Is artificial intelligence a feasible solution for functional illiterates and complete illiterates?

Functional illiterates (people suffering from dyslexia or reading impairments) cannot read well. Complete illiterates don't read at all. They either don't know how to read or lack an understanding of the art of reading. Studies have revealed that every fifth human is either low literate or illiterate. Thus, developing countries having low literacy rates could find speech technology an impactful solution.

Psycholinguists have argued that a machine shouldn't replace learning how to read. They believe good readers are good at predicting words. And, relying on artificial intelligence or speech technology could hamper cognitive and recognition skills. Benefits of literacy go far beyond reading and writing.

Contemporary reading and writing habits are different from traditional forms of print media. Social media engagement has changed the way of understanding language. It can give an insight into the vocabulary world, improve general knowledge and, enhance short term memory. However, long term benefits are not visible in all cases.

Readers develop the habit to understand language through physical reading in a better way. A child, learning to understand language is the best example here. Reading and writing the text in several different ways can help understand the use of different parts of speech in a sentence. Studies have also revealed that amongst children, good readers can read 4 million words a year and not-so-good readers only 50,000 words. Good readers know how to create a connection between words. They can read multiple words at a glance, thus, optimizing the reading process.

Over the years, physical reading and writing methods have assured proper language learning. With the use of artificial intelligence-based speech technology, can we see illiteracy getting eliminated to its core?

Take a Walk - Take the Advantage of Meditation

Taking a walk in the garden is often considered a good exercise of mind and body. But, have ever thought that walk could yield benefits of meditation! Meditation is an art, a science that has helped humankind in one way or the other. It brings together the collective potential of  nerves, muscles, tissues and cells in one place to make soul hale and hearty. The article provides a glimpse of how walk plays a fruitful role in life and in fact, helps take advantage of meditation.

Usually, taking a walk in the garden often renders thoughtless thoughts of career, sales targets, family member’s health, falling savings etc. There are plenty of things coming and going out of mind. Sometimes, we are taking walks that aren't healthy walks but perhaps stressful strolls. 

For taking a walk, I believe, it is important to forget self. It simply implies “Keep mind free from bacteria”; the unstoppable flow of negative thoughts, ideas and feelings that take upper hand when things just move out of control. It is not easy to do away with this “bacteria” in one or two walks. But, it is not impossible too.

While taking a walk, start on a positive note. There are several things you can watch and observe when you have to start on a positive note. As soon as you arrive in the garden, look at the green trees. Green color stands for freshness, positivity and wealth. Look at the branches and leaves. Try to look at these trees several times as you take rounds. When you are constantly looking at these trees, you are observing different things. You can find several birds on the trees and their sounds can make you pause for a while. You can find squirrels crossing your path several times. A few are chewing food while others are observing their counterparts’ gallops. Try to understand the behavior of living and non-living objects that you observe while walking.

Meditation is not only keeping focus on a stationary object but moving into a world that is different from your usual surroundings. When you walk, you come across elders enjoying in their laughter club. You are face to face with kids lost in their playful world. You encounter peers who have been served pink slips. There are both positive and negative factors prevailing even while walking in the garden. But here, you have to distinguish your thoughts. Your mind should move in the direction of the trees; the constant sounds of laughter club; the playful mischievousness of kids. These activities allow you to focus on several sweet things of life. The mind has to stay calm and observe these early day activities with patience. The calmness can never enter your mind if you don’t want it to. You have to give yourself time, practice more, and sometimes, toil hard.

If you take walk not with the intention to lose weight or improve fitness but with the purpose to gain positivity and optimism, it will pave way for building inner strength, a strength that develops focus, focus that refines thoughts by removing the unwanted things surrounding you.

Hence, the basic concept of meditation while taking a walk is to clean inner self. This process strengthens the desire of self-improvement when undertaken in the early hours of the day because silence prevails in the goodness of birds’ sounds, kids’ giggles and elders’ laughter and also in the movement of leaves of those several green trees. 

Thank You.

Change is UNAVOIDABLE - 3

30th January, 2014 marked the death anniversary of the Great Mahatma (Mahatma Gandhi). He had inspired thousands through speeches and discourse and his one-line speech that most aptly suits NOW happens to be “Be the change you wish to see in this world”.

These words inspired me to pen one more blog on “Change is Unavoidable”. Gandhi had, in fact, launched a huge movement, encouraged many with such words and brought millions of common Indians under one movement to fight for freedom; for a CHANGE. I can feel the change NOW but sometimes, it’s just indescribable. And then, the same question crops up. Why do I need to change and why I feel change is unavoidable?

Change, I believe, is an idea, a thought that might, perhaps take a virtual form. I think technology as a change has, in fact, immensely influenced everyone across the globe. Here, a small move becomes a massive movement and pulls in everyone. At one time, words were enough to indoctrinate someone but now virtual presence of this inanimate object is playing the role of thought-changing process. It is but obvious that everyone is heading on a path to find something new; desperate to carry out experiments; and consequently, want freedom where minds are not ruled by few but become a part of larger planet. And, that is what is CHANGE.

Re-emphasizing the same quote “Be the change….”; I think, the feel, the very presence of change is viral that initiates channels of distribution created with every move.

Thank You…

Happiness is OMNIPRESENT

We are searching for something pleasant, nice and good every morning and even throughout the day. Watching movie, chatting on messenger or perhaps reading an article of personal interest in the morning gives a kind of different feeling. These activities are part of routine life. However, we miss out understanding the existence of happiness here.

It’s a fact and has remained the same despite changes in life over the years. We never realize that happiness is achieved in these small things we do in our daily life. While watching movie, we might not have liked the casting but captures were innovative, action was mind-blowing and of course, I found my favorite Ferrari running on that highway. Don’t you think this movie uttered happiness inside me?

Just read an article on one of the cricket legends… A great personality, straight-forward and down to earth man sharing his thoughts on how life has started anew for him after retirement. Am I not feeling happy reading those bits just as I’m about to finish breakfast and heading to office?

My friend from Japan has just joined office after a month (paternity leave). As I went online, he started sharing views of being a new father. Isn’t it making me happy? His thoughts have given rise to a kind conversation which I’m unable to resist despite being packed with schedule of the day.

It is difficult to analyse whether these tiny things matter or not each day and every day. But, I feel these just happen in blink of eye and start scattering optimism and healthy feelings around. It is not easy to say how things happen so suddenly and then diminish all of a sudden? But, these things happen and happen every time at unthoughtful times of life.

This is what makes HAPPINESS omnipresent. It gives so much and takes nothing in return. Mere observation of things around us helps in locating its presence. It is here and will remain here. We have to make sure that we take the most of it as it arrives into our so-called insulated zone of life.

Happy Days Ahead!!!

Thank You…

Change is UNAVOIDABLE - 2

Continuing my conversation where I left.... I was discussing on the concept of change that is unavoidable. Well, thinking from the perspective of an experienced guy, it is rather difficult to imbibe changes in life. Living in a techno-era, it has become imperative to train the thoughts according to what is introduced and what becomes a requirement. Things that look similar are, in fact, not same. Can you think of sitting in office for 9 hours working on the same task? Not any more.... You need to talk, chat on mobile, read and understand the posts shared on social media. And, that has to be done rather fast. In fact, there is no time in hand to work on the same task for long. And you have to go with the flow, the breeze which says, "It's better you change". I often share my views with guys who made different choices in life. Sometimes, they find it rather difficult and sometimes, impossible to deal with dynamics of modern era. And, obviously, it's very much correct that change is felt on every single morning when you wake up and sleep at night. In fact, everything is guided around what is right and what seems right. And change seems, as always right. But, experienced people are seeing a change at a fast pace. It is a bit difficult, but not that difficult. There is never an end to it..... Neerja Mehta

Change is UNAVOIDABLE - Part I

It's been a long time, I'd say almost a year has passed when I wrote on blogspot. However, nothing is too late nor too early. Today, I'm going to share my views on "CHANGE".

Since time immemorial, the Universe has undergone several and several drastic changes. Despite scientific theories, it is still unknown how humankind became existent, the generations continued and continues till this moment.

Nevertheless, it is change which has made everything and every little thing change. In other words, change has become quintessential; it's unavoidable. Every single living being is seeing and feeling it. Whether it's persona, innate talent or merely a place, everything has changed. Why should I say, it's "unavoidable"?

Honestly, change itself creates a situation, a circumstance which forces someone to go with the flow. If you don't relent, definitely, you are going to lose. But, fact is losing doesn't always equal loss. It is quite possible, you gain more than you lost.

Every single situation has some pros and some cons. And to survive the aftermath is possibly in the hands of self. Change is a revolution. If it aims to create fire, it will. If it aims to create peace, it will. It is inevitable and will continue to remain same, come what may...

This is never going to end!!!

Neerja Mehta

Sarangpur Kashtabhanjan Hanuman temple- Part I

We started from Ahmedabad on the 13th morning. It was a Sunday and morning seemed not that cold. We started off at 8 in the morning and moved towards the south-western road. The road from Ahmedabad to Sarangpur starts from Sarkhej. Being a state highway, it’s under broadening phase. A number of industrial estates and areas welcome us as we go down the road. Bavla was second. We continued on the road, enjoying the weather, the sun, the people and cattle. The road turns from Bagodara which is a prime axis point of three big cities of the state- Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. The road is narrow but not prone to heavy traffic. We passed through the outer range of Lothal- a place known for Harappan culture and civilization. After few moments, we decided to re-gas the vehicle. Just out of Barvala while moving towards Bhavnagar, we took the right road which is currently under construction. There are few small bridges along the road to Sarangpur which are being renovated to flatten the road surface.

Just moving on the road, we passed through the main Swaminarayan temple which is believed to be one of the main Gadis of the clan. As we moved two kilometers beyond, we came across Kundar, a small village where idols of Sun God and Lord Shani are placed in the opposite directions. Soon after entering the place, we were amazed to find the huge, limestone idol of Lord Hanuman which is about 30-40 feet high. Towards the right lies the Shani temple. After drenching the feet, we went towards the center where “Akhand Jyot” (brought from Signapore Shani temple) continues to light the area. There is a small idol on a hand-made stone covered, hill-shaped structure where under another Akhand Jyot is present. We offered our prayers and started our way towards the Sun God temple. This was the first time I saw the idol of Sun God with wife. There is a traditional Lord Shiva temple adjacent to it. Apart from main Shiv Linga located inside the temple, there are 108 Shiv Lingas constructed outside. The entrance of the temple is covered in rudraksh. The area is further elaborated with man rowing the boat with family, along with idols of Ram, Laxman and Sita. At the rear, we found the huge stone covered in water- the stone which belonged to the part of the bridge (constructed for crossing over to Lanka and blessed by Lord Shiva). There is a sacred Peepal tree often forming a part of religious ceremonies.