Science & Technology

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 07 aug 2014

The emergence of four forces of Social, Mobility, Analytics and Cloud (SMAC) promises to bring extraordinary transformations in traditional manufacturing practices by focusing not only on quality products but also on managing the knowledge & communication networks that surround products. India has to leverage SMAC to enhance its manufacturing capabilities. In the Deloitte's Global Index of 38 countries, India is 4th most competitive manufacturing nation. SMAC will assist in driving innovation both from the core and the periphery of the business ecosystem. According to Ministry of MSME, Small & Medium Enterprises currently account for 45% of the manufacturing output and 40% of India's overall exports as on 2012-13. SMAC provides SME's better interaction and access to larger out-of-bound markets. SMAC helps in collaboration and building partnerships among the various players of the manufacturing and business ecosystem thus driving more efficient and economic processes. In India's quest for a global manufacturing powerhouse, SMAC can play an important role and provide the right impetus to take the lead in innovation, reach global markets and become more competitive visavis the western manufacturers. Read on...

DNA: How the Four Forces will Change the World's Manufacturing Ecosystem Forever
Author: Mehul Lanvers Shah

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 30 jun 2014

Social media platforms are an effective tool for communication and marketing for companies. But caution has to be taken while pursuing social media strategy considering its ubiquitous and viral nature. Most often the platforms are not moderated and there is a probability of their been hacked and misused. Moreover companies sometimes also outsource their social media strategies to inexperienced professionals that may result in erroneous and socially insensitive communication. In some instances companies have themselves often been found guilty of poorly judged promotions causing strong adverse consumer reactions. There are numerous examples from the Indian business community where social media management has been found lacking and became a cause for embarassment. According to Sunil Abraham, executive director of the Centre for Internet and Society, 'Automation of social media interactions can be useful but without careful human oversight, it can very easily be gamed by rogue elements online.' Read on...

The Economic Times: Social media promotions can backfire, too
Authors: Ratna Bhushan, Varuni Khosla

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 04 jun 2014

Team of researchers from Indian Institute of Science, Professor Namrata Gundiah and Lakshminath Kundanati, have found that egg-laying organs of parasitoid wasps (ovipositors) have saw like teeth coated with zinc. This provides wasps ability to drill holes and lay eggs inside figs. Prof. Gundiah explains, 'There is a mutualism that exists between the pollinator fig and the wasps that has evolved over millions of years. The parasitoid tries to take advantage of this situation and this has evolved with her trying to access the pollinator larvae so that she may parasite them to ensure the evolutionary success of her offspring.' According to Lakshminath Kundati, 'The research is directed to understand material characterization and mechanics of a biological system. It can find applications elsewhere like, developing tools that aid in novel surgical methods.' Read on...

The New Indian Express: Wasps Give Newer Insights into Robotic Surgery
Author: NA

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 apr 2014

There are different levels of adopting technology in learning and education. In case of primary and secondary education the purpose of technology is to assist students not only to get acquainted with latest technologies but also to provide them with interactive and innovative medium for enhanced and effective learning. According to Elementary Education in India report 2011-12, 48% of 1.4 million schools in India now have computers. Moreover the market for information and communication technologies in education is growing with industry reports expecting it to grow to Rs. 57,000 crore in 2014 from Rs. 285,000 crore in 2012. In India various methods of introducing technology in school curriculum are being experimented - elearning and smart classroom; computer labs in schools; laptops & tablets to individual students. But experts differ in their opinion regarding the overall utility of devices like tablets to students. According to some, considering India's socio-economic disparities and the vast primary & secondary school setup, it would be difficult to effectively enforce mandatory buying of tablets by every student. The issue of choice is also a problem when a school promotes a particular brand while enforcing this policy. Some elite schools although are experimenting with owning a device policy for students but other private and public schools are providing computer and technology infrastructure within the school premises to all students and not enforcing individual buying of devices. Government itself has been in headlines regarding its efforts to provide subsidized low-cost Aakash tablets to school students but the program seems to have got delayed. Most experts do agree with the value of technology in education and learning considering its continuously increasing involvement in everyday human life, the overall pace of technological advancements and the need to timely equip students with 21st century knowledge and skills for their better future. Read on...

SmartPlanet: Indian schools adopt tablets. Will they improve education?
Author: Betwa Sharma

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 28 feb 2014

After years of research, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Tata Motors Ltd (TML), has developed hydrogen powered bus which is similar to CNG-type vehicle and has cylinders with high pressured hydrogen at the top. It utilizes fuel cell technology with hydrogen as fuel. According to ISRO's V. Gnana Gandhi, the technical head of the project, the bus is a zero pollution vehicle as the product of cold combustion is water and has the potential to transform the future of transportation in India. Read on...

The Economic Times: ISRO, Tata Motors develop India's first fuel cell bus
Author: NA

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 20 jan 2014

Search for affordable and quality education is a challenge for students all around the world. Better education is considered as a channel to provide future career opportunities. Internet and associated digital technologies focused towards education are capable of transforming the learning landscape. Initiatives like - online education from traditional universities; diverse learning content providers like Khan Academy, Alison.com, etc; MOOC platforms like Udacity, edX, Coursera etc - and not to forget the large number of self-learning content freely available through independent websites, all adds up to the online learning spectrum. Certification and degree recognition are some of the issues and challenges related to this form of education. According to University of Pennsylvania survey most of the MOOCs availing students are those that are already educated and take them up for enhancing specific knowledge and skills for career advancement, in poor countries accessed by mainly those who are wealthy and have computer and internet connection and 90% of those who register drop out without completing the course. Blended learning is also being utilized where online learning mechanism is adopted alongwith traditional education delivery. Coursera has started Learning Hubs in 10 countries that provide physical infrastructure to enhance learning access. Online learning and education space is expected to evolve innovative and more disruptive models in future particularly in a country like India with shortage of trained faculty and inadequate educational infrastructure. Read on...

The Hindu: India's virtually challenged universities
Author: C. Gopinath

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 15 nov 2013

According to KPMG's '2013 Global Technology Innovation' survey of 811 business executives from technology industry, India is ranked third after US and China. India was ranked first in the technology confidence innovation index followed by Israel, US and China. Survey mentions cloud computing (with government as the main driver) and mobile (currently 800 million subscribers) as the two most important disruptive technologies that will dominate the Indian market for next three years. Development of biometrics and data & analytics technologies will also gain momentum. Read on...

bdnews24: India third in technology innovation survey
Author: NA

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 09 nov 2013

Technologies are faciliating social pervasiveness of mobile phones, electronic and social media and are empowering common people to have their say in various national and international issues and provides them opportunities to participate in political, social and economic processes. According to Professor Vivek Wadhwa of Singularity University, as poor gain access to internet through tablets and smart phones and the middle class gets better connectivity India will witness a revolution in commerce, education and social values. He says that advancement in tablet technology with reduced prices coupled with cheaper and wider availability of internet provides the necessary tools for the large Indian population to not only have social interactions and community connectedness but also avail benefits through access to ecommerce and online shopping, education through available online courses from around the world (MOOCs) and media and entertainment through quality global and local digital content online. Read on...

The Times of India: Affordable tablets will give the poor a voice
Author: Vivek Wadhwa

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 30 oct 2013

E-Commerce is growing in India and in future there are possibilities of substantial contribution to it through mobile transactions. According to a management consulting firm, e-commerce is expected to grow from US$ 6.3 billion in 2011 to US$ 23 billion. With 900 million mobile phone subscribers, India is the world's second largest mobile market after China. In another report by a consulting firm, Internet users will increase from 125 million (45% of which are mobile-based internet users) in 2011 to 330 million in 2016. Professor Kartik Hosanagar of the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania points out that mobile is the key to the growth of e-commerce in India as traditional e-commerce's reach is limited with substantial percentage of internet access through mobile only. Similar sentiments are shared by industry leaders and experts. Moreover Prof. Hosanagar also mentions the challenges mobile e-commerce might face due to small screen size of mobiles. He views education and healthcare areas to benefit the most through mobile internet in India. Read on...

Little India: Mobile's Dramatic Growth in India Spurs a New Era of E-Commerce
Author: NA

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Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 14 oct 2013

Indian entrepreneurs have consistently made their mark globally in various fields and industries. In recent times technology is one of the sector where their contribution has received most attention. Both within India and abroad they have created businesses that have achieved extraordinary successes. The few great ones mentioned in the article are: Amar Bose - founded Bose Corp., the provider of some of the most innovative sound systems in the world; Ram Sriram - the serial entrepreneur and technology investor most known for his involvement with companies like Google, Amazon, Netscape; Vinod Khosla - co-founder of Sun Microsystems and well known technology venture capitalist with current interest in clean energy technologies; Sabeer Bhatia - founder of Hotmail that popularized email communication service; N. P. Narayana Murthy - co-founded Indian global IT major Infosys and is often considered as the father of the Indian IT industry; Arjun Malhotra - co-founder of Hindustan Computer Ltd (HCL) and later involved with the founding of a successful IT services company. Read on...

tech2: India's greatest tech entrepreneurs
Author: NA

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