Are Amazon, Netflix, Google Making Too Many Decisions For Us?

That article on Forbes focuses on how we depend on technology to take a lot of decisions on technology and corresponding devices. The issue the writer, Joel Delman, asks the question whether we should depend on technology so much and depend entirely on them. To my mind there's another angle to this whole thing. As technology gets into suggesting songs I would like, drives my car, navigates to my destination etc. there is this distinct possibility that all this can be manipulated. Someone van really manipulate the technology to affect many of us in a planned manner. So, you need checks and balances to prevent such eventuality. Usually, these get overlooked in the initial glow of the technology capabilities and developing the checks and balances may take a back seat and be quite late. At the rate technology is moving, there will an overload of these overdue controls. Who's going to manage all these!

Are Amazon, Netflix, Google Making Too Many Decisions For Us? - Forbes.com

Why The Internet Is Not Disrupting TV � Podcasting News

That is an interesting angle to check! Until broadband was on the scene, you could say that the experiences on the two medium are not the same. If do have the broadband, as is available now, you could check apple to apple. Though the following article takes a look at why the Internet content has not won over that of TV, it is not cler if they have taken this issue into account. one of the factor could easily be that we like the passivity of TV watching and that little bit of activity with the romote, compared to actively finding content in the net!

Why The Internet Is Not Disrupting TV � Podcasting News

7 Fantastic Free Social Media Tools for Teachers

For all teachers, take a look at this and see if this makes sense in your specific teaching environment!!

7 Fantastic Free Social Media Tools for Teachers

Best Way to Teach!

We had a fairly huge debate over what is the best method for teaching. Is it the chalk & talk or presentation based, interactive one.Everyone kind of agreed interactivity is essential. But we had a divergence of opinion on what constitutes the interactivity.

I expected more accepted more of tendency towards the newer methods.One of the clear reason that emerged was that whatever method one is used to is what they want to continue to use. This is such a big issue to change in any sphere of human activity! We are so used to, so comfortable with familiarity of whatever we do! I would have thought, those who are in the teaching business would experiment more with their tools, methods etc.

What is a Text Book is Evolving Right Before Our Eyes!

What is going to be the form of the books, text books in particular! That some form of electronic reading will take over is almost certain. Is the ereader device going to win or the tablet computer ? That is not clear at the moment. The eReader  completely copies the printed book reading experience. That, to my mind, is a faulty approach. With a new approach we need not follow something existing! Multi media experience in imparting knowledge has been hyped about for a longtime. I can easily agree with that. Somebody reading about a Cheetah, can definitely gain from the sound recording of its roar/call and nothing will establish the fact that it is the fastest animal by a video clip.


There is no way a ereader can incorporate the multi-media data into a book. Even illustrations, which often best done as an animated piece can never be included in a eReader. In the present avatar, even color cannot be presented. Tablets can tackle all those issues very easily. besides it can be your link to the Internet and run you productivity applications too. It has to win in the long run. the eReader too will co-exist for those situations where you want to curl up with a book like item!

Another Feedback about Our Students being Weak in Communication

We had representatives of the Indian Army visiting us today for initial selection to their technical branches such as Engineers, EME and the Signals. At the end of day they did tell us our boys were weak in listening & comprehension as well as speaking. Our students come from Bengali background as well as fro Bihar, Jharkhand area.


Bengal boys were generally weak in speaking English back in our time too. But what happened during the intervening period was that we got rid of English from school curriculum for a very long time. That screwed up the situation further! Bihar and Jharkhand had the problem for a long time as well.


Interestingly we have a peculiar situation in the college. While many times we come up with complaints from some students that our faculty members speak Bengali in the class. Now, if they strictly follow speaking English in the class, the same boys will have problem with that too.


Question that is bugging me is how to solve this problem not only when students face external agencies but also in following the daily classes leading to that event.

Student Activities

Our recent foundation day celebrations triggers the thoughts here! To my pleasant surprise, I found an array of talents in the student community. On the other side, we have student unrests that start on very flimsy pretexts.What I started wondering was if we could keep students busy with these extra curricular activities year long, if that would not keep them out of harm's way!

Being away from Kolkata, the only real city in West Bengal and the nearest town Bisnupur being too insipid, there is very little to do beyond regular hours and during weekends. Faculty members run away during the week ends that too adds to the problem. Would lots of additional activities help with the problem! My guess is it would. In fact, I made that comment elsewhere and found some encouraging comments from the student community.

I remember my stint at IIT, Kanpur, that was a long distance away from the city proper. Thirty years back they had a large number of student activities and a full time dean was there to look after the student activities!