Author: @admin

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: The 6th edition 2-day’ Bengaluru Poetry Festival’ gets off to a Colourful Start – Aug 27,28.

Sunday will have more poetry readings, discussions and performances.

The two-day Bengaluru Poetry Festival began on a colourful note at Leela Palace in the city on Saturday. The festival, which attracts nothing less than 400 poets, musicians, lyricists and performers, is being held at such a massive scale after a spell of two years.

Day One opened with a spell-binding performance by dance troupes. Poets in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and English read their works, which were steeped in contemporary issues. They spoke, through poetry, about the many challenges that existed in society.

Actor and writer Deepti Naval, who launched the sixth edition of ‘Aata Galata’ festival, spoke at length about how delighted she was to return to a city that is always alive with writers, musicians and dancer.

source/content: deccanherald.com (headline edited)

INVESTMENT INTO INDIA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY/ IT & eCommerce: Japanese Company Rakuten Opens Office in Bengaluru.

Rakuten India is a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing.

Rakuten India, a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing, has opened an office in Bengaluru to grow its customer base in India.

Rakuten’s new office is situated near Cubbon Park. The 20-storey building, Rakuten-Crimson House, has office space of 3 lakh sq.ft. with a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 persons.

The office is expected to enhance the company’s capability for deep-tech innovation and R&D in e-commerce, fintech, content and entertainment, as well as AI in computer vision, speech, and natural language processing (NLP).

“India is and has been central to our growth strategy. Our new R&D centre will build on the high value-added engagements that Rakuten has been delivering from India in deep tech and product innovation,’‘ said Yasufumi Hirai, CIO, CISO, Group Executive Vice President of Rakuten Group, Inc.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPACE & SATELLITES: Bengaluru-based Youth-Led Start-Up ‘Digantara’, to Send 40 Satellites to Compile Space Debris Data

The race to space has the downside of polluting it. A Bengaluru-based start-up plans to send out a constellation of 40 satellites that will gather data on space junk in the low-earth orbit (LEO).
The satellites that will be launched in early next year will gather information on millions of pieces of debris that litter LEO, which NASA describes as an “orbital space junk yard”.

Digantara, the start-up launched by three young engineers, has taken upon itself the mission to help clean up LEO. 

Space junk can reach speeds of up to 18,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. Many of them range from 1 cm to 10 cm in diameter. Most of this orbital debris comprises “human-generated” objects such as parts of spacecraft that have long disintegrated, rocket and satellite components, and very small flecks of paint from spacecraft and whole satellites.

“The ones which are 1 cm in diameter are estimated to be a million. Besides, international space agencies have determined that they are aware of only 4 per cent of objects in space. The data for 96 per cent is still missing,” said Digantara chief operating officer Rahul Rawat, who is only 23 years old.

Digantara, which is incubated at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science, sent out a small satellite, a payload about the “size of a shoe box”, according to the start-up’s CEO Anirudh Sharma, on June 30 this year to gather information on space weather, including radiation, violent storms and other phenomena that can be potentially harsh for spacecraft and burn or fry them. 

While this lone satellite has been sending out data to ground sensors, Rawat pointed to Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink constellation of 40 of 49 satellites that were “lost in a single blow” when they encountered a gigantic “solar paroxysm” that burned the spacecraft and cost the company $100 million in February 2022.

It is precisely to avoid satellites getting caught up in such “solar outbursts” or other violent geomagnetic incidents that Digantara expects its own satellites – and the information it will send back to its ground sensors – to come to the rescue of space companies with ambitions of sending out satellites. 

“We are the only start-up of its kind in India though there are competitors in the US and Canada,” Rawat said, adding the gathered data can help firms that are into remote sensing and insurance where risk analysis reports will be important.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: TRAVEL & TOURISM: Airbnb Ranks Bengaluru among Top Tourist Destinations

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay on for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed.

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed. A study of searches by international tourists for Airbnb Stays in India showed that it jumped by more than 60 per cent Y-o-Y from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022, indicating that the tourism industry is bouncing back.

Data also showed that metro cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai have emerged as the most popular destinations among international and domestic travellers.

Those from Canada, the UAE, the UK, Germany, and Australia were among the top origin countries for searches for India.

Airbnb GM for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Amanpreet Bajaj said the uptick in preference for metro cities and tourist hotspots indicates people have resumed travelling along with workstations and vacations.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION: Mysuru’s Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) Students Develop an ‘Automated Stick for the Visually Challenged’

Four students from Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE), Mysuru, have developed an automated stick as a supportive device for the visually challenged.

Constant worry about potholes and obstacles affects the confidence of the visually impaired when they step out of their home. The stick helps them traverse safely, identifying potholes and hurdles while moving in crowded places, according to the students.

The stick developed by the students uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection and pothole detection for ensuring timely alerts to the visually challenged person.

Smrithi Baliga, a third-year Electronics and Communications Engineering student at VVCE, was worried seeing visually-challenged persons facing difficulties while crossing roads.

Teaming up with enthusiastic classmates Sapna H.M., Shreyas N., and Yogesh Gowda V., Ms. Smrithi came up with the idea of developing the stick. The Internet of Things (IoT)-based stick with an obstacle and pothole detection system using ultrasonic sensors was developed with guidance from Chandrashekar M. Patil, professor and Head, Department of ECE, and Girijamba D.L., assistant professor.

B. Sadashivegowda, principal, VVCE, said: “We are proud of our students for taking up the project. In recent times, technology has helped improve healthcare across the world. Through this project, our students have proven how technology could be used to fight visual impairment. The automated stick helps visually-impaired individuals move freely with confidence.”

The students have proposed to bring in some improvements to their product. Voice output via Bluetooth; upgrade of pothole detection from ultrasonic sensors to image-processing technique; LDR to sense lighting conditions; RF remote to locate the stick itself are among the additions, a note from the college said.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION: Srinivas Institute of Technology (SIT) Students Receive ‘Best Project of the Year Award’ for the Project’ Energy Generation using Fly-Wheel & Magnet’. Simultaneously ‘Robotic Arm Installed Fruit Plucking UAV based on AI’ was Awarded the ‘Best Project Of The Year’ under Seminar Category

The 45th series of state-level ‘Student Project Program’ was conducted by KSCST, Bengaluru, in association with VTU, Belagavi on August 12 and 13 at VTU.

In this project exhibition, project titled ‘Energy generation using fly-wheel and magnet; was awarded the ‘Best Project Of The Year’ under the project exhibition category.

This project was carried out by the students- Chirag G Poojary, Karthik C, Sajith and Vijetha K Naik of department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, under the guidance of professor Lokesha B.

Also, the project titled ‘Robotic Arm Installed Fruit Plucking UAV based on AI’ was awarded the ‘Best Project Of The Year’ under seminar category. This project was carried out by the students- Navaneeth Soni, Naveen Kumar, Nithin Kumar and Vardhaman Ravindra Vasavade of department of Aeronautical Engineering, under the guidance of professor Srinidhi Kukkila.

Dr Karisiddappa, vice-chancellor of VTU presented the awards.

There were 332 projects for the exhibition. Dr CA A Raghavendra Rao, president and Dr A Srinivas Rao, vice-president of Srinivas group of institutions have appreciated the efforts by the students and also congratulated them for winning the awards.

Dr Shrinivasa Mayya D, principal and the heads of the departments have also complemented the students for their outstanding performance in the programme and receiving the awards.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Gandhian, Veteran Freedom Fighter and Rajyothsava Awardee Meerabhai Koppikar of Mudhol, Bagalkot District passes away.

Bommai condoles the death Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar

Leading Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar, a close follower and associate of Bhoodan movement leader Vinoba Bhave has expired at her home in Mudhol of Bagalkot district.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has expressed his deep sense of grief and extended condolences on the death of a leading freedom fighter, who had followed Gandhian ideals and philosophy.

The Chief Minister, has in a condolence message, said Meerabhai aged 97 years had practiced simple living, shramdan, dairying and organic farming.

When she was conferred the Rajyothsava award, the Gandhian lady had utilized the amount of the award for the welfare of the poor.

Karnataka has lost a veteran freedom fighter and Gandhian, the chief minister said.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES : Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI) Launched to Boost Mental Healthcare

More investment should come into the crucial clinical psychology segment, said Capt. P Manivannan, secretary to the government, Social Welfare Department.

At the launch of the Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI), he said 75 per cent of employees face mental health issues because of an unstable work environment and initiatives like CPSI will help in educating professionals to provide the right care.

NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murty said the number of clinical psychologists at 2,900 is meagre in the country. Efforts are required to bring a drastic change in resolving mental health issues. CSPI will help in providing quality healthcare to people and training and education to medical graduates, she said.

CPSI president Dr Jamuna Rajeshwaran said the organisation will establish evidence-based care for psychological disorders. CPSI was formed as a regulating and monitoring body was lacking, she added.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: Mysuru’s Vikas Chandra Imparts Theatre Skills to Tribal Kids, pushes them to join Mainstream

Theatre has evolved over time, perfecting the way it reflects the stories of society. It is a foremost artistic indulgence known to humankind since civilisation. In India, theatre is as vibrant as the country itself, and acts as a window to the ethos and culture of the land.

Taking a step further and bringing a synthesis between people, a 30-year-old man from Mysuru is introducing urban theatre to tribal haadis or hamlets, and inculcating the art form among the children there.

Vikas Chandra founded the theatre group, ‘Rangayaana’, in 2014 with the sole aim of imparting acting and theatre skills among tribal and rural folk. It was a chance awakening in Chandra, who as a highschooler, watched the shooting of a sequence of a Kannada film legend Vishnuvardhan-starrer, Vishnu Sene, near his house.

Fascinated, Chandra inquired with one of the junior artistes about getting a break in cinema. He was advised that by joining theatre training school ‘Kalamandira’, he stood a chance at the movies.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: INNOVATION: Kaviraj Prithvi’s Team Wins ‘Best Social Impact Business Idea’ for ‘Tactall-Braille Printer’ at Startup Fest ‘SmartIDEAthon 2022’

A portable and inexpensive Braille printer, an invention by a Karnataka student, won the Best Social Impact Business Idea at the SmartIDEAthon 2022, a nationwide pitch fest organised by Startup India in collaboration with several universities.

Prithvi Systems and Innovations founder and chief invertor Kaviraj Prithvi’s team was one of the 1,200 shortlisted for the fest and has been working towards inventing assistive technolog

The Tactall, a mouse-sized portable printer, allows for easy printing in Braille and is relatively inexpensive, according to Kaviraj.

“Braille printers print in standard dimensions and they are often very large, expensive and standalone, averaging to about $2000 to $3000. We wanted to make it more accessible for people to print in Braille, especially as this was a common problem which I found out when I had visited a school for the blind,” Kaviraj told TNIE. While the printer is in its prototype stage, Kaviraj, who is also pursuing engineering physics at II T Guwahati, and his team of 15 members, are also working towards inventing other types of assistive tech.

“All of our inventions have assistive angle to them. When I was younger, I wanted to start a startup and I felt that everything that I invented should have a social angle and must help people,” he said.

Apart from the printer, Kaviraj is also working towards building a non-invasive way to monitor blood pressure, as well as a patented rotor control system and a suspension system for bumps. “The suspension system is being designed specifically for wheelchairs and other support vehicles, but it can also be used generally. The rotor system is specifically for helicopters, to allow for easier rescue operations and to lessen turbulence while transporting patients,” he said.

source/contents: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)