Smarting from the smart posts

Where does one draw the line when it comes to acknowledging sensitivities in social media? A touchy conversation begins…

AD: You seem to be spending a lot of time online these days... What's up?

BC: I simply stare at the screen most often, but I was thinking about how dicey it has become to post a message online without offending someone or their beliefs...

AD: What do you mean?

BC: The other day, I saw a post about the pros of being a vegetarian and on impulse, shared it on my Facebook wall...

AD: So?

BC: I have a lot of friends who are non-vegetarians. It’s possible that the post could have put them off...

AD: But...

BC: Suddenly, we seem to have become pretty opinionated about a whole lot of issues - and non-issues - that are hot topics online. From cricket, IPL, politics, elections, corruption, technology and celebrities, to gun laws, healthcare and war, if you're from the West...

AD: What are you implying?

BC: Technology has made today’s world a pretty complicated place to live in - we never had such problems during my times...

AD: Look, technology attempted to give us a networking platform which, unfortunately, has degenerated into a minefield where we need to tread carefully because everyone is reading what we post...

BC: So, what technology giveth, technology taketh away?

AD: But it's only the older lot that picks issues with social media. Look at the younger generation - they don't care. Have you checked out the various memes that do the rounds? They're mostly irreverent and often use filthy language, but no one takes offence...

BC: Are you suggesting that we only discuss frivolous matters and never take a stance in social media?

AD: No, what I’m saying is that we take ourselves too seriously and when things come to a flash point, we blame technology for it.

BC: Take anti-corruption, for instance... Anything I say could offend those who are on the take, so...

AD: It’s quite complicated. Sometimes, when you oppose an opinion online, others could gang up on you and make you feel outshouted and outnumbered. This happens quite frequently in the student community… Cyberbullying has become a constant headache for parents of teens who frequent social media sites.

BC: You're probably referring to hate groups - I'm talking about normal individuals and the way they react to any post that is discordant with their beliefs...

AD: Trolling is another unfortunate outcome of this behaviour as users give vent to their rage - it has even led to suicides amongst the younger generation.

BC: But my opinions could always be deemed offensive by someone on this planet…

AD: The idea is to think twice before you express yourself online because your thoughts will travel zillions of miles the moment you hit the 'Enter' key... Has it become impossible for us to speak our mind without having to put down someone?

BC: Instead of blaming those who post messages, why not turn the focus on the recipients who seem to have lost their tolerance and possibly their sense of humour as well?

AD: The point is, social media gives us the perfect cloak to hide behind and say what we feel like. If we can’t say something in front of a crowd, we shouldn't be saying it online either...

BC: Sometimes I wonder... Technology is supposed to bridge distances, time and generations, but it has only succeeded in polarizing us as a community...

AD: Don't blame technology for it - rather, blame the way we use it. Besides, scathing criticism of social figures and administration seems to be permitted in mass media, but not in social media. Can you explain that?

BC: That's simple - people may miss an article in the print media, but will never miss a post on social media.

AD: How do you say that?

BC: Well, we hardly seem to have a few minutes to read newspapers, but when it comes to Facebook, we have the entire working day at our disposal.

She'll buy it if it's in pink...

It’s a huge misconception that men buy more tech devices than women, claims a tech fan.

BC: Hi, you seem deep in thought...

AD: I came across an interesting discussion on Facebook - a couple of friends were pretty peeved that a site had segregated its products through separate sections for men and women.

BC: So where's the problem?

AD: Apparently the women's section featured only lifestyle, fashion, healthcare and personal care products, while the men's section had electronics, technology and a whole lot of other categories...

BC: Why? Because men invest more in technology than women?

AD: You're wrong - there's a lot of research online which shows that women buy more electronic goods and gizmos than we think...

BC: Is that so?

AD: Absolutely! In fact, reports also show that they download more movies and music, and spend more time playing games online or on their gaming consoles...

BC: In that case, why is it that technology is automatically deemed a male domain?

AD: One reason could be because technology's generally considered a geek's world - and one rarely comes a female geek. Also, technology has been pioneered mostly by men...

BC: But what about women like Radia Perlman? Isn't she referred to as the 'mother of the Internet'?

AD: That's right, and there have been many women, from Carly Fiorina, who headed Hewlett-Packard, to Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, who've made a name for themselves in the tech world...

BC: So why aren't brands taking note of this fact?

AD: Some did, but were off by a long way. A few years ago, Dell had come up with a site exclusively for women called Della...

BC: Was that their idea of adding femininity to the brand Dell?

AD: Whatever, but the site offered netbooks specially made for women. And it also gave them tips on all their favourite topics - health, yoga, meditation and food – to facilitate online shopping and downloads...

BC: In other words, everything that women are 'supposed' to do with a laptop...

AD: That's right. But after the scathing criticism that followed, they apologised and amended the site to be more inclusive of tech topics...

BC: Guess the popular misconception of 'make it in pink so she'll buy it' has affected many...

AD: This extends to social media as well…

BC: What do you mean?

AD: A report has revealed that women in the US use social media more than men. In fact, they vastly outnumber the number of men on Pinterest. So, with each brand increasingly looking towards social media to reach out to their target audience, this skew towards men is shocking.

BC: Absolutely!

AD: This goes for mobile, laptops and tablets too, where women are outshopping men...

BC: I'm sure it's quite different in India.

AD: We still have some distance to catch up, but you can see the number of women owning mobile phones and tablets on the rise... In fact, a survey conducted in the UK shows that women have made more purchases using their smartphones than men have...

BC: Really?

AD: Yes, incidentally, women also download more apps than men, and use these apps - and the devices they've purchased - more often than men do.

BC: Is there anything at all where men are ahead?

AD: Yes, LinkedIn has more male users than...

BC: So what about that famous theory about women being more compulsive shoppers in stores?

AD: Women have found out ways of using technology even when they shop in physical stores...

BC: Like what?

AD: They are more likely to use their camera phones and take snaps of a product to check with a friend or to compare prices online. They also make better use of the QR technology to learn more about the product.

BC: So future versions of games like Modern Combat and Battlefield could feature an all-woman team...

AD: It's possible - as long as the makers take care they don't dress them up in pink camouflage and send them into action with pink guns.

So much info, so little time…

‘Technology has to be blamed for the fact that we’re suffering from information overload,’ claims an old-timer.

BC: Hi,did you get your newspaper this morning?

AD: I wouldn't know, I get all my news online...

BC: How do you manage to keep track? There's such an overdose of news and articles on the net - it becomes so difficult to find your way through that maze, figure out which ones you want to read and...

AD: I don’t think it’s all that complicated…

BC: A newspaper has 20-odd pages and each page has a finite number of articles and news items - isn't it easier to follow them than have a million websites report the same incident in different ways?

AD: You need to install a couple of filters to make your life easy - one is to your computer, to help you be selective about what you read. And the other is to your mind, to stay focussed and not vacillate between various sites...

BC: But why complicate things in the first place? Technology was brought in to simplify life, but...

AD: Here we go again. It's pretty simple actually, as long as you know what to look for and where to look for it.

BC: You’re trivialising the problem…

AD: I don't understand why you're blaming technology for it. Hasn't information overload been bandied about as the bane of civilisation ever since the printing press came into existence?

BC: C'mon, you can't compare a few hundred books to an unending barrage of information online. Even social media has become a source of news - there are so many 'relevant' news items that are begging for your attention. And the ones that you miss out on are purposefully forwarded to you by friends and contacts – a host of sites like Mashable, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, Digg and Facebook are more than willing to bring it to your laptop or mobile.

AD: You should learn to ignore most of them, especially those awful forwards in the 'self-help' and 'how to' categories...

BC: They're the ones that people just can't resist and so they end up loading themselves with information on everything from how to practice yoga at a fast-food joint to a thousand selfie poses to try out and post online before you die…

AD: But there’s a positive side to all this…

BC: The problem is that there is no balance. The pendulum has swung from a dearth of information to a surfeit of it…

AD: It's about prioritising...

BC: And what about spam? Think of all the mail you get from dubious sources that clog your inbox - and think of the time you spend in clearing it, day after day.

AD: Isn't that why we have spam filters? And why are you harping on the disadvantages of technology? What about the fact that you don't have to wait for the latest news any longer? Everything you want to know is now available at your fingertips…

BC: But I don't need all of that. What'll I do with a million sites telling me about Facebook buying Whatsapp, for instance? I need just one source of news to explain the deal to me...

AD: It's not about how much information you find - it's about knowing where to find information when you need it. That's the reason why search engines exist - and just because Google throws up a billion results doesn't mean you hare off checking out all of them...

BC: What about the health problems associated with information overload? Haven't you read about the computer vision syndrome, which affects those who stare at their screen for long durations?

AD: Scientists have come up with a brain scanner that can detect when an individual goes into information overload. Apparently, it's like a headband and is worn by the user...

BC: Look what technology has reduced us to...

AD: What do you mean?

BC: Until recently, a scanner was a peripheral connected to a computer. Now, thanks to information overload, even human beings sit attached to scanners.

The Silicon Valley Civilization

Can ancient theories be debunked simply because they weren’t created using a computer? An old timer despairs…

AD: Hi, you were planning to check out a new house - aren’t you going?

BC: I wanted to make sure that I set off at the right time, otherwise...

AD: Right time? Good heavens, don't tell me you believe in all that...

BC: Why, what’s wrong in it? It's not just a belief, it’s science.

AD: You're kidding! It's just a lot of old-fashioned notions.

BC: So anything that's modern and has to do with computers is logical – and anything that's ancient is mere superstition, regardless of how accurate it might be. Is that what you’re trying to say?

AD: Well, if you choose to trust an almanac more than the latest technology...

BC: In fact, your new-age software and operating systems are released with so many bugs in them and need constant updates and patches. Compared to that, our ancient technologies and calculations are so accurate that they haven't needed upgrades ever since they were launched.

AD: But everything has to evolve...

BC: Thousands of years ago, we identified the concept of time as being cyclic and not linear. That not only helped us understand stars and constellations a lot better, but also enabled us to predict eclipses, full moon nights and the exact time or sunrise and sunset for the next thousand years. All of this was done without using complex computer systems and advanced software...

AD: I still can't believe that you take this ‘zodiac thing’ so seriously… But how did the old-timers do these calculations? Did they just sprout wings and indulge in space travel?

BC: They didn’t, but age-old texts mention special flying vehicles, called vimanas, that were designed to help them cover great distances. Of course, there are those who have their doubts about the existence of such flying machines…

AD: I still don't understand how...

BC: I was just making a point about how advanced people were back then. But it’s a fact that it didn't take complex algorithms or satellites launched into outer space for them to calculate this. It was all science and…

AD: So are you putting down current technology to make ancient science look good?

BC: Of course not - I'm saying that modern technology owes its existence to ancient civilisation.

AD: How is that?

BC: Sometime around 100 BC, a mathematician named Pingala came up with a binary numeral system, without which today's computers, mobile phones and other devices would be dummies.

AD: I've not heard of him at all.

BC: But I'm sure you would have heard about Panini, whose pioneering work in creating a structure for Sanskrit grammar paved the way for our modern computer programming languages...

AD: Yes, I've heard of that...

BC: And you can imagine what would have happened to computers and the binary language if we hadn't come up with the concept of zero...

AD: Sure, but...

BC: Wait, there’s more. Have you ever thought about where C and Java would be without the Fibonacci series?

AD: So how does that link back to our ancient systems?

BC: The series would not have been possible if Fibonacci had not adopted the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which again, was the brainchild of our mathematicians.

AD: Looks like all our past glory has gotten lost with time...

BC: Speaking of time, ancient Indian scriptures have alluded to minute calculations involving nanoseconds, which today, serve as a measure of computer speed.

AD: At this rate, you will be telling me that today’s IT companies wouldn’t have been around if it were not for ancient science and technology…

BC: Well, considering the fact that we had come up with numbers as large as 10 to the power of 100 as early as the 5^th century BC…

AD: That’s a googol, right?

BC: The name came much later, but just imagine - if we hadn’t calculated the number correctly, the world’s leading search engine would still be known as ‘BackRub’ instead of a misspelt version of googol. 

No technology for old men

Today’s youngsters think that technology can take care of their parents while they live abroad, claims a senior citizen.

AD: Hi, what’s up? You seem pretty upset.

BC: Just got back from my neighbour’s place. I get all worked up when I see someone choose another country as their home and expect technology to bridge the gap between them and their folks...

AD: I don't understand...

BC: Most people settled abroad think that they've done their duty by calling their parents a couple of times a week. They simply don't understand that it doesn't make up for their absence back home...

AD: Not all of them…

BC: Even if they take a vacation, they would rather holiday at some exotic place than visit their parents.

AD: Look, life abroad is not as rosy as you think it is... Besides, in today’s world, you have to find ways of keeping in touch – e-mails, Facebook, chats...

BC: Not all senior citizens are comfortable with technology. It's so difficult to learn something new after a particular age, especially for those who have never stepped out of their homes...

AD: There are so many ways to learn these days... And there's online help as well.

BC: What if even getting online is a problem for them?

AD: But it’s so easy to operate services like Skype…

BC: There we go again - even if they learn to operate a laptop, turn the internet on and sit in front of the camera, they begin to panic if the image freezes or the audio doesn't work for a few seconds, because they don't know what's going wrong...

AD: But operating a mobile is easy, right? And there are several apps that can help them to...

BC: You're looking at things from your viewpoint. You were born with all this technology around you. In their case, they are having their grandchildren teach them things. There's a big difference... Some of them are uncomfortable, others get intimidated.

AD: So why are you blaming technology for it?

BC: Because its presence is what makes today's generation think that it’s fine to keep in touch with parents back home through some new-fangled device. They don’t realise that the older lot will also be forced to adopt the same technology in order to respond.

AD: But technology is getting friendly…

BC: Hardly! Electronic goods manufacturers are so keen on making products child-friendly or child-proof, but unfortunately, when it comes to the older lot, they show scant regard...

AD: Why, what do you want them to do?

BC: What about special mobile phones for senior citizens who are probably not very comfortable with the current smartphones or the tiny keypads in regular mobiles? What about computers that are voice-enabled...

AD: There are mobiles, computer keyboards and tablets designed especially for the older users...

BC: But I haven't seen much on the shelves here. I hope you aren’t going to suggest that they buy these gadgets online…

AD: Don’t you think senior citizens need to embrace the changing world?

BC: You also need to consider the other problems of old age - failing eyesight, trembling hands, a nervous disposition, poor memory...

AD: That's the reason why technology has ushered in a concept known as pervasive computing. Based on this, computers - equipped with sensors and requisite software - observe and learn more about a person's habits non-intrusively. Soon, they become familiar with a senior citizen's habits and take over as a guide, in case his memory fails him or if he forgets to do something, like take his medicines, for instance.

BC: Sounds good, but these things need to move from being a dazzling experiment to a way of life for us to feel their utility.

AD: So what are you trying to say? That technology is a senior citizen’s biggest enemy?

BC: You’re exaggerating, but the point is, people abroad must understand that filial duties go beyond swinging by once in a while and gifting their folks an iPad.

The technopathic cure

No other branch of medicine has leveraged technology the way allopathy has done, claims a youngster, taking on his older counterpart.

AD: Hi, so how's your migraine now? Did you see the doctor?

BC: I did, he's given me some oil and a powder mix that needs to be taken with...

AD: Why didn't you go see an allopathic doctor? What if a scan or some tests have to be done?

BC: I prefer natural medicines - they have no side effects.

AD: Wouldn’t it have been better to be diagnosed and treated by a proven branch of medicine that’s backed by technology?

BC: Well, natural forms of treatment originated long before allopathy, but are still relevant - doesn't that tell you how effective and well-thought out they are?

AD: Sure, but today, we’re afflicted with so many complications – and it takes technology to identify them.

BC: Maybe, but not all ailments need technology...

AD: It's not about using technology in isolation - it's about integrating it with every aspect of medicine. The Western system has intensive research done which is aided by technology, and billions of dollars are spent every year in understanding symptoms and producing medicines...

BC: But after all the diagnosis, it's the pharma companies that dictate the cure, don't they? It's become a money spinner...

AD: You're deviating - we're talking about the efficacy of the treatment and how technology aids it.

BC: Allopathy has the backing of the Western world and that explains its popularity...

AD: Incidentally, the West has now pioneered an advanced form of laser surgery to remove brain tumour based on a new technology called SRS microscopy that allows them to see the minutest portions of the brain tissue. And SRS stands for Stimulated Raman Scattering, named after Sir C V Raman. So there's an Indian influence there as well...

BC: That's an honour to the great man, but it's a fact that in our bid to look for quick relief, we're ignoring our wonderful healing systems...

AD: What about fields like gynaecology and obstetrics? Imagine where we would be if technology didn’t result in Doppler ultrasonography or CT scans...

BC: Sure, but for thousands of years before scan centres came up, women have been delivering babies. Since we have the technology, we're trying to make use of it.

AD: Speaking of scans, do you know that the imaging technologies available in operation theatres are now accessible to general physicians too? A handheld device based on a technology called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is now empowering them to...

BC: Sorry, but OCT is all OHT to me.

AD: And what about robot-assisted surgery? It can pull off the most intricate surgery with precision...

BC: Look into our ancient medical treatises – several complicated surgeries have been recorded. And they were done before modern technology came into existence.

AD: However, remote surgical intervention is a modern concept surely... I read an article about a doctor in New York performing a gallbladder operation on a patient in France. It calls for computers, artificial intelligence and...

BC: All I can say is that we are endowed with a lot of natural intelligence to fall back upon, so...

AD: Isn’t it true that a branch of medicine like homeopathy actually gives you the disease-causing substance in small, diluted doses? There have been several questions raised regarding this...

BC: If that's the case, PET - Positron Emission Tomography - scanning involves injecting the patient with a small dose of radioactive material. Would you rather accept that?

AD: Think of it as technology's miracle, because the effects are the same as that of an X-ray. I can continue telling you about how technology has aided remote surgery through the Asynchronous Transfer Mode, or ATM...

BC: The ATM has another big role to play as well...

AD: What’s that?

BC: With medical treatment becoming prohibitively expensive, it's the first place every patient will need to visit before he goes to a hospital.

Shootout at Gangstar Vegas

“Back then, indoor games were about killing time - today, they’re about killing people,” claims an old-timer.

AD: Hi, so how did you spend New Year's Eve?

BC: It was a family reunion of sorts - we watched a movie, played some board games after ages...

AD: A quiet evening, huh?

BC: You're right. There's something about these old-fashioned games - they help bring the family together...

AD: Are you suggesting that today’s computer games split families?

BC: Well, look at all the hi-tech games - kids don't want to be disturbed when they're playing. Have you tried walking into their room when they’re halfway through a game?

AD: But there are also games which can be played against one another or as teams. Online games can involve several players at the same time.

BC: How does that help? You’re still cut off from your family and would rather play with friends and classmates...

AD: Back then, you lived in large joint families, so these games were ideal for such settings. Besides, there was very little to occupy you, especially when it was too hot or was raining outside...

BC: But they just didn’t serve to kill time – they aided various forms of development. Playing Scrabble helped build your vocabulary. Games like Battleships and Monopoly helped one strategize. And games like Cluedo were all about deduction and…

AD: The games that kids love playing today are good too. They help develop character traits that are needed for today...

BC: Like what? What do kids learn from Grand Theft Auto? To shoot everyone? Or to drive like a maniac?

AD: I was referring to dexterity and hand-eye coordination...

BC: That’s funny – back in my days, building blocks and jigsaw puzzles where what came to mind when you mentioned motor skill development...

AD: Much as you dislike the fact, we have evolved. Today's kids are so exposed to everything that technology has to offer, so how can you expect them to go back to such trivial pursuits?

BC: That brings to mind Trivial Pursuit, a wonderful board game. Now, that offered general knowledge, excitement and a keen sense of competition...

AD: Well, it has Xbox and online versions too, so kids can play them now...

BC: I can imagine a family dividing itself into teams and sitting around a large board in the living room, but how can players crowd around a little monitor? It would look like they're trying to invoke the spirits on an Ouija Board...

AD: But millions have taken to these games... Tomb Raider or The Last of Us are on top of the popularity charts, so why are you having problems?

BC: Think of all the violence bloodshed and gore in these games. Most of them seem to involve the mafia, gangsters, zombies, aliens, killers, mercenaries or bounty hunters… And it takes greed and manipulative actions needed to win. They could be influenced by these traits...

AD: C'mon, you're over-reacting...

BC: And I'm not even getting to the part where kids spend hours with theirs PSPs, mobiles and tablets and consequently risk several health disorders...

AD: So how does playing Chinese Checkers with your grandmother make you fit?

BC: The point is, today's games have become addictive, unlike the board games of my era which would make an appearance only during weekends, holidays and vacations... That left us with a lot of time for other activities...

AD: But Wii games are pretty good - they combine hours of gaming with physical activity. That's the magic of technology, see?

BC: Agreed, but the new generation is slowly abandoning the physically challenging games for their handheld mobile and PC counterparts...

AD: Looks like nothing I say is going to convince you…

BC: It’s just that I don't know where all this is leading...

AD: What do you mean?

BC: The other day, I was discussing a spiritual tour to various places of worship - and my nephew wanted to know if that was the senior citizen's version of Temple Run...