The future is thinking

The Open Internet World a.k.a. Web 3.0
2001: A Space Odyssey, was the name of Stanley Kubrik’s pathbreaking movie that changed the perception of what technology could mean one day to humans. Using unbelievable graphics, the movie documents how, on a mission to explore a most mysterious and obviously alien monolith on the moon, humans send a six-member crew on a spaceship, Discovery One; the sixth member being an artificial intelligence (AI) loaded supercomputer known as HAL 9000, which finally ends up out of control, and in its attempts to take over the spaceship, kills the other crew members. Seems like just another sci-fi movie, right?

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Mars by NASA

Recently, two rovers “Spirit” and “Opportunity” were sent to Mars by NASA under the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. They caused a sensation by gathering a lot of important data and extending their life beyond everyone’s expectations. A few prototypes have also been developed as pets. The most famous of all being Sony’s ‘Aibo–the pet dog’ and ‘Qrio–the mini humanoid’, both of which have the ability to walk. Another example is “Pleo–the robotic dinosaur” by Ugobe. It mimics lifelike movements and responds to changes in the outside world and within itself.

Pleo is able to cough, sneeze, blink, chomp, twitch, sigh and yawn! Bob Christopher, CEO of Ugobe says, “Through evolving companionship, Pleo will suspend disbelief by bringing magic and beauty to life.” Sadly, India is not too far ahead in this field of robotics. Optimistic about the future of robotics, Helen Greiner, Co-founder & Chairman, iRobot summed it as, “With the growing popularity of robots, people would like to see robots handle the dull, dirty and dangerous tasks. This is just the tip of the iceberg in where we are going with this technology.” Surely, while we discuss all the benefits of robots, one thing stands out for sure – even as we can visualise robots opening the door to seemingly limitless possibilities, we still have to retain the master’s command over them. For given a chance, they can create havoc... They are still machines – emotionless and senseless!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Deserted in war

Desertion-symptom of malaise
Army desertion is not a new phenomenon but, overtime, has become a real cause of concern to the United States. More than 8,000 members of the US military have deserted since the Iraq war. Official records show that desertions represent 0.24% of the 1.4 million US forces. The prosecutions of desertion in the US Army have risen sharply resulting in thousands more discharges and imprisonment of junior soldiers, especially in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. From 2002 to 2006, the average annual rate of prosecutions of desertion tripled as compared with the period from 1997 to 2001 (roughly 6%). And the worst – studies reveal that about 70% of deserters left during their first year of duty and majority claiming “failure to adapt’’ problem. The most common and obvious reason for this type of act is psychiatric reasons, as the army says.

The US army might incarcerate all that deserts its ranks but the real crisis lies elsewhere. After all fighting and dying in distant land for a cause that is at best whimsical doesn’t attract too many Americans. It’s better for Bush to understand that before engaging Iran.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Fight the Koreans: A 'durable' strategy

After a three-year rendezvous with India, Chinese consumer durables company, TCL, now wants to infuse new life into its India operations. The white goods major has already launched a range of attractively- priced colour television sets and air conditioners which have been manufactured keeping in mind the voltage fluctuations in the country. On cards is doubling the dealer network and after sales centres by 2010, along with strengthening the southern presence through more launches. According to company officials, for TCL, India is the second most important market after China.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

Going broke... Literally!

That’s stock broking for you – online!
Online stock broking is one sector that has made much reverberations of late. Though the sector is relatively very nascent at this stage, the kind of moneys that even common men have made in the recent past, (as the Sensex more than quadrupled since 2001) has tempted some big international as well as Indian players to chalk aggressive plans for the future in this industry

The action in the online broking business kick-started when investment banking giant JM Morgan Stanley decided to split businesses in February this year; and JM Financial confirmed that it was looking for a buyout in the brokerage business. This was followed by the Zurich based research powerhouse Credit Suisse, which opened its securities brokerage operations in March, 2007. Anand Rathi Securities, Geojit Financial services, Indiabulls, Edelweiss, Motilal Oswal securities are some of the brokerage houses, which have raised money in the last few months or so, through PE or foreign investors, to fuel their growth plans.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative