ABB India Opens a New Robotics Facility to Support the Digital Transformation of Manufacturing in India

The new ABB Robotics solutions delivery facility will enable Indian customers to reap the benefits of Industry 4.0 including cutting-edge robotics and digitalization technologies, going at the heart of helping India become a resilient high-tech manufacturing economy in the world.

Spread over 3,600 sq.m at the ABB Nelamangala factory premises in Bengaluru, the new facility will enable ABB India to deliver robotic applications and digital solutions for a variety of Indian industries, including automotive, food & beverage, electronics and other upcoming sectors. The facility houses a state-of-the-art shop floor that can run proof of concepts and factory acceptance tests for 1000 ABB robots every year, which doubles the company’s capacity. This enables rapid innovation, adaption, optimisation and agile delivery of made-to-order robotics applications for Indian customers.

“The new facility harnesses the powers of ABB’s deep global expertise and knowledge of the Indian industrial landscape to support our customer base,” said Sanjeev Sharma, Managing Director of ABB India. “Even with increased demand for automation, the penetration of robotics, especially in small and medium enterprises is still low in India compared to the global average. With the help of the new and improved robotics facility, we will be able to share our knowledge and encourage Indian manufacturers to embrace our game changing technologies and become best-in-class manufacturers for local and global markets.”

The facility includes a demonstration center where the latest technologies in robotic welding, gluing and material handling will be showcased and can be used to carry out joint prove-out sessions with customers. ABB will also integrate an ABB AbilityTM Connected Services team that can remotely monitor an installed base of ABB robots to conduct predictive maintenance and high uptime.

A new Customer Experience Center is being set up for customers to learn about the latest in robotics technology and applications, including ABB’s dedicated robot simulation and programming software, RobotStudio. Additionally, the facility will host a paint lab where customers can run simulations of a broad range of industrial painting applications.

ABB is one the leading suppliers of robot, robot systems and machine & factory automation solutions, having shipped over 400,000 robot solutions across the globe. Designed as a complete digital ecosystem, ABB’s factory of the future concept will cater to the growing demand of collaborative automation solutions, by enabling innovation of new robot applications tailor-made to the Indian market.

About ABB Group

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.

Indian Short-Form Video App Mitron Clocks 9 Billion Videos in a Month

Video App

* Mitron app has been downloaded by more than 33 million users on Google Play Store since launch.

* Strong traction reported from smaller cities and towns

Mitron, a short-form video app, has garnered a massive viewership on its platform with a total of 9 billion videos viewed in one month since the government’s ban on Chinese apps. The company also announced that Mitron app crossed 33 million downloads on Google Store.

Speaking on the development, Shivank Agarwal, Founder & CEO, Mitron said “The idea behind the development of the app was to provide a platform that lets users upload and watch an array of short videos. It is heartening to see the app popularity gained by Mitron within a short span of time. 

It is incredible to see millions of new videos created on the Mitron platform. We thank all our users who have been using this app as their daily dose of entertainment.” 

With a mission to create a short-form video app that reimagines digital engagement and entertainment, co-founders Shivank Agarwal, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, and Anish Khandelwal, an alumnus of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Nagpur, launched the Mitron app in April, 2020.

“We are seeing strong traction from smaller cities and towns across the country, with towns like Karnal, Hubli, Bhavnagar, Aligarh, Ludhiana and Vijayawada clocking more than 100,000 users”, Shivank added.

Anish Khandelwal, co-founder & CTO said, “While our user growth is very encouraging, we are keenly focusing our efforts on increasing engagement and retention of the users. On an average each user is watching 80 videos per day and with many new product features, we are confident of increasing engagement further".

Discovery Channel and Discovery Plus To Capture Live Splashdown Return of SpaceX Crew Dragon on Aug 2

Discovery and Science Channel announced today it will capture the incredible live splashdown return of the NASA launch of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft after docking the past two months at the International Space Station (ISS). SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: SPLASHDOWN a multiplatform event, will air live on Sunday, August 2 at 22:30 hrs. on Discovery. Viewers can stream the HD version of the LIVE feed starting 23:00 hrs. on Discovery Plus.

This past May, Discovery and Science Channel worked with The Washington Post to document the first crewed mission from the United States since the end of the shuttle program in 2011. This successful NASA launch from Kennedy Space Center was a partnership between NASA and SpaceX, marking the first U.S. crewed mission to orbit on a privately built spacecraft. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley traveled to the ISS in the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, propelled by the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. 

Scott Lewers, Executive Vice President of Multiplatform Programming, Factual & Head of Content, Science, said, “With the incredible access of The Washington Post, we spent over a year documenting SpaceX’s journey to become the first private company to launch American astronauts into space and we’re excited to see their safe return back to Earth. Our live coverage will take viewers inside their incredible journey home.”

This live event, capturing the first landing at sea for U.S. astronauts since 1975, is also made in partnership with The Washington Post and staff writer Christian Davenport, whose depth of experience allowed him to gain inside access to key players. Davenport is one of the country’s leading chroniclers of the space industry. His background and experience will add keen insight to the day’s event, as a co-host of the live broadcast. Davenport joined The Post in 2000 and was on a team that won a Peabody Award in 2010 for its work on veterans with traumatic brain injuries and has been on reporting teams that were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize three times. He is the author of two books, “The Space Barons: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos” (2018) and “As You Were: To War and Back with the Black Hawk Battalion of the Virginia National Guard” (2009). He has also served as a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a fellow at the Alicia Patterson Foundation. 

“The Post has long covered this industry and continues to bring readers in-depth reporting on the new space endeavors with unparalleled access and compelling storytelling,” said Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, managing editor for The Washington Post.  “We are excited to once again partner with Discovery to deliver coverage of this historic event and bring our journalism to a live TV audience.” 

“We are honored to continue our partnership with Discovery and The Washington Post, to share this exhilarating new era in space exploration,” said Aaron Fishman, President of Unscripted at Storied Media Group. "The extraordinary cooperation we have received from NASA and SpaceX are reigniting enthusiasm in space among young and old audiences alike." 

The spacecraft is scheduled to splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean and would successfully conclude NASA and SpaceX’s Demo-2 mission. Temperatures on the return can spike up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit on the exterior of the spacecraft due to the friction caused during re-entry. Regarding the spaceship’s return, SpaceX Founder and Chief Engineer Elon Musk noted, “I think there’s an argument that the return is more dangerous in some ways than the ascent.”

Discovery and Discovery Plus’ live coverage will have unprecedented coverage of the spacecraft’s return as well as expert commentary from current and former astronauts, including Mike Massimino and Garrett Reisman, top engineers and other special guests, including adventurer and avid explorer Josh Gates.

TV personality Chris Jacobs will pick up where he left off as host of the live return. Jacobs has a long history with Discovery network live events, reporting live on-the-ground for EXPEDITION UNKNOWN: EGYPT LIVE as well as serving as the digital host during Nik Wallenda’s tightrope walk over the Grand Canyon in SKYWIRE LIVE and in Chicago for SKYSCRAPER LIVE. Jacobs was host for DISCOVERY LIVE: INTO THE BLUE HOLE, CHOPPER LIVE, GOLD RUSH LIVE and the live broadcast of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction for Velocity (now MotorTrend). In addition, he is the regular host for TLC’s LONG LOST FAMILY and serves as host of the popular automotive makeover show OVERHAULIN’ on MotorTrend.

Emmy Award-winning journalist David Kerley will also return as part of the reporting team. Kerley reported on aviation, railroads, the automobile industry and space for all ABC News broadcast and digital properties, including World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Nightline, ABC News Radio and ABCNews.com. His work has been recognized with Peabody and Edward R. Murrow awards as well as the prestigious Joan Barone award from the Capitol Hill Radio and Television Correspondents Association.

In addition to watching the return on Discovery at 22:30 hrs, Viewers can stream the HD version of the LIVE feed starting 23:00 hrs on Discovery Plus.Fans can also create photos and videos of themselves in space wearing life-like SpaceX helmets using Discovery’s Space Filter on Facebook or Instagram. Follow Discovery on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter for the latest updates and join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #Splashdown. 

SPACE LAUNCH LIVE: SPLASHDOWN is produced for Discovery Channel by Storied Media Group. Executive producers for Storied Media Group are Aaron Fishman, Todd Hoffman and Michael J. Miller. For Discovery and Science Channel, Executive Producers are Gretchen Eisele, Scott Lewers and Caroline Perez. To learn more, go to www.discovery.com, on Facebook at Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. 

India Angel Fund Invests in Mental Wellness Startup - IPHM Services

IPHM Services has succeeded in raising a seed round of funding from India Angel Fund, most of them Women Entrepreneurs, also first time angel investors.

New age healing assistance, IPHM Services (Integrated Personalized Health Care Management), helps design programs and workshops for the psychological well-being of individuals and employees of large organizations. 

Founded by Dr. Sachin Bhavsar, IPHM believes that the Heart, Body, Mind and Soul are four pillars of life and an integrated system that needs constant nurturing. Their services aim to assist individuals to reach their own potential by developing skill sets within them, pertinent for their good health, emotional and mental well-being. 

An influx of funds would mean training more individuals, employees and aspiring entrepreneurs to reach their potential growth and increase general productivity within an individual. Afterall, all these aspects are interlinked and a positive push in any direction would enhance our own offering. 

Speaking on this fundraise, Dr. Sachin Bhavsar, Founder - IPHM Services said, "While we have always believed in nurturing the four attributes for a healthy living, there is also very little awareness of the real-time applications and the rapidly evolving technological advances in the healthcare system. This infusion would mean creating cognizance at the grass-root level and would definitely ameliorate the overall health economy."

Being a subject matter expert and an integral part of IPHM Services, Sneh Kulkarni, Co-founder – IPHM Services remarks, "There was always a need-gap between awareness about mental health and real-time use of technology in the healthcare system. We are now one world that has been connected digitally and therefore, it becomes easier to really understand societal structures and socio-economic backgrounds. This enables us to understand the different cultures that people come from, and offer a personalized approach to helping these individuals."    

First time angel investor and an alumni from IIM Ahmedabad, Monaliesa Sarkar said, “I have been working actively with various NGOs and government bodies in Delhi NCR and I cannot stress enough on the need for more startups to emerge in the mental health space. I also love the fact that an inspiring person like Dr. Sachin is matched by a powerhouse of energy which is Sneh Kulkarni. I am also kicked that this deal is led by women angels like me, Jyoti, Koel and Sabana and we have a woman entrepreneur like Sneh. I have always advocated that Women Angels should actively lead from the front and back other Women Entrepreneurs.” 

Women are now stepping up as angel investors and putting their energy, time & money in industries that are not only growing but are also adding value to the well-being of the nation. Speaking on this, women entrepreneur Jyoti Tiwari said, “I have been a healthcare professional for more than 15 years and absolutely agree that mental health is the key to overall health and wellness and our immunity can only be built by working on the MIND and not just the body. I am also making my first angel investment and just love the fact that it's a woman co-founder like Sneh Kulkarni on the other side apart from the inspiring Dr. Sachin.”

The third women angel investor on this project is a powerhouse with 17+ years of experience in corporate retail and also runs a successful startup. Koel Dutta said, “Having been a professional for 17 + years and having successfully exited from my last startup TieKart, I am now making my first Angel investment thanks to my old friend Rahul Narvekar and I am sure we 4 women angel investors can work with mentoring Sneh on how to build this company, since I have also run a successful startup.”    

The 4th women Angel Investor Sabana Khatoon also an IIM A Alumni, wearing multiple hats as a business woman, active in various initiatives in Kolkatta from helping run TEDxChowringhee to various entrepreneur networks said, "Being a single woman entrepreneur and having myself seen so many cases in the past few months of mental health issues, I am quite excited to make my first Angel Investment and that to with Sneh Kulkarni and Dr. Sachin.”. 

“Being a Doctor I always tell everyone that mental health manifests into physical health and especially in such challenging times, it is more so. I am awed by the personal journey of Dr. Sachin, multiple surgeries, amputation and still he is so positive and an absolute role model for everyone. I also love the positive energy that all the women here bring as a team. This is also my first Angel investment and I like the fact that it's in a space I am personally involved in too”, said Dr Vikaas Grover, a doctor by profession and a startup enthusiast.

India Angel Network has made another seed investment of Rs. 25 lakhs into IPHM Services. Speaking on this deal Rahul Narvekar, Co-founder IAF said “Mental Health is a subject which has been amplified in mainstream conversations recently and especially in these times of uncertainty and fear and overall negative atmosphere, it has brought home the fact that we need to openly talk about this but also address and heal. I was introduced to Sneh and Dr. Sachin by Rajiv Dabhadkar and was completely awed by their dedication and deep domain expertise in this space. Dr. Sachin’s personal journey is a story of grit and determination and that is the key ingredient for any entrepreneur. Interesting to note that this has turned into a women dominated deal. We have an awesome majority of women entrepreneurs and I believe that women make the best entrepreneurs, CEOs and Angel Investors. Women do multitasking routinely, are more open about sharing and are natural care givers and that’s what mental health platforms need. Also all the four Angel Investors are first time Angels and I would LOVE to see more women become Angel Investors.”

About Integrated Personalized Healthcare Management Services

The USP of the IPHM service is “Nurturing health in heart, body, mind, and soul. IPHM believes that this is an integrated system that works on these four pillars. If one fails then life becomes unbalanced. IPHM offers services such as Stress management, Women wellness, Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Integrated HR is the Programme designed by Integrated Personalised Healthcare Management for the Corporates. IPHM evolves into the mainstream functions of organisations, the remote work revolution predicts further possibilities and is here to stay. Every organization needs to make new strategic choices and also equally need to take care of employee’s mental health.

Hindware Italian Collection Brings the Luxurious Tankless Wall-Mounted EWC in India

Hindware Italian Collection introduces India’s first Tankless Wall Mounted EWC which brings together a distinct amalgamation of innovation, technology and unique design. The revolutionary product comes with an efficient flushing system that operates without a cistern, thereby, assuring intelligent utilisation of the bathroom space, while maintaining utmost level of hygiene.

This contemporary offering not only adds a distinct appeal to the bathroom, but is also sensitive towards the water consumption levels. It ensures optimum water saving where flushing can be done with only four litres of water on a daily basis.

The sophisticated product provides a soothing yet plush aesthetic appeal to the bathroom décor with its Starwhite colour. The two shapes (round and square) and Duroplast soft-close seat cover add to the premium look.

The Tankless Wall Mounted EWC promises hassle-free installation. The product is operated with only 4AAA batteries which can meet the requirements of a four member family for over a year. It also comes with a low battery alert, when batteries can be replaced conveniently by the customers themselves.

A Strategic Road Map for Conserving the Endangered Dhole Cuon Alpinus in India

India Needs a Strategic Management Plan for Conserving the Endangered Asiatic Wild Dog

A new study identifies priority actions and locations for conserving populations of the endangered Asiatic wild dog or dhole in India.

 

Country-level species conservation plans serve as a blueprint for identifying important areas, prioritizing management actions and channeling conservation funds. India is a biologically megadiverse country, yet many threatened and endangered species do not have science-based conservation plans. In a new study, scientists from Wildlife Conservation Society–India, University of Florida (USA), Wildlife Conservation Trust, and National Centre for Biological Sciences propose a detailed framework for conserving the endangered dhole in India using a combination of ecological, social, political and administrative information. 

The researchers first made a detailed assessment of the current status of dholes in each State. Based on the relationship between dhole occurrence, forest cover, protected areas, human populations and cattle densities, the authors then identify taluks or tehsils for targeting management interventions— areas where dhole populations need to be recovered, areas warranting improvement or expansion of forest habitats, and areas with potential for dholes to expand their distribution range. The study also evaluated State-wise conservation capacity using multiple criteria, like GDP share, poverty levels, State and central budgetary allocations for forest/wildlife sectors, and rejection rate of forest clearances.  

“Dholes play an important role as apex predators in forest ecosystems. Besides the tiger, dhole is the only large carnivore in India that is under IUCN’s ‘Endangered’ category. As a country that perhaps supports the highest number of dholes in the world, we still do not have targeted management plans for scientific monitoring of the species. Our study recognizes taluks and States that need to be prioritized, and thereby offers a primer for designing a country-level plan to conserve their populations”, said Arjun Srivathsa, lead author of the study.

The study reports that Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh ranked very high on the priority scale, and are adequately equipped to maintain status quo, consolidate forest habitats, and recover dhole populations by increasing prey densities and reducing pressures on forests. On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana and Goa will need to increase financial investments towards forest/wildlife sectors, and also resolutely reduce the ease of granting forest clearances for infrastructure projects. Additionally, improving habitat conditions and prey densities in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha would strengthen the link between dhole populations in Western Ghats and Central India. 

Despite their endangered status, there is a persistent lack of resources and policy focus on dhole conservation. “Alongside a comprehensive assessment of dholes in India, our study also provides an analysis of the current state of knowledge through a review of all published literature on the species. We identify critical gaps which can be explicated through improved funding for dhole research and conservation in India and across its distribution range”, said co-author Girish Punjabi.

The study titled “A strategic roadmap for conserving the endangered dhole Cuon alpinus in India” was published in the recent issue of the reputed international journal Mammal Review. The authors include Arjun Srivathsa (Wildlife Conservation Society–India and University of Florida, USA), Sushma Sharma (Wildlife Conservation Society–India), Priya Singh (National Centre for Biological Sciences), Girish Punjabi (Wildlife Conservation Trust), and Madan Oli (University of Florida, USA).

Article link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/mam.12209 

An Evening with Living Legend Pt Birju Maharaj and his Romance with Kathak Dance

Prabha Khaitan Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to the socio-cultural welfare and humanitarian cause has through a virtual session of their initiative Ek Mulakat in association with SWAR brought together Kathak maestro Pt Birju Maharaj and his disciple Vidushi Saswati Sen in conversation with the maestro’s granddaughter Shinjini Kulkarni  who is also a kathak dancer to take the audience on an enchanting journey of his life, art and work. The Prabha Khaitan Foundation is devoted towards the promotion of performing arts, culture and literature, and collaborates with caregivers, committed individuals and like-minded institutions to implement cultural, educational, literary and social welfare projects in India. Ek Mulakat provides a platform to eminent personalities from the various segments of the society to share their stories.

Speaking on the virtual session, Ms Manisha Jain, Communications & Branding Chief, Prabha Khaitan Foundation, added, “Prabha Khaitan Foundation has always been an advocate of art, culture and literature.  With the lockdown keeping us all at home, we have endeavoured to bring together the greatest minds from across the country through our virtual sessions, to keep our fellow countrymen inspired during these difficult times. We hope that Pt Birju Maharaj ji’s life and his body of work encourage all our viewers. Be it physically or virtually, Prabha Khaitan Foundation is committed to engage communities in promoting culture and knowledge.”

Pt Birju Maharaj requires no introduction. His legacy precedes him. Not only in India, the legend is known for his art across continents. Among the numerous other awards such as Kalidas Samman, Yash Bharati and Andhra Ratna, the renowned dancer has been the youngest recipient of Padma Vibhushan Award in dance in 1984. His mastery lies not only in Kathak, but he’s also a vocalist, percussionist, musician, poet, composer, choreographer and painter. Vidushi Saswati Sen is probably the most renowned of Pandit ji’s disciples. She stands tall among her contemporaries in the way she has embellished Kathak by integrating the sacredness of a tradition with the creativeness of a contemporary approach. Vidushi Saswati Sen today is regarded as an artist with immense versatility and talent and one of the best exponents of the famed Lucknow gharana. Shinjini Kulkarni, granddaughter and disciple of the icon has followed in his footsteps and is an accomplished Kathak dancer in her own accord.

Throughout the hour-long engaging session, the maestro reminisced events and episodes from his life that have left a mark on his mind. He spoke on his lifelong love affair with kathak. From thumris to tihaai to bols – the maestro left the audience mesmerized and shared several anecdotes from his various choreographies and performances. Vidushi Saswati Sen also iterated many instances and stories with Maharaj ji from her 50-year-old association with him. Shinjini Kulkarni also spoke of many fond memories from her childhood.

Speaking on his Lucknow connect, Pt Birju Maharaj said, “I still pray that I get to go to Lucknow and work with the people there. Everything about Lucknow is engraved in my brain like an image.”

On his inception of his ideas, he added, “I always like to discuss my ideas with my closest confidants because exchange of ideas is important.” On the art of dancing, he stated, “Dance is beyond gender and age. There is no age limit to when one can start learning if you have the art in yourself. It is not a male or female dominated profession it is about honing your art and surrendering yourself to your guru ji.”

Vidushi Saswati Sen, added, “Maharaj ji is a perfectionist and he expects perfection from his students. However, he always gives his students creative liberty and encourages their strengths. He lets them hone their talent. Maharaj ji never discourages anyone from going out of the box. There are so many things that he has introduced to kathak that was not there in the form before and now it is performed and practiced globally.”

Shinjini Kulkarni, added, “My grandfather is extremely open, and war hearted. He makes everyone feel so comfortable that it is almost impossible to have a formal conversation with him. He has been representing Indian classical dancing in different countries when not many Indian artistes performed abroad. I would like to thank Prabha Khaitan Foundation to allow me to have such a splendid conversation with my grandfather.”

The Foundation’s vision to promote and recognise talent from different walks of life has led them to arrange immaculately curated literary sessions in about 30 cities across the country. Encouraged by the response in India, the Foundation has also forayed into the global arena with a bouquet of sessions. They have hosted some of the greatest stalwarts from the world of words, even as they are focused on creating a platform for aspiring talent. Each session carried a different flavour and spread a different essence. Previously, an array of distinguished and influential personalities has been a part of Ek Mulakat sessions such as Dr Shashi Tharoor, Javed Akhtar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Dr Sonal Mansingh, Dia Mirza, Usha Uthup, Nandita Das, Baroness Sandip Verma, Bittu Sahgal, Sudarshan Pattanaik and many more. Now Prabha Khaitan Foundation has taken this initiative to the virtual platform owing to the pandemic starting with Shri Kailash Satyarthi.

About Prabha Khaitan Foundation: 

Prabha Khaitan Foundation is dedicated to the socio-cultural welfare and humanitarian cause. It is a non-profit trust founded by Late Dr. Prabha Khaitan. Based in Kolkata, the Foundation promotes performing arts, culture and literature, and collaborates with caregivers, committed individuals and like-minded institutions to implement cultural, educational, literary and social welfare projects in India. The Foundation supports the UNESCO view that cultural development has the potential to be an alternative way of promoting sustainable development in poor rural communities, especially in the third-world countries. Based in Kolkata, for them culture stands for language, music, literature, visual arts, dance, drama, oral traditions, and traditional practices. The objective of the foundation is to create an enabling structure and promote networking so that communities engage with each other to work towards building positive self-esteem, inspire creativity and pro- mote culture and knowledge.

Experience Contactless Dining at Phoenix Marketcity, Whitefield

Phoenix Marketcity, Bengaluru’s ultimate Shopping & Lifestyle destination has reopened its food court by implementing ‘Contactless Dining’ – a unique and safe dining experience to its patrons. The initiative of contactless dining and ordering solution at the food court aims to offer a hygienic dining experience for the visitors. Contactless dining has minimised human contact by eliminating the use of high-touch elements at restaurants in the food court. Phoenix Marketcity has deployed this technology to make the entire process, from ordering to payment seamlessly digital.

With business activities resuming earlier this month, Phoenix Marketcity has reoriented its focus towards health and safety of its patrons and partners. Anticipating the challenges in food service, specifically the dining segment, Phoenix Marketcity has taken a major step to reinvent eating out experience through contactless dining to curtail contamination risk.

"The present situation demands all of us to prioritize safety and hygiene standards at all times. At Phoenix Marketcity we have set stringent SOPs that are constantly monitored. The contactless dining at our food court will ensure our patrons have minimal human contact to place their order or pay the bill. By deploying technology, we have eliminated the need for menu cards and bills that are often touched and could potentially be a source of concern. Thus, making the entire experience seamless, safe and convenient for our customers. We believe a proactive approach as this towards safety and hygiene will go a long way in building customer confidence and creating a safe environment all around” said, Mr. Gajendra Singh Rathore, Senior Centre Director, Phoenix Marketcity.

Introducing Contactless Dining at Phoenix Marketcity

Contactless Menu: Scan the QR code placed on the table / or from anywhere inside the mall to land on the home page of the Food Court to explore restaurant menu and pairing recommendations for digital orders. The user lands on the landing page of the food court where all the food court brands are visible.

Contactless ordering – order through the app (eliminates contact with the waiter/ staff to place an order or modify an order).

The order is then authenticated by the merchant and the User gets real time order status in his phone via WhatsApp

Contactless payment – Pay the bill via the app & leave the restaurant premises

 

4 Simple Steps for contactless dining/ordering

1 SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR MOBILE CAMERA   

2 TAP ON THE NOTIFICATION LINK

3. ORDER FOOD (DINE-IN/TAKEAWAY)                                                                                         

4. Pay Online

Contactless Dining is a step forward in the right direction for the Food courts and we are sure this will provide for a safe and hassle-free dining experience for customers and improve the economics of the restaurant industry.

Our Food Court brands include : Wow Momo, Naga's, Subway, Eat Fit, Purani Delhi, Kababji, Shiv Sagar, Kailash Parbat, Squeeze Juice Bar, Bao & Grills, Smoke The Sizzler House, Hunan Express, Gongura, Marhaba, Keventers, Gelato, Asia 7 Express, Papa Roti.

Lizol Introduces its First Disinfectant Concentrate for Indian Consumers

Lizol Double Concentrate is RB’s ‘E-commerce first’ innovation to be sold exclusively across Indian e-commerce platforms.

Lizol, one of RB’s leading disinfectant brands, announced the launch of its ‘e-commerce first’ innovation, Lizol Double Concentrate Disinfectant Surface Cleaner today. The product is Lizol’s first ever disinfectant concentrate to be sold exclusively across e-commerce platforms in India keeping in mind the significant growth retail e-commerce has seen in the country.

Being at the forefront in its collaborative fight against Covid-19, Lizol is looking to expand its portfolio by providing consumers with a range of products that help break the chain of infection. The new Lizol Double Concentrate has a superior formulation which will give consumers 10X superior cleaning and kill 99.9% germs by using just half a cap.

Commenting on the launch, Sukhleen Aneja, CMO & Marketing Director, RB Hygiene, South Asia said, “, “The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the need and importance of maintaining safe hygiene practices as the first step towards preventive health care. Lizol’s new innovation is a 2X concentrated formula that is not only potent as a disinfectant but, is also a more sustainable option that is aimed at providing superior benefit value for consumers. It’s an ‘e-commerce first’ launch keeping in line with the changing shopper behaviour.”

With this product innovation, RB showcases its commitment towards consumer centricity by ensuring greater degree of consumer convenience. It allows ease of use and fewer buying occasions while also actively pushing the envelope on making its products environment friendly.

“Lizol double concentrate is a powerful innovation that is effective and sustainable. The concentrate has gone through multiple tests to ensure germ-kill and superior cleaning while disinfecting surfaces. This is a convenient purchase option as compared to dilutables giving consumers more than 100 uses from just one bottle”, says Dr. Navin Sharma, Head- Innovation Hub at India R&D, RB Hygiene.

The product will be initially available in Citrus variant and in two different sizes – 900ml and 1.9 litre.

Esper Partners with Point Mobile on Lifecycle Management for Rugged Android Devices

Esper, a global leader in the Android DevOps space, has announced a partnership with Point Mobile Co., Ltd., one of the world’s fastest-growing manufacturers of rugged, handheld mobile computers. Industrial fleet managers have off-the-shelf access to the industry’s most powerful tools for Android device deployment and management on Point Mobile devices. Esper and Point Mobile want to help firms in energy, materials, and the supply chain rapidly deploy and secure Android devices. 

“Point Mobile is among the most quality-focused mobile device makers in the world. They’re a globally-leading source for rugged Android devices and purpose-built mobile hardware,” says Esper’s COO and Co-Founder Shiv Sundar. “We’re proud to announce that Esper’s cloud tools are offered as part of Point Mobile’s leading options for post-sales support.” 

“Together, we can help our customers in the supply chain, energy, and materials streamline operations and gain a competitive edge with connected Android,” says Sundar. Esper’s Android DevOps tools can reduce fleet OpEx by 60% versus traditional mobile device management (MDM) solutions by offering remote features to provision, update, and debug devices. 

“Point Mobile partners with innovators like Esper to drive our mission of transforming industry mobility,” says SK Kang, CEO of Point Mobile. “Remote Android management features significantly lower fleet operating expenses, which allows our customers to focus on transforming industrial workflows.”  

Esper and Point Mobile’s partnership was formed, in part, because both firms share a mission to provide stable, simple, and cost-effective Android mobility solutions. Point Mobile customers can gain a mobile advantage with built-in cloud tools for ultra-reliable, rugged Android devices. 

About Esper

Founded in 2017 in Bellevue, Washington, Esper is the industry’s first complete toolchain for connected Android devices like kiosks, point-of-sale, digital signage, and purpose-built hardware. Esper’s cloud console and open APIs provide the infrastructure for secure connection and real-time data exchange between Android devices and cloud.

Quarantinder How Gen Z Is Dating During Quarantine Globally

There’s a large, important, cultural shift happening - one we’ve seen for a while in Gen Z, but it’s now expanding because of COVID-19. The pandemic has accelerated a generational shift in the way we date and meet new people, and we’ve learned that connection is enduring, and despite social distancing, Gen-Z will find a way to sustain it.  

Here’s everything that happened on Tinder in the last few months. 

COVID got us to open up. 

The combination of being stuck at home and the fact that we were all going through the same thing at the same time led folks on Tinder to get chattier than ever. Globally, April 5th was the peak of this chattiness: on that day Tinder members sent an average of 52% more messages vs. the start of lockdowns in early March. 

In India, May 3rd was the peak of this chattiness: on that day Tinder members sent an average of 60% more messages vs. the start of lockdowns in early March - above the global average. 

“2020 made me realise”

To help users better introduce themselves to potential matches, Tinder recently released Prompts, a new in-app feature that lets members respond to questions or finish a sentence to display on their profile. Of all available Prompts, ‘2020 MADE ME REALISE’ had the highest adoption, signaling how much our daily lives have changed from every perspective--including how we gauge compatibility with potential matches on Tinder.

Quarantine led to creative hacks for hanging out. Social distancing turned us into creative digital daters. Forced to stay home, browsing Tinder became a way to socialize. At its peak, swipe volume* among members in India was up 32%. And with most places closed, many on Tinder looked to Animal Crossing to rendezvous. Early quarantine saw a 5x increase in Animal Crossing mentions in bios. 

Masks became the talk of Tinder. The early days of quarantine saw an uptick in mentions of toilet paper and hand sanitizer stockpiles within member bios, but come April there was only one accessory on everyone’s minds: face masks.  Members touted their own mask-wearing habits (show me your mask and I’ll show you mine”’) or looked for shared mask POV, (‘if you don’t wear a mask while grocery shopping, we’re not compatible’). 

While dating and socializing out of quarantine looks different around the world right now, hanging out on Tinder is showing no signs of letting up. 

Methodology

Data was pulled from March through May 2020

The information included in this campaign represents overall Tinder trends, not the personal information of any specific, identified individual or member. App activity, messaging, and biodata are representative of global Tinder activity between March and May 2020. When analysis references ‘at the peak of quarantine’, this refers to the highest point of a metric measured during the March-May 2020 period.

*Swipe volume/swipe activity defined as when a member swipes left or right on a profile.

Syska Group Ventures into Smart Wearables, Launches Sleek & Cool SW100 Smart Watch in India

Key Highlights:

1.  The new Smartwatch from the Syska stable will help in keeping track of one’s health & fitness routine at home

2.  With this move, Syska aim to meet the evolving needs of today’s young fitness enthusiasts

3.  Syska has collaborated with e-commerce giant Flipkart to sell this smart watch

Syska Group, the leading FMEG brand in India today announced its venture into the Smart Wearable segment with the introduction of the sleek and cool SW100 Smart Watch. The launch of this latest product from the Syska stable is a momentous one, given that the company now brings its innovation and technology prowess to an all-new industry segment. In the new normal COVID-19 scenario, maintaining good health is crucial for one’s physical and mental well-being. The new Syska Smart Watch will enable users to prioritize their health and allow them to track their fitness regimen while working out at home.

There is an increasing demand for fitness related devices in Indian market, with the smart wearable category seeing rapid growth. India's wearables market continues to see strong growth, registering 168.3% on-year growth in 2019 shipping a total of 14.9 million units of wearable devices. Smartwatches continued to lead the watch category with 61.1% share in 2019 and grew 53.6% from the previous year. The demand for wearable technology will further rise in the coming years owing to the increasing inclination toward fitness and healthcare. Syska has always been at the forefront of launching new and innovative products that cater to the evolving customer needs. The company has entered the smart wearable category at the most opportune time when individuals are looking to boost their immunity through workouts and yoga sessions at home.

Interesting features of the Syska SW100 Smart Watch –

1. Battery Life upto 15 Days – One of the main USPs of the Syska Smart Watch SW100 is that it comes with a steady battery life which lasts upto 15 days.

2. Smart Health Monitoring – Syska’s Smart watch tracks your fitness and monitors your health by providing features to monitor sleep, track step count, monitor the calories intake, track heart rate, etc. This feature is the most essential which will help you to maintain data of your fitness during such times

3. IP68 Water Resistant upto 1.5mtrs – Syska’s Smart Watch is water resistant, so you can workout seamlessly without the fear of the smart watch becoming wet due to sweat while working out at home.

4. Custom watch faces – Syska’s innovative custom watch faces allows you to customize the dial of your smart watch as per your mood and attire.

5. Yoga Monitoring – Syska Smart Watch is equipped to also monitor the yoga sessions. Consumers can keep a track their virtual yoga regimen.

6. Elliptical Workouts – Syska’s Smart watch allows you to keep a track of your elliptical workout sessions thereby accurately tracking your exercise and workouts, distance, calories burned etc.

7. Multi-Sport Mode – Syska’s Smart watch is compatible with multi-sport mode which allows you to choose your sporting activity - cycling, weight lifting, running and more.

8. Smart Notifications – Once you connect your watch to your smartphone, you can get all the notifications on your watch. This feature enables you to access your social media, calendar, important emails, etc. right on your wrist acting like a mini smart watch on your wrist, without you having to touch your phone unnecessarily.

Syska aims to disrupt the smart wearable market which is fast catching up with consumers jumping onto the fitness bandwagon. Syska’s smart watch has been designed for consumers who are looking for a device that can help them track their entire fitness journey right from tracking their sleep to monitoring their steps, heart rate, track their calorie intake etc on the go in this new normal owing to COVID-19 pandemic. The Syska SW100 Smart Watch comes along with a USB charging cable and a user manual. The product with the MRP of INR 3,999 is launched exclusively on Flipkart and will be available at an attractive offer of INR 2,499 from 30th July.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing Head To Berlin for a Lockdown Showdown

Berlin Tempelhof

* After more than 150 days, Panasonic Jaguar Racing head to Berlin Tempelhof, Germany for the final six races of season six of ABB FIA Formula E

* The pacesetting Jaguar I-TYPE 4 will line up for six races in an incredible nine days on three different track layouts for the most intense finale in motorsport history

* Mitch Evans sits second in the ABB FIA Formula E drivers’ championship

* Panasonic Jaguar Racing are third in the ABB FIA Formula E teams’ championship

* Tom Blomqvist announced as the reserve driver for Panasonic Jaguar Racing

* Lights go green for the Berlin E-Prix at 19:00 local time (CET) on 5 August

After 158 days, Panasonic Jaguar Racing will head to Germany to complete season six of Formula E in a unique lockdown showdown. Berlin’s Tempelhof circuit will witness six races in nine days with three different track layouts.

Sitting second in the drivers’ championship, Mitch Evans, and teammate James Calado will look to push for more points, podiums and wins during the ABB FIA Formula E Berlin E-Prix with the pacesetting Jaguar I -TYPE 4.

Tom Blomqvist is confirmed as the reserve driver for the remaining six races of the season, replacing Alex Lynn who will drive for Mahindra. The British-Swedish driver previously drove for the Andretti Formula E team in 2018.

James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director:

“We’re going into the final six races in Berlin in a great position. Whilst it’s going to be an  intense challenge for all of the team to complete six races in nine days we are looking forward to it and feeling positive that we are ready to give it our all to fight for the drivers title with Mitch and achieve our best result to date in the team standings. At Panasonic Jaguar Racing our season six objective was to compete for more points, podiums and wins and so far, we’ve done just that. It’s been a long break in the season, but we are hungry to pick up where we left off and finish the season successfully. The whole team has been working incredibly hard during lockdown to ensure that we maintain our positive momentum. We never underestimate the quality of our competition in Formula E though and the challenge that the team and the drivers will face in Berlin but we are fully prepared and ready to give it our all. It’s ultimately within reach so we will be doing our all to achieve our goals together.”

Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Driver #20:

“This season we’ve tasted success and I am really proud of my performance, particularly in the last three races. We achieved Super Pole and a Podium in Santiago, we won in Mexico City and we made history in Marrakesh by gaining 18 places and finishing P6 after starting from the back of the grid. Being second in the drivers’ championship puts me in a good position heading into Berlin but I know I can’t underestimate the challenge that we have ahead. Our Jaguar I-TYPE 4 is incredibly quick so I’m hoping to show the everyone that we can be in the fight by 13 August.”

James Calado, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Driver #51:

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the Jaguar I-TYPE 4 at the Tempelhof circuit. I started in P10 in Marrakesh and felt like I had made some solid progress. I want to give my best performance in Berlin. My role is to support Mitch and the team and secure as many points as possible. I’m sure it will come with its challenges and this break has definitely added the pressure but I’m ready for the lights to go green and finish the season on a high.”

In less than one week, the ABB FIA Formula E Berlin E-Prix will commence, with the first race of six taking place on Wednesday 5 August at 19:00 (CET) ahead of the most intense finale in motorsport history.

TECNO Bolsters its Entry-Level Portfolio with SPARK 6 Air Smartphone and TWS Minipod M1

Technology Devices

* Brings segment first gigantic 7” Dot Notch display, massive 6000 mAh battery & 13MP AI Triple rear camera that will change smartphone experience for category consumers in under 8K segment

* SPARK 6 Air priced @ Rs. 7999 & Minipod M1 wireless earphone @ Rs. 799 will be available on Amazon Prime day starting 6th August 2020 and across offline retail outlets

TECNO, the global smartphone brand, extends its connected device ecosystem by launching today two unique products from its arsenal - SPARK 6 Air smartphone and Minipod M1 single-ear wireless earphone – effectively ramping up its portfolio in the entry level consumer segment. With SPARK 6 Air, TECNO is also back to doing what it does best – break the mould with segment first features that will enable the company to consolidate its position among top smartphone players in the sub-10k segment.

Commenting on the simultaneous launches, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “With work from home becoming the ‘Neo Normal’, our aim is to extend TECNO’s connected device ecosystem to our category consumers by introducing Minipod & Hipods that will make work and play seamless and enjoyable for them. We, at TECNO, currently have a clear goal in mind of bringing exceptional devices in the sub-Rs. 10,000 segment which empower our customers with premium smartphone experience sans the premium pricing. TECNO SPARK series of smartphones is a validation of the same. Our latest offering TECNO SPARK 6 Air will play a key role in the budget segment as it becomes the first and only smartphone with 7” HD+ Dot display and a 6000 mAh battery. This device will set the trend of bigger display and best battery smartphones in the category.”

Nishant Sardana, Category Leader – Mobile Phones, Amazon India said “Since their launch in India, TECNO has consistently brought quality products for value seeking customers. With the launch of SPARK 6 Air smartphone and TWS Minipod M1, we continue to build a strong portfolio in the mobile phones & accessories category providing customers with vast selection, unmatched value, fast & reliable delivery and a great shopping experience.”

SPARK 6 AIR

SPARK 6 Air is launched with two segment first features – a gigantic 7” HD+ dot notch display with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio for immersive viewing experience and a massive 6000 mAh battery with the ability to power TECNO SPARK 6 Air to provide whopping standby time of 743 hours (31 days), 31 hours calling, 21 hours’ internet and wifi, 159 hours music playback, 14 hours game playing and 19 hours video playback.

The new smartphone houses a triple camera set-up with a 13 MP Primary Sensor Supported with an aperture of F1.8, AI Lens, 2 MP Depth Sensor and Quad Flash, enables one to capture clearer pictures even in a low light. The Bokeh Mode, Auto Scene Detection, AI Beauty Mode and AI HDR Mode, enhances the photography experience. The SPARK 6 Air has an 8 MP AI Selfie camera with F2.0 aperture and dual front flash.

The SPARK 6 Air is armed with a fast and secure 0.15 second Smart Fingerprint Sensor and Face Unlock 2.0, enabling one to keep their data safe and secure. The Smart fingerprint sensor enables one to perform functions like receiving and recording calls, taking photos and dismissing alarms. The Face Unlock 2.0 tightens the security on your smartphone by preventing the smartphone from getting unlocked with eyes closed.

SPARK 6 Air is also equipped with a unique audio sharing feature that allows consumers to connect two Bluetooth earphones or three Bluetooth speakers simultaneously to the phone and spruce up family time with music and entertainment – a perfect solution for a much-needed family time in times of self-isolation.

Spark 6 Air will be available in three color variants: Comet Black & Ocean Blue

Minipod M1

The power-packed Minipod M1 houses a 50 mAh battery in the earpod and provides 6 hours of music playback in single charge, and together with the 110 mAh charging case, it provides for more than 18 hours of music to be enjoyed. Encrypted with the latest Bluetooth v5.0, Minipod M1 ensures a stable connection and smooth audio transmission. The hands-free Minipod M1 is also equipped with Environment Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology that blocks ambient sounds to provide an immersive listening and clear voice calling experience. Smart Touch Controls allows for accepting or rejecting calls, changing tracks or activating voice assistant with a single tap of the finger. It also comes with IPX4 protection to provide protection from water and sweat. TECNO Minipod M1 will be available in white and comes accompanied with multi-colored silicone protective cases and snap hook.

About TECNO Mobile

TECNO Mobile is a premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings. Upholding the brand essence of “Expect More”, TECNO is committed to giving the masses access to latest technology at accessible prices, allowing the consumers to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations across a product portfolio featuring smartphones, tablets, and feature phones. TECNO is a major global player with presence in around 60 emerging markets across the world. It is also the global Official Tablet and Handset Partner of Manchester City Football Club. 

Worldmark Aerocity Re-Opens its Doors to Renewed Contactless Dining Experience Driven by Innovation

Contactless dining: 

* ‘The Walk’ opens its doors to fine dining with strict protocols for safety and introduction of contactless dining through QR code menus

* Innovation for safety: Keeping in tandem with the times, the requirements for sanitisation and hygiene has led them to develop innovative solutions to ensure a safe environment for all visitors

* Crowd management: The need for crowd management for their commercial spaces led them to venture into practices ahead of time to meet social distancing norms

As Delhi-NCR slowly unlocks itself in phases, Bharti Realty’s Worldmark  Aerocity is leading the commercial sector in innovative dinning-in experience by setting forth examples through its avant-garde solutions to COVID-19 challenges. They are leading the way in hygienic practices of retail food establishments to provide a contemporary, safe and hygienic environment to all diners.

Worldmark Aerocity’s ‘The Walk’, home to some of the top gourmet restaurants, cafes, and bars in Delhi-NCR, is following a strict repository of measures to ensure a comfortable and convenient dining experience for its customer. This is being done while maintaining its upscale dining standards of providing world class food through contactless dining. 

One of the crucial steps of contactless dining being followed by the restaurants is doing away with paper menus. They are instead offering QR codes that diners can scan using their smartphones at their respective tables and view the menu. They are also offering contactless digital payment options for both dining and takeaways. The restaurants are focusing on efficient crowd management through measures like reduced dining capacity, rearrangement of tables and pre-bookings. 

Tackling the challenges of COVID-19 with innovation, ‘The Walk’ has installed contactless kiosks at its entry points that will offer no-touch temperature screening and sanitizer dispersion. To ensure social distancing norms, escalators have been marked in three-step gaps. 

These innovations to the fine-dining experience are being maintained at both standalone restaurants and the food court of the curated food hub. These guidelines are part of a comprehensive SOP by ‘Bharti Care’, the facility management function of Bharti Realty, issued to all functioning establishments to operate responsibly. 

The video link for Worldmark Aerocity demonstrates the preparedness:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDQVi3XgI4t/?igshid=88ydtapub85f

ABB’s New Analytics and AI Software Helps Producers Optimize Operations in Demanding Market Conditions

The ABB Ability Genix Industrial Analytics and AI Suite is a scalable advanced analytics platform with pre-built, easy-to-use applications and services. It collects, contextualizes and converts operational, engineering and information technology data into actionable insights that help industries improve operations, optimize asset management and streamline business processes safely and sustainably.

Analyst studies suggest that industrial companies typically are able to use only 20 percent¹ of the data generated, which severely limits their ability to apply data analytics meaningfully. ABB’s new solution operates as a digital data convergence point where streams of information from diverse sources across the plant and enterprise are put into context through a unified analytics model. Application of artificial intelligence on this data produces meaningful insights for prediction and optimization that improve business performance.

“We believe that the place to start a data analytics journey in the process, energy and hybrid industries is by building on the existing digital technology – the automation that controls the production processes,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of ABB Industrial Automation. “We see a huge opportunity for our customers to use their data from operations better, by combining it with engineering and information technology data for multi-dimensional decision making. This new approach will help our customers make literally billions of better decisions.”

ABB Ability™ Genix is composed of a data analytics platform and applications, supplemented by ABB services, that help customers decide which assets, processes and risk profiles can be improved, and assists customers in designing and applying those analytics. Featuring a library of applications, customers can subscribe to a variety of analytics on demand, as business needs dictate, speeding up the traditional process of requesting and scheduling support from suppliers.

Scalable from plant to enterprise, ABB Ability™ Genix supports a variety of deployments including cloud, hybrid and on-premise. ABB Ability™ Genix leverages Microsoft Azure for integrated cloud connectivity and services through ABB’s strategic partnership with Microsoft.

“The ABB Ability™ Genix Suite brings unique value by unlocking the combined power of diverse data, domain knowledge, technology and AI,” said Rajesh Ramachandran, Chief Digital Officer for ABB Industrial Automation. “ABB Ability™ Genix helps asset-intensive producers with complex processes to make timely and accurate decisions through deep analytics and optimization across the plant and enterprise.

“We have designed this modular and flexible suite so that customers at different stages in their digitalization journey can adopt ABB Ability™ Genix to accelerate business outcomes while protecting existing investments.”

A key component of ABB Ability™ Genix is the ABB Ability™ Edgenius Operations Data Manager that connects, collects, and analyzes operational technology data at the point of production. ABB Ability™ Edgenius uses data generated by operational technology such as DCS and devices to produce analytics that improve production processes and asset utilization. ABB Ability™ Edgenius can be deployed on its own, or integrated with ABB Ability™ Genix so that operational data is combined with other data for strategic business analytics.

“There is great value in data generated by automation that controls real-time production,” said Bernhard Eschermann, Chief Technology Officer for ABB Industrial Automation. “With ABB Ability™ Edgenius, we can pull data from these real-time control systems and make it available to predict issues and prescribe actions that help us use assets better and fine-tune production processes.”

National Neonatal Forum Karnataka Chapter and UNICEF HFO Launch SOP Booklet for Maternal and Child Healthcare

The National Neonatal Forum Karnataka chapter and UNICEF HFO together have taken the initiative to write a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) booklet for ‘Antenatal, Intrapartum, Postnatal and New born Care during COVID-19’. Medical bodies like the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), Karnataka Society Obstetrics and Gynaecology Association (KSOG) and Bangalore Society of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BSOG) and many experts across the country and internationally have contributed to this book.

On 24th July 2020, all the above-mentioned bodies came together online and launched this E-Book. NNF Karnataka Chapter Secretary Dr Prashanth Gowda met the honourable Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa at his office, where he unveiled and signed the hard copy of the booklet. The Chief Minister congratulated the team for this effort and ensured his full support for the initiative.

This SOP Booklet is made available free of cost for all and training of all the nurses, doctors, healthcare workers based on this SOP will be initiated across the state in all SNCUs (Special New-born care Units). This E book will be uploaded on the website of NNF and all the other medical bodies who have contributed to it.

Speaking on this initiative of launching the booklet, Dr Prashanth Gowda, NNF Karnataka Chapter Secretary, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospital said “Since the first COVID case was detected, there have been so many new developments regarding research and information about COVID-19. The virus is still very new and there is a lot of confusion about maternal and neonatal care during this phase. There are many SOPs made available to healthcare staff by WHO and various academic and technical agencies like ICMR based on latest evidence. While making this book we have corroborated all these recent evidences to make one comprehensive ready reckoner for all doctors and staff nurses to comprehend”

Speaking on the impact of COVID 19 on maternal and neonatal care Dr Gowda said “The existing burden of maternal mortality estimates to 30000 in the country and 750 in the state of Karnataka. Similarly, approximately 9,18,000 infants die nationally and 24,000 infants die in the state due to birth

& infancy related illnesses. Due to COVID-19, it is estimated additional 37% mothers and children die according to the Lancet Article. A number of healthcare employees have also become positive and many have lost their lives. The cases in the country and Karnataka especially are rising. For the safety of mothers, babies and healthcare staff we decided to launch the SOP”

Dr Gowda further elaborated on the importance of this book for healthcare staff during this pandemic he said “The main purpose of developing this document is to ensure that all the staff working in Government SNCUs are trained on these available guidance and recent evidences at the earliest. This will help support the staff especially in triaging, depending on the needs of the patient. It also enables the doctors to refer the flowcharts & ensure patients can be referred to appropriate facilitythereby limiting the unnecessary expenditures on the already distressed additional financial cause due to COVID-19 for the state. It also gives information about vaccines that are being developed by different Pharmaceutical companies.  I would like to add that this book is only the first version, we plan to update as new evidence generates with time”

The launch of this book has been highly appreciated by the Karnataka Government. Along with the Chief Minister, the Deputy CM Dr Ashwath Narayan, Shri Sriramulu, Health Minister and Dr Sudhakar, the Medical Minister have completely supported and encouraged the NNF and other bodies. They appreciated the efforts of NNF Karnataka President Dr Kotturesha and UNICEF HFO consultant Dr Sanjeev Upadhyay for their efforts to bring all stakeholders together for this noble cause.

Tech Mahindra and Hinduja Group’s CyQureX Sign a Global Strategic Partnership

Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services and solutions, announced a global strategic partnership with Hinduja Group’s CyQureX, a leading provider of advanced Cyber Security solutions world-wide, with a view to offer world class cyber security solutions in support of clients through successful digital transformation.  

The strategic partnership will enable the organizations to become leaders in the emerging ‘Zero Trust’ environment, leveraging CyQureX’s core SDP (Software Defined Perimeter) technology and solutions, alongside Tech Mahindra’s strategic focus on cybersecurity and other next generation technologies. The partnership will enable Global customers to have access to state-of-the-art cyber security protection for Data Assets across the entire life cycle i.e “Data in Motion”, “Data in Use” and “Data at Rest”.

With decades of consulting and digital transformation expertise, Tech Mahindra will provide consulting, planning, designing, integration, orchestration and automation of services. CyQureX, which represents a new and critical business vertical of the well diversified, multimillion dollar turnover transnational Hinduja Group, with research and development centers in India and USA and offices spread across USA, Europe/United Kingdom, Middle East and India, will prioritize capabilities in the ‘Cyber Security domain - the new middleware of the future’.

CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “Organisations have accelerated their digital transformation journey to emerge stronger and smarter from the current crisis. As a global leading provider of digital services, Tech Mahindra is committed towards leveraging new-age technologies to unleash new business opportunities and experiences for our customers and partner ecosystem through strategic partnerships and world class solutions. We see cybersecurity not only as an essential service but as a key business differentiator for our clients. The partnership with Hinduja Group’s CyQureX aligns with our core business proposition, and will further strengthen our position as the cybersecurity partner of choice for our customers globally.

GP Hinduja, Co-Chairman, Hinduja group is of the view that “This partnership is a game changer in the cyber security domain. It brings the leading security services company Tech Mahindra, and our newest technology company, CyQureX, together to create a highly secure, agile and resilient digital world. I am extremely delighted to see this strategic partnership formed, as it is in line with one of the core principles of our founder, Partnership for Growth. With rapid transformation of business to digital, we believe cybersecurity will be the cornerstone to protect all digital assets, particularly for digital transformation of India and other geographies. We are committed to develop many more indigenous state-of-the-art cyber security products and technologies in the coming years, with a vision to be a major global player in the emerging cyber security solutions market”.

“I am very excited about the alliance with Tech Mahindra” observes M.K.Narayanan, Executive Chairman of CyQureX, a Former National Security Advisor and Special Advisor on Intelligence and Security to the Prime Minister of India.  “This is a critical alliance and I am hopeful that it will be the catalyst to leverage next generation technologies like Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and create Cyber Security platforms to protect businesses, critical infrastructure and government. It promises to take digitalisation to the next level, providing clients across the globe with fully integrated cyber security solutions.”

The strategic partnership between Tech Mahindra and Hinduja Group’s CyQureX  will not only provide affordable protection to critical data, and defend nations against ‘stealth offences’, but would provide Cyber Security solutions for agile deployment that are critically important for business continuity, competitiveness and flexibility. Together, given TechMNxt charter, which focuses on leveraging next-generation technologies, and Hinduja Group’s CyQureX as a leading provider of cyber security solutions, exciting new opportunities have become available in the arcane world of Cyber security. Simultaneously, Tech Mahindra and Hinduja Group’s CyQureX will work towards Product Development, Consulting Services and Delivery in the Cyber Security space.

About CyQureX

Established in 2017, CyQureX is a cyber security solutions provider headquartered in London, UK. A Hinduja Group company, CyQureX focuses on design, development and delivery of next generation cyber security portfolio and services. Providing Software defined perimeter based network security solutions to a diversified set of industries such as banking, engineering and financial institutions.

About Hinduja Group

The Hinduja Group is one of India’s premier diversified and transnational conglomerates. Employing nearly a 150,000 employees, with presence across 38 countries it has multi-billion dollar revenue. The Group was founded over a hundred years ago by Shri P.D. Hinduja whose credo was "My duty is to work so that I can give."

The Group owns businesses in Automotive, Information Technology, Media, Entertainment & Communications, Banking & Finance Services, Infrastructure Project Development, Cyber Security, Oil and Specialty Chemicals, Power, Real Estate, Trading and Healthcare. The group also supports charitable and philanthropic activities across the world through the Hinduja Foundation.

Zoomcar, ETO Motors Partner to Announce a Platform of Services to Boost Shared EV Mobility

Zoomcar, India’s largest personal mobility platform, signed an agreement this week with Hyderabad based ETO Motors, a full-fledged electric mobility solutions & services company, to provide a diverse array of platform services for ETO’s electric, shared 3-wheeler business. As part of this agreement, Zoomcar will provide access to its state-of-the-art, proprietary tech stack which emphasizes security and maintenance of vehicles, thereby building a consumer base for electric vehicles and improving the overall customer experience. In the partnership, ETO Motors will own and operate electric three-wheelers for shared first-mile and last-mile passenger commute as well as goods movement within the cities. 

Zoomcar’s tie-up with ETO Motors entails the development of an innovative platform to address the vast opportunities across India in the first mile, last mile, and Intracity passengers as well as goods movement space using electric vehicles. The strategic partnership will help create the necessary competency and technology for building the future of the mobility market in India. 

Commenting on the latest development, Greg Moran, CEO & Co-Founder Zoomcar said, ‘’The mobility industry is going through a transformational phase globally due to the pandemic. At Zoomcar, we strive to be at the forefront of creating innovative solutions that can help shape this transformative shift. From the beginning, we set out to build a software solution that helps reduce accidents and improves asset longevity.  Through this partnership with ETO Motors, we aim to leverage our AI based platform to enable large fleet operators to better manage their assets through greater vehicle safety and lower total operating cost. We are delighted to partner with ETO Motors on the next phase of their growth journey in India’s rapidly expanding EV market.” 

Commenting on the development which will boost ETO Motors efforts to drive the sustainable EV revolution, Mr. Biju Mathew, CEO, ETO Motors said, “The coming together of both companies marks a significant beginning in boosting the shared EV mobility space. Zoomcar’s contribution will be in the form of its technology, including apps for customers and drivers combined with the experience of managing large scale mobility solutions.ETO will own and operate state of the art electric vehicles to deliver seamless mobility to customers. The next phase of collaboration between our respective companies with respect to the development of the co-branded digital platform will undoubtedly mark a significant step forward for the industry.” 

Zoomcar’s previously announced driver score tech stack is an AI powered algorithm with machine learning capabilities that rates the driver’s performance on a scale of 0-100.  The driver score tracks the condition of the vehicle, the driving style of the customer, and the real-time critical events impacting the vehicle health. The scoring system possesses capabilities to give real-time feedback to drivers in the advent of rash driving to help them adjust their behavior accordingly. The platform is agnostic to the vehicle type and the telematics device installed.  Moreover, the platform works for both traditional internal combustion vehicles as well as electric vehicles. 

This signing of the MoU for the co-branded platform is part of ETO Motors plan to introduce a fleet of smart electric vehicles and strengthen its clean mobility solution offering. The platform will focus on the deployment of electric vehicles in the three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and two-wheelers segment for first-mile, last-mile, intracity passenger, and goods movement across India. The platform will help in the discovery of the vehicle and will ensure a safe commute for the passengers. The smart vehicles can be geo-fenced and disabled remotely in case of any emergency. ETO has already introduced its smart vehicles for first and last-mile connectivity service in Noida Metro and is poised to expand its presence in the coming times. 

About Zoomcar 

Zoomcar holds the distinction of being India’s first personal mobility platform, with the introduction of car-sharing services in 2013 and today is the market leader in the self-drive space with over 10,000 cars in its fleet. With a strong focus on the mobile experience, Zoomcar allows users to rent cars by the hour, day, week, or month. Headquartered in Bangalore, Zoomcar is over 250 people strong and operates in 45+ cities across India. In 2018, Zoomcar introduced India’s first peer2peer based marketplace for cars with the launch of its shared subscription mobility model and currently commands over 90% market share in this space. 

About ETO Motors PVT Ltd. 

ETO-is a full-fledged electric mobility solutions and services company into large-scale deployment of multi-brand shared electric diverse fleet for cleaner cities that provides clean, safe, noise free public transportation for first mile, last mile and intracity operations. ETO-addresses issues of Clean shared Public Mobility Traffic Congestion Reduce co2 emissions Direct transfers Efficient use of capacity Public Parking Space. Cheaper Journey Price – 2W,3W, 4W, Bus, Cargo. 

Centuary Mattresses Launches Pocketed Spring Rollpack Mattress Under Sleepables By Centuary Brand

In continuation to its extension of advanced and innovative products, Centuary Mattresses, one of India’s leading mattress company, has now ventured into ‘Online Exclusive category’ of mattresses with the launch of ‘Sleepables Mattress’ - India’s first ‘Pocketed Spring Mattress in Box’. The company has forged partnerships with the major e-commerce players for this Online exclusive range of mattresses that offers superior quality with the luxury in stylish designs of mattresses. The high-quality pocketed spring mattress will be compressed, rolled, and packed in an easy-to-carry box. All the consumer needs to do is just unpack it, unroll it, and wait for a few seconds as it automatically decompresses making it convenient to transport and handling. The Rollpack range is available on Amazon, Flipkart, Pepperfry and Centuary’s website as well. These Rollpack mattresses are manufactured at Centuary’s own manufacturing plants in Hyderabad. 

‘Sleepables By Centuary Pocketed Spring Mattress’ is a first of its kind technologically superior mattress designed with independent pocketed springs, which ensures zero motion transfereven if someone is tossing and turning on the other side of the bed. Sleepables pocket spring mattress uses an advanced spring technology with active edge support and plush PU (Polyurethane Foams) Foam comfort layer and quilt.  The ‘Sleepables’ range of mattress is available in all standard sizes of Single, Double, King, and Queen size beds with an option of customized size also. The sleepable range is available in 6 inches and 8 inches thickness with a starting price of INR 8,000 to 24,000 depending upon the size of the mattress. 

Speaking about Centuary’s launch of the Online Exclusive range, Mr. Uttam Malani, Executive Director of Centuary Mattresses said, " Sleepables By Centuary is expected to be the growth driver for Centuary’s push into Online sales leadership of the mattress category, which is currently dominated by multiple unorganized players and private labels. It also strengthens our positioning in the segment of the superior product configuration since Rollpack spring mattresses need high-quality technology that has never been deployed in India earlier.  

Sleepables by Centuary is the first and only Online exclusive range in India of Rollpack Pocketed Spring Mattresses which comes as a bed in a Box. Many customers enjoy this hassle-free version of new-age mattress shopping. Instead of spending a weekend or two testing mattresses out in a showroom, the customers can order this mattress online in just a few minutes that are easy to deliver and handle. It is delivered from Centuary’s manufacturing plant straight to the consumers’ doorstep, thereby ensuring convenience and comfort. 

Global Consumer Electronics Giant Hisense to Introduce Next Gen Tech Products in India

Next Gen Tech Products

* Announces the launch of its range of QLED, UHD & Smart televisions on August 6th on Amazon, Flipkart, TataCliQ and Reliance Digital

* Aims to upgrade buyers with entire 4K range having Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos technology

* Also plans to bring in Laser TV, 8K Dual Cell TVs along with UHD, Intelligent ACs with Wifi and premium refrigerator in India at enticing prices

Hisense, a leading consumer electronics and appliance manufacturer of the world is entering the India market with a range of products including next generation technology display products like 100” Laser TV, 86” 8K TVs, Dual Cell QLED TV & OLED TV. Besides these futuristic technology products, the brand will be launching its range of QLED, UHD and Smart televisions on August 6th on Amazon, Flipkart, TataCliQ and Reliance Digital followed by Intelligent ACs and premium Side by Side Refrigerators this year.

Known for its glorious 51 Years, Hisense is a global technology leader and has recently acquired the premium European brand Gorenje and leading Japanese brand Toshiba TV in addition to existing portfolio of brands with an aim to expand globally. With both Hisense and Toshiba, the Hisense group is targeting 40 million TV sales aiming at number two position globally. The brand is operating in over 160 countries and is committed to continuous production innovation with 14 Intelligent manufacturing bases and 18 R&D hubs across the globe. The brand also invests 5% of its revenue back into R&D every year. Sports has also been one of keen area of association for the brand and has been associated with FIFA World Cup, Australian Open, Red Bull F1 Racing, UEFA Euro Championships etc and is also the official partner of UEFA Euro 2020.

Speaking about the launch, Mr. Rishi Tandon, COO Hisense India said, “We are extremely excited to be a part of one of the biggest growing markets in the world. Our goal is to become an aspirational premium brand offering niche, innovative products and solutions at very competitive prices. Our new Made in India range of Smart & 4K televisions are fully loaded and enhancing consumer delight to make their life better will be a key focus area for us. Our products offer uncompromised quality with a seamless, smart and enjoyable viewing experience.”

Hisense will be launching next generation TV Products including Laser TV’s, World’s first DUAL CELL TV products by end of the year. The brand will also be bringing in a range of Toshiba TVs next month.  Apart from the smart television range, Hisense Group will also introduce its Air Conditioners range with intelligent health filters with smart cooling and big capacity refrigerators in French door concept which is currently out of reach due to limited options for the consumer.

The upcoming new Made in India television series of Hisense Amazing 4K LED TV are specially designed, manufactured and packed with innovation and top-notch technology features based on feature insights from the Indian market at the most competitive price points. In collaboration with Dolby, Hisense 4K TVs will be equipped with Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos for full immersive & engaging cinematic experience.  Dolby Vision, the advanced form of HDR with its Frame by frame processing to brings out the ultimate brightness, color and contrast on screen. Moving audio on screen of Dolby Atmos transports you to the middle of action for a breathtakingly immersive experience The Quantum Dot technology in the TV’s create huge amount of color combinations to present stunning picture quality and Full Array Local Dimming with more dimming zones for better contrast ratio and a bezel-less slim design identity across entire range.

The entire range of Hisense televisions come equipped with the official Android TV 9.0 PIE operating system and official Google Play Store app preloaded giving access to 500,000+ TV shows and movies. The entire range has a Built-in Google Assistant and Built-in Chromecast for a seamless casting of any HD or Full HD content on the big screen.  The range also comes with One touch access feature on the remote, the applications Youtube, Netflix, Disney+Hotstar, Prime Video can be easily browsed through the press of a button.

Starting with Hi to Hisense campaign, the entire range of 4K & Smart televisions will be available online on Amazon, Flipkart, TataCliQ and Reliance Digital starting August 6, 2020.  As an introductory celebration offer and as reinforcer of its confidence on product quality, the brand shall be offering 5 Year warranty on the panel along with certain inaugural discount over its normal operating prices for the first three days of launch i.e. from 6th to 9th Aug 2020.

To ensure consumer delight, the brand shall be ensuring that its service is readily accessible with fast response time and a wide cover having network across more than 18,000 pin codes with 400+ service centers.

Hisense Group has regularly been awarded at international platforms for their product innovation and leadership. The brand received 8 awards in the beginning of 2020 at CES including CES 2020 TOP PICK, Best of CES 2020 for its premium range of LED and Laser TV and Best Fridge Freezer and Induction hob by Trusted Review.

About Hisense

Hisense is global technology leader in manufacturing premium televisions with an impeccable track record of providing top quality products. It is known for its glorious 51 Years of Global Trust and Innovation worldwide. Striving to push the boundaries of innovation and working tirelessly on the research and development, it is one of the world’s leading television manufacturers. Hisense is a leading TV brand worldwide and is also the leading TV brand in countries like Australia, USA, Japan, Mexico and South Africa. Hisense is having footprints globally with presence in over 160+ countries having 14 manufacturing facilities located including countries like Mexico, Slovenia, Serbia, Mexico, Czech, South Africa etc. The group is committed to continuous innovation with 18 R&D hubs across the globe and invests 5% of its revenue back into R&D every year with the sole aim of delivering first-rate and affordable products that improve the lives of consumers.