The Future of Television and Why It's Gonna Take a While

Technology today is evolving at such a break-neck pace that it's sometimes hard to believe it's all really happening out there. Consider, for a moment, the ubiquitous smartphone. Assuming a ten year time frame, the evolution that has taken place in the mobile arena is astounding. What was earlier just a tool to talk to people has today transformed into something entirely different. Today, voice call is just a by-feature present on all of them. Coupled with this, are things like the camera, internet, apps, and whatnot. And it's not just phones, there are a lot many products out there that have been fortunate enough to reach the next level, undergo a transformation, and sometimes create a revolution.

One such product that has seen a lot of innovations in the last 10 years, is the television. Admittedly, even though TVs haven't been able to experience a transformation like the mobiles have, the innovations that have surfaced are still commendable. And while some of these changes have been for the better, there are others that have not.

In the last few years, digital TV boxes have led to things like the channel guide, reminders and shows on demand. But while these features in themselves are pretty impressive, the implementation has not been perfect. It's still a task to go through the menu and search for a show. Many a times, the interface is laggy and bug-prone. And this is true for most of the services out there.

The HD revolution has surely played a big part in the TV sector. And while this change has been very welcome, it would be even better if it would be all pervasive. While HD content is shot in 16:9 aspect ratio, which is the standard ratio that most TV sets employ these days, non-HD content is mostly shot and streamed in the conventional 4:3 ratio, which either leads to horizontal black bars around the image or, if one choses, inhuman horizontal stretching of the image to fit in the 16:9 TV. And to face the truth, most content out there is still in the age-old 4:3. It's about time this changes.

And now to talk of the remote. It's nearly painful to reflect how little this thing that we all have searched and fought over, has changed over the eons. It still is a gigantic task to operate the TV via the remote. In the age of touchscreens and voice control, it's unbelievable how the remote hasn't picked up pace. We still have to look for and press buttons, just like we did 10 years ago. And not just that, we still have to point the thing at at the infrared reciever on the box to register a command. It would be smart on the part of the TV companies to recognise this and do something about it. To boot, the use of the ancient technology of infrared has to go. The omnidirectional WiFi can be implemented so that we may press the buttons without first directing the remote towards the box or TV. Next, touchpads can be provided on the remote itself to allow for intelligent gestures to control the TV. The same can be implemented with a camera in place that would understand hand gestures. Lastly, the innovations in voice recognition technology can make it immensely easier to command the TV.

While these are some of the few categories which need tweaking, over the years, there have emerged some entirely new categories which were presented as revolutionary but turned out to be nothing more than a marketing gimmick, an unnecessary add on. The prime example of this is the 3D revolution. Why all the companies went and put 3D in their TV, thinking everyone would sit on their couch wearing uncomfortable and bulky shutter glasses is beyond me. Maybe it's because the TV makers thought people would really see unicorns jump out of their screens. Or maybe they actually thought it was going to be revolutionary. But it's probably because consumers are naive, and will eat up anything presented as shiny. People would be wise to not give in to this pretentiousness and help drive 3D away.

Another example of this is the advent of TVs having 4K resolution. That's twice the resolution of the full HD, which is 1080p. Presented as Ultra HD, this is the next big thing set to happen to television. Only it wouldn't. Atleast not right now. The problem being that a typical movie shot in 4K would take up around a mammoth 200GB of memory. And there is no way with the current prevalent broadband data and price rates that this is feasible for digital downloading or streaming. Also, there just isn't enough 4K content out there to buy a 4K TV. While this is not as bad as the 3D, the timing is just not right. Maybe one day when the download speeds would match the file size of it, and there would be enough content, 4K would be feasible, but not today.

Even after decades of existence, there remains massive scope for improvement to the household television. There are a lot many new things coming in, and that's great. But it would only make sense to pile inventions on top of one another once the necessary and basic technology is perfected. TV companies should first drive to improve the user experience, the interface, the remote, the content and then future proof the TV by bringing in the Ultra and the Mega HDs. Until that happens, the TV will continue to be an idiot box.

-Abhishek Jain

NATIONAL ELECTRONICS FUNDS TRANSFER

Before the computerization of banks, money was transferred from one account to another account in a different branch by way of Demand drafts,Mail Transfer and Telegraphic transfer.

Now all the banks are transferring money either by way of National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) or by way of Real Time Gross Settlement system(RTGS). Banks have also provided these facilities directly to the customers through their Internet Banking accounts thus enabling the customer to transfer the money to the customer of other banks.

National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) is a nation-wide payment system facilitating one-to-one funds transfer. Under this Scheme,  individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in the Scheme.

Individuals, firms or corporates maintaining accounts with a bank branch can transfer funds using NEFT. Even such individuals who do not have a bank account can also deposit cash at the NEFT enabled branches with instructions to transfer funds using NEFT. However, such cash remittances will be restricted to a maximum of Rs.50000 - per transaction.

Such customers have to furnish full details including complete address, telephone number, etc.NEFT, thus, facilitates originators or remitters to initiate funds transfer transactions even without having a bank account.

There is no restriction of centers or of any geographical area within the country. The NEFT system takes advantage of the core banking system in banks. Accordingly, the settlement of funds between originating and receiving banks takes places centrally at Mumbai, whereas the branches participating in NEFT can be located anywhere across the length and breadth of the country.

NEFT operates in hourly batches - there are twelve settlements from 8 am to 7 pm on week days (Monday through Friday) and six settlements from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

However many banks have still not accepted this technology and the awareness levels are yet to be extended.This technology will make the future internet banking very secure and easy.

Open Source Software VS Proprietary Software

A common question arises between potential clients is about pros and cons of using Open Software vs Proprietary Software. In today's article, we'll look at some of the biggest factors we need to consider when choosing your Content Management System.

What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software is software that has been developed by lots of individuals for free on a volunteer basis. The Source Code is made available for other people to use and alter, which often makes it very appealing for developers who don't want to build something from scratch.

What is Proprietary Software?

Proprietary Software is owned by the individual or company that commissioned or developed it. In this instance the source code is kept secret because this is the company's competitive edge over others in the industry. The software that runs your Bloomtools website and Database Marketing is an example of proprietary software. It has been developed in-house by their own team of developers and it is their unique design which sets them apart from other website developers that use the open source Wordpress or Joomla CMS applications that other website developers may use.

The Cost

Contrary to what the name may suggest, Open Source Software is not necessarily free. Although it is developed for free by volunteers, developers can, and do, charge for Open Source Software. There is almost always a cost to integrate your website design into an Open Source CMS and you may find that there are a number of hidden costs with using Open Source Software, including charges for any simple customizations you may need. Furthermore, a business needs to update their website every two to three years. This means that you will need to either pay someone to update your current website (which could be a massive job depending on how fast the Internet has advanced) or get a whole new website built. This costs money.

A proprietary software company is likely to look more expensive at first. After all, these companies have invested a lot of money in developing the source code from scratch and are offering a solution that is unlike anything else on the market. However you may actually find that the price evens out after a few years, particularly if you require regular updates to the software that is running your website. Companies like Bloomtools take it upon themselves to keep the software at the forefront of technology, so updates are regularly released to our clients for free - a service you would have to pay for if you were using Open Source Code. Furthermore, it takes a lot less effort to do an overhaul of an old website. In most cases, it's only the website skin that needs replacing because the software is already the most up-to-date version.

When Security Matters

Because the original source code of Open Source Software is readily available, they leave themselves open to hackers to find holes in the code which could compromise the security of your website. Furthermore, because your website developer did not create the software, they are not responsible for any security holes in the source code. If your website is hacked, you will then have to pay more money to your website developer to get it fixed.

On the other hand, proprietary software developers are fully responsible for the security of the application. At Bloomtools, their team are constantly monitoring any potential malicious attacks and researching new ways to prevent against possible future attacks.

Research

Of course, whenever you are about to make a big investment, you should always do your research. Each person's ideal solution is likely to be different to the next. A university student with limited funds who just wants a unique website to share with their friends and family are likely to find the solution they need in Open Source Software. However, a large company that stores sensitive data will require a more sophisticated solution that is always kept at the forefront of technology.

Open Source Software vs Proprietary Software

Open Source Software – It tend to be lower cost, since development is done by a community of volunteers, your costs don’t need to cover a company’s development expenses. However, it has its disadvantages as well. Support & Maintenance is always the shortcoming for open-source software. You need to be self-motivated to search for the answer from the forum as no qualified support available.

Besides, some open source software features uncertainty which caused IT companies’ required longer time during deployment phase. The is no guarantee of updates toward open source software.

Proprietary Software – The software normally offer a stable system support. The software is safe and virus free. The system updates and roadmap of software are usually provided to the end user. The drawback of proprietary software usually related to the cost of the software. Any upgrade version required a fee.

Here is a small teaser video of Software Wars.

Is Political Power to Youth…a Panacea ?

Is Political Power to Youth…a Panacea ?

It is quite fashionable, in media and intellectual circles, to suggest  that  the youth  brigade should take over politics as a panacea to all the ill afflicting the governance in the country. Indifference towards delivery of services and infrastructure, proclivity for corruption, reluctance to reform and change, and apprehension about technology are some of the ill associated with the present system dominated by  the older generation. Some of the reasons, why young politicians must be given position of serious responsibility  may be-

• ·         They would be strong advocates for reforms and changes to  the system.
• ·         Youthful image of a minister will  send an impressive message to  the world.
• ·         They  can  articulate the vision and aspirations of a young generation.
• ·         They  would be more willing to use technology  for problem-solving.

No doubt, the young generation is full  of dreams and aspirations, but mere dreams and aspirations do  not create vision and throw up  solution to convert  these dreams into  reality. In the present situation, youth in the political context mostly means a group of people in a defined age-bracket having political pedigree . Having brought up in a cozy environment, they hardly  know the harsh reality   of an ordinary  young  Indian.

Whether youth or elderly, the policy-makers should essentially possess certain attributes. It is very important to have an empathetic attitude towards the common people. The policy-makers should develop the capability to  think through the competing solution and to pragmatically evaluate the problem solving inputs in a proper perspective. It  is not important to  always say something; it is more important to have something useful and genuine to say. The enemy of knowledge is not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.

To conclude, political power to youth is no panacea. What the country  really needs for good governance, is not just youth leaders but  leaders who empathize with the common people , particularly the vulnerable section of the society. They  should have unencumbered commitment, uncluttered vision and the vigour to  lead and mobilize the country towards progress and prosperity.  

A Response To PETA’s Position On “Happy” Or “Humane” Exploitation

Ingrid Newkirk of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a PETA Alert concerning PETA’s position on “happy” exploitation.

This Alert reads in part:
PETA has pushed hard and will continue to push hard to reduce the sum total of suffering in the meat, dairy, and egg industries—because that makes a huge difference if you are a pig or a chicken on a factory farm. We’ve stopped PETA protests outside Burger King or McDonald’s restaurants when those companies agreed to reforms, but that doesn’t mean that we would ever suggest eating meat from Burger King or anywhere else—because we know that massive suffering still goes into every bite. Yes, it’s better to pay extra for an egg from a chicken who had a marginally less hideous life than one who suffered more, but we must do better by animals. In fact, we have yet to find a “humane” factory farm where animals don’t have their tails cut off and their ears painfully notched, where they aren’t debeaked, dehorned, or castrated without anesthesia, where they aren’t kept in crowded conditions without sunlight or fresh air, where they don’t have their beloved children taken away from them, where they aren’t denied the companionship of others, where they aren’t sent to a feedlot, or where they are instantly dispatched without the trauma of capture, the horror of transportation, or the terror of seeing other animals killed before suffering the same fate.
PETA has pushed for vegan living since our inception in 1980. Our motto is: “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way.” With so many vegan cookbooks and meal options available and with programs like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart and our wildly popular vegan starter kit, we can all help animals—and not miss a thing. Let’s live and let live, and tell others to come along with us, reminding them that animals have emotions and needs just as human beings do.
There is no such thing as humane meat. Giving animals a few more inches of living space is simply not enough. Animals deserve more. 
Although I had become a vegetarian , I continued to eat dairy and eggs, believing that it was necessary to do so given that I was not eating meat, poultry, or fish. I had never even heard the word “vegan” and I was unaware that it was possible to live a healthy life (let alone a healthier life) without consuming any animal products.
But PETA has changed dramatically since those early days. In addition to its steady stream of sexist campaigns that merely reinforce thinking of others as commodities, which characterizes both sexism and speciesism, and its position on the no-kill movement, there can be no doubt that PETA has become deeply involved in the whole “happy” or “humane” exploitation movement. The momentum is on our side, but it will take every one of us to bring this change about by being active advocates of animal rights. Thank you!

Fujitsu Lifebook 2013

This is for someone who leaves home with a digital camera strung around his neck, a backpack to carry his laptop, a tablet in his briefcase, and a phone in his pocket? Fujitsu has the answer for you…

The Fujitsu Lifebook, coming in 2013, combines all of these fancy pieces of technology into one. Ditch everything else, keep the laptop backpack. Need a camera? Detach the laptop’s camera to be used as a handheld digital camera. Tablet? Open it up and pull that out as well. Put it back in and the tablet immediately displays itself as a touch-screen keyboard for the laptop. There is even a spot where you can attach and remove a special cell phone, which I imagine acts as the cellular modem for the laptop when attached. (Don’t be surprised if this allows you to make video phone calls from the laptop as well.)

The price is undetermined, but as with all new technology, don’t expect it to be cheap.

This laptop contains a smart digital camera in back, which is removable, means you can remove it from laptop back if you need only camera to use. For typing this lifebook laptop use a smart small tablet, means as soon as the tablet is in the slot, the tablet itself becomes a full size touch-based QWERTY keyboard and for sketching or as a another screen for gameplay it transforms. Tablet interfaces with the laptop by a slot with a 16 pin connector. As soon as the tablet is docked into the slot, a sensor senses the operation and the tablet itself becomes a full size touch based QWERTY keyboard. Also as soon as the tablet is plugged in, it starts sharing its hardware and data to, either contribute towards improving the performance of the laptop or, in some cases, even to run few functions of the laptop completely on its own. In a similar way, the phone + music player is also completely integrated inside the laptop and through a connector, starts sharing hardware and data as soon as it is plugged in.
These all parts also works separately and also is connectable with each other. This is a design and on the basis of it a Media Hub is also be possible which can fulfill all the digital requirements of any person. It can completely change the lifestyle, and according the designer of Fujitsu Lifebook that its further attractive features make it more glorious.

BE AWARE MATH IS EVERYWHERE!!!

Mathematics is the language of science and engineering - describing our understanding of all that we observe.

Math is nature's language... its method of communicating directly with us. Everything is numbers.

In Counting

Counting various quantities is one of the activities that people engage in from young. However, sometimes we wonder, just how big is one million? See how much space one million saga seeds occupy and be awed by numbers that you can relate to in your daily lives like the number of heartbeats in a typical lifetime. 

                                                   

In Nature

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... This is the Fibonacci Sequence, where each number is derived from adding the previous two numbers. This sequence of numbers can be found in many natural patterns like in pineapples, sunflowers, nautilus and pine cones.

Our eyes are usually drawn to objects that are symmetrical. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is often used as a representation of symmetry in the human body.

In Shapes, Curves & Patterns

Circles, squares and triangles are just a few of the shapes that are familiar to us through our daily lives. 

In Games & Puzzles

Many, if not all puzzles and games require mathematical logic and deduction.

The Odds Are Stacked Against You! explores the odds of various casino games like roulette, blackjack and slot machines. This will set many thinking about their chances of winning in gambling. 

In Time & The Heavens

Mathematics was developed to understand the cycles of nature as observed in the seasons. Ancient people understood the need to define time in relation to celestial movements for agricultural, astronomical, astrological and navigational reasons.

In the mathematics of astronomy, its relationship to the inventions of various cultural-historical calendars, and the division of time into units of hours, minutes and seconds.

In Real Applications

Mathematics is used in our everyday lives; from figuring out the amount needed to buy your lunch to calculating the bank’s interest.  For example, internet banking is getting more and more common these days, and we depend on cryptology – the study of protecting information using codes – to keep our transactions safe

Awesome, Fearsome Calculus Calculus is the study of change and it is one of the most important fields in mathematics. Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz are usually credited with the invention of calculus. Newton used calculus in his laws of motion and gravitational attraction.   A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL