Got 3G ? Lets peel the onion.

3G, 3rd generation. The latest mobile phone technology fad in India. According to the techno numbers, it allows one to have broadband internet speeds (256kBps) on the go, on a mobile phone.
Considering the current IT revolution in India and upcoming e-governance initiatives, fast and mobile internet can really do wonders. Apart from this increased data usage, growth in revenues due to greater usage form the good part.

But lets peel the onion. What I said above, or what companies and marketing gurus say is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg or in our case the inedible onion peel.

Peel it off. What do you see ?

Layer 1 : Increased power demand by the service providers

With almost all mobile service providers rolling out 3G, it goes without saying that they will require an altogether different set of equipment than the current 2G. This implies that this new machinery to churn the ever greatest KBs will need more juice. Judging by the speeds expect power consumption to increase approx 15-20%. This means more power demand i.e. more burning of fuel to heat more water to produce more steam to produce more torque to produce more rpms of the turbine. More carbon emissions, quite obvious.

Layer 2 : Increased mobile phone dependency mostly unnecessary

TV on the move ? Gaming on the move ? Not to sound Luddite, but give that mind a rest ! It has been proven clinically that brain grows faster when it is given some rest to assimilate information and thoughts. That's why the boffin in your R&D lab is all by himself and thinking !
Wasn't the calling functionality of the mobile a distraction enough ? On the move broadband is certainly going to show some interesting changes.
Faster social degradation through unwanted internet content will be on steroids now.

Layer 3 : Data security

More bandwidth means more space to do things. Simply put, malicious intent can now be used on the go. Expect large organizations like banks, MNCs, consultancies and governments to install additional security infrastructure. More power consumption again? You bet !
Although this may lead to increased ease of corruption and malpractice reporting.


Layer 4 : Privacy invasion

Spam video calls, anyone? Or for a more macabre situation, a cross connected video call ?
These concerns which rose due to increased mobile 2G usage, will be equally applicable to a 3G user too.
Consider a hacked in camera of the 3G mobile phone. Tapping and surveillance taken to a whole new level. Big Brother just got more kit !


Burrrrppp ! onion gone !

What is needed is not just self regulation on the part of mobile authorities but also some form of a regulatory framework. Current policies do not take into account the unique challenges that high speed mobile data transmission poses.

Bringing a 60 year old engine to life ...!!! for a shiny new race car !!

This was the D-Day !!! 24th April 2008...!!!
January 2008 - me and my friends had an idea of participating in the FSAE contest.
Gruelling schedules ensued. Specially for me it was a bit of off track as formally I am enrolled in IT engineering but automobiles !!! oh ! i loved them since i was a kid. Balancing both was an uphill task. Studying at odd hours about the suspension systems for the FSAE car and then in the day mugging up software nuances. Just a respectable GPA is now enough for me as it is true salvation to study what you love. I was a funny sight with Race Car Vehicle Dyanamics in one hand and Operating Systems Concepts in the other !!
Then came the hard fact ...MONEY..!!
from where will the money required for this project will come ?? 25 lakhs !!!! phew a very hefty amount !!

Then a bolt in the clear sky ! Our prof. in charge cued us to repair a 60 year old car chassis to prove our mettle and then take the money.
April 1....
Gruelling and enervating work to repair the i-6 GM engine started....cleaning 60 years of dust, grime and carbon we trudged along dilligently. Then again bunking classes, skipping meals....those were the wonderful moments !!!
Getting small spare parts from Delhi and then installing them with a new fervour....
all this went along and then 24th April....
after a night of tries to start it, the engine gave way to our efforts after getting a new carburettor(1950 man no FIs and fancy pnuematic valves !!!)...
It coughed and then roared to life and those heavy pistons worked to keep it going. It was like a dream, as this job will open a whole new lot of options for me and my friends.
Looking forward to get a nod from authorities (read money) and start building a race car with some lip smacking handling !!
Really want to bring the knowledge acquired during all my life to fruition about suspension systems and handling dynamics...
FSAE here I come ..!!!