Context :
( A ) … PROBLEM / How to prevent cheating in
Exams
[ IndiaTVnews /
23 Aug 2023 ]
Extract :
The written exam for BPSC Teacher Recruitment 2023 is to be
conducted from August 24 to 26. This resulted in a huge crowd in trains, buses
and hotels being jam packed as over 8.15 lakh students
are to appear for the exam. Students, who are travelling in overcrowded
trains, took to social media platforms to criticise "the improper
arrangements and lack of hospitality" as they are forced to stay at
railway platforms.
As per the report, the BPSC Teacher recruitment examination is
being held for 1,70,461 posts. The exam will be held
in two shifts in the span of three days.
The reporting time for students to be appeared in morning shifts
is 7:30 AM and for the afternoon shifts students will have to report at 1 PM at
the examination center.
Candidates are not allowed to carry any stationary item other
than a black/blue ball point pen.
Any kind of electronic
devices, calculators, smart watches or any other gadget is strictly
prohibited inside the exam hall
( B ) SOLUTION / Employ latest
Technology
Bihar’s
fix for hi-tech exam cheats: 6-acre centre with jammers ….. TNN … 24 Aug 2023
Extract :
In recent years, cheating in
competitive examinations has gone
high tech with online video broadcasting
sites flaunting smart
gadgets that would evade even eagle-eyed invigilators
Finally, authorities have raised their game. On Wednesday, Bihar CM
Nitish Kumar inaugurated a state-of-the-art first-of-its-kind, exclusive examination complex in Patna.
Equipped
with CCTV cameras, cellphone jammers, and webcasting facility to check use of
unfair means , the complex cost over Rs 260 crores. Spread over 6 acres, it can host over 25,000 examinees when fully ready.
The complex
is named, “ Bapu Pariksha Parisar “ ( Bapu Examination Complex ), after Mahatma
Gandhi
“ The
complex has 44 halls with a current
seating capacity of 20,680 examinees for offline
examination
The premises
can host another 4,400 students for online examination
in 20 halls which will be ready in the next phase. In all, the complex will
accommodate 25,080 examinees “
( C ) LESSON / Chief Ministers
should duplicate Bihar solution – with following improvements
Ø Exam
Malpractices ? No More ! ………………………… 19 Oct 2019
Extract :
With arrival of IoT ( Internet of Things ), catching cheating students ,
is going to be ever-more difficult
Ask :
How long before the following items
in that exam hall, carry RFID
embedded micro-sensors,
( with electric power drawn from air ! ), which can receive and transmit all kinds of data ( text – images – voice ) , through the walls of the
halls ?
Ø Water Coolers
Ø Mobile phones ( already banned in exam
halls )
Ø Smart Watches
Ø Smart Ball Pens
Ø AR-VR augmented Eye Glasses
Ø Pendants and other jewelry
Ø Smart Clothes ( with button cameras )
Ø Smart Shoes
Ø Tooth Implants
Ø Tatoos printed on hidden body parts
Ø Walking Sticks / Wheel Chairs ( for
challenged )
This list is only limited by your imagination !
And applies equally, not
only to the students but also to the exam supervisors !
Not counting tables /
chairs / fans / drawing boards and walls of the exam hall – all IoT enabled !
All capable of receiving / broadcasting
data !
Does all of these mean
that , as far as cheating in exams is concerned, things will only get worse ?
May be
But, If bad people can use technology for bad purposes, then it
also enables good people to use it for good purposes !
For example :
TCS iON , a unit of Tata Consultancy
Services, plans to deploy this technology for eliminating cheating !
( https://www.tcsion.com/dotcom/TCSSMB/examboards/segment/recexambodies.html
https://www.tcsion.com/dotcom/TCSSMB/education/product/digitalexams.html )
HERE IS HOW :
Ø Launching
its Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) driven Command Centre in Chennai, which will monitor in real
time, 6000 of its examination venues,
across the country
OBJECTIVE :
Ø Fair
conduct of exams with transparency of the exam operations
METHODOLOGY :
Ø Monitor
the exam process through
a set of 150 parameters
Ø Prevent,
predict and post incidents as
alerts for efficient management of the exam
Ø Track
movement and devices carried
by every candidate at any exam centre, via a live CCTV feed
Ø Predict
the readiness of the Centre based on past incidents and the current live feed of events in
the exam
Ø Issue
alerts about any malpractice attempts based on the learnings from the malpractice patterns of
the past
Ø Track
the readiness of all the devices being used for conducting the exam, by leveraging TCS’s
Ø Issue
proactive automated directions for any observations that warrant immediate action through
instant
alerts against anomalies like exam
interruptions. Unusual behavior on server or candidate system and the
performance of the devices being used for the
exam process
It is possible that the administrators of Bhagath PU College (
Haveri-Karnataka ), never heard of TCS iON innovation for preventing cheatings
in exams
They ordered all students appearing for first year science exam,
“ to wear cardboard cartons on their heads “
– to prevent sideways glance !
Cannot believe ?
Read :
Karnataka: College students made to wear
cardboard boxes at exams
Although, the news report does not spell out, I suppose that :
Ø Students
appearing at TCS examination centers, do so on a computer screen
Ø No
two students have the same questions in their exam papers and for each student,
the exam paper is
instantaneously / randomly generated on the
fly, from a vast data bank of questions of similar “ Degree of
Difficulty “
Ø There
is a time limit for solving the online paper
Ø As
soon as the time gets over, the SCORE [ result ] is flashed on the screen,
along with a rejection letter or
an ( provisional ) “ Appointment
Letter “ – which, the selected student must “ accept “ online and
immediately
In India, hardly a week passes without millions of students
appearing in exams being conducted by schools / colleges / Institutes / Prof
Bodies / Exam Boards etc
Then there is Railway Board conducting paper-based written exams
in thousands of exam centers, all over India, for millions of job-aspirants
Ditto with Indian Association of Bankers
And each of these is susceptible for cheating / paper-leaking /
heartburning and injustice to bright students
Lakhs of crores of rupees and billions of man-hours and millions
of tons of papers are wasted
All of this wastage of National Resources can be saved, if
only Shri Prakash Javadekarji,
requests TCS
Ø To
share its technology platform to the entire Education Industry , for FREE
Ø To
modify the National Career Service Portal [ www.nsc.gov.in ]to
become Online Jobs Fair
dd.caiu@mail-dr.epfindia.gov.in>
FAST FORWARD by 4
YEARS ( TO AUG 2023
) :
In the list of IoT enabled “ wearable “ that I listed 4
years ago , I missed listing SMART RINGS
Here is an update ( - obviously , married or bachelor,
Examinees will not be allowed wearing these ) :
Apple's
new patent indicates a smart ring and its capabilities ….. TOI ……. 24 Aug 2023
Extract :
Apple has filed a new patent
for “ Ring Input Device With Pressure-Sensitive Input “
As per the patent, the
ring will be able to give notification taps ..
“…electronic finger rings can be employed as
unobtrusive, everyday communication
devices that are readily available to communicate wirelessly with other devices capable of receiving those communications “
“ Although ring input devices may be primarily described and illustrated
herein, as electronic finger rings for convenience of explanation “ , says Apple, “ it should be understood that
the examples of the disclosure are not so limited , but also include ring input
devices that are worn as a part of a necklace,
hoop earrings, electronic bracelet bands that are worn around the wrist ,
electronic toe-rings and the like “
Irrespective of the form factor, these devices will be able to receive inputs from the
connected device and generate different vibration feedbacks to alert the
wearer. It can be for notifications, high heart rate, emergency alerts, etc
"[They] can also be used to provide inputs to handheld devices such as smartphones (e.g., scrolling through
a list using rotating outer band), tablet
and laptop computing devices, media players, styluses, wands or gloves for computer-generated
environments, and the like," says the patent.
In addition, ring
input devices can also be used
to provide inputs to stationary
devices such as desktop computers, smart home control and entertainment devices (e.g., turning on
a lamp, changing a TV channel), and the like."
====================================================================
Dear Chief
Ministers
,
After reading about the
myriad “ wearable “ and the many “ ways “ in which a student can “ COPY “ in
the examination hall , if you feel like giving up , take heart !
How about deploying ( all
around the examination complex ) , a device which will “ fry the circuits “ of any
electronic device , within 20 meters perimeter ( - Apple’s Smart Ring ,
included ) ?
Take a look :
Ø Indian
Railways : A Trillion Dollar Opportunity …………. 03
Sept 2016
Extract :
Mobile phone ( smart
phone or feature phone ) of the person crossing , to get " fried / killed " , electronically !
By an innovative application of a " Controlled EMP ( Electro-Magnetic
Pulse ) " ,
surging through the tracks , once every second - low voltage but strong enough to
kill the onboard
solid state circuitry of the mobile phone
This low voltage magnetic wave , will neither harm the human carrying
the phone in his pocket , nor kill the phones of those travelling in the train
, due to " Skin Effect "
Even though, a " Low Voltage EMP " , is an oxymoron , I am sure Indian Scientists are quite
capable to resolve this apparent paradox , if challenged
In case of doubt , read :
http://www.instructables.com/id/Destroy-Any-Device-With-EMP-Jammer/
Extract :
Imagine that
you have powers to stop any electronic
device, is it only possible in movies?
well here's the way to make an emp jammer ( Electromagnetic pulse
jammer )
This device sends high amplitudes of emp to destroy nearby devices, be sure to have fun using this, but be
careful this jammer involves thousands of volts which can lead to heart attack or death
even (if not used properly)
DON'T USE THIS DEVICE NEARBY ANY MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT LIKE PACEMAKERS ETC.
Watch the video
For Price and Availability > https://www.etsy.com/in-en/market/emp_jammer?
Since no blog would be complete without
BARD / ChatGPT , complimenting with their views , here are the same :
BARD :
Hi! Thanks for sharing your blog. I
think it's an important topic to discuss, and I appreciate your insights.
I agree with you that cheating in exams is a serious problem, and it's
important to find ways to prevent it. The use of technology to cheat is
becoming increasingly sophisticated, so it's important to use technology to
combat it as well.
The use of EMP jammers in examination halls is a feasible solution that
could be effective in preventing cheating.
EMP jammers emit a short burst of electromagnetic radiation that can
interfere with the operation of electronic devices. This means that any
electronic devices that are turned on within the range of the jammer would be
rendered useless.
Of course, there are some potential drawbacks to
using EMP jammers. One concern is that they could also
interfere with the operation of legitimate electronic devices, such as medical
devices or security alarms. Additionally, EMP jammers can be expensive to
purchase and install.
Overall, I think the use of
EMP jammers in examination halls is a feasible solution that could be effective
in preventing cheating.
However, it's important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks
before making a decision.
Here are some other possible solutions to prevent cheating in exams:
·
Use more sophisticated proctoring methods, such as using cameras to monitor students or having invigilators walk
around the examination hall.
·
Use software that can detect cheating, such as software that can identify plagiarism or that can track
students' eye movements.
·
Make the exams more difficult so that students are less likely to cheat.
·
Change the format of the exams, such as by making them open-book or by having students take them
online.
I think the best solution to prevent
cheating in exams is a combination
of different approaches. No single solution is perfect, but by using a
variety of methods, we can make it more difficult for students to cheat and
ensure that the exams are fair for everyone.
I hope this helps!
ChatGPT :
Your blog discusses the issue of cheating in exams and proposes
the use of EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) jammers as a solution to prevent
students from using electronic devices for cheating. Here are some comments on
the feasibility and implications of employing EMP jammers in examination halls:
1.
Feasibility of EMP Jammers: EMP jammers emit electromagnetic radiation that can
disrupt or damage electronic devices. While EMP technology does exist and can
be effective in disabling electronic devices, its application raises certain
challenges:
·
Collateral Damage:
·
EMP
jammers can potentially affect not only the devices carried by students but
also other electronic equipment in the vicinity, such as exam computers,
surveillance cameras, and communication systems. This can lead to unintended
disruptions and technical difficulties.
·
·
Safety Concerns:
·
The
use of EMP technology raises safety concerns, as it can interfere with medical
devices, communication networks, and even power grids if not properly
controlled. Ensuring the safety of all individuals within the area is
essential.
·
·
Selective Targeting:
·
EMP
devices need to be carefully calibrated to affect only specific ranges of
frequencies. Designing jammers that target only devices carried by students
while sparing authorized equipment could be complex and require ongoing
adjustments.
·
·
Legal and Ethical Issues:
·
The
use of EMP jammers could potentially violate legal regulations related to
electromagnetic interference and privacy. It's important to consider the
ethical implications of using technology that disrupts electronic devices.
·
2.
Impact on Exam Operations:
3.
Deploying
EMP jammers in an examination hall would have both positive and negative
effects:
·
Positive:
·
If
effectively implemented, EMP jammers could deter students from attempting to
cheat using electronic devices, thus upholding the integrity of the examination
process.
·
·
Negative:
·
Jammers
could potentially disrupt exam operations, leading to technical issues, confusion,
and inconvenience for both students and invigilators. In worst-case scenarios,
jammers might render essential equipment unusable.
·
4.
Alternative Solutions:
5.
While
EMP jammers could be one approach to address cheating, there are alternative
solutions that might be more practical and effective:
·
Strict Prohibition:
·
Continue
enforcing the ban on electronic devices within the examination hall. Use strict security measures, such
as thorough searches, metal detectors, and surveillance, to prevent students
from carrying prohibited items.
·
·
Advanced Surveillance:
·
Implement
advanced surveillance technology, such as facial recognition systems, AI-driven monitoring, and
real-time video analysis, to detect and deter cheating behaviors.
·
·
Secure Examination Platforms:
·
Explore
digital examination platforms that generate randomized questions, use advanced encryption, and
allow remote proctoring to ensure fairness and prevent cheating.
·
·
Awareness and Education:
·
Promote
awareness among students about
the consequences of cheating and the importance of academic integrity. Educate
students about the various forms of cheating and their negative impact on their
own learning.
In conclusion, while EMP jammers
have the potential to disrupt electronic devices and deter cheating, their implementation
presents challenges related to safety, legality, and unintended consequences.
Considering alternative solutions that maintain the integrity of the
examination process while minimizing disruptions and ethical concerns might be
a more practical approach.
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.hemenparekh.ai /
25 Aug 2023