Importance of digital media in Indian offline retail sector

Being the greatest player in providing employment to the majority of working class, retail sector remains one of the key industries in India. Major business giants like Tata group, Reliance Industries and others are also expanding their retail stores at accelerating rate with multiple verticals like jewellery, consumer electronics etc. in tier 1 and tier 2 cities.
But in spite of regular rise and modifications in this industry, it faces stiff competition from the rising fame of e-commerce in the country. So, strategic implementation of digital media is a major step that maintains the business of retail stores in this information age.
Several digital media agencies are working as support services to blow trumpet of their client and maintain their sales. Several strategies applied by these agencies include social media marketing, mobile phone promotions, SEO optimization and online ads.
In the country obsessed with Facebook and Twitter, active FB pages and generic tweets are necessary for long-term survival of retails names like Max, Home Centre, Big Bazaar, Crossword Book Store etc. Also, mobile apps are becoming important part of this digital promotion scenario by multiple agencies. The app by the retail stores comprises info on offers, loyalty points, QR code reader and launch of new collections.
Social media not only drives potential buyers but also keeps the consumers in loop for future visits by interactive methods like review of shopping experience, online contests and consulting of products as per customer needs.
Another major tool used by the Digital Marketing Experts is use of retargeting. It uses browsing history of internet users thereby customizing the displayed ads. Though popular mainly for online shopping, this method can also be used for driving traffic to webpages of offline stores which can ultimately lead to increased sales.
The use of digital media as major part in driving business by small retailers is still in its fancy in India, but will grow with proper awareness on its importance among businesspersons as it is said “marketing also promotes itself."

Five technologies that after reaching markets will definitely ease your life

Science fiction writer Sir Arthur C. Clarke said “Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to magic.” Researchers from different centers of the world are making it true with their innovative minds and passion to improve the life of common people. Here are some recent developments which definitely will enhance quality of existing technologies and thereby making the world a better place.

1) Traffic signals in your automobiles – Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s researchers are developing a technology by which traffic signs will be displayed on a dashboard screen inside the automobiles. This will allow the drivers to yield or stop at road intersection on the basis of display on their digital screen. The technology is in developmental stages and its implementation will result in modification of currently existing transportation system.

2) Hi-tech helmets – Helmets from Skully which will be available from 2015 boast interesting features including rear view heads-up display which gives 180 degrees viewing through a camera. A voice control GPS navigation system which can be coupled with smartphone with audio-visual support is also incorporated in the helmet. The pre-order price of the helmet is around 830 euros or around $1400 and booking are already quite high.

3) Smartphones with mult-sensation touch – Microsoft is working on a touchscreen technology which will change the way you touch screen of your mobile. For instance, if you are typing something on your touchscreen device, your fingers will have sensation similar to that of keyboard pressing. Also, clicking on an on-screen button will give you mouse like sensation. These and many different senses are incorporated by use of different approaches like alteration of friction between screen and finger (electrovibration) and use of material under mobile screen which will be bent while you type on your phone. Many other startups too are working on same technology and are expected to turn our tablets and phones into mainstream computers. /

4) Advanced waterproofing of mobiles – A British nanotechnology company P2i which provides nano-coating solution for several materials has developed a new form of their existing solution with technology known as “Dunkable.” With this innovation, electronic devices like tablets and mobiles even after immersion in water will operate normally. According to Dunkable technology, when liquid comes into contact with the device, material’s surface energy is reduced resulting in rolling of the liquid. The technology is also applicable to clothes giving them resistance against acid attack. Currently, the company is seeking investors as it is about to release the technology commercially.

5) Vision correcting screens – Now, a technology is being developed which will allow viewing of screens without use of spectacles or lenses for individuals with vision related issues. There is use of software which adjusts the light from the pixels of the screen. Also, a pin hole filter is applied to improve the image’s sharpness. The technology is developed by the researchers of University of California at Berkeley and MIT Media Laboratory.

Let’s hope all these technologies will improve our life quality and pave the way for much more advanced developments.

Someone is honestly there for nation’s improvement

Each one of us as a responsible citizen must have at least once blamed or cursed local authorities for irregularities in terms of roads, cleanliness, street lights, child labor etc but how many of us actually came forward for improving the situation.
There is actually a social program that works privately in order to improve conditions of Indian cities known as Changebhai.in. The firm actually acts as a link between citizens and local authorities so that various issues reach the concerned people in the government.
The process of lodging a complaint after registering on website is very simple one and doesn’t cost a single penny. The complainants have to just upload an image reflecting the concerned issue along with location info and details regarding the complaint. The number of solved and pending queries are also mentioned on the webpage. The issues can be varied including waste in your locality, overcharging and adulteration by retailers, cutting of trees illegally and other issues which trouble you as a citizen.
These issues can also be discussed by logging into social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook thereby making it more interactive and user friendly.
That’s not all, a smartphone app lovers can also install the mobile app ‘ChangeBhai Report Social Issue’ on operating systems including Windows, iOS, Android or Blackberry OS.
On a bit larger level, there is also provision of filing RTI (Right to information) using their services in case no resolution occurs from government side in spite of regular attempts to solve any menace. This concept was initiated in December 2013 and has already received honors like Leap Innovation Award 2013 and became finalist of Big online Business Idea at NDTV Profit.
But this is just an inception of a great idea. Actual victory will be when each one of us will use the tool in our hand (smartphone) and report the irregularities from our neighborhood on regular basis and consequently we will get a much better version of the nation we live in.

Why Indian cinema lacks superheroes ?

India is a nation where on an average two films release per day and cinema is considered a religion. And in spite of superhero movie attempts like Krishh series or Ra.One, the Indian cinema still lacks in popularity of this movie form as compared to the west.
Very first reason that can be considered is comic book culture which is quite mega thing in the U.S. All the superhero movies like Batman, Superman or Avengers clan are based on either of two comic book giants Marvel or D.C. Comics. So, there is loyal fan following which are automatically transformed into audience when a movie with superhuman characters is released. This factor not only gives faithful movie-goers but also prepares base of the story and characters while filmmaking. One can witness the mania of comics in the U.S. by going through a popular movie ‘Unbreakable’ by M. Knight Shyamalan. This kind of obsession is hardly seen in Indian soil.
Availability of huge finances for film production can be considered another big motivational factor for superhero cinema in Hollywood. In these movie types, there is requirement of big sets which are constructed or destroyed as per demand of the film. Also, high-end animation which gives these movies visual appeal needs lots of monetary funds. All these funds are easily available to Hollywood production as several countries where movie is released add to the funds. Also, worldwide release ensures that there is negligible chance that movie will not work as per the expectations.
Talking of Indian audience, masses give preference to a movie which contains ingredients like action-comedy, big stars, item numbers or skin show. Therefore, production houses or independent producers rarely take a risk of putting billions into project of this sci-fi genre. It is also conventionally believed that these movie types are targeted for children or teenagers only.
There is need of contribution from risk-taking talented filmmakers and good script writers for giving birth to ‘desi’ superheroes which will not only result in box-office success but will be remembered for generations.

Lucid dreaming: Create your own world

Lucid dreaming has been a subject of interest for psychologists, scientists, philosophers and filmmakers from the ages. It is also referred in Mahabharata (ancient Hindu religion text) as Yog Nidra along with Buddhist traditions and several ancient philosophies. Being aware that you are dreaming and thereby controlling your dreams as per the desires is referred to as lucid dreaming. Many researches mention that consciousness of dreams is similar to brain activity that occurs during hallucinations.
Several products are already available in the market like the Remee masks which claim to help one control their dreams. Mobile device apps like Lucid Dreamer can also be of great interest which helps one achieve awareness while dreaming with sleep monitoring, voice reminders and music management.
Recent studies in Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Germany have discovered the relation between electric stimulation and dream awareness. It is revealed that brain activity can be influenced by mild electrical current thereby giving an access to lucid dreaming.
Lucidity while sleeping not only allows being in your fantasy world but also many psychological issues can be cured. One such problem is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which develops due to exposure to some stressful incident in life and results in improper sleep coupled with nightmares. Several scientists are working on this technique which will cure PTSD and schizophrenia in the near future.
So, just utilize one of the above methods and you can easily fight with aliens, fly like a bird or be in your fantasy land and have a good night sleep !

Olive Oil: Finally produced commercially in India

With growing popularity of its health benefits, olive oil consumption in Indian cooking is becoming more common. One can find importance of olives even in several verses of Bible. In India, most of the olive oil brands available are imported from countries like Spain or Italy which are its leading producers.
Olive cultivation in India was considered a difficult approach in India but it were the efforts of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who after visiting Israel in 2006 was determined to start olive agricultural program on large scale in Rajasthan. As a result, Rajasthan Olive Cultivation Limited (ROCL) was founded with the collaboration of Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board (RSAMB), Indolive Limited (Israeli company) and Finolex Plasson Industries Ltd.
Good thing about the ROCL olive oil production is that they use mechanical processes for virgin and extra virgin olive oils instead of chemical treatment which ensures quality. The oil will supposedly be available commercially under the name ‘Raj Oil’.
Though the cultivation of olives indigenously is good for health purposes and economic growth it may have some negatives ecologically as per some environmentalists. There is possibility of depletion of already existing plant species along with spread of pests and diseases with olive agriculture. But ROCL claims that the plant species are thoroughly inspected to be free of pests and diseases. There is also possibility of loss of water available locally as lot of water is used for irrigation purposes.
If these concerns are taken care of, this sector may give opportunities to large number of farmers along with traders and scientific community to gain maximum profit and raise the standard of our nation in terms of its productivity and export. Consumers will also be able to get olive oil which will be 20-25 percent cheaper than the existing brands.

After Android, Windows and iOS its Tizen time for smartphones

Samsung in collaboration with Intel Corp. And Linux foundation has launched a new operating system Tizen for smartphones which is considered as an Android alternative.
Samsung Z is the first phone introduced by the company to have Tizen operating system which is first released in Russia. Even smartwatch Gear 2 from Samsung works on this new platform. Emerging markets like India and Russia are supposedly the target regions for the sales of handsets in the beginning and later expansion will be around the globe.
It is said that many developers are being encouraged for developing new apps and games for this OS. A Tizen App Challenge was also organized in which around 4 million dollars were awarded to developers of best apps for the platform. Development of apps will be supposedly economical and convenient as HTML5 language is used for writing the codes of Tizen.
Tizen is not just limited to smartphones as soon it will be incorporated in televisions, netbooks and even in-car systems.
Release of this OS can be good move for Samsung for maintaining its position in the smartphone market. It can also be a good option for customers who want to take a break from existing mobile operating systems and want to try something fresh.

Refurbished phones: Rising trend in India

The year 2013 saw shipping of around 40 million smartphones to India which was much higher than previous years. Growing technology in terms of software and hardware along with improvement in standard of living has resulted in increased use of smartphones among common people.
Middle class people prefer handsets in the range of 10-20 K but companies like Apple release their latest ones with bit higher range.
They have schemes of exchange of old iPhones for upgraded versions at lower prices in the U.S. Here in India, many companies are trying to popularize the concept of refurbished phones.
E-commerce companies like Gobol.in sell iPhones and other smartphones which are verified and tested by mobile company or seller after correcting some minor defect caused during manufacturing.
This refurbishing concept is a win-win situation for both sellers and buyers as companies increase sales with this concept whereas the customers are able to purchase a good smartphone at prices which are lower than the market. The warranty is somewhat less than the original product warranty but re-inspection of the complete product actually results in improvement of technical quality of phones.
Increasing popularity of refurbished phones will cause smartphone revolution in future as many low income groups will be able to use latest iPhones.

Drones in India: Good, bad but not so ugly !

An interesting news was in the air last week when an unmanned drone from Mumbai,India delivered a Pizza to a skyscraper at around 1.5 km distance. Francesco's Pizzeria from Mumbai that tried this concept claimed that drone was flying within the range of 130 metre from the Earth's surface and was within safety levels.
Seems quite cool and resembles a scene from a sci-fi movie but it is actually inception of bullet delivery service in our nation. Many e-commerce companies and restaurant chains believe this will not only help improve services offered to the customer but will also prevent traffic problems and pollution caused by vehicles.
Indeed, it is high-end scientific approach but as per government authorities drones can result in compromising of safety of common people as many terrorists may use this technology for destruction. Also, in India where wiring is used for most communication methods which can act as barriers, we can't be sure if using drones amidst them is a practical application. Also, some mischievous elements in India may interfere with the working of the drones in future just for the sake of fun by using the delivered products illegaly.
It surely is going to be a bit costly process for the companies that use them but will definitely change the scenario of the country soon !

Now make your edible fruits from 3D printing

If you are lover of technology, then you might have probably heard about 3D printing. It is actually a modern process of creating solid object in three-dimensional form in almost any shape. The technology is already finding its application in development of organs, aerospace research and clothing industry. But recently, many news items are discussing a new cool development that is creation of fruits with this modern marvel. A Cambridge based company Dovetailed has used molecular gastronomic method known as spherification for making fruits as per requirements. Currently, the fruits which are designed include raspberries and blackcurrants but soon apples and pears are expected to be formed with this approach. Another great thing about 3D printing is that shape, flavor and color of the fruit can be modified as per demand thereby providing possibility of getting myriad of varieties. It is said that due to its application in variety of food related products and ease of use it will be beneficial not only for professional use but also in homes for food preparation. Though the fruits created are not natural, but in future they still can change the scenario of food processing industry and 3D printing itself !