EirePreneur

Wii-mote control for the PC

Two days ago I said, "I'm anxiously awaiting a hacker's guide to retrofitting my nephew's wii-mote... for the PC." Then yesterday one such hacker demonstrates progress so far -

God bless the hackers! :-)

Business Opportunity

I just wanted to say a special thanks to my first ever sponsor on this blog. Business Opportunity obviously fits right in with the theme here and they've got a boat load of resources on their site. Thanks guys!

Opera Mini brings read/write to the mobile web

God I'm kicking myself for losing my Nokia 6630 two weeks ago - it means I can't try out the new Opera Mini which seems to be establishing itself as a powerful platform for mobile app development. TechCrunch UK & Ireland picks out the game changing improvements -

"The new Opera Mini plugs directly in to the phone camera to allow photo blogging directly from within the browser environment.... So why is this revolutionary? Of course, it allows users to bypass MMS and other operator-sanctioned photo sharing mechanisms, but that’s no big news. Other downloadable applications have enabled photo upload and mobile blogging, but in integrating this function into the browser, Opera has turned Mini into a read/write application.

I've got an idea or two for mobile web services and it seems Mini could be the ideal platform. Dagnabbit,... how long do I have to wait for the N95? :-(

TechCrunch to run Ireland Startup!

Sam Sethi is hoping to catch the LouderVoice demo at Le Web 3 -

"If not the plan is to run a new event in Ireland in January next year to help get early venture Irish companies in touch with interested investors. The event is called Ireland Startup! and it forms part of a series of regional Startup! events. The date and format of the event are currently being finalised but the details will be published here shortly on TechCrunch ."

How a disabled entrepreneur gets a Second shot at Life

The debate I've been having about Second Life in various places around the blogosphere has inevitably seen the odd 'sad git' jibe thrown in. It's all been good natured banter though, nothing genuinely condescending (I hope! ;-)

However, it's worth pointing out that for some people Second Life really does offer some things that First Life can't, particularly the disabled. High Touch points to the best report I've yet seen on the virtual world, one that explores both the good and the bad. Catch the full CBC News item here  (RealPlayer) or see the best excerpt below, featuring Simon Stevens. Simon is a young man dealing with cerebral palsy in real life but the successful founder of Wheelies niteclub in Second Life.

And what a wonderful quote that is from Steven - "It [Second Life] is a platform where I can be more myself than I am in real life." The full report doesn't shy away from the seedier side of the metaverse but the feeling you're left with in the end is overwhelmingly positive, for the joy and liberation this technology can bring to people's lives. Simon's smile says it all.

Technorati Tags: second life, disabled, entrepreneur, simon stevens

Recommended vendors for software development in Ireland

Conor O'Neill makes another interesting suggestion -

"It struck me this morning that it might be useful to create some sort of wiki or group blog where those involved in software development in Ireland could list vendors they have used and like or who have been recommended to them or who look good. Basically a very simplistic dev-niche variation on HandyMan.ie."

I'd advise on the use of a Wiki because a blog would surely run into RateMySolicitor-like problems more easily? Either that or a distributed OP..... no, no... only joking ;-)

InTime Media - success AND quality of life

Congratulations to Julian Ellison on winning the Best New Business Concept category at the Mayo Business Awards 2006. It's great to see any 'regional' entrepreneur doing well with a high-tech business but especially one who made the brave move from London to the west of Ireland.

I don't know the story behind that move but it sounds like it was a quality of life issue and it's great to see how passionate and rightly proud Julian is about successful entrepreneurship far away from the capitals (of both England and Ireland!) -

"In the 18 months since we moved to Mayo from London, we have consistently received unwarranted help, support and encouragement from many quarters, and I would like to thank the Mayo Chambers of Commerce for their good judgement, both as regards myself, and for picking my local the Grainne Uaile in Newport as Best Pub. Why anyone wants to carry on working in Dublin amazes me — if you are a software engineer who’d like to spend more time seeing your kids and less time commuting, get in touch. Look West as the Western Development Commission says."

Technorati Tags: quality of life, west of ireland, mayo, entrepreneurship

Virtual coat of armour required

I completely disagree with most of MJ's views on virtual worlds but the debate we've been having is lots of fun and it's always good to have your opinions challenged. I had a similar debate with another blogger via IM yesterday and its clear to me I'm going to be in the minority at the Second Life roundtable at BarCamp Ireland - South East in January.

I'd better bring my virtual shield along with me and hope that Sabrina Dent can make it so I'm not the only Second Life evangelist in the room ;-)

3D has been tamed

I've written before about how 3D controllers like the Nintendo Wii numchuck will completely change our relationship with virtual environments but while I'm anxiously awaiting a hacker's guide to retrofitting my nephew's wii-mote along comes an amazing alternative for the PC.

Check out this Ogle Earth review of 3DConnexion's SpaceNavigator and watch the incredible video of Stefan flying through Wall Street, the Grand Canyon and vertically down the shaft of the Eiffel Tower with the greatest of ease and control. Now this is how I want to navigate Second Life!

UPDATE: Avi has some fascinating views on where all of this is headed.

Technorati Tags: 3d, control, wii, second life, 3DConnexion, SpaceNavigator

My wish is your command, semantically speaking

Last Tuesday I submitted my request for the next episode of Ina's new videoblog series on the Semantic Web. I was hoping to see John Breslin bring us up to speed on SIOC.

And what do you know, six days later that's exactly what we get (well, maybe more detail on SIOC would have been nice but perhaps that's for another episode). Great stuff Ina.