that process that we still use today”.
Yet what could hinder its development is public perception. When they’re toys, then it’s not as bad, but as they become more prevalent, and regulations are drafted up, the idea of such machines whizzing around in any form will gradually happen, but become concerning.
That, Druscher believes, will be solved by showing the different applications and as people become more aware of them.
If we can educate and set social norms, these kind of things will disappear and we won’t have as many negative stories, but we can emphasise the positive aspects like saving animals or bringing lifesaving equipment quicker to areas where they’re needed and that will show what the technology can do for us in the future.
This month, as part of TheJournal.ie’s ongoing startup and small and medium enterprise (SME) focus, we are looking at innovation in rural Ireland.
To read previous stories from our collection click here.
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Glad to see staff standing up for themselves. How many stories have been on here recently about staff getting attacked?
It’s a tough job that I wouldn’t like to do , especially when you don’t have ‘back up’ available and an employer who would rather pay injured staff rather than hire more!
Some areas need more staff in the public sector and this is one.
Well done the warders.There is no point in keeping the powder dry all the time and you need to come off the high moral ground every once in a while.
As for those who are upset for the poor prisoners,they have the TV
If I wasn’t happy in my job I’d find a new one.
What a stupid comment!
Staff shortages because of a moratorium on new recruits. Over 100 lads were waiting to start the job after passing medicals and 2 years of apptitude tests and exams..and nothing came of it. Time ran out for those applicants and they must start from scratch again. Joke of a system.
Maybe they should advertise the positions on Jobsbridge
Sack ‘em all
And who would it then Steve? You?
There is a reason the World Health Organisation has classed the Job of Prison Officer as the second most stressfull job after Aircraft Controller.
What most people don’t realise is that of those that initially join the Job over half will leave within the first year when they realise it is not the easy job they thought it was going to be.
The vast majority of the publics knowledge of what is involved in working in a prison comes from heavily edited documentaries and fictional films or drama series.
How many of you go to work knowing that there is a high chance of you not going home at the end of your working day because you are in A&E after being assaulted. How many of you have to be constantly aware of your surroundings and who is around you even when you are off duty and out with your family.
An Officer only recently had his car burnt out outside his home. How many of you have to worry that maybe next time it could be petrol through your letter box.
So if you think that its an easy job and that anyone could do then apply the next time they are taking on Officers and walk the walk then and only then you can talk the talk.
Forbes has a different list, they say taxi driving is more stressful, but whatever floats that chip on your shoulder. Farming is more dangerous than being a PO, chill.
Steve I will take the word of the World Health Organisation. And as for a chip I am not the one that said ” Sack them all” you were.
Muppet
That wall is very high, there’s just no escaping that.
I’d say the staff shortages were a lot worse while they were picketing…
Wouldn’t have happened in Gypsy Joes day
Tonight there’s gona be jailbreak is being sung all over the prison
Tonight there’s gonna be jailbreak, somewhere in this town, but most likely at one of the jails
@ Jack and Mick
Mick I’ve read your comments on here before always to the point with no gloss.
Don’t let the likes of this jack let you lose sight of the work you and your colleagues do.
IPS don’t care if you dont go home to your family after going through that door.
It’s cheaper to pay the claims, as an official from state claims once told me when I asked him about banning smoking in the prison’s, and that was in the presence of our general secretary.
Stay strong and focussed with all groups within , psec, osg, paso grades fight together
Rather misleading headline: Both sides ‘disappointed’ as officers picket outside Cloverhill prison
Pretty sure the lads inside dont give a damn
So, it looks like the gaffer at Cloverhill has a few screws loose……
(putting me coat on ;-) )
Press a button and turn a key – not that hard a job
You should try it sometime. Then see if you make stupid uninformed comments.
Probably shit yourself if you seen the inside of a prison Jack, and yer smart arse would belong to someone.
Please tell me what skill/training is involved? I know a lot of them and they admit they only went in because there were no other secure public service jobs left
Skills/Training. Firstly you have to know the law in relation to prisons, prisoners and anyone entering the prison. You have to know how to deal with the mentally ill, angry violent people and those that are weak afraid and vulnerable. You have to know how to defend yourself and how to deal with a riot situation. You have to know First Aid and fire Fighting. You have to know how the court system works and the different legal documents that go with it. You have to know how to negotiate in a hostage situation. You have to learn situational security awareness, how to read people by their postures and facial expressions. You have to learn to be both an authoritarian figure and social worker combined.
So Jack if you think the Job is so easy why don’t you apply. See if you have the balls to face down an inmate armed with a shiv while you are armed only with your voice and the presence you portray.
All very poetic but you do 99% of this from the other side of a celldoor – Nurses, Guards, Firefighters do this out in the real world.
And you know this how?
Kill them with shop orders & love !!
99%, wow that’s an awful big figure! How did you come up with that? Did you pull it from a dangleberry Bush? There’s no one knocking the excellent work that the Guards, Nurses and Fire Brigade do, don’t knock the unseen thankless work that is done by Prison Staff.
JackMc you asked the Question “Please tell me what skill/training is involved?”
I gave you the answer. Just because it wasn’t the answer you thought you would get because it didn’t fit
into your preconceived ideas.
No Mick, I was just ignoring your pontification. But in response if they built proper prisons we could avoid scenarios like you described, robots could do the same job. Nurses Guards and Firefighters do a job that they joined because they wanted to help people. Can you honestly say POs joined to do that? I don’t think so – it was for the money and the job security.
JackMc nobody but you has mentioned Gardai, Fire Fighters or Nurses all of which do fantastic work. And what in your opinion is a ” proper prison”?
And as for robots. How would a robot deal with an inmate with mental health issues? How would a robot stop one inmate from stabbing/slashing/beating another inmate? How would a robot deal with an attempted suicide? How would a robot man our criminal courts? How would a Robot stop a group of prisoners smashing up and or burning the prison to the ground? How would a Robot deal with the simple day to day issues that entails running a landing? How would a robot feed the inmates?
Be so good to share your knowledge of all things prison related to the rest of us mere mortals.
Ya should of never broke away from 24/7 alliance. Sound
Why?
Why?
A nd 24/7 have done what exactly for the nurses in galway yesterday?
Were the prisoners consulted?
You wouldnt believe how close to the truth you are!
Whingers
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