i think I am going to start writing all over again.. its been long since i did active blogging..and now since I have started reading all over again, thoughts seem to be flowing..though not in a 'line'...
migrating to wordpress.. for anyone who remotely comes across this site, I will now be blogging on wordpress...ciao!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A Conglomeration of Trends...an INNOVATION
Innovation seems to be on the tip of the tongue for every organisation during the time of recession. What is innovation? Is it something magical that turns around the fortune of an organisation?
Is Facebook or any social website an innovation? Or is iPhone an innovation? or is the creation of an organisation like Innocentive an innovation by Eli Lilly??
Innovation is simply put "the successful exploitation of new ideas" - while the focus should be on 'new ideas', it is truly classified as an innovation only on 'succesful exploitation'. A good example is the MP3 player. They were long in demand and in use before the iPod was released into the market. But it was Steve Jobs who actually 'successfully exploited' this idea and made APPLE what it is today. A similar such innovative idea is the creation of a new social website - SKIPSO.
What is Skipso? And if it is just another social website, then what exactly is innovative about it? The innovation in this is the idea itself. 3 latest trends - Web 2.0, Open Innovation, Green Technology - all wrapped together into a single package and available to the world to exploit, to use and hopefully enable making this world a better place!
Skipso is an online platform and business to business marketplace entirely focused on sustainable innovation. Whereas most of the social websites concentrate on Generation X and Generation Y as its core, this one is for BabyBoomers, Gen X and Gen Y alike. It is a mix of the young and the old - anybody who is aware of the latest trends and would like to get involved can get involved. It is a platform on the internet for like-minded individuals to interact and share proposals and fundings for new ideas in green technology.
It is meant for Entrepreneurs, Investors, Policy makers, Researchers and Professionals who have anything to do with Green technology. It has features like Community, MarketPlace, Funding, Challenge and the box-standard "my Skipso".
The community feature is for sharing knowledge, the latest happenings and a forum for discussion. The marketplace is where, if you own a company involved in the green revolution or looking for jobs in the sustainability sector, then suitable advertisements can be placed or read. Funding is the one-stop shop for all the budding entrepreneurs where grants are made available for projects that seem do-able or a forum where discussions can start for unleashing the next biggest innovation in Green technology. A simple comment like the one by Dr Madhav Mehra, President, World Council for Corporate Governance that "future of humanity lies in solar harvesting. Imagine this: One per cent of sunlight received by the earth can meet the humanity’s demand for power for another 20 years." could lead to a chain of discussions resulting in a small research project being kicked off with an interested investor sponsoring the project and whole lot of fruitful discussions on an open platform. After Facebook, this could be the next biggest thing in technology or social media.If used appropriately, this internet platform could be the base for all future Green'ness of UK.
And now the obvious question - how Knowledge Capital could potentially benefit from this? Knowledge Capital - an organisation that is promoting innovation and social media as a form of open innovation. This is an opportunity for M:KC to provide its clients a medium for the "Manchester is my Planet" project and further set an example to the various client companies of how a partnership could be established between 2 organisations to promote innovation and growth. This could be a medium for the clients of Knowledge Capital to interact with like-minded individuals and derive several benefits including ideas and potential funds for new innovative projects. Together with Skipso, M:KC could potentially disrupt the market - creating unlimited demand and making the city of Manchester the hub of green technology innovation, not just in UK but Europe and potentially the entire World!!
Is Facebook or any social website an innovation? Or is iPhone an innovation? or is the creation of an organisation like Innocentive an innovation by Eli Lilly??
Innovation is simply put "the successful exploitation of new ideas" - while the focus should be on 'new ideas', it is truly classified as an innovation only on 'succesful exploitation'. A good example is the MP3 player. They were long in demand and in use before the iPod was released into the market. But it was Steve Jobs who actually 'successfully exploited' this idea and made APPLE what it is today. A similar such innovative idea is the creation of a new social website - SKIPSO.
What is Skipso? And if it is just another social website, then what exactly is innovative about it? The innovation in this is the idea itself. 3 latest trends - Web 2.0, Open Innovation, Green Technology - all wrapped together into a single package and available to the world to exploit, to use and hopefully enable making this world a better place!
Skipso is an online platform and business to business marketplace entirely focused on sustainable innovation. Whereas most of the social websites concentrate on Generation X and Generation Y as its core, this one is for BabyBoomers, Gen X and Gen Y alike. It is a mix of the young and the old - anybody who is aware of the latest trends and would like to get involved can get involved. It is a platform on the internet for like-minded individuals to interact and share proposals and fundings for new ideas in green technology.
It is meant for Entrepreneurs, Investors, Policy makers, Researchers and Professionals who have anything to do with Green technology. It has features like Community, MarketPlace, Funding, Challenge and the box-standard "my Skipso".
The community feature is for sharing knowledge, the latest happenings and a forum for discussion. The marketplace is where, if you own a company involved in the green revolution or looking for jobs in the sustainability sector, then suitable advertisements can be placed or read. Funding is the one-stop shop for all the budding entrepreneurs where grants are made available for projects that seem do-able or a forum where discussions can start for unleashing the next biggest innovation in Green technology. A simple comment like the one by Dr Madhav Mehra, President, World Council for Corporate Governance that "future of humanity lies in solar harvesting. Imagine this: One per cent of sunlight received by the earth can meet the humanity’s demand for power for another 20 years." could lead to a chain of discussions resulting in a small research project being kicked off with an interested investor sponsoring the project and whole lot of fruitful discussions on an open platform. After Facebook, this could be the next biggest thing in technology or social media.If used appropriately, this internet platform could be the base for all future Green'ness of UK.
And now the obvious question - how Knowledge Capital could potentially benefit from this? Knowledge Capital - an organisation that is promoting innovation and social media as a form of open innovation. This is an opportunity for M:KC to provide its clients a medium for the "Manchester is my Planet" project and further set an example to the various client companies of how a partnership could be established between 2 organisations to promote innovation and growth. This could be a medium for the clients of Knowledge Capital to interact with like-minded individuals and derive several benefits including ideas and potential funds for new innovative projects. Together with Skipso, M:KC could potentially disrupt the market - creating unlimited demand and making the city of Manchester the hub of green technology innovation, not just in UK but Europe and potentially the entire World!!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Life going on...but where is the world going to?
Its been ages - nearly a year since i last wrote... therez been lots of downs and few ups.. life has taken an unexpected turn.
Things aren't the same anymore. What used to bright sunny mornings are now cloudy darkness everywhere. The world seems to be full of sorrows and worries. The killings and natural disasters increasing every day. No-one seems to be at peace. There are cries of despair and distraught everywhere I turn. Faces that used to smile always are now down-trodden. Ppl are just looking on at each other for help but unable to help the other - how can one sinking boat help another one sinking! Medical inventions and discoveries are increasing the lifespan of human beings on one side, but the statistics suggest that death rates are higher than ever before - the only reason being vengence, treachery, greed, hatred and last but not the least - suicides!!! Inspite of all these advancements in medicine and technology the death rate (as of 2007) stays at 8.37 deaths/ 1000 population! And one would normally expect the developing countries to have a higher death rate compared to those well established developed countries..But surprise surprise deaths in the so called "3rd world countries" like India and China are much lesser than those in the "developed countries" like the US and UK. So where is the gap?
If suicide rates are just scanned and compared, it is quite evident that irrespective of the country, the percentage of males suiciding is always much higher than females and females are supposed to be faint-hearted i.e. men are strong-hearted?? These statistics throws that theory into the garbage can. In my opinion if men are much more strong-hearted, then the suicide rates of men should be lower compared to women. The stats stand (per 1000 population) - figures from WHO:
Men Women
US (1999) 17.8 4.1
UK (1999) 11.8 3.3
India (1998) 12.2 9.1
China (1999) 16.7 9.8
Russia (2000) 70.6 11.9
Germany (1999) 20.2 7.3
Iran (1991) 0.3 0.1
Kuwait(2000) 1.6 1.6
Suicide is claimed to be the eighth-leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the third-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. According to WHO statistics, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide rates all over the world have increased by 5- 62% in the last two decades. More people willing to take life - their own and others, televisions, radios, newspapers filled with horrifying stories of deceit and murders.. dont know where the world is heading to.. amidst all this, dont know where I am heading to - the world was a much better place, lively and fun-filled 20 years back..wish i had remained a child always!!!!!!!
Things aren't the same anymore. What used to bright sunny mornings are now cloudy darkness everywhere. The world seems to be full of sorrows and worries. The killings and natural disasters increasing every day. No-one seems to be at peace. There are cries of despair and distraught everywhere I turn. Faces that used to smile always are now down-trodden. Ppl are just looking on at each other for help but unable to help the other - how can one sinking boat help another one sinking! Medical inventions and discoveries are increasing the lifespan of human beings on one side, but the statistics suggest that death rates are higher than ever before - the only reason being vengence, treachery, greed, hatred and last but not the least - suicides!!! Inspite of all these advancements in medicine and technology the death rate (as of 2007) stays at 8.37 deaths/ 1000 population! And one would normally expect the developing countries to have a higher death rate compared to those well established developed countries..But surprise surprise deaths in the so called "3rd world countries" like India and China are much lesser than those in the "developed countries" like the US and UK. So where is the gap?
If suicide rates are just scanned and compared, it is quite evident that irrespective of the country, the percentage of males suiciding is always much higher than females and females are supposed to be faint-hearted i.e. men are strong-hearted?? These statistics throws that theory into the garbage can. In my opinion if men are much more strong-hearted, then the suicide rates of men should be lower compared to women. The stats stand (per 1000 population) - figures from WHO:
Men Women
US (1999) 17.8 4.1
UK (1999) 11.8 3.3
India (1998) 12.2 9.1
China (1999) 16.7 9.8
Russia (2000) 70.6 11.9
Germany (1999) 20.2 7.3
Iran (1991) 0.3 0.1
Kuwait(2000) 1.6 1.6
Suicide is claimed to be the eighth-leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the third-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. According to WHO statistics, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide rates all over the world have increased by 5- 62% in the last two decades. More people willing to take life - their own and others, televisions, radios, newspapers filled with horrifying stories of deceit and murders.. dont know where the world is heading to.. amidst all this, dont know where I am heading to - the world was a much better place, lively and fun-filled 20 years back..wish i had remained a child always!!!!!!!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Getting settled....
Life is slowly turning out to be a routine. Past 1 week was pretty decent. First few days was roaming around the Business School - meeting new ppl and utilising the free internet:) Then tookt the trip to London to pick up mine & Anila's luggage. It was fun - a pretty sight - me and 6 pieces of luggage (3 bags + 3 cartons). Dont ask how I lugged it all the way to Manchester. All i can say is that I was relieved once i got everything into the room and took a deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath.
Anyway in London, the first day was at home (fitzroy court). Day 2 was spend going to Kuttan's sister's place in Kenton and picking up the luggage from there and getting it to Croydon. Unfortunately couldnt spend much time there coz of many reasons. After getting back, in the evening had a night out with few of my ex-clients and now friends. Walking around Covent garden, we ventured into a pub which looked pretty decent and then suddenly realise it is a "Gay bar" - you dont generally see guys kissing lip to lip in pubs here;)!! Anyway collected our belongings and scampered to the next nearest decent pub and this time I made sure I saw atleast one female (for not so obvious reasons) before I ventured into it.
Anyway that was fun. Day 3 was mainly spent trying to get a refund of my ticket sorted out with Infosys and meeting a few of infy colleagues. Evening was a night out with clients + infy junta. We had dinner at a sushi bar and i hogged out nearly 20 plates of sushi - it was buffet and 20 was the limit!! Since then, I haven't had one morsel to eat..cant eat..too full. I might puke now if i go anywhere near food.
Anyway now back in Manchester.
In the sports side, India as always screwing up things for itself in Cricket. You think they are going to have a cake-walk win and the nincompoops go and gift the victory to the opponents. Each time the captain declares that we will win the next time and we have learnt from our mistakes but the "next time" never seems to be anywhere near!!! High time the BCCI or whoever is responsible, start plucking out the weeds and let the good ones mature and grow!! We are in desparate need of a bowler. Ppl said we needed allrounders. But I personally believe we need more of a genuine bowler rather than an all rounder. Our biggest incapability in the recent matches has been bowling out the opposition. God alone knows when these guys will realise and do something about it.
In football, ManU is havin a terrible time. Worst start in my memory. Rooney yet again away for nearly half of the season courtesy his fractured ankle. Ronaldo getting a red-card in game 2. Ole gunnar retiring due to his leg problems. And the defence sucking big time!!!! Before last weeks' victory they were second last in the table. And with a single victory, they have creeped up to number 10. Hope the tide turns and we see more of victories for ManU. Chelsea seems to be grinding victories just like how they did last season. Every match taken on a 1-on-1 basis. Anyway wishin ManU the best. Hail ManU!!
Anyway in London, the first day was at home (fitzroy court). Day 2 was spend going to Kuttan's sister's place in Kenton and picking up the luggage from there and getting it to Croydon. Unfortunately couldnt spend much time there coz of many reasons. After getting back, in the evening had a night out with few of my ex-clients and now friends. Walking around Covent garden, we ventured into a pub which looked pretty decent and then suddenly realise it is a "Gay bar" - you dont generally see guys kissing lip to lip in pubs here;)!! Anyway collected our belongings and scampered to the next nearest decent pub and this time I made sure I saw atleast one female (for not so obvious reasons) before I ventured into it.
Anyway that was fun. Day 3 was mainly spent trying to get a refund of my ticket sorted out with Infosys and meeting a few of infy colleagues. Evening was a night out with clients + infy junta. We had dinner at a sushi bar and i hogged out nearly 20 plates of sushi - it was buffet and 20 was the limit!! Since then, I haven't had one morsel to eat..cant eat..too full. I might puke now if i go anywhere near food.
Anyway now back in Manchester.
In the sports side, India as always screwing up things for itself in Cricket. You think they are going to have a cake-walk win and the nincompoops go and gift the victory to the opponents. Each time the captain declares that we will win the next time and we have learnt from our mistakes but the "next time" never seems to be anywhere near!!! High time the BCCI or whoever is responsible, start plucking out the weeds and let the good ones mature and grow!! We are in desparate need of a bowler. Ppl said we needed allrounders. But I personally believe we need more of a genuine bowler rather than an all rounder. Our biggest incapability in the recent matches has been bowling out the opposition. God alone knows when these guys will realise and do something about it.
In football, ManU is havin a terrible time. Worst start in my memory. Rooney yet again away for nearly half of the season courtesy his fractured ankle. Ronaldo getting a red-card in game 2. Ole gunnar retiring due to his leg problems. And the defence sucking big time!!!! Before last weeks' victory they were second last in the table. And with a single victory, they have creeped up to number 10. Hope the tide turns and we see more of victories for ManU. Chelsea seems to be grinding victories just like how they did last season. Every match taken on a 1-on-1 basis. Anyway wishin ManU the best. Hail ManU!!
Friday, August 24, 2007
On your marks, Get Set........................
The fun times are over..the relaxation is complete..the race is about to begin!!
My long awaited break - after quitting Infy and before joining MBS - is getting over today. Tonight I fly out to Manchester embarking on a absolutely unaware/unknown platform.
The past 2 months have been pretty hectic. After I got back from Bangalore, time in kerala just flew away. Everyday there was something or the other to do. 2 major event took place during this time - my cousin Asha's engagement/wedding and Anila's grandmom's demise. Due to the latter, my in-laws had also come over to kerala. Amidst all this, my sis was enrolled into P.C. Thomas vacation gulf classes in Trichur. So my time in kerala was spent between travelling from mavelikara to chengannur to trivandrum to Trichur. The good thing with so much of journey was that I started driving on a more regular basis in kerala and i can confidently say that i am expert enough to drive in kerala now though there may be huge lorries and reckless state transport buses coming from the opposite direction!
Anyway we - me & Anila - boarded Gulf Air to come to Kuwait on 19th August morning. After reaching kuwait, it was bliss. No tensions, no power cuts, no disturbances, no sweating and 24 x7 internet access and unlimited supply of delicious yummy food - courtesy mum-in-law!!
Tomo early morning 3:45 is my flight to Dubai and from there connecting flight at 7:55 to Manchester. FOr the first one week, i have arranged for temporary accomodation in Hulme Hall, near the university. Anyway hope all goes well. Keeping fingers crossed. New place, new life style..student yet cant be irresponsible;)lol
Anyway will give further updates later!!
Cheers
My long awaited break - after quitting Infy and before joining MBS - is getting over today. Tonight I fly out to Manchester embarking on a absolutely unaware/unknown platform.
The past 2 months have been pretty hectic. After I got back from Bangalore, time in kerala just flew away. Everyday there was something or the other to do. 2 major event took place during this time - my cousin Asha's engagement/wedding and Anila's grandmom's demise. Due to the latter, my in-laws had also come over to kerala. Amidst all this, my sis was enrolled into P.C. Thomas vacation gulf classes in Trichur. So my time in kerala was spent between travelling from mavelikara to chengannur to trivandrum to Trichur. The good thing with so much of journey was that I started driving on a more regular basis in kerala and i can confidently say that i am expert enough to drive in kerala now though there may be huge lorries and reckless state transport buses coming from the opposite direction!
Anyway we - me & Anila - boarded Gulf Air to come to Kuwait on 19th August morning. After reaching kuwait, it was bliss. No tensions, no power cuts, no disturbances, no sweating and 24 x7 internet access and unlimited supply of delicious yummy food - courtesy mum-in-law!!
Tomo early morning 3:45 is my flight to Dubai and from there connecting flight at 7:55 to Manchester. FOr the first one week, i have arranged for temporary accomodation in Hulme Hall, near the university. Anyway hope all goes well. Keeping fingers crossed. New place, new life style..student yet cant be irresponsible;)lol
Anyway will give further updates later!!
Cheers
Friday, June 29, 2007
Countdown...
The last lines I am writing from Infy office:)
All the clearance process is over - the only thing remaining is deletion of my mail id and network access and that is due to happen in another hour or so!
4 long years and now no more Infy..no more Hosur road - no more sweating out in the heat cursing the 1000's of cars, no more walking at express speed from London Bridge station to Monument, no more coffee breaks, lunch breaks - all has come to a grinding halt. The Machine has stopped!!
Emotions are mixed -
happy? - YES,
sad? - a bit maybe
Apprehensive? - about the future, YES
miss Infy? - Dont think so
miss the friends/banter? - YES
Signing off for the moment...may get very less chance to blog in the next couple of months but will do when time permits.
Adios!!!!!!
All the clearance process is over - the only thing remaining is deletion of my mail id and network access and that is due to happen in another hour or so!
4 long years and now no more Infy..no more Hosur road - no more sweating out in the heat cursing the 1000's of cars, no more walking at express speed from London Bridge station to Monument, no more coffee breaks, lunch breaks - all has come to a grinding halt. The Machine has stopped!!
Emotions are mixed -
happy? - YES,
sad? - a bit maybe
Apprehensive? - about the future, YES
miss Infy? - Dont think so
miss the friends/banter? - YES
Signing off for the moment...may get very less chance to blog in the next couple of months but will do when time permits.
Adios!!!!!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Last week @ Keonics Elec. City, Bangalore!
Things are slowly coming to a grinding halt. The train is reaching its destination finally - chugging away the last hundred metres in absolute slow motion. Every moment, every dialogue, every scene is crystal clear. I can see the platform at the far end - feels like the horizon is in grasp finally!!
Another 2 days in Infy and I am no longer employee number 21269! Deleted from records completely or maybe archived!? All the networking, friends, coffee day coffee's, evening chaats/chats , lunch @ Golconda/Kamat - all going to be a distant memory soon! Not that I regret the step I am taking but i am surely getting out of comfort zone now. 4 years - absolutely no worry of money, could spend whatever i wanted without being questioned. Now its slowly back to student days - every penny counted. Coffees and soups are going to be once again 1/2 (dont think this will be the case in Manchester but sure was in Trichy - "Anna, oru one by two podungae";))
I had my exit interview yesterday and surprisingly there were no arguments coz whatever I said the HR agreed and said they are working upon it:D Whoever invented "present continous tense" surely had HR junta in mind - coz they are always "X"ing something or the other and it never reaches the "X"ed state! Anyway all the best to whatever they are doING and hope it gets doED soon!
Leave alone work - the past one week has been pretty smooth. Took a day off on Monday to complete a bit more shopping. Yesterday went for the movie "Sivaji - The Boss". The movie concept was good and the comedy was good but probably the comedy didnt suit
"Thalaivar" - but he made up for that in the second half with his typical "Baasha" role :D. BUt the movie was tooo much of a drag in terms of length of the movie! We(Me & Kicha)went for the 21:45 show and got out of show at 01:20!
In world of football - Henry finally made his impending move to Barca:)))
The new number 14. This was to happen last year but the defeat by Barca in the finals of the Champions league'06 propelled him to continue a unfruitful season with the Gunners! But finally he has joined the Catalans!! What a line-up - Eto and Henry attacking in the front and Messi/ Ronaldinhio feeding in from either flanks. The mid-field have a line-up of Deco, Xavi and Iniesta....
If they click together as a team - Barca is going to be a formidable attacking force. Dont think Henry will find it too difficult to integrate into the team given that Barca play a "Total Football" and one-touch football quite similar to the Gunners. The coach may have problems in trying to integrate the team. One potential issue could be both Henry and Ronaldinhio preference to play from the left flank and into the centre. Hope this doesn't become an issue similar to the much talked about English midfield issue!
Wishing Henry all the best in Barca! Hope they win the La Liga tis time without any trouble - given that my fave. in RM have left - Carlos & Beckham!
Go Catalans:)
Another 2 days in Infy and I am no longer employee number 21269! Deleted from records completely or maybe archived!? All the networking, friends, coffee day coffee's, evening chaats/chats , lunch @ Golconda/Kamat - all going to be a distant memory soon! Not that I regret the step I am taking but i am surely getting out of comfort zone now. 4 years - absolutely no worry of money, could spend whatever i wanted without being questioned. Now its slowly back to student days - every penny counted. Coffees and soups are going to be once again 1/2 (dont think this will be the case in Manchester but sure was in Trichy - "Anna, oru one by two podungae";))
I had my exit interview yesterday and surprisingly there were no arguments coz whatever I said the HR agreed and said they are working upon it:D Whoever invented "present continous tense" surely had HR junta in mind - coz they are always "X"ing something or the other and it never reaches the "X"ed state! Anyway all the best to whatever they are doING and hope it gets doED soon!
Leave alone work - the past one week has been pretty smooth. Took a day off on Monday to complete a bit more shopping. Yesterday went for the movie "Sivaji - The Boss". The movie concept was good and the comedy was good but probably the comedy didnt suit
"Thalaivar" - but he made up for that in the second half with his typical "Baasha" role :D. BUt the movie was tooo much of a drag in terms of length of the movie! We(Me & Kicha)went for the 21:45 show and got out of show at 01:20!
In world of football - Henry finally made his impending move to Barca:)))
The new number 14. This was to happen last year but the defeat by Barca in the finals of the Champions league'06 propelled him to continue a unfruitful season with the Gunners! But finally he has joined the Catalans!! What a line-up - Eto and Henry attacking in the front and Messi/ Ronaldinhio feeding in from either flanks. The mid-field have a line-up of Deco, Xavi and Iniesta....
If they click together as a team - Barca is going to be a formidable attacking force. Dont think Henry will find it too difficult to integrate into the team given that Barca play a "Total Football" and one-touch football quite similar to the Gunners. The coach may have problems in trying to integrate the team. One potential issue could be both Henry and Ronaldinhio preference to play from the left flank and into the centre. Hope this doesn't become an issue similar to the much talked about English midfield issue!
Wishing Henry all the best in Barca! Hope they win the La Liga tis time without any trouble - given that my fave. in RM have left - Carlos & Beckham!
Go Catalans:)
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