SMS arrived, telegram gone STOP

"The transition from dots and dashes to zeroes and ones leaves a lot to be desired," complains an old-timer.

AD: Hi, why the sad face? Is your computer down again?

BC: What hath God wrought?

AD: Wait a minute - are you quoting Shakespeare?

BC: No, it was the message carried by the first telegram on May 24, 1844. The message becomes relevant all over again because the telegram is on its way out next month.

AD: But people hardly use it any longer, so why not give it a decent send-off instead of going into mourning?

BC: You'll never understand. It's like a heritage building that has been standing proud for over 160 years and suddenly, you get the news that it won't be around from July.

AD: Don't get so emotional - anything that has lost its utility value needs to go, right? Do you still have your old radio or your black & white TV for sentimental value? You've thrown them out to make way for the new, haven't you?

BC: I have, but the telegram is different - it was a huge breakthrough in technology and deserves to be around simply for its historic value. Besides, unlike the gargantuan radio or TV of the 70s, this one doesn't not clutter your home - all it needs is a little corner in a post office...

AD: Never thought I'd see the day when you would root for technology, even if it’s of the archaic kind...

BC: I still have the telegram that brought in the news of my admission to one of India's best engineering colleges. That was special...

AD: I can understand that, but asking thousands of post offices to operate a telegraph department just because you feel sentimental about it is a bit much, isn't it?

BC: That's not what I...

AD: Besides, email, instant messaging and SMS-es have entrenched themselves so firmly in our lives that we don't need telegrams...

BC: Agreed, but what of all the telegraph employees across the country? Isn't it true that technology will now result in loss of several jobs?

AD: I don't think so. Guess they will all be transferred to other departments... Just look at the positives of today's technology...

BC: Things have become faster, I agree. Text messages and emails take a second or two to reach their destination, compared to the fastest telegram which would still require a few hours...

AD: What about the cost factor? Text messages and emails are free, but you have to pay for a telegram.

BC: I can see at least two advantages there.

AD: Really?

BC: Telegrams taught us to be succinct and made us think before we shot our mouth off, because every word cost money.

AD: And what's the second?

BC: You would never receive a telegram from your spouse with the message, "Hi, where are you?" if you've already told her that you will be with the boys at a pub or a bowling alley. When you're saddled with a mobile, you can't escape that question...

AD: It's called Momtext these days - worried mothers are most likely to send that message out day after day to find out where their kids are... But speaking of costs, BSNL has been incurring huge losses because it's essentially running a service that does not have too many takers. So, after discussing the issue with the postal department, a decision was taken to stop telegrams.

BC: But there are several countries like Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Germany, Canada, Switzerland and the UK that continue to use telegrams.

AD: Yes, on the other hand, the US, whose decisions affect us more than those of any other country, shut down its telegraph department a few years ago.

BC: Well, there’s one redeeming feature of the telegram that today's generation would have enjoyed...

AD: What is it?

BC: Back then, we never received telegrams stating, "Congratulations from FREE NATIONAL LOTTERY on having won the sum of 970,000.00 GBP STOP For claims contact Mr Paul Anderson STOP"

Low price, no performance?

‘Why is it that low-cost technology always ends up being junk?’ An old-timer spars with a tech fan.

AD: Hi, did you get that tablet you had ordered online?

BC: Yes, I did.

AD: What happened? You don't seem to be very happy with it...

BC: It turned out to be a disaster. It weighs a ton, runs out of charge in 10 minutes flat and gets heated up so badly that your fingertips get singed on touch. Also, each little operation takes ages, so downloading an app or a game is absolutely impossible...

AD: Why don't you return it?

BC: I tried - each time I called, I was asked to send a mail, but when I followed it up with another call, they claimed that they hadn't received a single mail...

AD: That’s pretty unfortunate…

BC: This is precisely the reason why I hate online purchases. You keep talking about how technology has made our lives so convenient, but look how it has left me high and dry...

AD: Listen, you probably decided to shop for it online because it was cheaper, so why...

BC: Hold on, are you telling me that if it's cheap, it has to be bad? So, does that mean that I need to buy a 64 GB iPad4 with retina display and wi-fi for 52,000 bucks and anything less will give me grief?

AD: Ok, be specific. What are you against - tablets, online shopping or the deals that the sites announce regularly?

BC: It doesn't matter, they all have one thing behind them - technology. Besides, I can understand a good product costing more than an average one, but it's weird to think that just because I've paid less, I’m stuck with a piece of junk that no amount of technology can make operational.

AD: But why blame technology? It could be a bad product to start with.

BC: How does it matter if it's one bad piece or if the entire batch is rubbish? It's not going to change things for me.

AD: Why make such a big issue out of such a small tablet?

BC: So what should the tablet have for me to make a big issue out of my predicament - a 60 inch screen?

AD: That's not what I meant... What I'm saying is that as with all products and brands, good quality doesn't come cheap. So why single technology out for criticism?

BC: You must have read about the razor and blade pricing strategy where they give away the razor for next to nothing and charge hefty amounts on the blade. Likewise, they’ve first allowed technology to invade every facet of our lives and now, they’re charging exorbitant amounts. Take healthcare, for instance. Expensive technology sends the cost of medical care skyrocketing...

AD: That’s probably because of the new equipment...

BC: Precisely - these hi-tech scans and laser treatments cost several thousands that make them unaffordable. Likewise, education has suddenly become a premium investment because some schools have opted for technology in the classrooms... Think of the kids that cannot afford such schooling.

AD: If a kid's smart, it shouldn't make a difference whether he's learning from a blackboard or a smartboard...

BC: What about your regular purchases? While a branded shirt or the best quality of rice cost a premium, there's an option available for the common man that's both affordable and usable - unlike the dumb tablet I purchased. Just because it's cheap, I'm supposed to accept it if it won’t work. All that it's given me is a whopping headache...

AD: I know of a tablet that can solve the problem - it's both cheap and effective, and it's made with the latest technology...

BC: That's a relief! Hope it's something that won't let me down.

AD: Actually, it's the kind that you need to down with a glass of water.

BC: How will that help me?

AD: Well, you bought a tablet that gave you a headache – this one will help you get rid of it.

Putting technology in a fix

You can bet on technology to deliver, but using technology to bet on a game is a no-no, says a tech fan.

BC: Hi, why the morose look?

AD: My biggest passion in life – besides technology – is cricket. And look what they've done to it…

BC: Unfortunately, both your passions have colluded to create this disaster.

AD: The problem is one of human greed and money. Why do you blame technology?

BC: It's technology that has helped bookies go state-of-the-art in their methods to gamble and fix...

AD: Wasn't there any betting before computers, mobiles and the net? I’ve read so many scandals about boxing and horse racing from the past. Wasn't there a movie on a baseball team that had fixed a World Series?

BC: Yes, Eight Men Out – it’s a story about eight players of the Chicago White Sox fixing the 1919 World Series for money. Since it was a one-off incident, it led to a movie. Today, there are so many betting and fixing incidents that one can make a long-running mega serial out of them.

AD: And you think it's because of technology... But look at the positive side of it too - it's finally technology that's helping the police smoke the offenders out of their hiding places.

BC: You’re referring to the sting operations and phone call recordings...

AD: The authorities are also analysing the mirror images that they have obtained of various laptops and mobiles involved in the scam - these would not have been possible without technology.

BC: So you have technology coming to the aid of both the people trying to cheat and those trying to nab them. The question is, who's winning?

AD: You have to wait and watch. But the bookies are reported to be getting very tech-savvy in their approach. They are even recruiting young hackers, programmers and tech specialists to tamper with servers, hack websites and create programs for their operations.

BC: Surely, the authorities can follow their digital footprints and track them down...

AD: Apparently, these bookies never use the same set of equipment twice - from mobiles and SIM Cards to laptops and servers, they destroy everything after use so that they are never traced. Also, all the SIM Cards and handsets used are either stolen or bought in the second-hand market, so they don’t lead back to the bookies.

BC: Which brings us back to the point I was making - technology is giving the bad elements a free hand...

AD: Why? Do you really think bookies with pencils and little notebooks from your time were better than the bookies with pen drives and notebooks - of the electronic variety - today?

BC: According to reports, bookies use devices known as link boxes, which allow them to handle several calls simultaneously. And all the calls and bets placed are recorded to ensure that there are no goof-ups. Besides, no one can go back on their word after losing. Also, conference calls keep everyone in the loop. Such things were not possible in my times…

AD: Sounds like a well-oiled corporate set-up, doesn't it?

BC: But it could get worse. Can you imagine the situation if social networking sites are used for this purpose? With the amount of traffic that’s on these sites, code language will go completely unnoticed even if it appears on your friend's wall or as a tweet. 

AD: That would be disastrous...

BC: But I agree with one thing that you’ve always been saying – technology has sure made things a lot quicker…

AD: How do you say that?

BC: There was a time when one had to wait for five days to know the result of a test match. Then it became one day, with ODIs, and then around four hours, for a T20. But now, with the right connections, one can figure out which way a match is going to go, even before it begins. 

Closer to the madding crowd

Investigators are no longer wary of crowds at the scene of crime – in fact, they depend on them, claims a tech fan.

AD: Hey, what are you looking for?

BC: I lost a file...

AD: Maybe you should crowdsource your search operation...

BC: You mean summon a crowd and get everyone to search for my file?

AD: Something like that. There will be more hands on deck and…

BC: If I have the entire neighbourhood rummaging through this place, I will have to crowdsource the construction of another house...

AD: That's nothing - the FBI crowdsourced evidence that helped them identify the culprits in the Boston marathon bombing.

BC: Sounds like the modern equivalent of rounding up a posse and launching a manhunt…

AD: Only it’s quicker, more effective and uses technology. Do you know that each minute, over 200000 photos are posted on Facebook and over 72 hours of video footage uploaded on YouTube?

BC: But what does that have to do with the investigation?

AD: Obviously there’s a spike in these uploads during key events like the Boston marathon. So, from the neighbourhood stores at the venue to the crowds present at the marathon, everyone was encouraged by the authorities to send in images and video clips of the event.

BC: And…?

AD: Apparently, the initial findings began with some grainy images of two young men in caps. When these were shared online, people sent thousands of images and videos that were shot with better focus and with higher resolution.

BC: So it's not just the surveillance cameras at vantage points that help during an investigation…

AD: Absolutely, and that's where technology comes into play. Can you imagine this happening a couple of decades ago?

BC: Agreed, but with millions of people enthusiastically sending in what they think could be potential evidence, isn't there bound to be a lot of confusion?

AD: Sure, but it used to be the same even in the good old days when the authorities asked people to call in. Incidentally, the technology that you blame actually helped the FBI get back on track and nail the men responsible...

BC: How is that?

AD: Companies like CrowdOptic have come up with cutting edge data analysis tools that gather information from the smartphones being used and make several key inferences – this information helped the authorities fine-tune their search.

BC: How much time does all this take?

AD: Possibly a second to sift through over 100000 images and pick the one that best suits the requirement...

BC: So that was how the FBI managed to make arrests, within 96 hours of the bombing....

AD: That's right. CrowdOptic's technology works based on the metadata linked to every image clicked with a smartphone. It can then sort out these images based on the exact time when they were clicked and the location...

BC: And that led the investigators to the focal point of the incident involving the bombers.

AD: You got it. The application software filters images based on their relevance and on the popularity of the photo object appearing across various shots.

BC: Looks like crowdsourcing technology has put terrorists in a Catch-22 situation…

AD: Why is that?

BC: Terrorists and disruptive elements normally seek crowded places to wreak havoc - but if they do so, crowdsourcing technology is sure to expose them. And if they blow up their bombs where there's no one around, it wouldn't serve their purpose…

AD: I don’t know about that, but I can tell you how technology has made people more human...

BC: Has it?

AD: It sure has! In the good old days, the authorities would have to announce rewards for anyone who would help them nab a culprit. Today, thanks to technology, they can get their work done for free.

Tradition through technology

The best way to keep in touch with old traditions is through new technology, claims a tech fan.

AD: Hi, heard that you had gone on a religious tour...

BC: It was simply amazing - the architectural splendours, the mind-boggling engineering... And complete peace of mind. You should have come...

AD: I’m really not interested in…

BC: Your generation is so stuck with its technology, devices and the little pleasures they have to offer that you’re slowly losing touch with your culture…

AD: We pursue our interests while you follow yours...

BC: And in the process, you forget your roots and your tradition. How much does this generation know about our history, our architecture and…

AD: I disagree - technology does help keep in touch with tradition. In fact, it acts as a bridge between us and our culture...

BC: Oh c'mon...

AD: Really. For instance, you had gone visiting religious places for a whole week. Many others aren't as fortunate as you are, like my grandmother who suffers from arthritis. But I can take her to all the places that you visited, online...

BC: Is that possible?

AD: Today, a lot of temples, churches and mosques have live streaming and webcasts of their religious services, so those who are unable to travel can have a ‘virtual darshan’.

BC: I always knew that there were many ways to reach God…

AD: But I’m sure you’d never have thought that the tablet would one day become a portal that…

BC:Takes us to the Almighty.

AD: Right! Several places of worship also have websites that offer walkthroughs - a multimedia clip that shows you around to give you a feel of the place.

BC: I'm told that popular video sites like YouTube also have several such clips...

AD: Absolutely. Do you think all this would have been possible a decade ago?

BC: Perhaps not, but I still feel that the passion has waned. It's still the older generation that wants to use technology to stay in touch with their tradition...

AD: A cousin of mine learns Carnatic music from a teacher through Skype.

BC: So what's the big deal? It's a bit like e-learning, isn't it?

AD: The student lives in Michigan and his teacher, in Mylapore. Apparently, the boy's parents were keen that he should learn music only from that teacher, so they worked it out in such a way that he would have exclusive classes online...

BC: So a computer and a set of speakers transformed into a music classroom...

AD: And almost 12,000 kilometres were reduced to nothing on the click of a button. Yet you blame technology...

BC: The examples you give are aberrations...

AD: Absolutely not. While on the topic of music, do you know the kind of interest a live podcast of a Carnaticrecital generates? Millions who cannot be at the hall can tune in on their mobiles...

BC: I can't imagine staying glued to my mobile for that long. Think of the number of personal loan, credit card and club membership calls that I might miss...

AD: Go ahead, be sarcastic, but that won't take away from the fact that technology only helps bring people closer to their roots. A smartphone or a laptop with an internet connection can take you to a church in Goa, a temple in Rishikesh or to a concert in Australia...

BC: Finally, mankind has been enlightened on the key benefit of greater internet speeds and faster downloads...

AD: I don't understand...

BC: People can now rest assured that their prayers can reach God faster through the net.

AD: And what about His blessings?

BC: Well, they can download it at their leisure. 

Smartphones for smarter answers

Is technology making learning simpler – or is it simply making it redundant? A debate ensues…

BC: Hi, was trying to reach you last Saturday... Where were you?

AD: Had gone to meet a Professor of Dentistry - he's an expert surgeon as well.

BC: What could a tech fan and a dentist have talked about? The commonalities between the traditional wisdom tooth and the modern Bluetooth?

AD: He had some very interesting things to say about how today's students were using technology, but for all the wrong reasons - like cheating in their exams, for instance...

BC: That's pretty sad - there have been days when I've wondered as to how different things could have been if we had the same kind of technology back in my time...

AD: I don't believe it – you’ve actually found something good to say about technology...

BC: Today, you have so many resources online - like the Salman Khan Academy, for instance – besides the deluge of educational CDs, online courses, YouTube videos... Students have never had it so good...

AD: It must have been tough for you in college, having to depend only on books...

BC: Absolutely! There were certain courses, for which books were issued in the ratio of 1:3, which is one book shared by three students! Then technology evolved and photocopiers came into our lives. Soon photocopying select chapters from books caught on like wildfire, and the copies were passed on from one batch to another.

AD: And then the internet came along...

BC: Right, I think of the options available for students today – and it saddens me that all they can think of is how to misuse technology...

AD: Not all of them though... We speak of using technology to learn and to prepare for exams, but it is unfortunate that some students use it during the exams - mobiles, websites, and even scientific calculators with answers stored in the memory...

BC: I guess Bluetooth, micro-sized earplugs and hands-free devices that one can attach to mobiles have made it easier for them...

AD: Absolutely, which is also the reason why mobiles are no longer allowed inside exam halls in most places...

BC: But then, students must be thanking technology for making mobiles so small – it’s so easy to hide them anywhere, even under a shirt collar...

AD: And smartphones have smarter applications, so students can log in for online help, have their answers checked for grammar and spelling or use apps to find the answer to problems that might otherwise require them to remember complex formulae...

BC: Back in my times, the only aid that we were allowed to carry with us was the log book.

AD: Things have changed, haven't they? Googling for answers, messaging friends, using camera phones to record the question paper and passing it on, crowdsourcing answers using closed social networking groups...

BC: And half the time, the teachers don't even know what's going on. 

AD: See, I keep telling you how important it is for the older generations to update themselves on technology...

BC: But why can't these students realise that copying is a waste of time? Marks might get you to an interview, but the minute they start asking questions and know that you don't know much...

AD: Universities are wisening up and have begun to equip themselves on the technology front. For instance, most universities abroad have acquired software like TurnItIn, which helps spot plagiarised papers that have been submitted by the students...

BC: So TurnItIn helps colleges nab errant students and turn them out...

AD: With colleges aspiring for greater transparency in exams, and with teachers getting glassy-eyed about technology, how do you think students are going to react to all that’s happening?

BC: Perhaps they'll look for greater transparency in seeking answers during exams... with Google Glass.

For the love of technology

Is a career in IT born out of a passion for technology or is it merely a lucrative decision? A conversation begins…

BC: Hi, you look deep in thought - surely your generation has an app to do that for you...

AD: Just finished a weird call from a potential client who asked me to go through her website and wanted to know if I found it really interesting...

BC: What's wrong with that?

AD: I cannot reveal details of the client's operations, but assume that they are into creating software that handles patient monitoring and insurance processing for hospitals... How can something like that ever be of interest to anyone?

BC: How can a tech fan like you generalise a statement like that?

AD: Look, I can imagine being in love with technology that creates a new operating system to challenge Windows or a new search engine that can pose a threat to Google - or even a new social networking site that will give Facebook a run for its money - all $70 billion of it...

BC: Let me then rephrase my question - if you are not in love with your job, how can you do it well?

AD: What about IT careers, for instance? Are you telling me that students join IT companies and BPOs because they are passionate about technology?

BC: Well, you've got to ask them...

AD: Think of all those chemical, civil and mechanical engineers in IT handling completely unconnected careers... Why did they study what they did? Why did they then make the shift?

BC: For the same reason that an instrumentation engineer, after two years of B-School, chooses to sell soap?

AD: But...

BC: So why do you think most youngsters choose information technology as a career in India?

AD: IT companies hire en masse - I've read articles about entire batches of engineering students recruited by IT companies.

BC: How can that be a reason for choosing a career?

AD: You can't blame students for wanting to feel secure right after college, can you? And most IT companies conduct campus interviews in the final year, so...

BC: ...students have a job even before they pass out!

AD: Right. Pay scales are another reason. Compared to typical engineering jobs in the manufacturing sector - be it in an auto-ancillary unit or a chemical plant - the IT sector pays better.

BC: Why is that?

AD: For one, the IT industry earns primarily in dollars. So the project that you’re on earns your company a lot more in terms of billings and profits than, say a batch of cam shafts or spindles of yarn. Hence the rewards are bigger too…

BC: I guess the responsibilities and the pressures involved must be as high…

AD: Sure. Another factor influencing this choice is exposure. IT takes young employees to other countries, widens their horizons, and even gives them a chance to settle abroad... So I'll be incredibly surprised if someone were to tell me that all these students took up IT jobs solely because of their love for technology.

BC: So what did you tell your potential client?

AD: I didn't say much, but the point is, if her job didn't give her American clients and dollar billing, would she be doing back office jobs for some hospital abroad?

BC: I guess not. But there’s an easy way to find out if she’s truly in love with that kind of work.

AD: And that is...?

BC: Find out if she grew up dreaming of creating payroll packages and patient monitoring software ever since she was five years old.