Article in SAP-BangOn

Power of mobilizing people!!! Our effort towards bettering someone's life was documented by Me. Now it got selected and published in SAP's magazine "BangOn".

DNA weds ELECTRON-1

My adventures with ideas and learnings were really staggering this year (July08-09). I started learning Non-Linear Thinking, Complexity, Game Theory (Strategy), and Genetic Algorithms. Out of these, let me explain Genetic Algorithms(GA).

I presented my first business proposal in “Innovative Ideas” competition at my company recently. To convert my idea into innovation I had suggested the use of Genetic Programming (obviously based on GA). Since then my colleagues and friends are asking me to demystify it. So here it is in its simplest form:
What is GA?

Entire universe, Life on Earth in particular, is based on single idea of "optimization" or "entropy".To put in dumbly, all living organisms modify themselves in such a way that their survival chances are optimum in a given environment; energy usage for Survival is least. This process of evolution is largely due to activity of genes and environmental factors. So I can define Genetic Algorithms (GAs) as adaptive heuristic optimization/search algorithm premised on the evolutionary ideas of natural selection and genetics. The basic concept of GAs is designed to simulate processes in natural system necessary for evolution, specifically those that follow the principles of survival of the fittest.
What is GP?

GP is a systematic, domain-independent method for getting computers to solve problems automatically starting from a high-level statement of what needs to be done. Using ideas from natural evolution, GP starts from an ooze of random computer programs, and progressively refines them through processes of mutation and sexual recombination, until solutions emerge. All this without the user having to know or specify the form or structure of solutions in advance. GP has generated a plethora of human-competitive results and applications, including novel scientific discoveries and patentable inventions.
Why should I use GP?

You can use in

• Areas where u simply have no idea how 2 program a solution, but where u know what u want
• Problem areas involving many variables that are interrelated in highly non-linear ways
• Inter-relationship of variables is not well understood
• Dicovery of the size and shape of the solution is a major part of the problem

Continued in the post below...

DNA Weds Electron..Cont

What was my idea??
Points one and two in the advantages are the engines for my idea. I visualized a product, which enables us to optimize power consumption. I wanted to use software technology to regulate the power network system. It ought to be very intelligent and should keep evolutionizing on its own!! Such a grid can only be realized by advanced networking technology run by a sophisticated software. So it somehow struck me, how stunning it would be if we combine GP with power networks!! Thats the iDEA:)

Draft Presentation

Some sources where you can explore:
http://www.gp-field-guide.org.uk/
http://fog.neopages.org/helloworldgeneticalgorithms.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_programming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm

Smart Grid:
http://www.supersmartgrid.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/battaglini-lilliestam-2008-supersmart-grid-tallberg1.pdfMaking Every Electron Count

Hands on Experience:
http://math.hws.edu/xJava/GA
http://sites.google.com/a/ciselab.org/jenes/ (Java)

IPOs: Man-Nature Partnership (Un)Limited

Best ideas are patented by nature!! So why cannot we reap the man-nature partnership to redress the planet’s sustainability issues. Four years back, my serious thought and deep passion for Earth’s future had led me to the root cause of all these global crises, the “Big-Bang”moment of rampant global woes: PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
All the activities are derivatives of subsets of process that are directly/indirectly dependent on photosynthetic activity. You may ask me “so what’s big deal? Isn’t for this that we say plant more trees? Yes that true,”But tell me how many of us are actually protecting trees let alone growing them. Tell me how many of us are imbibing green practices as part of our lifestyle; let alone Creating and spreading awareness? The question is not how much we have done but how much more to do and go. More over whatever we have done is not even dx (delta x). This is not to discard efforts of us who are actively doing something about it but to integrate our active awareness with a definite and lucrative model that adds to existing collective sustainability consciousness.
My answer is why stop there and why not question the answers and think bit further. My answer is, as Man always done, is to invent “that” or integrate technology with nature. Yes, solution is ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Just imagine if we can achieve this artificial photosynthesis, we can solve 90% of the world’s problems. Imagine the future where we have photo-synthetic machines or systems or gadgets, which we can switch on at our will. That would be a terrific of inventions, isn’t it??!! So, how to do it?

1. Use genetics, molecular biology, nanotechnology, memetics and non-linear thinking:Corporations like IBM, GE, SAP, Microsoft, and Shell (ilk) should invest in this research. It not only boosts demand of sciences, technology, and college business but also gives returns million fold if invented. No need to tell the magnanimity of social responsibility you would have imparted. Creating employment, wealth and bettering society can never happen in a better time than this.
2. Design or invent an artificial p-syn in labs and in parallel, increase plants photosynthesis efficiency at least to 12% (that is doubling the existing maximum efficiency): Improve the structure of leaves, design of chlorophyll and make the process carbon-intensive and oxygen spewing.
3. After we invent functional artificial p-syn system and have evolutionized plants and algae as planned, imagine the emergence of markets for such products. Imagine the regulations and polices around it. Visualize a place in new version CARBON MARKETS (if it happens after 2012), it is equivalent of money-minter. How about selling such products to governments? Nations might trade OXYGEN where in we may be barons.

I believe, only if an idea or an activity has real monetary benefits, people (who are powerful and unlike) will take it seriously. All we have to do is sensationalize the sustainability and make it sexy b(u)y educating the people about its commercial proposition!!!!

Reason for writing this: I presented this idea, from my past, to participate in my company’s Genius: Innovative Idea Competition was chosen as the penultimate entry, i.e. top 1 innovation idea, followed by my other idea for 2nd place. Unfortunately, for the lack of functional model, my entries were removed two days before the event, who cares. Ideas rule the world and entrepreneurs integrate people, resources, technology, market and imaginations. I don’t have to be scientist, but I have vision and purpose. I am happy happy.

i Know i Am

My first entrepreneurial spirit was manifested when I ran a fun-fair on my terrace during summer holidays of class 6. I honestly dint know why I had done it. I started modern versions of event management for children-days at school where I led the event!! I was the one who inspired my classmates of class 4 to go for a picnic on our own.It is equally surprising why I had ventured into sensationalizing quiz and debate culture during my school days on my own. I & Quiz had reached zenith and I left my school undefeated. I started cricket tournaments in a school, which never encouraged such things.I still remember the day when we played three matches with our school PT sirs as spectators!!! That was my impact. iDid:) There are countless episodes that unleashed my wild spirits throughout my life. But I would like to remember those that were too risky, quite challenging and damn creative if not exactly innovative. I really take pride to emphasize that all of them were 100% mine (it does not mean that they didn't exist on Earth but I was unaware of their existence). One of my favorite projects was Unconventional Cell Phone Charger. Unplanned-ly it was related to energy, which is one of my favorite spaces since 14 years. I came up with an idea of integrating wind, sun and sound energy to power a cell phone battery. But eventually we had to put down our ideas on SOUND department and ended up fabricating a 3inch cube model. We promoted it in national and state level technical projects symposia. We made it popular and became popular in turn. Defining moment of this entrepreneurship was when we realized that we have set the trend in our college to spot opportunities and inject dreams in those. Greatest but profound risk that dealt with people's lives was taken last year. People opposed, shouted and criticized me for what I was undertaking. They are still many who think I am useless and idealist. But thanks to God, my strong sense of self belief, inner energy, my true friends and fellow adventurers, who made it happen. It is really fun to do that what the majority and the so called "practical" say "Impractical and Impossible".
Reason why I remembered all this today is I saw that CEO of GE on TV, who had remarked that he would commercialize my product if I come up with a compact version at the same price, 6 and half years back:)

INFANT's

Corporate Story

Infant's, my office shuttle, is the auto-engineering’s marvel. It is only vehicle on the face of the earth that beats Tata’s Nano hands down, both in cost and compactness. Though slightly bigger than Nano, it seats 30 people...exclusive of driver, aila!! When you board, its for sure that you wonder whether it was intended for normal humans. Because leg room between seats proves that it was originally designed for the people without legs. So, people with legs like me, who travel regularly, will surely lose their legs sooner or later in accordance to theories of Darwin and Lamarck. And width, OMG, fuses the butts of people sitting side by side; I bet you cannot make out where your butt ends and the next butt begins. The real magic begins when this four-wheeled hell is crowded by 29 sweating and stinking girls at 5 in the evening and I am subjected to maddening decibels of Kannada cacophony (courtesy: our driver has a loud ear for music) amidst them.... Effluvium from 8 hrs sweat-drenched and proudly stinking girls (29 of them) when blended with musical terrorism in an all-windows-closed, snail paced, built to paralyze, four wheeled wonder, INFANT---- makes my journey deadliest, if not delirious. But last week, when summer sun added its thermal charm to this nightmarish setup, my ply home was suicidal!!!That was the bloggable eve-nt.

P.S: Encore Post-Reason behind this post is to market "Infant's". This is a brain-child of cost cutting!

Thank You So Much

Malati Shah had been suffering from acute Ankylosing Spondylitis since 6 years without any treatment for the want of money and care. Her old and indigent parents helplessly witnessed her worsening condition. Disease had calcified her knees, fused her hip joints and spine, and made her immovable, like a rigid bamboo. If it was left untreated, she would die of ribs calcification sooner or later!!!
When I first learnt about her plight, I went numb. I felt strongly to do something about it. I decided to do my mite to better her life. I consulted doctors and inquired about treatments, hospitals and expenses. Dr C B Prabhu, an eminent orthopaedic surgeon, had agreed to treat her by performing Total Hip Replacement surgeries followed by aggressive physiotherapy sessions. It required approx. 6 lakhs INR!!!I haven’t had so much money. Then I approached my friends, cousins, acquaintance, my company CSR team SAPPORT to allow me to raise funds within office. I contacted some NGOs and also asked my friends working elsewhere to drive the fund raising initiative in their respective offices. I explained the gravity of situation and discussed the urgent need to raise funds from almost everyone know to me or known to my KNOWNS. I have reached out to as many people as possible requesting them to spread a word for immediate help. Everyone drove the cause strongly by taking the commendable lead. My office responded strongly. Donations, prayers and wishes started coming in from every corner. I kept getting cheques and letter from diverse places and from people across the world. I was overwhelmed by people’s timely concern, thoughtfulness, love in action and their belief in me.She underwent two major operations over a period of 6 days. Doctors were elated at her body’s response to the treatment and told that her recovery was remarkable. A week after surgery, Malati stood for the first time without anybody’s support after six years. She was all smiles and tears and was lost for words. While thank you word was more often in her speech, it was not less than a movie scene to see someone stepping down after 6 years. It was truly a fulfilling moment for all our collective effort.After 27 days of transformation in hospital, she walked her way back into life breaking the excruciating spell of diseased fate. She was discharged with elbow crutches. She must come for check up every two months for one year and further on twice a year for 2 years. Whatever money we are left with after paying all the expenses for surgery, hospitalization, medicines, transportation, communication, consulting, ongoing physiotherapy sessions, care-taker charges and miscellaneous, we have decided to give it to her for further requirements.
At present she is at her home in Calcutta. Doctors from there are guided by Dr Prabhu about the medications and daily physiotherapy sessions. She is able to sit, climb up and down the stairs without anybody’s support!! She can walk with the help of a tripod stick. Doctor tells that gradually, in another 30 days, she will become normal and will walk without any support.
I am grateful to each and everyone for their timely help and amazing support! I really cannot thank enough. It was an incredible concerted effort in my life. It was indeed great to have discovered so many friends in the process. First of all, I am especially grateful to Krishna Mohan and Suman, who did more than one can expect and believe and stood by me. I also would like to convey my heartfelt thanks Rajendranath Avvari (CA), Richard Franklin (Infosys), Gautam Chakravarthy (AOL), Harish Nekkanti (TCS), (SAP):Rathish Balakrishnan, Archana Sahay, Haresh Patel, Potluri Ramakrishna, Deepika Bhagath, Kripa Rangachari; (US):Vineel, Suma Lakshmi, Uday (HP), Karthik Naidu(NICE). And my special thanks to Mr & Ms MI Murgodi from Vasco da Gama, Goa.

Digital Copies of Major Expenses: This is how we spent the raised fund

Surgery costs+Flight Tickets (twice the same price as in scanned copy)+Transportation+Caretaking services+ Food and Medicine+Miscellaneous= 5.97 lakhs. The remaining amount is given to patient for her futher treatement and expenses.