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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.
8

The Physics of Experience

by with No Comment Life

LIFE

May 22, 2021

Prof. S. Ramkumar

The Physics of Experience

(This is in continuation to my short writing on “Theory of being you, with experiences”. What is written here will may have a meaning, only if that prologue is read first.
 
The stages or “quantum” of life usually can be understood only once we cross the stages; looking back is always to look forward! We are moved by waves of experiences, understandable as quanta when we look back, built always on relativity, predictable but uncertain. One of the many paradoxes of life!
 
Try picking up few quanta of experiences from your life! )

Picture 1:-

From birth onwards, we have lots of moments which precipitate to experience. They are not necessarily linear, as we may think at the time of the happening, but follow a wave pattern of particle physics, in which the moments of events/happenings sway us with influences (like the man in the pool – pic 2). Moreover, after years of experience, we can also realize that these wave-experiences, can be conceptualized as “sets of influences” called quanta. like Quanta1, Q2… In fact, if we think of our life there can be specific number of quanta experiences which should have ‘waved” us through life.

Picture 2:-

The man in the pool doesn’t swim. But the ripples of the waves decide on his movement and they take him to where he is now! It can be still, move him down or lift him up, or whichever spots the wave theories can calculate! This is like the particle movement explained in physics.

The stages of a person’s life viewed in the background of the canvas of the Universe, is something we may discover after the journey we travel for years. The simplest dimension of thinking an example is happenings in life on a timeline we remember; like 1st birthday of a child (remembered by parents), some events during school years, passing of +2 or pre degree, first day in a college, incidences in colleges, pass out from a college, marriage day, jobs, anniversaries, disasters, pandemic…
We usually think about our ‘experiences’ in a linear manner – attributing to the timeline based on many aspects as mentioned above; like experience – being in a family ( as a child, teenage, youth, with parents) school, college, through marriage, office, jobs we do…
It sometimes gives a fascination to realize these “stages” (as a child, with parents, teenage, youth, as parents) can be seen as collection of quantum experiences, that have made us what we are.
The series of momentary experiences we go through during a period of time is different, as we experience them at that time, and when we look back at these after years. In a simpler notion- what we experienced at ‘that’ time has a different feeling when revisited as our age advances. We have often a significant shaping of our personality as we grow.
After years we can find a pattern of ‘Set’ of experiences, rather than momentary experiences emerge. Looking back, we can see that momentary experiences consolidate to ‘quanta’ and any person can come with ‘quantum’ experiences which has moved a person forward. At the time of exposure to experience we would not have realized its relevance(or irrelevance), until we move forward in time, turn back and see them. ‘Moments add on to our age, not necessarily experience when we go through in real time.’
Assume a person in a lifebuoy in a pond or a swimming pool. If we create ripples in the pool, waves are formed; the waves move the person, up and down and forward (or backward) or in any swaying position. The “person” doesn’t swim to move – the wave moves him, but where he moves to and how swiftly, depends on the person’s position (or the lifebuoy), its speed (of up and down or straight) and position. The particles in wave function of physics has a similar pattern, ultimately the predictability of where the person is difficult with incessant wave motions swaying and crisscrossing and moving that. All are static, but moved by the ‘waves’.
A clarification on experience: (eg: in life or in work). Assume a person claiming to have, 30 years of experience in ‘X’ role. But simply existing as in that role of ‘X’ for 30 years doesn’t actually imply “experience”. The thoughts, actions, reflections and appropriate behaviour of continued modification is actually experience. These continued modifications usually can take the turns of quanta.

‘Experiencing Experience’ - the wave function of quantum physics

As mentioned earlier we generally think linear. However, we will be able to identify that appreciation of early experiences is as ‘quantum’, often in line with the wave function of particles explained in Physics. Interestingly the ‘wave theory’ of quantum mechanics discusses about ‘particles’ which don’t have well defined position and speed”. Instead they are represented by wave function. The contribution of great physicists like Laplace, Max Planck, Schrodinger, Heisenberg and Einstein (not described here, but worth interesting to read for a common man) and many more have critically contributed to various aspects of quantum physics and wave functions. One simple way of depicting this is that particles are having positions and speed and are in a wave motion. They move in a quantum manner throwing energy. (This oversimplified version is used for analogue to ‘experience’ of human beings). Assume a person similar to ‘particle’( in the pool of life), who has a ‘position’ and ‘speed’ (by mind), moved within waves, to realize later that our life has been a contribution of ‘quantum’ or a ‘ set of influences’, often unpredictable. The knowledge of particle theory doesn’t help us to predict future with certainty, which we can easily understand from our experiences. Unpredictability in life! Each quantum has ‘a set of influences’, rather than ‘specific moments’ – the specific moments reflect and build on itself evolving into set of influences (quantum). The happiness (and unhappiness) can be assessed within the quanta of experience a person can identify over years.
In ‘quantum experience’ we can note that experiences are reflected on its own and built upon the previous; experiences are a part of how, when and we were at that point of time and importantly they are ‘relative’ to many aspects (the context).
As ‘particles’, we (human beings) also have similar experience in the wave function. The “position and speed” of our movement (physically and mentally) are plotted “relative” to various factors like – in which stage of life are we, who are with us and without, what is the so called ‘ maturity’ we had or have, what did we had and we have now… the quality in many of these changes, decide the position of people in the waves, and hence the quantum that we perceive.
We experience ‘quantum’ not immediately when we go through momentary events of life (though it can also be debated), but after we pass these, and look at some of the events after time passes.
Then we tend to say that in life we were influenced by many; it’s a consolidation of experiences which has a discrete nature; like people saying that “I stayed in a remote village which did not have a school’, or ‘I had my parents who supported my future’ or the lie in the “college changed me” or ‘the pandemic puts me through a challenging situation” – all these are quanta.
Experiences thought, on time basis is linear and on quantum basis is dynamic (with influences overlapping) but identified as a set of influences (quanta) which makes us what we are.
Thinking of experience as a ‘Wave function’ may make us a better being, of accommodating universal views, and promote rational reasoning. This also teaches us that ‘instead of being able to predict the position and speed of particles, all we can predict is the wave function, which has quantum effects’.
Multi manifestations of pleasure and pain, happiness and unhappiness, good and not- so- good, joy and gloom, confidence and hesitance, inspiration and low-feel, achievement or failure – a person goes through multitude of feelings which enriches the experience. We can observe experiences out of these are built and continued as ‘wave function’ theory of quantum physics, where in the position and speed of particle helps in predicting future, though uncertainty prevails, since many of these experiences are “relative” to individual. “Relative” in at least two ways;
i) Relative to individual status of mind and body at any time of ‘wave’
ii) Relative to other people/context experienced at any point, in the wave.
Uncertainty of prediction is applicable to biological systems too.

To quote Stephen Hawking in his book “Brief Answers to the Big Questions”, (Chapter 4 on ‘Can we predict the future ?)

“The wave function contains all that one can know of the particle, both its position and its speed. If you know the wave function at one time, then its values at other times are determined by what is called the Schrodinger equation. To sum up, the classical view, put forward by Laplace, was that the future motion of particles was completely determined, if one knew their positions and speeds at one time. This view had to be modified when Heisenberg put forward his Uncertainty Principle, which said that one could not know both the position and the speed accurately. However, it was still possible to predict one combination of position and speed”.
Applying in an analogue of human experience it could mean the position and speed in the wave of life, if precisely found out, can help in predicting future. But then uncertainty principle also indicates we can’t know both the ‘position and speed accurately’ but combination of these could be understood as ‘quantum’, if looked back, over a period of time.
The stages or “quantum” of life usually can be understood only once we cross the stages; looking back is always to look forward!
We are moved by waves of experiences, understandable as quanta when we look back, built always on relativity, predictable but uncertain! One of the many paradoxes of life!