Broadband biggies..

A few numbers on the total broadband connections available in developed countries. The article in gigaom.com writes about the total high speed net connection statistics of a few countries. The numbers are startling which India would take at least 4 - 6 years to match. Another detailed article in internetnews.com elucidates the fact that US has more number of connections, while the per 1000 broadband penetration is the highest in South Korea (21.3 per 1000). When will we even see a million connections in India? The state owned BSNL has been reporting for the past several weeks that it would unveil a broadband package which would be very cost-effective both for the operator and the consumer. Is Indian market mature enough for million broadband connections? What would people browse over the net? Content too plays a major role in spread of the net. Atanu Dey expresses his angst here over the politics in India which puts bottlenecks to any developmental effort taken by individual or an organisation. He lashes at the policies and regulations that keep away technology from a common man. The dial-up that I use at home is in despicable condition. The only thing that a dial-up handles without any difficulty is the open page of google.com! When can we see cost-effective cum high speed net connections in India?

A Personality Test

In the website bbc.co.uk, in one of the links present there, there is an interesting Personality Test. There are twenty peculiar questions but they seem to be related. after every five questions, there is an intermediate personality report, like whether a person is governed by heart or mind, whether planned or spontaneous etc. and after the answering of 20 questions are over, a detailed personality report popped up which almost resembled my personality! 89% of the people who have taken the test have agreed to the test results! There are a few more tests like "Are you a good entrepreneur?", "What kind of thinker are you?" etc. In my personal opinion, personality tests are check points for us to realise where we stand and in case we see aberrations from our goals, we may do a personality rejig and start focussing on the issues we have to focus on.

The Phenomenon called 'Appraisal'

Appraisals happen across all organisations, and do really "happen" in some organisations, with juniors being almost threatened by their appraisers with the sword called appraisal. How do we ensure that the seniors are not being taken away by personal relations with their juniors? 360 degree review appeals a lot to me rather than the senior appraising the junior. It happens at times, that we may be even appraised by a person for the particular appraisal year by a senior of us, who knows us just for a small period in the whole year. How can we ensure transparency and absolute appraisal when the "professionalism" exhibited by the senior working class is an absolute mockery? during a dicsussion on appraisals, one another friend of mine, threw a very interesting observation. 'In a 360 degree review, n people appraise their managers, so it makes it a much more effective appraisal. more the sample space, better would be result of the outcome.' So, I would be a strong advocate of 360 degree reviews.

Exclusive Speaking Zone

What is he talking about? What's this speaking zone?? are you wondering what? yes, i am referring to speaking zones similar to smoking zones and pubs. These speaking zones (hereafter referred to as SZs) are exclusive "shouting places" where people can walk in, rent or buy a cubicle for them which is sound proof from outside such that they can SHOUT at the top of their voice over their mobile phones! I make such a remark after having observed human beings (in office, streets, theatres, malls literally everywhere!) shouting at the top of their voice over mobile phones. Are technology and the usability of gadgets making men more numb and stripping them of their sixth sense? shouldn't men become more refined as they start adopting newer technologies? Theatres are places where we would even ask our peers to keep quiet while watching movies. but, hundreds of mobiles keep ringing in all possible tunes, polyphonic, monophonic, bla bla and end up making us regret for having gone to the movie! Workplaces have also become very noisy nowadays, with people shouting over their mobiles, office phones and internet phones (while talking to clients too). I am sure SZs would solve the problem and at the same time, give freedom to people to shout at the top of their voice.. any takers for SZs??