The increasing speed and reach of mobile networks and the growing competence of mobile devices are encouraging app developers to innovate and help integrate the products into our daily lives — and, quite literally, propelling these applications to become extensions of our memory, hubs of our social networks and indispensable work tools.
With over 850 million active Indian mobile subscribers, the next growth segment is rural areas, believe app developers, and the key to success is innovation. Translating thoughts into effective tools paves the way for a host of apps that are expected to debut on your handsets soon: Helping farmers remotely control motors, teach new languages and even narrate bedtime stories to children in local languages.
Riding the wave, leading handset vendor Nokia has come up with a contest to promote innovative applications — providing winners the option to work with the company’s app developers. Global brand Samsung has also introduced Innovation Quotient that is intended to be an annual event and will look to bring resourceful technology to its consumers.
Not too far behind are domestic companies. Bangalore-based Vinfinet Technologies’ has developed Kisan Raja, a GSM-based controller that allows farmers to control irrigation pumps using mobile or landline phones from within the comforts of the house. The innovation was recently adjudged the first runner-up for the Samsung Innovation Quotient.
“One of the biggest challenge for farmers is timely and adequate water supply in the right areas, besides, irregular power supply or load shedding. The solution addresses such problems by using a mobile phone and an IVR system in-built into Kisan Raja,” says Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, CEO and MD of Vinfinet Technologies.
The Kisan Raja box sits between the supply mains and the starter of water pumps. A mobile SIM is inserted into the box, which can then be controlled through a mobile phone. The box also has a built-in interactive voice response (IVR) system that helps farmers choose options like remote power on/off and check power availability.
“This system helps the farmer know if there was no electricity supply, the condition of the pump and non-availability of water in the well. All of it happens in real-time,” says Reddy. At Rs 5,000 per unit, the solution has reached 100-150 users in southern India.
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At Nokia’s Bhasha 2011, students from across colleges and universities have come up with solutions to increase the use of local languages on mobile phones. Bangalore-based students Anushka Kalro, Ishita Dharap, and Gauri Sanghi of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology have come up with an application-cum-service called ‘Pitara’. The idea behind the application was to encourage the use of vernacular languages and its nuances.
“We realised that vernacular languages were favoured among our grandparents or parents. And the best way to learn them at leisure was to ensure availability in an audio format,” says 21-year-old Kalro. Pitara was designed to allow users to record and upload their stories through a mobile phone. Once the story was uploaded, it would be available for users navigate through the story, and if need be, access a bilingual dictionary to help understand it. The story is available in audio-cum-text format.
Rohan Gupta of the same institution has also jumped onto the bandwagon with another language application that helps people communicate in local dialects. “We found that students who travel to other cities for studies face problems. For basic requirements, knowing the local language was very important .”
Gupta and his team came up with an application called ‘Kaccha Limbu’ that helps learn local languages using a game. The application teaches local nuances using three virtual assistants that guide, correct and quiz users. While Gupta, along with friends Kannan Mehta and Saloni Chopra, have created the prototype, they are serious about developing the application once they complete their course.
While the language applications could take some time to hit the market, innovative use of mobile technology is already underway. Take the case of 28-year-old Karan Pahwa from Hissar, Delhi. An automobile dealer and bike buff, Pahwa has started a CarTalk community on RockeTalk — a mobile social networking platform. The talk show that is generally held every Tuesday, has people participating from across India.
