Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Mirror , Mirror , On the Wall

 


 

Question :

How much will you pay for my Data All ?

Answer :

Rs 40,000 – Rs 200,000 per month

 

 

Context :

A New City, Built Upon Data, Takes Shape in South Korea     / nytimes    /   28 Mar  2022


Extract :

For Song-Lee Lee, a 30-year-old resident of South Korea’s first smart city

experiment, the mirror in her family’s living room is not just for smoothing her

hair on her way out the door.



This three-foot-tall mirror — and a Samsung tablet
mounted on a wall nearby

 — are the nerve center of this three-bedroom home in the Eco Delta Smart

 Village


Once Ms. Lee activates the mirror, it becomes a futuristic-looking touch

 screen where she can monitor almost every aspect of her health, from her

heart rate to how well she slept the night before; pick up suggestions on food

and exercise for the day; and check in on the weather and the day’s news.



And the Samsung tablet — one of two in each home — is her window into every virtual nook and cranny of this smart home:

 

#   what appliances are running,

 

#   how much energy the family is consuming,

 

#   if there is a parcel in her mailbox,

 

#   even when certain foods in the refrigerator will expire.


 

It will be studied by developers, appliance manufacturers, the government and health care experts

 

 

Residents in the 54 households in the smart village, which range from single


 person units to three bedroom homes, are living rent-free ( they pay only for


 electricity and water ) for three years, with a possible two year extension, in


 exchange for data collected about them


 

“ Once the three to five year experiment is over, and the city becomes more fully


 occupied, we will no longer study the info, but the technology in these homes


 will be the same “,  said Lee Jae Min, deputy director of the smart city project. “


 All of the current tenants know how important it is to provide the information.


With all the data we collect through the smart village, we can build a smart city “


 

But to build a successful city for the future, studying the present-day


 behaviours of the smart village residents is essential, according to the


 project’s planners. The daily routines of residents and their usage of energy can


 be a bellwether to how future cities should be conceived



 

Every tenant has a smart-watch that is synced to the mirror and the


 system in the home “ ,  explained Kim Do-gyun, general manager of the Korea


 Waters Resource Corp. “ It monitors your body and constantly assesses you


. It’s mandatory that everyone wears a watch for the three years


 

“ At 7 am the light in my bedroom automatically comes on , and a speaker says, “


 Hi, Song-lee, good morning. Please stretch your body “, Lee said. And a few


 weeks ago, we burned something in the kitchen, and the air filter system just


 removed it immediately. The system sensed that something was wrong and dealt


 with it. It’s a thinking house


 

Construction of Busan’s Eco Delta Smart City is one of the more far-reaching


 attempts around the world to create “smart cities.”


 

Other communities are also planning to build or rebuild cities or neighbourhoods


 based on data and a holistic approach to creating healthier and more sustainable


 live-work environments: Toyota is constructing Woven City in Japan to study new


A.I. technology, and residents of neighbourhoods in Helsinki, Finland, and


 Amsterdam have been studied as they have used smart technology added to


 homes.


But the intent is to build this city from scratch as fully smart.


“By building a new city from the ground up we can come out with a more

 comprehensive city,” said Lee Jae Min, deputy director of the smart city

 project with the Ministry of Land, Industry and Transport. “It’s not going to be

 soon, but in the future, we plan to have a standard model of a smart city

and export that to the world.”


The Busan project is now in the experimental phase, assessing not only how


 South Koreans might live but also how the government and the private sector


 might build more efficient infrastructure using solar and hydroelectric energy, as


 well as more energy-efficient appliances.



MY  TAKE :


Ø  At least in S Korea, there seems to be acceptance of the following :

#   Data is NEW OIL

#   Data is OWNED by a person and that person has sole / exclusive RIGHT

     to MONETIZE that data

#   Businesses ( specifically, Social Media ), must not STEAL private /

     personal data of citizen

#   Businesses must “ Buy “ PERSONAL DATA from citizen and adequately

     compensate for same


Ø  In S Korea, apartment rentals are approx. :


#   A single bedroom flat……………… Rs   40,000 - 50,000 per month

#   A 3 bedroom flat……………………….Rs   150,000 – 200,000 per month

 

Dear Shri Hardeep Singhji ( Puri ) – Minister for Housing :

 

Our government is building millions of houses ( flats ) for the homeless poor

 people of India

I presume, these are given away ( ownership title ) for FREE

Assuming that these are built with very BASIC specifications ( to reduce cost to

 a minimum ), there is no scope to install in these, those S Korean style

MAGIC MIRROR to compile comprehensive data about their occupants



However,  I strongly recommend installation of the following :

#    Built-in “ Drinking Water

    ( https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2022/03/procuring-technology-for-cascade-water.html )


#   Built-in “ Roof Top Solar

      ( Printed Solar )


#   Equipped with “ Solar Chulha

      ( https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2022/03/a-battery-swapping-policy-for-battery.html )


 #   Equipped with “ Smart Meter

      (  https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2021/03/arbon-finance-through-carbon-credits.html )

  

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  06 April 2022

Related Readings :

Ø  Ending the chatbot’s ‘spiral of misery’ ……[ 05 April 2022 ]

Ø  Topmost Candidate for PLI ?..................... [ 19 Jan 2022 ]

Ø  1984 was nothing !.................................. [ 23 Aug 2016 ]

Ø  2024 ! – V 2.0 of Orwellian 1984 ?............. [ 07 July 2017 ]

Ø  Big Brother is watching us ! And how ! ……….[ 09 Feb 2018 ]

Ø  Google Knows All : A de Jure Recognition ?... [ 20 Aug 2018 ]

Ø  Privacy ? What is that ?                                [ 04  May  2017  ]

Ø  Delusion of Privacy ?                                     [ 10  June  2017 ]

Ø  Privacy ? Perish the Thought !                        [ 18  July  2017  ]

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Saturday, 2 April 2022

Road Accidents can be Reduced

 


Context :

IIT-M, Renault-Nissan partner to find innovative ways to reduce road accidents  /  BL  /  03 Apr 2022


Extract :

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) is collaborating with Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India Pvt Ltd (RNTBCI) to reduce road accidents fatalities in Chennai and neighbouring districts through two projects. This initiative is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). An MoU for this was signed on Saturday.


The Connected Intelligent Urban Transportation lab at IIT Madras will develop innovative, technology and data-driven solutions to improve road safety, says a press release from the institute.


 

Kapil Saratkar, Additional Commissioner of Police, Chennai City Traffic Police, at the event said that around 4,500 traffic police are deployed by Tamil Nadu Police to manage the traffic in the city. However, there is a manpower shortage and these policemen have to face several difficulties in managing the traffic in the city. The Police Department requests the students of IIT Madras to provide simple and innovative solutions to address the problems faced by the department in managing the traffic in the city.

 

A year-long hackathon named ‘Hackcidents’ will be conducted and the best ideas on Road Safety and Accident Prevention will be implemented. Centre For Innovation, a voluntary student body at IIT Madras, will conduct the hackathon, the release said.

 

The project proposes the use of sensors and data collection techniques for better understanding the root causes leading to bus accidents and propose innovative ways to significantly reduce them, the release said.

 

 

INNOVATION - PROMOTERS  :


( A )  Shri Debashish Neogi ( MD- Renault Nissan Technology Centre / neogideba@gmail.com )


( B )  Shri Mahesh Panchagnula ( Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT-M / deaniar@iitm.ac.in )


( C )  Shri Kapil Saratkar ( Add Comm, Chennai Traffic Police / acop.traffic@tncctns.gov.in )

 

 

Dear Sirs :


I request you to forward my following suggestions to the students of IIT-M, for their consideration / evaluation :

 

HORN OK ?.......................................................... [ 22 Aug 2016 ]

 

Internet of Vehicles ( IoV ) ?................................... [ 04 Mar 2017 ]

Shri Raoteji has a Vision……………………………………………….[ 23 Mar 2017 ]

Fast Forward to IoV ? …………………………………………………..[ 03 July 2017 ]

A New Way to E-Way ? ………………………………………………..[ 15 July 2017 ]

Smart Cars , Safe Cars , Social Cars ?....................... [ 31 Aug 2017 ]

 

Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan ?................... [ 20 Nov 2018 ]

 

Congratulations, Avinash Dhakneji………………………………. [ 15 Dec 2020 ]

 

Young : and dying on roads …………………………………………..[ 13 Feb 2021 ]

Monetizing Geospatial Data ……………………………………………[ 16 Feb 2021 ]

Traffic Offences are a Lesser Priority…………………………….. [ 14 Mar 2021 ]

Jio Solutions : from KIRANAS to CARS ? ……………………….[ 03 Aug 2021 ]

 

 

 With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  03 April 2022

 

CC :

     Mr. Ashok Datar, Advisor - Mumbai Parking Authority  / datar.ashok@gmail.com


 Mumbai Mobility Forum  /  mumbai-mobility-forum@googlegroups.com


 Mr A V Shenoy / shenoyav@gmail.com


     All India Motor Transport Congress  /  aimtc@rediffmail.com  / aimtc1936@gmail.com


     Piyush Tewari , Save Life Foundation  /  piyushtewari@savelifefoundation.org

 

Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director of MG Motor India / rajeev.chaba@mgmotor.co.in


      Prof. Ashutosh Sharma ( Sec – Dept of Science and Technology / dstsec@nic.in )


      Shri Rohan Verma ( CEO- MapmyIndia / rohan@mapmyindia.com )


      Shri Ajey Lele ( Senior Fellow-Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses / ajey.lele@gmail.com )


      Shri Purwarji ( CMD- BSNL / cmdbsnl@bsnl.co.in )


     Shri Parth Trivediji ( CEO – Skylo )

     parth.trivedi@skylo.tech/parth@skylo.tech/Andrew@skylo.tech /tarun@skylo.tech /parth@gmail.com 

 parth@mit.eu / support@skylo.tech / info@skylo.tech 

  

     dipp-startups@nic.in


Gitakrishnan Ramadurai / gitakrishnan@iitm.ac.in


Bhargava Rama Chilukuri / bhargava@iitm.ac.in


Karthik K. Srinivasan / karthikks@iitm.ac.in


Lelitha Devi V / lelitha@iitm.ac.in

 

Srinivas Peeta / srinivas.peeta@ce.gatech.edu


Darcy M. Bullock / darcy@purdue.edu

 

Dr Ashish Bhaskar / ashish.bhaskar@qut.edu.au


Anuj Sharma / anujs@iastate.edu

 

Laurence Rilett / lrilett2@unl.edu

 

Dr. Satish Ukkusuri / sukkusur@purdue.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Readings :

 

Road crashes in India sharply increase poverty and debt: World Bank

 

Friday, 1 April 2022

An Umbrella Body ? A Distant Echo ?

 


 

Context :

CJI Ramana says need independent umbrella body for central probe agencies  /  Ind Express  / 02 April 2022

 

Extract :

Chief Justice of India N V Ramana underlined Friday the need to set up a statutory, independent institution which could bring under one roof the CBI and other agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). This, he said, would end multiplicity of proceedings and save them from being blamed as tools of political harassment.

“ There is an immediate requirement for the creation of an independent umbrella institution, so as to bring various agencies like the CBI, SFIO, ED, etc. under one roof. This body is required to be created under a statute, clearly defining its powers, functions and jurisdictions,” he said, adding that “such a law will also lead to much needed legislative oversight”.

Stating that the umbrella body should be headed by an “independent and impartial authority”, the CJI said the appointment must be made “by a committee akin to the one which appoints the Director of the CBI. The head of the organisation can be assisted by deputies who are specialists in different domains”.

“This umbrella organisation will end multiplicity of proceedings.

 

A single incident these days gets investigated by multiple agencies, often leading to dilution of evidence, contradiction in depositions, prolonged incarceration of innocents.

 

It will also save the institution from being blamed as a tool of harassment. Once an incident is reported, the organisation should decide as to which specialised wing should take up investigation,” he said.

 

“Police and public order being in the State list, the burden of investigation is primarily on the state police and there is no reason why state investigative agencies cannot enjoy the same level of credibility as that of the national agency,” he said, adding that “the Central law for the umbrella investigative body… can be suitably replicated by the states”.

 

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

E - Governance ?.............................. [ 03 April 2014 ]

 

Extract :

Look at the following , partial list of Central and State Agencies set up to fight fraud , money-laundering , corruption , tax-evasion , economic crimes etc :

 

>  Public Accounts Committee           (  PAC  )

  

>  Central Vigilance Commission        (  CVC  )

 

>  Central Information Commission     (  CIC  )

  

>  Research and Analysis Wing           (  RAW  )

  

>  Serious Fraud Investigation Office   (  SFIO  )

  

>  Information Bureau                        (  IB   )

  

>  Economic Offence Wing                   (  EOW  )

 

 >  Central Bureau of Investigation        (  CBI  )

  

>  Department of Revenue Intelligence (  DIR  )

  

>  Comptroller and Auditor General       (  CAG  )

  

>  Anti Corruption Bureaus ( States ).... (  ACB  )

  

>  Enforcement Directorate                    (  ED   )

 

>  Lok  Ayukts    (  States   )

  

>  Lok Pal           ( Central  )

 

  

Despite such an army of Agencies , how do corrupt manage to get away  ?

 

Or , in case caught , manage to delay delivery of punishment for years  ?

 

No doubt , there must be several reasons , including , inter - agency rivalry to get credit - something difficult to eliminate altogether

 

 But , I believe , the most important reason is :

 

Lack of a COMMON  / COMPUTERIZED database of all offences / cases / persons being investigated

 

And , which is readily " Accessible " to all of these Agencies , all over the country ( 24 * 365 )

  

Already , every Agency compiles huge dossiers on " Suspects " in its own "

Departmental Database", which is never shared with other Agencies , leading to ,

 


>   Huge amount of duplication of efforts / information

  

>   Fractured / scattered profiles of " Suspects "

 

>   Enormous waste of time / resources

 

  

What will help  ?

 

 Dismantling of individual departmental databases

 

 Merging of all Agency-wise databases into a SINGLE / UNIQUE database

 

 All Agencies to enter their findings / data / info into this COMMON

     database , with nothing preserved on local computers

  

All data-entry FORMS to be ONLINE . No paper forms at all

  

All local computers connected to ultra-secure Network ( Encrypted )

 

" Access Rights " to individuals , based on Biometric Identification

 

 

 

Related Reading :


Who watches the Watchmen ?..................................... [ 12 Jan 2019 ]


 Maharashtra to launch criminals' biometric database of 6.5 lakh people to aid police investigation  (  31  March  2022  )


Extract :


Maharashtra is set to become the first state to launch a biometric database of 6.5

 lakh people with criminal records along with a digital fingerprint and iris scanning

 system. 


Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will launch a criminals' biometric

 database on Saturday to help police investigations fast track a crime suspect.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 02 April 2022