Amazing Invention By An Indian Student

Sumit Dagar is a post-graduate student from IIT Delhi has invented a unique smart phone that blinds can use with more functions than to just answering phone calls. As technology plays very important role now a days and Indian students have given lot of inventions already in different fields of technology. But this invention would be unique of its kind, now Blind people can use smart phone with all its functions.

As every one use smart phone except blinds but now blinds can also use smart phone with this new invention, an Indian has released a new Braille version of the phone.

The basic concept behind the phone is the use of the simple ‘Shape Memory Alloy’ technology. According to the technology, metals remember their original form and expand/contract to the original form post use. The phone comes with a host of pins under the screen which elevate or depress to form letters and words in Braille. The pins can be felt on the screen.

When a user sends a message, the phone deciphers it and converts it into Braille. The pins then move accordingly to form the message in Braille. All other elements of the phone are like any regular phone. Whether the text of even apps has been translated and how well the phone works without connectivity is still unclear.

 

Developed by Sumit Dagar, who is still working on setting up his formal organization at the Center for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship, located in IIM-A, the phone is the world’s first Braille smartphone.

But how does the phone work? The messages and texts are sent as regular messages. However, instead of a smooth glass panel, the phone comes with depressions. The innovative ‘touch-screen’ elevates and depresses contents into touchable patterns which can then be deciphered by the blind.

The initial prototype is under testing at L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.  According to Sumit Dagar: The response during the test has been immense. It comes out as a companion more than a phone to the user. We plan to do more advanced versions of the phone in the future.”

It is definitely a great achievement and we wish the young innovator the very best!

Read More

Avengers 2 Coming To India With Gandhi Ji

All of us remember famous personality and India ‘s best hero Gandhi Ji, With that name most of us also remember “Sir Ben Kingsley” who played a role of Gandhi Ji In film ” Gandhi”. Now Sir Ben Kingsley has decided to shoot some part of upcoming Hollywood block buster film “Avengers 2″.

“Sir Ben Kingsley” was born in Yorkshire U.K.  in 1943 as Krishna Bhanji to an Indian origin father and an English mother. His father had his own family roots in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Sir Ben, who gets to come to India “may be once every five years,” will be seen playing the iconic comic book villain The Mandarin in superhero flick, Iron Man 3. It hits the screens here on Friday, a week before its US release, and has the actor all excited.

A source said: “It is interesting Sir Ben Kingsley will be arriving in India in September to shoot for about 20 days in the capital of West Bengal. Though the project is under wraps, many are suggesting that it could be related to ‘Avengers 2 Coming To India’ that brings all the superheroes together in one film.” he will also travel to Gujarat post the shoot,” the source added.

Read More

10 Incredible Sea Forts

10 Incredible Sea Forts

 

Sea forts were strategic bases usually built on small islands or shallows that lies at a significant distance from the shore. A sea fort was exactly as the name indicates - a giant fort with stone walls and housing cannons to fend off intruders. Today, the sea forts are mostly deserted, but some of them have been renovated and converted into tourist attractions.
1. Red Sands Fort, UK

link

The seven towers of Red Sands were placed approximately six miles off Minster, Isle of Sheppey in the Thames Estuary, over the period July 23rd to September 3rd 1943. The forts were designed to house various gun installations to combat the twin threats of enemy aircraft and E-boats (fast warships).

link

The forts were not a popular posting and were abandoned wholesale by the military at the end of the war after which ownership became a matter of opinion as they were generally considered to be situated in international waters and not subject to any particular mainland jurisdiction. [link, map]
2. No Man's Land Fort, UK

link

No Man's Land Fort was a fort built in the Solent as part of the Palmerston Forts. It is 2.2 km (1.37 mi) off the coast of the Isle of Wight and built between the years 1867 and 1880 to protect Portsmouth. It was built for a cost of £462,500, which if adjusted for inflation is equivalent to £43,391,356 ($67,783,806) at 2010 prices.

link

No Man's Land Fort has been used as a luxury home/hospitality centre for high-paying guests - due to the privacy it offers - with an indoor swimming pool and two helipads. In July 2004, Legionella bacteria found in the hotel's water system forced its closure. The Fort was put up for sale in 2005 and again in 2007, but the company collapsed. [link, map]
3. Fort Jefferson, Florida, USA

link

Fort Jefferson is an unincorporated community and abandoned sea fort in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is located on Garden Key in the lower Florida Keys within the Dry Tortugas National Park, about 70 miles (110 km) west of the island of Key West. Fort Jefferson is a massive but unfinished fortress. It is the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere, and is composed of over 16 million bricks. Construction began in 1846 and lasted for 30 years.

link

Fort Jefferson was built to protect one of the most strategic deepwater anchorages in North America. By fortifying this spacious harbor, the United States maintained an important “advance post” for ships patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. [link1, link2, map]
4. HM Fort Roughs (Principality of Sealand), UK

link

HM Fort Roughs was one of several World War II installations that were designed by Guy Maunsell and known collectively as Maunsell Sea Forts, and its purpose was to guard the port of Harwich, Essex. The naval fort is situated on Rough Sands, a sandbar located approximately six miles from the coast of Suffolk and eight miles from the coast of Essex. It is today the self-proclaimed and unrecognised state, the Principality of Sealand.

link

Fort Roughs was constructed in 1942. It comprised a floating pontoon base with a superstructure of two hollow towers joined by a deck upon which other structures could be added. The pontoon was reinforced concrete measuring 168 by 88 feet (51 by 27 m). The fort was topped by a gun deck, an upper deck and a central tower unit which housed the radar equipment. The twin towers were divided into seven floors that provided dining and sleeping accommodation and storage areas for generators and munitions. [link, map]
5. Murud-Janjira, India

link

Murud-Janjira is the local name for a fort situated in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It was occupied by the Siddis and is famous for being the only fort along India's Western coast that remained undefeated despite Dutch, Maratha and English East India Company attacks.

link

Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port town of Murud, 165 km (103 mi) south of Mumbai. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India. The fort is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape. [link, map]
6. Fort Pampus, Netherlands

link

Pampus is an artificial island and fort located in the IJmeer near Amsterdam. It was completed in 1895 as part of the Defence Line of Amsterdam. In 1996 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Defence Line.

link

In 2007, the fortress was partially restored. It is open to the public from April to October. It can be reached by a ferry from Muiden or by private vessel. [link, map]
7. Fort Boyard, France

link

Fort Boyard is a fort located between the Île-d'Aix and the Île d'Oléron in the Pertuis d'Antioche straits, on the west coast of France. Though a fort on Boyard bank was suggested as early as the 17th century, it was not until the 1800s under Napoleon Bonaparte that work began. Building started in 1801 and was completed in 1857.

link

Fort Boyard is oval-shaped, 80 metres (260 ft) long and 40 m (130 ft) wide. The walls were built 20 m (66 ft) high. At the centre is a yard, and the ground floor provided stores and quarters for the men and officers. The floor above contained casemates for the emplacements of guns and further quarters. Above that were facilities for barbette guns and mortars. [link, map]
8. Fort Alexander, Russia

link

Fort Alexander is a naval fortress on artificial island in the Gulf of Finland near St. Petersburg and Kronstadt. In 1899–1917, the fort housed the research laboratory on plague and other bacterial diseases.

link

It is an oval-shaped building with a yard in its center. The building measures 90 meters (295 ft) by 60 meters (197 ft), with three floors. The overall floor space is over 5000 sq. meters (1.24 acres). The room in the fort was sufficient to hold a garrison of up to 1000 men. There are 103 cannon ports with additional space on the roof for 34 guns. [link, map]
9. Fort Louvois, France

link

Fort Louvois is a sea fort built on a submerged rock between Oléron Island and the Marennes Basin. It was built from 1691 to 1694 according to plans drawn up by Vauban, the famous military engineer who served under Louis XIV. Taking the form of a horseshoe-shaped outer wall with a central tower protected by a drawbridge and moat, the fort is reminiscent of a medieval castle. 

link

Fort Louvois was designed to protect the southern approach to the Charente estuary by catching enemy ships in a crossfire with the citadel at Oléron. This prevented an enemy from sailing up the river to attack the naval dockyards at Rochefort. At low tide, the fort is connected to the mainland by a 400-metre  (1.300 ft) long causeway. [link, map]
10. Flakfortet, Denmark

link

Flakfortet is a military based sea fortress that was abandoned back in the 60′s located on the artificially built island of Saltholmreb, in Oresund between Copenhagen and Malmo, about 45 minutes sailing from Copenhagen. The fortress is constructed at a seabed 23 feet (7 meters) below the water surface, at the northern meeting point of the straits Kongedybet and Hollaenderdybet.

link

Flakfortet was built from 1910 to 1915 as part of Copenhagen’s sea-fortifications partly from material excavated from Frihavnen. It was the largest sea fortress in the world, and remains the largest completely man-made true island with the area, including wave breakers, of approximately 70 000 sq meters (17.3 acres). [link, map]

Read More

11 of the Most Colorful Cities in the World

11 of the Most Colorful Cities in the World

1. Guanajuato City, Mexico

photo source

Nestled in the mountains of the Sierra de Guanajuato lies the beautiful colonial city of Guanajuato. The city was founded in 1554 next to one of the richest silver mining areas of Mexico. The 16th-century mining boom led to the construction of beautiful haciendas and fine colonial buildings.

photo source

Guanajuato streets and many colorful alleyways spread out in every direction while most of its traffic is served by a network of underground tunnels making it an excellent city for pedestrians.

2. Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles

photo source

Willemstad is the chief town of Curaçao located on the southern coast of the island. The Dutch colonial architecture of Willemstad is decidedly picturesque when set against the Caribbean waters.

photo source

The historic centre of the city consists of two quarters: Punda and Otrobanda.  The Punda district is the main shopping area and the seat of government of the Netherlands Antilles. It is the oldest district of Willemstad, established in 1634. The bright and diverse colors of the buildings in Willemstad are justification enough to make the trip.

3. Valparaiso, Chile

photo source

Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere.

photo source

The houses here are painted all different shades of bright colors. This was because when the ships were docked for repairs and repainting, they’d leave the extra paint on the docks. People would grab whatever paint they could find and paint their houses. The colorful houses have become a Valparaiso trademark. 

4. St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

photo source

St. John's is the capital and largest city of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and is the primary municipality of the St. John's Metropolitan Area. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland.

photo source

St. John's is a colourful place. The older houses with wooden sidings are brightly coloured especially in the downtown area (viewed here).

5. Manarola, Italy

photo source

Manarola is one of the oldest towns in Cinque Terre and is nestled in the Italian Riviera. This picturesque village sprouts out of the mountainside to provide a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea.

photo source

Just climb the winding streets and enjoy and espresso at any of the outdoor cafe’s and absorb the stunning scenery.

6.Wroclaw, Poland

photo source

Wroclaw, located in the south-west, is Poland's most charming city. The town square dates back to the 12th century, and its 14th century brick Gothic architecture is particularly inspiring.

photo source

Like most of the country, it has a strong Roman Catholic affiliation. Thus, cathedrals of celebratory hues line the streets.
7. Lima, Peru

photo source

Unlike many of the tourist-driven towns on this list, Lima is very much a working city. Unique in its mixture of poverty, native and imported cultures and varied development, Lima is especially noted for its different architectural styles. 

photo source

Spanish baroque, French neoclassicism and art nouveau buildings make the city an arena of colors and art.


8. Utrecht, Netherlands

photo source

Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. 

photo source

It is located in the eastern end of the Randstad, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands, with a population of 307,000.

9. Stockholm, Sweden

photo source

Stockholm, one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges.

photo source

The beautiful buildings, the greenery, the fresh air and the proximity to the water are distinctive traits of this city. 

10. Jaipur, India

photo source

Though not multicolored, Jaipur explore shades of pink. Nicknamed the “pink city”, Jaipur, the capital city of the desert state of Rajasthan, features architecture of pink sandstone – from grand structures and forts to tiny markets. The town looks even more surreal with elephants, camels and cows strolling past the pink buildings.

photo source

Painting a building a vivid color contributes greatly to the beautification of a town. A colorful facade has the power to turn an ordinary town into one bucolic and charming. If not quite ready to throw a bucket of purple paint on your home, visit these pretty towns and brave seeing the world in brighter color.

11. Jodhpur, India

photo source

In the middle of the barren Thar desert you will find Jodhpur, also known as Blue City.  It got that nickname because every little building and house in this fortress city is painted in a blue color, so from above it looks like a blue spot in the middle of the Thar desert. 

photo source

It is still unknown why they all painted in the color blue but some will say that it has something to do with the caste system in India. This historic city is full of forts, palaces and temples.

Read More

9 Odd Towns & Villages

9 Odd Towns & Villages

 

1. The Village With a Population of Just One Person, USA

photo source

Monowi's peak years were in the 1930s, when it had a population of 150. Like many other small communities in the Great Plains, it lost its younger residents to cities that were experiencing growth and offering better jobs. During the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2; only one married couple, Rudy and Elsie Eiler, lived there. Mr. Eiler died in 2004, leaving his wife as the only remaining resident. In this capacity, she acts as Mayor, granting herself a liquor license and paying taxes to herself. She is required to produce a municipal road plan every year in order to secure state funding for the village's four street lights.

2. The Village on Stilts, Philippines

photo source

Village on stilts in Banguingui (formerly Tongkil) municipality, Samales Islands, Philippines. The southern Philippines, and in particular the Sulu Archipelago that includes the Samales Islands, is home to the Badjaos. The Badjaos belong to a Muslim minority who make up 5 percent of the Philippine population and are concentrated mostly in the south of the country. Known as "sea gypsies", they fish and harvest shellfish and pearl oysters, and they live in villages on stilts. A channel carved out of the coral reef allows them to reach the open sea.

3. "Chess City", Russia

photo source

A settlement themed around chess may sound like something dreamt up by Lewis Carroll but the impoverished Republic of Kalmykia has transformed it into reality, albeit a costly one. Boasting neatly lined streets and a magnificent Chess Palace, the settlement was masterminded by the nation’s chess-obsessed president (Kirsan Ilyumzhinov), but is largely deserted.


4. The Village of Twins, India

photo source

With 250 registered pairs of twins, the Indian village of Kodinhi, in Kerala, has six times more twins born than the world average. Dr. Krishnan Sribiju has been studying the odd twin phenomenon in Kodhini, for the last six years and says that although 250 pairs have been registered, there may be up to 300-350 sets of twins. Villagers say an unusually high number of twins started being born three generations ago, and it’s been rising ever since.


5. "Garbage City",  Egypt

photo source

Manshiyat Naser, also known as Garbage City, is a slum settlement at the base of Mokattam Hill on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. Its economy revolves around the collection and recycling of the city's garbage. Although the area has streets, shops, and apartments as other areas of the city, it lacks infrastructure and often has no running water, sewerage, or electricity.


6. Dwarf Village, China

photo source

With each of its residents measuring in at under 1.5m, this curious mountain commune in Kunming was created either (depending on the source) as a safe haven for persecuted Chinese dwarves or as a tasteless theme park. The latter seems more likely, given the strange mushroom houses that litter the landscape, the medieval costumes worn by the diminutive denizens, and the bizarre musical numbers put on for baffled visitors.


7. Villages Without Kapok Mattresses, Indonesia

Kapok tree  photo source

At first West Kasuran in Margodadi village and East Kasuran in the village of Margomulya appear no different from other relatively well developed hamlets in the country. Both in the district of Seyegan, Sleman regency, they have good infrastructure, including roads, electricity, schools, markets and small shops selling basic commodities. But they do have a unique difference - no kapok mattresses are found in the area due to an age-old taboo on their use (kapok is a fiber taken from the seed pod of the tropical kapok tree). It is especially ironic because "kasuran" comes from kasur, the Javanese word for mattress. Cotton mattresses are not a luxury item, and they can be found in most homes. Expense is not an issue for most Kasuran villagers, most of whom live in permanent or semipermanent homes. According to Pudjinem, a grandmother and the owner of a small shop in East Kasuran, the taboo has been in effect since the village was founded. "If anyone violates it, she or he will face disaster in life."

8.  The Underground Town, Australia

photo source

Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia. Residents of this town choose to live underground to escape the brutal daytime desert heat of the world above ground. Most locals choose to live in "dugouts", or underground homes literally dug out of the landscape with picks and shovels. Digging out an underground home in the town costs about the same as building an above-ground one, though since the town is known as the opal capital of the world there have been plenty of reports of diggers paying for the entire cost of their new home with opals they find during the digging process.

9. The Most Remote Village in the World

source

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the main settlement of the island of Tristan da Cunha, in the Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in the South Atlantic Ocean. Locally it is always referred to as The Settlement or The Village. Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is regarded as the most remote permanent settlement in the world, being over 1,500 miles (2400 kilometres) from the nearest human settlement, on Saint Helena.
 

Read More