I have been working on a variety of technologies for the last fifty five years.
Surge Cycle
Surge cycle, invented by Som in 1963, is a modification of
the Otto cycle. A surge chamber is added to the combustion chamber of a
gasoline engine. The compression ratio of the engine is increased beyond the
highest useful compression ratio (HUCR) that gasoline of a given octane number
would normally tolerate. A thin stainless steel diaphragm separates the gases
in the combustion chamber and compressed air in the sealed surge chamber.
During the compression stroke and combustion process, the diaphragm deflects
into the surge chamber and progressively increases the clearance volume in the
main combustion chamber. Thus, the theoretical constant volume combustion is
changed to variable volume combustion, somewhat like that in a Diesel cycle.
The net result is that the surge cycle yields higher part load efficiencies as
the effective compression ratio has been increased without encountering knocking
phenomenon. Tests were conducted on an engine and results showed remarkable
improvement in engine performance. Som received his PHD for the work. Results
were published in the ASME publication 69-WA/DGP-7.
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Natural Computing
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Technology and Method for National ID
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Many software
engineering problems stem, in part, from the need for software designers to
understand specialized knowledge domains. This process necessarily introduces
long delays and costs. Software tools for word processing, graphics, and CAD
drawing have overcome this problem because the tools are domain independent.
Such tools are still not available in science and engineering books. Current
computer software systems are not capable of representing familiar calculation
features such as equations, tables, graphs, procedures, and pictures in such a
way that these features assist humans to perform calculations in a natural, and
intuitive way. There is a strong need for these features to present users with
“natural” ways of doing calculations—that is, ways analogous to the paper-based
techniques used in the absence of computers. Features presented in this way
would make computing more transparent and intuitive.
In the “Natural Computing” approach proposed here, software tools are first developed and then given to domain specialists for them to incorporate their calculation methods, knowledge, and data. As domain knowledge changes and grows, and as new methods of calculation are devised, domain specialists can add new methods and procedures to the existing methods and develop successively enhanced versions of application software for use by both specialists and naïve end-users. Domain information and knowledge can be captured in electronic technical books and communicated electronically for further expeditious use. Natural Computing eases application system development and accelerates the dissemination of domain knowledge leading to quicker development of further knowledge. |
In the modern world, people carry many identification
documents. Typical examples are passports, visas, driver licenses, diplomas,
birth certificates, credit cards, ration cards, and so on. Forgery of these
documents is a serious global problem. Verification of the authenticity of the
issuer is itself complex. Identification theft is also a serious issue. With
mad cow disease and other problems with food, Animal Identification has also
gained prominence. Current practice is to carry paper or electronic tags, both
of which are susceptible to tampering.
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Planning
There is strong optimism that India will become a developed country in the next thirty to fifty years. Most of the descriptions about the developed country have been qualitative. In this article, I am making an attempt to project a potential goal state in quantitative terms when we can say that India has arrived as a developed country. It is necessary to set a target Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and project when that goal might be reached under a certain set of assumptions. This target will also allow us to measure how closer we are to the goal and how well we are doing in terms of schedule. But, there are more important features for a developed country beyond the GDP figure. Social development should be a simultaneous goal of leaders. People at the bottom of the pyramid have to be moved to the middle. Advanced technological developments of the twentieth century give rise to the hope that with enlightened leadership, development can reach the masses. The smart approach may lie in planning large scale knowledge-intensive businesses that create goods and services while generating employment opportunity for millions of people in India. Common citizens have the democratic power to choose wise leadership and give the latter a mandate to develop knowledge based strategic development goals. This leadership consists of the Members of the Parliament, Members of the State Assemblies, and other elected leaders of local constituencies, such as the Panchayats.
Strategic planning is the key to assuring citizens that their elected leaders are working on a defined path. This calls for the development of a series of congruent strategic plans from the national to state to local level. These plans should dovetail at various levels and complement one another. Local planning gives ownership of the plan to local people, takes local inputs, tunes to the environment, allows close monitoring, responds to feedback, facilitates support, ensures sharing of sacrifices and results, and leads to success in plan execution. When several thousand panchayats undertake planning, there is need for an information technology tool that guides local planners by providing templates/formats and guidance on how to generate information and data for the plan. In the next stage, a format processor integrates the information and data in appropriate ways to create plans for the district, state, and national levels. For a successful national effort, such a plan development project should be web based. An initial level format for the plan development tool is described in this paper.
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Discover New Forms of Business with Morphological Analysis
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Wealth Creation in the US
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Zicky (1962, 1969) explained the method known as morphological analysis as "total thinking."
By applying morphological analysis to business processes, one can visualize many new forms of businesses. As technology, markets, cultural norms, and regulations change with time, new ways of doing business emerge. Morphological analysis can be conducted periodically to take advantage of changes and modernize business operations. The analysis will allow new forms of businesses to be conceived, evaluated, and implemented. Interesting possibilities, with examples, were demonstrated. Education
Half-Life of College Learning:
Half life of anything we learn about engineering components, equipment, and systems is about five years. The exceptions are the fundamental sciences and engineering principles, which have long lives. Students should be prepared for life-long learning. The foundations for such learning should be laid in the college. The society, the college, and the student should strive to make learning fun and enjoyable. Certain soft skills should be acquired early in a student’s education so that continual learning is sought and the half-life problem is overcome. Gaining Excellence in Teaching and Learning: As modern technology evolves in an exponential fashion, the half-life of knowledge is shrinking fast. The time to transition knowledge from the laboratory to the class room is diminishing by orders of magnitude. Despite its excellent universities, the United States is continually launching novel initiatives to maintain its preeminent position in the education system and research environment. A university has to offer its students a knowledge rich learning environment. It has to teach them the art of learning. Students have to learn the techniques of invention, discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship, team work, and communication. A college has to create doers, managers, and leaders. A university should set a vision and measure itself to excel in national development, citizen development, discovery, invention, innovation, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. It should be guided by the virtues of social development, values, service, and global competitiveness and reach. Focus on teaching, research, application, and entrepreneurship. Teach openness and accountability by being open and transparent. Knowledge Edge from Globalization Can Make India a Developed Country Globalization is not a new phenomenon. Throughout human history people, capital, and knowledge have been moving across national boundaries. In the recent past, however, the pace of globalization has picked up. Likewise, social development has been the goal of rulers and leaders, but with little success in their efforts. Furthermore, the exponential growth of world population worsened the plight of the people at the bottom of the pyramid in the developing countries. Advanced technological developments of the twentieth century have again given rise to hopes that with enlightened leadership, development can reach the masses. The smart approach may lie in planning large scale knowledge-intensive businesses that create goods and services while creating employment opportunities for many millions in India. Common citizens have the democratic power to choose wise leadership and give them the mandate to develop knowledge based strategic development goals. |
Abstract:
Most indications are that the US economy is headed for rough weather both in the near term and the long term. The optimists believe that the US innovation and ingenuity will win while pessimists think that the situation is far worse now than in historical cases of recession. Discussion about the wealth of a nation may be analyzed in the context of the society, the people and businesses. Recent discourse about wealth has focused exclusively on government debt and fiscal deficits. It is critical to realize that businesses and labor together create wealth while the government removes impediments and creates the right environment for the creation of wealth. People who are unemployed and underemployed do not create wealth and will be a drag on the society via the government in the near and far term. A compassionate society supports welfare schemes to support fellow citizens who are unable to satisfy their basic needs as it does not tolerate the suffering of its people. Enlightened societies invest in providing the people at the bottom of the ladder with skills and education so that they get succor for the present as well as save for their future. In its own economic interest, a society should assist people at the bottom of the ladder to move up the ladder. The return on such investment is the reduction or even complete elimination of future welfare payments. Oil imports and manufacturing outsourcing to countries with cheap labor stand out as primary causes for recent high unemployment and low GDP growth rates. Therefore, the search for long term solutions should start with a collaborative plan with companies to convert to domestic alternate and renewable sources of energy, and focusing on on-shore manufacturing. Simultaneous focus on skill enhancement for labor and a high degree of automation in manufacturing should take the nation a long way to sustainable economic growth. The country’s long term vision should have no need for welfare with most people well placed in the middle of the ladder. Hence, the first order to accomplish lasting progress is for these three groups to collaborate in developing a strategic plan to begin recreating wealth in the US. It is therefore essential for the US to analyze the current circumstances and develop a strategic plan of action to regain wealth and prosperity. |
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STEM
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eBilling/Filing
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There has been an increasing interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects as global economic development is increasingly dependent on advanced technology and manufacturing. Academics and industrial leaders have suggested that schools should focus on better teaching methods in order to improve students' focus on STEM subjects. I had suggested that young students should be challenged that it is their turn to bring about major developments that make life better for them and for all people in the world. Terms and concepts common in STEM subjects should be introduced to children as simple and fun examples so that when subjects are taught, they can visualize the objects that the concepts relate to.
A presentation can be downloaded from here. |
With ecommerce, we have been getting electronic bills and there have been many software applications, which file them on our computers or in the Cloud. Over fifteen years ago, Som suggested eBilling or eFiling method that does more than merely filing receipts. Our bills and receipts should be filed and appropriately catalogued and linked so that a variety of applications can be developed that alert us for opportunities with the data and information in the receipts. For example, product purchase comes with warranties and guarantees and the electronic receipt should alert us when a need arises. When we need to buy spare parts for replacement or repair, we should be able to look at the information using our smart phones.
Please contact me to get a disclosure to revive this concept. |
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY
OF NEEDS CAN GUIDE TECHNOLOGY PLANNING FOR ECONOMIC DEVEOPMENT
Abstract:
Traditionally, Maslow’s need hierarchy is discussed in the context of social development, but it can be used to plan technology in order that greater numbers of people can prosper economically and feel well. The key is to do technology planning in harmony with people’s wishes. The conventional wisdom that some proportion of a population will have to be at the top of the socio-economic ladder while others toil at the bottom, assumes that economic development is a “zero-sum game.” Technology development has increased productivity at all levels of the Maslow’s need ladder. Pervasive application of technology can lead to great economic gains for all people. The characteristics of the need ladder are such that the activities at the higher levels involve higher rates of economic growth and emphasize knowledge, education, and technology. Technology should be used to free humans from the drudgery of chores at the lower levels so they can move up the Maslow’s need ladder.
Achieving Global Development and Peace through Maslow’s Hierarchical Revolutions
As we begin the Twenty first century, we realize that the world’s greatest needs are economic development and enduring peace. Most writers have seen world development in only economic terms. Unless we see needs in a human dimension and bring development at a rapid pace, peace will remain a distant dream. The human dimension can be understood only when we address the needs as described by Abraham Maslow in his Need Ladder or Need Hierarchy. Furthermore, we have to address human needs at a revolutionary pace as people do not have infinite patience in this Internet age.
Maslow defined five types of human needs. Physiological needs come first. For the most part, people in developed countries achieved these needs. Modern agriculture, food processing, storage, transportation, and distribution satisfied this need in developed countries. These countries assumed that their safety and security needs are also mostly satisfied until the terrorism incidents of the eleventh September 2001. Meanwhile developing countries are still struggling to satisfy both physiological and security needs of all people.
Next on Maslow’s Hierarchy is the need for affiliation, association, to love, and to be loved. As we move up higher on Maslow’s Hierarchy, we encounter esteem, and recognition needs. Artists, musicians, writers, sculptors, and, those who excelled in their chosen fields, are recognized by their peers. Great sports persons, athletes, engineers, scientists, economists, belong to this category. Finally, a small number of people push themselves to reach the heights of their profession and satisfy their self-actualization needs. Geniuses, super stars, and statesmen belong in the last category. There are only a few in a million who satisfy needs at the highest level.
The current pace of economic development in the world is too slow to accomplish human’s movement on the Need Ladder. This situation does not auger well for democracy and peace in the world. How will the society look like, when revolutionary progress occurs at every level of the Maslow’s Need Ladder? In this paper, I sketched the characteristics of these revolutions. I believe that intense application of advanced technology can address these needs and bring peace to the world. Enlightened and committed leadership can launch and accomplish revolutionary goals. Their first task is to convince people that a vision of Maslow’s hierarchical revolutions is necessary and realizable. Global partnership and investment of goodwill by common people will allow human ascent on the Maslow’s need ladder.
Traditionally, Maslow’s need hierarchy is discussed in the context of social development, but it can be used to plan technology in order that greater numbers of people can prosper economically and feel well. The key is to do technology planning in harmony with people’s wishes. The conventional wisdom that some proportion of a population will have to be at the top of the socio-economic ladder while others toil at the bottom, assumes that economic development is a “zero-sum game.” Technology development has increased productivity at all levels of the Maslow’s need ladder. Pervasive application of technology can lead to great economic gains for all people. The characteristics of the need ladder are such that the activities at the higher levels involve higher rates of economic growth and emphasize knowledge, education, and technology. Technology should be used to free humans from the drudgery of chores at the lower levels so they can move up the Maslow’s need ladder.
Achieving Global Development and Peace through Maslow’s Hierarchical Revolutions
As we begin the Twenty first century, we realize that the world’s greatest needs are economic development and enduring peace. Most writers have seen world development in only economic terms. Unless we see needs in a human dimension and bring development at a rapid pace, peace will remain a distant dream. The human dimension can be understood only when we address the needs as described by Abraham Maslow in his Need Ladder or Need Hierarchy. Furthermore, we have to address human needs at a revolutionary pace as people do not have infinite patience in this Internet age.
Maslow defined five types of human needs. Physiological needs come first. For the most part, people in developed countries achieved these needs. Modern agriculture, food processing, storage, transportation, and distribution satisfied this need in developed countries. These countries assumed that their safety and security needs are also mostly satisfied until the terrorism incidents of the eleventh September 2001. Meanwhile developing countries are still struggling to satisfy both physiological and security needs of all people.
Next on Maslow’s Hierarchy is the need for affiliation, association, to love, and to be loved. As we move up higher on Maslow’s Hierarchy, we encounter esteem, and recognition needs. Artists, musicians, writers, sculptors, and, those who excelled in their chosen fields, are recognized by their peers. Great sports persons, athletes, engineers, scientists, economists, belong to this category. Finally, a small number of people push themselves to reach the heights of their profession and satisfy their self-actualization needs. Geniuses, super stars, and statesmen belong in the last category. There are only a few in a million who satisfy needs at the highest level.
The current pace of economic development in the world is too slow to accomplish human’s movement on the Need Ladder. This situation does not auger well for democracy and peace in the world. How will the society look like, when revolutionary progress occurs at every level of the Maslow’s Need Ladder? In this paper, I sketched the characteristics of these revolutions. I believe that intense application of advanced technology can address these needs and bring peace to the world. Enlightened and committed leadership can launch and accomplish revolutionary goals. Their first task is to convince people that a vision of Maslow’s hierarchical revolutions is necessary and realizable. Global partnership and investment of goodwill by common people will allow human ascent on the Maslow’s need ladder.
Hydrogen Energy
Wind power is currently utilized as a renewable power
technology for generating electricity.
Combining this electricity with water electrolysis, wind can provide
hydrogen with few emissions and with very low consumption of petroleum. Wind-generated electricity can be sent to
distributed electrolyzers via the electric grid. The petroleum energy use and resultant CO2
emissions from this process are associated with hydrogen compression at the
forecourt, as well as the use of grid electricity. Grid electricity supplements the electricity
from wind in order to increase the capacity factor on the electrolyzer.
Virtual Experimental Farms
Executive Summary
Internet and the Web have dominated the technology scene in the last decade. The communication and computing revolutions have enabled developing countries like India to dominate the offshore outsourcing domain and benefited their economies greatly. Such development has been partly a result of millions of Indian young people gaining advanced knowledge in information technology and engineering disciplines. Internet and the Web have another set of offerings available for India to harvest in the coming decade.
The concept of Virtual Laboratory Farms is an enticing opportunity in two ways. The Virtual Laboratory Farms can be used by the thousands of engineering colleges with nearly five hundred thousand students graduating annually from India’s engineering colleges. Once India demonstrates to the world that these remote laboratories can be effective trainers of practical engineers at very affordable costs, these facilities can offer the same services to global engineering colleges to train their students in laboratory courses.
Virtual Laboratory Farms consist of equipment and facilities connected to any other location via the Internet. These facilities can be used to conduct experiments from any location merely by using a computer with Internet connection. Consequently, any and every college can utilize these facilities and thus avoid duplicating expensive physical laboratory infrastructure at their own locations. They can schedule and buy time at these facilities at a very inexpensive rate relative to the costs they would incur if they built and maintained their own captive physical facilities. Establishing good laboratories in downtown locations is very expensive as the land and buildings are expensive. Students of downtown colleges of engineering will find these Laboratories very affordable.
Virtual Laboratory Farms can be used by every engineering discipline. These laboratories may be equipped with a variety of equipment to cover the entire gamut of engineering disciplines. The American Society of Engineering Education ASEE has launched initiatives to explore the promise of this technology. Their focus has been on remote laboratories and Web based laboratories that assist an instructor and students to conduct experiments as part of distance education. The Virtual Laboratory Farms concept supplements and extends the ASEE thrusts by focusing on the complex and expensive laboratory equipment and facilities.
An example of a typical Virtual Laboratory Farm is an internal combustion engine experiment complex. It will have several engines fully equipped with instrumentation to conduct a variety of tests. The engines and test set ups are equipped with instrumentation and actuators and are connected to local computers, which are in turn connected to the Internet. Software applications allow the equipment to be operated from any authorized computer on the Internet. Dedicated staff at the Virtual Laboratory Farms will keep the equipment in good running condition and could potentially make them available 24x7x365. When the equipment is made available to global colleges and students, the load factor on the systems improves to a high value and the unit cost per hour of laboratory availability drops to very low values. Thus, complex engineering laboratories can be made available to students at very affordable rates. Although the example of an engine is mentioned here, the concept embraces all branches of engineering such as mechanical, electrical, electronics, civil, materials, agricultural, biomedical, naval, marine, mining, aerospace, nuclear, biotechnical, geotechnical, and ocean engineering disciplines.
Internet and the Web have dominated the technology scene in the last decade. The communication and computing revolutions have enabled developing countries like India to dominate the offshore outsourcing domain and benefited their economies greatly. Such development has been partly a result of millions of Indian young people gaining advanced knowledge in information technology and engineering disciplines. Internet and the Web have another set of offerings available for India to harvest in the coming decade.
The concept of Virtual Laboratory Farms is an enticing opportunity in two ways. The Virtual Laboratory Farms can be used by the thousands of engineering colleges with nearly five hundred thousand students graduating annually from India’s engineering colleges. Once India demonstrates to the world that these remote laboratories can be effective trainers of practical engineers at very affordable costs, these facilities can offer the same services to global engineering colleges to train their students in laboratory courses.
Virtual Laboratory Farms consist of equipment and facilities connected to any other location via the Internet. These facilities can be used to conduct experiments from any location merely by using a computer with Internet connection. Consequently, any and every college can utilize these facilities and thus avoid duplicating expensive physical laboratory infrastructure at their own locations. They can schedule and buy time at these facilities at a very inexpensive rate relative to the costs they would incur if they built and maintained their own captive physical facilities. Establishing good laboratories in downtown locations is very expensive as the land and buildings are expensive. Students of downtown colleges of engineering will find these Laboratories very affordable.
Virtual Laboratory Farms can be used by every engineering discipline. These laboratories may be equipped with a variety of equipment to cover the entire gamut of engineering disciplines. The American Society of Engineering Education ASEE has launched initiatives to explore the promise of this technology. Their focus has been on remote laboratories and Web based laboratories that assist an instructor and students to conduct experiments as part of distance education. The Virtual Laboratory Farms concept supplements and extends the ASEE thrusts by focusing on the complex and expensive laboratory equipment and facilities.
An example of a typical Virtual Laboratory Farm is an internal combustion engine experiment complex. It will have several engines fully equipped with instrumentation to conduct a variety of tests. The engines and test set ups are equipped with instrumentation and actuators and are connected to local computers, which are in turn connected to the Internet. Software applications allow the equipment to be operated from any authorized computer on the Internet. Dedicated staff at the Virtual Laboratory Farms will keep the equipment in good running condition and could potentially make them available 24x7x365. When the equipment is made available to global colleges and students, the load factor on the systems improves to a high value and the unit cost per hour of laboratory availability drops to very low values. Thus, complex engineering laboratories can be made available to students at very affordable rates. Although the example of an engine is mentioned here, the concept embraces all branches of engineering such as mechanical, electrical, electronics, civil, materials, agricultural, biomedical, naval, marine, mining, aerospace, nuclear, biotechnical, geotechnical, and ocean engineering disciplines.
It has become very common to be able to track cellphones and follow the location of a cell phone. Over a decade ago, I suggested how some advanced applications can be developed using cellphones. If you are interested, we can discuss these opportunities for tracking criminal networks.
Miscellaneous Concepts
There are a number of other concepts on file and we can discuss some of them if you have some problems that need to be solved. Please do contact me.