Industry 4.0, A mis-understood concept

 

In 2006, the German government presented its “High-Tech Strategy” at Hannover Messe. The Industry 4.0 initiative is just one part of a 10-point high-tech plan in Germany’s strategy to be the leading supplier of products in a number of disciplines. The 10-point plan was created in 2006 and focuses on academia, research institutions and industry. In ‘Die Neue Hightech-Strategie Innovationen für Deutschland’, the government explained how it aimed to drive innovation, which wasn’t just a matter of technological innovation but also about ‘social innovation’ with society overall put at the center, a bit like Japan’s Society 5.0.

The business potential of the 4th industrial revolution lies not only in operational process optimization, but also in its services for a wide range of applications. The Internet of Things is therefore complemented by the so-called “Internet of Services”, because smart products offer their capabilities as intelligent services (Industrie 4.0: Mit dem Internet der Dinge auf dem Weg zur 4. industriellen Revolution, 2011)

Industry 4.0 is the digital transformation of manufacturing/production and related industries and value creation processes.

Cyber-physical systems form the basis of Industry 4.0. it refers to the intelligent networking of machines and processes for industry with the help of information and communication technology. Industry 4.0 is a shift from a central industrial control system to one where smart products define the production steps

To understand Industry 4.0, it is essential to see the full value chain which includes suppliers and the origins of the materials and components needed for various forms of smart manufacturing, the end-to-end digital supply chain and the final destination of all manufacturing/production, regardless of the number of intermediary steps and players: the end customer.

Industry 4.0 has been defined as “a name for the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things, cloud computing and cognitive computing and creating the smart factory”.

The goal is to enable autonomous decision-making processes, monitor assets and processes in real-time, and enable equally real-time connected value creation networks through early involvement of stakeholders, and vertical and horizontal integration.

Industry 4.0 is a vision, policy, and concept in motion, with reference architectures & standardization

The majority of digitization and digitalization efforts, in reality, happen in the context of third and even second industrial revolution technologies/goals. Industry 4.0 is not ‘something’ you realize overnight. Just as is the case with IoT deployments you need a strategic and staged approach. Industry 4.0 builds upon data models and data mapping across the mentioned end-to-end product life cyle and value stream. All the technologies in Industry 4.0 need to be seen in that perspective whereby integration is key.

With Industry 4.0, distributed data storage will become one of the main challenges in terms of security .Here are four design principles identified as integral to Industry 4.0

Interconnection — the ability of machines, devices, sensors, and people to connect and communicate with each other via the Internet of things, or the internet of people.

Information transparency — the transparency afforded by Industry 4.0 technology provides operators with comprehensive information to make decisions. Inter-connectivity allows operators to collect immense amounts of data and information from all points in the manufacturing process, identify key areas that can benefit from improvement to increase functionality

Technical assistance — the technological facility of systems to assist humans in decision-making and problem-solving, and the ability to help humans with difficult or unsafe tasks

Decentralized decisions — the ability of cyber physical systems to make decisions on their own and to perform their tasks as autonomously as possible. Only in the case of exceptions, interference, or conflicting goals, are tasks delegated to a higher level

In a short statement , Industry 4.0 is not about digitalization , it’s all about transparent interconnections and decentralized decision making with the help of cybernetics , to create a world class value chain

How choice of food will make you super human

 

Most of the people are aware that a host of bacteria, archaea and fungi  live in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals including insects.  Those are called microbiome. Or simply called Gut microbiota, Because they exist in our digestive system. Those reaches our digestive system through the food we consume .

Most gut microorganisms help us in digesting our food properly  by fermenting dietary fibre into fatty acids which are then absorbed by the humans. Intestinal bacteria also play a role in creating vitamins as well as absorbing various nutrients needed for our body

 Studies have shown that microbiome may play a role in mental health and neurological conditions such as autism, epilepsy, and depression by interacting with our nervous system and even releasing molecules that make their way to the brain. Recent years of research are revealing how variations and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota influence normal physiology and contribute to diseases ranging from inflammation to obesity. Data now indicate that the gut microbiota also communicates with brain possibly through our neuro systems thereby influences Human function and behaviour. Meaning intestinal microbiota are linked to mood, behaviour, and cognition.

BUGS AS DRUGS?

Of course, any discussion of how diet might influence the microbiome and thus alter mental health naturally leads to the idea of therapeutics. Of course, any discussion of how diet might influence the microbiome and thus alter mental health naturally leads to the idea of therapeutics.

In fact, many argue that psychobiotics have been around for a long time and that physicians have already been using them without even realizing it. Since the early 1900s, neurologists have known that putting children with epilepsy on a specific diet can reduce their seizures. This so-called ketogenic diet is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat. But scientists have never really understood how it works. It’s incredibly appealing to think that adjustments to diet or your gut microbiome could help treat neurological disease.

In a short bold statement , it’s the microbiome in the gut that makes the identity of the living being because The particular gastrointestinal microbes are completely unique to individual living animals .

 SUPER HUMANS?

More studies into this field could develop artificial or genetically modified microorganisms which could synthesise food and generate  enzymes which could suggest brain to act smartly and efficiently

 

 

 

Perspective of life

For a small amount of perspective at this moment, imagine you were born in 1900.
When you are 14, World War I starts, and ends on your 18th birthday with 22 million people killed. Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until you are 20. Fifty million people die from it in those two years. Yes, 50 million.
When you're 29, the Great Depression begins. Unemployment hits 25%, global GDP drops 27%. That runs until you are 33. The country nearly collapses along with the world economy.
When you turn 39, World War II starts. You aren’t even over the hill yet. When you're 41, the United States is fully pulled into WWII. Between your 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war and the Holocaust kills six million.
At 52, the Korean War starts and five million perish.
At 64 the Vietnam War begins, and it doesn’t end for many years. Four million people die in that conflict.
Approaching your 62nd birthday you have the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, could well have ended. Great leaders prevented that from happening.
As you turn 75, the Vietnam War finally ends. Think of everyone on the planet born in 1900. How do you survive all of that? A kid in 1985 didn’t think their 85 year old grandparent understood how hard school was. Yet those grandparents (and now great grandparents) survived through everything listed above.

Perspective is an amazing art. Let’s try and keep things in perspective. Let’s be smart, help each other out, and we will get through all of this.” In the history of the world, there has never been a storm that lasted.

*This too, shall pass.

We are real and true always !!!

An old man in soiled dress was traveling in an AC coach of the train. The ticket Inspector came to him and asked for the ticket. The old man started searching for the ticket inside his bag.

“It should be here” the old man mumbled.

The examiner said with displeasure as the old man continued his search. “You should show me your ticket when I return”

The examiner guessed that the old man was traveling without the ticket. The examiner returned a few minutes later and the old man showed his AC class ticket. The examiner felt guilty

 “I should not have judged a person by his appearance in first glance” he thought to himself

When the train arrived at the station, the examiner helped him out. The old man called a porter to pick up his luggage. The porter took the luggage but quickly put it down. He walked to the next compartment and picked up a nicely dressed woman's luggage and walked with them.

What do you think about the Porter?

Upon seeing this, the examiner picked up the luggage of the old man and offered to take a taxi. The old man thanked the examiner and given him some money and told “Please give it to the porter and advise him not to judge anyone with the appearance”.

When the returning examiner saw the porter, he said, "What you did was not right. In any case, the old man told me to give this money to you and asked me to tell you, not to judge anyone in the guise “

“I'm sorry sir”, the porter said “In the midst of the rush I left to tell you, it was a blind woman, I take their luggage regularly. I do not take any wages from her. If you happen to see the old man, you should tell him. Do not judge anyone in a glance

We think we are real and true always, in that pride, we often try to find fault with others.

Be like a fruit-bearing tree that, when stoned, produces fruit. Behaviours and attitudes should be beautiful than garden. Read good books. Perhaps a little word of it can cause a stir in the heart. Our adornment should be of gold or silver, but of modesty, humility, patience, kindness, and charity

Cheating, hatred and jealousy have no place in a healthy body. Think good even in the middle of the storm. Understand that everyone has problems just like ours. Calm the mind. If we have done something wrong in the past, take a lesson from it and let them go. Frustration is the worst enemy, and it has the power to destroy peace of mind

We cannot change the past. We don't know what will happen in the future, then why we grieve!!!

Courtesy: Whats app Message  

We are Stardust & God element

We are all made of stardust. It sounds like a line from a poem, but there is some solid science behind this statement. Almost every element on Earth was formed at the heart of a star. Everything we are and everything in the universe and on Earth originated from stardust, and it continually floats through us even today. It directly connects us to the universe, rebuilding our bodies over and again over our lifetimes.

We really don’t realize how transient we are. Our bodies are made of fragments of stars and massive explosions in the galaxies. All the material in our bodies originates with that residual stardust, and it finds its way into plants, and from there into the nutrients that we need for everything we do think, move, grow. And every few years , our bodies are newly created. Our bodies are never static. We're dynamic beings, and we have to be dynamic to remain alive. This is not just true for us humans. It's true for all living things.

We have stuff in us as old as the universe, and then some stuff that landed here maybe only a hundred years ago. And all of that mixes in our bodies. To keep alive, our cells have to divide and grow. Very little of our physical bodies lasts for more than a few years. we perceive ourselves when we look into the mirror. But we're not fixed at all. We're more like a pattern or a process. And it was the briefness of the body and the flow of energy and matter needed to counter that transience that led us to explore our interconnect with the universe.

History began in outer space. Take salt. What we usually mean by kitchen salt. It has two chemicals. Where did they come from? They were formed inside stars that exploded billions of years ago and at some point, found their way onto the Earth.

We age because we lose the balance between cell deaths and regeneration. That's what we see in the mirror when we age over time. We're literally not what were a few years ago, and not just because of the way we think. Everything around us does this. Nature is not outside us. We are nature.

Our death marks another remarkable journey , we are again transforming into dust , in turn we will be part of some others, may be in a plant , another microbe, another element All again back to stardust  ........ the journey continues 


Courtesy; Different books  

Avoid rush in the journey of life !!!!

In the midst of a busy drive to the office, in front of me a car was crawling like a tortoise.  it is not giving way too. Frustrated, I was honking from behind and was boiling my blood.

Then I noticed a sticker behind the car, it was saying “Physically challenged; Please be patient.”

Suddenly I became calm, now I feel like protecting, saving

I was a little late to the office. But I was okay.

Would I show that much patients if I didn’t saw the sticker. Every people in the world would have to walk with sticker on their forehead to get consideration from others.

I imagined how the stickers would read

“Lost my job” “Fighting cancer”       "Suffering from Parkinson "

“Going through a bad divorce”         “Suffering Emotional abuse “

"Lost a loved one”     “Feeling worthless”    “Financially broken”  "Drained emotionally"....  So on

The truth is that all of us are in war with or struggles of our life's. Nobody knows anyone, be patient, be tender, compassionate and respect. Try to understand others who is bearing the labels that are not visible to our eye.
By the love for each other, let's get this world to a beautiful place

If Phubbing were a plague; it would decimate 6 china’s

 In simple terms its “Ignoring the person in front of you in favor of your smart device ”.  Sounds very familiar???

The phenomenon may seem like a relatively harmless, if annoying, part of modern life, but research is finding that it may be hurting your relationships. Phubbing is common throughout the world; just imagine couples of the future sitting in silence; Relationship based on status updates; Ability to talk and communicate face- to Face completely eradicated; Can you imagine, well it’s happening. 60% of the world population are smart device addicts. it is said that 87% of teens would rather communicate via text than Face-to Face.

“If Phubbing were a plague; it would decimate 6 china’s”

In the latest study on the subject, phubbing was found to threaten four fundamental needs belongingness, self-esteem, meaningful existence and control. By making phubbed people feel excluded and disliked. That may be particularly harmful because phubbing happens all the time.

When someone phubs you, you may feel rejected, excluded, and not important. That can have a significant impact on your mental health.

People have no time to enjoy the nearness and company of their partners. They are simply busy read-through likes and comments on Instagram and Facebook. While they are keen on grooming their digital identity with images and glossy and attractive words, their real-life relations get too compromised.

Until recently, the three main reasons for divorce was sex, children, and financial problems. Currently cellphone has indisputably become the main cause of the divorce rates. The typical cuddling, fondling and cozying up of young couples are unfortunately being changed by endless scrolling on the smart devices.

Checking your phone again and again can become an impulse you can’t control. If you have a hard time stopping the cycle, speak with a therapist or psychologist. They can help you learn to redirect your energy. They can also help you discover why you may have developed this impulse in the first place.

For many people, social media begins as an escape, or a way to zone out at the end of the day. Social media may lead to worsening symptoms of depression and low self-esteem. A therapist can help you understand these issues and work to improve your response to them so that you don’t feel as dependent on your phone and the world inside your social media apps.

Let’s fill our homes with memories instead of things, moments instead of things. Putting your phones away and paying attention to those talking to you, there is a word for it called “Respect”

Realize!!!  Phubbing will hurt your life &relationships.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛

According legend, 

The Truth and the Lie meet one day.

The Lie says to the Truth: "It's a marvelous day today"!

The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was really beautiful.

They spend a lot of time together, ultimately arriving beside a well.

The Lie tells the Truth: "The water is very nice, let's take a bath together!"

The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice. They undress and start bathing.

Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs away. The furious Truth comes out of the well and runs everywhere to find the Lie and to get her clothes back.

The World, seeing the Truth naked, turns its gaze away, with contempt and rage.

The poor Truth returns to the well and disappears forever, hiding therein, its shame.

Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth,satisfying the needs of society, because, the World, in any case,harbors no wish at all to meet the naked Truth.

Fart’s & Global Warming? – Sounds funny - But true

           Livestock, inclusive of cattle, chickens, sheep, pigs and goats, are responsible for nearly 14.5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation.

This means that the emissions from livestock are at par, if not a little in excess, with emissions from transport that stand at around 14% according to the UN 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Their study shows that ruminant mammals like cows are responsible for the highest amount of emissions, followed by non-ruminant mammals and poultry, in that order.

It’s no secret that India is home to largest cow population in the world. Between Mother Dairy, Amul and various regional milk brands, milk is essentially India’s largest ‘crop’ valued at around ₹650 billion.

Scientists in India are exploring how to tailor the diet of cattle so that they produce 12-15% less methane. There are a quite a few different schools of thought on the matter. While some approach the problem from the consumption side, where human choice behavior is analyzed, others believe the solutions lie in changing livestock rearing techniques.

Canada investing $1.1 million to reduce cattle farts (sorry, bovine methane gas emissions). “Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the cattle sector is important both environmentally, economically and helps build public trust. Producers want to operate in a sustainable fashion and our study results will help them do that,” said Dr. Erasmus Okine, University of Lethbridge Vice-President Research.

😁

The Dead Horse Theory (Lean Management)

The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generations says that “when you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount”.

However, in modern business education and government, a whole range of far more advanced strategies are often employed such as

·       Buying a strong whip

·       Change the riders

·       Threatening the horse with termination

·       Appointing a committee to study the horse

·       Arranging to visit other countries to see how others ride dead horse

·       Lowering the standards to that dead horse can be included

·       Re-classifying the dead horse as living-impaired

·       Hiring outside contractors to ride dead horse

·       Harnessing several dead horses together to increase the speed

·       Providing additional funding and/or training to increase the speed

·       Doing productivity study to see if lighter rides would improve the dead horse performance

·       Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead and therefore contributes substantially more to the bottom line of the economy that do some other horses

·       Re-writing the expected performance requirement for all horses

·       Promoting the dead horse to supervisory position of hiring another horse

Leaders & Mangers

When you are promoted into a role where you are managing people, you don’t automatically become a leader. There are important distinctions between managing and leading people. Leadership and management are often a confused terminology, but it is a little clear when we use the term “Leader” and “manager”. Leadership quality and managerial qualities are entirely different set of traits and soft skills. In another word; “A good leader may not be a good manger”. In an organisation, we can see both management and leadership. There is a manager in a department and many leaders who work with their teams in assisting the organisation in the accomplishment of their goals

Leadership is a quality of influencing, so that the objectives are attained willingly and enthusiastically. Management is managing things in the best possible manner. It is getting the work done through and with others. One of the major difference between leadership and management, is management is for formal and organized group of people, whereas leadership is for both formal and informal groups.

Leaders are willing to be themselves. They are self-aware and work actively to build their exclusive and illustrious personal brand. They are easy in their own shoes and willing to stand out. They’re trustworthy and transparent. Managers copycat the capabilities and behaviors they learn from others and adopt their leadership style rather than defining it.

Leaders know that people who work for them have the answers or can find them. They see their people as capable and are positive about their potential. They resist the temptation to tell their people what to do and how to do it. Managers assign tasks and provide direction on how to accomplish them. Leaders have people who go beyond following them; their followers become their wild fans and keen promoters, helping them build their brand and achieve their goals. Their fans help them increase their visibility and credibility. Managers have staff who follow directions and seek to please the boss.

Leaders paint a picture of what they see as possible and inspire and engage people in spinning that vision into truth. They think beyond what people do. They trigger people to be part of something bigger. They know that high-functioning teams can achieve a lot more working together than people working separately. Managers focus on setting, measuring and achieving goals. They control situations to reach or exceed their objectives.

Leaders are proud disrupters. Innovation is objective. They hug change and know that even if things are working, there could be a better way forward. And they understand and accept the fact that changes to the system often create ripples. Managers stick with what works, refining systems, structures and processes to make them better.

Leaders are willing to try new things even if they may fail miserably. They know that failure is often a step on the path to success. Managers work to minimize risk. They seek to avoid or control problems rather than embracing them. Leaders have willingness. They do what they say they are going to do and stay driven toward a big, often very distant goal. They remain inspired without receiving regular rewards. Managers work on shorter-term goals, seeking more regular acknowledgment or praises.

Leaders remain inquisitive and seek to remain relevant in an ever-changing world of work. They seek out people and information that will expand their thinking. Managers often duplicate on what made them successful, perfecting existing skills and accepting proven behaviors. Leaders focus on the stakeholders, they need to be encouraged to realize their vision. They know who their stakeholders are and spend most of their time with them. They build loyalty and trust by reliably delivering on their promise. Managers focus on the structures necessary to set and achieve goals. They focus on the systematic and ensure systems are in place to attain desired outcomes. They work with persons and their goals and objectives.

“Leaders have people follow them while managers have people who work for them”

       

The globalization of indifference

Today no one in our world feels responsible; we have lost a sense of responsibility for fellow human beings, we have fallen into the Hippocratic attitude. Even if we see a half dead on the side of the road, perhaps we say to ourselves “poor soul”, and then go on our way. it’s not our responsibility, and with that we feel reassured. Reminds me of the famous line in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ when UN Peacekeeping Forces leader Colonel Oliver says, regretfully, that they can’t intervene in preventing genocide, and that people back home would see it on television and say ‘that’s too bad’ and go back to eating their dinners

The culture of comfort, which makes us think only of ourselves, makes us insensitive to the cries of other people, makes us live in soap bubbles which is however lovely, are insubstantial. They offer a fleeting and empty illusion which results in indifference to others indeed, it even leads to the globalization of indifference. We have become used to the suffering of others, it doesn’t affect me; it doesn’t concern me; it is none of my business. The globalization of indifference makes us all ‘unnamed’, responsible yet nameless and faceless.

          We are a society which has forgotten how to weep, how to experience compassion, suffering with others, the globalization of indifference has taken from us the ability to weep.

Several months ago, a three-year-old Syrian boy named Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach. Photos of his lifeless body were shared rapidly around the world, producing a surge in attention to, and concern about, the refugee crisis formed by the Syrian Civil War. And there, seven months later, the European Union has launched a controversial program to detain migrants arriving in Greece and deport those who don’t qualify for asylum back to Turkey and their countries of origin. Donald Trump, who is campaigning in part on a promise to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.

Clearly, indifference is not something new; every period of history has known people who close their hearts to the needs of others, who close their eyes to what is happening around them, who turn aside to avoid encountering other people’s problems. But in our day, indifference has ceased to be a purely personal matter and has taken on broader dimensions.

There’s no lack of information in today’s world about distant hardships. globalization, contributed to the widespread outcry over Alan Kurdi’s photo. But as the fading of attention to the refugee crisis since then demonstrates, this kind of knowledge doesn’t always translate into compassion. indeed, it may compound lethargy, hardening public opinion and paralyzing world leaders.

Since the end of World War II and the UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights we have tried to globalize concern. We had international campaigns to reduce extreme poverty and new institutions like the International Criminal Court, which prosecutes individuals accused of committing atrocities. In the past, there weren’t global issues because there wasn’t very much that you could do about people on the other side of the world. The communications were too slow earlier. And now we have a completely different world in which communication is instant. We’re all connected in a way that I think promotes greater concern for the rest of the world. What matters is whether it’s in your power to prevent something bad from happening without excessive sacrifice on your part, no matter how far away the bad thing is occurring

If you walk by a shallow pond and see a child drowning in it, should you save the child? You should try, even if that means muddying your clothes, and even if other people are callously walking right past the child, and even if that child is drowning thousands of miles away but you can place a call to someone who can help him or her. Be it your neighbor’s drowning child or a Bengali refugee, morally what is relevant is how certain are you that you will be able to help.

You are An Ambivert ???

You might have judged many whether they are an introvert or an extrovert. Some people, it is an easy answer, but for most, it is difficult to choose one way or the other. It is hard to choose because the introvert/ extrovert separation echoes a tired and obsolete view of character. Character traits exist along a range, and the vast majority of us are not introverts or extroverts; we fall somewhere in the middle.

Character consists of a steady set of preferences and tendencies through which we approach the world. Character traits are form at an early age and fixed by early adulthood. Many things change over the course of lifetime, but your character is not one of them. The character between introvert and extrovert captures one of the most important character traits. We are forced to categorize ourselves, either way because there are critical strengths and weaknesses commonly associated personalities

Approximately two-thirds of people do not strongly identify as introverts or extroverts. These people are Ambiverts, who have both introverted and extroverted affinities. The direction Ambiverts lean toward varies greatly, depending on the situation. Ambiverts have a distinctive advantage over true introverts and extroverts. Because their character does not lean in either direction, they have easier time adjusting their tactic to people based on the situation. This permits them to connect more easily, and more deeply, with a wider variety of people.

How it Works in the Brain­­­

How social you are; is driven by the brain’s feel-good hormone. We all have different levels of dopamine-fueled stimulation in the brain. Those who naturally have high levels of stimulus tend to be introverts; they try to avoid any extra social stimulation that might make them feel anxious or overwhelmed. Those with low levels of stimulation tend to be extroverts. Most people’s levels of natural stimulation do not reach great extremes, though it does fluctuate

Finding Out Whether You’re An Ambivert (Courtesy: internet)

It is important to find out where you fall in the introversion/extroversion scale. By increasing your awareness of your type, you can develop a better sense of your inclinations and play to your strengths. How many of the following statements apply to you. If most of them apply, you are most likely an ambivert.

• I can perform tasks alone or in a group. I do not have much inclination either way
• Comfortable with social settings, but I get exhaust of being around people too much.
• Being the center of attention is fun for me, but not like it to last.
• Some people think I am quiet, while others think I am highly social.
• I do not always need to be moving, but too much down time leaves me feeling bored.
• I can get lost in my own thoughts just as easily as I can lose myself in a conversation.
• Comfortable with small talks, but it does get boring.
• When it comeson trusting other people, sometimes skeptical ,othertimes, I dive right in
• If I spend too much time alone, I get bored, yet too much time around other people leaves me feeling exhausted.

The trick to being an ambivert is knowing when to lean toward one side of the range when it is not happening naturally. Ambiverts with low self-awareness struggle with this. Mismatching your approach to the situation can be frustrating, ineffective, and demoralizing for Ambiverts.

Cashless Economy in India?

The economic shock posed by demonetization, which purged 86% of the currency (by value) in circulation lead to a talk about cashless economy in India. A cashless economy is one in which all the transactions are done using cards or digital means. The circulation of physical currency is minimal.

The move to eradicate 500 rupee and 1,000-rupee notes, representing 86 percent of currency in circulation, would also force millions of cash-dependent Indians to use more online payments and bank accounts. Problem is that India remains one of the most cash-dependent countries in the world. Just over half of the nation’s adults have bank accounts, a hurdle to using digital payments. Roughly, 98 percent of all transactions are in cash, with 11 percent of consumers using a debit card in 2015, while most retailers do not accept cards.

How do you build up acceptance?

Most of the Indians depend on cash because of few good reasons. Cash transaction is instantaneous; do not have to wait for any approval for transaction, no other changes other than the value of transaction is applicable, no hassles of follow-up, the transaction between two strangers are safe.

There are only 14.4 lakh digital acceptance locations for all the Indians. How these all have to work together on acceptance and build the acceptance infrastructure in locations across India. Of course, the waiver of charges will help government to promote the digital transactions, but eventually the banks and other financial institutions will move to government to stop the wavier of service charges on electronic transactions, because they need to generate the income out of the infrastructure they have created.

The cost of setting up a typical POS machine varies from between Rs 4,000 and Rs 8,000. However, with more low-cost options coming to market that require only a QR code and a sticker, more merchants are likely to adopt alternative, cheaper, payment methods, experts hope. However, there are barriers to low-cost options as well. That is because a large number of digital payment options available on the market require a smartphone with internet connectivity mostly 3G speed. Currently, India's smart phone penetration is only about 250 million, meaning the vast majority of the population does not own a smartphone and will find it difficult to jump on these digital wallets instantly.

Cyber crime is a clear and present danger.

 Does India have the infrastructure to prevent cyber-attacks? When we are continuously talking about moving to a cashless society, Cyber security is clear and present danger. It is here to stay and is getting much more severe and organized. The lack of proper cyber security framework is a big constraint. Without proper digital security, we cannot have a sustained digital economy. Financial institutions are investing very heavily in this whole space. They claimed to have moved to very high encryption technology at the physical point of sale.

However, how safe they are?

In July 2016, state-run Union Bank of India Ltd said one of the bank's offshore accounts was breached in a cyber-attack. Axis Bank recently informed the Reserve Bank of India  that it had experienced a cyber-attack, while the State Bank of India said it was re-issuing over 600,000 debit cards because of a potential security breach. A survey on fraud in the financial sector by Assocham and PwC found these caused $20 billion in direct losses annually. The RBI has said the number, frequency, and impact of cyber-attacks have increased manifold in the past few years.

The cost of poor internet security measures, whether at the consumer-end or the point of transaction can be significant, with money stolen from online bank accounts and personal identifiable information used to commit further fraud. The risk is significant in this respect and the cost of poor security measures can be vast.

Electronic banking cost

Digital banking is undoubtedly the greatest retail banking innovation of the past 20 years. As consumers we consider a product or service to be free if we don’t get charged at the point of use. However, just because we do not get charged every time we log on to our internet banking accounts it doesn’t mean it is free.

Most of the electronic banking financial companies do not have those rigid fee structures and the hardly customers know it. As is true with most 'good deals', the news is spreading quickly about true online banks and as more and more customers realize that banking online is about as safe as off line banking, they are checking them out.

Banks use their electronic platforms to ‘cost shift’ to the consumer. This occurs when an individual or group underpays for one service and this results in another individual or group overpaying for a different service, hence shifting the true cost of service a to users of other service . A substantial cost shift occurs due to the expense of the online banking infrastructure. These are costly to implement and manage and the consumer pays for these in overdraft charges and or current account fees.

Electronic banking future in India

It is very doubtful that demonetization will lead to any meaningful financial inclusion. It does seem a little tacked on; Government is trying to find more and more uses for demonetization than may have originally been intended, only to justify the chaos created by the demonetization announcement. The government’s narrative surrounding demonetization has changed frequently since then: First it was an attack on black money, then about addressing funding of terrorism. However, the latest pitch, for a move that reportedly has seen people die, is that it moves people towards a cashless economy.

Most people are using digital payments, as a temporary measure and an alternative to overcome an abnormal situation. They are likely to revert to cash because of the same reasons for which they had not signed up or used these until now; Primarily because of charges and fear of surveillance and disclosure of actual transactions.

Faked Being an Extrovert: An assumed story

When I was in school, I recall many days of trying to get out of my head. I was happier in my mind. Every time I talked to people, I felt a little exhausted. I thought there was something wrong with me. I forced myself to talk in class every day. I wanted to be like the kids who appeared to be able to talk to everyone and make friends with everybody instantly. I wish to be like those “smart” kids who could dare the teacher and examine things off the top of their head. By end of PUC, I was getting there, so I thought. I was trying to “pass” as an extrovert.

The Cost of Faking It

There was a cost to my new character, but it would be years before I realized it. I repeated my act in college. I forced myself to mingle during my meals. All the time, I was with people. I improved greatly to a social being. All of my friends believed that I was an extrovert. However, my grueling attempts to force myself to socialize took toll on my body. I collapsed into bed every night. It is as if I was sleeping off a hangover.

 My Act continued into my career. After college, I joined an organization, and my colleagues believed that I am exceptionally extroverted and social. However, I was hiding my true personality and my endless energy drain. Every night I would spent hours reading books at home. Those were some of the most soothing hours of the day. Then I would fall soundly asleep. I used to be drained, so that I could sleep through friend’s video game battles and another’s loud noises.

 My years of trying to build up extroversion were already taking a toll on me. The hair on the side of my temples was already receding in my twenties. With no history of hair loss on either side of my family, I was making family history and I did not know why. I rallied on, and kept up my efforts to extrovert. I even talked to a playboy friend to learn how to talk to women.

A “Friendly” Chat

I worked exhausting 7:30 AM to 7 PM days, and the first thing I had to do in the morning was to review. I had to hit my desk writing every day when I came in. Another colleague gets in as I was getting into my actions; he started his own day a little differently, by calling me.

“Hi, what’s up?” he would say in his overly spirited voice. He would make small talk for a bit and then ask me about some unwanted gossips in office. I tried asking him to stop. There is no reason to make small talk and discuss unwanted things. However, he disagreed with my judgment. To him, it was easier if he just talked it out with someone. I tried to avoid, but he kept doing it.

Every single day his friendly chat was hitting me like a spear in the head. It punctured through my attention and effort. I just could not understand why he could not see my side of things. I knew it was not true, but I felt like he took ruthless pleasure from upsetting my morning routine.

I finally did something about colleague. I complained to manager about my problem. Manager called him immediately to tell him to stop bothering me. Later, he came to me and playfully acted as if he was scared of me. I could not believe that he still did not understand. I got out of that job, but I never forgot his behavior. He was a very kind person in general and helped me out many times. Why would such a nice person also be such an annoyance?

 Realizing My Introversion

My answer did not come until much later. One day I was at a bookstore and saw the book “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. I picked it up and found the answer to all my questions. My years of trying to be an extrovert made me forget who I am. This contender co-worker was the stereotype of an extrovert. Since neither of us understand how personality types differ, we were talking at different wavelengths during our time together.

Once I discovered Quiet, I started embracing my introversion. I learned to take breaks at parties, to be alone when needed, and most notably, I stopped trying to extrovert all the time. I no longer felt uncomfortable, if I was eating alone or if I escaped the party at night. Alone time is good. It is how introverts like to recharge. I had years’ worth of recharging to do.

I wish companies understood the differences in human personality. If getting hired included HR training about personality type, I would have known that my phone friend was an extrovert, and I would have been more prepared to handle his small talk. Equally important, he would have understood why his actions bothered my thought process.

I know who I am, I am much happier with my life. If I could offer one lesson from this, I would say: Understand yourself first before you try to change yourself.

I was angry about the world, until I made a short exit from social media

How Facebook, google, Instagram, tweeter, whatsapp and other social media portals survive. They make huge investments on facility to cater each users. Google is frantically trying to make a social media platform. Google and Facebook is making experiments to provide free internet to all, across the world. Why they have to do so? Where do they earn? , they are becoming rich by doing so, how?

Social media is a big marketing space, the actual intention is not to keep you happy and bring things to your devices, and the actual intention is to take you to a level, where they want. They sell sponsored items to you. They make you believe things, which is supported by sponsors. The selling could be anything from products, propaganda, agendas, concepts, religion, hate messages etc …

Who reaps from social media? I was an avid fan of social media portals. I used it so extensively to keep me occupied during my bachelor days and during my forced bachelor days. Social media give all things in one plate news, gossip, religion, Jokes, political views… it’s amazing. Social media is good when you take it lightly, neglect things with due respect. The ultimate question is who actually earn?. Users or someone else. Social media sells ideas to you directly; Defying your common sense. 

Politicians: Do you know all political parties have social media handlers and they spend lots of money to sell the ideologies matching their propaganda. The social media handlers are not a simple team, They are a team of think tanks, technologists and campaigners came out from prestigious institutions and are paid very high. They learn human physiology for a better campaign .To mention about; the “Chai pe charcha” & “Na Mo” was a concept created by social media campaigners to get a boost for certain political in India and the result was astonishing. The same team was used in a state election campaign and they toyed a name for the political party leader as “Muffler man.” You can see a change in the political parties campaigns for election; they come with a punch dialogue or a mission statement. It seems that a major political party in India, lost the election because of their lack in social media campaigns. Political parties sell their ideology directly to you. I mean, into your brain  

Troll: trolling is a word coined by social media on teasing a person, organization or an incident. Trolling usually target individuals. Social media handlers targeted people and will create teasing image about a person based on the small mistakes. In India, a young political leader, belonging to a major party is often trolled. The same against the current chief minister of Delhi. This is insane; currently this young leader is having an image of non-capable leader, even before he could get a chance. Systematical designed trolls are often used to knock out political opponents. It is used against people who oppose certain ideologies. The pattern of trolls are very clear and have particular objectives. It should be considered as carefully crafted messages, selling directly to people. However you try, these messages will drop in to your device and will create a biased image.

Religion: Religious extremists thrives in social media. All terror outfits across the world relay on social media to attract people. It’s very easy to spread message and get followers. The conflicts often discussed are on “My god is really god” & “My god is more powerful than others”. These messages always irritates me , but some people fall for it . I feel, the feeling of god is over powering the common senses and people are not becoming considerate of others. No tolerance to fellow humans and his believe systems and a biased thinking about particular religion. I could feel people are getting divided based on religion and becoming orthodox on religious concepts. This is moving to new dangerous levels. Political parties are deciding leaders based on the religious majorities. We are facing a deadly combination of religion and political , Which lead to the division of British India. Disagreeing to idea and policies are considers as intolerance. Sedition charges are made based on social media post. Turning the world into a chaotic place. I remember a message “ Why don’t  we live in peace than rest in peace”

Fake information & hate messages: Something we always see in a social media pages. I got a forward message recently stating that a famous film star was detained because of his relation with a secret spy agency. I presume the message was absurd. It was his religion people were behind, they are questioning his love to his country. Some common messages in social media is about the natural cure for diseases like cancers. People believes in that. In addition, I know victims of those fake messages. A message I often found is “Drink more water to stay healthy”; Excess water is bad for health. Racism is in the peak at social media circles. People abuse each other without even knowing each other, Fight conflicts that they have nothing to do. In addition, make online enemies .Countries propagate f messages to justify their positions in an international conflicts. The intentions are very clear; pure marketing

Usually people with low commonsense, who have no in-depth knowledge, fall for  propaganda propagation, and alarmingly the number are very high , even among the so called educated people. People don’t have time to think. They just absorb the information’s from social media as it is, because they feel, it is from their trusted circles (friends & relatives). Look at the level of penetration. Emotional people often fall for any message. People hide their personalities in social media or over expose themselves in social media. Shy people become more active in social media circles and they will earn friends. People believe in virtual society than the real society. People love to stay in a world with in themselves. Some believe in peeping others, a dangerous breed. Most of the organizations have social media presence. It is from the realization that it is very important to act and counter act in social media. I remember a message I received “Stop living in your brain ; the world is much bigger than you think”   

I was an addict to social media portals. I was an angry man . I felt the world is not going in a good direction. I used to say like , god need to intervene “shake it” and start new. I believe chaos will bring people together for a cause.  But what is the chance. One fine day, I took a leave from social media for a month. Wow … the world look more peaceful than ever. I realized something from that sabbatical absence, It is I who make me angry, I should take things lightly . whether I like it or not  things will go on. I completely ignore propaganda messages, hate messages, religious posts. I started posting videos, which make sense to me, which may not affect or hurt others. Now I know how to handle it.