Best Green IT Project : State Bank of India : Green IT@SBI

We all know about the power situation in India. But inside of an ATM is ironically completely different. It is often over- lit with conventional lights plus have high-capacity ACs running 24X7, making it extremely uncomfortable to bear. In places where power supply is not constant these ATMs are run on generators adding to pollution. It has been proven that ATMs, just like any IT equipment, need a dust free environment running at optimal room temperature. So, there is an immediate need to redesign ATM infrastructure in India given the bad power situation in country.

However, this is easier said than done, as in this competitive age, customer convenience can't be ignored. To cover both aspects, this project has been taken up by the Bank as part of its policy to promote green policy initiatives. Apart from savings of recurring costs to the bank, the project helps in reducing the carbon footprints impacting the quality of life of the cardholders and society at large. Further it supports the cause of the central bank's objective of spreading retail electronic payment culture and reduced dependence on paper based transactions in the country, through rapid expansion of ATMs and debit cards. State Bank of India undertook a massive rollout of ATMs during the financial year 2009-10. With more than 10,000 ATMs installed, SBI was conscious about the carbon footprint due to such a huge rollout. In all of these ATMs, LCD monitors were deployed in lieu of CRTs. LEDs were used instead of tube lights or CFL (even in signages), 5 star EER 3.1 rated ACs were installed instead of conventional high energy consuming ACs. Aluminum composite panels were put to use instead of wood based materials in the preparation of sites. Apart from these modifications, specially designed ATMs were developed and installed that consumed low energy and require no air conditioning environment. Even solar powered ATMs were developed for rural areas. A few of the modifications made to the ATMs include usage of single thermal printers instead of two and the manner in which the cash tray was placed.

Best Green IT Project
Company Scenario
Before Deployment
Wastage of energy due to usage of CRTs, conventional lighting, and air conditioning in ATMs.	�
After Deployment	�
48508500 KWH of electricity savings, translating to Rs. 24 Cr+ savings in energy bills.	�
What was deployed	�
Usage of LCD, LEDs inside ATM and even for signage, and usage of energy efficient ACs Aluminum composite panels were put to use instead of wood based materials in the preparation of sites 10,000 eco-friendly ATMs across India.	�

The key challenges faced in deployment of these energy efficient ATMs include ensuring compliance with regard to the agreed contractual terms not only with the main vendors but also the outsourced agencies. The large number of deployment of ATMs spread over a wide area in a tight schedule necessitates fine vendor management skills. In fact the SBI IT team had to work closely with vendors who till that point of time were involved in setting up conventional ATMs. Appropriate measures were required to safeguard against fire hazards in extensive use of composite aluminum materials.

Nokia N-series to use Linux

Nokia N-series is to make use of Linux operating system as N8 would be the last N-series phone to utilize the Symbian software.Though Symbian is the market leader for smartphones,with the rise of iPhone it has lost its market share.

Nokia Oyj is set to use MeeGo software in its N-series as it would provide a better chance to battle against their rivals Apple and Google.The N-series had been dominating the market before Apple's iPhone was brought into the market.

Nokia and Intel Corp revealed their plans to produce MeeGo, merging Nokia's Linux Maemo software platform with Intel's Moblin, based on Linux open-source software.

According to Ben Wood, Research Director at British consultancy CCS Insight, "The confirmation that MeeGo will be used for the next flagship Nseries device shows Nokia is betting the ranch on this platform to beat high-end rivals such as Apple's iPhone," said Ben Wood, research director at British consultancy CCS Insight.

Other versions of the Linux operating system inclusive of Google's Android operator-backed LiMo and Palm's webOS have acquired a large share in the mobile market. The Gartner review shows that in the first quarter, the market share of Linux phones rose to 14 percent from 8.5 per cent a year ago. Linux is the most popular type of open-source computer operating system. Linux's immediate rival on PCs is Microsoft.

A new software to completely destruct data from PCs

Pitney Bowes, a U.S. based mail and document management company came out with a new product in the Indian market which would facilitate in destroying data before disposing the computers. The product 'Degaussers', confirms that the data is totally erased and the hard drive becomes unusable.

Before discarding a PC, the data removal software is generally run and the drive is formatted to erase the information stored in the computer. But this effaced data can be recovered at any given point of time.

The company's major targets include the banking, financial, insurance services and telecom sectors. It also plans to aim the government for orders of the product.

Pitney Bowes India Managing Director KM Nanaiah said, "These sectors have a lot of confidential data, which also needs to be destructed at various points in time. We will start discussions with various companies and ministries (like Defence) for procuring orders,"

The product created by Martin Yale would range from Rs 7 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.

You may just need to walk to charge your mobile phone

Now you can potentially charge your cellphone battery just by walking with a new charger which can be fitted with the sole of your shoes and produce power when you walk.

Mobile phone company European Telco Orange has developed a charging prototype - a set of thermoelectric gumboots or Wellington boots with a 'power generating sole' that converts heat from the wearer's feet into electrical power.

The boot was designed by Dave Pain, managing director at GotWind, an energy firm.

Pain said the boot uses the Seebeck effect, named after physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck, in which a circuit made of two dissimilar metals conducts electricity if the two places where they connect are held at different temperatures, reported TVNZ.

"In the sole of the Wellington boot there's a thermocouple and if you apply heat to one side of the thermocouple and cold to the other side it generates an electrical charge," Pain said.

"That electrical charge we then pass through to a battery which you'll find in the heel of the boot for storage of the electrical power for later use to charge your mobile phone."

These thermocouples are connected electrically, forming an array of multiple thermocouples. They are then sandwiched between two thin ceramic wafers.

When the heat from the foot is applied on the top side of the ceramic wafer and cold is applied on the opposite side, from the cold of the ground, electricity is generated.

But the power boots have one drawback. You need to walk for 12 hours to generate one hour's worth of charge.

Pain, however, said his company was working on improving the technology, which could then also be used in other forms of clothing.

"The technology's not just limited to footwear, or indeed boots, but you could for example make clothing out of it, you know, a headband, for example," he said.

A new device with TV, internet and mobile in China

China would soon launch a new facility for people to access TV, Internet and mobile phone through a single device combining broadcasting and telecommunication technologies.

Users will be able to access all the three through a single device, an official statement said.

A pilot scheme to integrate the three systems would be launched in 11 Chinese cities including Beijing [ Images ] and Shanghai. However, the statement gave no schedule and did not elaborate on the development of the trial programme.

The programme, known as "three networks integration" in Chinese, aims to make the three systems compatible and allow users to make telephone calls, surf the Internet and watch television through only one cable or wireless entrance, official Xinhua news agency reported.

Currently, TV, telecom and Internet networks are separated in China, and different operators provide access to cable TV, telecommunications and the Internet.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, said in January that the program would be accelerated through pilot projects from 2010 to 2012, focusing on trials connecting broadcasting and telecommunication networks.

It vowed to achieve comprehensive integration by 2015. China first proposed the program in 1998.But it was delayed because of conflicts of interest between different administrators and service operators, said Wu Jichuan, previously minister at the information industry ministry, the predecessor of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

In China, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television regulates radio and TV while the MIIT is responsible for telecoms and Internet industries.

The programme will boost investment and consumption by 668 billion yuan ($98.38 billion) over the next three years, said Wu Hequan, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

5 things not to say at a job interview

Interview success in today's job market is bit difficult. But if we prepare well it is not a Herculean task to attract the interviewers. The importance of creating a good impression within the allotted time is so important in an interview.

To make a good impression, it is important to know what the interviewer is look for and what they are testing you on, according to a report by Sanjeev Sinha of EconomicTimes.com.

According to Arindam Lahiri, Director- Academics, Career Launcher India, there are five things that should be avoided while attending an interview. Rude replies, bluffing, being defensive, unprepared responses and lack of interview strategy can end up portraying a person?s personality in an unappealing manner.

Rude replies

Short, curt, arrogant or confrontational comments and replies are of course a strict no-no. You might want to pay attention to peer review about whether you come across as a genuinely friendly, amicable person or otherwise. Besides the obvious fact that the interviewer is all powerful when it comes to deciding your fate regarding the job, also keep in mind that they are not sitting there with the sole purpose of antagonizing you.

"The objective of putting you in a spot is usually to observe your behavior under pressure. Getting agitated easily would betray a lack of coping skills. On the other hand, dealing with such 'tests' with grace not only saves you trouble but also immediately scores you points," said Lahiri.

Bluffing

If you hesitate to admit something that you don't know, you will be forced to continue bluffing until you either get caught, or are forced to do what you were supposed to do in the first place - say "I don't know."

This statement can help you move away from topics you don't know much about and possibly salvage the interview by starting a new conversation thread. Of course, using this statement too often would lead to the interviewer assuming you don't know much.

Getting defensive

If you happened to make a mistake and were rightly corrected, then make sure that you gracefully admit your error and allow for the discussion to be carried on in a polite tone. Leave the 'offense is the best defence' theory outside the door along with excess ego that could seriously hamper your chances of success.

It is also necessary to clarify the interviewer as they can also be wrong about something. Maybe the mistake on their part is actually deliberate conducted, to test your knowledge or relevant social skills.

"In such a scenario, wherein you are absolutely sure of your view, stick to your guns, but (again) gracefully. Be polite but firm while presenting your case, and after a while, you might want to agree to disagree and free up the conversation to on to the next topic," informs Lahiri.

Unprepared responses

There are certain questions that are taken as granted to appear in any interview - questions related to your goals, about yourself, your reason for applying to the particular job, your interest in that company and so on.

To earn a favourable impression, the answer to these should be thoroughly prepared, clear and precise, leaving no ambiguity in the interviewer's mind.

"This does not mean you have to have a rigid 10-year plan for life or be aware of exactly what you are going to do when. Rather, your thinking process and general direction should be organized and clearly presented to the interviewers. Doing your homework early on can guarantee you a certain number of points even before you walk in the interview room," said Lahiri.

Lack of interview strategy

In a selection process, the interviewer is required to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. For this, he/she has to steer the conversation and investigate various aspects of the candidate's personality.

Google's Chrome to feature remote desktop app

Google's upcoming Chrome operating system - a new OS that will arrive on netbook computers later this year. It is also going to offer a feature 'chromoting' - a remote desktop app for your new cloud computer that Google engineers have dubbed, reports The New York Times.

We're adding new capabilities all the time. With this functionality (unofficially named chromoting), Chrome OS will not only be a great platform for running modern web apps, but will also enable you to access legacy PC applications right within the browser.

In Google's case, the technology would be used to run so-called legacy applications that Chrome OS does not support. By legacy, Google means any application that doesn't run in a Web browser like Google Chrome, which serves as the basis of the new Internet-only OS, also called Chrome.

It includes the Adobe Creative Suite, perhaps, whose flagship program Photoshop is top among designers. Or maybe the full Microsoft Office suite, whose desktop programs are still more feature-rich than Google's online Docs service. Perhaps as a new competitor to desktop and notebook computer operating systems like Microsoft Windows and Apple's OSX instead of just a netbook alternative.

Then again, the world is turning to lightweight computing. So much can be done online these days. As Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently said at the D8 conference, we're entering a 'post-PC' era, referring to the eventual phase out of the personal computer in favor of lighter, more thin client-esque platforms like, of course, Apple's new iPad tablet computer.