www.wiseowlmag.com June 2014 : Vol.1 Issue.1 : Bangalore
Give yourself a raise...Your choice of career pays!
Is Gaming Your Passion? Make It Your Profession Too!
Inside: Introduction to the only magazine for the young, the restless and the information hungry on Page 6
F T NO
S R O
E L A
From The Editor's Desk
From Being A Teenager To A Magazine For Teenagers
When I was a teenager, there was sport and music. That is not to say that was a dearth of other things, but we weren’t spoilt for choice. Today Smartphones and Tablets are slowly replacing computers, while we would clamour around cyber cafes to play Wolf and NFS (in simpler avatars) and to access that magical thing called the Internet! We had no WhatsApp or FB. Our idea of messaging would be to dial a friend’s home telephone and disconnect after a single ring to signal something! Spending almost half a day in a library back then equaled an hour spent on Google and Wikipedia today. What’s funny is that it isn’t really that long ago. To cut a long story short, while we didn’t have many options, there always was an alternative. Except for one thing – a magazine that addressed us directly. We were woefully short of a magazine that gave us advice, do it yourself suggestions, information and entertained us. Which is why, it gives me immense pleasure to introduce you to WiseOwl. Our first issue sheds some light on the world of gaming. Those wonderful characters that come alive in a game originate out of passion, creativity and hard work. We also tell you about one of the marvels of modern technology – Augmented Reality. In our travel section, we let you take a tour of some fascinating structures across the globe. In Evolutione Personalitatis, we explain the benefits of getting organised and time-slicing your day and of course, in Pennywise, what you need to keep in mind to become an entrepreneur. Worry not – we’re not only being informative – we’re also about fun. There are events, cool gadgets, gizmos and tidbits, there are updates and predictions on fashion trends and there’s FunZone, a section with puzzles, games and trivia. WiseOwl isn’t a diktat. It’s a celebration. It celebrates you. It celebrates the power you hold, to change the course and future of our country. This magazine was conceptualised, visualised and brought to life for you. I’ll tweak a quote from the second offering of Nolan’s Batman trilogy, You, complete us! Happy reading! Varun Rajagopalan @varunr_98 If you would like to contact the editor, please write to editor@wiseowlmag.com
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Editor In Chief : Varun Rajagopalan Editor at Large : Geetha Reddy Marketing & Distribution : Vinod Raju Art Direction & Design :- Dave Remedios Cover -: Gaming Design as Career Managing Director : Vamsi Krishna Publisher : Gvam Publishers, #8, Jayanagar 1st Block east, Bangalore. RNI : use dummy number for now Printed by : Kala Prints #6, Basveshwar Nagar, Bangalore. Contact By Mail Letter should be sent to: The Editor WiseOwl Mag Gvam Publishers #8, Jayangar 1st Block East, Bangalore. Telephone: 9985676866 Email: contact@wiseowlmag.com
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Contents
NEWS 8 Brands catch FIFA World Cup fever to push sales With the soccer World Cup barely a week away, a growing number of brands are jumping....
TECH NEWS 11 Google’s Car will Take You for a Drive The future is here. Google has a built a prototype of a self-driving car, which has no room for either a steering wheel or a driver’s seat. The only thing you do
COVER STORY 14 Is Gaming Your Passion? Make It Your Profession Too TRAVEL 33 Fascinating Structures Monolithic landmarks, i.e. carved from one block of stone, rather than assembled from blocks. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important port and trade city in many ancient
FEATURE 22 Augmented Reality What is common to the movies Iron Man, Minority Report and Avatar? They were conceptual trendsetters and sci-fi blockbusters? Yes, but actually much more than that...........
NEWS UPDATES Modi Sarkar is here
Brands catch FIFA World Cup fever to push sales
As Lok Sabha Elections 2014 wound down to a historic close, the BJP-led NDA claimed a landslide victory on 16 May making huge gains across the country. As results for all 543 Lok Sabha seats were announced, the NDA looked set to win 336 seats, not only far ahead of the half-way mark but also relishing a victory whose scale they had not themselves anticipated. For, incredibly, the BJP crossed the 272 mark comfortably on its own, without allies, winning 282 seats, a gain of 166. This is the biggest victory since the 1984 election that Rajiv Gandhi won with 414 LS seats. It is also the first time ever in the 67-year history of independent India that a non-Congress party has won a simple majority on its own. Armed with a decisive mandate, Narendra Modi took oath as the 15th Prime Minister of India on 26 May. In keeping with his ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ mantra, Modi opted for a lean team of 45 ministers — 23 Cabinet Ministers, 10 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 12 Ministers of State. The average age of the Cabinet is 60 years.
With the soccer World Cup barely a week away, a growing number of brands are jumping on the FIFA bandwagon to kickstart their sales which weren't making much headway in a gloomy economic environment. Coca-Cola, for instance, ran a global consumer promotion for the world's largest sporting spectacle across 207 countries, and the response has been overwhelming. With 10 million FIFA cans on shop shelves, Coke is hoping to generate a buzz around the tournament.
Canada shooting: Gunman updates FB account while on the run A manhunt is under way in the Canadian city of Moncton after a gunman shot dead three members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and left two others injured. The Royal Canadian Mounted police tweeted an image of the suspect wearing military camouflage and wielding two guns. Police in New Brunswick also confirmed on their Twitter feed that three officers had been killed and that two others had sustained 'non-life threatening' injuries. In a macabre twist to the story a Facebook page, which appears to belong to the suspect, was active shortly before and during the city-wide manhunt. A post written 11 hours ago by Justin Bourque from Moncton featured the lyrics to the Megadeth song 'Hook in Mouth.' 'Don't try to fool us, we know the worst is yet to come. / I believe my kingdom will come,' the Facebook user wrote.
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Hollywood calling? Hrithik Roshan meets ‘Fast & Furious’ director
Bollywood hunk Hrithik Roshan fuelled rumours of a Hollywood venture after he was spotted dining with Hollywood filmmaker Rob Cohen in Mumbai on 4 June. The actor was accompanied by his filmmaker father Rakesh Roshan and mother Pinky. According to reports, Hrithik Roshan, who is currently busy with the filming of ‘Bang Bang’ opposite Katrina Kaif, may be a part of a Hollywood project by Rob Cohen. Rob Cohen is credited for films like ‘Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story’, ‘Dragonheart’, ‘Daylight’ and The Fast & The Furious’.
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NEWS UPDATES Sensex rise 8% in May, Sesa jumps 51%
Indian shares rose sharply and scaled new record highs in May, with the benchmark index rising above 25,000 points on hopes of an economic revival after pro-business Narendra Modi became India’s new prime minister. The BSE Sensex touched a life high of 25,375 points on May 16, the day results for the five-week election gave Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party a clear mandate to govern Asia’s third-largest economy. In May, the index rose 8 percent, its best monthly performance since October.
Australia Offers Help For Urban Development In a meeting with the Union Urban Development Minister of India, Venkaiah Naidu, the Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling has offered Australia's urban development expertise, technology
and support to India. Some of Australia's urban development achievements include planned cities, proper waste management, networked buildings and most importantly, usage of high quality materials. Thanking the Australian High Commisionner for the suggestion, Mr Naidu said that the proposal will be considered and steps will be initiated soon.
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A Business-Friendly Indian Budget Expected By Bank Of America
The Bank of America expects India's Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's budget to be largely business-friendly. While the country faces one of its worst every financial crises, there have been high expectations from Jaitley's budget. Corporations and business houses have their hopes afloat that retrospective taxation will take a backseat and the government will focus on taking Indian businesses into the future. The Indian stock market has responded positively to the news and climbed 20% year-to-date. Here's hoping for a budget that will encompass business-friendly policies, yes. But, it should also include benefits for the common public. The most important thing for the new government to achieve would be to ensure that policy paralysis never returns.
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TechNews Google’s Car will Take You for a Drive The future is here. Google has a built a prototype of a self-driving car, which has no room for either a steering wheel or a driver’s seat. The only thing you do sitting on the passenger seat of is push the ‘go’ button! Google has been building this car through partnerships
with automotive suppliers and manufacturers, and aims at building up to 200 such cars in the near future, and make it available various cities within a couple of years. Google has been testing self-driving cars since 2009, incorporating laser sensors and radars into standard automobiles such as the Prius from Toyota Motor and sport-utility vehicles from Toyota luxury car division Lexus. The driverless cars are currently limited to a maximum speed of 25 miles (40 km) an hour.
Photo Courtesy: motortrend.com
The World's First 3D Printer Gun is Here The future is here. Google has a built a prototype of a self-driving car, which has no room for either a steering wheel or a driver’s seat. The only thing you do sitting on the passenger seat of is push the ‘go’ button! Google has been building this car through partnerships with automotive suppliers and manufacturers, and aims at building up to 200 such cars in the near future, and make it available various cities within a couple of years.
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Google has been testing self-driving cars since 2009, incorporating laser sensors and radars into standard automobiles such as the Prius from Toyota Motor and sport-utility vehicles from Toyota luxury car division Lexus. The driverless cars are currently limited to a maximum speed of 25 miles (40 km) an hour. Photo Courtesy: cdni.wired.co.uk
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The notso-expensive iPhone 5C
Photo Courtesy: www.apple.com
Apple has launched a cheaper version of iPhone 5C with 8GB storage size, in India. At Rs 37,500, the 8GB iPhone 5C will face tough competition from Galaxy Note 3 and the LG G2, both of which trump the iPhone 5C for storage size. Both are made of plastic too like the iPhone 5C, so you are not trading off a metal body. The G2 is available in 16GB or 32GB versions. Also, Apple aims at increasing its ASP in India, which is among the lowest due to the higher sales of entry-level models such as the iPhone4 and 4S leading to a cascading effect on global financials. Apple’s 8GB iPhone 5C was first launched in Europe and China over a month ago, and is yet to hit the shelves in
Microsoft has No Plans to Spin-off Xbox Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella just gave Xbox fans a breather. He said that Microsoft has no plans to spin-off Xbox even if there are some investors and executives, like Xbox division President Stephen Elop, that would do it. Good news for Xbox users. There was mounting fear that Nadella may be swayed by Elop and others to abandon the Xbox brand. The Xbox brand isn’t out of the woods yet. Microsoft’s own investors continually bring up the fact that they lose billions on Xbox every year. Photo Courtesy: wikimedia.org
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COVER STORY
Is Gaming Your Passion? Make It Your Profession Too! You are surrounded by deserted
buildings marked with a red cross in graffiti paint. There is a loud thud and the sound of the bullet grazing past you resonates in your ears. You know the ground map of Dust II better than your route to school, yet you wonder which way to go. Nothing evokes the same sentiment in you than your comrade saying “Fire
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in the hole� as he hurls a grenade at the enemy. Survival is key. Are you a proud Counter-Strike addict? If yes, then you are not the only one By Sahith Shetty
Production DESIGN
Pre-Production Designer develops the concept with the help of the team. The storyline, premise, the basic sketches of the characters etc are decided in this step. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
The designer visualizes an idea for a game, and carries out the research needed.
The designer coordinates with artists, programmers etc to implement the game as visualized by the team.
The game is tested for glitches, bugs etc. which are revised if necessary
Post-Production
IDEA TEST
The finished product is deployed into the market.
GAME DESIGNING DEPLOY
When William Higinbotham created the first video game (Tennis For Two) in 1958, he had no idea that gaming would become such an integral part of the entertainment industry. With developers like 2K Czech Rockstar North creating ripples in the video gaming market, it has become impossible to separate a gamer from his virtual world. For those of you who are pestered by your parents with threats like, “I will burn down your computer,” while you are busy playing Assassin’s Creed, we have some good news – gaming is not a bad thing after all. Thousif Raza, a writer and an avid gamer, points out “Games are the most interactive means of communication than any other media. You get to build your own stories, be the hero or the villain; you choose your destiny and have incredible amounts of fun doing it.” Smartphones and social media have snowballed gaming into one of the most rapidly growing sectors with an ever-increasing number of users across. The demand for games like Angry Birds, Temple Run and Candy Crush Saga also means a boost to career prospects in the field.
ment such as narrative or plot, dialogue, maneuvering and several outcomes resulting from a player's choices. The industry is lucrative and fun, but is a lot of hard work. The evolution of a game from a concept to a finished product may take up to three years and may involve teams of up to 200 professionals, depending on the magnitude of the project. Going beyond realms of game conceptualization, a designer oversees the process of game development and coordinates with game-creation specialists including the programmer, writer, audio programmer, graphic designer, animator, modeler etc. As the game evolves, it becomes even harder to keep going with newer levels without losing out on target gamer interest. Only high levels of focus and creativity can sustain its uniqueness and charm.
Expert Speak
From a gamer to game designer Being a video game designer is challenging and competitive. A game designer not only needs to be an artist with a vision, but also a calculative programmer. This includes conceptualizing the strategy and design of the game. A game designer envisions the purpose, aesthetics and handles most of the content in game develop-
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Krishna Chaitanya
Game Testing Consultant at Sri Sastha Solutions
Indian gaming design companies and designers are at par to other countries. We are sporty and fun! Just with the right exposure and guidance, the opportunities for people who want to take up gaming and its varied aspects as a career, will just open up.
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Levels of Game Designing Visualize
It is important to visualize a game before you actually start designing one. Before you think of “How to make it”, you must think of “What I want to make”. However, the latter is based on factors such as budget, timelines and your skillset. For example, to build a fun game like Angry Birds that should appeal to all kinds of users, you cannot design it like a gritty game like Assassin’s Creed. Once you have visualized the game, you can break down the idea into individual parts and analyze how each part depends on the other. You will then need to prepare a document that involves everything from the plotline, purpose to the character descriptions etc. The next step would be to draw a rough sketch of the characters or the background.
Design
This step mainly focuses on what the game actually looks like. You need to identify different designing tools and what their usability. The most commonly used design software is Adobe Photoshop if you are dealing with any kinds of pixel graphics. The designers of a modern indie game Hotline Miami used pixel art to create the game, through the use of raster graphics software, where images are edited at the pixel level. For 3D art, tools like Maya can be your best bet. Next, you need to model the characters and animate them as planned in the visualization stage. Every detail of the character has to be factored in, for example – the shadow cast by the character, or the impact of being hit by a vehicle, a weapon or another character. Even minor details in the background need to be worked upon. In the game Metal Gear Solid 2, when ice spills out of a bucket in the background of a scene, it slowly melts and eventually disappears. Assiduous focus and due diligence is crucial.
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Code
Code takes care of calculations and executions needed to make a character run, jump or fight. Typically, the more advanced the game, the more advanced the code has to be. Depending on the complexity, you may need to learn programming languages like HTML, C++, which are some of the code programs used to create video games like Grand Theft Auto. There are tools which help in debugging the problems encountered while coding. Even if you are not particularly good at coding, a general understanding of how code works is beneficial as it will give you insights when it comes to possible hardware / software limitations. If you are looking at building a simple online game or a flash game, you may not need to know how to code, as there are several tools available online through which you can customize your game based on the requirements with the help of a few readily available options.
Test
You might think that once you're done making your game, you’re done. Not quite – because the most important part in a game is testing! You need to get through every possible scenario in your game to make sure that there aren't any bugs. All the permutations and combinations in the game need to be tested, which will take a lot of time and work from the people involved. This step should not be ignored as the gamers may encounter a lot of issues.
Expert Speak “The part I enjoy most about game design is how the design process is iterative. The whole process of design-test-refineAnand Ramachandran design teaches you that no Director of Design at Tiny Mogul Games designer can ever fully predict how players will behave or interact with the game - it's a fascinating learning process. Games I've worked on as designer in the past are Hidden Shadows, Hidden Chronicles, Yoville, Mafia Wars.”
Stepping Stones to Dream Career in Game Designing As intriguing as the field promises to be, you might deem a career in video game design harder than it actually is. After all, not often do we bump into creative experts from the gaming industry. Realization of the dream to join the game design brigade responsible for the virtual world of games on your fingertips can start with a basic interest in computer science. Generally, a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer engineering with some experience in computer programming can ease your way into the gaming industry. Many institutions in India and abroad now offer long-term and short-term courses in game design. Such courses can value add to your academic graph and give you a first-hand exposure to the actual functionality of a designer in the whole process of game development. A portfolio of paid or voluntary game development work done outside of the course can boost your resume and help you get into reputed gaming companies.
Expert Speak CJ Pollock
an independent game developer from Houghton, New York.
“I see lots of people making $1 apps for the iPhone or Android. These people can make between $200-5,000 per year average. If you work with a Triple-A studio, the pay should be around $40,000-80,000 per year (depending on the position). Another thing to consider is the matter of outsourcing. Loads of companies outsource their art assets to smaller companies. These private contractors are paid on the basis of the tasks assigned to them.”
Some institutions to turn to India: • • • • •
EzetriX, Pune. Academy Of Animation And Gaming, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Creative Mentors Animation & Gaming College - MOU with JNTU Fine Arts University, Hyderabad. The Academy of Animation and Gaming - Gurgaon. DSK Supinfocom International Campus - New Delhi.
Abroad: • • • • •
Some free online courses:
There are a lot of universities that provide free online courses in video game design and other related fields. A simple Google Search will reveal a list which includes Blender 3D Design at Tufts University, Computer Game Programming at Eastern Michigan University, Computer Games and Simulations for Investigation and Education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), etc.
University of Southern California, USA. University of Utah, USA. DigiPen Institute of Technology, Singapore. Art Institute of Vancouver, Canada. Michigan State University, USA.
Expert Speak Many of big game developing companies are looking for good game designers, but you need to show something unique for them. Sit down, design a few games and start sending your CV to the game developing companies, or just make your own games, like me!”
Takács László
Game Tester at Zen Studios, Programmer/Designer at White Rabbit Games and Designer at ActionWorks
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Return On Investment In Game Design As A Career While your initial qualms about the industry are quenched, you may get dubious about the salary a video game designer can expect once he/she becomes a mainstream professional. Salaries for game programmers vary from company to company and country to country. Salaries offered to designers are dependent on similar factors as in other industries, like the employer’s salary structures and candidate’s relevant experience. According to International Game Developers Association (IGDA), video game designers at the entry level are usually paid between Rs 29,50,500 ($50,000) and Rs 47,20,300 ($80,000) annually, averaging Rs 33,93,075 ($57,500). According to Game Developer Salary Survey 2013, the average salary of a game designer went up to Rs 44,29,585 ($75,065). With emergence of plenty of new products and services-oriented game studios all over the world, the career opportunities in this segment are tremendous. Lewis Goodall, a game designer from Plymouth says, “Living in a small town used to provide very limited opportunities for up and coming game designers. But now, with services like kick starter, steam early access, many of us are able to create the games we want. We do not need to go through publishers that sometimes hamper our imagination. It's a good time to be in the game industry!” 18
Top Gaming Companies Worldwide • • • • •
Nintendo. Valve Electronic Arts, Inc (EA Sports) Rockstar Ubisoft
India: • • • •
Gameshastra Paprikaas Interactive Services Games2Win Milestone Interactive
If you believe that your love for games is beyond being in their virtual worlds for hours and can see yourself making a unique addictive game that no one else has yet thought of, then maybe it’s time you seriously consider taking the creative plunge and move towards being the creator of new games.
WiseOwlSpeak:
According to gamespot.com, more than 900 people worked on Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. On the other hand, the internet phenomenon Angry Birds took only a team of mere 12 people who worked on the development for eight months. 4 issue 1 2014
HEALTH MYTH BREAKER:
By Sarah Thomas
Can Diet Drinks Help You Lose Weight?
The commonly adopted mantra to stay fit and slim has been hitting a
gym and following a rigorous diet plan. It was believed that quantity of the water you drink daily is directly proportional to the fat you will burn. This was known to be well researched and accepted by most doctors, dieticians, trainers and researchers. However, a new study, published in the journal ‘Obesity’, chooses to differ on the well accepted myth. According to the new study, diet drinks could be a lot healthier that earlier speculated. As a part of the clinical study, researchers divided 300 participants into two groups. Half of them avoided zero calorie diet drinks and consumed only water for three months, and lost an average of 4 kilograms. Interestingly, the weight lost by this bunch was far less than those who consumed diet drinks for the same period of time. They lost approximately 5.89 kilograms. This study has created an upsurge of the use of diet drinks in the weight loss industry, but what you do need to bear in mind is that it isn’t always about quick and easy solutions, but about staying fit and healthy in the long run. So before you read any study and make a decision on your own weight loss scheme, remember that it may have consequences on your health at a later stage. Water on the other hand is a tried, tested and trusted natural fat burner.
Editor’s Note:
Always consult your physician, family doctor or your parents when you take a decision related to your health. The same applies to weight-loss as well.
WiseOwlSpeak: Skipping meals won’t help you lose weight. Later, you’re likely to feel hungrier and could probably raid the fridge or nibble on junk food
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DOES YOUR ‘SOUND’ SLEEP DISTURB OTHERS
Funny but true, ‘snoring’ is the third main reason for divorces among couples in the West. Let alone couples, it is a cause of embarrassment for anyone who is caught snoring. Several people wake up choking and go back to sleep. Have you ever wondered what causes people to grunt and rumble
when they breathe, while fast asleep? Snorers are as unaware of their own problem as they are to the world while sleeping. This is no laughing matter, if you snore then there are chances of you having a medical condition. Mostly people with heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, suffer from this problem. It’s best to consult a doctor and get yourself tested to eliminate the probability of these health issues. If the problem persists or if you seem to be fit and fine you can head to sleep clinics or try something easy. Smoker and alcoholics must cut down on the number of cigarettes and the amount of intake of alcohol respectively. This has said to reduce snorting drastically. Maintaining a healthy body mass index is another way to stop snoring. In worst circumstances however, you can use the Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), which holds the tongue from falling back, in case you are a tongue snorer. Surgery is the last option to go by, if the situation worsens.
Bust Your Stress It is extremely important to stay stress free because not only does it take a toll on your health, but also it is scientifically proven that when a person is stressed out he goes through short term memory loss. This decreases productivity in your work. There are 10 simple ways to beat stress. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Exercise frequently; this causes the brain to release endorphins which helps control stress. Laugh more often. Humor changes your perspective to life. Set your priorities right. Take a break; remember all work and no play will make Jack a dull boy. If you’re a perfectionist, relax! Tell yourself it’s
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7. 8. 9.
10.
all going to be okay. So we’ve heard, ‘choose your friends wisely!’ This is extremely true because, the more negative people you mingle with, the more negative your thoughts will tend to be. Remember you don’t have to please every body, sometimes you just have to call it quits and think of your own self. Try meditation or just deep inhalation and exhalation helps a lot. It calms the body and the mind immediately. Believe it or not, your posture psychologically controls your mood. Always sit up straight and maintain a confident posture. It creates a positive energy around you. Last but not the least avoid caffeine, it increases stress levels.
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Enhance Your Real World Through Augmented Reality
By Sridhar Bhamidi
What is common to the movies Iron Man, Minority Report and Avatar? They were conceptual trendsetters and sci-fi blockbusters? Yes, but actually much more than that. These movies have blurred the line between the real and virtual world. The protagonists in these films present the most advanced cases of Augmented Reality (AR), by showing how technology enhances one’s perception of reality. In standard terms, AR is a live direct view of a real-world environment where elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory inputs such as sound, video or graphics. Put simply, AR means enhanced reality. By using hardware or tools like smartphones, you can discover features in the form of visual data imagery that are otherwise not visible normally. Editor’s Note: It’s a little like in the movie The Matrix, where everything humans touched or experienced were augmented and made to give the impression that they were real. People often confuse AR with Virtual Reality (VR). VR is a simulated virtual environment, while AR enhances the real world. AR is closer to the real world and adds graphics, sound and feedback to the natural world as it exists. AR has already found its grounding in various aspects of our daily lives such as gaming, movies, medicine, and automobiles. Besides enhancing the natural world as it exists, advert of AR has opened new avenues for job seekers. . In this section of the magazine, we’ll look at how AR is evolving, its impact on the industries and how new opportunities are opening up.
Image capturing and 3-D object tracking are the core of AR applications, which generally use one of the two approaches – Marker based or location-based.
Features of AR
What’s different about AR applications?
AR is an area of technology that is spicing up every walk of your life. With AR displays, a simple task like walking to your milk booth will no longer be mundane – informative graphics will appear in your field of view and enhancements will be refreshed continually.
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Marker-based
Markers work by having software recognize a specific pattern such as a barcode or symbol, when a camera points at it, and overlaying a digital image at that point on the screen. If the image is three dimensional or animated the effect is of a digital experience unfolding on the surface on which the pattern is printed
Location-based
Location-based applications use the ability of a particular device to record its position in the world and then offer data that’s relevant to that location; finding your way around the city, remembering where you parked your vehicle etc.
Salient features of AR: 2D Tracking, Image Capturing, Analytics Reporting 3-D Object and Environment Tracking and Publishing Marker and location Based Concepts Motion Tracking Geo-Location based AR Web Cam based Virtual Tours
AR can be used on all screens and connected devices – smartphones and tablets, PC and Connected TV, and Connected Glasses and Lenses. The striking aspect of an AR application is the superimposition of 3D-generated computer imagery or some form of real-time images
captured through a camera, webcam or smart phone. This includes an understanding of image processing and computer vision techniques. The success of an AR application lies in getting the computer-generated imagery to look realistic and be properly aligned with the real environment. This helps to create an authentic impression. Most of the applica-
tions are designed for the general public; so a good understanding of intuitive user interfaces is also required to provide a seamless experience.
Augmented Reality – defining the way ahead for industries Retail
Gaming
Hand-held gaming AR air hockey, virtual enemy combact
Viratual fitting rooms Warehouse optimizations Visualize product catalogs
Entertainment
Healthcare
Real-time graphics 3D imaging
Robotic Surgery Human Simulation Medical Imaging
Tourism
Education
Enhanced booking experience AR city tours Gamification of travel
Interactive labs Language translators Space simulations
There is a lot of AR in many industries. AR was first used for military, industrial and medical applications but soon applied to other areas like entertainment. Innovations like real-time city tours, interactive physics labs for students, robotic surgeries prove that AR is the new kid on the block of technology.
How does technology fit in AR? Hardware
Input devices,camera Display( Head-worn, Handheld projection)
Careers in AR
Tracking Sensors Enviornment Sensing GPS,RFID
The surge of AR has created new job opportunities. Thanks to the various technologies and processes involved, there is an increasing demand for 3D modeling, AR application programmers, hardware developers. There are also new avenues opening up for R&D as well as business development.
Interfaces and visualization
Hetrogeneous devices Physical and virtual integration
Skillsets to create your niche in AR
AR application development isn’t rocket science. It is a mix of advanced computer skills, 3D modeling and desktop, web or mobile programming. A grasp of 3D modeling should include texturing, shading and rendering. Programming languages may vary as per the platform but C++ and C# are predominant.
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As AR is an ever-involving technology field, the aspirant developers should have a passion to learn new technologies. Keeping abreast of the latest know-how and an intrinsic zeal to push the boundaries would go a long way in helping create your own identity. It is also imperative to keep track of the advancements made by firms like Layar, a Dutch-based company, which is coming up with a mobile AR browser or Qualcomm, unveiling a new software development kit for Android OS to support AR. In case one finds the path to AR interesting and want to make it big, there are various training modules. Kinect Training from Felight offers AR apps development training. And of course, there is Google which connects you to unlimited information. The average salary of an apps developer is INR 4.5 lakh per annum and for AR programmers it could be between INR 6 lakh to 7 lakh.
Across Air (iOS)
This is a 3D navigator to help reach your destination easily. Look around with your camera to view restaurants, landmarks, cinemas etc.
AR in the future
Augmented Reality is here to stay. The increasing rate of adoption across devices – phones, tablets, laptops, means that there is a huge scope for development. Global automotive giants like BMW, Daimler and Ferrari are envisioning an AR windshield that can respond to hand motions to display information. Google Glass is expected to radically change user experience and how industries like retail, automotive, education or medicine function. AR has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. It has already found its way to our cell phones and video game systems. The day is not far when your mother will look through Google Glass to locate spices and with a swish of her arm gets it to the kitchen cabinet. Who knows, you may even be wearing an Iron Man mask to travel between cities. Give wings to the creative genius in you through Augmented Reality.
Wikitude World Browser (Android, iOS)
It’s your smartphone AR encyclopedia. No wonder it was the best AR browser from 2009 to 2011!
Google Sky Map (Android)
Layar (Android, iOS, Blackberry)
Point to anything in the sky and you will learn all about it. Best way to learn about stars and constellations.
Find services easily anywhere near you with this AR browser. It even displays tweets from nearby areas.
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Evolutione Personalitatis Being Organized could be First Step to Success By Darshan Bafna
W
ondering why the world is after you telling you to be organized? After all, what’s the biag deal in putting your stuff in the cupboard and making sure that the study table doesn’t look like a pile of half of your world. Well, in that case, think again.
incumbent chaos. Although, being organized can help you break many constraints and give you more time in a day, it is not as complex as it seems. Here are some basic steps to being organized:
Organizing is defined as taking something messy, chaotic, or unordered and categorizing and rearranging it based on structure. Sounds complicated? It basically means that you take something randomly lying around and and arrange it in a way that makes sense to you. Now, if you are wondering why it is important, then here’s why. Being organized is a personality trait commonly seen in most successful people around the world. Being organized gives you space and time to focus on your goals. It makes you more productive, gives you more time to finish your work and for the things that you care about. It reduces clutter and reduced stress. You can then time-slice your day, prioritize your tasks, set and achieve goals effectively. The art of organizing allows you to be more flexible and creative, and relieves you from
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Plan on a Planner Keeping track of things to do on planner will help you remember your priorities. Setting a short-term goal for yourself will encourage you to achieve it within the time you’ve given yourself. Follow up on on the due date and check if you fulfilled it or not. This lets you know the things that are left undone and also helps you review your week or month. This pushes you to achieve your target at the next challenge.
Be Clutter Free At the beginning of the academic year, you have no clutter. Be careful not to build clutter as the year progresses. Create separate folders for announcements, tests that have been graded, papers you must give to your parents and so on. As papers become outdated, such as an event that has passed, toss them into the dustbin immediately.
Set Goals Set realistic goals at the beginning of the academic year and break one large goals into several mini-goals. Write these on index cards and keep them in a place you can see them every day. Writing down your goals makes them more concrete, and motivates you to keep working towards them.
Time Management
Maintain a To Do List Spend at least 15 minutes a day preparing your ‘To Do’ list for the next day. In doing so, you will know exactly what tasks you have to accomplish the next day.
Get Creative with Calendar Use a calendar to plan your academic and personal activities. You could consider color-coding similar activities on your calendar. For example, highlight all upcoming tests in yellow, study time in green and recreational activities in blue maybe. Now that you know the hows and whys of being organized, start applying them into your daily routine so that you can make most of your time and reap the highest rewards.
Wake up early enough for your school or college to arrive well ahead of time. If you need 30 minutes to get up, shower, and dress, compensate that time by waking up at least 45 minutes prior to your departure. To ensure you don’t turn off your alarm clock and go back to sleep, place your alarm clock in a corner of your room. This way, you actually have to get out of bed to turn it off, and you’re most likely to stay up too. If an elder has a Smartphone in the house, download an app such as WalkMeUp that ensure that you get up!
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What's Happening Maker Photo Contest
Photographs are invited for the contest on two topics: Unparalled India and India Magnified. Prizes worth Rs 16, 000 are awaiting winners. Deadline for submission: 11 Jul 2014
Ride In Style
Bounty hunter is organising an online design contest for designers all around the world. Design a decal for a Ferrari (Model: Ferrari 458 Challenge Evoluzione). Incorporate the logo into the design concept. The guideline are as listed below : • Must be a vector graphic • Must include the logo (download here). Logo can be manipulated into abstract image even different colour if you prefers. • Must include the seafoam colour. • Submissions need to be presented as showing the top, side, front, and back of the car. • Please resize and scale the image to 620x463px. • File format .jpg, jpeg, .png are accepted The prize award is $2000. Deadline for submission: 06 Jun 2014
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Pennywise
Just Like A
BOSS By Sarah Thomas
We’ve all heard many ‘rags to riches’ stories of how people with small time jobs have made it big by themselves. Often, these success stories would have got you thinking about yourself, about how you could get there too
financial skills into revenue-generating models.
What’s common between Bill Gates, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Narayana Murthy, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and Azim Premji? Their diverse fields and family backgrounds not withstanding, these achievers all had an ‘idea;’ something they believed would change the face of the industry. They didn’t care about what detractors had to say. They believed in themselves and today, everyone acknowledges them as game-changers worldwide.
According to Farhan, Social
Starting a small, garage or home-based entrepreneurship is simple. Making money out of it is not. Having an idea and believing in it can be a great start, but making that idea work needs the perfect equation of mind, skill and talent. Did you know that two percent of
Before you begin thinking about the ways you can register and get your company up and running, weigh out the pros and cons. Invest good time and research on your idea and learn more about it. Hasty decisions can cost you a lot. A
the world’s population earns 60 percent of the world’s wealth? That’s not because of the
charm of these entrepreneurs but their ability to turn
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Bangalore-based young entrepreneur Farhan Hussain proudly states that he literally started from scratch with limited resources. When he kick-started F-Stop, a media company, he was short of professional equipment and his team was small too. However, he focused on making optimum utilization of available resources. The famous ‘Happy Bangalore’ version of Pharrel Williams’ ‘Happy’ was created by him and his friends. Parts of the video were incorporated in the official ‘Happy’ video.
media, is the best platform for start-ups to spread their message. It has gained a strong hold as a marketing platform and it is a ‘no cost’ and extremely efficient means of spreading the word.
Farhan
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thorough analysis of the idea and other similar ideas of people who have established their companies must be done. Known as ‘Competitor Analysis’, it is of utmost importance to be prepared with the understanding of the business sector you are to join. Many a time, you may bump into your own idea being executed differently by somebody else. Therefore, it is very important to acquaint yourself with your potential competitors.
“You need to ask yourself what makes your idea unique, it need not always be in monetary terms. You can be unique in terms of the services you offer and the way you address your client’s grievances,” said
Subhashini K, co-founder of Visionways Solutions, a human resources (HR) consultancy
Subhashini K,
established in 2012. Initially, you have to go through the process of registering your company, developing a website, filing taxes and also getting your sales tax registration done. For this documentation process, Subhashini relied on newbies who carried out the complex job throughout the setting up phase at reduced cost. “Help with documentation proved beneficial only to an extent as the worries and mental stress of dealing with amateurs, on the other hand, is a burden that came along,” says Subhashini.
It is essential to determine a target group for your idea. Your idea needs to be appealing to this group. If your products and services are not plausible to them, then you need to get back to the drawing board. Speaking about target groups, Johnson Rajkumar, co-founder of Johnson R Poster House, a home décor company says, “The youth love sticking posters on their walls, be it of their favorite artists, movies or soap operas. In the West, you get inexpensive posters neatly framed, ready for your walls. But, in India the scenario is quite different. Not only are we short of showrooms that sell posters but the ones that do, sell them at exorbitant prices which the youth cannot afford.” Poster House creates classic wooden-framed posters. Their target customers are young people who are clued into
Hollywood, the international music scene and pop culture. People between the ages of 16 to 30 forms their target group. “The set target customer base is only approximate and not absolute. We are here to cater to anybody who wants posters,” explains Johnson. Though, an idea can get you started on your dream to start something of your own, but without the muchneeded investment to support it, an idea can fester. It is crucial to have an estimate of the investment needed and revenue that can be generated. Team Poster House looked into the initial capital that would be required; they calculated the costs required for delivering the posters and making the frames. That was all the investment they needed, which luckily turned out be affordable for them. Poster House was publicized only through Facebook. “We had 300 orders in just one month. People were thrilled about the fact that what would generally cost Rs 2000 otherwise, was available at just Rs 500 at Poster House, and that too posters of impeccable quality,” beams Muhammed, co-founder of the company.
There are several local investors and banks that help raise capital for one’s start-up. However, it is best to start small with an affordable capital and then work towards growing the firm and expanding the business. Owner of beauty services Ezina, Sahar Khatija, has cut across conventional trends. Ezina offers professional services in make-up, hairstyling, nail art, Sahar Khatija henna and photography, and that too at the customer’s doorstep. At the initial stages, her only investment was her pocket money after which her family supported her. Now Ezina has grown beyond Sahar’s imaginations and she is all set to opening a studio to continue her work. The foremost quality needed to be an entrepreneur is patience. It may not always come easy and ‘by when?’ is a question you may have to ponder over for a long time. To start a business is certainly a big risk, but if you have faith in yourself it is a risk worth taking. So don’t refrain from dreaming big. In the words of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
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WoWs
Architectural Around the Globe Compiled by Vaibhav Gupta
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India Monolithic landmarks, i.e. carved from one block of stone, rather than assembled from blocks. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was an important port and trade city in many ancient south Indian cultures and before. The huge number of Shiva sculptures as well as several shrines to several deities indicates a highly sectarian society. Even today, it has an aura of religious spirit and calm.
The Community Bookshelf, Kansas City, Missouri, USA Central Library Parking Garage designed to look like a giant bookshelf. The Community Bookshelf is a striking feature of Kansas City's downtown. The book spines measure approximately 25 feet by 9 feet. The shelf showcases 22 titles reflecting a wide variety of reading interests as suggested by Kansas City readers and then selected by the board of trustees.
Anechoic Chamber, Orfield Laboratories’ Chamber, Minneapolis Anechoic chambers are designed to not reflect sound, so they are so unnaturally quiet that you hear sounds from within your body, such as blood flow, heartbeat and swallowing. Guinness recognizes Orfield laboratories’ chamber in Minneapolis as the world’s quietest room.
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Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada This set of 354 identical concrete units making 146 different residences was designed as an architectural thesis and was soon realized. It aims to mix the healthy suburban lifestyle (gardens, privacy etc) with the closeness and density of apartments. Although thought to be the future of affordable housing, the high demand raised the prices too high for any viability.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia Khmer Architecture, made of sandstone is the largest religious monument in the world. Literally meaning “Temple City”, Angkor Wat is one of the most recognized monuments of the world today, even appearing on the Cambodian flag. Made primarily of sandstone blocks, it has drawn praise for its architectural power and harmonious design.
Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic The building in Prague for Nationale-Nederlanden, an insurance company, is an architectural marvel. Its unique design stands out from its prim Gothic and Baroque neighbours. The bending architecture of the structure appear to be dancing The building looks as if it is holding hands with and leaning on its neighbour, as if dancing.
Odeillo, Pyrénées-Orientales, France Odeillo in the Pyrénées-Orientales in France is the largest solar furnace in the world. Solar furnaces are structures that concentrate sunlight to attain temperatures as high as 3500°C, for the purpose of industry. It uses an arrangement of plane mirrors which reflect sunlight onto a larger curved mirror.
Robot Building, Bangkok, Thailand The Robot Building is the local headquarters for United Overseas Bank. It was originally designed to reflect the computerization and modernization of banking. It has progressively smaller floors and designs that look like eyes and antennae, to mimic what a robot looked like in science fiction at the time.
National Stadium, Beijing, China The stadium, designed for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, originally had a specially designed retractable roof, which was removed later. The design features a mesh of steel beams to reflect the haphazard design of a bird’s nest.
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It’s Raining Style this Monsoon By Sarah Thomas
Fashion
Monsoons are considered the worst time for fashion. It’ll be raining cats and dogs out there and you’ll probably wondering, what the hell do I wear? But did you know in fashion, there’s never a dull day! Not even when it rains. Here’s why,
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Yep raincoats!
You guessed that right, I’m sure. But look closer, notice how each one differs from the rest? Raincoats need not be dull and boring. Casual and sleek, they come with different colours, patterns and lengths. You could be donning a raincoat and still, make the heads turn. Try them out. Casual, chic, formal – raincoats have styles too.
Funky umbrellas are
another way to shine on a gray day. Go for the jazzy ones or those with mottled prints. Twirl them around and you’re ready to take on the rains.
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Boys, there is a lot in store for you too. So keep calm and begin reading. Some quick tips for the season. Always go for shorts or three-forth trousers, avoid
full length clothes.
Wear dark coloured trousers, boys
Ladies, gorgeous footwear footwear is what gives the entire attire the fab edge. Boots would give you a dapper look, while flip flops not only look cool but are ideal for the season too. Sneakers are easily washable and can be a perfect choice if you plan to walk all the way.
are usually known to be messy and light colored trousers will just prove it! Team it up with light colored T-shirts and an overcoat or a printed shirt. The colors must complement each other. Your footwear can make or break your look. Tell you why? You may either end up ruining a good pair of shoes in the rain or you may ruin your trousers by wearing rubber slippers. Crocs, flip flops, gumboots and floaters come in different colors and designs and they are extremely fashionable. Now you know you could dress up, go all loud and look fashionable even when the suns not out.
If you are of the opinion that monsoons mean everything plain and colourless, you’re wrong! You could wear
maxis; printed midi’s or even patterned pants this season.
Makeup and Hair: Keep your hair short or tie it up as the humidity can make it hard to handle and leave it sticky. Completely messy or extremely prim and proper hairstyles are the best. Keep the makeup as simple and plain looking, in other words look natural in the rain! Cakey make up can melt in the humid weather, don’t want to end up as a fashion disaster, do we? 36
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Fun Zone!
Sudoku
Opinion Poll The Narendra Modi led, government will bring India back on track in terms of economy and foreign policies? Yes No Can’t Say Send your opinion to poll@wiseowlmag.com
37 issue112014 2014 issue
Crossword
Trivia Corner 1: India is about 1/3 the size of the US, yet with a population of 1,166,079,217, is the second most populous country in the world. At 1.27 million square miles, India is the seventh largest country. 2: To avoid polluting the elements (fire, earth, water, air), followers of Zoroastrianism in India don’t bury their dead, but instead leave bodies in buildings called “Towers of Silence” for the vultures to pick clean. After the bones dry, they are swept into a central well. 3: It is illegal to take more than Rs 5,000 Indian currency (rupees) out of India. 4: Dancing is one of India’s most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple. It is notable for its expressive hand movements. 5: India is the birthplace of chess. The original word for “chess” is the Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning “four members of an army” which were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers. It spread to Iran and then eventually evolved into its present form.
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6: The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would wear delicate cotton from India that they would call “woven winds.” Mogul emperors called the fabrics “morning dew” and “cloth of running water.”