Disabled must be given equal digital rights

Depriving visually impaired people of access to books is but one illustration of the need for copyright law to be rewritten, writes DANNY O'BRIEN

TWO DECADES ago, hardly anyone but a handful of intellectual property lawyers paid much attention to the letter of the copyright law. Now, like it or not, we’re all caught up in the fight over what copies we can make, how, and for what purpose.

Every act of creation or communication online seems to make some copy that we need to double check isn’t infringing. Can we copy our CD collection onto our iPods? Can you stop someone from forwarding the e-mail you sent them? Is someone ripping off your website? Your idea? Or are you copying their idea? Everywhere you look, it seems, copyright law looks in need of an overhaul. Read More

Celebration of Bealtaine: The Festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age

On Monday 18th May 2009 at 11.00 am in the Big Picture (located beside the last Luas stop in Tallaght) Mayor Marie Corr will launch South Dublin County Council and Connects contribution to Bealtaine, the festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age. Bealtaine is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society. The name "Bealtaine" comes from the ancient Celtic festival of that name celebrating springtime, freshness and renewal. Todays event was organised by Connect in partnership with The Social Inclusion Unit and Community Services Department of South Dublin County Council.
The population of the County in 1994 when the Council was established was approximately 208,000. It now stands at 238,835. As part of the celebration of Bealtaine, Connect and Community Services Department today announce the winners of a photographic competition, and launch two films. The photo competition concerns the theme of Positive Images of Older People in the Community, and received over 100 entrants, detailing the varied and full lives lead by older members of our community. This was also the theme of the two films, concerning the clients of Trustus, (formally known as Tallaght Welfare Society) in Tallaght, and Liscarne Court in Clondalkin.

Contact person: Su Clarke
01 414900 ext 3380 / 086 6063688

BlueZone equips buses for Internet

While local companies' offers of putting Wi-Fi on our trains may yet to come to fruition, bus travellers will soon be able to enjoy free Internet access thanks to technology from Wexford-based company BlueZone Media.
Using a bluetooth enabled mobile phone, travellers on a range of bus routes can now check their Facebook, read news and send and receive e-mails.
The service will be rolled out early next month on a number of coaches from Cork company Butler Buses and will initially benefit those on their chartered and sight-seeing tours. Read More

Courtesy: RTE News

Digital media bucking the recession

Companies located in Dublin's Digital Hub expect to create a total of 250 jobs this year, a growth of 25% of the present combined workforce. That's according to the second annual Enterprise Survey of Digital Hub companies published by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA).
The survey was conducted last March amongst the companies located in The Digital Hub, the Government enterprise and regeneration project in Dublin's South West Inner City.Its findings show that Digital Hub companies are expected to grow strongly during 2009, with almost 54% expecting to expand their operations. This is in stark contrast to the general Irish economy, where only 19% of companies expect to see workforce growth this year. Read More

Courtesy:RTE

Over 2,000 Students Take Part in SciFest 2009

More than 2,000 secondary school students are due to participate in SciFest 2009 over the next two weeks as schools from around Ireland exhibit almost 900 science and technology projects at 14 Institutes of Technology nationwide.

SciFest is a one day festival of science, which includes a competition and exhibition of projects, a selection of science talks, science demonstrations in the college laboratories and a prize-giving ceremony.The programme aims to encourage the pursuit of science through an investigative approach to learning and to provide an opportunity for students to display their scientific discoveries.
203 local students took part in the Dublin event which took place today at DIT Kevin Street with 97 projects on display in total. Read More

Courtesy: RTE

Bealtaine Festival 1st - 31st May

Bealtaine is the national festival celebrating creativity in older age. Over 55,000 people took part in Bealtaine in 2008, making it one of Ireland’s biggest arts festivals.

http://bealtaine.com/

From dance to cinema, painting to theatre, Bealtaine showcases the talents and skills of both established and first-time older artists and performers. It is a chance to make new and challenging work, a chance to communicate traditions between the generations, a chance to delve a little deeper into a new area of understanding. Bealtaine creates the space to discover talents until now unseen. Read More