The Machine: A computer science education podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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The Machine: A computer science education podcast

Rob O'Connor

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/40d. Total Eps: 62

Faculty and students from the South East Technology University (SETU) Ireland explore a wide range of topics related to computing and technology. Hosted by Rob O'Connor. All opinions are personal and do not represent University views.

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Apple Podcasts

🇫🇷 France - technology
16/07/2025
#96
🇩🇪 Germany - technology
15/04/2025
#96

Spotify

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.setu.ie/staff/robert-oconnor
6 shares
https://www.wit.ie
4 shares
https://www.setu.ie/staff/amanda-freeman-gater
4 shares

https://twitter.com/machine_podcast
10 shares
https://twitter.com/sportsscipod
2 shares
https://twitter.com/roboconnor_irl
2 shares

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertoconnorirl/
5 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/indrakshi-dey-aa658839/
2 shares
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-campbell-76846b194/
2 shares

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 58%

Publication history

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Why Study Computing?

Season 7 · Episode 2

Friday, January 17, 2025 • Duration 41:48

Are you interested in studying computing but feel a bit daunted by entering a field that can seem overwhelming? As professional computer science educators, we are often asked questions by prospective students about what’s actually involved in studying computing, the types of roles one can expect after graduating, the skills a student needs, and more. For this episode, we tried to distil some of those common questions into a podcast. If you’re someone who thinks computing is only for math wizards and “hardcore” programmers, this is the podcast for you! (Spoiler alert: The answer is NO!)

We discuss tech innovation and how ethical IT professionals can have a positive impact on the world. We also explore the hidden perks of IT careers, beyond the good salaries.

Join Amanda Freeman-Gater, TJ McDonald, and Rob O’Connor - all from the Department of Computing and Mathematics at SETU - for an easy-to-follow conversation on why you should study computing.

Useful Links:

Articles

Careers Portal – Information Technology https://careersportal.ie/sectors/sectors.php?sector_id=8
Brightwater Salary Survey 2024 https://online.flippingbook.com/view/692494949/
Technological university graduates more likely to be employed after leaving college (Irish Times) https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/12/19/technological-university-graduates-more-likely-to-be-employed-after-leaving-college/
The highest paying sectors for new graduates (BusinessPlus) https://businessplus.ie/business-insights/highest-paid-graduates/

Courses

BSc (Hons) in Computer Science (SE600) https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-hons-in-computer-science-common-entry
BSc (Hons) in Software Systems Development https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-hons-in-software-systems-development
BSc (Hons) in Computer Forensics and Security (SE602) https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-hons-in-computer-forensics-and-security
BSc (Hons) in Creative Computing https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-hons-in-creative-computing
BSc in Information Technology https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-in-information-technology
BSc in Creative Computing https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-in-creative-computing
BSc in Software Systems Development https://www.setu.ie/courses/bsc-in-software-systems-development

Personal profiles

Amanda Freeman-Gater https://www.setu.ie/staff/amanda-freeman-gater
TJ McDonald https://www.setu.ie/staff/tj-mcdonald
Robert O’Connor https://www.setu.ie/staff/robert-oconnor

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Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau

Season 7 · Episode 1

Monday, November 4, 2024 • Duration 38:50

Coming out of our latest Computing Week on campus in SETU, Rob spoke with two members of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau – Detective Sergeant Eoin O’Connell and Detective Noel O’Gorman. They spoke about the work of the Bureau, how cybercrime threats have evolved over the past few years and what individual and organisations can do to help protect themselves. TRIGGER WARNING: the podcast includes discussion of offences around online sexual abuse and child pornography. The conversation is not graphic but listeners may want to exercise discretion.

By an amazing coincidence, in the period from when the interview was recorded and published, SETU has been the victim of a cyberattack. At the time of podcast publication, all systems on the Waterford campus are offline and the site is under active investigation. So the podcast is particularly timely for the SETU community …

For more information on the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, please visit https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/organised-serious-crime/garda-national-cyber-crime-bureau-gnccb-/ To keep up to date with The Machine or for any follow-ups, you can contact Rob via the SETU website https://www.setu.ie/staff/robert-oconnor

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3D Printing and AMASE

Season 4 · Episode 12

Thursday, June 30, 2022 • Duration 31:30

Two colleagues at SETU from the School of Engineering, David Alarco and Natalie Romanyatova, joined Rob in the podcast studio to discuss additive manufacturing (3D printing), how it dovetails with computing and how it's changing the way "stuff" is made. They have a new course starting bout it too. More information about Additive Manufacturing Advancing the South East (AMASE) can be found at amase.ie

This is the last episode of The Machine for the season. We'll be back in the new academic year with more interesting chats about technology. Enjoy your summer holidays!

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Wireless Comms on the Farm ... and Mars?

Season 4 · Episode 11

Thursday, June 23, 2022 • Duration 34:54

Can we detect an excess of carbon in a field using equipment that already in place? Rob spoke with SETU academic Bernard Butler and his graduate student Thakshilla Wedage about their work in VistaMilk and using the physical properties of wireless signals to predict atmospheric conditions in a farming context. The speed of the terahertz signals they use are hampered by our wet, dense atmosphere - but they may allow wireless communications 100-times faster than current speeds on a dry environment, such as Mars. They talked about their next phase of their work which is looking at employing these technologies to facilitate high-bandwidth, low-latency communications off-world. To quote a famous space traveller - Fascinating!

More information about the VistaMilk project and the people involved can be found at vistamilk.ie

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Religion & Video Games (with Frank Bosman)

Season 4 · Episode 10

Thursday, June 16, 2022 • Duration 43:09

What place does religion have in video games? Why should developers be concerned with religion, theology or morality when creating games? Frank Bosman is a Dutch academic with Tilberg University who spoke with Rob about some of the larger ideas contained in video games and how they add depth to the gaming experience.

Frank's book "Gaming and the Divine: A New Systematic Theology of Video Games" is published by Routledge Press. He can found on Twitter @frankgbosman. Stay up to date with the latest from the podcast @machine_podcast

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I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now (II)

Season 4 · Episode 9

Thursday, June 9, 2022 • Duration 46:33

A rerun of an episode we published a few years back - Rob sat down with some final year students who'd just completed their undergraduate degree. He asked them to reflect on their time studying in Waterford, highlight the areas of computing they liked most/least and also offer advice to their 1st year-selves. The students in the room were Ciaran Malone (Games Development), Dimitri Saradakis (Applied Computing) and Erinn Whitty (Internet of Things).

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StudyAtHome with Martin Deinhofer and Brendan Jackman

Season 4 · Episode 8

Thursday, June 2, 2022 • Duration 33:18

StudyAtHome is a collection of eLearning courses approved by Universities across Europe where students can pick up extra credits in a variety of specialist computing courses, such as Data Ethics and Open Data, The Connected Car and Assistive Technologies Basics. Rob discussed the initiative with two of the computing academics involved: Brendan Jackman from SETU Waterford and Martin Deihnhofer from FH Technikum Wien (Vienna).

Details on StudyAtHome can be found at https://hub.studyathome.technikum-wien.at

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Learning Your Second Programming Language

Season 4 · Episode 7

Thursday, May 26, 2022 • Duration 32:28

To kick off a short season at the end of the academic year, Eamonn Deleastar and Siobhan Drohan joined Rob O'Connor in the studio to discuss issues around learning your second (or third!) programming language. They touched on the the programming language family tree, how tools and tech have changed over the years and identified some programming trends to watch out for in the coming few years.

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From There To Here: 50-Odd Years of WIT

Season 4 · Episode 6

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 • Duration 01:13:44

A documentary tracing the 50+ years history of Waterford Institute of Technology, from its initial creation as Waterford Regional technical College in 1970, through to its re-designation as the South East Technological University in 2022. The documentary features a number of voices including: Caroline Corcoran; Willie Donnelly; Ray Griffin Sr & Ray Griffin Jr; Mary Lacey; Venie Martin; Denis Moran; Marie Morrissey (RIP); Anne Phelan; Jim Phelan; Tony Whelan; Liz White. It also contains some music performed by Joe Phelan and Dave’s List.

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Update and Introducing 9plus (Female Researchers)

Season 4 · Episode 5

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 • Duration 41:29

It's not a new episode, but Rob gives an update as to where The Machine podcast current stands (HINT - will be back soon!) and also reposts an episode of their new podcast 9plus which was recorded for International Womens Day 2022. If you like what you hear, you can find 9plus wherever you normally get your podcasts www.podfollow.com/9plus

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The Machine: A computer science education podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

The Machine: A computer science education podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other86

Twitter6

LinkedIn5

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other86

Twitter6

LinkedIn5