Dial M for Mobile Shopping

A senior citizen discovers the shopper’s new companion in the retail world – the mobile.

AD: Guess what, there's a new mall coming up in the neighbourhood!

BC: Really? Wonder if it’ll see crowds - you don't need to go to a mall to shop these days...

AD: You are referring to online shopping...

BC: Isn’t that the rage now?

AD: Well, 2013 is set to experience new technologies in retail. For starters, your mobile could be the key to your shopping. You could use it to scan a product and get all the details you need, like discounts and ingredients... You could even use it to scan the barcode, purchase it, pay for it with your mobile, and get a receipt for the transaction…

BC: Sounds incredible…

AD: Absolutely! There will also be several apps and technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC) and Quick Response (QR) Codes that will help the retailers in their mission.

BC: I really can't imagine holding my mobile in front of a product and…

AD: That’s technology for you - the mobile can make shopping a lot more interesting. For instance, you could enter key information about what you are looking for and the store could send focussed responses and updates on deals, discounts and relevant product information, even as you shop.

BC: But I forget to carry my mobile quite often...

AD: You are perhaps amongst the minority... There was a time when the tagline 'Don't leave home without it' applied to a brand of credit cards. Today, it applies as much to your smartphone, which you can use to make your payments...

BC: ...so you can actually leave home without your credit card.

AD: Right! E-commerce is almost two decades old. Mobile commerce is what everyone's talking about. Stores are even offering apps that will keep updating the price of a product you are interested in through alerts in your smartphone. So when there's a huge price-off, you immediately get to hear about it instead of checking the website or visiting the store time and again...

BC: For once, I'm glad I don't carry a smartphone regularly. If people are going to be bombarded with deals, there’s no getting away from them…

AD: A London-based store has the answer to that as well. They’ve come up with the concept of a Silence Room, where customers can take a break from the non-top marketing buzz. Shoppers can rest there, meditate and basically get away from the shopping frenzy...

BC: Amazing, isn't it, how retailers create a problem and then come up with a solution themselves?

AD: Well, some of us think that shopping is therapeutic... So you really can't blame the industry for...

BC: But the bottom line is that thanks to technology, brick and mortar stores will never shut down.

AD: Look, it's always the trend to expect the old to make way for the new. In this case, technology is supporting both the conventional and the contemporary.

BC: So smartphones can help you shop from home or wherever you are - and they can help you shop even when you physically go to the store...

AD: That's right! In other words, the mobile is going to be your friend, philosopher and guide in the retail arena...

BC: If it were a friend, it would have stopped me from going there and blowing up my money in the first place. If it were a philosopher, it would have told me about the futility of material pursuit. But you're right in calling it a guide - it would systematically guide me towards bankruptcy...

Busting crime with technology

There are two facets to technology – one that aids crime and the other that helps fight it, says a tech fan. 

AD: Hi, you said that you were going to invite your nephew over this month. What happened?

BC: No, he's away on some work, but his auto reply offered me the complete details of his whereabouts, how long he would be away, his mobile number – right down to the fact that he would be locked up in day-long meetings...

AD: That’s typically how any auto reply mail would read...

BC: What if the information falls into the wrong hands – someone could break in and...

AD: Oh, c’mon, all this fuss over…

BC: Today’s professionals are forever travelling - and if you know their name and the organization they are working for, finding out their official mail id isn’t exactly rocket science. Once you send them a mail, an auto response would reveal all the details you would want to know. Imagine, someone could actually be outside the apartment, sending a mail from their mobile phone to find out if the person is in town...

AD: You are paranoid, but I agree with you on one point - technology is making crime more daring and more difficult to solve.

BC: If you’re referring to cybercrime...

AD: Not just that. I'm also talking about the steps taken by criminals to stay undetected, like using online telephonic and chat services, and encryption technology...

BC: The scary part is that these gizmos, apps and software are commonplace and can be bought or downloaded from anywhere...

AD: That's right. Apparently, the US is pioneering predictive technology, like the Omega Group’s CrimeView Dashboard, to identify and prevent crime from occurring in a particular place.

BC: How does this work?

AD: Information fed into the system helps create a snapshot of the activities in the area. If anything suspicious is detected, the security gets beefed up in that area.

BC: But can it work in large cities and in remote areas? How can they be constantly monitored?

AD: As always, you are underestimating technology – if a burglar can be caught through his DNA samples, then...

BC: How did they get his sample?

AD: That was the easy part - he left it behind when he cut himself in the place of crime...

BC: And as they say in the crime novels, the trail of blood led straight back to him. While technology is being used by the law and the lawless, shouldn't the common man have access to it to save himself?

AD: He sure should, and Life360 can help him in this task...

BC: What is it?

AD: It's an app for families to keep track of one another, in terms of their location. It also helps them stay in touch with one another, thereby ensuring everyone's safety.

BC: So each member of the family carries a mobile phone with this app - and technology provides the safety net.

AD: Right! The app sends alerts when a family member is moving from one place to another, and also offers useful information, like the location of the nearest police station or hospital...

BC: Sounds reassuring, especially in these testing times...

AD: But technology has moved beyond DNA tests - right now, scientists are experimenting with biometric techniques that study a person's feet and the way he walks, to help identify him.

BC: This will put the law in a win-win situation.

AD: How?

BC: If the criminals take to their heels, the law can catch them using this technology – and if they don’t move, they’ll get caught anyway.

They invent, we innovate

There’s a difference between developing innovative technology and using existing technology innovatively, claims a tech fan.

BC: Where were you last night?

AD: Out partying with my cousin Arun...

BC: You seem to have started the New Year celebrations rather early this year.

AD: Well, the binges began a long time ago. We weren't sure if the world was coming to an end and hence decided not to take chances.

BC: So who's going to take charge of technology's safe passage into 2013 if you're going to be partying endlessly?

AD: Oh, don't worry about it. Now that your generation has crossed over and has begun using mobiles, handicams and iPods, it is an indication that technology's safe and sound.

BC: I don't believe you said that!

AD: Of course, a few are yet to come to terms with how things work. I have an old aunt who chides her maid for giving her missed calls because she thinks even missed calls to her mobile are charged.

BC: I’m speechless…

AD: Millions of Indians are, and yet manage to keep communication going without saying a word…

BC: Sign language? SMS?

AD: No, through missed calls. You can call it a silent revolution, but India is probably the only country where a missed call could have so many interpretations – from ‘reached safe’ to ‘call back’ or ‘buy something on your way back’…

BC: Free but effective, huh?

AD: When it comes to using existing technology innovatively, we seem to have a knack of finding newer ways of doing things.

BC: My neighbours used missed calls to communicate specific messages - one ring to keep the tea ready, two rings to open the door and so on.

AD: I recall my college friends who had hired an apartment and used to program their TV to act as an alarm clock.

BC: How did they do that?

AD: By setting the timer on for a specific time in the morning. The TV would switch on by itself and would blast in full volume, waking up everyone in the house.

BC: It reminds me of the washing machines in Punjab and Chandigarh that are used to make lassi!

AD: It’s hard to say which deserves more plaudits, the lassi or the machine…

BC: What about the knife sharpener that uses a cycle wheel? Who would have thought pedalling a cycle would result in sharpening a knife?

AD: Looks like India's progress is truly being made on wheels...

BC: Talking of wheels, rural India has created its own transport based on the world's oldest set of wheels...

AD: What’s so novel about a bullock cart?

BC: Add an engine from a water pump, a plank of wood and a set of tyres to it - and you have a multi utility vehicle for a large family. It's called a Maruta, derived from the name Maruti.

AD: One thing seems to be common to all these innovations - they are earthy and come from necessity.

BC: That's also proof that you don't need a lab, a Ph. D. degree and millions of dollars of funding to innovate. All you need is a different perspective and a drive to reach your goal.

AD: Ah, the sermon begins...

BC: No, that’s the reason why India never feared the end of the world.

AD: Really?

BC: Absolutely! We were always confident that even if the earth came to a standstill, we'd find a way to crank-start the planet and keep it moving. 

Adding dimensions to sound

A tech fan revels in new audio technology that will even make the superstar go, “How is it?”

AD: Hi, so how did you celebrate yesterday?

BC: If you’re referring to the 12-12-12 date…

AD: No, Chennai had a lot to cheer about yesterday. It became the first Indian city to play host to the Dolby Atmos technology, the latest in cinema sound…

BC: Who would have thought that there would be something superior to surround sound?

AD: Imagine sitting in a theatre with 128 audio tracks filling the theatre, with voices and music coming at you from 64 speakers located at various positions...  And the audio you hear is based on the position of the images on screen…

BC: So the sound moves along with the visual…

AD: yes, an object’s location on screen is mapped by the technology – and the sound pertaining to that specific location is played. It’s known as object oriented sound.

BC: How does this play out in a theatre?

AD: There will be two rows of speakers above the audience as well, in addition to the other speakers that are strategically placed in the theatre. These help sound travel across the theatre hall to give a 360 degree feel and make the audio a lot more realistic…

BC: I can imagine the entire horror movie factory licking its lips in anticipation of scaring the audiences more than ever. But what about theatres that have invested in 5.1 and 7.1 surround?

AD: Atmos can help create audio tracks to suit various formats…

BC: Sound has travelled a long way, literally and figuratively. Not too long ago, I recall theatres advertising stereophonic sound, when speakers were played in full blast for impact - and shattered our ear drums...

AD: Then came 5.1 surround, with five main channels and a low frequency channel…

BC: 7.1 surround came after that, right? So all the movies and the theatres they’re releasing in will adopt this technology?

AD: To start with, around 50 theatres across the country will be equipped with the Atmos technology. As for movies, only a few have tried it out, Disney-Pixar’s ‘Brave’ being the first to do so. Incidentally, the Life of Pi had also used this technology, but…

BC: …since Atmos has just come to India, we ended up seeing it our regular Dolby Digital surround.

AD: Right! Dolby and Pixar are becoming a winning combination when it comes to technology.  It was Pixar’s Toy Story 3 that saw the introduction of the Dolby Surround 7.1 system. A couple of years later…

BC: …Atmos was featured for the first time in Pixar’s Brave.

AD: But 2013 holds much promise, with Warner Bros bringing out the next edition of the Star Trek series using this audio format.

BC: 5.1 and 7.1 are now available for home entertainment too. What about Atmos?

AD: Right now, it’s restricted to theatres, but let’s hope…

BC: You said Chennai’s got a lot to cheer about. What else…

AD: Well, you must have seen the Tamil movie Sivaji, around 4-5 years ago. It’s back in 3D and incorporates the Atmos technology – the first Indian film to do so.

BC: I can understand remastering the film in 3D, but how did they change the audio to the Atmos format?

AD: Chennai’s not only got India’s first theatre that supports Atmos, but also the country’s first studio with the knowhow for handling the technology.

BC: It is said that a technological revolution is always announced from the rooftops. In this case, with all those speakers in the ceiling, they’re literally doing it. 

Thanks for the cyber week

Once every year, technology magically transforms a week into a cyber week, claims a tech fan.

BC: Hi, did you finally buy that camera you were looking for?

AD: Yes, I had messaged my friend Mukund in the US - he got me a fabulous Nikon camera on Black Friday.

BC: Huh?

AD: It’s the day after Thanksgiving Day, when the festive shopping spree begins…

BC: So what’s black about it?

AD: A few years ago, the shopping crowds and the traffic on that day gave the American authorities and the police such a tough time that they began referring to it as Black Friday…

BC: Sounds like the various sale events we have here for New Year and Diwali…

AD: The big difference is that a lot of action has shifted to the net – the online version is called Cyber Black Friday.

BC: Technology... and Thanksgiving!

AD: Absolutely. Millions thank technology for the websites and apps that indicate the best deals and the nearest outlets where they are available…

BC: I heard that most malls and outlets have begun opening shutters on Thanksgiving night…

AD: Yup, that’s why Thanksgiving Day is also known as Cyber Thursday.

BC: With people deciding to binge on deals instead, several turkeys must have felt relieved… Guess a Cyber Thursday would help beat the rush of a Cyber Black Friday…

AD: Absolutely, Friday gets pretty manic - many websites and apps crash because of the online traffic. That would explain why most avid shoppers decide to shop on Cyber Thursday. However, for those who are more interested in their Thanksgiving dinner, Small Business Saturdays are always there…

BC: What’s that – a day for small businesses to sell their products?

AD: That’s right. While this is mostly a local event, technology - as always - lends a shoulder to promote the event through social media. Small businesses are offered web pages and online advertising opportunities free of cost to reach out to potential customers, and to offer discounts and coupons…

BC: So what comes after – Cyber Sunday?

AD: Well, Cyber Sunday exists, but it’s a pay-per-view freestyle wrestling event. Instead of chasing deals, you’ll be watching hulks chase each other inside a ring. The idea is to relax and wait for Cyber Monday, which has become one of the most happening online shopping events of the year…

BC: Don’t people have to go to work after the long weekend?

AD: They do, and quite a few of them have tried to shop online from their workplace... There have been cases of employees being fired for shopping while at work.

BC: Imagine looking for deals over the weekend and looking for a job on Monday!

AD: You bet! And as a follow up to Cyber Monday, Australian companies have added another day to the online shopping spree, called…

BC: Cyber Tuesday. Look at the brighter side of it – at least, you don’t have to get fired from work on a Monday.

AD: The real bright spot to the day is actually a concept known as Giving Tuesday – after all your splurging, you could get on to a social media site on Tuesday and donate to charity...

BC: A nice way to atone for one’s greed. Why do I get the feeling that you’ve missed out on something…?

AD: There’s a Cyber Wednesday too, thanks to companies that want to stretch the shopping bonanza for the entire week…

BC: Reminds me of the life of Solomon Grundy – the only difference is that by the end of the week, you would want to bury your credit card instead. 

Technology to the rescue

There are times when technology kicks up a storm – and times when it helps handle one, claims a young techie.

BC: Hi, it’s sad to see the trees missing in your neighbourhood…

AD: Blame it on Nilam - she took quite a few with her.

BC: But her big sister seems to have created a lot more havoc in the US…

AD: Sandy? Some of my friends in New York and New Jersey had a tough time. There was no power for a week – and you know how almost everything there runs on electricity…

BC: With half the country shutting down, wonder how the media went to work…

AD: It was technology that saved the day. Smartphones captured images and videos, social networking sites became message boards, blogs ran articles while Twitter messages gave regular updates… In short, the local residents turned journalists and offered updates by the minute.

BC: But how does one verify that the news they give is authentic?

AD: You’re right. At times, rumours and fake news did the rounds. For instance, someone had posted that the New York Stock Exchange was flooded. This was picked up by many and re-tweeted so many times that even major news agencies believed it...

BC: I remember residents becoming journalists for a local tabloid in my neighbourhood… So, such collaborative efforts existed even before technology arrived.

AD: It’s not just about local tabloids – even TIME magazine decided to capture Sandy through mobile cameras and uploaded the images on Instagram…

BC: I think one of those images made it to the cover of the magazine, right?

AD: Right! And with social media coming in, the role of technology in disaster relief has become more prominent. Take every natural disaster that has struck us in the past few years, like the earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand last year, or the floods in Thailand…

BC: Good to know that people use Facebook for better things than wishing their spouse a happy anniversary…

AD: No kidding! Reports have it that Instagram had as many as 10 images with the hashtag #sandy being uploaded every second.

BC: For once, the general public wouldn’t have minded being bombarded with updates and messages…

AD: Well, even the authorities were on social media to reach out to people when they realised that newspapers and television would never get there. From passing on important warnings to announcing relief measures, social networking sites became the favourite media vehicle for many.

BC: I’ve been reading about the death toll and the widespread damage caused – seems like a nightmare…

AD: Reports mention losses amounting to over $ 20 billion. Sandy had become such a hot topic on Twitter that it was popularly dubbed Frankenstorm, in other words a ‘Frankenstein of a storm’. Unfortunately, it turned out to be true…

BC: Guess it just goes on to show that when faced with nature’s fury, even technology has to stand and watch helplessly.

AD: But technology did help many who were trapped in their houses or in flood-ravaged areas. There were several SOS messages that were constantly forwarded, shared or re-tweeted by many. This helped as these tweets found their way to various rescue forces and government departments that despatched teams to help those who were stuck.

BC: Back home, Nilam has done its bit to mess up the city... There was so much garbage piled up everywhere.

AD: And before all that garbage could be moved out, the streets have exploded with more trash…

BC: Another cyclone?

AD: No, I was referring to Diwali – the streets are strewn with leftovers of crackers, cartons, plastic covers and paper. 

Shall we tag the President?

‘The US Presidential elections have found a new weapon – social media,’ claims a young enthusiast.

BC: Hey, did you watch the Presidential debates on TV?

AD: That’s 60s stuff… You should have caught the action online - it was incredible.

BC: Really?

AD: Reports have it that the first debate was the most tweeted political event in the history of Twitter, with over 10 million tweets.

BC: I’m surprised at the importance being given to social media…

AD: With almost 60% of the voters in the US active on social networking sites, neither party wants to miss out on them...

BC: So, who’s leading?

AD: While there are reports favouring both sides, Obama is generally considered more active online. He has over 21 million Twitter followers and over 31 million fans on his Facebook page. These numbers dwarf those of his Republican counterpart…

BC: Guess he had a headstart, having been President for a term already…

AD: That’s right. Social media is also being used as an analytical tool to gather data, like the response of the public to the campaigns…

BC: So what’s been the response like?

AD: Sometimes, it soars like Big Bird…

BC: What’s that - the eagle?

AD: No, Big Bird is a character from a popular series, Sesame Street. In one of the debates, Romney had mentioned that he liked the character – and soon, there were several videos, photos, spoofs and comments, all of which went viral…

BC: So now, Romney has both the donkey and Big Bird to watch out for!

AD: He also has the internet to monitor, because more Democrats have been contributing online - through websites and smartphones - to see their party win, compared to Republicans...

BC: Perhaps Republicans are more comfortable with old-fashioned methods of donations…

AD: What’s equally concerning for Romney are jibes that are creating havoc online - like Romnesia, a term coined by Obama about his opponent backtracking on his original policies…

BC: I’m sure the social networks must be lapping it all up…

AD: Absolutely! Likewise, Romney’s ‘binders full of women’ comment, which was originally intended to explain his search for qualified women to be part of his team, ended up being parodied on Twitter and Facebook.

BC: Poor man, so technology does have him in a bind…

AD: The other big problem is when your opponent has more followers – they simply take over your hashtag and ‘out-tweet’ you. Apparently, the Democrats have stolen the Republicans’ thunder at least a couple of times on Twitter.

BC: But the number of fans or followers in an online forum may not be an indication of the number of votes that a candidate might get…

AD: Absolutely. Besides, if popularity on Twitter can decide who’s going to be President, then the United States could well get its first woman President.

BC: Really? Who?

AD: Lady Gaga. She has over 30 million followers, which is 10 million more than Barack Obama.

BC: Well, the voters will truly face the music if that happens…

AD: It’s a bit like the opinion polls before an election... The final result could simply make a mockery of the predictions – we’ve seen it happen many times in India.

BC: However, whoever wins the US elections is going to feel like Superman as he occupies the world’s most powerful chair…

AD: But even Superman has acknowledged that social media is more powerful than he is.

BC: What do you mean?

AD: Well, news has it that Clark Kent has quit his job as a reporter for the Daily Planet and has taken up a job as a blogger in a social network…