Category Archives: Technology

Dr. Mukesh Gandhi on Strategic Technological Investments: National Technology Day 2024

“AI is a given–and India, along with other countries such as Singapore, the UK and the US are leading with AI integration. With 60% of companies in these regions reporting active AI investments, IT leaders are urged to also reconsider their cloud investments, with over 85% of AI leaders globally looking to enhance their cloud automation over the next year.

In order to make any investment purposeful, it is important to measure it against long-term business needs. Seeing that 62% of larger companies are investing in AI compared to 36% of small businesses, the budget seems to be the primary consideration for AI integration. But comparing it against the long-term business needs is equally important, if not more, and those who cannot jump on the wagon immediately shouldn’t have to miss out.

At Creative Synergies Group, we leverage our digital engineering prowess to steer businesses in the direction that best suits their strategic goals. On this National Technology Day and forward, businesses should feel empowered to invest in AI despite the economic conditions. With strategic digital innovation support, businesses, global or Indian, large or small – have the potential to innovate with AI.” – Dr. Mukesh Gandhi, Founder and CEO, Creative Synergies Group

Indian Institute of Technology, Bhilai Partners with TeamLease EdTech to Launch Advanced eMasters Programs

Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, 9th May 2024 : The Indian Institute of Technology, Bhilai, and TeamLease EdTech announced a significant partnership to launch three pioneering eMasters programs: ‘eMasters in Advanced Electrical Vehicle Systems’, ‘eMasters in Applied Mechatronics and Robotics’, and ‘eMasters in Data Science & Data Analytics’. This initiative, developed in collaboration with TeamLease EdTech, is designed to equip working professionals with advanced skills to lead innovation in these rapidly evolving fields.

These two-year programs offer a comprehensive curriculum covering the essentials of each specialized field, tailored to meet the demands of today’s industry and delivered through TeamLease EdTech’s innovative learning management platform. Through this partnership, IIT Bhilai and TeamLease EdTech are committed to providing education that is not only relevant but also transformative, enabling students to excel in their careers and contribute to the advancement of their industries.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the demand for skilled professionals in data science, robotics, mechatronics, and electric vehicle (EV) technology is experiencing significant growth across diverse sectors. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and electric vehicles are creating a wealth of opportunities for those with advanced technical skills. As a result, the job market is expanding, particularly in industries such as automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and transportation. These Executive programs, through a mix of Virtual Live lectures, Hands-on practical experience, and Industry Projects, will equip mid-career professionals with the knowledge and experience to transition into these high-demand job roles.

Prof. Dr. Rajiv Prakash, Director of IIT Bhilai shared his vision, “Students entering these programs stand to gain immensely, not only in terms of acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in high-demand areas such as EV technology, robotics, mechatronics, and data analytics but also in enhancing their overall employability. Through this partnership, we intend to provide our learners with a highly immersive learning experience. These online eMasters programs are mainly targeted toward working professionals and those learners who cannot dedicate full time to undergoing master’s programs and their jobs. Also, eMasters courses include dedicated in-campus modules that offer students physical learning experience in an IIT environment and hands-on laboratory sessions. I believe these courses provide nearly a ‘full-time’ learning experience. Each course perfectly blends theory, practicals, and real-life industrial case studies. Moreover, as these courses cover cutting-edge and emerging technologies, they are delivered by esteemed IIT faculty members and industry experts.”

Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO of TeamLease EdTech, stated, ” This collaboration is geared towards upskilling seasoned professionals, aiming to refine their competencies in these high-demand fields. These Executive Masters Programs are meticulously designed to bridge existing skill gaps, transforming experienced professionals into industry leaders who are poised to spearhead innovation and contribute decisively to sectors crucial for India’s move towards sustainable transport solutions and technological advancements. Our partnership with IIT Bhilai is a milestone event in our efforts towards Making India Employable.”

Asus Announces Expertbook B3 Series

Mumbai, May 08, 2024 — ASUS today announces the launch of its ExpertBook B3 laptop series in India to cater to the diverse requirements of businesses across different market segments. This laptop series is powered by innovation, providing an excellent mix of durability and customization to boost productivity, elevate security and privacy.

ExpertBook B3’s lineup foremost features powerful performance thanks to 13th generation Intel® Core processors, with both the ultra-efficient U-series processors and performance P-series. The series optionally can be equipped with powerful NVIDIA® dedicated graphics, and a vibrant immersive screen (touchscreen optional) with a tall 16:10 aspect ratio. The ExpertBook B3 series is also packed with full connectivity – featuring a range of full I/O ports along with a full-size RJ-45 port and WiFi 6E for intensely fast wireless performance. The ExpertBook B3 series features a fast Gen 4 NVMe SSD that allows the laptop to boot in a mere few seconds and multi-task with productivity apps – all day long. RAM upgrades are up to an incredible 64GB DDR5-5600 with Dual SO-DIMM slots.

For Enterprise-class support, the ExpertBook B3 series features support for up to vPro® Enterprise for secure remote management, a secure TPM 2.0[i] chip, and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability[ii] along with ASUS Internal testing — all in a design that embraces an eco-conscious outlook and embodies accountability and sustainability.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Dinesh Sharma, Vice President, Commercial PC and Smartphone, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “The ASUS ExpertBook B3 series is meticulously engineered to meet the diverse needs of enterprises across all sectors by effortlessly elevating productivity, strengthening security, and facilitating seamless communication for the users. Business users in India will surely appreciate its powerful processing, exceptional durability, and long-lasting battery life, along with highly customizable features related to chassis design, screen sizes, security, connectivity, and graphics. With military-grade durability and eco-conscious design, the ASUS ExpertBook B3 epitomizes our dedication to providing businesses with innovative solutions.”

Powered by Innovation
The ASUS ExpertBook B3 is engineered to enhance business capabilities, providing the fast and responsive performance essential for today’s demands — enabling seamless multitasking, advanced data handling, and streamlined operations.

Featuring up to 13th generation Intel® Core processors, up to NVIDIA RTX 2050 (4GB GDDR6) dedicated graphics and support of up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM over dual slots provide raw performance needed to innovate the way business is done, reshaping workflows to get the job done without breaking a sweat, all day long!

The latest B3 models also benefit from a comprehensive set of ports for versatile peripheral connections and easy data transfers. This includes Wi-Fi 6E along with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and a built-in smart card[iii] reader for use as a secondary ID check and enhanced security. There’s also the latest Thunderbolt™ 4 USB-C® port, which supports 40 Gbps data transfer speeds, dual 4K display output via HDMI and USB-C with DisplayPort, an RJ-45 Ethernet socket, plus fast-charging support with the bundled 65W/90W USB-C charger.

Flexible Configurations
The latest ExpertBook B3 laptops offer the freedom and flexibility to be tailored to meet specific requirements or everyday computing tasks — with configuration feature options that include –

Display – Optional IPS WQXGA (2560 x 1600) Touchscreen with MPP2.0 stylus support,
Stylus – Optional ASUS Pen 2.0 stylus for touchscreen enabled configuration,
Processor – Optional Intel® vPro® enabled processors,
Graphics – Optional NVIDIA RTX 2050 (4GB GDDR6) discrete graphics,
SSD – Optional SSDs ranging from OPAL SED (Self Encrypting Drive) SSD, Value SSD (NVME x2), and Performance SSD (NVME x4),
Battery – Optional 3-cell 50Wh or 63Wh battery packs,
Keyboard – Optional backlit chiclet keyboard,
Camera – Optional Full-HD IR enabled camera[iv] with Windows Hello support,
Security – Optional smart card reader for multifactor authentication, and full vPro® Enterprise solution.
The optional touchscreen B3 models are also compatible with ASUS Pen 2.0[v], and other MPP 2.0-compatible input devices, for versatile mobile productivity.

Productivity-First Design
Smartly designed for modern business and forward-thinking organizations, ExpertBook B3 series embraces a true productivity-first approach — making it ideal for today’s hybrid-working paradigm. The bright, clear 14-inch (B3404) or 16-inch (B3604) NanoEdge display with wide viewing angles and a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, plus a greatly-improved up to 85% screen-to-body ratio, delivers superb visual experiences — with more vertical workspace.

The ExpertBook B3 features fast charging and a long-lasting 3-cell battery[vi] with options of either 50Wh or 63Wh, it ensures seamless and efficient productivity experiences.

To provide exceptional remote-working and video-conferencing experiences, B3 features AI-powered noise-cancelation technology that cancels out unwanted background noise and picks up the user’s voice for optimum conference-call quality, and up to an optional Full-HD IR camera for exceptional video.

The ExpertBook B3604, in particular, features a full-sized numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, easing and speeding data-entry efficiency — perfect for when dealing with lots of numeric figures, and features a massively large trackpad providing enough room for multi-finger Windows gestures.

Enterprise-Grade Security and Privacy
The ExpertBook B3 series is packed with technology to provide strong data security and privacy protection.

For starters, B3 has built-in biometric security — in the form of an integrated infrared camera for Windows Hello facial recognition and a fingerprint sensor that’s placed on the Power key for easy access. These are bolstered by an optional smart-card reader to enable easy two-factor authentication, with a password and recognized card required for login. A discrete TPM 2.0 chip securely stores authentication information utilized by software, safeguarding crucial data and transactions, including passwords and encryption keys.

The laptops also benefit from a physical webcam cover for an assurance of instant privacy when it’s not in use — with just a quick finger flick required for operation. There’s also an integrated Kensington lock slot, providing a physical security option for safeguarding the hardware when used in unsupervised locations.

World-class Durability
The ExpertBook B3 is designed and tested for rugged business mobility. It is MIL-STD 810H Military-grade certified, passing stringent 23 tests in 10 categories. Additionally, the laptop is also ASUS internally tested for measures such as the hinges tested for 30000 open and close cycles, tested to bear up to 25kg of force on the aluminium lid, up to 5000 times of plug-in and out port tests, drop tests up to 30cm, and spill-resistance up to 60cc.

Zscaler Introduces First of Its Kind Digital Experience Monitoring Copilot to Enable IT Support and Operations with AI

Bengaluru, May 8th, 2024 – – Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today announced groundbreaking innovations – ZDX Copilot, Hosted Monitoring, and Data Explorer – to its Zscaler Digital Experience™ (ZDX™) service. The new ZDX Copilot, an AI assistant, instantly analyzes and harnesses knowledge from over 500 trillion data points daily across users, devices, networks, and applications, to provide IT operations, service desk, and security teams insights they need related to digital experience and performance. Teams can ask sequences of questions to effectively converse with Copilot, which uses Generative AI, to review high-level trends and progressively narrow results down to specific actionable insights.

ZDX Copilot delivers numerous benefits across IT and security:

Service desk teams can isolate root cause of user complaints to efficiently triage tickets and collaborate with other teams; they can also easily look up technical information.
Networking teams can conversationally perform deep analysis across networks, applications and regions to identify trends or find opportunities for optimization.
Security teams can ensure that their services are performant at all times, and instantly expose root cause of issues and affected parties when performance lags.
IT leaders can conveniently extract and present digital experience trends and performance insights to show progress, or to identify new opportunities.

ZDX Copilot also automates common configuration tasks like setting alerts, when asked. Its versatility can help your IT teams significantly improve efficiency, and collaboration across IT operations, service desk, and security. Every customer is equipped with their own Copilot keeping their company’s data private and secure.

Zscaler also announced the early availability of Zscaler Hosted Monitoring, a service that helps IT operations teams continuously monitor availability and performance of applications and services from globally distributed monitoring infrastructure on Zscaler’s global cloud. With Hosted Monitoring, IT teams can:

Ensure that external websites perform at their best, no matter where customers are located.
Monitor SLA compliance for applications and services purchased from SaaS, cloud, datacenter, or network providers.
Confidently roll out new applications or expand into new regions as businesses grow, whether organically or through M&A.

“As organizations adopt Zero Trust architectures, siloed monitoring tools lose visibility across the data path,” said Dhawal Sharma, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Zscaler. “ZDX reinstates end-to-end visibility across devices, networks, and applications. And with this release, Hosted Monitoring extends 24/7 monitoring to SaaS and external websites from several global locations. Using ZDX Copilot, IT teams such as Service Desk and IT Operations can achieve operational excellence by instantly accessing insights drawn from trillions of performance metrics using GenAI to easily analyze IT issues, and to work collaboratively with speed and accuracy.”

Zscaler Digital Experience has also introduced Data Explorer, which enables IT teams and leaders to easily build and share customized reports that visually correlate data drawn from diverse datasets, contextualizing it for their businesses.

Drone Destination and IFFCO Sign MOA for India’s Largest Drone-Spray Services Project

New Delhi, India – May 07, 2024 – Drone Destination India’s leading Drone-as-a-Service provider and the largest DGCA certified Drone Pilot Training company, today announced the signing of an MOA with IFFCO to collaborate for drone spray over an area of upto 30 lakh acres.

As part of the MoA, Drone Destination will undertake drone spray in 12 states across the country. These states include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand. The drones will be spraying IFFCO Nano Urea, Nano DAP, Sagarika, IFFCO MC Agro-Chemicals and other IFFCO & IFFCO JV’s Agri-Products, with the aim of enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency. Other benefits under the MOA include opportunities for sale of IFFCO agri-inputs/products for drone spray.

Commenting on the business win, Mr Alok Sharma, Chairman, Drone Destination,n said – “We are elated to partner with the world’s top cooperative IFFCO for transforming Indian agriculture. Drones have a wide range of applications and their influence on agriculture, which is basic to human survival is revolutionary. Drones will bring efficiency, scalability, cost competitiveness, and speed to agricultural practices in India, enabling the sector to increase its contribution to GDP. As a leading player, spearheading the adoption of drones across multiple sectors, this is an important milestone for us in the journey towards drone adoption in the country.”

Chirag Sharma, MD & CEO Drone Destination added – “We thank IFFCO for choosing us and showing faith in our capabilities for implementing large-scale drone projects. This mandate will surely cement our position in the industry as the go-to company for executing large-scale drone projects in the country.”

SAFE West India 2024 – Securing Tomorrow’s Cities with Intelligent, Innovative Tech Solutions

Mumbai, 07th April 2024: Informa Markets in India, the leading B2B exhibitions organiser announced the 2nd edition of SAFE West India, the region’s largest and most influential security, and fire expo, scheduled to take place from May 9th to 11th, 2024, at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

SAFE West India is an annual security exhibition and conference dedicated to the Western Indian market, focusing on the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The event will showcase the latest security products and solutions specifically focused on industrial infrastructure, national highways, and safe cities. Bringing together renowned exhibitors, consultants, industry experts, and key government officials on a single platform, SAFE West India serves as a hub for both Indian and international industries.

The exhibition will bring together over 75+ brands, showcasing their latest launches and technological solutions to more than 5000 visitors. It will also feature knowledge sessions with more than 40 eminent speakers and panelists. Some of the participating brands include Hikvision, Prama, CP Plus, ZKTeco, ESSL, Biomax, Matrix Comsec, Securus, Voltaic Cables, Realtime, Timewatch, TP Link, etc

Highlighting on the importance of SAFE West, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said “In today’s fast-evolving technological landscape, India’s security sector is undergoing a significant transformation. The integration of AI-driven security systems is revolutionizing India’s surveillance capabilities, making public and office spaces safer and more secure than ever before. The security market in Western India is witnessing significant growth, which is being driven by increased government focus on surveillance and safety. Additionally, End-user expenditures on security and risk management (SRM) in India are estimated to reach $2.9 billion in 2024, indicating a 12.4% growth from the previous year. At SAFE West India, we are proud to be at the forefront of this revolution. With the government’s Make in India initiative gaining momentum, we are witnessing a surge in OEM and ODM brands setting up manufacturing plants in the country. There is a growing demand for cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and advanced control room technologies. SAFE West India provides a unique platform for industry leaders, government officials, and technology experts to come together, exchange ideas, and explore the latest innovations in the security sector.”

A two-day conference themed ‘Intelligent Security Tech for a Safer Future’ will bring together key stakeholders from the security domain to address modern challenges facing cities and organizations. Key speakers scheduled to attend the event include Mr. Sandeep Sabharwal, Assistant Vice President – Corporate Administration, Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. Amol Deshmukh, Police and Cyber Advisor, Dept. of Home, Govt. of Maharashtra; Mr. Vinay Khanduri, CPP, CFE, Head, Security & Vigilance, Adani Electricity; Mr. Sujoy Dutta, Principal Consultant, Northland Controls; Mr. Omprakash Shingare, CPP, Director Global Security & Investigations, Fidelity Investments; Mr. Puneet Garkhel, Partner – Risk Consulting & Leader-Forensic Services, PwC India; Mr. Pushkar Tripathi, Chapter Chair, ASIS Ahmedabad; Mr. Amarpreet Singh, Country Security Manager, Johnson Mathey & Chapter Chair, ASIS Mumbai; Mr. Dashrath Kumar, Head – Security, Tata Power, Trombay Thermal Power Station; Mr. Pierre Trapanese, CEO, Northland Controls; and Mr. Sumeet Sharma, CSO India and Head of GSC, Group Security, Capgemini.

Featuring power-packed knowledge sessions and panel discussions, the event will delve into topics such as the future of security, smart video security solutions, Managing Security Across Locations Globally – Risks & Challenges, AI and predictive intelligence, and the latest security trends for Indian applications. Experts will discuss the evolution of corporate security and the convergence of physical and virtual workplaces, highlighting the crucial role played by next-generation technology in industrial security.

Supporting associations for SAFE West India include All India Electronics Security Association (AIESA), American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi Chapters, Association of System Integrators and Retailers in Technology (ASIRT), Global Association for Corporate Services (GACS), International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), Jalgaon District Computer Dealers Association (JDCDA), Kathiyawad Security and Surveillance Assembly (KASSA), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) Mumbai and Chennai Chapters, The Gujarat Surveillance and IT Association (GSITA), and Trade association of information technology (TAIT), Computer and Media Dealer`s Association Pune, (CMDA), South Gujarat Information Technologists Association ( SITA), Security Association of India, Security association of Gujrat, Federation of IT association of Gujrat (FITAG ), Islampur computer dealer association.

The security sector in Western India, especially in Maharashtra, is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased government focus on surveillance and safety. State administrations are increasingly deploying video surveillance equipment to enhance security measures. The region is expected to see the installation of over one million IP cameras in the coming years. The market shift from analog to IP cameras has resulted in clearer, high-definition digital images and advancements in video analytics and neural networks. IP cameras provide enhanced video clarity, making them well-suited for tasks like facial recognition and license plate number detection.

Check Point’s 2024 Report Urges AI-Driven Prevention Against Rising Cloud Threats

India, May 7, 2024 – Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider, today unveiled its 2024 Cloud Security Report. The report exposes a critical surge in cloud security incidents, marking a significant increase from 24% in 2023 to 61% in 2024, highlighting the escalating complexity and frequency of cloud threats.

The latest survey from Check Point reveals a concerning trend: while most organizations continue to prioritize threat detection and monitoring, focusing on known vulnerabilities and patterns of malicious behavior, only a mere 21% emphasize prevention. This is particularly alarming as companies struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, including the speed of DevOps and the deployment of new codes and applications in the cloud.

The survey underscores a daunting reality— although cloud attacks are on the rise, only 4% of organizations disclosed that they are able to mitigate risks easily and quickly. An overwhelming 96% have expressed concern about their ability to handle such risks. In addition, 91% of respondents are alarmed by the surge in more sophisticated cyber threats, including unknown risks and zero-day attacks, which cannot be detected using conventional security tools.

“The data speaks volumes about the urgent need for organizations to shift their focus towards implementing AI-powered threat prevention measures,” states Itai Greenberg, Chief Strategy Officer at Check Point Software Technologies. “By adopting a consolidated security architecture and enhancing collaborative security operations, businesses can preemptively tackle emerging threats, ensuring a more secure and resilient cloud environment.”

Other insights from the 2024 Cloud Security Report:

Escalation of Cloud Incidents: There has been a near 40% increase in cloud security incidents compared to last year, with 61% of organizations reporting significant disruptions.
Deep Concerns Over Risk Management: An overwhelming 96% of respondents reported concerns about their ability to effectively manage cloud risks, reflecting a considerable escalation from previous years.
Rapid Adoption of AI Technologies: With 91% of organizations now prioritizing AI to enhance their security posture, the focus has shifted towards leveraging AI for proactive threat prevention.
CNAPP for Enhanced Prevention: Despite the growing threat landscape, only 25% of organizations have fully implemented Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP). This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions that go beyond traditional tooling.
Complexity in Cloud Security Integration: Despite potential for streamlined solutions, 54% of respondents face challenges in maintaining consistent regulatory standards across multi-cloud environments. Additionally, 49% struggle with integrating cloud services into legacy systems, often complicated by limited IT resources.

The report advises organizations to embrace a more comprehensive, collaborative, and AI-driven cybersecurity framework. Check Point CloudGuard offers actionable security and smarter prevention, effectively strengthening the overall security posture. CloudGuard is part of the Check Point Infinity Platform, which allows organizations to centralize and automate security processes, compliance, and rule sets, thereby enhancing visibility and control over cloud environments.

IIITH’s Raj Reddy Center Receives Centific Funding for AI Project on Malnutrition Detection

Hyderabad, May 2nd, 2024: Raj Reddy Center for Technology and Society (RCTS) at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH) received funding of Rs 18 lakhs approximately from Centific for its project on ‘AI for Automated Malnutrition Detection’.

Centific’s financial support will propel the project’s first phase, encompassing: Platform Development to build the core infrastructure for the AI-powered malnutrition detection system; the First phase of pilot deployment for implementing the platform on the ground; Data collection for gathering initial data sets to train and refine the AI model; Performance optimisation enhancing the platform’s accuracy and efficiency; and Prototype delivery of the first version within an estimated timeframe of six months.

IIIT Hyderabad has partnered with i-Saksham, a non-profit organization (NGO) dedicated to empowering women and enhancing educational opportunities in Bihar. This collaboration aligns with the New Education Policy’s (NEP) focus on foundational learning outcomes. This project aims to streamline growth monitoring, enhance data accuracy, and provide reliable data to government agencies for effective interventions to combat malnutrition.

Existing workflows for obtaining and recording the measurements of height and weight are completely manual, introducing data-entry errors into the system by frontline staff like Anganwadi workers. Maintaining weight and height measuring tools has also been problematic, leading to unreliable data due to malfunctioning equipment. Due to this the staff do a guesswork to note the height and weight of the children sometimes. There is no proper data available currently to take action towards eliminating the same from the government side.

The current project aims to minimise these errors in data collection by automating the process of recording height and weight information from the measuring device to the database where possible. We propose developing a CV-based solution that attempts to solve the issue with minimal to no additional hardware requirement (other than the user’s smartphone), for consideration by the organisation.

Speaking on the grant, Prof Ramesh Loganathan, Professor of Practice IIIT Hyderabad said, “We are very happy to receive the support from Centific. Such support is very central to our efforts to help NGOs with the latest technology.”

Dr Dinesh Chandrasekar, Chief Strategy Officer at Centific, said, “As pioneers in the AI & Analytics Services, Centific is committed to leveraging AI for social good. In that regard, we are more than happy to support the brilliant minds at IIITH in addressing the silent crisis of malnutrition. Automating the detection process goes beyond mere identification; it facilitates ensuring timely and targeted interventions, potentially saving countless lives. Beyond being a sponsor for this initiative, we also stand ready to provide technical expertise from our talented team at Centific. The intersection of cutting-edge technology and compassionate action holds the potential to revolutionize the way we address societal challenges, ultimately leading to a vibrant and healthier future for all.”

PLUSS Advanced Technologies launches Brrf PLUSS Jackets

New Delhi, 2nd May 2024: Pluss Advanced Technologies has launched a cooling wearable technology that can be worn by workers who are outdoors, such as on construction sites, mines, furnaces, shopfloor, in order to prevent heat stress related injuries and fatigue during hot temperatures.

A study conducted across 70,000 factories in India has estimated that there is a 4% drop in productivity for every 1 °C increase in temperature above 27 °C, as workers tend to be less productive and be absent more often at higher ambient temperatures. The wearable tech uses ‘phase change materials,’ which work on the principle of ‘energy storage and release’ to maintain a lower temperature than the ambient temperature.

The wearable cooling tech have been designed to offer two options:

The first design maintains the optimum thermal comfort for the body for up to 8 hours at an ambient temperature lower than 40 deg C. The solution consists of an inner vest which houses a pouch containing Phase Change Materials (PCM), and an outer jacket which is connected to pair of small ventilation fans attached that is powered by a portable Li-ion battery pack and the complete kit weighs just under 500 grams.

The second design maintains the optimum thermal comfort for the body for up to 8 hours at an ambient temperature higher than 40 deg C. The solution consists of an inner vest which houses four pouches containing Phase Change Materials (PCM), and an outer jacket which is connected to pair of small ventilation fans attached that is powered by a portable Li-ion battery pack and the complete kit weighs just under 2 Kilograms.

The Brrf-PLUSS wearable cooling tech is based on Phase Change Materials (PCM) technology that can maintain a temperature gradient of up to 15°C lower than the ambient temperature. The Phase Change Materials’ (PCM) pouches for the Brrf-Pluss jackets can be easily recharged by placing it in a refrigerator. A conventional refrigerator or commercial cooler that maintains a temperature of +10 deg C is sufficient to recharge the PCM packs. The Brrf-Pluss cooling tech themselves are easy to assemble, use and maintain, and come in a number of sizes and colours.

Commenting on the launch, Vishnu Sasidharan, Vice President, Pluss Advanced Technologies said, “The body’s normal temperature is 37 to 38 °C, when heat is excessive in the environment the body’s cooling mechanism takes up more energy and the rest of the body has to bear with less energy, which can explain the lower productivity during hot conditions. Brrf-Pluss jackets have been designed to make wearer constantly exposed to the environment comfortable during high temperatures.”

Use of PCMs for cooling serves as a better alternative to ice as temperature maintained with ice packs rise with time as ice melts. The ‘phase change materials’ have been designed and developed in India by Pluss Advanced Technologies; the vest fabric and design has been made by Mumbai based manufacturer. Pluss has received the National Technology Award from the Government of India in 2021 for development of ‘phase change materials’-based shipping box that maintains the desired temperature for pharma products, such as vaccines, during transportation and storage.

Microsoft-ByteXL led HackXcelerate 2024 closes with announcement of winners at Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology

Hyderabad, 29 April 2024: The two-day Microsoft-ByteXL led hackathon titled ‘HackXcelerate 2024’ closed today with the announcement of the winning teams. The first prize worth Rs. 1,50,000 was bagged by Team ‘Code Sarathi AI’ from Anurag University. Team ‘First Prize Winners’ from Chaitanya Bharati Institute of Technology walked away with the 2nd Prize worth Rs.75,000. Team Tech-AI from NKOrchid College of Engineering and Technology from Maharashtra won the 3rd prize worth Rs. 50,000. A special certificate was awarded to team 1o1 from CVR College of Engineering owing to their extraordinary performance.

Over 139 teams from across the country had registered for the event, but only 50 teams were shortlisted the hackathon challenge. The two-day hackathon that inaugurated on 26th April was aimed at igniting creativity and enhancing problem-solving skills through AI among students in a bid to make them industry ready. The event has been touted as revolutionizing engineering education and IT skilling by innovative thinking and bringing novel problem-solving to the table.

The event was graced by Guests of HonorsMr. Adithya Saladi – Software Consultant, Microsoft; Mr. Sricharan Tadepalli -CSO and Co-Founder,byteXL andProfessor Dr. CV Narasimhulu – Principal, Chaitanya Bharati Institute of Technology (CBIT); Dr. NLNReddy – Director, Career Development Council, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology.

More than 2,000 B.E and B.Tech. students fromvarious engineering colleges and universities across India had come to crack Real-life problem-solving projects, benefit from the Key sessions, and gather industry inputs from the technology experts. They showcased their ingenuity and collaborated on innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Students exhibited holistic vision and intent to immerse themselves in a 24-hour marathon of coding, designing, and project building.

Some of the titles for the problem-solving projects are ‘AI-Driven Financial Fraud Detection System’, ‘Eco-Commerce Optimization Tool’, ‘AI-Enhanced Diagnostic and Treatment Planning System’, ‘Smart Lifestyle Companion’, ‘Sustainable Urban Planning AI Tool’, ‘AI-Powered Personalized Learning Assistant’, ‘Optimizing Data Highways – Automated Database Enhancements’ and ‘Visualizing the Game – Making Sports Inclusive and Engaging’.

This hackathon presented a unique opportunity for participants to push the boundaries of their skills and creativity while tackling pressing issues across various domains. With a focus on fostering innovation and nurturing talent, HackXcelerate 2024 aimed to empower the next generation of technologists to drive positive change in society.
ByteXL’sCSO and Co-founder Sricharan Tadepallispoke about the success of the hackathon, “There were impressive pitches, great ideas, which I hope the students build and figure out the right investor to take that end-to-end product. ByteXL will be of help in building a viable product. Mentoring 50 teams is not a simple task, but the dedicated mentors too showed their support throughout the hackathon. The aim was to build a project that the students can talk about during the interviews while applying at companies.”

Mr. Adithya Saladi – Software Consultant, Microsoft“It was very encouraging to see the level of enthusiasm the participants showed working through the hackathon day and night trying to crack the challenge to their best of abilities. Microsoft will take their step forward to support these students in building their product.”

Announcing consolation prizes worth Rs. 10,000 on behalf of CBIT, Professor Dr. CV Narasimhulu – Principal, CBIT said,“Students were cheerful throughout and working their way through the hackathon challenge. It was heartening to see their enthusiasm. We are always there to encourage our students and support them through these programmes.”
The grand award ceremony closed with felicitation of the Guests of Honour with shawl and memento.