Archive for April 16, 2020

“We vs. Virus” hackathon unites 700 employees from eight leading organizations to help Canadians conquer COVID-19

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 16, 2020 by itnerd

SAP Canada, a subsidiary of SAP SE is today pleased to announce the winners of the Innovating for Canada: We vs. Virus hackathon, a collaborative project that virtually brought together more than 700 highly-skilled talent from eight leading organizations in Canada:Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, EY Canada, IBM, Microsoft, PwC Canada and SAP to deliver new ideas and innovations to help Canadians win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hackathon began in the afternoon on Thursday, April 2 and ended at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, April 5 with 105 teams of volunteers. Many of the teams were cross-organizational, from the eight participating organizations, and devoted thousands of hours across four days towards developing solutions for the following challenges associated with COVID-19:

  • Helping Canadians manage the physical and emotional effects of isolation
  • Encouraging citizens to follow pandemic safety measures
  • Supporting families and children to work and study more effectively from home
  • Finding ways to support those industries most severely impacted by the pandemic
  • Finding or creating temporary sources of work and income for affected Canadians
  • Better supporting our essential service providers and health care professionals on the front lines
  • Assisting the most vulnerable communities at high risk or impacted by the pandemic

Leaders at the eight participating organizations reviewed the short-listed teams earlier this week, selecting the following five projects as the winners of the Innovating for Canada: We vs. Virus hackathon.

Participating organizations are working on next steps and will meet with the government to explore how some of these solutions can be deployed in Canada in the near future.

The Winning Teams

Hungry Heroes

Team Hungry Heroes

Canadians are doing their part by staying at home as essential workers are outside working tirelessly in the frontlines. The application, Hungry Heroes aims to boost their spirits and to show community support. By partnering with local restaurants to deliver individual safely packaged meals to workers, users who are social distancing show their appreciation and donate meals for organizations and hospitals that they care about.

NBHR

Team NBHR

While we work to flatten the curve, others are putting their lives at risk every day fighting the pandemic. NHBR is a one-to-one person application that aims to give ease to essential workers by connecting them to neighbors around their area who are looking to give back. Through their match, front-line users can create a list of to do’s for the helper along with requests they need help with ranging from dog walking and grocery shopping. This application will allow essential workers to continue to do what they for Canada while receiving basic help from Canadians who want to give back.

Back to the Market

Team Anti-Virus

As government scrambles to provide necessary supplies and services to citizens finding themselves unemployed, and businesses are facing an increasing demand to fill select jobs, Team Aspire Aniti-Virus introduces a platform called Back to the Market to connect all three stakeholders. In the platform, businesses will be able to post job opportunities, the app will provide recommended hires based on matching skills, certifications and work preferences in the job-seeking database. The online platform will bridge the gap and address newfound shortfalls in the Canadian supply chain.

Lean On

Covict 6

Team Covict 6 understands the difficulties to get necessities to vulnerable communities and the loneliness that comes with isolation. To combat these issues, they have created a service, Lean On, to connect those who need help with those willing to provide it. With this online platform, users in need can identify their needs and request a helper. Once a helper accepts a request, a match will be made between the two users to come together and communicate their needs. This application will help create a connected community that supports the most vulnerable.

Neighborhood Connect

The Bug Stops Here

Vulnerable communities often face challenges in receiving essential goods. Team The Bug Stops Here proposes an easy-to-use application, Neighbourhood Connect. With this app, the elderly can tap to request groceries based on geolocation mapping – a person signed up as a helper will be notified. Once a connection is made, the two parties can chat via the in-app messenger as the helper grabs items that the user requests and delivers the groceries to the user’s doorsteps. The app can also process payment. This tool can bridge the gap between all essential services, the vulnerable population, and healthy volunteers.

EnGenius Debuts New Features for Cloud Network Management Platform

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 16, 2020 by itnerd

EnGenius today announced the next three feature releases for EnGenius Cloud delivering new functions to enhance management and troubleshooting of wireless networks. To simplify troubleshooting, the new Client Timeline creates a visualization of device connection history to assist IT personnel to find potential issues easier and faster. In addition, splash page customization tools provide greater customizability in creating your network’s introduction to visitors. Finally, the client blocklist feature enables administrators to block rogue client devices from accessing specific SSIDs. With the latest feature releases to the company’s growing cloud solution, IT administrators all over the world are empowered to achieve greater efficiency in their network management.

Troubleshoot with Client Timeline Visualization

With the lack of network information and error reporting tools, a complex network can spend vast amounts of time locating and fixing simple problems through troubleshooting. 

The client timeline creates an interface that enables IT administrators to track client connection histories, gain insights into client behavior, and solve network issues easier and faster. IT personnel can detect connection patterns, radio information, and wireless problems with easy-to-comprehend graphical representations. The time-based client connection sequence makes troubleshooting easier and recommends possible solutions to implement for common problems. 

Customize Your Splash Page with Greater Flexibility

The cloud networking evolution continues on the splash page, where EnGenius offers customization tools with more flexibility for their clients’ needs. IT personnel can customize the splash page with a design that suits your company’s aesthetic. Pre-made templates, logos, images, and a WYSIWYG editor for inserting custom HTML offer maximum flexibility in crafting the captive portal introduction that your company wants visitors to see before accessing the network.

Block Suspicious Clients to Safeguard Network Security

Keeping your network secure from malicious intruders is among the highest priorities to IT administrators. The client blocklist feature enables administrators to deny client devices with suspicious activity that may influence network security or speed from accessing the network. This can be done for specific SSIDs by selecting client devices from the device list to block out or by manually entering in the device’s MAC address.

To learn more about how EnGenius is building the future of cloud managed wireless networking, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-cloud/features.

Roku Joins Global Citizen to Stream “One World: Together At Home” On The Roku Channel

Posted in Commentary with tags on April 16, 2020 by itnerd

Roku, Inc. today announced it is partnering with Global Citizen to bring Roku® users One World: Together at Home, a global special that pays tribute to and celebrates frontline healthcare workers. The event, which airs on Saturday, April 18, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, will be available on The Roku Channel in the U.S., as well as on partner channels on the Roku platform. For Canadian users, BeIN SPORTS XTRA on The Roku Channel and Global TV will broadcast the event, additionally it will be on Crave beginning Sunday, April 19. In the U.K., Roku users can tune in through Insight TV or watch Highlights of One World: Together at Home on BBC iPlayer, including Elton John, Lizzo and Paul McCartney performing from their homes. Those in Brazil can enjoy on their Roku devices through Globoplay. The historic special includes leading global health experts, alongside performances by the world’s top artists and comedians.

In addition, the One World: Together at Home multi-hour digital broadcast will be available for users to stream on the Roku platform ahead of the live event. The broadcast will show unity among people who are affected by COVID-19, as well as celebrate and support the brave frontline health care workers around the world who are doing incredible, life-saving work.

Curated in collaboration with Lady Gaga and hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert, the global special will feature appearances and musical performances from Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lady Gaga, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Stevie Wonder. The One World: Together at Home streamed event will include performances and appearances from Adam Lambert, Andra Day, Angèle, Anitta, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Ben Platt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Black Coffee, Bridget Moynahan, Burna Boy, Cassper Nyovest, Charlie Puth, Christine and the Queens, Common, Connie Britton, Danai Gurira, Delta Goodrem, Don Cheadle, Eason Chan, Ellie Goulding, Erin Richards, FINNEAS, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Hussain Al Jasmi, Jack Black, Jacky Cheung, Jack Johnson, Jameela Jamil, James McAvoy, Jason Segel, Jennifer Hudson, Jess Glynne, Jessie J, Jessie Reyez, John Legend, Juanes, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Lang Lang, Leslie Odom Jr., Lewis Hamilton, Liam Payne, Lili Reinhart, Lilly Singh, Lindsey Vonn, Lisa Mishra, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Matt Bomer, Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bublé, Milky Chance, Naomi Osaka, Natti Natasha, Niall Horan, Nomzamo Mbatha, P.K. Subban, Picture This, Rita Ora, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sebastián Yatra, Sheryl Crow, Sho Madjozi, SOFI TUKKER, SuperM, The Killers, Tim Gunn, Vishal Mishra and Zucchero.