Category Archives: Science & Technology

Icrisat Unveils Green Phablet for Farmers

Agriculture, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

To improve productivity and profitability of small farmers in the state, the state government and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) have joined hands to implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based knowledge sharing platforms and other agricultural innovation initiatives.

The collaboration was launched during the Digital Telangana Week.

As part of this, a Phablet was launched through which small farmers can have tips on the kind of agricultural inputs they require for their fields.

Based on specific soil health of the lands of a farmer, the scientists at the Icrisat and the government will send timely messages to the farmers through the phablet.

The phablet is a smart device bigger than a phone but smaller than a tablet.

Icrisat launched the Green Phablet which comes for around `18,600. Icrisat will maintain servers to safe keep the information.

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between two state government departments — department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and department of Agriculture and Cooperation — and Icrisat here on Tuesday.

The partnership will explore areas of collaboration in digital agriculture along with agriculture value chain and explore the possibilities of Icrisat playing an active role in the T-Hub, the incubator being launched by the state government.

The partnership will help launch innovative digital platforms that aim to revitalize information dissemination in rural areas, expert systems for providing real time advisories and better access to market information by smallholder farmers.

‘’Icrisat has been at the forefront of using the latest technology to benefit smallholder farmers of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The digital agriculture initiative will allow information to be precisely targeted to individual farmers. This will help farmers to access agricultural related information and keep themselves up-to-date with market related information, which gives them an opportunity to sell their produce at fair prices, thus putting them on the path to prosperity,’’ Dr David Bergvinson, Icrisat Director General said explaining the proposed activities under the digital agriculture initiative.

The MoU was signed by C Parthasarathi, agriculture secretary, Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary and Icrisat Director General Dr David Bergvinson in the presence of agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy and IT minister K T Rama Rao.

Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao said ‘’Access to timely information and knowledge can help millions of farmers in Telangana to improve their yields, incomes and resilience since they can now make informed choices about good farming practices.’’

Rama Rao, however, felt that there is a need to bring down the cost of Phablet to `10,000 to make it affordable for farmers.

Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy felt that it is very appropriate to launch the digital agriculture activities at a time when use of digital gadgets is on the rise in rural areas.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / July 08th, 2015

Hyderabad buoyant on software exports

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

SoftwareTELAN10jul2015

Despite the bifurcation of the state, the software exports from the city are likely to touch Rs 64,000 crore during the current financial year 2014-15.

Hyderabad is the second largest software exporting city in the country after Bengaluru, and is forecast to grow by 13 per cent over last year.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the announcement of the 23rd edition of the annual summit and awards of the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) here on Friday, Telangana IT, Electronics and Communications Secretary Harpreet Singh said that during 2013-14, the software exports from Hyderabad stood at Rs 57,000 crore.

“This year, we will be touching Rs 63,000 crore-Rs 64,000 crore in total IT exports, if 13 per cent growth rates happens,” he added. It is estimated that about 3.2 lakh people are working in the IT sector. “We expect another 20,000 employees to be added, taking the figure to 3.4 lakh during this fiscal,” the official said.

The HYSEA is holding its annual summit on March 11 and March 12 here. Elaborating on the initiatives taken by the Telangana government to promote the sector, Singh said, “We are setting up T-Hub, the country’s biggest technology incubation centre, which will facilitate start-ups to grow. This start-up system will see good number of IT companies originating from Hyderabad,” the official said.

Promoting skill

“We are trying to promote skill development to enhance the employability of students who are graduating from the engineering colleges here. We are looking at making graduates industry-ready,” he said adding “we are working with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) to produce a curriculum in sync with the industry.”

Referring to the proposed Information Technology and Investment Region (ITIR) project in Hyderabad, Singh said, “ITIR is in the planning stage. We are planning to have better infrastructure than Cyberabad. We are in the process of getting a consultant.”

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Business / DHNS – Hyderabad / February 13th, 2015

Students showcase novel models in ‘eye care’

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

A group of students showcased how the buzzwords ‘technology’ and ‘innovation’ can help provide effective and affordable healthcare in the country.

At the ‘ReDx: Engineering the Eye’ workshop, which was inaugurated on Sunday, engineering students collaborated with their mentors from the medical fraternity to exhibit unique alternatives as well as newer ideas in eye care. In the workshop organised by L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Camera Culture Group and MIT Media Lab, about five potential prototype models were on display.

One such model was JULIA (Just Use Logic in Imaging App), which was developed by a team of ten members selected from various institutes from across the country. “Autorefraction and Retinoscopy are the two methods used to detect refractive errors.

The equipment is expensive and the process is time consuming,” said Venu Madhav, IIIT student and member of the project.

“We have developed a device, which if manufactured on a large scale, costs only Rs.100 per piece. This can be operated even by an illiterate person and the test results can be known immediately. We tested this on 200 people and the difference of results of our device when compared with usual equipment was minor.”

Another tool called ‘visual field testing for babies’ is a first, according to those developing it. “Babies in the age group of three months to twelve months are checked for sight issues. There is no such testing for babies available now and this will help in early detection of Glaucoma and other eye ailments,” said Prem Nandini, mentor of the group.

Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who inaugurated the workshop, assured that the State government would provide favourable conditions for entrepreneurs and suggested that students ‘Indianise’ their products for the benefit of society.

Gullapalli N. Rao, Founder-Chair, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, said that they aim to reach the most neglected citizens with the efforts.

In its third year, the programme saw about 100 participants.

The exhibits will be showcased for the next one week in Engineering Staff College of India in Gachibowli.

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Camera Culture Group and MIT Media Lab organise ‘ReDx: Engineering the Eye’ workshop

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – July 07th, 2015

Nonagenarian doctor’s relentless service to patients

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

At the age of 91, Daram Nagabooshanam, the senior most chest physician of Karimnagar district, hates Sundays and holidays and says, “I feel happy and healthy only if I work and go to my clinic to treat my patients”.

This elderly doctor still arrives sharp at 9 a.m. at his clinic by walking, from his house and treats patients coming from far flung places of Karimnagar, Adilabad, Nizamabad and Medak districts and also adjoining Chhattisgarh State.

He is still continuing his crusade against the Tuberculosis (TB) disease.

Dr. Nagabooshanam, who is popularly called as the TB doctor, is native of Jagtial and completed his medicine from Osmania Medical College in 1952. He also completed his TDD in 1960.

He practiced medicine in the government sector for 13 years till 1964 and later started private practice in Karimnagar town since then. When TB was considered as dreaded disease like cancer, this doctor instilled confidence in people with his proper diagnosis and appropriate prescription.

Varied interests

He was the first person in the district to conduct X ray screening facilities for treatment. Recently, he had won the State government’s “Vayo Shrestha Samman” award for Lifetime Achievement category. He is a multi-faceted genius and a man with varied interests. He has passion for collection of rare artefacts, drift wood, philately, numismatics, crystal stones and ancient historic tools and preserving them in his museum set up in memory of his wife Daram Susheela Memorial Museum in Karimnagar.

He also won accolades for launching campaign against corruption and usage of plastic bags.

This doctor also serves gruel during summer season every year to quench the thirst of people in the town. Dr Nagabooshanam feels proud to serve the needy patients even at this age.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by K. M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – July 01st, 2015

Celkon opens phones manufacturing unit in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Phones manufacturing unit opened at Medchal in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: N. Ravi Kumar / The Hindu
Phones manufacturing unit opened at Medchal in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: N. Ravi Kumar / The Hindu

Celkon’s unit is in Medchal and equipped with four assembly lines and has a capacity of two lakh units a month.

A number of mobile phone manufacturers are considering setting up units in Telangana, the State’s IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Friday. Inaugurating a facility of smartphone maker Celkon, which has been outsourcing from China, the Minister declared: “This is just the beginning. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is keen on a having a mobile manufacturing hub in Telangana.

“Micromax has decided to set up a plant near Hyderabad on 50 acres,” the Minister said, adding he would be visiting South Korea and Japan soon to hardsell the State to electronic hardware manufacturers. Noting that both the Centre and the Telangana Government were on the same page with their ‘make locally’ approach, Mr. Rama Rao said that there were plans to develop hardware cluster in Maheswaram, Medchal and Ghatkesar, all near Hyderabad.

Celkon’s unit is in Medchal and equipped with four assembly lines and has a capacity of two lakh units a month. It is to be expanded to 12 lines and a total of five lakh units capacity per month. Reiterating the focus of the Government on facilitating industrial growth to create jobs for youths, Mr. Rama Rao said that mobile phone units can provide large number of low-end employment opportunities to those from ITIs and diploma holders.

Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao listening to the manufacturing process of Celkon phones at its unit in Medchal in Hyderabad on Friday after formally opening it. / Photo: N. Ravi Kumar / The Hindu
Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao listening to the manufacturing process of Celkon phones at its unit in Medchal in Hyderabad on Friday after formally opening it. / Photo: N. Ravi Kumar / The Hindu

The State, he added, was keen on creating an eco-system that eventually will help host an analog Fab manufacturing unit. Celkon Chairman and Managing Director Y. Guru expressed satisfaction at becoming the first mobile phone manufacturer in south India. “This comes at a time when India is poised to become the largest consumer base for mobile phones and we are set to bring in a new phase of growth at Celkon,” he said.

Executive Director Murali Retineni said that by next quarter the investment on the new facility will be around Rs.225 crore. Lion’s share of Celkon monthly sales of 6-7 lakh units will be made in India.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by N. Ravi Kumar / Hyderabad – June 26th, 2015

Star Hospitals Conducts Advanced Neurosurgery

Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

A two-day Neurology conference was inaugurated at STAR hospitals on Saturday. The conference aims to discuss advances in the field of Neurology, Neuroradiology and high end Endoscopic Neurosurgery.

Star HospitalsTELAN28jun2015

Many eminent neurologists and neurosurgeons from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are attending the conference.

A pre-conference workshop was held at Star Hospitals on Friday. Dr GVS Chowdhary, Dr Venkata Swamy (Neurologists), Dr Sukumar Sura, Dr Sai Sudarsan and Dr Bala Rajasekhar (Neurosurgeons) attended the workshop.

A neurosurgery workshop was conducted at Star Hospitals in which endoscopic surgery for disc disease was demonstrated live. A patient was operated upon under local anaesthesia. He walked on his own soon after the surgery and interacted with the delegates who attended the workshop.

This unique stitchless and painless surgery, can be done while the patient is awake. This surgery is done only at Star Institute of neurosciences. Various developments in neuroradiology were also discussed in the conference.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / June 28th, 2015

Eve from Adam’s maker will be a ‘mother-drone’ robot

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Rohan Shravan, Notion Ink founder. / Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Rohan Shravan, Notion Ink founder. / Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Eve can be used for everything from asteroid mining to scanning the depth of the oceans for exotic creatures.

Rohan Shravan, whose company Notion Ink is making Eve, a personal computing robot that understands the needs of its users and can fly like a drone, says this will be the first time artificial intelligence will itself be an operating system, rather than just being part of it, as was the case with Siri or Google Now.

Siri is a personal assistant that works on Apple’s mobile operating system iOS and Google Now works on Google’s Android platform.

Spending on robots worldwide is expected to more than quadruple from just over $15 billion four years ago to about $67 billion by 2025 — a 10.4 per cent compound annual growth rate since 2010, says a study by the Boston Consulting Group. The personal segment, which includes robots used for entertainment, cleaning, education, security, and household applications, is projected to grow the fastest, at a compound annual rate of 15.8 per cent, rising from $1 billion to $9 billion during that period.

Eve will be able to communicate with other smart devices, record every second of what it sees, and store humungous amounts of data. Mr. Shravan says Eve can be used for everything from asteroid mining to scanning the depth of the oceans for exotic creatures.

He bootstrapped Notion Ink with personal savings of about Rs. 6 lakh and used the facilities of B.V. Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT) in Hyderabad, where his firm got incubated. Most of his initial employees were final year students, who, he says, were later poached by multinational companies. When he told venture capitalists that his product Adam would be a challenger to Samsung and Apple, they laughed at him, he says.

“They told me that ‘you are not going to survive even for six months’,” says Mr. Shravan, who quit his job at Schlumberger, the world’s biggest oil-services company, to launch Notion Ink in 2009.

For a while, their scepticism seemed well founded. Notion Ink ran into huge problems. Google came up with its own operating system, Honeycomb, but restricted access to players such as Motorola. Notion Ink’s other partner Nvidia Corp, a maker of chips for computer graphics cards, which used Honeycomb, also discontinued support. This had a drastic impact on Notion Ink, whose tablet was based on Google’s Android platform.

Mr. Shravan then tied up with U.S. chip-maker Texas Instruments for hardware support. In 2012, Texas Instruments announced it was winding down operations in smartphone- and tablet-oriented chips. Notion Ink had to start all over again.

Then, last year, things started looking up for his firm. Two of the world’s largest tech companies, Microsoft and Intel, formed a partnership with the firm to provide their chips and software, respectively, to Notion Ink’s touch-enabled computing devices.

Mr. Shravan now sells the devices directly to 30 large enterprises, competing alongside Dell and Toshiba.

Notion Ink is now re-entering Apple’s home turf, by selling its Cain tablet in the U.S. market.

Former Infosys Director and Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services T.V. Mohandas Pai says, “People in India need to learn how to market their products.” Also, he says, “India produces good engineers, but it is important for them to make hardware products intuitive and attractive in terms of design.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S&T> Technology / by Peerzada Abrar / Bengaluru – June 21st, 2015

Traditional knowledge on biodiversity in Telangana being gathered

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

In the fledgling Telangana State, the aged are being approached to find out from them traditional knowledge pertaining to medical plants and the richness of the bio-diversity in the areas.

The Telangana State Biodiversity Board (TSBB) which was formed after the bifurcation of united AP, has sent well-equipped teams with technical knowledge to fan out into bio-diversity rich areas to gather complete information about forest areas, government land, lakes, and rivers. Specifically, photographs are to be taken of plants and animals.

Dr Shilpi Sharma, a regional biodiversity coordinator said considering the importance Ayurveda has gained, the aged are being specifically approached to find out from them about the medicinal value of plants in the area they live.

Talking to them about traditional knowledge and their experiences, the teams will document everything with photographs and statements.

The idea behind gathering all the information is to record the rich biodiversity in the areas, and check if still exists. The information will also help in taking measures to preserve the bio-diversity in the specific areas.

The TSBB constituted Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) to prepare what are called “People’s Biodiversity Registers” (PBRs) in 50 areas at the gram panchayat level in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Warangal. Scientific institutions, NGOs and community-based organisations are also involved as Technical Support Groups (TSGs) with the BMCs to gather what will be a mine of information.

According to official sources a lot of information has been gathered at various places, even pertaining not only to the plant life but also insect life and microorganisms in the areas.

Interesting information also is coming out from people who are said to be parting with the traditional knowledge that they have acquired. Drying of fish today is mainly done by customized solar dryers but traditional knowledge provided an insight into how to do it in a better way without the use of solar dryers. The findings and knowledge will be well documented.

The National Biodiversity Board (NBB) has asked the biodiversity boards of all the states in the country and it has been going in for some years. Prior to united AP bifurcation in June last year, work pertaining to preparing “People’s Biodiversity Registers” had been taken up in all the districts.

However, with Telangana becoming a separate state, a fresh programme was begun a couple of months ago. Some preliminary information in the form of the PBRs is expected to be submitted in the next six months or so.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / June 18th, 2015

Telangana govt to fund Old City woman’s pilot training

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

The Telangana government is all set to give wings to a girl from the Old City. Poised for flight, Salwa Fatima, who is the first pilot from purana shahar, will be given Rs 35.5 lakh so as to enable her to soar the skies, this time, in a multi-engine aircraft.

Highly placed sources told STOI on Saturday that the chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has sanctioned the funds. A government order (GO) will be issued to the effect next week.

“Taking a keen interest, the CM has treated the case of Salwa Fatima as a “special case,” said Syed Omar Jaleel , special secretary, minorities welfare department. Describing Salwa as a “young girl who shows immense promise”, he added, “The funds will be released in two instalments. They will be given directly to the aviation school where Salwa will be studying. The GO will be released soon.” There exists a precedent of the government granting aid to an individual – to a boy from the SC community, Jaleel observed.

Thanks to the large heartedness of philanthropists, family and her own unbending resolve, Salwa, who already has a commercial pilot license to fly a single engine aircraft, has already clocked over 200 hours of flying. And as a logical conclusion, she wants to upgrade her flying skills to multi-engine aircraft. “In order to do this, I will have to take two courses: the multiengine rating and a specialisation course called type rating. For the former, I will need to have 15 hours of flying in a multiengine aircraft and 10 hours of simulation. The latter will enable me to fly an airbus,” she says. She is still unaware of the CM giving his assent to the release of funds.

The girl, who is a healthy blend of the traditional and the modern, says that she has shortlisted the GMR Aviation Academy and the Telangana State Aviation Academy as her preferred flying schools. “Both courses put together will entail expenses of around Rs 35 lakh,” she says.

Positive about support from her in-laws, she continues, “My husband and in-laws are in fact supportive of my aspirations. There is a tradition of women working here. In fact, my parents wanted me to go to a family which encourages me to work.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Syed Mohammed, TNN / March 22nd, 2015

This Love has no Boundary

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

DrGuravaTELANGANA05apr20145

What began as a meeting between the two turned into a love story after years. She was famous, daughter of then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Bhavanam Venkatram, whereas he comes from a middle-class background.

But the couple believed they are destined to love each other forever and Dr Gurava Reddy smiles and sings, “Chalo Ek Bar Phir Se, Ajnabee Ban Jaye Ham Dono…”

DrGurava02TELANGANA05apr20145


The beginning of true love story

“I remember the day I first saw her at her house, when I came to Hyderabad from Bapatla to receive my scholarship. It feels like just yesterday. It was in 1975. When I came to Hyderabad again in 1979, that is when my sister-in-law coveyed her feelings for me. It was love. Initially, I was scared, because there is a lot of disparity between us. But looking at her simplicity and her down-to-earth attitude, I also started liking her,” says the orthopaedic and chief joint replacement surgeon Dr Gurava Reddy.
Staying apart

For couples, who get along very well and love one another, everything conspires so that they cannot stay away from one another for long. These two doctors too truly could not bear to be apart. During their courtship period, Dr Gurava wrote countless letters to Bhavani. “We dated for almost seven years before marriage. That time we didn’t have telephone for communication. So, I wrote a letter every day for almost a year when I was in Delhi,” recalls Gurava Reddy.


Support from family

Luckily for them, their families were very supportive. “I loved him, I was sure of that then. I wanted to marry him and live happily ever after. I wrote a letter to my father and explained to him. And since we were relatives (my aunt and his uncle were married), our families accepted us and got us married,” shares Bhavani.

Poles apart

There’s no denying it: all couples fight. “We do fight but it is very minimal now. We are more mature. We do agree that arguments and fights are going to happen considering we are two different personalities but its important how we deal with it. If she is angry, it shows on her face. And I take the initiative to pacify her. We can’t be not talking to each other for more than 24 hours,” says Gurava Reddy adding, “I love to be in the company of 100 people and for her even two is a crowd.”

Partners, who work in similar jobs are more likely to work long hours and be more committed to their profession, but in case of Gurava Reddy and Bhavani, they think that working together can enhance mutual understanding of working conditions and bring a balance in their work-life. “She is my soul and being in the same professions its makes our work easier. She understands and can empathise with me. It is attractive to come home to someone who is the head of the household. I fail to understand, how on earth can someone live alone,” he says.

Keeping the flame alive

Does love lose its intensity with time? “I don’t think it does, or at least it doesn’t have to. We have been married for 30 years, and we still love each other intensely. It is more exciting, passionate and fulfilling all the time,” feels Gurava.

The couple believes the secret to their long married life is kindness, love and tolerance. “It is a beautiful feeling and we still feel for each other. Marriage is not an event, it is an institution, a process, and we need to nurture it on a regular basis to keep the fire alive. For instance, Bhavani knows that I love piano and for a very long time I was trying to learn but could not due to my busy schedule. So, this Valentine’s Day she got me a tutor. These small things make a lot of difference in relationship,” he says. Adding to this Bhavani says, “We are very romantic. We have had some wonderful holidays. Dr Gurava would often surprise me. For instance, the time when he gifted me an exclusive tennis court. I would love to fall in love with the same person again.”

Meaning of marriage

The couple have two children — 27 year-old son Adarsh, an orthopaedic surgeon and 23-year-old Kavaya. They have been happily married to each other for the last 30 years.

“Today, after so many year of togetherness I can tell you that he is the most romantic person in the world,” she says adding, “If either of us ever reach home early, we feel lonely and start enquiring about the other. Filling the loneliness, completing each other – that is what means to be husband and wife for us.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Swati Sharma / April 04th, 2015