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Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts

Friday, 29 November 2013

Identity: Part 2

The first part (Identity - Part I) of this blog post discussed the parameters of our Identity that are either difficult or impossible to change. Exploring alternate parameters defining our Identity by our actions and behaviors can lend us more control in how we are perceived. A crisis is slowly creeping into such actively defined parameters of our Identity as political and social orders try to extend their control over people.

IDENTITY: Part 2
We can actively shape our behavioral traits, manners, body-language, spoken-language-accents, dress-sense, health-consciousness and intellectual-prowess. The economic wherewithal, geopolitical and social environment will help us achieve this at varying (personal) costs. This opportunity-cost makes it easier or less easier depending on parameters we do not control.

Read on for a deeper analysis and discussion of 'Identity' we can shape, for the most part ...

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Identity: Part 1

Everyone living in this world in any time, has had to face their "Identity." This two-part blog post is an exploration of both physical and digital identities, and how they have come to drastically change the way we build our identity.

One part of our Identity is thrust upon us, leaving us with little or no choice. Another part of our identity is something we can build and increase our control over. Today, the societies permissivity to free ourselves from the 'identity' that was thrust upon us is (in the first part) is far greater, than several centuries ago. 

Several unchangeable parts will cling on to ourselves until we find ways to exercise change and control over it if necessary. 

The second part of our identity (covered in the follow-up to this) will be one that we can shape and control even today or perhaps at any point historically. It is that part that has to overshadow the former and help us define us far better by action rather than circumstance & causality.

What follows is an exploration of key parameters that differentiate us, with viewpoints borrowed from different sources to help us understand "identity" better ...

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

GNU/Linux: Is it immune to Malware?

When someone switches to GNU/Linux, one of the attributes assigned to GNU/Linux and other Open Source Operating Systems (that are free [as in freedom]) is that GNU/Linux is VIRUS or Malware free.

I have been answering (some of the misunderstandings in this respect) at multiple forums and lists, but here is the comprehensive answer.

The truthful answer is YES, writing and enabling malware executing within GNU/Linux is possible.

I prefer the term Malicious Software (abbreviated Malware), rather than the obscure and rather obsolete term 'Vital Information Resources Under Siege' (VIRUS that sounds like a poorly named movie. )

Friday, 8 November 2013

Indian elections 2014: The Future game

Indian Elections: 2014, a few who would change the game among the many ...

India's electorate has always dispensed more power to regional parties thereby enabling coalitions. The regional parties hope to have either a "weak" or reasonably compliant group calling the shots at the center, ensuring that they can have their say.

This would quickly explain how the most complex coalition was headed by H D Deve Gowda and later by I K Gujral who were not perceived to be strong leaders. This does not however grant them authority and therefore explains why they had shorter terms. However perception does not necessarily mean that the leader in question or the party enabling that person with leadership is strong or weak. This however affects electoral mandate.

The second factor is that public awareness toward corruption and scams is growing with an inherent want for 'fair governance'. Hence any party perceived corrupt or having been involved in scams has the negative swing as they call it. (Yet, we must remember that historically - even in terms of evolution, nature itself has never been fair.) Hence having fair governance is as much a pipe dream that might even end up with a global Orwelian Dystopia.

India needs:
  • Stability in the Center to help growth in terms of economy.
  • Regional stability to avoid unrest, rise in issues like naxalites, requests to form new-states of regions that were not previously union-territories.
You can read further, on the possible political future of India from 2014-2027, hoping that a worldwide war or catastrophe does not happen.

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Sports Car Digital Dashboards

If you think that sports cars have simplistic dashboards and roaring engines, a Ferrari F50 can prove you wrong.


Here's a picture to ponder for those who work on Instrument Clusters and Digital Dashboards.


If you wish to see more, there's a video of a showdown of two F50s, which shows this in use.

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Understanding Kudankulam: Technology and Potential

Let us first understand "Power Production Potential" of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Power Production Potential at Kalpakkam 
Fast Breeder Reactor (operational: 1983, 1992 unit 1, 1994 unit 2 become self sufficient)

Madras Atomic Power Station, located at Kalpakkam has two units, each capable of 220MW. That provides peak power of about 400MW. The reactors became operational in the year 1983.

Madras Atomic Power Station is presently working on testing a 500MW FBR Prototype test project which can be deployed between 2014-2016. This too is to address the major deficit in power production. This capacity will be close to 1GW if the test proves successful as a paired unit.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Unit 1 - Feb 10, 2012 (src: FirstPost)
In 1988, a project to build a second-generation Nuclear reactor with technology which was way beyond what Kalpakkam had by combining Russian Nuclear research and research from BHARC began. This is what has transpired into the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

During initial phases in 1988-89, the capacity of the entire Nuclear Power Plant after full installation in multiple stages at peak load was estimated at 9150 MW or 9.15 GW (That is 20 times the load that Kalpakkam's plant handles in comparison.) An agreement was also made to provide top notch VVER Nuclear Reactor design technology to India and operational expertise. This type of reactor had been first made operational in 1975. The servicability of the reactor was demonstrated when the first VVER operational reactor was shutdown for service and increase in life.

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Acer Iconia Tab A200 Review

Without a 3G/GPRS, and only WiFi connectivity, it seems ideally suited for environments like schools and colleges. It is pricey, but it is feature rich in every aspect.

It has no more than what it takes to have a tablet that is purely WiFi, doesn't need operator tethering and is by far one of the best Android devices ever. Better yet, there is a rumor that Ice Cream Sandwich will ship or be provided as immediate updates to those who go for it.

The price point and the features (considering the lack of the phone) make it very attractive.

Tablet Review [Template designed by "Sunil Beta", Sources: mobilecruze.net and lots more.]
With multi-touch enabled they could have experimented with a Stylus, though it isn't too common. This is fully Google App Market compatible.

For a Higher Resolution version, you should just [ Click Here. ]