I happened to be at my uncle’s place this weekend. The collector of “antiques” that he is, I happened to chance on an old telephone – the classic heavy black one with numbers and a dial to actually dial out a number!

My 18 month old is obsessed with phones. He waits for me to get back from work, just to climb on to me and pull out my mobile from my pocket when I return home every evening. The joy on his face when he finds it is worth several millions and I’ve stopped worrying about what may happen to let him have his few moment of joy. He’s press a few buttons, make a few unsolicited calls and ask me to take a few pictures – all of which I oblige to.

Considering my son’s passion for phones, I called him over and showed him this phone that we discovered. I was hoping he would entertain us again! Guess what happened? He came by, walked around the phone that was placed on the floor – I think looking at it from different directions, thought for a few seconds and ran away saying phone “illa” – in my native language, which means, this is not a phone!!!! Any amounts of coercion or attempt to draw him to the phone were in vain. I’m so glad Alexander Graham Bell isn’t around to see my little boy say his creation is not in existence!

The world has changed and changed rapidly! Things that used to be in vogue are fast changing their guise.

Looking back at the days when I was growing up, I recall my dad’s favorite – a faver leuba time piece. This needed to be wound every day using a key and would go off with a bell to serve as our morning alarm every day. I still vividly remember how upset my dad was when the clock went past it’s useful life and couldn’t be fixed by one of the local watch repair shops.

The other classic was the old tape recorder – with cassettes and large buttons, I grew up listening to my favorite music, and having to walk up to reverse sides every 30 – 45 minutes, depending on the type of cassette. The other big thing was the transistor. This was a huge box which served its primary purse of being a radio, in addition to being a paperweight on most tables at home. I’d spend hours trying to tune it with its manual dial to even listen to the cricket commentary that made every single ball as eventful as a six. I’d get so annoyed if my little sister changed the direction by a fraction.

If this was indoors, outdoors was so much fun! I was challenged to put the scooter on it’s stand – this was the Lambretta, the heavyweight scooter, which helped the modern day man get his muscle. For the more luxurious, there was the Ambassador, which today my son refuses to acknowledge as a car. The look of disgust on his face when I attempt to convince him that the Ambassador is indeed a car is something I’d rather not live with!

In school, the 286 PC was a big hit – with it’s display in fluorescent green, the PC lab was making waves. The introduction of the 386 with the color monitor triggered a rush for the last seats in class – the boys would fight to sit in the last bench and would start to remove their shoes in a bid to fling their all and run to the PC lab to lay their hands on this darling with color screens. They’d even test a few of our athletic skills along the way! The 5 & ¼ inch floppy drives was a prized possession and so to was the box that held some 10 of these!!

As I look back at my life, I realize how much change I’ve seen. The alarm clock has been digitized, in most cases bummed along with the mobile, the phones get smaller and sleeker – from the touch screens to the storm, this space hasn’t seen the last of it’s innovation as yet. Cassettes are largely obsolete with the advent of CDs as the DVDs and Blue Rays give both of these a run for their money. The radio in it’s smallest form is integrated with the phone, most homes don’t have one, though they are a feature in every modern car. You’d search your whole car to realize that it comes built into the music system! I don’t know when the last time I saw a scooter was, forget the lamby.

Thanks to the government, the Ambassador’s still run – but I don’t know for how long. The PC space is changing at a pace that I can’t even write about. I’d sound silly discussing PC specs here knowing fully well that the latest would be up even before this article hits the net, the memory cards and drives have truly made floppies obsolete! Some change this!!

For the antique collector – it’s catch 22. Do I get all of these and hope to make a fortune someday by claiming to have “antiques”, or do I just acknowledge the fact that this is all junk in this ever changing world? I believe in the latter and am off to clearing my house, much to the displeasure of my parents!

Image Credit: A O Neil

Popularity: 16%

If Newton were to live in the current times, I am not so sure he would have a third law of physics associated to his name. Put differently, I would like to believe that at some level, most people today wish to defy Newton by trying to disprove his third law. For those that don’t find Newton’s laws appealing enough to remember it, the 3^rd law goes like this: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”!

Think of every single action in our daily lives and you’ll find that there’s some less-written about rule associated with each of it – be it obeying a traffic regulation on the streets, practicing basic etiquette when in public, or be it even the small little things that may border on the tedious for one individual but done for the betterment of others.

I am not the saint that obeys it all either: for e.g., I don’t shut off my phone when in public places, for I have the “crackberry” addiction of wanting to check e-mail; so I just put it on ‘vibrate’ unless that is too loud as well! I don’t wait the mandated full 3-seconds at four-way stop signs unless I spot a cop around the corner! The list goes on…

Now, if I were to be penalized for each of the infractions I mention above, I probably wouldn’t do it if the penalty bites me. I was talking to someone who had moved stateside recently, from India. He was talking about the ‘affordability’ of traffic tickets in India compared to here, and therefore being that extra bit careful not to be ticketed. How nice it is to talk about ‘affording’ not just material things, but traffic fines!!! It immediately struck a cord with me and pointed out a human trait – I am sure each of us has a disobedient side at some level.

For most folks, that are law abiding citizens, I am sure that it isn’t really a desire to disobey something in the first place, but we do it as long as there isn’t a downside, or negative repercussions associated with it. More importantly we tend to disobey only when there’s a fair chance of not getting caught at it!

This is equally applicable to nations as well – all things considered, if each and every country had equivalent technological warfare and military resources on hand, I am sure there wouldn’t be any war, invasion or “shock and awe” of any kind. If Jack knows that there’s only a 50% chance of him succeeding in a fight against Jill, he would think twice before doing it.

So, if there were to be an equal reaction to every “disobedient” action of ours, with an opposite effect, would we still knowingly incur the opposite effect? No! I wonder what Newton would say…

Image Credit: Cell 105

Popularity: 12%

My friends are very afraid of me as I carry something in my pocket all the time. Yes, my mobile phone, which is a very decent aim and shoot camera too.

While many of my friends are averse to the idea of impromptu photography. I personally take pride in it. Here’s why:

In the world we live, there are so many instances that happen around us, which are so very unique. Forget taking pictures of yourself or your friends, but if you look around there are so many things that you might just see once.

Now you don’t have to be an avid photographer or an enthusiastic traveller to think this way, but just have an open eye to what happens around.

Sometimes nature throws something at you that you would love to see and cherish over and over again.

If you have kids I don’t have to tell you how important this becomes. Unpredictable kids, provide umpteen opportunities to click those magic moments. Manier times, many of us just wish there were more memories of our childhood. It was difficult perhaps at that time to have so many pictures taken.

Thanks to technology advancement, we are having this at our disposal and I think we should make enough effort to save all those memories.

Here I present a fantastic view, when I witnessed a full double rainbow on River Thames, London. I saw a rainbow in full for the first time in my life. If it was not for my Nokia N95, it would have only been in my memory.

Recommended Aim and Shoot Cameras/Phones:
Nokia N73,N95,N96
Sony K700i, Xperia
Samsung Tocco, Pixon, Omnia
LG Viewty
Sony DSC – W120, W130, W170 (fantastic picture quality even in night)

Popularity: 19%

India may have the fastest growing telecom market. It most certainly has the jazziest mobile phone users. It’s not unusual to see a rickshaw-puller pull out a snappy flip phone or to hear the latest ring tone or caller tune. Love it or hate it - mobile technology is here to stay.

As this market comes of age, India wakes up to another reality. The ever growing devices that need to be disposed. Electronic devices including mobile phones and computers use several metals, some of which are very harmful if not disposed off properly. It would not be an understatement to say that over 50% of our mobile users were completely ignorant about this and an even higher percentage unaware of recycling.

In this much needed era of awareness, Nokia announced their recycling campaign for the Indian region. The program encourages mobile phone users to dispose of their used handsets and accessories (irrespective of the brand) at any of the green recycling bins, which will be put up across Nokia priority dealers and Nokia care centers. What’s more, Nokia will also plant a tree for every handset received!

Its about time we started to think about our future! If the industrialized nations polluted the earth in the last century, let’s not take that credit for the 21st century. After all, small steps make a humble beginning… and there is a lot we have to achieve. Thank you for leading the way Nokia! I hope the others come up with such innovative ideas too. And yes, don’t forget the real rural India – that’s where the awareness is most needed!

Popularity: 16%

We all have them. We cannot do without them.  Our guilty pleasures.  So why do we feel guilty about them? Over indulgence or indulgence itself?

Here are few of mine

Chocolate

There’s a lot to talk about people who love chocolate. They are the kinds who love attention. They need reassurances of love and security all the time. They cling on , they ensure they are heard. Some of them can also be irritating but aren’t these qualities found in all of us. If not all of them together some in fact. Maybe that’s why we have so many chocolate lovers. I sometimes indulge in chocolate so much that I can feel my tummy hurt. I don’t think it’s a sinful pleasure but yes the day I indulge in chocolate so much I do feel guilty.

Rumour sponge

I love listening to gossip. I never have problems saying I do. But I never use that to harm anyone. Neither do I judge anyone out of gossips and rumours. Let me also say I do not spread it too. But when someone comes to be with that I never turn them away. I’m curious to know what people have been up to. If it gets too personal I turn myself away from it. I can do that and I also know where to draw the line. I’m not being defensive about this pleasure. I’m just saying I know how much I can take and I don’t feel guilty about it.

Shopping

I shop extensively sometimes. There’s something about shoppers like chocolate lovers. They are insecure too. And sometimes lonely. They take it all out on shopping. They can have like a zillion people surrounded and yet feel lonely. Because they let themselves be. You can try hard to pull them out but you will never succeed. I have a passion for clothes. I can never have enough of them.  I can even get a little brand conscious and buy bags and shoes to go with them. Junk jewellery, I indulge in that too sometimes. I love the colour green. For my wardrobe I also pick a lot of black. The last few years has seen me become adventurous. I have all the colours now. There was a time when my wardrobe spoke of only green and black. Colours speak a lot about you too. Green says you are a simple yet intellectual person in love with the nature. If that’s true I’m not complaining about loving green.

Friends and phone

They go together now. There are times when I spend more hours than there are in a day speaking to them. How’s that possible. Well try being me for that one day and you will know. I have a very few friends. Really few. I made one really close friend at every phase of my life. That’s how I have these few friends I treasure. I love the indulgence of chatting up with them. It’s fun and so exhausting and yet to refreshing. I’m a whole new person after a long talk with one of them everytime. They all don’t live near to where I do so the phone plays a crucial role. Cannot do without them.

Writing

This is the first of my pleasures. Not the last. This has kept me company since I put my hand on a book first and the thought struck that I should also write so what if I write trash. Ever since I’ve written my umpteen pre teen, teen and post teen diaries. Now my diary is my laptop. Times changes so do means but the emotions and the passions never. I do all of the above daily, often and once in a while. My indulgence sometimes costs me a lot monetarily but the happiness it gives me is far beyond.

So they are my pleasures, guilty maybe!

Image Credit: Darwin Bell

Popularity: 16%

Whether you are a manager or an associate or the top brass of a multinational company, you would have either hosted or attended a conference call. It does not matter if this is your first time or if you are experienced in hosting conference calls, the below tips will definitely help you go a long way.

The conferencing tips given below have been classified into three main categories i.e. before, during and after the call.

Before the call

• Double check to have the conference room & a dial in number booked prior to the call. Better still is to send it out along with the meeting invite
• Send the agenda at least one day before the call. Agenda to contain specific goals to be achieved from that call. Agenda should have topics assigned to individuals for spearheading the discussion
• Circulate the log of issues to be discussed and closed, at least one day before the call
• If you are the host, dial in at least 5 minutes before the call. Never keep the audience waiting

During the call

• After you open the conference line, allow a couple of minutes for everybody to dial in.
• Welcome each and every participant with appropriate greetings and by introducing yourself.
• Take a roll call at the start of the call and take a note of people present and absent
• Kickstart the meeting on a very strong note. A bit of humour is always a  good ice-breaker
• Start discussing the agenda items one by one. Delegate individuals to lead for their assigned sections of the agenda
• Start taking notes for each of the items in the published agenda. It might be worth taking a print out of the agenda and/ or the issue log and writing notes against it.
• Always try to stay on topic i.e. stick to the published agenda
• Always have a recap session. In the recap session, wrap things up with a brief recap of topics discussed, the takeaways and the person responsible for each of those takeaways.
• Close the call on a positive note

After the call

• Make sure to publish minutes of the meeting after each call. Minutes to include attendees, issues raised, takeaways, person responsible for etc. Send the minutes of the meeting on the same day, if possible. Usually people tend to forget the topics and takeaways discussed and agreed upon
• In the minutes of the meeting mailer, do not forget to check with everyone, if all the topics have been covered and documented.
• Make the takeaways from minutes of the meeting, updated issue log and agenda as the topic of discussion for the next meeting besides any new topic, of course

Image credit : Polycom

Popularity: 14%

Till now your cell phone was only a mini computer… from now it will be your wallet…. means you can carry your account in your pocket. Days are not far when you can use your cell phone as an ATM card.  Several banks are in the processes implementing these services by October.

Bangalore based company Mcheck has developed a software which can be used for this. Already software developed by this company is being used for paying bills through phone, for paying insurance premium, buying Air tickets, Movie tickets etc.

What do you do to withdraw money: You go to an ATM centre and insert your debit or credit cards in the machine… enter your PIN number.  Your card number and your pin number will together will access your account to which they are mapped. If everything is correct, you can withdraw money. All this happens in few seconds. But with the new mobile technology you will no more need your card to access your ATM.

How does it work?

Banks will integrate your mobile number with your Account number. Also they will give you a PIN. You can visit any ATM and punch your mobile number and then your PIN number. These two numbers will be verified and they will access your account. You can then continue with your transactions.

What are the advantages of this? 

You don’t have to worry about forgetting your card in the machine or about losing it.  You don’t have to worry about safeguarding your card.  As you will always have the mobile with you can use it for all bank transactions.

Benefits for the banks:

Banks also stand to benefit a lot from this.  They don’t have to issue physical cards and maintain them.  It costs them 100 to 200 rupees to issue a card.

Popularity: 22%