 IANS Photo New Delhi, (IANS): India is emerging as one of the most AI‑forward markets in payroll transformation, with 35 per cent of businesses identifying artificial intelligence adoption as the primary enabler of HR and payroll innovation, a report said on Tuesday. The number of businesses in India that identified AI as the driver in payroll innovation over the next two to three years was the highest across the Asia‑Pacific region, the report from ADP India said. Meanwhile, 68 per cent of organisations reported integrating AI to streamline workflows and reduce reliance on manual processes. The report, however, noted that only 12 per cent of Indian organisations have payroll functions fully equipped for future demands, highlighting a readiness gap that must be closed to sustain growth and resilience. "India’s workforce is entering a decisive phase of transformation as organisations adapt to diverse geographies, generations and employment models," the report said. Rahul Goyal, Managing Director of ADP India and Southeast Asia, said that "skills are becoming the new currency, automation is reshaping how work gets done, and employees are expecting work experience that supports both productivity and personal well‑being". The report outlined key HR and payroll trends set to define workplace strategies in 2026, including automation as a scale enabler, workforce management gains with biometric tools, a redefined employee value proposition with wellbeing initiatives, and digital, transparent pay systems. Organisations are expected to invest more in biometric systems, secure mobile attendance tools and geolocation-enabled solutions to ensure reliable records, it is forecast. Meanwhile, integrated scheduling tools will help reduce roster inconsistencies, minimise shift gaps and improve resource planning. Real-time dashboards will enable leaders to track attendance patterns, overtime usage, and absenteeism, transforming operational data into strategic insights."Interactive payslips, digital pay wallets, and earned wage access solutions will gain traction. Skills-based pay models are expected to grow steadily, particularly in technology, GICs, and other specialised service sectors," the report noted. India leads AI‑forward payroll market innovation globally: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
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Centre launches digital brand identity manual to standardise e-governance (2025-07-15T11:12:00+05:30)
 New Delhi, (IANS): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken a major step towards strengthening India's digital governance with the launch of the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM). The DBIM, which was unveiled at the first 'Chief Information Officer (CIO) Conference 2025' here, is part of the Gov.In initiative. It aims to create a unified and standardised digital identity across all government ministries, departments and agencies. The objective is to enhance the user experience, improve accessibility, and ensure a seamless digital presence for government platforms, said the ministry. “The DBIM will enhance the government's "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" approach by introducing "Uniform Governance," ensuring a standardised and cohesive digital presence across all ministries and platforms,” said Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada. He added that the initiative focuses on simplifying and standardising government websites, ensuring that citizens from diverse backgrounds can easily navigate and access essential government services. To support this initiative, the government has introduced several key tools. The DBIM Toolkit has been developed to ensure uniformity in digital branding across various government platforms. The Gov.In CMS Platform has been launched to help ministries and departments manage their websites efficiently. Additionally, the Central Content Publishing System (CCPS) has been introduced to streamline content governance and ensure consistency in information dissemination. To standardise government communication on digital platforms, the government has also established Social Media Campaign Guidelines that will help maintain a uniform approach to online engagement. The MeitY website has already been redesigned to comply with DBIM guidelines, and four other ministry websites have also migrated to the Gov.In CMS platform. More government portals are expected to follow soon. By standardising colour schemes, typography, and iconography, DBIM will bring uniformity across websites, mobile applications, and social media platforms. This will help government agencies build a stronger and more credible online presence, both in India and globally. Indian travel packages The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of leveraging technology to improve governance and citizen services. Centre launches digital brand identity manual to standardise e-governance | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Adidas India launches digital flagship store (2025-07-14T12:31:00+05:30)
 NEW DELHI, (IANS): Leading sportswear giant adidas launched its digital flagship store on Thursday for consumers across the country. The all-new website was conceptualised and curated keeping in mind comments and reviews received from consumers. The focus of the digital flagship store is to provide a seamless experience, innovation, state-of-the-art UI, and a fast interface, thereby giving consumers a global online shopping experience, which is digitally superior and seamless. The website offers an innovative tech-driven experience that enables consumers to navigate effortlessly across the digital store and purchase their favourite products with ease. Throughout the digital flagship store, from search to navigation, consumers go through an assisted experience which enables them to find and purchase the right product, fit, and support and the best cross-category enhancements thereby enhancing their overall online retail journey. While working towards creating a platform that acts as the go-to destination for everything sport, the range focusses on strategic categories such as Running, Lifestyle, Training, and Football. The flagship store also elevates the experience for key consumer sets of women and kids. Commenting on the digital flagship store launch, Senior Director, Brand adidas, India Sunil Gupta said: "With the launch of our new digital store we want to reinforce the brand's credibility in India through an acknowledgment of consumer feedback. Our aim is to shift the mindset from an eCommerce site to a digital brand store with consumer obsession at the heart of it all. The digital store aims to dial up our credibility, enhance the consumer experience and push the narrative on our sustainability efforts. The innovative technology and the improved user interface will provide the consumers an unforgettable experience." In addition to the launch, adidas will invite hackers, coders, and tech experts to test the beta version of the website for any bugs, or compatibility issues and reward them for their technical feedback. The brand will also continue engaging with the consumers through innovative offers and activities like new and exciting launches to keep up the shopping energies of the consumers and preparing them for the upcoming festive season. Indian travel packages. Adidas India launches digital flagship store | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
New Apple Watch Ultra To Be Lighter, May Be A Part Of Digital Connexion (2025-07-01T13:28:00+05:30)
 By The Techy Guy:: The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 2, which is rumored to have a lighter design compared to the current version. The current Apple Watch Ultra is quite heavy, almost twice as heavy as the lightest Apple Watch Series 8 model. Apple plans to address this issue by using 3D printing technology to make some of the mechanical parts of the Ultra 2. The use of 3D printing can potentially reduce the weight of the watch by replacing certain titanium parts with 3D-printed alternatives. The specific details about the extent of the weight reduction haven’t been provided yet. The new Apple Watch Ultra 2 is expected to be released in the second half of 2023, possibly around the time of Apple’s September event, where they might also unveil the iPhone 15. The Ultra 2 will be part of a joint venture called “Digital Connexion,” which includes Brookfield Infrastructure, Reliance Industries, and Digital Realty. With the increasing demand for digital services and access to the internet, data centers in India are also expected to grow rapidly. Reliance Industries has announced its plan to invest in data centers in India, and the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 2 might be part of that venture. The lighter design of the Ultra 2 is likely to make it more comfortable for users to wear on their wrists, and the use of 3D printing technology is also expected to improve production efficiency and reduce costs. New Apple Watch Ultra To Be Lighter, May Be A Part Of Digital Connexion |
GlobalBees is latest unicorn with $ 111.5mn raise in round led by Premji Invest (2025-06-14T11:07:00+05:30)
 New Delhi, (IANS): GlobalBees, a leading roll-up e-commerce company, has secured $ 111.5 million in series B funding led by Premji Invest. The round also saw participation from existing investors, including SoftBank and FirstCry, while Steadview Capital became the latest investor to back the company. With this latest investment, GlobalBees' valuation stands at $ 1.1 billion. The company plans to use the proceeds to further strengthen its product portfolio and expedite its efforts towards product innovation, customer experience, hiring talent and scaling companies. The company is now 100 plus people strong. The company is in advanced talks with 20 plus companies to strengthen its portfolio of digital first brands. Speaking on the development, Nitin Agarwal, GlobalBees CEO said, "With this investment, we are well set up to become India's largest brand platform." GlobalBees was founded in May 2021 and has a diverse portfolio of companies across categories such as Homecare, Beauty and Personal Care, Nutrition & Wellness, Fashion Jewellery, and Eyewear in just 7 months. GlobalBees plans to invest in 100 plus brands across verticals over the next three years, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), sports, home organisation, and lifestyle. The company has offices in Delhi and Bengaluru and has developed assets and expertise in marketing, technology, supply-chain & logistics and product innovation and more. In July 2021, the company raised $150 million in a mix of equity and debt in a Series A, led by FirstCry and other investors.GlobalBees is an aggregator of digital brands that transforms marketplace sellers into international brands. GlobalBees is latest unicorn with $ 111.5mn raise in round led by Premji Invest | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
5 ways to generate sales, engagement through digital signage (2024-03-06T13:37:00+05:30)
 Everyone knows how difficult times are for restaurants. One way to drum up sales without having to invest a lot of capital is to introduce digital signs that can promote menu offerings to a captive audience. Digital signage provides a way to share important updates, promote special offers or events and attract new hires — all using the restaurant's existing TV screens. Which is why many restaurants and bars are already using this tool to help rebuild sales following the pandemic, said Lucas Burns, enterprise account executive at Atmosphere, a digital signage content service provider, during a recent Fast Casual webinar titled "5 Ways to Generate Sales and Engagement through Digital Signage." "Far and away, F and B has been hit hardest by this pandemic, and they're looking at creative ways to emerge from this pretty disastrous time," he said during the webinar, moderated by Elliot Maras, editor of Kiosk Marketplace. Almost half of all restaurants surveyed by the Independent Restaurant Coalition have cut operating hours in the last year, causing a 58% drop in sales, Burns said. This number was prior to the emergence of the omicron variant. Atmosphere's customers experienced the following benefits from digital signage, according to the company's numbers:80% experienced a sales gain. 46% witnessed improved customer satisfaction. 33% reported a gain in return customers. Moreover, Burns said, digital signage is an easy way to build sales and engage customers, even if the business has fewer resources available. A digital signage platform allows the restaurant to upload or create their own graphics and to choose when and where to run the ads. "It's going to give you a tool to be able to be agile and flexible and push the messaging in real time," Burns said. He reviewed five ways digital signage adds immediate value. 1. Promote limited time offers in an engaging way Print flyers can convey a message, he said, but they are expensive and there is no way to guarantee getting the correct message to the correct audience at the correct time. A restaurant can target a digital message to a captive audience at a particular day part, for instance. One fast food restaurant sold 250% more of an LTO than other restaurants in the chain by advertising it on its digital screens. "Just informing your audience what you have at that time (via digital signage) can be massive," Burns said. "If you have it on your screen and you're leveraging that, your ROI is just going to explode." 2. Keep customers informed with up-to-date information: With digital signage, a business does not have to wait for new information to go to print and risk it being outdated as circumstances change. Instead, there is the flexibility to update information daily. 3. Let talent know you are in the market to hire: Digital signage also helps a restaurant find much-needed help, as it offers an easy way to achieve mass reach in front of an attentive audience, including those in the market for a new job. The signage can advise customers of hiring opportunities and job benefits. "These are people that are taking time out of their personal day to spend in your business," Burns said. "Those are people who believe in your brand. Those are people you probably want to be targeting." 4. Boost employee morale: "As an employee, a pat on the back goes a long way," Burns said. "Using your screens to thank your team visually is a big, big deal." Digital screens provide a way to display team photos and highlight their accomplishments and customer appreciation. 5. Invite customers to participate in events: Digital signage is also an easy way to provide information about events the company is involved with, along with photos and guest testimonials from company activities. Said Burns: "If you have it on your screen and you're leveraging that, your ROI is just going to explode."To watch the webinar, click here.5 ways to generate sales, engagement through digital signage |
Digital humans make their mark in real life (2023-04-20T17:21:00+05:30)
 Virtual stars in demand for TV shows and online platforms Lu Ping/China Daily: Virtual stars proved a resounding success at numerous New Year celebration galas hosted by television stations and video platforms to attract young audiences. Designed to increase human interaction, these digital avatars are created by technology powered by artificial intelligence. At the New Year's Eve gala staged by Bilibili, a short-video sharing platform popular with young people, celebrity virtual idol Luo Tianyi performed five songs in 10 minutes and appeared alongside real-life dancers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her debut. The show attracted more than 1.4 billion views. A virtual anchor created by Dragon TV played a flute and danced with celebrity singer Cheng Xiao during the Shanghai broadcaster's New Year gala, which was watched by tens of millions of viewers. A virtual rock band caught the eye at a concert staged by Sichuan Television to mark the arrival of 2023. The band comprises five digital avatars based on cultural relics found at the Sanxingdui site in Deyang, Sichuan province, which is known for its exotic-looking bronze statues. Ma Yuqi, joint director of the concert, said the band's appearance was designed to attract as many young audience members as possible. The appearance of virtual beings at New Year galas staged by TV stations and online platforms reflects just how popular these figures have become in China in the past 12 months. The concept of the metaverse — where the physical world combines with the virtual — has also gained traction in recent years. According to a report on the virtual people industry last year released by the consultancy company iiMedia Research in April, the estimated market scale of virtual humans was some 12.08 billion yuan ($176 million) and will reach about 20.52 billion yuan this year. The report said digital beings are now used widely in the entertainment and cultural sectors as icons, anchors and employees. In China, this boom is largely driven by Generation Z — those born in the late 1990s or early 2000s, who are seen as being familiar with digital technology, the internet, and social media from a young age. Ji Zhihui, who has observed the industry for more than a decade, said Generation Z members matured as the Chinese economy and technology developed rapidly. As a result, this group has taken to online activities such as watching videos, listening to music, and making friends. Generation Z comprises the majority of the metaverse's future residents, Ji said. "In the future, internet users will migrate to the virtual world," Ji added. Wider audience One of China's leading streaming platforms, iQiyi, was among the first companies to invest in virtual beings. Two years ago, it launched a virtual idol talent show, Dimension Nova, aimed at introducing such idols to a wider audience. The show generated popular hashtags that were viewed more than 1.2 billion times in two months on the Sina Weibo micro-blogging platform. On New Year's Eve, iQiyi staged Retaland, a virtual concert in four parts based on various themes. The performers were all virtual idols, and one of them was created from the image of popular star Gong Jun, known for his role in a martial arts TV series. According to iQiyi, the concert was aimed mainly at Generation Z. Lu Bin, head of a virtual idol studio affiliated with iQiyi, said: "Followers of these idols are mostly young people who grow up with anime, comics and games. Those younger than 24 account for the majority of this group." The studio, which was set up in 2021, has signed more than a dozen digital beings, including band members, anchors and influencers. One of the studio's star performers, D.M, features twin siblings Damian and Millie. The former is a handsome rapper, while the latter is a cool street dancer. They have their own accounts on numerous social media platforms, and perform at concerts and art shows. A-Soul, a virtual girl group created by Yue Hua Entertainment, a leading celebrity agent in China, comprises five members, each of whom has a distinctive style. Members of the group have millions of followers on social media platforms, and they have been in high demand on Bilibili, a short-video sharing platform especially popular with Generation Z. In 2019, Bilibili launched a section for virtual influencers, including anchors and idols. Chen Rui, the company's CEO, said at a meeting in November that the platform is home to the most virtual influencers worldwide. More than 230,000 virtual anchors broadcast music, dance and game videos to audiences mainly in the 18 to 35 age group. The air time of virtual influencers on the platform last year surged by 200 percent year-on-year. Luo Tianyi, a virtual singer who debuted 10 years ago, is the most popular such celebrity on Bilibili. Luo's fans compose music, write songs and draw illustrations for her — contributing greatly to developing the digital avatar's personality. At a cultural event to celebrate the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, Luo sang the song Time to Shine while wearing a light blue qipao, which gave her exposure to a wider audience. According to media reports, some 30 virtual celebrities took part in activities related to the Winter Olympics in the Chinese capital, including a digital avatar of champion freestyle skier Gu Ailing. Unlike Luo, whose image is largely based on animation, many of her counterparts look like real people. For example, Tianyu, modeled on the Flying Apsaras, a motif on murals at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province, has won more than 3.5 million followers since debuting in April last year on the short-video platform Douyin. Many netizens said they could not tell whether Tianyu was a real person or not. A clip of Tianyu on Douyin lasting less than two minutes garnered nearly 2 million likes. In the footage, she helps a popular TV actress fight a bad guy. Tianyu's stunning beauty and stylish clothes are inspired by elements of traditional Chinese culture. The virtual star can play the pipa (a four-stringed instrument) and perform jin dance (a unique dance style in ancient China). Zheng Yicheng, who manages the studio in which Tianyu was created, described the virtual being as "the beacon to spread Chinese culture to the world". Tianyu has received many invitations to film advertisements for brands, including one in which she collaborates with an electric car company. Zheng said a number of cities have also invited Tianyu to act as an ambassador to help promote culture and tourism. Policy support The boom in virtual avatars has been accompanied by policy support from the central and local governments. In October 2021, the National Radio and Television Administration announced a plan to promote the wider application of virtual anchors and animated presenters in news broadcasts, weather forecasts, variety shows, and science and education programs. As a result, numerous media outlets have hired digital employees as reporters, hosts and anchors. Many of these employees have reported on major events. In May last year, the State Council introduced a regulation to encourage the use of digital technologies to promote Chinese culture. Three months later, Beijing announced a detailed plan to transform its virtual people industry into a market worth more than 50 billion yuan by 2025. The plan encourages the use of virtual people in variety shows, concerts, livestreaming and film productions. It is the first city-level plan to focus on this emerging industry. In October, the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China called for "a national cultural digitalization strategy", viewed by many observers as a catalyst to the booming virtual beings industry. Cultural organizations, art institutions and cities were quick to create their own digital ambassadors or virtual spokespeople. Last year, the China National Museum welcomed its first digital employee, Ai Wenwen, who works in different departments at the institution to learn about art collections, art displays and the research of cultural relics to prepare for museum-related work in cyberspace. In June, the Ninth Qin Opera Art Festival in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, launched a virtual spokeswoman who can sing Qinqiang Opera. This art form, which originated in the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC), continues to thrive in a vast area of Northwest China. In 2006, it was added to the nation's intangible cultural heritage list. Chen Shaofeng, a professor of cultural industries research at Peking University, said the mushrooming growth of digital humans in the cultural industry is an inevitable trend that will provide a good and innovative service for the public."With highly developed technologies, the cultural sector will largely embrace the virtual world. It's a challenge for us all. We should think about how to work with these virtual beings to offer a better service," Chen added. Source: China.org.cn |
How consistency, technology affects restaurant branding (2023-02-15T15:17:00+05:30)
 Branding is critical to a restaurant company, but how much is too much? How does a brand create clear branding guidelines and incorporate a strong culture? Does leveraging data help optimize branding efforts? Branding was the topic of a webinar titled "Unlocking Memorable Restaurant Experiences by Enhancing Brand Consistency" sponsored by Raydiant and hosted by Fastcasual.com. Teaching viewers the role that technology plays in ensuring brand consistency and offering best practices for branding were Bobby Marhamat, CEO of Raydiant, and Tori Dundas, director of strategic partnerships for Par/Brink. The webinar was moderated by Mandy Wolf Detwiler, managing editor of Networld Media Group. "At the core (of branding) is data," Marhamat said. "It's making sure that being able to create that real brand experience starts with (knowing) who's your customer, what are you trying to reach, what is the actual experience that you're trying to create for that customer based on knowing who that demographic is. … At the core I'd say your point-of-sale (system) is super important (and) making sure that's a cloud-based point of sale and knowing data at the core is super important." Signage and message are important, as is what you're trying to portray at different times of the day, he said. "Technology is really the enabler to create that true customer experience and you do that by making sure all of the facets of what you connect in the store environment is at its core what you're trying to do to reach that customer that you identify." Dundas said brand consistency is important because what makes a brand is how a customer feels about it at every touchpoint. They're touching your brand in multiple ways," she added, "both online and offline and interacting through online ordering apps, when they drive past your store the way that it looks, when they see someone else carrying a bag with your brand on it, when they're in the store and how they feel about it." The ambience, food and technology combined affects how a customer will react to and then engage in a brand. "The consistency is important," Dundas said, "because each of these touchpoints come together to make that overall brand experience and how the customer feels about it. (Branding) has to be consistent not just across these different channels but also across the different locations if you are a multiple-location brand."To learn more about branding, click here to watch the free webinar. Source: https://www.qsrweb.com/ |
Google launches strong encryption for Android messages (2020-12-08T17:04:00+05:30)
 Google said Thursday it will be rolling out end-to-end encryption for Android users, making it harder for anyone, including law enforcement, to read the content of messages. “End-to-end encryption ensures that no one, including Google and third parties, can read the content of your messages as they travel between your phone and the phone of the person you’re messaging,” said Drew Rowny, head of Google product, in announcing the rollout. Google’s move is part of an upgrade from SMS to the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard with additional features for images and videos. It will be available for people communicating using Android-powered devices. The move brings additional privacy and security to Google’s messaging application, however, law enforcement agencies around the world complained that “strong encryption may enable criminals to hide their tracks”. Digital rights activists have long supported strong encryption to allow users to avoid snooping by governments and cybercriminals. But some governments have warned the technology could hinder criminal investigations. End-to-end encryption is already available on some services such as Facebook-owned WhatsApp, but the company has been facing resistance over its plan to bring full encryption to its Messenger app. Last year, US Attorney General William Barr joined with British and Australian counterparts in urging Facebook to abandon its encryption, claiming the planned court hurt investigations into child exploitation.Civil liberties groups countered that a lack of encryption or privileged access for law enforcement could hurt privacy and security for all internet users, creating holes that could be exploited by bad actors. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/ |
Micromax Co-Founder Suggests a 6GB RAM Phone in the Works (2020-12-01T15:39:00+05:30)
 Micromax Co-Founder Rahul Sharma on Monday hosted a virtual session on YouTube in which he suggested that company is developing a new 6GB RAM smartphone. He also mentioned plans to bring high refresh rate and liquid cooling to the next smartphone under the In series. Sharma, along with Product Head Sunil Joon, also addressed some user concerns during the session. He also highlighted that Micromax would start selling its In-series phones offline in the country. While responding to user queries during the virtual session, Sharma said that you could expect something new in 6GB RAM soon. This will, however, not be a new variant of the Micromax In Note 1, the executive noted. The In Note 1 comes in 4GB RAM, along with 64GB and 128GB storage options. Apart from the 6GB RAM, Sharma hinted at liquid cooling and high refresh rate on the next Micromax In-series phone. Sharma also mentioned that Micromax had started bundling a back cover with the In Note 1. “It will also reach the customers who have already purchased the In Note 1,” he said. During the session, Sharma also addressed some key user concerns around the In Note 1 that went on sale for the first time last week. He stated that the phone comes with Widevine L3 support, though there are plans to bring Widevine L1 in the next product. He also underlined that the In Note 1 has a Rainbow CG-01 Pro glass protection. This is claimed to be scratch-resistant with a hardness of 8H, which is equivalent to Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Micromax In Note 1 is currently available for purchase only through Flipkart and the Micromax website. However, Sharma revealed that the company is in plans to start selling the In-series phones through offline retailers in the country soon. Advertisement Some early customers pointed out that while Micromax was promoting its “Make in India” efforts, the battery of the In Note 1 appeared to be made in China. Sharma responded to those reports and admitted that there are some components that aren’t yet manufactured in India. “We are trying to start manufacturing the battery of the In Note 1 in India by the next quarter,” he said.Sharma also acknowledged a back panel issue with the In Note 1 that was raised by some YouTubers on social media recently. “The back panel issue emerged from a small lot. That has been rectified immediately,” he mentioned. Source: https://bangalorenewstoday.com/ |
Nicole Kidman, face of airline campaign (2016-05-01T23:14:00+05:30)
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Tata Capital launches Har Shaadi Hai Shaandaar (2016-02-11T14:42:00+05:30)
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IBM achieves new speed record for big data (2016-01-23T21:25:00+05:30)
Researchers at IBM Labs have achieved a new technological breakthrough enabling data transfer rates of up to 400 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) at extremely low power. Photo Credit: IBM Research
The device pictured above is a new, ultra-fast, energy efficient analog-to-digital converter (ADC) presented this week at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco. It can transfer Big Data between clouds and data centres four times faster than current technology. At this speed, 160 Gigabytes – or the equivalent of a two-hour, 4K ultra-high definition movie – could be downloaded in only a few seconds. While only a lab prototype, a previous version of the design has been licensed to Semtech Corp, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors. The company is using this technology to develop advanced communications platforms expected to be announced later this year. As Big Data and Internet traffic continue to grow exponentially, future networking standards will have to support higher data rates. In 1992, for example, 100 gigabytes of data was transferred per day, whereas today, that figure has grown to over two exabytes daily, a 20 million-fold increase. To support the increase in traffic, scientists at IBM Research and Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have been developing ADC technology to enable complex digital equalization across long-distance fiber channels. An ADC converts analog signals to digital, approximating the right combination of zeros and ones to digitally represent data so it can be stored on computers and analysed for patterns. For example, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international project to build the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope, will use hundreds of thousands of ADCs to convert the analog radio signals originating from the Big Bang. The radio data that the SKA collects from deep space is expected to produce 10 times the global internet traffic and the prototype ADC would be an ideal candidate to transport its signals fast and at very low power – a critical requirement, considering the thousands of antennas that will be spread over 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles). Dr. Martin Schmatz, IBM
Image used with permission from Jo Bowler, SKA Program Development Office, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics.
Research: “Our ADC supports IEEE standards for data communication and brings together speed and energy efficiency at 32 nanometres, enabling us to start tackling the largest Big Data applications. With Semtech as our partner, we are bringing our previous generation of the ADC to market less than 12 months since it was first developed and tested.” Semtech signed a non-exclusive technology licensing agreement, including access to patented designs and technological know-how, with IBM to develop the technology for its own family of products, ranging from optical communications to advanced radar systems. Craig Hornbuckle, from Semtech: “Through leveraging the IBM 32nm SOI process with its unique feature set, we are developing products that are well-suited for meeting the challenge presented by the next step in high performance communications systems, such as 400 Gb/s Optical systems and Advanced Radar systems. We are also seeing an expanding range of applications in the existing radio frequency communications marketplace where high-speed digital logic is replacing functions that have been traditionally performed by less flexible analog circuitry.” Source: Article
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ECommerce branding - in search of identity (2015-07-27T18:41:00+05:30)
By Homeo Mart: The eCommerce market is a fiercely growing and competitive business landscape in India. It takes a lot more to stand out than a mere value proposition.. Having a simple, clear yet strong identity was also crucial to occupying the consumer mind space. Online Health care in this space is like the plain Jane on the ramp walk: unglamorous and barely noticeable. For the young Indian demographic crowd gorging on clothes, footwear and accessories, where fashion and trends is the buzz-word, hip hop happening market places selling lifestyle products are the toast of the eCom world today. But a churn is happening, albeit slowly and as the population greys, consumer priorities and preferences will follow suit. We went into a brain storming exercise and looked around for an easily identifiable icon that had a strong connect with our core business idea and provided a visual cue. Vitruvian man is a perfect culmination of the genius of Michelangelo whose skill of fine arts and knowledge of science culminated into a humdinger of a picture. It packs a thousand punches, so to say, about the divinity of creation and His sense of proportion in humans and paradox in numbers (I.e, trigonometry if you like). And Michelangelo brought this paradox and proportion beautifully in the vitruvian man. NASA was inspired too, it sent a vitruvian type image of human form in the deep space probe as beacon for the intelligent life (?) on earth about 30 years ago. And it just entered inter stellar space! For us vitruvian man stood for the 1490 AD message of Michelangelo: that the Meso-cosm unites the Microcosm with the Macrocosm of our known Universe. Simply put the workings of the human body is an analogy for the workings of the universe. Cosmic healing therapy for instance is based on this premise, it believes that Gaia (energy of mother earth) which is a part of the energy of the supreme consciousness and intelligence, which we are surrounded by, has the power to unblock the malfunctioning chakras in the human body and restore it to normal health. Hahnemann the father of homeopathy propounded this in a slightly different way - Similaia Similibus Curantur(like cure likes). Starting with cinchona tree, he proved that substances that cause symptoms similar to an existing disease would acutely aggravate the condition and present other side beneficial effects. He devised a process called potentization that would release the spirit or the dynamic healing force contained in these substances. Given in small doses, these highly potentised substances stimulate the body's ability to heal itself ( a bit like how they show advanced alien forms cure themselves in Hollywood movies). And this system of medicine stood the test of time (200 years to-date) and is delicately poised at the intersection of medical, human, biological, physical and spiritual sciences. The logo that came out of this exercise encapsulates this spirit. The image is made up of small dots in various dimensions represent the pills and drops (common form in which homeopathy is administered). The dots spread out in all directions from the center (inside out) indicating the innate healing abilities of this form of medicine. The dots are placed like the petals in a flower representing the bach flower remedial system of homeopathy. Inside it is the Michelangelo's Vitruvian man signifying the oneness with nature striving for balance and proportion. Source: articlebase
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Sony MAX and SIX give Indians a reason to celebrate with India ka tyohaar (2015-04-27T19:17:00+05:30)
Wednesday: 11-March-2015: Sony MAX and SIX, the official broadcasters of the Pepsi Indian Premier League (PEPSI IPL) give its viewers a reason to cheer by launching the biggest campaign of the year – “Ismein Hai Dilon Ka Pyaar….Ye Hai India ka tyohaar”. As the name suggests, the campaign aims to connect hearts, connect lives, creating a national euphoria and strengthening emotional affinity towards the sport. ‘India ka tyohaar’ invites people to break their differences and join in the revelry which is aptly communicated through a heart shaped mnemonic that exudes the ‘spirit of togetherness’ this season of Pepsi IPL 2015. The campaign kicked off with a series of 3 prequels set in distinct situations of people’s life, ending with the common messaging of ‘India ka Tyohaar’. The films leave viewers with intriguing thoughts of preparation towards the year’s grandest tournament. Sony MAX & SIX have roped in the renowned musical duo - Salim-Sulaiman to compose the anthem for this magnanimous tournament. The Anthem with words like “dooriyan chod kar…dil se dil jod kar”, stirs up warm emotions that encourages viewers to come together and transcend all barriers to rejoice this season of Pepsi IPL. With a peppy and feet tapping rhythm the music will surely get the nation to groove in the spirit of festivity. Directed by Anupam Mishra of Crazy Few Films and conceptualised by DDB Mudra, the films brings alive the excitement that Pepsi IPL brings year on year and promises another year of fervour and celebration. Speaking about India ka Tyohaar, Mr. Neeraj Vyas, Senior EVP & Business Head, SONY MAX said, “‘Pepsi IPL reaches out to people across age groups, gender and languages. This year’s initiative “India ka tyohaar” is a unique thought that stems from the insight of how Pepsi IPL over the years has grown to be a huge festival which people celebrate together. It is a perfect blend of cricket, entertainment and festivity packaged in one”. Known to redefine the music of Bollywood with their unique style, Salim-Sulaiman hope to get everyone to dance to the anthem of Pepsi IPL 2015. Extremely overwhelmed with the opportunity to compose the anthem, they said, “With Pepsi IPL that reflects the fervour of the nation and an idea as powerful as ‘India Ka Tyohaar’, we tried to create a song which is very Indian in its spirit but yet has the sound of 'The Now'. Once we had the lyrics we composed the tune and created a rhythm around it which is the beat of our folk music and festivals all across India. The song is infectious! We hope the audiences will celebrate the music and this festive spirit of the Pepsi IPL across the globe.” The much acclaimed ad man & Mudra DDB chairman, Sonal Dabral said “If Cricket is a religion in India; Pepsi IPL is it's only true festival. Unlike any other sporting event in the world, it’s a microcosm of the passion, fervour and madness that envelops our country whenever cricket is played, uniting hearts and minds in its wake. And unlike any other festival in India, this is one festival that every Indian celebrates. It's got the colours of Holi, the festivity of Diwali, the brotherhood of Eid and the joy of X-mas. What else can you call it but one amazing 'India Ka Tyohaar'? It's been a privilege and an honour to create this big idea for Pepsi IPL. Here's to Sony! Here's to India Ka Tyohaar!" Stretching across a 4 week period till the launch of the tournament, the Pepsi IPL 2015 campaign will have a complete 360 degree rollout across mass media. The communication will be seen by viewers across mediums like television, print, radio, digital, outdoor, on-ground, mobile, BTL and out of home. Source: page3bollywood.com
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