True Innovation In
A Dark World
A few
things that show how technology is really meant to make our lives better
Tech seems to have
generated a lot of bad press lately. The Blue Whale game (come, kill
yourselves) has seemingly spawned a dozen more copycat challenges. Sarahah
(anonymous trolling app) has become a runaway success for ruthless online
bashing. And the all-new Hot Water Challenge (throw boiling hot water on
yourself, or an unsuspecting victim, or drink it with a straw while its still
boiling) has had multiple users ending up with horrendous results. You may be
thinking that tech is now all about self-destruction, body mutilation and
seeking barbaric anonymous trolling. But, that would be wrong. In the last
week, I’ve discovered these three truly innovative pieces of technology that
have made my tech heart sing.
Philips
Hue White Ambiance
I’ve been using Philips
Hue Smart Bulbs at my place of work. When they came out with the Hue White
Bulbs, I finally took the plunge for my home too. And, it’s the built-in
technology that amazes me. First, the super techie gee-whiz parts – control
these bulbs with an app or voice commands (Siri, Google, Amazon Alexa), set up
moods or themes on the fly, use the bulbs as a security system (out on a
holiday, your room lights will come on automatically signalling there is
someone at home) and use the battery-powered dimmers for those that hate using
phone apps. But, the Hue White is a different ball game. With 50,000 shades of
white, you can use them for various stages of your day. It can mimic a sunrise
and help you wake up naturally without an alarm, and offer different levels of
light for the gym or the children’s study room. Or, slow it all with a relaxing
warm white light. All this automated as per a time schedule or controlled by your
voice.
VoxWeb
Mark my words. This could
be the next big Instagram and Facebook put together. The premise is simple.
VoxWeb is about posting pictures and then adding a voice note to it (11
seconds). What’s the main reason that people avoid posting pictures or even a
message? Most people find it difficult to express themselves with the written
word. The other is language. Tech has taken us to the next level, but only for
those that read and write English. How many Instagram posts have you seen in
Hindi or any other local language? VoxWeb solves it all. A picture of a holiday
abroad, a wish for a friend and a group selfie – each can have a witty little
voice note in the language we all speak. Available for iOS and Android, the
company behind VoxWeb has just got some serious funding too. A picture may be
worth a thousand words, but a picture with a voice note is obviously worth
millions.
811 Kotak
Mahindra Digital Savings Bank Account
The challenge is simple.
In less than five minutes, without leaving your home or office and with zero
paperwork, you can open a savings bank account and get a virtual debit card.
Sounds like a typical marketing line from any bank. Well, 811 by Kotak actually
works. It took me less than three minutes actually. An Aadhaar and PAN number
is pretty much all you need and the rest moves at the speed of light. Besides
getting the savings bank account going, it’s the rest of what the app does that
makes it a real gem. It’s a multitasker with more than 100 features built
within. You can shop online, buy tickets for movies or air travel, transfer
funds and recharge your mobile and DTH connection – all without leaving the app
or opening another one. This is banking for the next generation.
·
Rajiv Makhni is managing editor, Technology,
NDTV, and the anchor of Gadget Guru, Cell Guru and Newsnet 3
HTBR27AUG17
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