Business
Galway language learning company helps turn dictionary into a game!
Galway-based start-up English Bubble, who make digital language learning games, have released Word Bucket, a free mobile app that turns the traditional translation dictionary into a fun and personal learning game. Word Bucket allows learners, of up to ten languages, to save the words they find in their dictionary and then learn them through fun tests and games.
English Bubble was co-founded by Robert Hanley from Craughwell and former teaching colleague Danny Smits from Kildare, and Word Bucket is the first of their language learning games to hit the market.
The idea for Word Bucket came from Danny and Robert’s experience as language learners and teachers while working in Spain. “We saw a gap”, says Robert, who leads design of the company’s innovative educational content, drawing on his experience as an ESL (English as a second language) teacher and serial language learner. “While learning Spanish, we couldn’t find a dictionary that allowed you to learn the words you had searched for. You’d have to write them down on scraps of paper, which would of course get lost, and you forget the words. Word Bucket is an app that solves that problem as it saves the words you find and tests you on them in a fun way that ensures you remember them.”
“We wanted to improve the passive and limited experience of using a language dictionary.” says Danny, who is a former campaign manager for the World Wildlife Fund in London and leads English Bubble’s marketing team. “Currently most dictionary apps are reference tools which the learner uses just to find a translation at any given moment. Learning a language is a personal journey and we wanted your dictionary to play a part in that.”
“After Word Bucket we’ve got another couple of exciting products on the way. It’s been an exciting summer so far, and we’ve already started making more games like Word Bucket where you can have fun, but improve your language skills at the same time.”
To download Word Bucket free, just visit http://www.wordbucket.com
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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