March 2014

KYA? Keep Yourself Ahead!

A Quest Chronicle CHRIST UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

1

1

Business

1. Retail sales beat expectations

Retail sales jumped up by 1.1% in March beating the expectations of a 0.9% gain.

Excluding autos and gas, sales increased by 1.0%, much better than the expected 0.4%.

All of this is "partly due to households making up for lost time after the unusually bad weather

kept them away from the malls in previous months," said Capital Economics' Paul Dales.

"Nonetheless, it means that real consumption growth in the first quarter could be a little stronger

than the 2.0% we have been expecting."

As expected, autos were particularly strong with auto dealers seeing a 3.1% jump in sales of

vehicles and parts. Also:

Furniture sales climbed up by 1.0%

Clothing store sales increased by 1.0%.

Non store retailers, which include internet shopping activity, rose by 1.7%.

2. Govt. plans billion-dollar fund to seed desi tech firms

It proposes to rope in prominent Indian venture capitalists such as Vinod Khosla, Sam Pitroda

and Gururaj Deshpande to be part of the investment committee of the fund. According to the

proposal, the fund will provide 85 per cent of the equity without management control and the

remaining 15 per cent can be provided by the selected entrepreneurs in the form of sweat equity.

The promoter of the company will have full control of management, subject to a review by the

expert committee.

In case the start-up does not succeed in the venture, the money given will be written off. But if

the venture becomes commercially viable then the proposed fund will maintain an equity holding

above 51 per cent to prevent any foreign entity from gaining control over the firm

3. Digital advertising in India crossed Rs 3,000 crore in 2013 – FICCI KPMG

Report

2

2

The digital advertising market in India grew by 39% to Rs 3,000 crore, or about $600 million,

in 2013, and would grow by 37% in 2014 to reach Rs 4,120 crore, according to a KPMG FICCI

report on the media and entertainment sector in India released today.

Mobile advertising was a relatively small part of the overall digital advertising market in India,

according to the KPMG FICCI report. Mobile advertising comprised only Rs 340 crore, while

desktop or PC advertising comprised 2,670 crore during 2013.

The emergence of social media was a clear trend in 2013. According to the KPMG FICCI report:

Indian companies have increased the share of social media advertising in their overall

digital ad budget to 13% last from 10% in 2012.

About 86% of Indian internet users visited social networking sites in 2013.

As a proportion of the total population, social media penetration increased to 10.5% from

7.7% in the previous year.

In 2014, mobile advertising would grow to Rs 510 crore

Social media penetration is expected to reach 17.2% by 2017

The KPMG FICCI report predicted that by 2018:

The share of mobile advertising in India would rise to 18.7%, or Rs 1,910 crore.

Overall digital advertising would rise to 10,230 crore.

TV advertising would have grown to 25,300 crore.

4. Reliance Jio in tie up with Bharti Infratel for tower use

Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited has tied up with Bharti Infratel, a

subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises, to utilise the latter’s telecom tower infrastructure to launch its

services across the country, where the two companies have decided to adopt ‘arm’s length’

approach on pricing, which will be based on prevailing market rates.

Bharti Infratel has over 82,000 telecom towers, which includes over 35,000 of its own towers

and the balance from its 42 per cent equity interest in Indus Towers. Similarly, Reliance Jio is

the first telecom operator to hold pan-India Unified Licence, and plans to launch its services this

year.

3

3

5. ICICI Bank to double loans to women SHGs next fiscal

ICICI Bank is supporting one million women through its programme for Self Help Groups which

aims at empowering less-privileged women to become self-reliant."The initiative is to empower

women and make them financially independent. Over the next year, we intend to double our

reach and support over two million women with cumulative loan disbursements of Rs. 25,000

crore" Chanda Kocchar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank

commented. In the last year and a half, ICICI Bank has provided loans to 70,000 SHGs across

164 districts of seven States. The bank runs the programme through a dedicated pool of 550

employees who look after servicing SHGs

6. Dial ‘1063’ to register telecom complaints

Telecom subscribers across the country can now register complaints by dialing a special toll free

number ‘1063’

A note circulated by the Department of Telecom said a short code ‘1063’ had been activated by

the Public Grievances Cell in DoT headquarters here as a telecom consumer grievances helpline.

The new number will bring subscriber grievances into the notice of DoT. A subscriber, at

present, needs to call the customer care centre of the service provider to register a complaint.

7. Tata Motors launches low-priced trucks under Prima

4

4

Tata Motors launched ten low-priced truck models under its Prima brand — Prima LX. The new

series is about 20 per cent cheaper than the Prima range of trucks. The new range includes six

heavy trucks for haulage segment and four for the construction purposes, and is priced between

Rs.18.5 lakh and Rs.32.5 lakh. The company sells Prima range of trucks at prices between Rs.23

lakh and Rs.65 lakh. The company expected the LX range to contribute 10-15 per cent of the

company’s truck business in the next three years

8. Flipkart hits $1 billion sales

Flipkart has said that it has hit a run rate of $ I billion in gross merchandise value. In March

2011, Flipkart said it would hit the $1billion sales by 2015. At that point in time, its run rate was

$10 million. “We are really proud and excited to announce that we have hit a run rate of $1

billion GMV one year before our target. This means that we have grown 100X in the last three

years, and it reinforces our position as the leader in the Indian e-commerce industry,” a company

statement said.

9. SEBI bars FTIL from holding shares in stock exchanges

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) ordered that Financial Technologies (India)

Ltd (FTIL) is not a ‘fit and proper person’ to acquire or hold any equity share in a recognized

stock exchange or clearing corporation, either directly or indirectly. The order also covers

warrants that FTIL may be holding.

The capital market regulator also said that FTIL should divest all its existing equity holdings in

MCX-SX, MCX-SX Clearing Corporation Ltd (MCX-SX CCL), Delhi Stock Exchange Ltd

5

5

(DSE), Vadodara Stock Exchange Ltd (VSE) and National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSEIL)

within 90 days.

10. Tata Motors drops after weak global wholesales in March 2014

Tata Motors lost 2.19% to Rs 414 after the company reported fall in global wholesales in March

2014 over March 2013. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 149.69 points, or 0.66%, to

22,479.27.

On BSE, so far 1.02 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of

5.68 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 11 April 2014, rising 6.32%

compared with the Sensex's 3.68% rise. The scrip also outperformed the market in past one

quarter, surging 14.97% as against Sensex's 9.01% rise.

The large-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 643.72 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.

6

6

National

1. India’s Consumer Inflation falls to 8.1% & India’s Industrial output increased

by 0.1%:

Consumer Price Index (CPI) fallen to 8.1% in February, 2014 i.e. lowest in the last 24

months. CPI consistently fallen for the last three months mainly because of the drop in

food inflation. In comparison to January’14 food inflation reduced to 8.57% from 9.9% in

the previous month. Also the vegetable prices grew at a slower than the last month at

14.04% as against to 21.91% in the last month.

India’s industrial output increased marginally by 0.1% in January 2014, after contracting

for last three months. Though the manufacturing sector declined this month, power

generation, mining sector helped it to increase.

2. India’s Forex reserves near $300 billion mark

India’s foreign exchange reserves continued their rally for the fourth straight week,

increased by $1.35 billion to 298.64 billion dollar on a surge in currency assets even

though the reserve position with the IMF slid heavily.

Gold reserves remained unchanged at $ 20.978 billion.

Foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major part of the overall reserves, rose $1.58

billion to $ 271.40 billion.

FCAs expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of the

non-US currencies viz. the euro, pound and yen held in its reserves.

7

7

The special drawing rights were down by $ 16.9 million to % 4.462 billion, while the

country’s reserve position with the IMF was down by a whopping $ 214.7 million to

$1.801 billion.

3. SC directed Centre to withdraw all orders making Aadhar mandatory for any

service:

Justice B.S. Chauhan bench of Supreme Court has directed the Central Government to

withdraw all orders that makes Aadhaar card mandatory for availing of services. They

also instructed the UIDAI not to share any information with any Government agency

without prior permission of the card holder. The Supreme Court stated that it violates the

rights to privacy and “biometrics” is unreliable and untested. This ruling came in

response to the petition that challenged the constitutional validity of the card which is not

backed by any statute.

4. Universal Account Number by EPFO from October 2014

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) will provide permanent account

numbers to its subscribers from October, 2014. It is a statutory body under Ministry of

Labour & Employment of Indian Government and administers a compulsory contributory

Provident Fund Scheme, Pension Scheme and an Insurance Scheme. This will facilitate

8

8

more than five crore subscribers working in the organized sector and especially to those

who change their jobs frequently.

They will have only one account for their entire service period. This will also help the

EPFO to reduce their burden of transferring or changing of PF accounts of employees.

The road map for the entire project is taken care by Centre for Development of Advanced

Computing (C-DAC) under the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

of Indian Government.

5. Former CM of Delhi Ms. Sheila Dikshit becomes the Governor of Kerala

Indian President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee approved the appointment of Ms. Sheila Diksit as

the Governor of Kerala. She is the 22nd

Governor to take charge of Kerala and replaced

Mr. Nikhil Kumar, former DCP of Delhi Police. She served as Chief Minister of Delhi

for 15 years from 1998 to 2013, before she lost to Mr. ArvindKejriwal in the assembly

election of 2013.

6. Indian Navy Chief Mr. D. K. Joshi resigned after accident on Indian Sindhuratna

Mr. D. K. Joshi is the first Naval Chief to resign in the history of the Indian Navy and the

Defense Ministry accepted his resignation. He took the decision after the unfortunate

accident of INS Sindhuratna, the Russian built submarine. This accident happened near

Mumbai during its routine operation.

Seven sailors were injured and two officers were died in this mishap. It was the third

major accident in the Navy warship in last seven months.

7. Kisan Card from Axis Bank for easy loans to farmers

9

9

Axis Bank recently launched Kisan Card for the farmers in the RuPay platform that will

enable the farmers to withdraw loans up to ₹100,000 per day directly from the ATMs.

This will help the farmers to reduce the interest burden as the interest payments start after

the withdrawal of money. Electronic Kisan card will also help the farmers with 24 X 7

disbursements of funds and lower the risk of carrying higher volumes of cash.

8. India’s Largest Solar Power Plant launched in Madhya Pradesh

India’s largest solar power plant launched at Bhagwanpur in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh.

This 151-megawatt photovoltaic plant is the second largest in the world and largest in

Asia. It took about ₹ 1100crore and 350 hectares of land to establish the plant and

capable of supplying power at ₹8.05 per kWh. This will increase the solar energy

capacity of India by 7%.

9. Mr. Khushwant Singh: Noted writer & journalist passed away

Great author & journalist Mr. Khuswant Singh passed away due to cardiac arrest on 20th

March, 2014 in New Delhi. He will be remembered for great literary works like "Train to

Pakistan", "I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale" and "Delhi - A Novel". He was the

founder-editor of Yojana (1951-53) and went on to head The Illustrated Weekly of India,

the National Herald and the Hindustan Times.

He received the Padma Bhushan in 1974 but returned it in 1984, in protest against

"Operation Bluestar", or the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian

Army.

10

10

10. Zero emission bus launched in Bangalore

In a first-of-its-kind in the country, an electric passenger bus, with zero emission level,

was inaugurated by Transport Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy of Karnataka. It is an

initiative taken up by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), in co-

ordination with Utopia, the air-conditioned 31-seat coach has a range of 250 km with a

full battery charge (four to six hours).

The BMTC will operate the bus on trial basis for three months between KempeGowda

bus depot and Kadugodi. It will be used for other routes subsequently. With a battery

capacity of 324 kWhr, the bus can make about eight trips on the route, with a full charge.

A battery charging station has been set up at Depot 7 in the Majestic area.

11

11

International

1. UNHRC passed a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a changed draft resolution on Sri Lanka

during the 25th session held in Geneva on 27 March 2014. The resolution seeks to authorize

UNHRC to set up an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka to probe into human rights

violations during Sri Lankan civil war against LTTE in 2009.

The resolution titled Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka was

adopted by the 47-nation UNHRC with 23 members voting in favour of the resolution, while 12

voted against. 12 members abstained from voting including India.

2. US President Barack Obama announced NSA reform plans

President Barack Obama on 27 March 2014 announced National Security Agency (NSA) reform

plan. The plans were aimed to end bulk collection of telephone records.

Under the proposed legislation, the phone companies were allowed to store records of phone

calls and allow government agents to search the database with a court order.

The proposed legislation would curb the power of NSA and would defuse a controversy over the

government’s sweeping surveillance activities on millions of Americans.

The collection of data needs congressional approval. Although, the plan addresses the public

privacy concern but it still allows the government to conduct surveillance to thwart terrorist

attacks.

12

12

3. Myanmar started its first official census in 30 years

Myanmar started its first official census in 30 years on 30 March 2014.The census has been

facilitated by United Nations Population Fund along with its donors, who have contributed 65

million US dollar. The contribution has been made for focusing on the technical aspects of the

survey and neglecting political concerns.

As per the plan, the census will be recorded in 12 days operation and will be conducted by

100000 teachers. During the process of the process, the representatives will draw out information

like childbirth and employment rates as well as migration figures.

4. Bangladesh to provide transit facility for Indian power transmission line

Bangladesh agreed to provide transit facility for a 6000 megawatt Indian power transmission

line. This decision was taken in a joint steering committee meeting on India-Bangladesh power

sector cooperation held on 3 April 2014.

In a joint media briefing, it was informed that a committee has been formed to study feasibility

of transmitting power through RangiaRaota (Assam) to Borakpur (Bihar) via BoroPukuria

(Northwestern Dinajpur, Bangladesh).

There was also an agreement on the proposal for establishing regional grid connectivity. This

proposal plans to connect Bhutan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh via a new electricity network.

New Delhi will host meeting of all the four countries in this regard in May 2014.

5. Cambodia’s World Heritage Angkor Wat gets Google’s Street View

Google launched Street View imagery of the iconic site of Angkor Wat and some 100

surrounding historic temples on Google Maps. The Google Maps feature allows web users to

explore 100 of Cambodia’s historic temples online in 360-degree panoramic imagery.

13

13

The Angkor Wat project was developed with the help of the Apsara Authority of the Kingdom of

Cambodia. APSARA National Authority is an organisation created for the protection and

maintenance of Angkor.

6. World Autism Awareness Day Celebrated Across The world

The seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day 2014 was celebrated across the world on 2

April 2014. The day is celebrated to raise fund and to create awareness about autism. On this

day, Autism Speaks organisation celebrated Light It Up Blue. Light It Up Blue is a global

initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism. The

United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on Autism on 18

December 2007 and decided to designate 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day

7. NATO suspended all co-operations with Russia over Ukraine crisis

NATO condemning the annexation as illegal on 1 April 2014 suspended all cooperation with

Russia over the Crimea crisis. It also questioned Moscow’s claim to withdraw troops from near

the Ukrainian border.

The decision to suspend all cooperation ¬ civilian and military - with Russia was taken at the

first meet of the Foreign Minister’s of the 28-member NATO bloc since the annexation of

Crimea by Russia. The NATO’s Foreign Minister meet was held at Brussels, Belgium.

Besides, it was also agreed to look at options including situating permanent military bases in the

Baltic states to reassure members in Eastern Europe.

8. Malaysian PM confirms flight MH370 ended in the Indian Ocean

The Malaysian prime minister, speaking at a press conference said that British investigators have

concluded that Malaysia Airlines MH370 did indeed take the southern flight corridor over the

Indian Ocean. This conclusion appears to be based on the Inmarsat data. “According to this new

data, flight MH370 ended in the Indian Ocean,” Prime Minister NajibRazak said. Following this

confirmation, Malaysia Airlines sent a text message to relatives, saying that “we have to assume

beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board

survived.”

14

14

9. Michelle Bachelet sworn-in as President of Chile for second term

Michelle Bachelet was sworn-in as the President of Chile in Valparaiso. The 62-year old

Michelle, the socialist leader took the oath of the office on 11 March 2014. She succeeded the

conservative President Sebastian Pinera.

In the Presidential election conducted in December 2013, Michelle won 62 percent of the vote in

the second round against the 38 percent vote won by the conservative leader Evelyn Matthei.

This is her second term in the office and with this swearing-in she became the first Chilean

President in over half a century to return for the second term.

10. Third Nuclear Security Summit 2014 held in The Hague

15

15

The Third Nuclear Security Summit was held in The Hague, Netherlands from 24 to 25 March

2014. The summit was attended by 58 World leaders. At the summit, the leaders reached an

agreement to prevent terrorists getting their hands on nuclear material that could be used to make

a nuclear weapon. This will further reduce the threat of a nuclear attack.

Under the initiative 35 countries agreed to incorporate the guidelines of IAEA in their national

legislation. These guidelines will be binding and also engage IAEA teams to assess the security

of nuclear materials.

These countries have also pledged to allow teams of international experts to evaluate their

security procedures for nuclear material.

16

16

Science & Technology

1. iPhone Stealth IO heart rate monitor was 3D printed by a 15-year old

The Samsung Galaxy S5 will come with a built-in heart rate monitor, but iPhone users can now

3D print their own heart rate monitor add-on.

Heart rate measuring apps that use the iPhone's camera and light are already available, but this

stethoscope is a brilliant alternative. It was designed and 3D printed by 15-year old creator

Suman Mulumundi after his generous parents bought him a MakerBot Replicator 2. His father

is a cardiologist, has started his own company called StratoScientific and has applied for the

patents for his design.

The Stealth IO is a plastic iPhone case that doubles as a stethoscope. The case uses a diaphragm

that collects low-frequency sounds and delivers them through a tube to the microphone. The app

then "hears" the sound of a person's heart beat, displaying it on the screen.

When the design gets FDA approved it may become available to download and print but from

the look of the StratoScientific website, it won't come for free.

2. Facebook buys Oculus VR for $2 billion

Facebook has purchased virtual reality company Oculus (that makes headsets and software hotly

coveted by gamers) for $2 billion. Its Oculus Rift headset has been leading the VR space.

Facebook plans to extend Oculus' existing position in gaming to new verticals, including

communications, media and entertainment, education, and more. You could enjoy a court side

seat at a game, study in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consult with a

doctor face-to-face -- just by putting on goggles in your home.

17

17

The Oculus Rift

The Oculus Rift is a head-mounted display that features a high-resolution OLED display within,

that totally encompasses your vision regardless of where you move your head and that makes

you believe that you are in whatever world you are virtually in.

It was previously announced the consumer version of the Oculus Rift will be released in late

2014 or early 2015. The $2 billion deal includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of

Facebook common stock.Now that mobile has begun to stabilize, Zuckerberg said he believes

VR is the next major computing platform after mobile.

Oculus Rift: 5 Virtual Reality Uses Beyond Gaming

1. Therapy for amputees and stroke victims

Virtual reality systems might eventually help people who have lost an arm or a leg and

experience excruciating sensations known as phantom limb pain. Virtual reality could also help

people who have lost function in one of their arms due to a stroke.

2. Controlling robots on Mars

Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif., recently unveiled a rig that allows

an operator to use the Oculus Rift headset to see through the eyes of a robot avatar. The system

also includes Kinect 2 motion-sensing software from Xbox One, which picks up the operator's

gestures to move the robot's arm.

3. Seeing inside the body

Virtual simulations could give scientists and doctors an unprecedented view of the inner

workings of human body. Computational neuroscientists demonstrated a "glass brain" at the

South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive festival in Austin, Texas, this month. By putting on a

set of Oculus Rift goggles, users could see the brain activity in real-time of a person wearing a

cap studded with electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes attached to their head.

18

18

4. Treatment for PTSD(Posttraumatic stress disorder)

Military service members suffering chronic combat-related PTSD might benefit from therapy

sessions that incorporate virtual simulations of the battlefield. Soldiers saw significant reductions

in their PTSD symptoms after using a virtual reality headset that allowed them to confront and

tolerate simulated memories and fears in battlefield environments.

5. Military training

Many soldiers today have experience with virtual reality simulators before they ever even get

deployed. The U.S. Army actually uses game-like simulations such as "Virtual Battlespace 2"

and noncommercial versions of "America's Army" to train and educate service members and

prepare them for the mental horrors of war.

3. D-Air wireless airbag jackets from Ducati and Dainese protect riders from the

road

D-Air jackets that inflate when a rider comes off a Ducati motorbike are not new, but ones that

are wirelessly controlled by the bike are a world first.

The latest airbag jacket, from motorbike manufacturer Ducati and riding gear specialist Dainese,

is intelligently controlled by the bike. When a rider is in a crash or fall the bike will detect this

and wirelessly inflate the airbag in the jacket protecting the rider's entire torso and neck. Current

systems require a cord to be pulled which isn't ideal if rider and bike remain together in a

collision.

The airbag jackets will inflate in 45-milliseconds after being triggered by the bike. The

motorcycle controls both the rider and pillion airbags to offer protection in most collision

situations.

19

19

The special D-Air edition will work with the Ducati Multistrada 1200 motorcycle but is going to

be European only at launch. More details on the project are due to be revealed by Ducatti on 15

April for a release in May.

4. HereO GPS watch will help keep tab on children’s whereabouts

There's a new GPS smartwatch and complementary app on website Indiegogo created

specifically for young children, and it's seeking crowd-source backing in order to get a proper

launch.

Called hereO GPS watch, the gadget is described as "the coolest, smallest GPS watch truly

designed for kids". It's real-time tracking device in the form of a trendy, colourful watch, and it

works with a "great family locator app". Simply strap the watch onto a child's wrist, then load the

hereO app on your smartphone, and start monitoring his or her whereabouts.

The hereO GPS watch features a "build-in SIM-Card" that auto-connects to a local carrier in

more than 140 countries. And there’s no roaming fee. Once connected, you can set parameters so

that the GPS watch and app will notify you when a child enters or leaves a specific area such as a

school. You can also use hereO to simply see where your child is at any given moment.

The hereO watch is expected to land in retail stores this autumn for $149.

5. Samsung also enters the LED smart bulb game

Like Philips and, more recently, bitter Korean rival LG, Samsung has announced it is entering

the Smart Bulb LED lighting market with products aimed at consumers and businesses.

Unlike some wireless technologies though, the Samsung Smart Bulb features Bluetooth

connectivity rather than rely on a Wi-Fi network or proprietary bridge. This means a user can

contact the bulb directly from their smartphone or tablet and control each device separately.

20

20

Up to 64 Smart Bulbs can be accessed and controlled at a time and no additional equipment is

required. They can be dimmed to just 10 per cent brightness and while there is no multi-colour

control, unlike the Philips Hue system, they can be altered from 2700k (arm white) to 6500k

(cool white). Each bulb lasts approximately 10 years, claims Samsung.

LG had earlier announced its new Smart Bulb product, a set of light bulbs that connect to iOS

and Android devices for a different way to light your home.

The Smart Bulb features "LG Smart Lighting" that has a security mode to make it appear like

you're home when you're away, a mode that will flash light when you're playing music, and a

mode that will flash when you receive a phone call on your handset. You can also control the

brightness of the bulb, and set it to slowly brighten as you wake up from a nap.

The Smart Bulbs are low wattage, according to LG, running for more than 10 years when used

for five hours a day.

LG is essentially taking on the Phillips Hue, a wireless lighting system that lets you control up to

50 light bulbs via a smartphone app.

LG has announced the Smart Bulb will be available in South Korea to start, priced at 35,000

won, or roughly $32 each. We'll be looking for an announcement for UK and US availability.

6. Chocabyte is world's most affordable chocolate 3D printer at $99

The idea of 3D printing chocolate shapes has been hindered by the steep prices of the

technology, until now. The Chocabyte 3D printer is $99 and will allow users to print any

chocolate shapes their imaginations can muster.

21

21

The process is pretty simple. Download a shape from Chocabyte's database or design one using

simple software that doesn't require CAD knowledge. Users can even take a photo of an object

and print that off as a chocolate clone. The only limitation is size as Chocabyte has an area of 2-

inches by 2-inches by 1-inch.

Chocolate cartridges cost $10 for 4 and need to be placed in the microwave to melt before being

loaded into the printer. But a solid choccy shape in possible less than ten minutes, so the whole

process is fairly speedy.

Chocabyte will be limited to 500 models initially, each with their own unique model number.

Once these have been made in Australia and shipped within an expected three-month period,

more will be mass-produced by third party manufacturers across the globe.

At the moment there aren’t many alternatives for 3D printing chocolate, certainly not at a

reasonable price. Rival company 3D Systems has its ChefJet, capable of 3D printing sugar

shapes with colour, but that starts at $5,000.

ChefJet

3D Systems ChefJet Pro will print sweets in tasty shapes and colours

22

22

Printing food seemed like a long way off. But now 3D Systems has unveiled its ChefJet capable

of 3D printing sweets.

The ChefJet comes with a Digital Cookbook that lets even non-CAD users create and print

treats. Using sugar and water as base materials, creations are limited only by your imagination.

While aimed at professional pastry chefs, the printer can be used by anyone. There are two

models for differing levels of use. The ChefJet 3D can print using chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour

apple, cherry and watermelon flavours up to a size of 8 inches x 8 inches x 6 inches. These are

all print in one colour only.

Both printers will go on sale in the second half of 2014 with the ChefJet priced under $5,000 and

the ChefJet Pro at under $10,000.

7. Philips Google Glass concept for doctors delivers vital stats as they operate

Philips has shown off a Google Glass concept designed for doctors that would allow them to see

patients vital statistics when in surgery without looking away from what they are doing.

While the idea of wearing the new wearable might not be accepted on the high street or down the

pub by most, Philips' Healthcare division is looking at ways it can improve the medical industry.

The concept sees a Google Glass connected to Philips IntelliVue Solutions system (it's medical

software) already in many surgeries, and then the patients vital signs streamed to a Google Glass

worn by the surgeon. By giving doctors hands-free access to critical information as it happens

they will be better placed to make decisions quickly without looking away from the patient in

front of them.

In a quick demo without a patient, a spokesman for the company showed how vital signs could

be displayed on Glass and how, if a problem occurred a flashing red light and the problem stat

would be displayed.

23

23

The challenge is that the Google Glass isn't as fast as the iPad nor does the battery last as long.

There are also regulatory requirements to get through. Philips is open to collaborating with either

Google glass or its competitors.

8. 'Smart' Helmet Startup Wins Wearable Tech Award at SXSW 2014

A company that makes augmented-reality motorcycle helmets was named the best wearable tech

company at a technology competition here at South by Southwest Interactive festival Sunday

night (Mar. 9). A "smart" motorcycle helmet could let drivers see in all directions, while looking

only ahead.

The winner of the wearable category was the Silicon Valley startup Skully Helmets, creator of an

augmented-reality motorcycle helmet. The helmet has a 180-degree rear-view camera that

projects images to a transparent headset display, so the driver's eyes can see around them in

every direction, while never having to leave the road ahead.

Skully Helmets aims to create "the safest motorcycle helmet on the face of the planet." The

prototype helmet was designed for people riding motorcycles, but the company has had a lot of

demand for bicycle and skiing helmets, as well as for military applications.

Computer technology company Oracle sponsored the events. Startups pitched their products to

judges from venture capital, industry and the media.

24

24

9. War Robots and the 2014 World Cup – Defenders Off the Field (Op-Ed)

High-tech robots called PackBots will be unleashed during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil

to help boost security and examine suspicious objects.

The Brazilian government purportedly spent US$7.2 million to buy 30 military-grade robots

from designers iRobot that will police the stadiums throughout Brazil’s 12 host cities during

soccer matches.

PackBot is a hunk of metal with an extendable arm and tactile claw, jam-packed on-

board sensors and a computer with overheat protection, nine high-resolution cameras and lasers

and two-way audio.

Sport’s history of violence

On April 30 1993, then-world number 1 tennis sensation Monica Seles was stabbed in the back

while playing a quarter-final at Hamburg’s Rothenbaum. She was only 19.Player safety was

going to become even bigger business.

Pitch invasions had long been a tradition of Australian Football League (AFL), and at the end of

matches supporters could run onto the field to celebrate the game and play kick-to-kick with

their family and friends.

What makes PackBots attractive for civilian security situations, such as large-scale sporting

tournaments?

PackBots made their debut in Afghanistan as far back as 2002. During the “war on terror” these

uninhabited systems had several tasks:

To clear bunkers

Search in caves

Enter collapsed buildings in search of life

25

25

Cross minefields

Conduct surveillance.

This began a trend of development subsequently in Iraq and other US conflicts, until recently

when they went where no human would want to go, the Fukushima nuclear facility in March

2011 after the devastation of the Japanese tsunami.

PackBots can move faster than 14km/h, rotate 360 degrees, traverse rugged terrain, climb up

60% grades and even swim in water, being able to cope with being submerged up to two metres.

It can even be remotely operated with hardly any lag using a joystick.

And the use of electronics in sport isn’t new. Hawk-Eye officiates whether the ball was in or out

of the sideline, FoxCopter hovers above spectators at the cricket just to give us up-close personal

shots of players and the third umpire adjudicates challenges.

But now the PackBots are coming: ostensibly precise, they are not supposed to malfunction or

act against the controller’s wishes (or those instructions that they have been programmed with)

and they cannot be easily destroyed. In the not-so-distant future they could use their cameras to

observe you, their chemical sensors to breathalyse you, their extended arm to trap you and their

claw to handcuff you.

10. Wearables given the finger: New gesture controlled Ring given go ahead

26

26

We've seen watches, glasses, necklaces, and now a wearable you can put on your finger. Called

Ring, from creators Longbar, the new piece of wearable tech detects your finger movements to

control anything with a wave of your digit. Its motion sensors are so accurate it can even detect

letter shapes for writing messages, or ticks for confirming payments.

Beginning as a Kickstarter project, and now gaining approval to be made into a sellable product,

the Bluetooth connected Ring is worn on the index finger and uses motion sensors to detect

movements.

The device provides four functions:

1) A gesture control function to control home appliances and apps;

2) Texting where gesturing of letters in the air enables the user to write a text;

3) Payment information transmission to settle payment of bills with a single gesture;

4) A receive/alert function to detect incoming transmissions/alerts through built-in vibration and

LED.

Each application has its own unique gesture mark and is activated when the user performs the

designated action. Gestures can also be edited and customized via a smartphone or tablet.

The user can set shapes to carry out tasks, like drawing a lightbulb followed by a tick to turn on a

smart light. It will also work with Apple iBeacon and GPS, allowing users to make payments in

shops with a simple tick gesture. We'd hope some other layers of security are involved here too.

The battery is rechargeable and should last for around 1,000 gestures. There is also a mobile

recharging stand in development that can offer a further five recharges while on the go.

27

27

Sports & Entertainment

1. Shikhar Dhawan named among Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year

Shikhar Dhawan, the Indian cricketer was named as one of the Five Cricketers of 2014 for his

performance in 2013.

Dhawan was honoured for being the highest run-scorer during India’s triumph in the ICC

Champions trophy in which he scored 363 runs in five ODIs at an average of 90.75. He was the

Man of the Series performance in the Champions Trophy 2013.

Dhawan in 2013 scored 1162 runs in 26 ODIs at an average of 50.52.

2. Karnataka wins the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2013-14

Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Cricket Trophy 2013-14 for the first time by defeating

Railways by four wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 16 March 2014.

28

28

In the final, Railways scored 157 in 47.4 overs whereas Karnataka scored 158 in 43 over for six

wickets. Abhimanyu Mithun was named as the man of the match for picking up 4 wickets for 19

runs.

3. Sports Minister inaugurated National Cycling Academy in New Delhi

Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports on 5 March 2014 inaugurated the

Sports Authority of India National Cycling Academy (SAI NCA) at Indira Gandhi Sports

Complex. The academy with complete back-up facilities has been set up following the decision

taken in the 42nd meeting of the Governing Body of SAI.

The finances of the academy will be maintained by Government of India, Ministry of Youth

Affairs & Sports through Sports Authority of India. The Academy has been launched with a

long-term perspective of making an Academy which will be financially independent and a self-

sustaining venture.

Apart from the National Cycling Academy, on 5 March 2015, the Youth Affairs and Sports

Minister also launched a project to create swimming pools at three stadiums in the

capital, namely:

• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS)

• Indira Gandhi Sports Complex (IGSC)

• Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range

29

29

4. Novak Djokovic edges Roger Federer to win BNP Paribas Open

The world’s number two Novak Djokovic on 16 March 2014 defeated Roger Federer to win the

BNP Paribas Open Final in Indian Wells ATP Tennis Masters in California 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

This trophy is the first title of the year for Djokovic and third at the BNP Paribas Open.

Federer leads their rivalry by 18-16.

5. Lewis Hamilton wins Malaysian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton's won the Malaysian Grand Prix on 28th

March.

The win by Hamilton and Mercedes, ended a run of nine races without a podium, one of his

worst droughts since he entered the top tier of the sport at the start of 2007.

Hamilton is congratulated by Sebastian Vettel on the podium

From pre-season testing, Mercedes was supposed to have the best car, and so it has proven so far,

30

30

with Nico Rosberg following up his win at the opening race in Australia by finishing second to

Hamilton this time.

This was Hamilton’s 23rd victory and his first at the Sepang International Circuit.

Hamilton finished 17.3 seconds clear of Rosberg, with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel third

in his Red Bull but 25 seconds down on the lead Mercedes.

6. Legendary Poet and lyricist Gulzar selected for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

2013

Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting selected and announced that the famous

and Legendary Poet and film lyricist Gulzar selected for the DadasahebPhalke Award

2013.Gulzar will be the 45th winner of most prestigious Indian film industry award

called Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Gulzar’s real name is Sampooran Singh Kalra and he is very renowned as a lyricist, director,

poet, screen writer and producer.

31

31

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is given by government of India to the people or individuals who

contributed outstandingly in the field of India cinema. Sampooran Singh Kalra or Gulzar hass

also been honored with Sahitya Akademi Award 2002, numerous of National Film Awards ,

Padma Bhushan 2004 and 20th film-fare awards. Gulzar got more popularity when he

won Academy Award at 81st Oscars in 2009 for his song name called Jai Ho which was created

with A.R.Rahman.

7. 'Frozen' hits sales high note, holds throne on top of Billboard

The soundtrack to Disney's "Frozen" showed no signs of slowing down four months after its

release, as sales for the album hit a high note and held the top spot on the Billboard 200 album

chart on Wednesday.

"Frozen," which features the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go," sold 202,000 copies last week

according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, its biggest sales week since its November 25

release.

"Frozen," the Oscar-winning animated tale of two Nordic princess sisters who must save their

kingdom from an eternal winter, has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide at the film box

office. The spike in sales of its soundtrack was spurred by the release of the film on DVD.

8. Disney's 'Frozen' becomes top-grossing animated film ever

Disney's hit film "Frozen" has become the top-grossing animated film in box office history, the

studio said on Sunday as the musical topped $1 billion in global sales.

The film has sold $398.4 million worth of tickets at domestic (U.S. and Canadian) theaters since

opening on November 27 on the eve of the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Foreign box offices

have added another $674 million, for a global total of $1.072 billion, Disney said.

32

32

"Frozen," inspired by "The Snow Queen" fairytale, is the story of a Scandinavian princess who

must reconnect with her sister, the Queen, who has the power of freezing anything into ice with

her hands and accidentally sets off a long winter that is destroying their kingdom.

The previous animated-film box office champion was 2010's "Toy Story 3," which racked up

$1.063 billion in sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com. Both films were distributed by Walt

Disney Pictures.

"Frozen," which stayed in the top 10 films on domestic box office charts for more than three

months, also has now become the 10th-largest grossing film in cinema history.

9. Winners at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards

33

33

The MTV Movie Awards are decided by fans in online voting. The following are the winners at

Sunday's ceremony:

Movie of the year "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Best male performance Josh Hutcherson for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Best female performance Jennifer Lawrence for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Breakthrough performance Will Poulter for "We're The Millers"

Favorite character Tris, played by Shailene Woodley in "Divergent"

Best comedic performance Jonah Hill for "The Wolf Of Wall Street"

Best on-screen transformation Jared Leto for "Dallas Buyers Club"

10. Paul Walker's brothers to fill in for late actor in 'Fast 7'

The brothers of actor Paul Walker, who died in November, will fill in for the late action star in

order to complete scenes in the upcoming film "Fast & Furious 7," according to a statement

posted on the film's Facebook page.

34

34

Caleb and Cody Walker will help finish action scenes for their brother and "fill in small gaps left

in production," the statement said.

Walker, 40, died on November 30 in a fiery one-car crash in Santa Clarita, California, northwest

of Los Angeles.

Walker was on break from filming "Fast & Furious 7" at the time of his death, which led to a

temporary halt in production.

The actor had become an emblem of street racing and car culture in the role of law enforcement

officer Brian O'Conner in five of the six "Fast & Furious" films about illegal street racing, heists

and organized crime.

35

35

Coordinator:

Shariq Ashfaque

Editors:

Arijit Mitra

Shariq Ashfaque

Team:

Joslin Julius

Vishnu Santhosh S

Charishna Challagundla

Faculty Co-ordinator:

Prof. Binu P Paul

QUEST POCs:

Charishna Challagundla

Himanshu Chauhan

Feedback & Suggestions:

quest@mba.christuniversity.in

Contact Us:

Christ University Institute of Management

Hosur Road

Bangalore-560029

www.christuniversity.in

For Internal Circulation only

KYA? QUEST CHRONICLE TEAM

TEAM QUEST