Cure.fit to Launch Paid Subscription Packs for cure.fit Live in India

Cure.fit, India’s leading integrated holistic healthcare platform, announced that it will start monetizing its digital offerings.

Customers will soon be able to choose between 3-month, 6-month and 12-month packages after an initial 14-day free trial. Cult.fit members, however, will continue to get free access to all online sessions, including Cult Live Classes and Eat Live Recipes across its various verticals on the cure.fit app.

Following the government issued directives on social distancing and subsequent lockdown norms released to curb the spread of COVID-19, cure.fit launched its live classes across different workout formats in March to facilitate home-based workouts not just for its members but for the general public at large. It added “Cult Live Masterclasses” to the mix in early April featuring an impressive line-up of celebrity trainers, actors, sportspersons and fitness influencers such as Yasmin Karachiwala, Mandira Bedi, Mary Kom, Brett Lee, Vijender Singh and PV Sindhu.

Commenting on the move to monetize the digital offerings by cure.fit, Ankit Nagori said, “With physical gym operations being suspended at the moment, cure.fit has adapted itself in the last few months and transferred most of its services to the digital space. We have been generating top-quality content to make working out at home easy and fun. So far, our digital verticals have been popularly received and we want to continue to build on that momentum. Through monetization, we hope that our popular live sessions can enable us to amplify the cure.fit experience for our users.”

Currently, cure.fit live offers live fitness classes across formats such as strength, dance, boxing, HIIT, HRX, S&C, and yoga on all days of the week. These live classes are also amenable to users across different fitness levels and do not require any equipment.  Cure.fit also offers live guided meditation, sessions, cooking sessions, podcasts as well as talks with experts on various topics related to health and fitness.

About Cure.fit

cure.Fit Healthcare Pvt Ltd is a holistic integrated healthcare platform headquartered in Bangalore. Founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori, cure.fit aims to address preventive healthcare through a combination of engagement, coaching and delivery using a mix of online and offline channels. cure.fit caters to living a healthy life - eat.fit, mind.fi,t cult.fit and care.fit While cult.fit focuses on physical strength and fitness; eat.fit for healthy and nutritive food ,mind.fit for mental wellbeing and care.fit for integrated medical and lifestyle care. cure.fit is an app based service provider and is available on Android and ios. For more information on cure.fit: https://www.Cure.fit/

Milagrow Ventures into Crowdfunding with the Launch of a Back Massaging Robot Wheeme 2020

With businesses and people adapting to the new normal way of life amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s No.1 consumer robotics brand Milagrow has ventured into crowdfunding with the launch of its robotic back massager Wheeme 2020. The product has been available in the market from 14th May 2020 on its website www.milagrowhumantech.com

Equipped with Tilt Sensor technology to avoid loss of grip and falling when held at an angle lesser than 45 degrees, the Milagrow Wheeme 2020 gently massages and is highly effective for people who experience backaches. The massager wasi originally priced at INR 11,990. Milagrow is now leveraging crowdfunding to achieve a price breakthrough and will sell the product at INR 2,990. The crowdfunding will be open to the public for a week starting from 19th May and will be closed for online order on 25th May. Milagrow aims to deliver the product in 15 days.

Operating with a rolling motion, Wheeme, the world’s first robotic massager contains three different settings users can choose from.

Commenting on the launch, Rajeev Karwal, Founder, Chairman, Milagrow Robots said, “At a time when we need to remain indoors to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones, the Wheeme 2020 will act as a personal physiotherapist of sorts for those experiencing backaches and other muscle pain. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses across verticals and has affected life in more ways than one. Through the crowdfunding model, we aim to ensure that the disrupted supply chain is restored quickly and the price thresholds are brought down.”

He added that “Robots will become an essential part of our everyday life in a post pandemic world, be it for household chores or for repetitive jobs in professional environments. Price points can be hindrance in more people buying robots. Our crowdfunding will help the industry evolve and create relevant products with the help of advanced technology. We will announce more launches on this platform soon.

Operational since 2007, Milagrow has been a frontrunner in the consumer robotics industry in India. Its “Human Tech” division, has launched India specific robots and has numerous firsts to include the recently launched AI powered floor cleaning robot which is fully independent in terms of navigation and can kill covid virus and also a humanoid which can help doctors interact with patients through their virtual presence.

Hyundai India Launches The Spirited New VERNA ‘Live The Thrill’

Key Points

* Spectacular Premium & Sporty design
* India’s First Fully Connected Sedan in its segment with Advanced Blue Link features (Telematics)
* Segment leading product offering with Intelligent Features and BS6 compliant 1.5 Gamma2 PL/ 1.5 U2 CRDI Diesel delivering Superior Power, Performance & efficiency.
* Next-Generation Automatic Transmission -  7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission and Intelligent Variable Transmission
* Fun to drive Turbo GDi petrol engine with 7 DCT.
* Best in segment Wonder Warranty option up to 5years
* Over 5.28 Lac happy customers in domestic and export markets

Hyundai Motor India Ltd., the country’s first smart mobility solutions provider and the largest exporter since inception, today launched India’s First Fully Connected Mid-Size Sedan, The Spirited New VERNA.  The Spirited New VERNA, makes a bold yet intelligent move with its Spectacular Design, Intelligent Technology, Advanced Performance and Exceptional Features.

Speaking at the launch of The Spirited New VERNA, Mr. S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “The Spirited New VERNA is an All-rounder sedan with Human Technology Connect comprising Futuristic Design, Smart Connect, Ingenious Detailing and Superior Dynamics for new age aspirational customers. The brand VERNA has been a landmark in Hyundai growth story winning many prestigious accolades worldwide. The Spirited New VERNA is mastered to deliver excellence including core areas of Styling, Performance, Technology and Safety to create a new benchmark in the sedan segment.”

Development Concept

The development direction of The Spirited New VERNA highlights the core values of a ‘Smart Connected Intelligent Performer’. It is a perfect blend of design, performance, technology, reliability and distinguished features. The design aim of The Spirited New VERNA is to bring out Striking Design integrated with Advanced Performance, Premium yet Urban Connectivity Solutions. The Spirited New VERNA is based up on 5 Key Pillars:

Spectacular Design
Outstanding Features
High Reliability
Advanced Technology
Youthful Performance

Spectacular Design

The Spirited New VERNA is cautiously crafted with perfection to meet the bold style statement of today’s urban audience. Its spectacular design, vibrant interiors and exteriors offer supreme comfort and luxury. The front showcases a strong yet elegant stance enhancing the road presence with unique LED headlamps and Dark Chrome Radiator Grille.

The TURBO trim offers exclusive design integrations like Twin tip muffler, Glossy black grille along with all black interiors that compliments the outstanding performance and unique features of the New Spirited VERNA.

R16 dual tone Styled Steel Wheel and New diamond cut alloys adds to the sporty looks.

Outstanding Features

In-line with Hyundai’s promise of unparalleled performance and innovation in mobility, The Spirited New VERNA offers a host of features that meet the needs of today’s explorers. It comes with Digital Cluster, Front Ventilated Seats, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, 20.32 cm touchscreen AVNT with HD Display, Driver Rear View Monitor, Paddle Shifter, Wireless Charger and Electric Sun roof. These features add on to the sheer pleasure of driving, makes it more fun to drive on long distances.

Advanced Technology

The Spirited New VERNA is a Technology Marvel offering All Round Excellence and Great Experience. It has India’s most advanced Connectivity solution- ‘Hyundai Blue Link’ which has an in-built and tamper-proof device powered by Vodafone-Idea eSIM and a Cloud-based Voice Recognition platform.

The Spirited New VERNA is equipped with 45 Blue Link features classified under services in the form of Safety, Security, Remote Operations, Vehicle Relationship Management, Geographic Information Services, Alert Services and Voice Recognition.

The Hyundai Blue Link has heralded a new era of smart connected vehicles in India. The Blue Link services will be complimentary for first 3 years and post which customers can further renew the services.

High Reliability

The Spirited New VERNA is a result of constant and path breaking innovation to assure passenger and pedestrian with utmost safety. Built for outstanding driving pleasure and complete all-round safety, The Spirited New VERNA boasts of high reliability features providing the advanced safety elements like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM),  Emergency stop signal (ESS), Hill Start Assist Control, Rear Disc brake and Front Park Assist sensors for a stress-free driving.

Youthful Performance

The Spirited New VERNA will offer BS6 Diesel and Petrol engines promising energetic and youthful performance with 1.0 Litre Turbo GDI engine with 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission, 1.5 Litre BS6 Petrol with 6-speed Manual Transmission & Intelligent Variable Transmission and 1.5L BS6 Diesel with 6-speed Manual Transmission & 6-speed Automatic Transmission, offering Superior Power, Performance and Fuel Efficiency.

First-in-Segment Features

Blue Link
Front Ventilated Seats
Digital Cluster with 10.67cm Color TFT MID
Wireless Phone Charger
Smart Trunk
Arkamys Premium Sound
Driver Rear View Monitor (DRVM)
Emergency Stop Signal
Twin Tip Muffler design
ECO coating
Rear USB Charger vs. Conventional Power Outlet
Luggage Net & Hooks

Best-in-Segment Features

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
HD display for better viewing
Sliding Function Front Armrest
1.0T PL 120 ps Max Power
1.5l DSL 115 ps Max Power
Dark Chrome Radiator Grille

Complete Peace of Mind

As a Lifetime Partner and beyond, The Spirited New VERNA will provide complete peace of mind with WONDER Warranty Options - 3 Years/unlimited kms or 4 years/60 000kms or 5 years/50 000 kms. Hyundai is also offering the Ultimate Peace of Mind with 3 Years - Road-Side Assistance, Blue Link Subscription and Map Updates along with 15th Day Home Visit. Like other Hyundai Products The Spirited New VERNA will also offer lowest cost of maintenance in its segment.

Microsoft Build 2020 Kicks Off – Day 1 News Announcements

On May 19, CEO Satya Nadella kicked off Microsoft Build 2020, the company’s annual developer conference, via virtual experience. He shared how Microsoft and its customers are addressing developer needs across all industries and how the company is uniquely positioned to help businesses adapt in a remote world. Build 2020 features 48 hours of free continuous programming for attendees including key segments from Scott Hanselman, Partner Program Manager, Scott Guthrie, EVP Cloud and AI Group, Rajesh Jha, EVP Experiences and Devices Group, Kevin Scott, CTO and James Phillips, President, Business Applications.

Key news highlighted:

New tools and services available in Azure, M365 and Windows that empower developers to be more collaborative and productive
Expanded capabilities – including open source and low-code tools – that help developers build apps quickly and learn new skills no matter where they are in their career or the world
New innovations in healthcare through cloud solutions and Microsoft Teams that will help hospitals and care providers better manage the needs of patients
The top student developer teams participating in Microsoft Imagine Cup, and the finalist named this year’s 2020 champion is Team Hollo
Advancements in artificial intelligence that help customers leverage the power of the cloud responsibly and scale AI solutions globally

A few key stories we want to call attention to include:

Developers bring behind-the-scenes magic to help companies change course quickly in a crisis
Azure Analytics: Clarity in an instant
Microsoft responsible machine learning capabilities build trust in AI systems, developers say
Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare makes it easier to remain agile and focus on
Do you want to become a quantum developer and help solve the unsolvable?
Skills for the future start today — new resources for students
Microsoft acquires Softomotive to expand low-code Robotic Process Automation capabilities in Microsoft Power Automate

India Now has the World’s Second Largest Population with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD Awareness Campaign 

* On May 19, the World IBD Day, leading Indian gastroenterologists come together for IBD Awareness Campaign #ManageYourIBD to complement the global movement around #MakeIBDwork
* People of Indian origin have a greater than average risk for all types of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), making India the world’s second largest market for IBD, after USA
* Medical management through early diagnosis and timely treatment through Drugs and a new class of Biologics can help patients control their disease effectively

Wellness 365, a community representing leading Indian medical professionals and practitioners, today announced that India today has an estimated 1.5 million patients affected by the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), putting the country second only to USA with 1.6 million patients. Also, these number are rising at a high single digit rate, as Indians have a greater than average risk of getting this disease.

To educate people and help them receive appropriate medical intervention, the platform today launched a month-long campaign #ManageYourIBD, in association with leading Indian gastroenterologists from the key metro cities. The campaign was launched in support of the May 19, 2020, the World IBD Day. This will complement the global movement with hashtag #MakeIBDwork.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is an intestinal disorder which involves prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract and if left untreated can lead to irreversible damage of the intestines involving conditions like intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation, and a higher risk of colorectal cancer. IBD is not cured by regular medication and requires the involvement of a specialist often requiring long-term management. Broadly there are two types of IBD’s - Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD).

Explaining the symptoms, Dr. Rudrajit Sinha, Gastro-Intestinal Surgeon, Advanced Laparoscopy & Robotics, The Calcutta Medical Research Institute, Kolkata, says, “An IBD patient suffers from persistent abdominal cramps with irregular bowel habits and occasional passage of mucus and blood in stools. The disease is often associated with unexpected weight loss and the patient is resistant to usual treatments for stomach ailments.”

The diagnosis for IBD’s can be challenging, explains Dr. Ajay Choksi, Consultant and Head , Dept. of Gastroenterology, Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai “Many self-limited illnesses like bacterial infections and protozoal illnesses can mimic IBD on gross endoscopic and histologic findings but do not last beyond a month. Very often it may be impossible to differentiate between tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease which is when therapeutic trials and follow ups may be required for a precise diagnosis. Timely and early diagnosis increases the probability of inducing easy and durable remission of the disease. Vast majority of the patients can be successfully managed with medications.”

Elaborating on the risks and the available treatment options, Dr. Ajay Bhalla, Director & Head Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Noida, says “Medical management remains the key modality in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. In case of ulcerative colitis, need for surgical intervention is low at about 6% for Indian patients while the worldwide average being about 10-12%. Medical management with drugs like 5-ASAs, steroids and azathioprines and use of biologics gives effective outcomes.”

“However, in case of Crohn’s disease, the patient can end up with conditions like intestinal crystallization or recurrent obstruction, where surgery may be required. It is seen worldwide and in India too that about one third of patients with Crohn’s disease require surgery at some point of time.  Rest of the patients are successfully managed with medical management through drugs like steroids and azathioprines and now the use of biologics which would change the whole course of treatment. As the use of biologics becomes more common in India, I guess the requirement of surgery will go down further.”, he added.

Delving into the impact of the disease, if it is left untreated, Dr. Amarender Puri, Vice Chairman, Institute of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Medanta, Gurugram, “There is a definite risk of colorectal cancer if IBD is left untreated. The risk is in direct proportion to the duration of the disease. It is negligible during the first 8-10 years but steadily increases thereafter. Currently the risk is thought to be about 10% among those with the disease for 25-30 years. This risk is particularly much more among patients who have been irregular with their treatment vis a vis those who are fully compliant. Additionally, untreated disease leads to long standing anaemia and protein loss from the body.”

Interestingly, factors like the socioeconomic and demographic classification play a role in the incidence of the disease, explains Dr. Piyush Ranjan, Sr. Consultant, Institute of Liver Gastroenterology & Pancreatico Biliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, “In general, IBD is more common among urban population and the higher socioeconomic groups. Both males and females have an equal chance of having ulcerative colitis. However, in case of Crohn’s disease, females have a slightly higher preponderance. “

Lack of awareness makes things worse:

Lack of awareness remains a key barrier in helping people get the correct diagnosis and receive the right treatment. Ignorance often leads to the patient being treated for common problems like upset stomach, and even tuberculosis, while the issue is completely different. The debilitating effects of not diagnosing early is a life-threatening hazard which is also financially and emotionally draining for the family. Heightened awareness and early diagnosis can go a long way in helping people with the IBD conditions.

63% of Indian Professionals will Increase their Time Spent on Online Learning: LinkedIn’s Third Workforce Confidence Index

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, today announced the findings of their third Workforce Confidence Index, a fortnightly pulse on the confidence of the Indian workforce. This fortnight’s findings reflect India’s strong appetite for online learning as the survey says that more than 3 in 5 Indian professionals (63%) will increase their time spent on online learning.

Based on survey findings of 2,323 respondents, LinkedIn’s third Workforce Confidence Index shows India’s cautious optimism towards future opportunities with a composite score of +50 (a rolling average of weeks April 13-19 and April 27-May 3).

This fortnight’s findings say that Indian professionals are increasing their time spent on online learning as a response to remote working, a shrinking job market, the need for upskilling, and the need to stay mindful through these challenging times. Survey results show that 60% of Indian professionals want to gain more industry knowledge, 57% want to learn how they can advance in their careers, and 45% want to better their communication capabilities through online learning.

The need to balance job responsibilities with household chores has left the Indian workforce yearning for efficient planning as findings show that 43% of Indian professionals want to learn better time management, stay organized, and prioritize better. Findings further state that it is not always about professional learning as 40% of Indians say they want to learn something interesting and unrelated to their line of work, while 30% wish to improve their emotional well-being.

“A diverse set of skills can take you a long way in this uncertain climate, therefore upskilling has emerged as the need of the hour and it is encouraging to see Indian professionals leverage online learning to navigate the challenges. Our LinkedIn Learning data also shows that time spent in viewing LinkedIn Learning content by Indian professionals has jumped up  by 176% in the past two months, and ‘remote work foundations’ and ‘strategic thinking’ are some of the top courses they are looking at. We have also made more than 275 LinkedIn Learning courses free globally to help members develop transferable skills, become resilient, and adapt to the changing business landscape with ease,” said Ruchee Anand, Director, LinkedIn Talent and Learning Solutions, India.

Here’s what India is learning based on LinkedIn Learning platform data:

Remote working and productivity courses are top picks for Indians

The top 5 courses viewed in April were ‘Time Management: Working From Home’, ‘The Six Morning Habits of High Performers’, ‘Remote Work Foundations’, ‘Tips for Working Remotely’ and ‘Strategic Thinking’. LinkedIn Learning data also compares the consumption rates of courses between March and April, and findings show that ‘Writing a Resume’, ‘Managing Stress for Positive Change’, and ‘Interpersonal communication’ were among courses that saw the sharpest increase in views in April, when compared to March. This suggests that Indians want to learn how they can present their achievements, evolve as professionals, and manage stress efficiently in these uncertain times. Findings further suggest that Indians are fortifying their technical skills as LinkedIn Learning data also features ‘Learning Python’ and ‘Excel Essential Training (Office 365)’ in the top 10 list of most viewed courses on LinkedIn Learning in india. ‘Writing a Resume’ ranks at #11, and suggests the growing importance of a strong resume to help you stand out amongst other job-seekers in the coming months.

Managers, students, senior leaders most engaged online learners

Since the rise of remote working in March, LinkedIn Learning content has seen the biggest surge from managers, students and senior professionals. Globally, learners watched nearly 4 million hours of LinkedIn Learning content in March alone. In India, LinkedIn Learning data shows that viewing content on LinkedIn Learning grew by 252% for all managers, 242% for first-time managers, 226% by students, 211% by senior leaders, and 194% by Baby Boomers. Leaders around the world are turning to online learning to cultivate the communication, leadership, and management skills they need to lead teams through this uncertain time. Managing through change, learning news ways to pivot, building resilience, and developing strong communication and other transferable skills is key to learners today.

Fueling this demand and desire for online learning, LinkedIn has unlocked 275 LinkedIn Learning courses for free across seven languages to help job seekers, remote workers, talent acquisition teams, and professionals navigate the impact of COVID-19.

Anant Maheshwari, President Microsoft India Speaks on Digital Acceleration as Lockdown Eases in India

Excerpts from Anant Maheshwari, President Microsoft India Discussion with Aarthi Subramanian, Group Chief Digital Officer for Tata Sons on digital acceleration as lockdown eases in India.

As new work norms evolve and we continue to work from home, organizations are realizing they need a comprehensive solution that brings communications, collaboration, and business continuity together on one platform. Speaking at the Microsoft Envision Forum recently, Anant Maheshwari, President Microsoft India shared his perspective on the role that digital acceleration will play in rebuilding the industry as the lockdown eases.

Aarthi Subramaniam: “So Anant, since I spoke about technology playing a big role. I’ve a question for you. You know with Microsoft being at the forefront of technology and driving technology leadership. What role do you see for Microsoft and for technology in general and digital acceleration from a broader economic revival point of view”

Anant Maheshwari:

So maybe I build on what you said Aarthi. I’ll first speak about tech and digital as a key trend. I think as you spoke about the context of India and Tata group.  It’s been seen across the world that tech intensity will go up and digital acceleration will happen. Just a few days back, Satya in one of the meetings said that the last 2 months have seen digital transformation that we may have normally seen in 2 years. That’s the level of acceleration that the world has seen in digital transformation. If I just look at the trend lines, initially when we all got to work from home, the first need was getting maybe a videoconference solution that enabled us to see each other and talk to each other. But very quickly I’ve seen people move from just the need for video conference to collaborate, to actually get work done, to integrate business processes inside the solution. And there is then just one solution for people to actually work together and to create together in this work from home environment

So, moving very quickly, within 40 – 50 days people who said listen I don’t want to do video or calling because I like to meet people in person - I see many of those executives and  CEOs and CXOs being so comfortable with this now, and actually saying, hey, this is giving me more opportunities to do many new things. So ideation is changing as it’s happening.

What does it mean from a tech and Microsoft point of view? I think the Teams platform, which we were talking about just now, is a huge canvas, a huge enabler because it goes way beyond video conferencing into actually getting work done together, integrating business process into this, so that can become the normal way in some forms to work. So, that’s the first big change that I see as a transition point.

The second -  as you also mentioned  - I think data and analytics will become really critical. There will be  a lot of understanding of what data and analytics says. Companies and people will also say, I want to be more productive, so I need more data and more analytics coming to me as tool kits.

The third trend line I see is the ability to scale all of this digital experience. Therefore, the power of the public cloud in terms of  enabling that scaling is going to be well appreciated by a lot of people and therefore been seen a lot of that being used dynamically. And more innovation will happen in the combination of public cloud, the data analytics and the collaboration process

Now given all of this, I think we’re recognizing today that cybersecurity, privacy becomes even more important… because in the past when we were in the confines of a building in an office, the firewall and the physical separations in some form were helping the security envelope. But today when you’re working from home you’ve got to think about the entire security and privacy envelope very, very differently. And therefore, new norms will come in, new tools will come in to enable that security and privacy for every individual. And I think a lot of innovation can happen, which is good for the world in general to have that security and privacy discussion involved.

Finally I would say, I think governments will use technology a lot more.  The crisis management that they’re doing for Covid is all with these tools. So, I think there is a lot of policy frameworks also that will change to enable this from the government because this is the new normal that we’re working out. So, if I put all of this together I think it’s is a lot of innovation that’s going to happen in the next few weeks and months as we live through this and as we emerge from this into the post Covid world, hopefully soon.