rodion-kutsaev-0VGG7cqTwCo-unsplash

Aladdin’s lamp for the 21st century: the same smartie phones

by with No Comment LifeLifestyle

STRANDOMS: the stray and random thoughts

October 20, 2018

Prof. S. Ramkumar

Lifestyle, life

Aladdin’s lamp for the 21st century: the smartie phones

From 18th century Aladdin’s lamp to 21st century smart phones, the travel is from tale to technology. Interestingly, issues that the mobile phones raise in a society is myriad : with many among the world possessing this magic lamp which needs only ‘a’ touch to deliver wishes.

The advent of technology is rapid, revolutionary and unstoppable. As television made the first phase of entry into homes and institutions in India in the 1980s, it slowly started rewriting the potential of information and entertainment to be delivered at home. But it started as a medium of magnet that made family members huddle together to watch programmes. This binding between members slowly dispersed when programmes and soap operas multiplied and the choices of channels increased, taking to present day of cable TV and dish antennae relaying programmes around the globe TVs. As the remote of the TVs were competed for, many homes had more TVs walking in.

The computers in common educational institutions in India became popular in the mid-1990s. The fast pace of its penetration is evident by its ubiquitous presence in institutions and homes, with various updated models (based on memory and speed) and the laptops entering into the social system. Along with them mobile phones and the present smart phones/androids started entering homes. Compared to the PCs and TVs, smart phones turns to be more a personal possession among the members.

The iphone emerged in 2007, with Steve Job declaring at that time that in one device “we will have the world’s best media player, world’s best telephone and world’s best way to get to the web – all three in one”. This might look simple now, but a decade before it was a daring revolutionary techno advancement of bringing the world onto a palm size device. As Friedman (Thank you for being late, 2016) puts it: a whole group of companies emerged in 2007. Together these new companies and innovations have reshaped how people and machines communicate, create, collaborate and think”.

Technology creates tectonic tides on any social fabric, as it can connect people, events, practices, ideas, feelings, emotions and what not, within a short time. The magic lamp of this century- the smart phone – opens with abracadabra (the pass word) and a touch on the phone. There is no need of a ring which Aladdin had to rub on the lamp for a wish. As it delivers the desires at a personal level, great onus is with the people who use this Technology on Palm (ToP) which connects them to their wishes within a flash of a wink. Eric Beinhocker distinguishes the evolution of technologies as “physical technologies”- stones, tools, bullock-drawn ploughs, microchips and the “social technologies”- the rule of law, regulations etc. Both these co evolve. Cutting the discussion short, he suggests that “our physical technologies can get way ahead of the ability of our social technologies to manage them”.

The smart phone thus a physical technology with all its advantages, often creates social stresses too. The sweeping scenario is making the individuals of society to compete the speed of innovations to position their “identity”. We aren’t born with our identity – far from it- but we are born with a range of abilities and tendencies.

(Verhaghe, 2014: What about me? The struggle for identity in a market-based society). Identity is always a construct that derives from an interaction between the identity holder and the wider environment. Its core is formed by a coherent set of norms and values , the larger narrative of a particular culture. When they change, we too evolve in the direction of the new narrative with the new norms and values :Verhaghe, 2014. The smartphone is one of the latest technology that is making roles to reinvent themselves – as father, mother, teacher, brother, friend, teacher, son, daughter, sister, grandparents, …- to fit in new norms and values. This is what I mentioned earlier as “Technology creates tectonic tides on any social fabric, as it can connect people, events, practices, ideas, feelings, emotions and what not, within a short time.” This is a societal re fabrication exercise that’s on. Adapt to the changes, rather than worry on what we have come through and what is now. None can stop the techno tide ; we need to ride it.

A smartphone brings the world, confidence, entertainment and information to the user at his/her will. Aladdin couldn’t have wished more, since he did not know more than what he knew to ask for in the 18nth century. Today the information highway is loaded with traffic for any user irrespective of the age or education of the user. The options they can ask for through a touch on the phone is innumerable.

The wish, the desire and the need has to be carefully looked into before its touched for in the ‘ToP!’ Indiscriminate and innumerable options exists, the ability to discriminate and limit the wishes can change you to the Aladdin with the phone.

To end with an example:

We used to sit at home on the floor, legs crossed few years back and had home cooked food,

then we sat on a stool and ate on a small table or desk- home cooked food,

then we ate on a dining table – home cooked food,

then we ate on dining table the hotel food brought by parents,

then we all ate hotel food delivered by the hotel to home,

now we eat food delivered by the swiggy from hotels to our home, and

now we sink into a couch, eat the Swiggy food, with eyes shared between the TV and the ‘smartie’ in our hand.

The ‘smartie’ leads us to an inward world of personal, amidst the crowd. All need to manage the wishes and connect with the nearby to arrive at their own “Identity”.

Share

featured images

Can we see the “same moon”?

by with No Comment Lifestyle

LIFESTYLE

JUNE 4, 2022

Prof. S. Ramkumar

Generation gap in the tectonic shift

Can we see a "same moon”?

The pre-Google and post-Google generation seeing the same moon on a same night; but being on different sides on the tectonic-shift, each see, feel and experience a different one, right in their own rights! The colour of a moon is yellow for the elder surrounded by the shady and white stars. The young children connected to a virtual world can see a white moon with white stars in a bright night. Co-learning can help reduce the Generation Gap in tectonic shift.

     We are witnessing an interesting phenomenon, with the new millennial generation born into a technology era of internet, smart phones and social media. They tend to have less of a real-world experience and are versed more with a virtual world (built largely on the virtual connect) compared to the people born pre-millennium (before the 2000), who have experienced more of a real-world and is less into a virtual world. They are on the two sides of the millennial tectonic shift. Co-learning is the key to reduce the Generation Divide.

 
Sociologists use nomenclature to refer to different generational segments. For example, members of Gen Z, born between 1996 and 2012, are called “digital natives” because they have lived with digital technology their entire lives. Older generational members are termed “digital immigrants” and tend to be less comfortable with the personal usage of technologies.
 
I usually call the generations “pre-Google and post-Google. Essentially they are the “digital immigrants” and “digital natives” respectively. The mechanisms of connection to the world are thus stratified with age groups, which are different and hence the same world mean different for the categories. Change shows fundamental and in-depth transformation, profound reordering with a strong and widespread impact in the last two decades. The gap in these worlds, between the groups, are widening since the readiness to learn, expertise to handle and mind-set to accept technologies (ie. the connect-mechanisms) of seeing, experiencing and feeling the world, is different in the different age groups.
 
They may not see the same things. Its fair enough. As already the truth exists as ‘we see things as we are, not as they are’. Added to this comes the technologies leading us yet to another Alice’s wonder world, “the virtual world” which makes things more complicated to feel and experience the similarities of objects, events or people! The millennial tectonic shift is unique in this manner.
 
“Generation gap (Ggap)” was ever-present since humans have started living in this planet. Ggap is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values. In today’s usage, generation gap often refers to a perceived gap between younger people and their parents or grandparents. However few Ggaps in the human history were wider for some periods, which depended on the adoption time of milestones of changes happening during the period (like the domestication period, agricultural revolution period, science evolving era, industrial revolution periods).
 
We now witness an unprecedented fast Ggap in this millennium, I call it as the tectonic shift – abrupt, profound and impactful. The tectonic shift of the present millennium sees a generation gap, probably, the human civilisation has not experienced before. The world today have people with a mix of pre- and post- Google Generation mix – all living in the same internet age – being faster and instantly connected with information, people, events and places. Those born before 1990 are part of a history witnessing, the tremendous shift in the way people approached life thirty years back, and in this millennium. The reason is the technologies-of-connect, which has made us more a techno sapien in the last two decades.
 
Those born after 1990, may not feel that drastic changes, being babies born and easily adapted to the already existing ever-changed technology age. Today we talk, see, feel, share, inspire, care, eat, sleep, bank, buy, treat, learn, teach…all with technology of connect: internet, applied through computers and smart phones. It has given rise to a “virtual world” with which we spend more time, and the real world time getting more disconnected!
 
This tectonic shift should be understood as an opportunity of co-learning by the pre-Google generation. There is a technology-created Generation gap. Considering the fastness of change of innovations and increased dependency on these (like Artificial Intelligence applied in every prospective sector, machine learning) the life styles, culture and values are also changing. Co-learning is the key to move forward.

Lifestyle Blogs

More Categories

1

COVID-19: Managing Information, a key to control

by with No Comment COVID-19

STRANDOMS: the stray and random thoughts

March 29,2020

Prof. S. Ramkumar

Education

COVID 19 : Managing Information, a key to control

One of the important, if not the most is appropriate information delivery reaching every human being on the planet on advisories and guidelines to be followed to contain the spread of COVID 19. We are advised on “washing of hands with soap”, “social distancing” and “stay at home” to break the chain as the key modes of preventing the disease. However there is loads of information in every source that speaks on various aspects of this situation. How do we manage them in the best interest of the attempts of the Government in “containing the disease’? Information management by every citizen plays a key role.

This is about the “information” that COVID 19 situation generates and spins around the humanity of our planet. In simple terms it’s about how cautious we need to be as “managers of Information” on what we hear, listen, talk and spread – whatever maybe the media we depend on.

 

Ultimately, we need reliable, usable, understandable information to the extent it is needed. Anything less or more can unnecessarily add to the panic. This is being attempted to be explained by concept of (1) “positioned instinct” and (2) “satisficing”.

  1. I put forward a concept of “positioned instinct” Vs “displaced instinct” for the present time and era.

With innumerable number of information sources, the present day has no dearth of technology to transport information- spontaneously and instantly to any nook and corner of the globe. That is a great achievement that helps us to fight the unexpected disasters like the COVID 19 outbreak. As “techno sapiens” we have the nature of probing into an information. So far so good. With technology(ies) readily available, we have a tendency (which is good) to look into the situation and precautions to be taken. This is a human instinct, and responsibility. i.e. I look for specific information that should be equipped with in combating the spread of the disease. I am searching for information to satisfy “positioned instinct” which is a minimum need. But as techno sapiens our curiosity and anxiety make us move on the Information Highway, very fast than expected; from that specific information, to associated information, more, more and more…i.e the displaced instinct. Some lose their track, for some, information which was a curious object of satisfaction turns back on them, almost engulfing them. It’s like we start chasing the information and when it grows big, more than we can comprehend or handle in size and number, it starts chasing us and wrapping us around itself. Even if we run fast, it takes time for us to get relief from this massive, curious, overgrown object – “information”. This is “displaced instinct”, which is not so good at times of crisis.

Opinion formation through platforms (of TV, email, websites, fb, whatsapp twitter, instagram…) need to be analyzed quickly and sensibly. The “displaced instincts” or subjective interpretations of opinions thrown out irrationally can disrupt the very purpose of (social) media for humanity. It’s especially so in a situation of Disease control attempts like that of the present time.

As Government reiterates regularly only use reliable information sources to verify situation. Apply “positioned instinct” – specific to needs – reliable, timely and usable. Do not attempt to enter onto the Information highway- that can add to panic and anxiety. Even if we tend to enter, take exits appropriately, before information starts chasing you. We, as techno sapiens, need to evolve a behavior of “positioned instincts” within the media, especially in demanding crisis situations.

  1. “Satisficing” is a Scottish term that combines ‘satisfying” and ‘sufficing”. This has been interestingly analyzed by Edward O Wilson, the world renowned biologist and author, in his book CONSILIENCE; the unity of Knowledge (1998). I am quoting few lines from the book. In the Rational Choice Theory (RCT : first applied in Economics and later to other disciplines), the central concept is that above all else human beings are rational in their actions. They examine as best they can all the pertinent factors and weigh the likely outcome of following each potential choice in turn. They add in cost and benefit – investment, risk and emotional and material return – before deciding.

This is not an adequate picture of how people think. The human brain is not a very swift calculator, and most decisions have to be made quickly in complex settings and with incomplete information. So the question of importance in RCT is, how much information is enough? In other words, at what point do people stop reflecting and make up their minds? One simple strategy that provides a cut off point is ‘satisficing” -satisfying and sufficing. It means taking the first satisfactory choice encountered out of those perceived and reasonably available in the short term, as opposed to visualizing the optimum choice in advance and searching until it is found. Crisis situations demand quick and effective combating strategies, while the search for emerging truths of science has to be followed.

Let us be responsible in receiving, searching and disseminating information at this point of time. Information management by every citizen plays a key role!

Share

2

COVID-19: Through the Science of Chance

by with No Comment COVID-19

COVID-19

August 16, 2020

Prof. S. Ramkumar

COVID-19 : through the Science of Chance

(The COVID 19 pandemic is turning out to be a book mark of human history in this planet: the pre and post COVID 19 periods. Its rewriting the norms of life with only one concern : safety first. Lots of people dedicatedly devote in a moment-to-moment effort to contain and treat this disease. This writing is adding a different perspective to the present seen through the science of Chance)

The present COVID-19 situation raises challenges in every aspect of life- at different levels – primarily the concern of health (precautions and control of disease), which bears explicit and implicit effects on family, workplace, education, business, society and so on. Confinements of work-from-home, and moving out of home, only for essential purposes with social distancing are key in breaking the chain.

The New Scientist in 2015 published a book titled ‘Chance’ (the science and secrets of luck, randomness and probability) edited by Michael Brooks. The certain (and uncertain) paths that follow during the pandemic raises some interesting points discussed in ‘Chance’.

We tick through the present time – of unlearning and relearning; of innovating, experimenting, reflecting and sharing (at home, work and in society). We are getting transformed to become more enduring, perseverant and attempt to keep stability of emotions. Life moves on – not though in the same pattern in our planet prior to COVID-19 pandemic.

The thought that always runs in our mind are many like ‘Am I going to get infected; are any of my family, friends, colleagues or other fellow human beings going to be infected; how best can I prevent this’? The thoughts make us move through various feelings.

All these tend to lead us to think on different perspectives but primarily built on the word ’Chance’. What are the chances of all the above in the pandemic situation.

The section on “Biology’s Casino”–Chance in the Natural World, in the Book “Chance” provides a guidance of thought on this.

“Biological luck didn’t just get us where we are today. It also shapes where the natural world will be tomorrow. Survival of the fittest can be determined by an ability to generate randomness – may be to evade a predator, or to predict how a pathogen might evolve. Without the flexibility that random mutations provide, life might not survive Earth’s future challenges”.

(Chance: 2015, p163)

“Many biologists, most notably Richard Dawkins, therefore insist that although mutations may be random, evolution is not. This insistence might make sense when explaining evolution to people who have not grasped the basic concept. But there is an element of chance in evolution, even when natural selection is firmly in the driving seat.

Take the evolution of flu viruses. We can predict with confidence that, over the next few years, the structure of a viral surface protein called haemagglutinin will evolve so that the human immune system can no longer recognise and attack it. What’s more, we can be fairly sure that the mutations that allow new strains of flu to evade the immune system will happen at one of seven critical sites in the gene coding for haemagglutinin, according to Trevor Bedford, an evolutionary biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. In this sense, the evolution of flu is non-random and predictable.

But it’s a matter of chance which of those seven sites mutate, and how. Predicting the course of flu’s evolution is almost impossible more than a year or two in advance, says Bedford. This is why flu vaccine makers do not always get right, and why flu vaccines are sometimes largely ineffective. “

(Chance: 2015, p163)

The science of Chance makes us try to understand the reality in a wider platform of life, so as to cope with probabilities of life. “Louis Pasteur’s contention that ‘Chance favours only the prepared mind’, is one to take seriously, as it turns out”. “…. Instead, it must fall into line with probability theory, which describes the behaviour of infinite randomness in finite world”.

Does the Science of ‘Chance’ bring us any solace in this pandemic situation? As mentioned earlier it introduces us to the perspective of viewing the pandemic within randomness and possibilities. The ‘Chance’ today for any person is dependent on appropriate wearing of mask, social distancing, Sanitizer/soap cleaning, early detection and treatment, and possibly the most awaited early arrival of an effective vaccine.

Scoping of chance to reduce the spread is key in writing the history for the future.

Share

3

ONAM: A myriad phenomena of myth, mystery and message for life

by with No Comment Festival

Festival

August 31, 2020

Prof. S. Ramkumar

ONAM: a myriad phenomena of myth, mystery and message for life.

(This is a writing I posted during Onam in 2019.It is relevant, or more relevant, in the present times of COVID-19 to revisit. The reader can attribute to her/his perceptions to the present modes of celebrations, but it rejuvenates people to get reminded of a culture of “equality”, and “cohesive humanness”).

I was talking to my father in 2019, who gave a picture in his mind of Onam 80 years back in a rural village; I myself as a relatively urban-brought up child can remember vividly Onam 50 years back and my daughter should be knowing Onam as she experienced in the last 25 years. Though Onam is same, the meaning and symbols they bring to different generations are varied. There is a lot of changes in the way in which Onam was celebrated from the togetherness of families and neighborhoods in villages (extending 3 to 4 weeks) 80 years ago to the “technology dominant”, “TV focused” and “Exchange Mela” nature of its celebrations today. There is no right and wrong in this.

Technologies and ideologies change and evolve, and the society moves on them too. But what has not changed is the message of onam for the last 90 years as an “unique feeling” and “experience” that has still the freshness that makes people – the young and the old- excited to explore and aspire for, in whatever the way in which we are involved. That’s the amazing period called Onam.

Onam is a phenomenal festival (or rather a state of feeling) which encompasses principles of many things you aspire to achieve in life.

The story of the fifth avatar of Lord Vishnu as the dwarf boy, Vamanan, speaks a lot about the great times of King Mahabali who was considered as a great ruler, keen on peoples’ welfare. Vamanan asks for three paces of land, and as a generous ruler having no hesitations to give anything to his Praja (this is mentioned as one reason for the Avatar – to subdue the growing ego of Mahabali), Mahabali immediately permits him to measure and take them. For the Lord the two steps covers the entire universe and there was nothing left to be measured for the third step. Asking for the third step, the devoted King shows his head. Vamanan places his foot on the head and sends him to Paataala with a condition as requested by the Mahabali.

The condition was that he will be permitted to visit his land “Gods own Country”, once an year to see and experience his first love: the welfare of the people.

The story deciphers few interesting points:

  1. The songs depicting the rule of Mahabali explicitly talks about a “perfect society” in vogue.
  2. In all Avatars of Lord Vishnu, the evils have been killed; whereas in this form, He blessed Mahabali to complete his fulfillment of attaining the Conscience of perfect Dharma.
  3. It depicts a socialist period with the concept of ‘welfare nation”.
  4. The equality in all respects of life among humans, the honesty among people, the shared wealth and ‘affluence with the available resources ” would be rated as the perfect one for “Happiness Index”.
  5. Mahabali was a just ruler, with sincere thoughts on the welfare of his people.
  6. He was powerful king, and humble enough to show his head to be measured as the last step, with all humility.

The story thus carries the messages of welfare, socialism, prosperity through sharing, non-violence and many more. Onam is thus a philosophy of understanding life through sharing and giving. The principle of administration of the land is one of the examples many political parties achieve to do now.

Onam has symbols on all fronts. We try to re-live all these symbols in a way in which its possible, during the present COVID time. But essentially the message is of togetherness, helping others and staying safe. The digital platforms help us in these virtually to ensure the spirit and joy, amidst the great efforts by many to save the country from the spread of the pandemic.

  1. The festival of Onam reminds us of pre dominantly “Agri-culture”, and the harvest season, with many of the activities associated with that which offered a good time to people: food, fun, festival.
  2. Meeting parents. Over generations, Onam started to be the most expected period of the loved ones to join their homes, (where parents lived), from different parts of the world. With globalization, and accelerated transport facilities connecting the world (and inside India), and differential commitments of children and relatives across the Globe, people used to occasionally visit the parents as and when they get time. The committed Onam visits are slowly getting diluted.
  3. the Swing(commonly tied on trees/branches) which informs the arrival of the festival,
  4. the Pookalam (the flower pattern display created on the floor) for 10 days starting from the star day of “Atham” to “Thiruvonam”: the children searching and collecting flowers locally available. A pookalam depicts the efforts of learning participation, searching, knowing local flowers and plants, spirit of togetherness, participation in designing and creating the pookalam.
  5. Poovili-and the traditional songs. We have some excellent songs by great singers too in the last few decades on “onam”.
  6. “Onakkodi”- getting new clothes for Onam. The value of Onakkodi years back when people use to get new clothes usually only during Onam or some festivals/occasions has changed a lot now. With clothes of different ranges available abundantly in the present days, and people buying them occasionally Onakkodi still stands a symbol of inherited culture.
  7. The season was rich with many special sports activities in the villages. The boat races are more prominent now with other sports becoming popular (cricket, volleyball, football..) in places. Women were involved in different dances unique for the time.
  8. Ona Sadya (the full special food) the traditional food served in banana leaf continues to be the hall mark of the phenomenon of ONAM.

You name it: Onam has everything in it. It’s a philosophy, culture, governance and ideology beyond the celebrations. And now for the COVID 19 time, it’s also celebrations with safety, joy with sacrifice and service with humanity.

The yearly arrival of Mahabali rejuvenates people to get reminded of a culture of “equality”, and “cohesive humanness”. It creates the feeling of oneness and prosperity among all, and leaves us to have hope and happiness for addressing the present day needs with dedication, till the next visit of the King.

Share

7

Dealing Diabetes: Emotional Eddies

by with No Comment Healthcare

HEALTHCARE

May14, 2021

Prof. S. Ramkumar

Dealing Diabetes: emotional eddies

Can we see a "same moon”?

(This writing is a glance of some observations related to factors affecting the food intake, which a diabetic faces in normal life; how much and how far others can rethink to help manage this. The term “ diabetic” is used for a person. Idli, Dosa, Chappathi, Paratha are some of the examples of the food items in an Indian menu. This is not a writing on glycaemic index, but a possible reminder of management based on emotional index!)

Diabetes is a condition which is becoming more common in our society. There might be a family member, friend or someone whom we know of in our life, who is a diabetic. Medical science and technology is contributing a lot to early diagnosis, prevention and control of diabetes in the last few decades. The condition, if treated and managed systematically can always be kept under control. Beyond medicines and (or) insulin, a diabetic needs a fair understanding and due consideration from family members. Social and emotional stability are essential to reduce anxiety and stress of a diabetic person. This, in addition to the confidence and conditioning of the person is also dependent on the family members with whom they are living.
 
The simple principle of a diabetic is to have small quantity of food more times a day, adequate proper medication, exercise, and less stress.
 
Food, in a way is medicine to all; but its more for the diabetic, who manages to keep the level of blood sugar by frequently having small quantities of selected food items with less or no sugar. It’s also important to see that food (s)he eats, adds to ensure stabilizing the sugar level; it should provide supply of other nutrients. When a non-diabetic healthy person takes 4 idlis or 2 dosas for breakfast, the body machine runs till noon for the lunch. When a diabetic healthy person takes the same 4 idlis, or 2 dosas for breakfast, the body asks more food sometimes after 2 hours – the point is to have 2 idlis for breakfast at 9a.m. and split the next 2 idlis to have it by 11a.m. It is not as simple as to count the number! Again, at home you can define a uniform size for idli and dosa. When we buy it or have it from other places, the sizes vary – some times huge or big idlis, medium and small. The quality of idli flour paste, the consistency in size of the idli and the side dish, all decide the actual sugar hike in the body, irrespective of simply saying the number of idlis. And it tends to be the same with dosa, chapatti or paratha – or any other food! The uniformity in size, number and quantity has to be decided by the ‘diabetic’.
 
Of these the concern and endurance of family members is prime in building confidence and esteem among a diabetic member.
 
Cooking food in a home where there is a diabetic person is often a challenge. When we have children, youngsters and aged people in the home, with varying taste buds, the choice of food also varies a lot. A wider choice of menu is not an easy proposition for whoever is involved in cooking in a home. It becomes a difficult task for a home maker quite often to make a variety of menu in a home for different ‘age’, “interests” and ‘conditions’ of people in a home.
 
This is more so in the present day when the food is becoming more global; in choice, preparation, preference and availability. Know the priorities of the diabetic person, the condition and try to give food that will suit him/her.
 
It’s quite important to monitor the sugar levels, which a diabetic person under proper ‘sugar control’ may be able to sense. This calls for perseverance among members of a family, especially when diabetes fluctuates the sugar levels to stabilize ‘normalcy’ of the situation. Asking food, “frequently” or “of choice” is sometimes, embarrassing for a diabetic, which he may feel like ‘troubling others” at odd times. The readiness and cooperation-with-care attitude from the members of the family will relieve the diabetic from the feeling of stress that (s)he is ‘troubling others’. However, sugar level abruptly sinking brings a tiresome feeling, and is to be addressed immediately by having a sweet which will help to raise the sugar level to normal quickly.
 
A diabetic food kit ( with biscuits, low carbohydrate food, few sweets or any local snack items) can help the diabetic to manage the condition himself rather than depending always on somebody. The availability of these appropriate snacks itself will help them to relieve anxiety of “what if I feel hungry… or my sugar level goes down”? It also helps them not to trouble (as believed by some) the family members to ask for food frequently.
 
Whenever and wherever possible, the diabetic should try making whatever they can : like a tea or coffee how (s)he prefers. This preference often varies with the mood, time and sugar levels. Clarifying these to others, and getting what is wanted, differently at different times can be annoying if it is dependent regularly on someone.
 
Never make fun of the person if asking something to eat, frequently; remember it’s not necessarily their greed, but the sugar level that makes them prone to hunger. Respect the condition. The emotional and social support is important to feel comfortable and relaxed.
A lot of management of the diabetic condition depends on the ‘diabetic’ person; however much depends on the emotional and social care of members of family with whom (s)he is living, who need to understand, accept and encourage the decisions taken by the diabetic which may sometimes seem trivial to some.
 
Regular monitoring of health and check-ups are a must! But the way in which the concerns of a diabetic is “treated” emotionally by the family members is a prime factor to management of the condition.
 
I usually call the generations “pre-Google and post-Google. Essentially they are the “digital immigrants” and “digital natives” respectively. The mechanisms of connection to the world are thus stratified with age groups, which are different and hence the same world mean different for the categories. Change shows fundamental and in-depth transformation, profound reordering with a strong and widespread impact in the last two decades. The gap in these worlds, between the groups, are widening since the readiness to learn, expertise to handle and mind-set to accept technologies (ie. the connect-mechanisms) of seeing, experiencing and feeling the world, is different in the different age groups.
 
They may not see the same things. Its fair enough. As already the truth exists as ‘we see things as we are, not as they are’. Added to this comes the technologies leading us yet to another Alice’s wonder world, “the virtual world” which makes things more complicated to feel and experience the similarities of objects, events or people! The millennial tectonic shift is unique in this manner.
 
“Generation gap (Ggap)” was ever-present since humans have started living in this planet. Ggap is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values. In today’s usage, generation gap often refers to a perceived gap between younger people and their parents or grandparents. However few Ggaps in the human history were wider for some periods, which depended on the adoption time of milestones of changes happening during the period (like the domestication period, agricultural revolution period, science evolving era, industrial revolution periods).
 
We now witness an unprecedented fast Ggap in this millennium, I call it as the tectonic shift – abrupt, profound and impactful. The tectonic shift of the present millennium sees a generation gap, probably, the human civilisation has not experienced before. The world today have people with a mix of pre- and post- Google Generation mix – all living in the same internet age – being faster and instantly connected with information, people, events and places. Those born before 1990 are part of a history witnessing, the tremendous shift in the way people approached life thirty years back, and in this millennium. The reason is the technologies-of-connect, which has made us more a techno sapien in the last two decades.
 
Those born after 1990, may not feel that drastic changes, being babies born and easily adapted to the already existing ever-changed technology age. Today we talk, see, feel, share, inspire, care, eat, sleep, bank, buy, treat, learn, teach…all with technology of connect: internet, applied through computers and smart phones. It has given rise to a “virtual world” with which we spend more time, and the real world time getting more disconnected!
 
This tectonic shift should be understood as an opportunity of co-learning by the pre-Google generation. There is a technology-created Generation gap. Considering the fastness of change of innovations and increased dependency on these (like Artificial Intelligence applied in every prospective sector, machine learning) the life styles, culture and values are also changing. Co-learning is the key to move forward.