Author: Uma Iyer

Open banking is a win-win for both customers and banks, and it is a trend that is here to stay, Uma explains. Barter was the initial method of trading. Coins and metals eventually came to be used to give value to trade. In the past, banks operated in isolation, creating a monopoly. Eventually, many banks in India were nationalized. However, those days are gone, and banks have had to adopt an open culture. Open banking is the new era, allowing information to be shared outside of banks. This allows fintechs to work with the data and provide convenience and security…

Despite cloud being the buzzword in IT, why is it not as straightforward for organizations seeking Next Generation operations? For most enterprises, cloud and SaaS-based solutions are the preferred option when specifying requirements for Next Generation tools. However, there is more to consider than meets the eye. Achieving the ideal solution you desire comes at a cost, and as Sima aunty would say, this means “compromise and adjustment.”(Reference: Pop Culture Netflix show Indian Matchmaking!) Cloud computing metaphor: the group of networked elements providing services does not need to be addressed or managed individually by users; instead, the entire provider-managed suite…

Rapid technological advancements have the potential to provide solutions and make the digital world supportive by acting as a “digital companion.” You’re probably going to find most of the stuff on social media fascinating, educational, and entertaining. But occasionally, you might come across ominous and even dangerous information online. These could include violent YouTube videos, explicit content showing scenes of animal abuse and beheadings, or news stories about interpersonal or workplace violence. Image Credit: Freepik I was taken aback by some of the case studies pertaining to different forms of violence that people can encounter when I picked up a…

It is likely that virtual assessments will play an increasingly important role in the future of work, academics and more says Uma. After the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual assessments have become increasingly popular in education. Virtual universities have sprung up all over the place, and online assessments are now widely used for a variety of purposes, including submitting assignments, taking initial assessments to gauge students’ interests and skills, and taking general psychometric tests. Let’s take a deeper dive to explore the phenomena and the future. Image Credit: gpointstudio on Freepik Advantages vs Challenges There are many advantages to using virtual assessments.…

A 500-metre testing unit for hyperloop pod prototype, developed by students of IIT Madras, is one of the models chosen by Musk’s SpaceX. IIT Madras has become the centre for hyperloop development in India, sparking a discussion about when the futuristic travel mode will be available in the country. A 500-metre testing unit for the hyperloop pod prototype, which was developed by IIT Madras students, has been funded by L&T Technology Services. The design aims to reach speeds of up to 1,200 kilometres per hour, and it was one of the models chosen by Elon Musk’s SpaceX organisation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvZ814pKJPo History:…

“I do believe that wearables are here to stay, and it is only a matter of time before they are integrated into contact lenses,” says Uma. The other night, I was gazing at the moon when I suddenly picked up my phone and started zooming in and taking pictures. My first thought was, “How cool would it be if our eyes could take pictures of what we see, exactly the way we see it?” In 2013, I participated in a hackathon with the newly launched Google Glass. Our case study was a heating specialist fixing an electric heater. The technician…

Big retailers do self-service checkouts in many countries, so it may well be a cashier-less check out soon, but not anytime soon. The advent of online shopping has sent many of the traditional high-street and whole-sale outlets to bankruptcy. Amazon however did a U-turn by setting up 68 brick-and-mortar book-stores carrying toys, books and home goods. In March 2022, however, they announced closure of the ones both in the US and UK. Amazon Books store. (Image Credit: Michael Sauers on Flickr) Amazon then switched to grocery markets and department store concepts. However, in July they closed three stores in London.…

Uma on why this one single charger reduces our need to rummage through our stack of chargers to find that one ‘perfect’ charger that will fit everything. Apple is finally moving to USB-C, read the headline. While many other devices were already on it, like the Google Chromebook Pixel, Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 10., Nokia N1 tablet, OnePlus 2, Xiaomi Mi 5, Huawei Mate 9 and HTC 10, Apple still continues to run on older connectors like iPhone SE (2nd/3rd generation), iPod touch (7th generation), Apple Watch Series 3 and earlier and HomePod mini. For the unversed,…

Until the non-invasive option is fully available, it is better to ensure that we live a life with balanced nutrition, physical activity and enough rest to avoid diabetes. The minute one hears about glucose or insulin resistance or diabetes, apart from the medication, it is a constant worry about the pricking and prodding to keep the count in check! It is more difficult for little children and the elderly who may have clotting issues. The invasiveness has drastically reduced over a period of time with more wearable technologies, however, it still remains quite difficult to manage. India has an estimated…

Reels, Social Media etc. are here to stay, but striking the balance is a two way street. Mindless consumption can to mental-breakdown says Uma. Recently I picked up my phone and started browsing through reels. When I looked up at the clock, I had spent 3 hours on mindless scrolling. It started as a harmless 2:00 p.m. activity, but it went on till 5:00 p.m. What was intriguing was the choice of feeds that were fed through the reels. They were in line with my interests, the songs were catchy, and the feeds were intellectual. They were not mindless dance…