All posts by Neel Achary

Education

“Ab har student padhega” with free online courses by The Catalyst Group

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Akhand Swaroop Pandit, #Founder and CEO, #free online courses, #The Catalyst Group

Mumbai: With a vision to provide uninterrupted online learning to millions of students across the country, The Catalyst Group is driving a unique initiative under the campaign #AbHarStudentPadhega, to provide free of cost education for the underprivileged.  #AbHarStudentPadhega is a program under which several initiatives are launched from time to time in order to reach out to the students at last-mile in tier II and Tier III cities across the country.

The process for enrolling under this initiative is very simple through The Catalyst Group e-learning portal. The student’s eligibility for enrolling under the initiative is based on the necessary information shared about their family income and source; prior education loan details and other college fee details that were deposited. There are a broad range of courses including SSC, JEE, UPSC, NEET under this initiative. All the regular online classes along with additional PDF notes are provided to the students enrolled under the program. More than 90% of the students have qualified different competitive examinations like UPSC and SSC under the initiative with all India ranks under top 10s and 100s. Most of the Catalyst’s students were also able to qualify the UPSC prelims this year. One of the GATE students Ritika with her exceptional performance cleared the exam scoring an all India sixth rank.

#AbHarStudentPadhega is in line with the brand’s strategic marketing positioning of making education accessible and affordable to every citizen of the country. The campaign looks to address the critical and long-term needs of reducing the digital divide of the country until whenever necessary. Through this initiative, The Catalyst Group has entered into remote areas of UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujrat where online education has been underserved.

 Commenting on the initiative, Akhand Swaroop Pandit, Founder and CEO, The Catalyst Group, said “The pandemic has created tougher times financially  for a lot of sections of people in India. Our campaign #AbHarStudentPadhega is to prioritize each and every student’s ambitions and help them achieve their goals without hindrance. We’ve witnessed almost a 200% growth with more than 3Lakh registrations under the initiative in just seven months. In today’s unprecedented times when COVID-19 is ravaging the world, we are trying to make every effort to mitigate any burden on the students who are the future of this country”.

Built and developed on The Catalyst Group online platform, the initiative was launched in April to give aspirants free access to education during these pandemic-related closures. The program has so far achieved great success, not only in terms of numbers but also in the kind of courses that was developed directly from it. The increased scope during such critical times by providing extra pdf notes and monthly magazines to substitute the online classes have helped the platform to run errands over the past year.

Ratnesh Singh, an ex-aspirant from Patna, Bihar under the initiative said, “ The unforeseen crisis due to the pandemic really shook us all up. I was forced to put a halt to my educational journey owing to the sudden crisis. However, when I got to know about the free SSC Course available by The Catalyst Group, it solved most of my problems. It came in our lives as a new ray of hope. The preparation was seamless with the help of the notes I received by the faculties here”. Ratnesh cleared the SSC examinations with all India rank 22 this year.

“In India, especially the people from tier II and III cities have not been very comfortable with online way of learning. It is generally because there’s a myth among students and parents that only offline or conventional classes can help achieve educational goals. However, the pandemic has been a catalyst for a shift in the entire education system by making online learning the core of  student experience. These upgrades will further only enhance the learning experience through a better approach towards specific job-relevant skills for the coming generation”, said Pandit.

Business World

YES BANK and Worldline support merchants and communities by providing remote payment solutions through SMS Pay

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Business Head – Credit Cards and Merchant Acquisition, #Rajanish Prabhu, #YES BANK

Mumbai: YES BANK announced the launch of SMS Pay functionality on POS terminals in partnership with Worldline, enabling merchants to accept contactless and remote payments from their customers. This initiative is in line with the Bank’s commitment to support small and medium businesses in restarting their businesses while providing safety to their customers. SMS Pay is a step towards facilitating merchants to accept remote payments on their POS machines and enabling their customers to transact safely from the comfort of their homes.

Through this, a safe and simple platform is created for shopkeepers and merchants including local kirana stores & departmental stores enabling them to request payments against invoices by simply entering amount and customer contact details on their POS machines. Instantly an SMS is triggered to the customer’s mobile number with a payment link, allowing them to pay securely through their domestic debit and credit cards.

Speaking on the launch, Rajanish Prabhu, Business Head – Credit Cards and Merchant Acquisition, YES BANK, said “In line with the Bank’s strategy of building a transformed Digital Bank, we along with Worldline have been working on supporting our merchant partners through innovative solutions which help them unlock their businesses in a safe and convenient manner. SMS Pay is a simple yet convenient value addition to our merchant POS solutions and provides an alternative channel of payment acceptance for our merchants at zero incremental cost. SMS Pay will help in boosting business by providing merchants dual benefit of enabling them to serve outside their vicinity as payments can be made remotely as well providing safety and convenience to their customers.”

Speaking on the launch, Deepak Chandnani, Managing Director, Worldline South Asia and Middle East said, “Consumers continue to increasingly prefer digital payment options over cash. Technology enabled contactless payment solutions are the need of the hour and Worldline is in the forefront of this emerging trend. We will continue to innovate and enhance the functionalities of all our acquiring solutions including POS terminals in order to provide convenient, frictionless and secure solutions for merchants as well as customers. We are pleased to extend our relationship with our trusted partner, YES BANK to provide the SMS Pay feature for their merchants.”

Platform Benefits:

  • Zero contact payments
  • Remote & quick setup on POS terminals
  • Trusted and secure
  • Easy to operate

Simple and Instant Payment Process Flow

  • YES BANK POS terminals have an SMS Pay option displayed in the terminal menu
  • Upon selecting SMS Pay, the terminal prompts merchant to enter customer’s mobile number and sale amount
  • The customer receives URL for making payment via SMS
  • Customer completes the payment remotely via Internet payment gateway (IPG) page through his or her preferred mode of payment (domestic credit or debit card)
  • Once the payment is complete, charge slip is generated from the POS machine and merchant can deliver goods or services
Business World

Stratbeans introduces cloud-based assessment platform to ensure compliance training and evaluate employee performance in the BFSI sector

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #a leading AI-driven learning solutions provider, #CTO & Co-founder, #Prasoon Nigam, #Stratbeans

New Delhi: Stratbeans, a leading AI-driven learning solutions provider, has developed a cloud-based assessment platform for the banking, financial services, and Insurance Sector (BFSI). The platform helps to streamline the employees’ assessment process and introduce a more systematic approach for faster and more accurate decisions on employee training plans. The solution helps to certify the manpower in various fields to boost the organization’s overall efficiency, technology adoption, change-overs, and knowledge management. After the assessment, the platform links up two value added options for upgrading the competency of employees. First, is a coaching environment using live role play, and the second is competency augmenting recommendations, to strengthen the skill, knowledge, and behavior triad.

The BFSI sector has grown in importance by supporting all the other sectors in the current environment, making it imperative for BFSI organizations to evolve their employee training programs and practices. BFSI, comprising all Banking, Insurance, and Non-Banking Financial Institutions, represents a major chunk of the multi-billion dollar Indian economy. The banking industry, per se, holds a place of pride in contributing nearly 7.7% to the national GDP. Besides that, banks are the prime employment generators for almost 1.5 million people in the country. Since its contribution to economic growth is so high, it becomes even more important that mandatory compliance training is provided to the teams effectively.

Commenting on the same, Prasoon Nigam, CTO & Co-founder, Stratbeans, stated, “The banking sector is in midst of a technological revolution, witnessing fast-paced changes in products and services, requiring customer education and compliance with regulatory frameworks. Interestingly the pace of change is increasing in the entire BFSI domain and in order to train employees adequately, it is important to understand the evolving training needs and competency gaps. It is equally, if not more, important to give learners an advanced platform with an engaging user experience. Through our platform, we are giving an opportunity to all employees to contribute to the capability development on one hand, and on the other, we are giving organizations powerful tools to correctly evaluate employee performance and link it to desired competency level for required business outcomes.”

Undeniably, there is a digital skills gap, which is most apparent in new tech-driven roles, as BFSI companies struggle to fill the void in specialties like UX design, data analytics, AI, and cybersecurity. Stratbeans’ cloud-based assessment solution is backed by AI-based evaluation technology, allowing companies to get a clear view of their organizational skill matrix and help them in planning for the future.

Another aspect of this cloud-based assessment solution is that companies can know the specific skill levels down to an individual, and then bring in peer learning and training through collaboration. Stratbeans’ solution extends the learning platform by including engaging informative and interactive content that evokes more interest from learners and ensures higher retention of concepts. The improvements are reflected in statistical and analytical reports to enable close monitoring for determining the gaps and taking corrective actions.

Stratbeans’ assessment engine not only evaluates and improves the cognitive abilities, skills of employees but also allows the companies to coach and devise better hiring strategies to find employees with specific skill sets that match the requirements of each job role.

About Stratbeans-

Stratbeans provides technology platforms for driving customer success through digital transformation of learning, collaboration, and revenue generation. Founded by Sameer Nigam, Prasoon Nigam & Pradeip Agarwal, Stratbeans provides enterprises with a 360-degree approach involving all the business functions to enable individuals and teams to learn together to perform better for business growth and profitability.

Business World

These 5 companies aim to instil financial discipline amongst kids

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Money management, #money-smart card for children

Financial discipline has always been a very important topic and more so with children especially teenagers to lay the foundation of financial planning amongst them. With Money management becoming a critical topic post COVID, it is essential to understand that the only way to prevent money from becoming a taboo subject is to talk about it openly and often, but in a natural way for children.

One need not be a financial expert to have conversations with kids about money or to create saving goals, one just needs to have a plan!

Here are 5 companies that are making a wave of innovation in this space –

Junio – Junio is the first-of-its-kind digital pocket money-smart card for children. The idea of the brand is to digitize pocket money for children while nurturing financial knowledge and discipline in them at an early age. Kids often receive cash as their pocket money from parents and grandparents. Junio enables instant money transfer from parents to their children.  It also lets parents create in-app daily tasks for their kids and tie them with perks to inspire them to earn some extra cash. Junio’s goal is to promote desired behaviour among children along with developing an understanding of the value of hard-earned money. The app allows parents to keep a track of the spending made by children as it sends an alert for every successful or failed transaction. For ATM withdrawals using Junio smart card, the app allows setting withdrawal limits. It also gives flexibility to parents to cancel the card at any moment through the app.

Greenlight – Greenlight is a debit card for kids, managed by parents. Greenlight Financial Technology, Inc. creates safe, healthy and family-friendly financial services. Greenlight’s first product, a smart debit card for kids, is the world’s first debit card for kids with patent-pending technology that lets parents pick the exact stores where their children can spend.  The Greenlight card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International.

Gohenry – UK-based gohenry, which was founded 8 years ago, offers accounts for children charging parents 2.99 pounds per month. It was launched in 2012 and now boasts a community of over one million members in the UK as well as America. They offer a visa debit card app with parental controls for six to 18-year-olds. The parent app allows parents to pay children an allowance once a month for free. If you pay an allowance more than once a month there’s a 50p charge.

Osper – Osper also offers parents a mobile banking solution that helps to teach children about money and allows them to transact with a debit card. The account can also be topped up, managed and monitored via the parent app. Top ups are free as long as they’re scheduled.

RoosterMoney – It is another leading pocket money app that wants to help parents teach their children about the value of money in the digital age. From as young as four years old, you can award stars in the app as a first introduction to the concept of earning and rewards.  When they are ready, you can move them onto the Pocket Money Tracker, which is free and ideal for children aged three and over. It lets children keep track of their earnings, save towards goals, and develop better money habits.

Business World

JCB India launches the Industry’s first dual-fuel CNG Backhoe Loader in India

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Deepak Shetty, #JCB India Limited, #JCB India’s CEO and Managing Director

New Delhi: India’s leading manufacturer of Earthmoving and Construction equipment, JCB India Limited, today launched the Industry’s first dual-fuel CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Backhoe Loader in India. Called the JCB 3DX DFi, this new machine can operate on CNG and diesel simultaneously using the HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) technology.

The machine was launched at New Delhi by the Honourable Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Nitin Gadkari. He has been a leading voice for the development of Construction machinery that uses alternate fuels and an inspiration on CNG interventions in Construction Equipment Vehicles.

The utilisation of alternate fuels is a significant step-change in the Construction Equipment Vehicle Sector. Since the JCB 3DX DFi operates on a mixture of CNG and diesel, there is a substantial drop in particulate emission. This also leads to a reduction of proportionate CO2 emissions.

CNG is also more economical and helps lower the operating costs to the end customer. With the global concern on environment and sustainability, JCB is committed to supporting the cause through the launch of this Dual Fuel CNG Backhoe Loader. The machine has been developed in India and has been tested in various operating conditions before its launch. It will be built at company’s Delhi-NCR factory at Ballabgarh.

Speaking at the occasion JCB India’s CEO and Managing Director, Deepak Shetty said “Throughout our four decades of operations in India, we have continued to invest in Innovation. It is one of the cornerstones of our operations. This dual-fuel machine can substitute Diesel with CNG and has been developed to cater to the evolving needs of our customers. It will further contribute to the creation of Infrastructure in the country and will also be exported to countries around the world”

An embodiment of the vision of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, JCB India has five Factories and a Design Centre in the country. JCB group’s sixth factory is currently under construction at Vadodara, Gujarat. The company has exported Made in India machines to over 110 countries which are designed and manufactured as per JCB’s One Global Quality Standard.

This dual-fuel CNG Backhoe Loader is based on the same 3DX model which is well established in the Indian market. It offers flexible fuelling, which will help customers sustain in remote areas, where a CNG refilling point is unavailable.

Deepak Shetty further said “JCB has been working on this project with the inputs of its Customers, Dealers and Suppliers. These machines have been tested at actual customer sites across various geographies and terrains and feedback has been incorporated in the development of the product”

JCB has one of the widest dealer networks in the country. Engineers at its 60+ dealers and more than 700 outlets are trained and with adequate parts stock at each of its locations. This ensures customers get professional product support. The machine will also come fitted with JCB’s advanced telematics technology – JCB LiveLink. Through this, machines can be tracked and monitored in real-time. This technology also gives updates on Service, Operations and Security of the machine, online or through a mobile application.

Till date, approximately 1,60,000 LiveLink enabled JCB machines have been sold. They can be geo-fenced, time-fenced and can be located through GPS. Customers get to know about the machine’s health, fuel level, battery conditions, etc. almost all critical parameters of their fleet on their mobile devices. It also gives out service reminders and the history of the machine.

JCB India has further integrated digital technology into its operations through the JCB Genuine Parts Application. This enables customers to order parts online for their JCB machines. Further, an internal tool, Smart Serve has been developed to help dealerships support engineers to improve efficiency and productivity and also reach customers in remote areas, thus helping in machine uptime.

Business World

Edelweiss Tokio Life unveils educational program for organ donation in 2nd edition of #NoMoreWaiting initiative

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Edelweiss Tokio Life, #MOHAN Foundation

Mumbai: Continuing its social initiative #NoMoreWaiting for a second year, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance today unveiled a unique educational program on organ donation and a plan to build corpus for underprivileged organ recipients. The insurer will continue its partnership with MOHAN Foundation, an NGO actively working for the cause.

Once again, the insurer has roped in Rahul Bose, Actor and Social Activist, as the face of the initiative and aims to harness his social influence in spreading awareness for this cause.

Commenting on the organ donation initiative, Sumit Rai, MD & CEO, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance said, “We deeply resonate with the cause of organ donation because it coincides with our organisation’s vision of protecting people’s dreams and aspirations. This year, we have widened our scope by investing in educating people and aim to gradually make organ donation a subject that is extensively discussed within our social circles. We hope to make a tangible and real-world impact by extending educative as well as economic support.”

The 2nd edition of #NoMoreWaiting will extend for a year and aims to create Organ Donation Ambassadors across the country through a structured program. As a part of this program, the insurer, together with MOHAN Foundation, will offer a 4-hour online certification course, followed by a 2-hour interactive session with experts, organ donor families and recipients.

With support from Edelweiss Tokio Life and MOHAN Foundation, people who have completed this course can conduct awareness sessions, social media campaigns and encourage others to pledge for organ donation.

Another important leg of this initiative will be its fund-raising campaign. The insurer will conduct fund-raising events throughout the year by partnering with well-known Indian musicians and help build a corpus for MOHAN Foundation. This corpus will support underprivileged organ recipients by facilitating expensive transplant surgeries.

Dr. Sunil Shroff, Managing Trustee, MOHAN Foundation said, “The ongoing pandemic has set back the cause of organ donation as containing Covid 19 has been a priority for all those involved in public welfare, be it hospitals or the government. This phenomenon is not limited to India but has happened across the world. So, such awareness initiatives are much more important in the current scenario to ensure that we keep moving forward in this journey irrespective of the external situation and reflect back and consolidate our achievements of the recent past to build a stronger program for the future.”

Last November, Edelweiss Tokio Life had undertaken a high-impact awareness drive to encourage Indians to take up an organ donation pledge. The insurer collected over 1 lakh pledges in a single month and created a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for most pledges received for an organ donation campaign in 24 hours.

Business World

ATEN Introduces its Latest Hybrid Conferencing Solutions VP1420, VP1421 with CAMLIVE UC3020

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #ATEN, #the leading provider of AV/IT connectivity and management solutions

Bengaluru: ATEN, the leading provider of AV/IT connectivity and management solutions, recently introduces a hybrid conferencing solution featuring the latest 4 x 2 True 4K Presentation Switches (VP1420, VP1421) with CAMLIVETM UC3020. Millions have found themselves working from home, and relying on video conferencing products and solutions for carrying out basic meetings with their colleagues and business contacts on the other side, the education sectors has been also trying their best to continue the online classes. These products are aimed to help companies and educational sectors to continue operating as normal during the rise in the epidemic.

“We are living in the virtual world today. Remote work, online classes are becoming the new normal for many. ATEN’s Video Presentation Switch and Video Capture solutions integrates easily and seamlessly with peripheral conferencing connections, such as microphones, speakers, and cameras, as well as UC platforms in existing conferencing set up, to help your business quickly adapt to the changes and take your connections to the next level.” Said Sunayana Hazarika, Marketing Manager at ATEN.

CAMLIVE -HDMI to USB-C UVC Video Capture (UC3020)

ATEN’s latest HDMI to USB-C video capture tool CAMLIVE (UC3020) is designed to plug and play, CAMLIVE converts existing camera into a webcam instantly, allowing one to easily adopt a camera for any application and platform, such as video editing software, Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), Xsplit, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Skype. One has to just mount the DSLR, camcorder, or any action camera to deliver eye-popping, high-quality video on Windows and Mac systems at stunning 1080P@60fps. UC3020 supports a wide variety of HDMI sources. Additionally, the product comes with a USB-C to USB-A converter. Even if the computer is old and has only a traditional USB-A slot, users can use CAMLIVE UC3020 for video capture, editing, and live streaming. To know more click here

ATEN VP1420- 4 x 2 True 4K Presentation Matrix Switch:

The VP1420 is a multifunctional presentation switcher that integrates the functions of a video matrix switcher with the functions of a 4K60p scaler, audio processor, and analog-to-digital converter. It can be mounted under a desk or in a system rack. Since the operation method can be selected according to the application, the number of installed devices is minimized and the presentation efficiency is improved by simple operation. It is designed to boost the impact of any professional presentation in small- to medium-size meeting rooms. To know more please click here

ATEN VP1421- 4 x 2 True 4K Presentation Matrix Switch with Scaling, DSP, and HDBaseT-Lite:

The VP1421 is a multifunctional presentation switcher that integrates the functions of a video matrix switcher with the functions of a 4K scaler, HDBaseT extender, audio DSP, and analog-to-digital converter. Up to 4 sources (HDBaseT x 1, HDMI x 2, VGA x 1) can be connected. True4K and 1080p fully scaled content can be switched and displayed smoothly. The VP1421 is a multi-in-one presentation switch that integrates a video matrix is ideal for meeting rooms and educational spaces which deliver vivid content in every presentation. To know more click here

ATEN’s Solution Benefits

Zero time wasted on setting up meeting room equipment
Higher level of engagement between local and remote participants
Easily integrates with room equipment, conferencing peripherals, and systems
Plug-n-play with Unified Communications (UC) solutions, such as Microsoft Teams
Saves on expensive UC software license costs
Store captured video for management or sharing purposes

Health

Atharvan Life Brings Simplified Authentic Information To Improve Health Outcomes

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #a qualified Yoga trainer and a Naturopathy enthusiast, #Atharvan Life, #Roopashree Sharma

Delhi: Do you know that your favourite pair of yoga pants can cause much discomfort, uneasiness & skin chaffing as they are manufactured using uber-cheap synthetic fibers like spandex, lycra, and elastane which are non-breathable and poor moisture absorbers?

Replace your pre-workout protein shake with a glass of global super food Sattu Drink which is light, easily digestible and provides instant energy.

Do you know that your trustworthy painkiller might be causing greater harm than relief? A throbbing forehead is not similar to a shooting pain around your temple. Different types of headaches calls for distinct remedies? Ayurveda classifies headaches based on specific imbalances suffered by an individual.

pa Ceylon Bath Collection Rs 1149 at Atharvanlife.com

AtharvanLifeis an interactive digital platform which is designed to tap into the rich history of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy to bring forth the time tested repository of ancient healthcare systems to the new generation consumers. While consumers are increasingly turning to alternatives for strengthening bodily functions and bolstering their immunity system, it’s difficult to find authentic information in the sea of online data.

Brainchild of Roopashree Sharma, a qualified Yoga trainer and a Naturopathy enthusiast, Atharvan Life is a unique forum created to enhance one’s health and well-being through the healing power of Ayurveda, Yog and Naturopathy. Applying verified well-researchedmeans from authentic manuscripts, the website boasts of an indispensable resource of features, write-ups, home-grown remedies, myth busters and fact finders that also help readers understand these different sciences in their true essence.

By infusing the ancient wisdom, traditional wellness along with the best practices in a regenerative world, the brand intends to create a flourishing global community advocating wellbeing for body, mind and spirit thus helping readers vanquishing falsified claims and misinformation.

Besides knowledge sharing, AtharvanLife houses a portfolio of internationally acclaimed premium wellness and personal care products like – Spa Ceylon, a luxurious Ceylonese Ayurveda personal care brand from Sri Lanka; pioneering plant based organic food brand Nutiva, renowned for world’s most nourishing superfood – the Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil; Langnese Honey, a high quality and most popular pure bee honey from Germany, Plantation Blackstrap Molassesa natural sweetener rich in Vitamins, Minerals from New Jersey.

The health conscious netizens, the wellness fanatics, the beauty and skincare enthusiasts now have much to rejoice as they can shop from hand-picked brands by AtharvanLife a wellness forum gearing up to become a growing, engaging and connected community.

Commenting on the launch Roopashree Sharma, Founder Atharvan Life said “We aim to produce public awareness around the ancient wellness repository for evidence-based practices of Ayurveda, Yog and Naturopathy that have been the keystone of wellness for generations. This will in turn drive acceptance, mobilize the audience, generating confidence in ancient medicine science thus creating a universal acceptance.”

Ayurveda offers a rich and dynamic body of knowledge that provides comprehensive lifestyle management and supports holistic wellness on a deep level. With its roots dating back over five thousand years, Ayurveda seeks to attain a harmony between the distinctive behavior of an individual with the natural rhythms of our world. It is about utilizing one’s knowledge on nutrition, medicine, time-tested therapies and sensory experiences to create and maintain vitality, longevity and well-being in all areas of life. In recent times consumer’s growing angst against the side effects of synthetic products along with the debilitating effects of the ongoing pandemic have led to an amplified demand for traditional alternatives that ensure good health and a strong & resilient immune system. In fact, the Ayurvedic market in India is expected to reach INR 710.87 billion by 2024, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.06%.

Atharvan Life’s vision is to be a legitimate platform emphasizing holistic wellness, advocating preventive healthcare, thus helping people from all walks of life – survive a hectic lifestyle.

Health

Covid-19 Pandemic: Ways To Beat Computer Vision Syndrome As The Screen Time Goes Up

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Additional Director, #Centre For Sight Group of Hospitals, #Dr. Ritika Sachdev

Dr Ritika Sachdev, Additional Director, Centre For Sight Group of Hospitals,By Dr Ritika Sachdev, Additional Director, Centre For Sight Group of Hospitals,

The COVID-19 crisis has led to an increase in the average screen time of people. People are busy spending a lot of time watching television, and on digital devices like computers, mobiles, and tablets more than ever! Getting hooked to electronic devices for long uninterrupted hours is causing digital eye strain, aka computer vision syndrome in people

What is computer vision syndrome?

  Computer vision syndrome is a temporary eye condition that results from focusing on a digital screen for a long time without breaks. Suffering from CVS does not only affect eyesight but also hampers an individual’s productivity.

Why is computer vision syndrome concerning?

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) affects around 60 million people globally. It has become even more concerning in the times of COVID-19 for well-being for a person. A study shows that nearly half of the population in the world will be short-sighted (myopic) by 2050. One of the primary reasons associated with this eye condition would be the effects of prolonged usage of digital devices or televisions every day.

Symptoms of computer vision syndrome

  • Eye Strain
  • Blurred vision
  • Neck ache
  • Headache
  • Tiredness
  • Insomnia
  • Dry eyes
  • Shoulder pain

Computer vision syndrome (digital eye strain) causes

  There are various causes associated with computer vision syndrome, like:

  • Less of blinking

When you are hooked to any electronic devices, you tend to blink less. Less blinking causes dry eyes. Blinking is the natural reflex of eyes to keep it moist. An average person blinks about 16-20 times in a minute. If blinking reduces to 6-8 times in a minute, then gradually, it results in dry eyes and becomes a cause for computer vision syndrome.

  • Improper workstation

If you have not set up your workstation in a proper way, then it could cause computer vision syndrome. You need to adjust the monitor, desk, chair, and lighting in the room also so that your eyes don’t feel strained.

  • Dry environment and dehydration:

AC’s in offices strip the air of its moisture, thereby making the environment dry. This dryness, an improper workstation, or bad sitting posture, makes people prone to computer vision syndrome.

  • Don’t use devices right before going to bed

It will require a bit of planning, but it is important to take a break from the screen at least two hours before you go to bed. Studies show that blue light emitting from screens can affect natural sleep and wake-up cycle.

Ways to deal with computer vision syndrome during COVID-19 pandemic

  • Blink often

Remember to blink while watching television or doing work on any digital device. Don’t let your eyes dry out. Be mindful of blinking and keeping your eyes lubricated. Encourage others around you to blink at least 18 times per minute.

  • Take frequent breaks

Have you heard of the 20-20-20 rule? While working on a computer or any digital device, take a break every 20 minutes and look at distant objects (at least 20 feet away) for 20 seconds. This habit will break the continuity of the screen.

  • Modify your workplace

You need to rework on the place where you generally sit to work or binge-watch. Keep a distance of a foot away from the monitor or the gadget when sitting straight. Adjust the brightness of the screen. Make sure to put an anti-glare screen to your device to avoid eye strain. Use proper lighting in the room. Avoid excessive or under lighting.

  • Exercise even when sitting

Whenever you get time, exercise even when sitting. Stretch your neck and shoulders frequently. During break time, move your arms and legs. Walk a bit.

Few other tips to avoid computer vision syndrome for children

  • Drink plenty of water

Children don’t pay attention to drinking water unless they’re thirsty. Drinking water keeps the body hydrated. It not only flushes out body waste but also regulates body temperature. It helps in maintaining blood pressure and boosts healthy skin. It also helps in forming saliva and mucus. Most importantly, it hydrates eyes, flushes out salt, and reduces eye strain.

  • Customized furniture for your child

From online classes to a lot of digital content consumption for entertainment, children are also spending a considerable amount of their time on-screen during the lockdown phase. Parents need to ensure to have a customized furniture setting that suits their child’s sitting posture and refrain from neck or body ache.

  • Setting screen time for kids

Parents need to ensure that even in the lockdown period, children don’t spend a lot of time on screen. Set time for their screen time activities. Instead, for entertainment, ask them to indulge in traditional indoor games like ludo, chess, etc.

  • Avoid rubbing eyes

Parents should keep a check on their children if they are rubbing their eyes too much. It could be an indicator of dry eyes or some eye infection. Insufficient blinking also leads to dry eyes. if your child does not stop rubbing frequently and complains about irritating red eyes consult the nearest eye specialist.

Eat more greens

Include green leafy vegetables in your diet to keep your body and eyes healthy. The nutrients present in green vegetables like lutein and zeaxanthin carry anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants that keep the eyes healthy. When it comes to eye care, Centre for Sight is always there at your service.

Business World

India Fashion Awards to host its second version on 20th Feb 2021

Nov 26, 2020 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Bollywood Actor Rahul Dev, #Fashion Photographer Ashish Chawla, #India Fashion Awards, #Indian fashion industry in 2020

After the first milestone of success in 2020, fashion lovers spell them as India Fashion Awards and they take the liberty to felicitate their individual contributors whose work relate to so much more than what is seen, the only industry where imagination is a way to say who you are without having to spell it all.

The India Fashion Awards created a watershed in the Indian fashion industry in 2020 and is excited to host its second version on 20th Feb 2021. 2020 has been an eventful year which brought a lot of excitement and experiences, either good or challenging but could not hamper the high sprites of the fashion industry. India Fashion Awards brings you the celebration of fashion where you have the reason to find sentiments worth coming back with them to appreciate and recognize the work of all the people who made a mark through their contribution to the industry at different levels.

Mr Sanjay Nigam, the founder of India Fashion Awards shares, ‘The aim of India Fashion Awards 2021 is to support local fashion and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the industry. The prime focus of the initiative is to commercialize the creativity of these designers and artisans and eventually, recognize them on a global Indian platform.”

The India Fashion Awards is an event organized by Talent Factory is expected to witness diverse award categories- Emerging Fashion Designer of the Year, Online Fashion Destination of the Year, Trendsetter of the Year, Torch Bearer of Beauty Industry, and a bunch of other categories. The initiative by IFA is to appreciate and felicitate the fashion entrepreneurs who have done best in their field and award them for their great contribution to the fashion industry. The purpose of the event is also to recognize those notable personalities and present them with a prestigious award.

The jury and the advisory board of India Fashion Awards comprise many appointed bodies which oversee the platform are Member Of Parliament Maneka Gandhi, Minister of Labor and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Chairman RJ Corp Ravi Jaipuria, Social Activist Vagish Pathak, Ace Fashion Designers Rocky S & Leena Singh, Director Lubna Adam, Indian Supermodel Lakshmi Rana, Bollywood Actor Rahul Dev, Fashion Photographer Ashish Chawla and Hemant J Khandelwal.