Saturday, March 29, 2008

Third Generation of the third screen: Mobile revolution

Third Generation of the third screen: Mobile revolution

You can play back your favorite music tracks, watch the videos, play the games, hang out at the virtual world of internet, and shoot a video of happening around you beside that this instrument can also be used for the normal telephonic conversation. Yes friends this is all about the mobile hand set which has become so slim and compact even after so many features that even your pocket space is more than sufficient to accommodate this trendy instrument.

When on the 3rd April 1973 Mr. Martin Koopar of Motorola Company had first invented this instrument it was even beyond to use it for so many tasks. At that time it was termed as the third screen after the television and computer screens. We can say that this was the first step in the direction of restricting and bringing the use to technology within the surface area of human hand.

I still can recall the days of year 2000, when opted for the mobile connection these were the days when one has to pay not just for making the call but receiving call was also a paid service for the mobile users. The hand sets were bulky weighing almost 300-400 grams but the changes occurred at enormous speedy rate, handsets have shaped even into models with touch screen and the mobile users will be going to be paid for receiving calls in very short near future.

Journey of SMS, the present most trusted way of youth for communication and get information, was started in the 1993 with the sending of first SMS in Finland. Look at business growth of SMS it is now a business with turnover of over 10,000 billion dollars. This is not the only business aspect generated from the mobile telephony but few others like Ring tones, Music, Picture download, Video games, hello tunes and even online gambling are also proving with business of turnover in the billions and billions.

If we look at India, this is now possible for a village farmer to sit at home and start or stop the water pump at the distant crop field just using the mobile phone. The days of hours and hours long waiting for the arrival of postman are the history even in the Indian villages as mobile is proving more effective way of communication and surely this revolution is possible because of active involvement of Government undertaking BSNL, but the true mobile revolution in the country was brought by the induction of Reliance in the mobile service provider sector. The company entered into arena with the slogan of “KAR LO DUNIYA MUTHI MEIN” [Have the world within the reach of your hand] and for the first time made the inter calling free and brought the tariff rates to the limits of affordability of common Indian. This proved the true revolutionary step for the mobiles as other service providers were also forced to lower their rates and in the true sense world become within the hand reach for the common Indians.

Presently the number of mobile users in the country is something between 15 carore to 20 carore but estimates indicates that by the year 2010 this number is going to touch 50 carore. Surely this is indication about the concept of use of mobile by the Indians. This is not just freedom of speaking from any place but today mobiles have become essential and most effective tool of social and business life.

In the third generation of mobiles besides having the communication facility [first generation] SMS, Ring tones, speaker phone, FM Radio, Camera etc. [second generation] we are going to have the Universal Mobile Telephony System [UMTS], broad band internet browsing and wireless technologies with GPS and all this will prove a reason to increase the mobile use at least 40 times more than the present one.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [17] Family Car

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [17] Family Car

For the Indians, since the decade car was is in the commodity list of elites only and treated as the status symbol for the social life. Every body was dreaming about owning a car but for most it was the unrealized dream.

Things have started to change since the late years of 80’s and this dream started to move on the grounds of reality with the induction of “Maruti – suziki” in the automobile sector of the country with the small and dream car of Late Shri. Sanjay Gandhi “Maruti 800”. In the recent years our country went under the economic reforms and these reforms have open the doors of easiness and affordable availability of finance for the middle class for buying a car and realize their dream. As a result Indian roads started to move with the four wheels of these small family cars.

During these years earning powers of middle class Indians have shown a sounding growth especially in the serving sector, as the reports are filtering in, it is possible that government employees might get a very sounding about 52% hike in their salaries after the implementation of recommendations of sixth pay commission. These increased purchasing powers and natural human attitude of having physical comforts is resulting in the increased number of cars on the Indian roads.

In the recent years of almost last two decade traveling scene of country has changed to a great extent, tours are not just limited to business purpose and visiting relatives at specific family functions but now in the country tourism is not just become the status symbol but the most needed change as during these days the struggle for earning the money is become loaded with pressures to such extent that common people are in the more need of relaxation. Weekend tourism is growing with enormous growth rate and for this purpose also the middle class families are more willing to own a car. Automobile sector is also coming with many comforts like the air conditioner, sound play back system etc. to meet with and generate demands for the small cars. We can say in these days, at least for the urban population car is no more a luxurious commodity but is the essential one for supporting the modern life style.

The construction of speedy and safe highways and suitable link roads are also proving a temptation of owning the car and meet with the newly developed interest for the family tourism. It is estimated that before the end of this financial year, much awaited Lakhtakiya “Naino” car of Tata is going to add option for the buyers and surely the Indian roads will be fully loaded with these small car. It will realize the dream of middle class Indian families but no body seems to be concerned about the problems created from this increased number of cars.

· The first and prime problem will be finding the space for the parking of these cars as Indian cities are already started to run with shortage of land even for the commercial and residential purpose.
· Roads will go under immense pressure of traffic and maintenance of the existing roads and constructing alternate roads to meet with this heavy traffic will become hard to fill need for many cities.
· Full consumption will go on the higher side and basic commerce principle of demand and supply will provide space for the price hike, even for the life essential goods. Already polluted city atmosphere will become more and more, richer and number of people with respiratory disorders will grow at vigorous rate.
· It will become more time consuming to travel a short distance within the city limits. Recently while going to Delhi from Kolhapur for the participation in the television reality show “Public Ka Vittmantri” I have experienced this time consuming traveling in the cities like Pune, Mumbai and Delhi.

Owning a car is realization of dream but it also needs a second thought just because of the various problems which are bound to occur and needs to be addressed for a healthy and smooth city life.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Death of wisdom

Death of wisdom
[A blog post from Luck]

It was not a chilly morning of December nor it was the hot rising sun of the June, in fact it was the little bit cool and pleasant morning air flow of March, when I heard the news about the sad demise of wisdom.

Though it was an on going, untold cold war between me [Luck] and wisdom for proving one’s supremacy in the human world ever since the dawn of human existence on the earth. Let me confess wisdom has defeated me at couple of occasions and forced me to favor many of human beings who were floating on the waves of wisdom but at this juncture this was not a death of rival for me and honestly with the news I started to feel a kind of lacking emotion began to raise its head within me. If the wisdom is no more, over whom I will establish my supremacy? Was the question bubbling within me and seems to be more eager to find an answer.

Anyway as the traditional curtsey of human world, which I decided to follow this time, I started to move towards the residential block of wisdom. All the way of my journey, I was engaged with thoughts about the wisdom he was gem of personality and even at this age looks more attractive even in comparison of his son talent; he was living a very disciplined life and nothing adverse news about his health was there in the air since past so many years, I was wondering what happen to him? How can the wisdom die of this untimely death when the human world is in the indeed need of his help? Are the few questions dominating my mind but before I reach to satisfactory answer for any of them, my legs indicated my reaching to the residential block of wisdom.

It seems that living with human beings for so many centuries had developed human curtsey among us, as I found, Hard work, Dedication, Persistence, and even the Jealousy were present at the residential block of wisdom even before my arrival there. Talent was eagerly waiting at door step for the arrival of Mahesh Ji [the destroyer from the trio of Birhama, Vishnu and Mahesh] a few servants were seemed over busy to collect the material which was needed and can be demanded by Mahesh Ji for the funerals of the wisdom. I expressed my sympathy with talent and went on to join others who were gathered at for corner and were looked much worried about the future of human beings after the elopement of wisdom from their life.

I started to be part of discussion and tried to find out the reasons for the untimely death of wisdom, if known to anyone present there. It was real shocking for me to know that wisdom didn’t die of natural death but was forced to commit suicide. As per the Dedication, who was close relative of wisdom as her younger sister Honesty was married with wisdom, it was the suggestive powers of “Akarma” which forced wisdom to commit suicide.

Dedication went on further explaining to all of us that in the countries like the India, where democratic set up of ruling is in force, there is ample space for the enormous growth of “Akarma, Ignorance and careless”. The most destructive thing about the human beings from these parts is that living in democracy for a considerable period they all become habituate and eager to use their right of freedom of expression without bothering or realizing any kind of responsibility. Everything in these countries was slave and was decided only on the bases of numbers only. Wisdom was observing this almost half of century old development very closely and has expressed his non satisfaction over this at couple of times during family discussions. His wife Honesty was also going through the moments of being not happy as slowly and gradually human beings of these parts of earth have started to throw away from the life and started to live on the principles where her need was reduced to almost nil extent.

During these years population of human beings in these parts of earth had shown very vigorous growth and on this day of suicide by the wisdom has reached to one fifth of total human population of the earth. As per our divine rule book one has to die if one losses utility and importance in the life of one fifth of total human population of earth.

I thought should I blame the Indians for this untimely death of wisdom, because to me this was not a suicide but was a planned murder and Indians are responsible to a great extent for increasing human population in this area of earth, but before I can express my thought and get others to comment on it, we all saw Rumor rushing in and narrated us what we heard was not the truth, wisdom is quite well and will be coming shortly with Birhma Ji, to welcome all for his birthday celebrations.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [16] Electronic Voting Machines

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [16] Electronic Voting Machines

[India has competed 60 years of independence and to mark this, I am presenting this series of Articles, about the words, that are meaning a lot for the progress of the country. If you feel I missed some thing [For listing of words see the first article “India: 60 Years: 60 Words”] do inform me at premputar@gmail.com I will try to include that at the end of series]


After the independence we have opted for the democratic setup of ruling and in this elections are bound to reappear at regular intervals. Traditionally ballot papers were used by the people to indicate their choice of candidate. This was a time consuming process especially when it comes to counting of the votes, I can recall still the days when after the general election, Doordarshan [official television channel of the country] was telecasting Hindi movies back to back for more than 48 hours during the process of counting of votes for these elections, so that people can know the results as and when they are available.

Considering the time consumed in counting of votes, election commission of India thought of electronic alternative for the ballot papers to speed up the counting process and with the help of Bharat Electronics Ltd., Bangalore and Electronic Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad [both are from public sector undertakings] succeeded in designing a voting machines called “EVM” in the year 1989-1990.

Electronic Voting Machine [EVM] is composed of two units namely controlling unit and balloting unit. The polling officer at polling booth activates the machine with the help of controlling unit, which is connected with balloting unit through a cable and voter press the button given in balloting unit for their choice of candidate. An EVM can record vote’s maximum to 3840 votes and in our country polling booths are designed in such manner that at most of the booths number of voters remains around 1500 hence for a single polling booth, single EVM prove sufficient.

EVM’s were used first time during the election of Legislative Assemblies held in November, 1998, in 16 Assembly Constituencies in the States of Madhya Pradesh (5), Rajasthan (5) and NCT of Delhi (6) on the experimental basis. The results have prompted the election commission to go for the use of EVM’s in all elections and traditional ballot papers just because
1. It saves time.
2. There is considerable ease for the counting of votes as by pressing a single button votes for every candidate are displayed.
3. A single EVM can accommodate votes for 16 candidates and to a single controlling unit four balloting units can be connected making the number of candidate equal to 64, which is much higher than normal maximum number of candidates for a constituency.
4. As the EVM can record only 5 Votes in a minute and the facility of “Close” button in the controlling unit are working against the booth capturing.
5. An EVM is priced higher than Rs. 5,000 but when we consider the printing, transportation of ballot papers and ballot boxes along with the requirement of more staff during counting and remuneration paid to them, EVM’s falls in the circle of affordability.
6. EVM can insure one man one vote, beside that there are no individual votes as there is no provision to know which voter has pressed button for which candidate.
7. EVM is computerized programmed machine which runs on the battery provided with hence there is no need of supply of external electric power and being sealed it is not possible to change the code and use for behavior in a specific way.
8. It is so easy to use that even large illiterate population of the country is able to use it.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [15] Economic Reforms

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [15] Economic Reforms

[India has competed 60 years of independence and to mark this, I am presenting this series of Articles, about the words, that are meaning a lot for the progress of the country. If you feel I missed some thing [For listing of words see the first article “India: 60 Years: 60 Words”] do inform me at premputar@gmail.com I will try to include that at the end of series]


When I thought of writing on this, I was forced to go down in the memory lane of my childhood memories, where I was asking father about reason of hiding the income by common Indians and getting the reason of high rate of income tax. My memories are supportive for the income tax rate as higher as 60% though people say at same times it was as high as 97%.

Though the chronology dares 1991 as the year of start for the economic reforms by the India but in fact the economic reforms were started with the independence of the country. If you consider all the land and social reforms implemented all the years, nationalization of banking system, stopping the compensation packages to various Kings and Royal family members of pre independence era and almost demolishing the licensing policies etc. Surely one will suggest that year 1991 can be taken as the year for the beginning of second phase of economic reforms in the country. A few years prior to this India were under going not only phase of political instability but also facing sever problems on the fronts of economy and was under the fear of collapsing. All these reforms were aimed at consisting of stabilisation-cum-structural adjustment measures, view to attain macroeconomic stability and higher rates of economic growth. At the political fronts country entered into new phase of coalition governments and might this be the reason for the speeding of the economic reforms as every political party was eager to reflect their concern about the nation and build an imagine of being caring towards the welfare of people in general.

In fact the infra structure of these reforms was discussed during the Prime ministerial term of Late Rajiv Gandhi and Present Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Sing, Finance Minister shri P Chidambaram, Shri Montek Singh Ahuwalia and few others were the part of this core discussion. Though the credit of implementation of policies can be given to BJP led coalition government in the year 1991 but that doesn’t minimize the effort and vision of the dream team.

High going GDP and economic growth which was below 5% of annual rate, reach to as high as almost 7 % were the indication of success for the reforms in the first decade. In the year 2003-2004 the annual rate of economic growth was at 7.5% according to finance minister by the end of this fiscal year country will attain a rate of almost 9% and a double digit one in next 2-3 years.

The economic reforms opened the door of investment and in flow has resulted in strengthening the infra structural sector which subsequently started to reflect in the form of vigorous industrial growth of the country. Fortunately India is equipped with rich natural resources backed with immense man power with skills and talent, hence in the present era, after only a short period of reforms, country is among the huge economies of human world and stands third on fronts of GDP behind America and China.

Economic reforms are working for changing the image of Indians in the world human communities. Multi story buildings, Air conditioned and elegant looking offices, express high ways, flyovers and alternate roads within the city limits, availability of technical excellence, time bound work, ample inland travel facilities, comfortable hotel stay etc. are few images of new India.

Surely after the 60 years of independence India is marching ahead at the constant speed towards the desired goal of regaining the leadership of human world.

Monday, March 03, 2008

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [14] Drinking Water

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [14] Drinking Water

[
India has competed 60 years of independence and to mark this, I am presenting this series of Articles, about the words, that are meaning a lot for the progress of the country. If you feel I missed some thing [For listing of words see the first article “India: 60 Years: 60 Words”] do inform me at
premputar@gmail.com I will try to include that at the end of series]

If you are interested in astronomical literature, you are bound to have read NASA reporting there is no evidence of water existence hence there are no possibility of life on certain planet. It is fact that oxygen is life supporting element but the water, an important chemical formed from oxygen, is the one from which life is originated.

The geographical situations and human population in the India are such that people are bound to live even in very remote areas in adverse life supporting conditions. Even in the pre independence era Indians were facing problem with the availability of drinking water and bound to travel daily a lot for it. The places and houses of Rajasthan with water storage facilities are the illustration for the scarcity of this life liquid.

The natural resources of drinking water are the rivers etc. with flowing water on the surface and Wells for the underground water. If you ever had cover the distance between the Indira Gandhi International air port and Delhi city, you surely noted an almost deserted forest land of about 4 km length and in this belt one or other woman handling the hand pump to fill her bucket with the water.

India is with large geographical part with sandy, stony and mountain based surface [almost 70% of earth surface in India land is hard in nature and non suitable for digging the traditional wells to use the under ground water for the purpose of drinking] and making the sufficient and adequate availability of drinking water in these areas was a unsolved problem.

In the early years of decade of 50’s it was estimated that more than 1,50,000 Indian village are facing the problem of ample availability of drinking water but as the nation was in the process of rebuilding and facing the problems create from the migration of considerable large population hence much efforts were not taken at the government levels. It was only in the mid of 70’s [as I recall some time from 1974 to 1976] that government become active for this problem and with the help of UNISEF and World Health Organization implemented plan of Hand Pumps [India mark -2 water pumps] at the village level.

These Hand pump tube wells proved a great success and drinking water problem seems to get uprooted but huge number and long period use of these have started to reflect in the adverse format, after almost 25 years. The under ground level started to go on decline, the water, which was available at 30 feet below the surface become unable even at the depth of 70 feet, beside that fertility of surrounding soil got affected adversely and crop productions were reduced in these area.

How worst this problem of drinking water is for the Indians is, to measure this we have to look at the market of packed drinking water, the recent trend of Indian cities and elite population. In the present times I am not surprise to know that during a marriage celebration or business meet expense bill of drinking water goes higher than bill of cocktails.

Entire world is facing the problem related to shortage of drinking water but tough geographical conditions and huge population of India are making this problem more sounding. Surely beside the educating the people about the importance of drinking water, introduction of new technologies for the use of flowing water of rivers is the need of hour for the country.