Vikas Agrawal

Stories By Vikas Agrawal

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  Apps

  Apps By Vikas Agrawal

  6 Keys to Building a Successful Mobile App

  It is a well-known fact in today's day and age that Necessity is the mother of invention. Following the lead of the innovators in the industry, the computing device has shrunk from the likes of Colossus and ENIAC to smartphones and wearable devices. With the increasing use of these devices, came the need for apps on those platforms. On the run People have witnessed the rise and rise of technology from mainframes, desktops, laptops, handsets with platforms like Symbian OS, Blackberry devices and later ushering to the biggest boom in the cell phone era. That's right. Smartphones! Android and iOS are currently the frontrunners in mobile device operating systems. This isn't going to change anytime soon as both the horses are backed by industry bigwigs and the best brains of the planet. What you can do to make a quick buck in the app-wars is very simple. Wear those nerdy glasses back, take a sip of chilling cold coffee and begin mobile app development. It is not rocket-science to build mobile applications, and none of us would enter the market as an immediate competitor to Instagram as well. Here are the six fundamentals that you can stick to, and make hay while the sun shines! Hello World The first rule of development is to know the nuts and bolts of programming. Software guys should have no qualms in understanding mobile applications know-hows. If you a non-technical person, don't worry. You are not far in the race. A little brush up in logical and analytical skills; and you can make the easiest transformation into development world. Learn Android application syntaxes and let your creative mind do the rest of the work. It's that easy. Development Reloaded The number of applications available in the app stores is skyrocketing. Every day, you can download apps to Android and get a new experience of usability of the devices. Scroll through a variety of these zillions of applications; scan through the user experience. You will understand the idea of your application and how it will be formulated. You should analyze what is the need of the hour. Concentrate on issues you face in day-to-day life and how apps can be a boon for solving them. For example, you can take a look at how on-demand taxis are a rage these days and how companies are utilizing this opportunity for providing wonderful services. Knowledge is Power The third step you need to do is know. After you chip in all sorts of ideas for that perfect app, you need to know. You need to know the target audience for your app. You need to know what will make the user come back to your app once used. Apps like Tinder are being updated keeping in mind their user base and what it is needed. Knowledge, still, is Power You have gotten into the basics of programming. You have planned your instincts on the mobile app. You know who will be your application's preferred choice of the user. Now you need to go the next dimension; Knowledge that is related to survival and growth. Keep yourself updated with latest articles. Take the example of the ones like Google will standardize password managers or look at this post where Apple will deactivate flash on Safari 10. These posts may be useful to you; they may help you to enhance your user's application usage experience. After all, you do need to know what's new and keep up with the Jones. The questions Is your app a "Good to have" or a "Must have" one? What does a user gain by installing your app? Is it a game that refreshes the user? Is it a video streaming app where the user can spend quality time watching videos seamlessly? Will the to-do list app save the user's time significantly? You must be ready to tackle the whys and whats and whens to make your app a successful one. The Fever Viral marketing these days has become quite a trend. The race to create buzz among users is increasing by the day. There are too many apps, and you need to make sure that your app stands differently. The uniqueness and usability of your application will be found nowhere. Ask your inner Steve Jobs to give some creativity and make your app viral. Make expressive videos, generate excitement in the app markets, offer goodies to regular users. Once users start getting acquainted with your application, your app is a sure-shot hit.

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  Mobile

  Mobile By Vikas Agrawal

  Bad News − Cell Phones May Cause Cancer

  People love their cell phones. In fact, a recent survey by Motorola found that 54% of respondents would save their smartphone over their cat if a fire broke out. We tend to take for granted that our phones are user-safe. However, the truth is we really have no idea how significant the danger of our exposure to cell phones can actually be. A New Cancer Study The National Toxicology Program (NTP) recently completed a major $25 million study over 2-and-a-half years in which they investigated the possible health hazards the cell phone radiation could have on mice. They specifically used the radio frequencies and modulations (RF-EMF) currently employed by the United States mobile industry. The NTP study found that the exposure to cell phones increases the incidences of gliomas (brain cancer) and schwannomas of the heart in male rats. The increase was notably small, about 3-4%, but since these tumors are rare, the findings are significant. The radiation level the mice received was not much different from what humans are exposed to when they use cell phones. In the United States, of about 25,000 malignant brain tumors diagnosed each year, 80% are gliomas. Malignant brain tumors are the most common cause of cancer deaths for people aged 15 to 39. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is the agency charged with regulating the health aspects of consumer products, reports on its website that there is, "no evidence linking cell phone use with the risk of brain tumors." However, the FDA does acknowledge some risk associated with carrying cell phones too close to the body due to the phones' heating effect. Controversial Human Studies There have been 3 case-control studies conducted since 2010, which have all been positive (meaning increased cancer was found) in the highest exposure groups. In two of the studies, the tumors were found to occur on the same side that the cell phone was situated. However, these studies were also subject to recall bias. This means when people were asked about their mobile phone usage, the individuals with tumors could have exaggerated their usage. Another study showed high relative risks when comparing an exposed group to a non-exposed group. This means there should be an increase in cancer in the general population. However, this has been controversial. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) appointed an expert Working Group to review all available evidence on the use of cell phones. The Working Group classified the mobile phone use as, "possibly carcinogenic to humans," based on limited evidence from human studies, inadequate evidence from studies on the radiofrequency energy and cancer in rodents, and contradictory evidence from mechanistic studies. The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the IARC classification means that there could be some cancer risk associated with radiofrequency energy, but the evidence is not strong enough to be considered causal and needs to be investigated further. The Importance of the NTP Study The NTP study is the first in which there is a positive result. All of the previous long-term studies in mice have been negative. However, the difference between this research and the former ones is that the length and magnitude of exposure in the NTP study were increased. For example, one previous survey used almost the same magnitude of exposure utilized by the NTP (1.5-4 Watts/kilogram) but only exposed the mice for two hours per day. The recent NTP study exposed the mice for 9 hours per day, which best represents the typical cell phone use of humans. Another research used a whopping 21-hour exposure per day but with a magnitude that was 10 to 20 times less than that in the NTP survey. Also, some of the previous studies used a different strain of mice. It is well known in the scientific community that different strains of mice do not always respond the same to environmental exposures. Critics of the Study Some people have been critical of the NTP study. The study found no tumors in the control (unexposed) group. Critics argue this inflates the chances of a false-positive finding (meaning a certain result seems to have occurred, but really didn't). Also, the rats exposed to radiation on average lived longer than those that weren't. Some reviewers argued that the study should have given more weight to that fact. Another criticism is that there were no positive findings in the female mice. This again suggests that there could be a false-positive result. However, the most likely conclusion, despite the criticisms, is that the exposure to RF-EMF caused the tumors seen in the male mice in the NTP study. With the positive case-control studies seen in humans, and now a similar positive finding in a well-conducted laboratory study in mice, the evidence that cell phones can cause cancer has been significantly strengthened. This means that the mobile phones can probably cause cancer in humans. But factors, such as the duration, the proximity and the level of exposure also matter. It is best to keep a safe distance from your cell phone and decrease the level and the extent of exposure. What Can You Do? Keep the cell phone away from your head as much as possible. Use a microwave radiation protection shield. Carry your cell phone in your purse or backpack rather than in your pocket. Limit its use in poor reception areas. Turn off your phone when you are not using it. Limit your child's exposure to cell phones. They will have longer exposure over their lifetimes. If you are concerned, don't use a cell phone. Conclusion The bottom line is that the cell phone use can probably cause cancer with enough close exposure of a sufficient magnitude for a long enough period of time. We still need more data to understand the level of exposure that is of concern for humans. We also need more studies on Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi to understand their risks as well. Until more information is gathered, the best thing you can do is limit your exposure to cell phones by following the tips provided above.

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  Tomorrow

  Tomorrow By Vikas Agrawal

  7 Ways Augmented Reality Can Transform Business

  With the news that Snapchat will be building a Google-Glass style augmented reality headset, the message is clear. Augmented reality (AR) is no longer just a vision of the future or a technology only used for gaming. It is now ready for use in a variety of fields to improve user experience, create dynamic marketing platforms, and help businesses work smarter than ever. AR has the power to merge the virtual with the real world. The technology is impressive and becoming mainstream. Google is currently selling its Glass headset to businesses, and Microsoft has released the HoloLens to developers. These devices may hold the key to making the customers more satisfied and the staff more productive. Here are the seven ways that augmented reality can transform business: Helping Workers out in the Field Many employees are faced with the reality of spending much of their working lives outside of the office. When out in the field, even the most experienced professionals may need assistance. This is where AR glasses or smartphone technology can help. Workers have a hands-free means of showing their co-workers what they are seeing in real-time and receiving information and guidance back from them directly. This can even assist with emergency situations. For example, a paramedic at a medical emergency may be able to provide information directly to the hospital and receive life-saving instructions through AR. Improved Training AR can forever transform the way that we view training. AR technology makes training more immersive and interactive. It is far more effective than lectures or reading. Training can be more elaborate and repeated as many times as necessary until the Trainee masters the material. Training can also be self-paced. For example, mechanics can practice technical skills virtually and master the practice before they work with real equipment. The result of AR training will be a better-trained workforce. Product Showcases E-commerce has put pressure on businesses to showcase their products more effectively. AR allows customers to fully inspect products online as if they were viewing them in person. In fact, customers can also do more advanced things with these products like seeing how different models of furniture fit in their home before deciding to purchase them. This improves the buying experience by empowering the customer and helping them make better decisions than before. Maps and Tours Think about the AR implications for real estate and museums. These businesses can now offer more interactive and informative experiences. Graphic overlays can help potential home buyers see the house fully furnished while providing historical information. Museum visitors can receive relevant information about the art they are viewing in real-time. Now also consider how AR can help professional delivery drivers – and all kinds of drivers for that matter. They can use graphic overlays of maps to help guide them quickly without needing to divert their eyes from the road. This improves both safety and efficiency. Augmented Offices AR can turn a plain office space into a dynamic environment. Tables and chairs are all that is really needed. Everything else can be created based on the needs at the time. For example, AR can display digital whiteboards or multi-media presentations on any wall. This will help reduce overhead and make offices more adaptable. Improved Customer Service AR can transform customer service, especially in the retail industry. AR glasses can help with make-up and clothing decisions, for example. Not only can AR demonstrate how customers would look like wearing these products without actually putting them on, but it can also provide style and application tips. In fact, a similar type of service is already being offered on tablets. Major hardware retailer Lowe's lets customers explore various models of bathroom suites on iPads in what is called the Holoroom. Improved Collaboration The way that remote employees connect can be forever changed. Remote workers are often distracted during team meetings. With AR, it will seem like everyone is present in the room at the same time. Things like facial expression and body language, which are so important to communication, will not be missed. This improves the remote experience and helps people to feel more connected. Conclusion AR has the power to transform our organizations. It can provide better experiences for the customer while helping businesses run more effectively. The implementation of AR in business is really only limited by our imagination.

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