JioPhone was launched with the objective of empowering every Indian with the power of digital services, especially those, who could not afford a smartphone. Standing true to its promise, JioPhone is back with yet another revolutionary innovation, the Kumbh JioPhone that will provide value that goes beyond the ordinary.

Kumbh is the largest human congregation in the world, with over 130 million pilgrims taking a holy dip over 55 days. During this Kumbh, JioPhone is introducing a digital solution that will enrich the spiritual experience of millions of pilgrims during the divine holy dip.

The Kumbh JioPhone, a unique and differentiated offering, is being introduced to honour this revered tradition of India. The Kumbh JioPhone along with the power of Jio 4G data will ensure that the Kumbh pilgrims can make the most of their pilgrimage. Kumbh JioPhone offers a suite of benefits especially designed for the needs of the pilgrims:

1. End to End Rich information services about Kumbh

• Information on Kumbh
• Real-time Travel Information [special trains, buses etc.]
• Booking tickets & receiving updates
• Yatri Ashray at stations
• Emergency Helpline Numbers
• Area routes and Maps
• Pre-published bath and religious day schedules
• Railway Camp Mela & much more…

2. Features & Functionalities to simplify life at Kumbh

• Family Locator – Helping you to always stay close to your near and dear ones by finding their exact location.
• Khoya Paya [Lost & Found] – Helping you to reunite with your family and friends, in case you are not able to trace them.

3. Kumbh Devotional Content

• Kumbh Darshan – Telecast of special Kumbh events and programs on JioTV along with previous archives of Kumbh
• Kumbh Radio – 24*7 access to devotional songs and hymns that keep you connected with the almighty

4. News Alerts

• Important alerts and announcements in and around Kumbh at your fingertips

5. Entertainment

• Games – Many games to entertain you during your visit and afterwards
• Daily Quiz – Engage and win lots of exciting prizes by simply participating in the daily Kumbh Quiz and answering questions of your interest

These additional features are over and above the JioPhone core offerings that have already transformed the digital landscape in the country:

1. Free voice calls – Free Local, STD and Roaming calls to any network, from anywhere in India

2. Unlimited Internet – The best quality internet at the lowest price globally

3. World’s Best Applications

• JioTV
• JioCinema
• JioSaavn music
• JioGames
• Facebook
• Whatsapp
• YouTube
• Google Maps & many more

4. Google’s Voice Assistant – Simply talk to your phone and ask it to do anything, without having to type.

Jio Spokesperson said

JioPhone is at the centre of innovation and the Kumbh JioPhone initiative continues to demonstrate our focus on bringing disproportionate and true value for the JioPhone consumers. The JioPhone has become the largest selling phone in India simply because of the value it translates into and the features it offers. We are proud of the fact that everyone in India can now get access to a smartphone at as low as Rs 501 with features and functionalities that are Made in India, Made for India and Made by India.

Jio is working closely with the UP Police & KASH IT to ensure the above experience is delivered.

The Kumbh Functionality

• The new Kumbh functionality will be available to both existing and new JioPhone users
• Users can get to the Kumbh functionalities through the JioStore on the JioPhone
• Reliance Retail has created a special helpline number ‘1991’ to answer queries on the JioPhone

Elara Technologies Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based digital real estate company and owner of Housing, PropTiger, and Makaan, has announced yet another industry-first initiative by offering latest news of the Indian real estate sector on Alexa-compatible smart home devices. With this latest development,content available on the respective news and blog sections of Housing.com, PropTiger.com, and Makaan.com which is Housing News, PropGuide, and MakaanIQ respectively, will be available for consumption on Amazon Alexa.

With traction of over one million sessions each month, the exclusive news and blog sections – Housing News, PropGuide and MakaanIQ have successfully brought in many home-seekers, sellers, agents and enthusiasts within its fold. To listen to daily updates, users need to add Housing News, MakaanIQ or PropGuide to the Alexa skill set, and it will read the latest news in real estate along with other news from sources that one may have added. The cloud-based voice service from Amazon Alexa will present a compact brief of the news that can be consumed efficiently by a user.

Commenting on the development, Ravi Bhushan, Group CPTO, Housing, PropTiger, and Makaan said

With almost 28% of queries, voice-enabled searches are the new frontier and they are expected to contribute 50% of all global searches. We are always at the forefront of adopting technology and transforming customer experience by providing instant solutions.

Getting our news content in the voice format is another step towards offering our customers the utmost convenience. We see immense potential in serving informational queries such as latest news, property rates, how to guides and more such content in the voice format.

With emerging technologies shaping our lifestyle and dependencies, the recent development demonstrates our single-minded focus and commitment towards consumers, helping them experience property in a way never envisaged before. Most forward-thinking companies have pioneered change; in our field, we are delighted to have done it again.

Given that real estate is the most preferred asset class for Indians, this development was a need waiting to be fulfilled. Recent technological advancements such as seamless integration with voice and artificial intelligence all set to take centre stage, Housing News, MakaanIQ and PropGuide have already taken the plunge. Consuming content through voice command is an important step as consumers now want every information to be bundled in a fun, informative and hassle-free way.

HackerEarth, India’s leading innovation management and talent assessment company today published a report titled ‘Women in Technology 2018 : Breaking Gender Barriers‘, exploring the state of female technologists across the globe and the challenges faced by them in the workplace.

The objective of the report is to raise awareness on the issue of biased recruitments and highlight the ways in which organizations can hire and retain more women in technology-based roles. HackerEarth surveyed over 1000 women from 35 countries holding technology positions in various organizations. 84% of the respondents are under 30 and belong to various ethnicities. Developers from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America participated in the survey, where they were asked about their background, career, hiring experience and employee satisfaction.

Gender disparity in tech roles

The report shows stark disparity in the number of women employed by organizations of all sizes; only one-third of all tech teams comprise of women. Despite 86% of the respondents having a formal degree in computer science, majority of them believe there is a hiring bias for technology related roles, and there exist roles which are more challenging for women to enter.

The report also suggests that after a point, most women at these organizations experience a stagger in their career growth, with only 2% being promoted to leadership roles. 72% of the respondents are currently working as software developers and respondents with roles such as Product designers, QA developers, System Admins, and Engineering Managers were in the minority. Almost 80% of the women are working full-time or part-time, but 53% are seeking new roles, while only 11% said that they wouldn’t consider a new offer.

Factors contributing to high attrition rate amongst women developers

The data from the report shows that there is a high attrition rate among women developers in most companies. An interesting trend uncovered by the report, is that most respondents had an average tenure of only 0-2 years, while only 5.3% choose to stay at the same organization for more than 8 years.

HackerEarth has also created a job satisfaction index which shows that 48% of the respondents surveyed are satisfied to an extent in their current jobs. Almost 69% of the women stated that the reason they would consider moving to a new job is to work with emerging tech, 63% would choose a higher paycheck and almost 48% would move to a new job offering flexible hours.

Barrier to entry and challenges for minorities

HackerEarth also took ethnicity under consideration as women belonging to ethnic minorities found it even more challenging to get hired for the right jobs. 58.3% of the African American women and 43% of Hispanic women who responded to the survey, have identified unequal hiring practices as the key issue when it comes to gender disparity in tech roles.

Gendered wording in job adverts has also been identified as the main barrier for women to apply for jobs of their choice. 50% of the respondents believe that job adverts for technical roles tend to have gendered wording, which discouraged them from applying for the position. 62% of the respondents have also supported the claim that blind recruitments can improve technical hiring among women.

Factors encouraging women technologists to continue in their current roles

The report lists solutions to the issues faced by women in the field of technology. Factors which encourage women to continue their career in technology include growth opportunities, better work-life balance, opportunity to work on exciting new technologies, flexibility, better compensation and adequate training. Installing worker-friendly policies, child care services and flexible schedules can help women rise to better positions.

While only 19% of the respondents cite that their organizations were ‘not at all family-friendly’, more than 50% said that their organizations had some policies that are family oriented. 81% of the respondents also felt that their organizations valued their opinion and 71% responded that their employers provided adequate opportunities for women looking to rejoin the workforce after a long break.

In conclusion, there is still a long way to go to encourage more women to take up a career in technology. Practical solutions such as blind recruitments, building family-oriented policies, and up-skilling opportunities will help women excel in their careers and reduce gender disparity in every organization.

To download the full report, please visit here.

Technology has become a major enabler in our lives and has made life simple since it made things accessible at the click of a button. You should avoid using it to such an extent that life becomes completely sedentary. Following an unhealthy lifestyle can result in causing chronic problems like back pain & neck pain.

Causes of back pain

The causes of back pain are numerous; some are self-inflicted due to what we do — or don’t do — in our day-to-day life, like

• Poor posture,
• Sitting for long hours,
• Not exercising,
• Lifting heavy weights,
• Improper nutrition,
• Wearing high heel footwear for prolonged durations,
• Family history of back pain,
• Accidents, muscle strains, and sports / Gym injuries

In simple terms, your spine is the backbone of your ability to move, sleep and function properly. Most or perhaps every movement originates from your spine, so taking care of your cervical [upper] and lumbar [lower] spine should be of utmost importance.

Your overall well-being, including everyday tasks and movements such as sitting up straight, bending over, picking up objects, walking, twisting and moving your neck can become extremely difficult or painful if you don’t take adequate care of your spine. There are natural remedies available for relieving back pain, one of the widely used methods is increasing the intake of food that contains more Turmeric. Curcumin is the most active ingredient in Turmeric which has anti-ageing and pain-relieving effects. If you are having severe back pain, it is always recommended to try Turmeric before trying other treatments.

New technological advances have made it possible for treating back pain and neck pain without the need for surgery or medication. To know how lets understand your spine

Understanding your spine

Your spine is comprised of 24 vertebrae separated by discs. Those discs help to keep your vertebrae together, allow your spine to move in many different directions dynamically, and act as shock absorbers as you move. It provides support for your whole body, protects your nerves and allows you to move in many different ways.

Some measures to help take care to prevent spine problems are:

• Limiting sitting time – Sitting is the new smoking. Sitting in the wrong posture increase pressure on your spine by upto 200%. Moreover sitting for long hours can cause damage to your spine
• Posture when lifting – Stand as close to the object as you can and use your legs and knees to lift the item, to avoid stress to your back and upper body.
• Maintain an active lifestyle – Maintaining an active lifestyle can help lower your risk for experiencing low back pain, along with exercise routines like aerobic activity, core strengthening and stretching.
• Using the right spine support – Sleep on your side or back instead of on your stomach to avoid extra pressure on your spine. Use a pillow under your knees. Invest in a supportive mattress and pillows promoting proper alignment of the spine and neck.
• Keep yourself hydrated – Spinal discs shrink due to dehydration, as you can become more likely to suffer from a painful disc condition such as a herniation (slipped disc) or bulging discs.

Treating back pain & disc herniation without surgery

Slipped disc or disc herniation commonly occurs in the lower back. Symptoms of a slipped disc include

• Pain & numbness while walking
• Muscle weakness
• Pain after sitting or standing
• Radiating pain in your leg or arms
• Pain while twisting and lifting

You can visit a spine specialist , who may recommend treatment that can strengthen your back while reducing your pain.

Treatment of back pain and slipped disc without surgery is possible with the help of DSA [Digital Spine Analysis] which can diagnose and pinpoint where the pain is originating and help the doctor create a more targeted treatment plan. New German Technologies like cell repair technologies can not only reduce pain without medication but can also repair the damages tissues.

With such technological advances, these treatments are non-invasive, reverse tissue damage, provide faster recovery, and no need for hospitalization. With such an option, patients who are having slipped disc or Spondylitis no longer need to opt for Spine Surgery. QI Spine Clinic is India’s first spine rehabilitation clinic for treatment of back & neck pain with advanced European technology.

One of the most advanced spine function tests that are done at QI Spine Clinic is the Digital Spine Analysis [DSA] to pinpoint muscles and structures that have been affected. This allows spine specialists to create targeted treatment protocols to strengthen these muscles which reduces pain and improves muscle function and mobility. As far as back pain & neck pain is concerned, Spine Surgery is the last option since there are ways in which you can cure the pain by consulting QI Spine Clinic – the neck & back specialists.

Stratasys India, a subsidiary of Stratasys organized the 2nd edition of Stratasys India User Forum 2018 in Bengaluru. This 3D printing forum is an annual industry congregation hosted by Stratasys to promote the adoption of 3D printing technology across the region. The forum strives to provide a platform for key industry players and end-users to exchange insights on the latest 3D printing trends, applications, and best practices.

On this occasion, Stratasys announced a collaboration with NTTF [Nettur Technical Training Foundation] to launch India’s first additive manufacturing certification course. This training program is designed to help students to learn new technologies in 3D printing and make them future industry ready.

Themed ‘Shaping what is Next’, the event witnessed coming together of Stratasys leaders, industry bests and end-users, to share knowledge on the latest 3D printing trends. 3D printing demonstrations in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace & defence, healthcare, and education were showcased during the event. These are some of the key sectors likely to see the highest 3D printing adoption according to solution users and industry speakers at the forum.

Attended by over 500 attendees comprising of industry speakers from leading companies, the gathering included prominent personalities like Mr Reguraj N, Managing Director – Nettur Technical Training Foundation [NTTF], who shared insights on the Government’s skill development initiatives like PMKVY and DDU-GKY, and use of 3D Printing to revolutionize the education system in India. Dr Harider Singh Bedi, a medical stalwart from Shalby Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, shared a surgical miracle made possible with 3D printing. Mr Ravi Shankar, Managing Director, Accreate Additive Labs, shined light on the evolution from 3D printing to 4D printing in the field of life sciences. And, Mr. Sanjay Anikhindi, Associate Vice President, JCB India Ltd., spoke on the topic ‘Driving Innovation in Earth Moving‘.

On the occasion, Stratasys displayed their latest range of F370 printers that are adaptable to all engineering environments, be it office, lab or classroom to facilitate rapid 3D prototyping.  Stratasys also showcased its latest FDM elastomer solution from its F123 Series, to show manufacturers the new levels of elasticity, durability with true soluble support; and allowing users to produce parts with unique resilience that can stretch or compress without losing shape.

Commenting on the occasion, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, India & SEA, Stratasys said

3D printing has immense growth potential in India, but the uptake has to be faster. We notice there is a lack of awareness on the diverse applications of 3D Printing. Companies usually hold back on innovation ignorant of cost-benefit ratio, which if taken into consideration can help businesses deliver solutions faster, cheaper, better and easier.

Stratasys India User Forum strives to bridge this gap and provide a platform for industry leaders to exchange knowledge and discuss the ever-changing dynamics of the industry.

Guy Yair, Executive Vice President, EMEA & APJ, Stratasys said

India is becoming a manufacturing hub for foreign investors. Stratasys aims to leverage this opportunity to promote the adoption of 3D printing as part of the next Industrial revolution that empowers both personal manufacturing and customization in products.

Stratasys is at the forefront of the global 3D printing market that is constantly striving to demystify technology and making it accessible to local manufacturers. The company is focused towards educating users on the benefits of 3D printing solutions and how it will help organizations achieve their business goals. 

The speakers presented case studies that highlighted the uses of 3D printing and how it is slowly changing the traditional manufacturing landscape and is setting the tone for smart manufacturing and industry 4.0, such as advanced prototyping with high-performance thermoplastics in shop floor, or shared office solution for high volume usage at enterprise accounts.