Who stole my admission?

Much heartburn in college admissions can be reduced with greater computerisation

Imagine a situation where thousands of people are trying to get a confirmed seat by a particular date. They are desperate, and much depends on them getting the desired seat. Different people have different preferences and flexibility. Some are rigid about their desired choices, some have second, third or even fourth choices. Some want their seats or berths in groups, and some don’t mind going alone. Some are willing to pay a premium to get a confirmed seat. These people are from all over, not just one locality. The number of such people is not in thousands, but in lakhs or even millions. And this fervent search for a confirmed seat goes on every day in all parts of India.

Yes, we are talking about railway booking. And we solved this problem 20 years ago. The computerised railway reservation system is an unmitigated success, and was driven wholly by indigenously developed software, intellect, innovation and desire to succeed to solve a peculiarly

Indian problem. Today, an ordinary labourer from Muzaffarpur, or a businessman from Madurai or a trader from Kutch is a thankful and satisfied user of this system. The influence of touts and corrupt ticket window clerks is minimised (though not eliminated). Knowing someone senior in the Railways, or using influence to manipulate the booking system can’t get you far. Most importantly, there is a perception of fair play among millions of Railway customers.

If such be the case, why is it that we have been unable to solve the problem of college admissions? Even after two decades of using computerised reservation systems, based on user-supplied preferences and fallback choices, we are unable to adapt this to college admissions. Something is seriously amiss. Of course this year, parents of SSC kids were spared the agony of lining up outside colleges twice. They just had to do it once, i.e., to submit completed forms, and pay the advance fees. The downloading of blank admission forms (the first step) was largely computerised and centralised. This was a big relief. We now need to move to the central problem of allotment of seats to eligible and deserving candidates.

This problem in the context of medical admissions has been solved successfully for the US. Every year, candidates across the country fill out preference forms online before taking the national entrance examination called the MCAT. The algorithm (i.e., mathematical model) which optimally assigns candidates to their desired colleges is very complex, and was devised by expert mathematicians. We can adapt parts of this methodology for our college assignment problem for SSC kids.

Of course, we have the additional complications like domicile requirement, multiple boards with differing curricula and testing standards, and finally the dreaded 70:30 rule of favouring local vicinity students. But most of these criteria can be inbuilt into the system. And this needs to be tweaked and fine-tuned throughout the year, not just in June or July. The problem with the set of aggrieved parents every year is that they are no longer a vested interest lobby next year. Next year, we have a newer set of ‘victims’, so that a sustained lobby of ‘unionised’ parents cannot keep up the pressure and momentum to improve the system.

There are far too many weaknesses in the current system, least of all is the risk of losing non-refundable deposits in multiple colleges. No one is claiming that this is purely a software problem. Nor does a solution address the greater challenges of vastly differing teaching quality, funding, teacher supply and curricula obsolescence. But a hefty dose of computerisation will surely make the kids’ journey feel like Rajdhani, rather than cattle class.

Complications in the admission system need to be tweaked and fine-tuned throughout the year, not just in June or July

Ajit Ranade on the wheels that make Mumbai run — money and economy

Emotional robots!

Research aims to create robots with empathy; project envisions automatons that will learn from experience how to respond to emotions displayed by people around it…

Arobot with empathy sounds like the stuff of sci-fi movies, but with the aid of neural networks, European researchers associated with the ‘Feelix Growing project’ are developing robots in tune with human emotions.

The project involves itself with developing software that will lead to robots that can learn when a person is happy, sad or angry.

The learning part is achieved through the use of artificial neural networks, which are well-suited to the varied and changing inputs that ‘perceptive’ robots would be exposed to.

Using cameras and sensors, the simple robots being built by the researchers – using mostly off-the-shelf parts – can detect different parameters, such as a person’s facial expressions, voice, and proximity to determine emotional state.

The technology combines together research in robotics, adaptive systems, neuroscience, developmental and comparative psychology – and ethology, which is all about human behaviour.

ARE YOU FEELING OK?
Much like a human child, the robot learns from experience how to respond to emotions displayed by people around it.

“If someone shows fear or cries out in pain, the robot may learn to change its behaviour to appear less threatening, backing away if necessary,” said project coordinator Dr Lola Canamero. “If someone cries out in happiness, it may even detect the difference, and one day, finetune its responses to individuals. It’s mostly behavioural and contact feedback.”

The three-year project involves six countries and 25 specialists who are building demonstration robots as proof of concept.

One demo follows the researchers around like a young bear cub might its mother, learning from experience when to trail behind or stick close to her. A robot face is also in development which can express different ‘emotions’.

“The main idea is, by being more in tune with human emotions, giving the impression of empathy, the robots should be more readily accepted by the people they may one day serve,” Canamero said.

NOT EXACTLY I, ROBOT
Automatons that can adapt to people’s behaviours are needed if machines are to play a part in society, such as helping the sick, the elderly, people with autism or house-bound people, working as domestic helpers, or just for entertainment, according to Canamero.

The work is still well shy of an I Robot scenario with emotionally complex machines taking matters into their own hands, but the empathy empowering software being developed by Feelix Growing is a big step forward for robotics.

And gauging by the attention the project has garnered in leading international press, such as the BBC, Wired and Engadget, Feelix Growing is maturing very well. ICT RESULTS

One of Feelix Growing‘s desktop emotive robots

Artist makes 17-ft cardboard Gandhi

Joseph DeLappe’s do-it-yourself sculpture recreates the Mahatma’s Dandi March at his exhibition in New York
NEW YORK: Mahatma Gandhi and his famous Dandi march have come alive once again thanks to an American artist.

Joseph DeLappe unveiled the Mahatma’s sculpture, complete with glasses and walking stick, at the Eyebeam gallery in New York.

Delappe built the 17 feet sculpture using cardboard, and then recreated the salt march with the help of a treadmill and the online world Second Life.

DeLappe, a professor at University of Nevada, spent 26 days walking with a digital Gandhi across the game’s virtual landscape. After that he decided to create the statue.

“After walking with Gandhi for 240 miles I decided it would be interesting to recreate him in monumental scale,” the Telegraph quoted DeLappe, as saying.

He has now also published a nine-step guide on the internet, which would allow model enthusiasts to build their own Gandhis.

Gandhi undertook the 248-mile salt march in India in 1930 in protest against unjust British taxes. AGENCIES

MONUMENTAL TASK: Joseph DeLappe (top right) spent 26 days walking 240 miles with a digital Gandhi (right inset) online.

Distance education results delayed, students yet to decide subjects for TYBcom

The students are undecided on subjects for TYBcom as second-year results are yet to be declared; official says delay due of shortage of staff

MUMBAI MIRROR BUREAU

The Institute of Distant Education (IDE) of Mumbai University has left the students of SYBcom stranded as their results are delayed because of which they cannot decide what subject to choose for specialisation in their final year.

Colleges across the city have already started the new session for TYBcom, but hundreds of IDE students are yet to get their results.

Many of them have currently taken admissions in private coaching classes in subjects of their choice, but are clueless about getting admissions in that subject at the University after the results are declared.

Mitul Mehta, 22, a distant education student, has completed nearly 10 per cent of the syllabus in accounts at the coaching class that he has joined. “Though I have chosen accounts at the coaching classes, I am not sure of getting admission in accounts at the University as it totally depends on the marks.”

Another student, Aman Kokate, 20, said, “I had joined the distant education as I wanted to work as well as complete my studies simultaneously. I regret my decision of joining distant education.”

Manish Desai, 20, said, “I want to opt for exports as a specialisation subject for TYBcom. But as the results are yet not declared, I cannot join any coaching class as I may end up wasting money if I don’t get admission in the subject that I have opted for in the coaching class.”

Meanwhile, worried students are approaching other colleges for admissions in TYBcom. Uday Mashelkar, Principal of Patkar College, who was approached by a few IDE students said, “Around three to four students from IDE approached me recently for admissions. Though we have seats for TYBcom, I could not help them as they did not have their marksheet.

Colleges have already commenced the TYBcom class. IDE students are sure to lose almost two months.”

An IDE official said that the results would be declared by the end-July. “Students will get admissions in the subjects they want. There is no need to panic. The delay is just because we have a shortage of staff to evaluate the papers,” he said.

Only 14, but brilliant at mindgames

Podar’s Karan Will Represent India At World Youth Mind Games in Beijing

Nitin Naik | TNN

Mumbai: Fourteen-year old boys are usually boisterous with a capital B. They have a good eye for the ‘birds’ and the bees and of course love outdoor sport, preferably something which allows them to have contact with fellow fourteenyear olds. Karan Sharma, a standard X student of Lilavatibai Podar School in Mumbai is 14, but displays none of the above characteristics.

He loves playing games, but more of the cerebral variety. His straight, neatly cropped hair and reasonably thick glasses advertise that.

What they don’t is how good he is at mind games. Karan is one of the six participants to represent the country in Bridge at the World Youth Mind Games in Beijing from October 3 to 18. “At 14, the is the youngest ever to represent the country in the tournament meant for under-26 year olds,’’ informs father Vinay, also a noted bridge player who represented India in the World Youth Mind Games in Nottingham, England in 1989.

Like father like son they say and it is from Vinay that Karan picked up the nuances of the sport. “I started playing seriously about a year and a half ago and now I have fallen in love with it,’’ says Karan.

Karan is the sole representative from the city of Mumbai. The other five participants are from Chennai (3), Kolkata (1) and Delhi (1).

While Karan is gung-ho about his Beijing trip, the youngster is also aware that he will have to give studies a miss for about a month and that too in October, a time when the midsemesters are held.

“Yes, it’s a crucial period and studying will be impossible during the Games. But I’ll have to manage,’’ says Karan.

Apart from bridge, Karan also likes chess and football. “I love Ronaldinho and I think he played his cards smartly and moved to AC Milan,’’ he says, not realising that even while speaking about football, he’s going ga-ga over a pack of cards.

Didn’t we say, Karan’s good at mindgames.

MIND BENDER: Karan Sharma, 14, is the the is the youngest ever to represent the country in the World Youth Mind Games meant for under-26 year olds.

Mandela at 90 plumps for poor

Qunu (South Africa): Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday by calling on the wealthy to share with the poor and wishing that he had been able to spend more time with his family during the long anti-apartheid struggle.

In an interview at his home in rural southeastern South Africa, the icon was asked if he had a message for the world. “There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty,” Mandela said.

Sitting with his wife Graca Machel in a lounge of the large home he built in Qunu, Mandela said he was fortunate to have reached 90, but the poor are unlikely to live that long because “poverty has gripped our people.”

Mandela also said he wished he had had more time with his family during a life spent fighting apartheid and then leading South Africa. “I am sure for many people that is their wish,” he said. “I also have that wish that I spent more time (with my family). But I don’t regret it.”

Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against apartheid. He was released in 1990 to lead negotiations that ended decades of racist white rule. He was elected president in South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

While Mandela celebrated quietly in Qunu, there were events across the country to honour him. Two runners holding South African flags circled Robben Island, where Mandela spent most of his 27 years in jail. In Johannesburg, children celebrated with a cake at the offices of the foundation Mandela founded after stepping down as president in 1999. His African National Congress hung giant banners with his image at its headquarters. And a school choir rehearsed a song they created for him. Mandela helped raise funds for the school to build new classrooms and move out of a dilapidated mud structure. AP

An alien’s-eye view of Earth and Moon

Nasa Movie Shows World From 50M Km Away

Washington: A spacecraft sent on a mission to inspect comets has filmed the Earth and its Moon from 50 million kilometres away, making an alien’s-eye view of our world.

The two brief sequences show the Moon passing in front of the Earth as it orbits. “Making a video of Earth from so far away helps the search for other life-bearing planets in the universe by giving insights into how a distant, Earth-like alien world would appear to us,” said University of Maryland astronomer Michael A’Hearn, who leads the project using Nasa’s Deep Impact spacecraft.

“Our video shows some specific features that are important for observations of Earthlike planets orbiting other stars,” added Drake Deming of Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

“A ‘sun glint’ can be seen in the movie, caused by light reflected from Earth’s oceans, and similar glints to be observed from extrasolar planets could indicate alien oceans,’ Deming added.

“Also, we used infrared light instead of the normal red light to make the color composite images, and that makes the land masses much more visible.”

That’s because plants and some microbes reflect near-infrared light — apparently because absorbing it would cause them to overheat during photosynthesis — and that causes land masses to appear bright at these wavelengths.

“To image Earth in a similar fashion, an alien civilization would need technology far beyond what Earthlings can even dream of building,” added Sara Seager, a planetary theorist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. REUTERS

AN OUT-OF-THE-WORLD VIEW: A still from a video sequence of the Moon passing in front of the Earth, shot by Nasa’s Deep Impact satellite.