“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” Stewart Brand.
Madam Shallu is possibly the most versatile teacher in one of the government schools inside the campus of IIT Bombay in Western India. She teaches multiple subjects. She also teaches in 47 regional languages of India. She is also very punctual and is always on duty. What’s unique about her is that she is not a human, but an AI-led robot.
Engineering is one of the most sought-after courses in India, with 1.5 million engineers graduating annually. India’s digitally skilled pool accounts for around 75% of global digital talent. In an interview with Economic times, McKinsey & Co CEO Bob Sternfels stated that India would be the world’s future expertise manufacturing unit as it should have 20 per cent of the globe’s working inhabitants by 2047. (Outlook India, 2022)
The IT industry contributed around 8% to India’s GDP in 2020 and this share is expected to contribute 10% by 2025 according to India Brand Equity Foundation. The computer software and hardware sector in India attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) worth US$ 85.2 billion between April 2000 to March 2022 as per the FDI report 2022. According to Gartner, the IT industry is set to increase to US$ 101.8 billion in 2022. The Indian software product industry is expected to reach US $30 billion by 2025 according to Nasscom.
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History of the IT sector in India
India’s tryst with AI started with the IT revolution. AI is something that was and still is a huge part of the IT sector, which witnessed a down-top approach as opposed to the IT predominant nations. Unlike in other countries where this industry was kicked off by multinationals, in India this industry was started by local conglomerates. Small conglomerates used to supply programmers to overseas IT firms like 1974 a mainframe manufacturing company, Burroughs, asked Tata Consultancy Service, its India sales agent, to provide programmers for the installation of system software for its American client. As a reaction to every new thing this sector also faced opposition and alien-like treatment by the people and the government of India. There was an absence of local markets and unfavourable government policies regarding private enterprise. In the 1970s the interest rates on all software products were very high. Eventually, the governments realised the importance of this sector and reduced the import tariff on software products. Government policies became more friendly to foreign companies and India introduced LPG reforms and this paved the way for the IT sector in India. The government amended its industrial licensing policy in that industries no longer had to wait in order to get a license to start their work. In 1991 India also opened its gate to foreign investment in various sectors. Setting up Software technology parks, Export oriented units and Special Economic Zones also helped India to flourish in the IT sector.
Future of Information Technology
Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, big data and IoT are the talk of the town. These things will transform our way of living. Let’s see how.
Internet of things
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet (as defined in Oracle ). These devices range from ordinary household objects to sophisticated industrial tools. A series of tasks will be performed by the machines surrounding us, making our daily routine work even easier. These devices will be connected to each other sending information about our every move. Devices like home appliances, vehicles and other physical machines will be all set in with connectivity systems like sensors, applications, electronics, and actuators.
The Indian government started a 100 smart cities mission which will be completed in 2024. Smart cities will be like the younger generation who are very technically sound and know how to take full advantage of technology. A smart city makes use of Information and Communication Technology to improve its operational efficiency. State governments are also investing crores in this project. There are numerous IoT applications in smart cities. Traffic management, energy harvesting by using solar panels on buildings and led streetlights and saving water by using smart meters are a few of the smart technologies used in IoT.
Artificial Intelligence
India is exploring Artificial Intelligence and is excited to implement it in various fields. According to INDIAai, India in 2018 published 12,135 citable papers in Artificial Intelligence. This makes India 3rd in the world in AI research. India is also 3rd among G20 nations in the number of AI start-ups.
Machine learning is the brain behind all other models of Information Technology. ML enables devices to learn as they perform. ML helps devices to gather data together and that too for a long. Among various AI applications being implemented in India, the highest investments are in the field of Machine learning applications as per the book ‘Machine Learning Market in India’.
Tools of Artificial Intelligence powered by machine learning can help us in many sectors like enhancing financial models, facilitating accurate medical predictions, easing spam detection, enabling more efficient irrigation systems and a lot more.
There are many Indian start-ups which have come up in the AI sector in India. The recent one is Avaamo. It is a conversational AI platform which offers immediate and personalized assistance to patients in healthcare, banking, education, insurance and the supply chain sector.
Quantum Technology
In today’s world war is not only fought with weapons but also through cybercrime. Breaching other countries’ data has become a norm. Thus, cyber security has become even more important in the world where data creators and breachers all are present online. Quantum technology can provide a secure network in every field whether it be telecommunication, electronics, space or defence.
India formally joined the race to quantum computing by establishing the National Mission for Quantum Technology and Applications (NM-QTA) in 2020. The government has recently launched an Rs 8,000 crore quantum mission to expand its capabilities in the fast-growing world of quantum computing. Also, recently DRDO (which is a government organization known for making missiles) and IIT- Delhi (a reputed Indian Institution) together successfully demonstrated a Quantum Key distribution link between two states of the country which are almost 100 km apart from each other. Countries like China are increasingly using Quantum technology in the military, space, submarines etc in order to establish an encrypted platform for transferring information. In 2022, the Indian government signed a joint declaration with Finland to establish a virtual network centre for Quantum computing.
IT sector can emerge as a major help for Indians. India is also developing AI-driven teachers to help students to learn better and take the role of supplementary teachers. Building an online platform for booking an appointment for the vaccination for the 1.417 billion population was possible only due to our excellence in the IT sector. Mapping of potential mine locations and pro-poor free telemedicine and e-education are far-flung areas, timely diagnosis, and the pandemic adequate behaviour guidelines during covid through apps, also geotagging of infected and the e-certificates are all testimonies of India’s improved infrastructure and IT penetration.
3D Technology
When it comes to 3D technology India is also trying its hands at this. 3D technology is being used to develop aid devices like hearing aid and thus empowering the otherwise excluded section. India is investing in concrete 3D printing technology to build not only small devices but also big houses and offices. The exciting part is that concrete 3D printing technology uses construction waste material as its feed. The government aims to capture 5 per cent of the global market share in additive manufacturing or 3d printing with the expectation to add nearly USD 2-3 billion to the GDP in the next 2 to 3 years.
There are many Indian start-ups that work on this technology. One of them is Pandorum technologies. This is a unique 3D printing company technology. This company helps needy patients by printing tissues with a combination of cells and a gel. Using this technology, they have printed liver and human cornea. There is another 3D printing company from a small state of India called Digital Dentistry Solutions India, which provides solutions for your smile.
Technology in Agriculture
IT in agriculture can transform the way farmers work in fields today. It can fetch them more money and make their work a lot easier. AI also works in areas such as soil testing and analysis, predicting suitable environments for crops’ safety and even creating various social platforms for the farmers to interact. Artificial Intelligence is being increasingly used in this field to help farmers to solve their problems.AI technology helps in detecting diseases in plants, pests and poor nutrition of farms. According to INDIAai AI can help agriculture to assess crop health through drones, in monitoring the soil, in forecasting the price of crops based on historical data and also in predicting unfavourable weather conditions.
One can take a look at the following case studies, for better comprehension. Starting with WRMS, (Weather Risk Management System) founded by Anuj Kumbhat specializes in sustainable and effective modern-day farming. In an interview with Techgraph, Anuj states how the pandemic proved to be a blessing in disguise for agritech. Farmers utilise chemical fertilisers that turn their grounds into wastelands or ultimately lower the production of the crops cultivated with the help of inappropriate fertilisers since they lack any specific scientific knowledge about their land.
SecuFarm, the company’s flagship product, is a lifesaver, says WRMS CEO. It aids in the integration and application of smart, sustainable technology and provides farmers with the analytical skills and practical approach they need to manage and utilise the full potential of their agricultural land. A farmer is rewarded according to the land area if he doesn’t receive the anticipated and assumed produce outcome. Such a clever idea makes sure that smallholders have access to sufficient funding to maintain their way of life regardless of the post-harvest outcomes. He also discusses how the Government of India has worked with WRMS in the agro-policy sector. By subsidy optimization, prompt loss assessment and claim payment, offering farm-level manpower services for crop assessment and monitoring agriculture insurance, and encouraging agricultural innovation, WRMS aids the successful implementation of government programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY schemes). Consequently, the PMFBY plan becomes transparent, manageable, cost- and time-effective, and manageable.
Followed by a second case story, from Andhra Pradesh, wherein many companies and NGOs have joined hands to boost AI involvement in agro tech in different regions of the state. AI and IoT technology were installed in the local farms of Guipalli by the IT corporation Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Center of Excellence (CoE) and the NGO Agastya International Foundation, which has its headquarters in Bengaluru. Farms generate hundreds of thousands of data per day. The project’s goal was to make good use of these data, analyse them, and assist farmers in learning more about topics like temperature, water use, and soil conditions. The system assisted farmers in making decisions about irrigation, soil treatment, nutrition, and harvesting without having to physically visit the fields during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown by allowing them to remotely monitor the crops.
Edge computing (HPE Edgeline EL300), on-site IoT modules, drone imagery and analysis, a user interface, and a dashboard were all included in the solutions. These were used for monitoring and reporting diverse on-ground variables and activities in the fields. To show how NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index) can be used when scaled to larger farms, imagery from UAVs and satellites is utilized to plot the NDVI.
Precision Farming
Farmers can increase their income by increasing their yield and this can be done by doing precision farming. In India, farmers are often known to use fertilizers in excess which causes harm not only to the crop but also the soil. With the use of various fields of IT, precision farming is possible. There are tools to capture data related to moisture, soil conditions, weather, nutrients etc. at a very micro level so that farmers only have to use very specific fertilizers or agrochemicals in dedicated land areas instead of using everything on the entire land. This would save their input cost as well as maintain the fertility of the soil.
Providing a platform to do business
Farmers in India often have limited options when it comes to buying inputs for their fields or even when they must sell their produce. They are mostly limited to local retailers. Due to this reason, they often compromise with the quality of inputs like seeds, fertilizers etc and also with the price of their produce. With technology coming into play, farmers will have more options to explore the diverse set of customers who are eager to buy their produce. This will be beneficial for both sides i.e the farmers who will get prices for their produce and the customers who will get quality products.
The best example of this is Agribazaar. This platform connects small farm holders to a wider marketplace through technology. This is becoming India’s largest e-mandi. Agribazaar is an online platform which connects farmers, traders, banks, enterprises and governments. Another similar example can be of Farms Nation which provides a platform for the farmers to sell their products and consumers an opportunity to buy directly from farmers. Thus bringing full transparency to the business of selling and buying.
Improved supply chain
Often farmers find it difficult to transport their produce because of its small shelf life. Fruits and vegetables often have a small shelf life. Also, since the market prices are dynamic across different mandis, farmers are often at a loss, or they are able to realise lesser profits as compared to what they could. Technology can help build better supply chain solutions and traceability, and bring transparency in prices across different mandis, etc.
AI in Healthcare
The Indian healthcare sector is one of the largest revenue and employment-producing sectors of the nation. It is witnessing significant growth fuelled both by corporate and government investments. Health today has become a very important part of an IT-driven nation, medical data can pre-empt issues with health. India has become a front runner in the use of tech to deliver health to the last mile.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has also expanded its roots in healthcare. These are physical devices like bedside monitors, smart watches, fitness bands, and implants that can be used for analysing data. These devices transmit or receive a signal containing data that can be accessed and stored. Real-time access to patients’ critical health situations can transform the dynamics of healthcare. This data can also be used to keep track of daily health activities by an individual and eliminate the risk of certain diseases even before they occur.
Three main applications of artificial intelligence exist. One, patients can discover COPD causes, indicators, and other information by creating early-warning systems and specific spirometers based on artificial intelligence. Example: Niramai.
Second, inhaler-based drugs with artificial intelligence assistance are helpful in delivering the medication in the right way and at the right dose. This aids in monitoring the patient’s compliance with prescribed treatment plans.
Third, high-resolution CT scans, X-rays, and lung imaging techniques supported by AI Artificial Intelligence allow for a better understanding and visualisation of structural and functional aspects of the lungs. Example: Qure.ai.
Additionally helpful to people’s general well-being, is artificial intelligence. Applications and equipment powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are practical in monitoring biological functions, sleep patterns, and activity levels.
This in turn motivates consumers to choose healthier options and supports leading a healthy lifestyle. People’s mental health is also enhanced by such applications. Applications for reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and teaching meditation are proven beneficial for the general public. Example: HealthifyMe.
Understanding the financial potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare demands careful consideration and risk avoidance. Making inaccurate decisions might put people’s health in peril. Massive volumes of data from numerous sources are needed for AI, and fractured data availability might raise the danger of making incorrect conclusions, such as errors in tumour diagnosis or erroneous drug prescriptions.
The IoT world driven by good research is driving India and consequently the world to take care of pre-emptive health care.
Courtesy The Sublime India Issue by Vissionaire
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