chennaimoms.com-networking site for moms in Chennai

chennaimoms.com networking site for metro moms.

For quiet some time i have been hunting down some parenting techniques and skills to be adopted.  You would have known by this time its because my son has started his schooling from this week. It’s really a high time that i need to sharpen and know the pros and cons of parenting.

I was just surfing last week on portals like parentree.in and found one more interesting portal “chennaimoms.com”

Target audience for this site are metro moms. I hope a lot of thought process have gone into this site before its constructed. It looks like an orkuting community as Mom’s can interact with each other, write/ask queries and write blogs.

In General:

Mom’s can….

- leverage the knowledge of the community of moms with Questions/Answers
- find moms with similar interest and form a tight knit group
- find plenty of Chennai specific information like the best schools with reviews from other moms, best pediatricians in Chennai and so on
- find information on other topics of interest to mothers like information on how to keep their kids safe online, pregnancy resources, vaccination calendar
- chat with like-minded moms
- get an expert opinion by posting your questions – questions will be posted anonymous
- find group of moms who are interested in travel and do other activities, moms who are located in your area etc
- Recipes, Games
Take a look and send in your comments…

Happy New Year 2009

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year 2009. Good luck on all your efforts and achievements!

My footprints

Where is deepakd.

www.deepakd.com is down for maintenance

parentree.in – An Indian parenting community

Chennai based parent tree communications have started an online community for indian parents. The website aims to boost the identity of an individual as a parent and connect him or her to a network of like-minded individuals. They are also focusing on bringing in revenues throug advertisements and online stores in near furture.

Sathya Narayanaswamy, founder and CEO, Parentree. There are very many sites US-based websites which are focusing on family heritage, like genius and others and also there is one such website by name IndiaParenting.com but parentree focus on practical aspects of Indian parenting by enabling parent-to-parent conversations and advice.

FYI, from Aloo Techie:

Parentree.in was founded by Shobha Durairajan and Sathya Narayanaswamy, parents of two little children. The idea was sparked when they often found themselves depending on the parents around them to gather information about what worked best for their children. So they decided to establish this idea on the web, for Indian parents across the globe to benefit from each other’s knowledge. The website first went through a soft launch on August 15, 2008 to a small group of parents.

Kathipara Junction! (Fly)over & over again!

Last sunday our CM of TN opened our long pending Kathipara flyover. The most rewarding gift for Chennai riders. Usally it takes around 1hr & 45mins to reach vadapalani from Naganallur. Now it has been reduced to 40mins.

Though the flyover has three lanes system with wider roads, it lacks in usability!. There are no signboards on the flyover’s. We can find 1-3 at the beginning and once we get on it we are lost. Most of them on the second day took wrong turns and i guess we have lost 3-4 lives in collision over the flyover. But, if these things were focused before and envisioned we could have stopped.

Now, our govt have put up 100 sign boards across the flyover for proper directions. But is it all useful! motorist find there is less visibility on the roads, cleaniness is zero beneath the flyover, no proper lightings, what now! and so how can we overcome these issues!.

Found these related links for this post: http://tinyurl.com/5wfynh , http://tinyurl.com/6ylwu3 ,
http://tinyurl.com/6l3u8p ,

We can issue pamphlets, handouts etc to inform and educate people on the directions and also put in appropriate images at important people gathering areas like t.nagar, velacherry, vadapalani, guindy, saidapet etc. Police officals should be fair enough and pateint in explaning the appropriate routes around flyover. If these things were taken care in advance it would have been a greater help for Chennai riders!.

Seth Godin on Tribes

Web Trend Map 3

WTM-3

Job Trends in Usability

usability, interaction designer, user interface design, information architect,visual design,web design Job Trends

usability jobs – interaction designer jobs – user interface design jobs – information architect jobs – visual design jobs – web design jobs

Major fire in Saravana Stores, Ranganathan Street, T.nagar

Sep 1st was good to many as salary got credited and it’s a day when everyone who get’s paid for their hard end money. But things din’t go well for T.Nagar giant “Saravana Stores”. This morning was usal business for Ranganathan St but then suddenly people and workers in Saravana stores started screaming and running for the lives at 9.00AM as there was a major fire break inside the store.  Fire service was informed immediately and swiftly make it to the begning of the steet. They could not enter the street as it was too narro and top of it the newly constructed bridge has been a major barricate and restricted the movemts inside the street. Some saw that there are three people struck inside the building and they are trying to get them out. This horrifying incident is captures live in media channels like Jaya and Sun and shown live.

I saw the news scroll in Jaya tv at 9.00Am today and also huge gusted flames to a height of 100 ft on air. Which everyone who are around 1-4 kms away can see. I saw the dark smoke on my way to office at Saidapet bridge. I couldn’t take any pics as there was huge traffic.  One of my uncle is working for Metro waters near T.nagar and he was asked to supply 10-12 lorries of water tanker lorries for rescue. Since there are lots of plastic stuff inside the shop it’s been heard that the fire is caught on other shops aswell. I hope everybody makes their way safe and sound and there shouldn’t be casualities. As of now, the cause for the fire is a short circuit on the switches.

FYi, I heard that after the departure of the legendry owner there are lots of disputed in the family and they have split.

Latest: It is been told that nearly 20 people have got trapped inside the building

Please don’t drive fast behind an ambulance!

We see/hear atleast thrice in two days an ambulance siren and also the vehicle trying to flee through the busy roads and traffic. And being in Chennai, where traffic is mounting day by day and having 10lakh vehicles per day would be very difficult for the ambulance to passby.

The ambulance driver will find the best way to pass through the roads in the same time he has many lives in his hand, his own, people on road and also patient in ambulance. Since there is no seperate way or route for the ambulance to pass through we try to hornk and make people to give way for ambulance. What best we can do from our side when we have the ambulance behind is just move in a way where the vehicle can cut through the traffic and move faster. But our chennai people! wow! heights of stupidity! Most of the bikers and cyclist and even cars! sometime run behind the ambulance and aheading to the destination faster!. Running behind the ambulance might be of great risk. What if the driver puts a break when he cannot find a way or he has to make a sudden turn. He can be cautious while driving but not the people who are following the ambulance from behind to reach faster at their destination.

I happend to see similar accident this morining at saidapet corner. You can imagine how busy that road would be and how the traffic would flow in peak hour morning times.

If Chennai is really reading/seeing and listening to this issue/concern. Pl keep in mind that there is a life in do or die situation and we have to pray or  make way to make him reach the hospital at the earliest.

We might also join hands to print notice or public message to make this a success.

One of best slide share presenation contest winner of 2007

Airtel – Iphone hits Airtel stores tomorrow. Hurry!!!

iphon 3G arrives 00.00hrs on August 22. 8gb model for Rs.31,000 and 16GB model for 36100. At Airtel store in Numgabakkam 2, kakani towers khader nawaz khan road. And if you can’t make it tomorrow you can pay
Rs.5k at any select airtel showroom on 20th and 21st and get an appt to collect your iphone after paying the balance amt. For list of iphone stores login : http://www.airtel.in/iphone3g

Atlast! 3G iphone is in Chennai soon along with Airtel!

Yes, Bharti Airtel has planned to bring Apple 3Giphone to india on 22of August. Airtel has been doing well all these years and now bringing this phone would make them on the top charts. Customers can buy it at Airtel’s relationship center’s soon. So start counting your days to hop on with your new iPhone. But wait a minute!

I’m not suprised If you already know about the features of 3G iPhone. For those who are yet to explore make visit :Apple Website

Btw, I know how much of hipe and expectation it has created in the country.  Do you ppl know that though it has such amazing and good features it lacks in few of the important aspects.

Battery Life
Bluetooth transfer
Cannot copy text
No vide recording
Panel gets cracks soon

Pl. feel free to add more if you come across some issues.

Participatory Marketing – What it is, How it Works by paulsmarsden.

Effective IA For Portals: The Building Blocks Framework-MoJoe

Data Driven Design Research Personas – toddwarfel

Design Patterns: Defining & Sharing Web Design Languages – LukeW

What Is important in Life…..(Must read)

An Elderly man in Mumbai calls his son in NY and says

‘I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I
are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage… and that much misery is
enough!’

‘Dad, what are you talking about?’ the son screams.

‘We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,’ the old man says.

‘We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call
your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!’

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

‘Like heck they’re getting divorced,’ she shouts, ‘I’ll take care of this.’

She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man, ‘You are not
getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my
brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then , don’t do a
thing, DO YOU HEAR??’ and she hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone and
turns to his wife. ‘Okay’, he says, ‘It’s all set. They’re both coming for
Diwali and paying their own airfare!!’

MORAL:

No man / woman is busy in this world all 365 days.

The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days LEAVE and meet your
dear ones.

OFFICE WORK IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE and MONEY MAKING IS NOT EVERYTHING IN
LIFE. AFTER ALL WE WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S DREAM…

Courtesy: Forward from JeevanathG

Shift Happens!

Creating a Brand persona

Rotting Skyscraper-Dubai

Source:Dynamic Architecture

Visionary architect Dr. David Fisher is the creator of the revolutionary Dynamic Tower, the world’s first building in motion. The Dynamic Tower heralds a new era of architecture: Buildings in motion will challenge traditional architecture, becoming the symbol of a new philosophy that will change the look of our cities and the concept of living.

The Dynamic Tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor rotates independently at different speeds, resulting in a unique and ever evolving shape that introduces a fourth dimension to architecture, Time.

The Dynamic Tower is environmentally friendly, with the ability to generate electricity for itself as well as other buildings nearby making it the first building designed to be self-powered, it achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor. An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant.

The Dynamic Tower is also the first skyscraper to be built entirely from prefabricated parts that are custom made in a workshop, resulting of fast construction and of substantial cost savings . this approach known as the Fisher Method, also requires far less workers on construction site while each floor of the building can be completed in only seven days, units can also be customized according to the owners needs and styles.

Dr. Fisher states, “Today’s life is dynamic, so the space we are living in should be dynamic as well, adjustable to our needs that change continuously, to our concept of design and to our mood, buildings will follow the rhythms of nature, they will change direction and shape from spring to summer, from sunrise to sunset, and adjust themselves to the weather, buildings will be alive.

“From now on, buildings will have four dimensions, the fourth dimension is ‘Time’ to become part of architecture,” Dr. Fisher added. “Buildings in motion will shape the sky line of our cities.

By combining motion, green energy and efficient construction, the Dynamic Tower will change architecture as we know it, and will start a new era of Dynamic Living.

Usability Challenge 2008

Join the Usability Challenge 2008 and participate in the world’s first global usability drive!

On 1 August 2008, we are asking anyone with a passion for usability to solve a usability problem…any usability problem at all…and help make the world a better/safer/less annoying place.

What you need to do on 1 August 2008 is:

1. Find a usability problem - it could be a poorly designed toaster, a confusing or redundant letter from your bank, or even a problem with your experience boarding, flying and disembarking an aeroplane.

 

2. Design a solution – solve the usability problem, and write your solution down, sketch it up or (if you’re feeling particularly keen) make a quick prototype of the improved product/service.

 

3. Share it with a person who can solve the problem by implementing your solution – write to the toaster designer, call your bank manager, or talk to a stewardess. Hand him/her your idea. Encourage them to implement it. Be persuasive! and don’t forget to post what you’ve done on the Google Group or the Facebook group. Find out more about the Usability Challenge

Spread the message. Pass on this PDF

 

 

 

 

BIAL Airport

  I was in Bangalore yesterday for a conference and had a chance to visit BIAL. I landed at 7.00AM and it took 2 hrs for me to reach the city at that time. So you can imagine how much time it could take for anyone who could travel in the peak hrs(eve) to reach airport. Amazed by the massive look i went exploring some of the scenes which was kind of unplanned for a international airport.

Outside looks so open that i literally caught lot of sand and dust while i was having a cup of coffee with some snacks. If you people say that it is in the begining stage then why would you have the snack shop outside. Also, there is not enought dust bins in the waiting area outside the airport. Each time you have to walk atleast a 50mt to find a dustbin. Major security threat is we can see the flights changing lanes and take off so near and it’s a stone throw away.

Flight schedule LCD kept in the airport is so small that anyone who needs to see their flight details has to get too close to get the info. Inspite of spending so much money in occupying so much of space and to keep a ugly looks briefcase in the middle of the airport they could have spend extra money to have a better display sign board.

Voice based service by Google!!!

Google has launched voice based local searches by putting up a call center in hyderabad.
Just dial service was started in the same city and everyone says that this is special coz you get connected to the third party absolutely free. But i dont think it can work in that. Well, using these serivces you can get to know about restaurants, movies, bars, clubs, etc. this service is available for all network providers expect vodafone for now.

For all people out there in Bangalore. You all may try this Ubona. pretty neat voice regonition tool. Well, what you know Voice based service is not new to anyone it’s the regular stuff.

Mannarsalai,Kerala

It was a pilgrimage tour with 23 ppl. which includes 3 kids. One of those three is my motein…thats how i call my son(rithikh), We three (Mollu,Chetu,Achu), started at 8.15pm to central. Train was at 9.15PM the auto guy zipped in all possible ways and we reached at 8.45am. We boarded the train at 9.10PM!!! just on time man!!!..with a kid. We had a wonderful welcome from mollu’s family, with lots of snacks and packs of food and drink!(cool drinks), we had some chat followed by dinner(pulav, poori,chennai,aloo were served generously at the compartment…

We reached Alapuzha at 11.00Am nxt day morning we had to take a rick from station to bustand a bus to Haripad! very close to Mannarsalai, we had lucncheon at arya bavan and went to lodge for a quick nap. Evening to went to Mannarsalai(temple of Serpent), must see if you go to Kerala. There used to be a mother who will listen to your problems and provide solutions. This practise is followed for a long time generation wise and i happend to see the grand lady. She should atleast some 80’s..

Second day, we left the lodge at 7.30Am, had some nice parotta, dosai and appam from a local food stop and reached our family god for worship..the pooja went till 12.00PM. While returning, we went to the shores to kewl our minds!. You know it used to rain daily but the two days when we were there it wasn’t, anyways, we boarded our train to Chennai at 4.15PM with some nice snacks…and we started antakshari in one compartment, it went till 7.30PM, followed by dinner, reached Chennai at 7.00PM and left office early today and henceforth for having a shadded parking for my all new Honda City!