P.K Binu

Name: Binu, aka "binupk"

Email:

Bio: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science

Posts by binupk:

Logic Manse – an amrita alumni success story

November 27th, 2010

Logic Manse Solutions and Technologies, co-launched by Amritians from Amritapuri Campus is featured in one of the major web media site YourStory.in.

LogicManse is a Kerala based R & D company started by a group of young entrepreneurs that provides innovative technology solutions for small and medium businesses worldwide. Starting from Prototype Development to Revenue Model integration, LogicManse has a complete technology package for Entrepreneurs/Enterprises who wants to establish revenue generating global internet brands. LogicManse assist entrepreneurs by providing consulting on the business & Revenue models and also gets involved with active participation for great ideas.

From the exclusive interview from its founders, Pradeep VK , Anil K Joseph and Suvin K Varkey:

Question:. What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture? How did the idea for your business come about?

Suvin: I wanted to work on something which is interesting and that creates value to the society. There was no room for creativity with my old job and above all i’m someone who enjoys building things from scratch. So when opportunity came knocking, i decided to build my company.

Pradeep: I always thought about my own venture or to be part of a start-up team. It was the words from the great APJ Kalam ‘Try to be a Job provider than a job seeker’ – which ignited my aspirations. And It was my dream comes true when Suvin told me his plan for the start up firm.

Anil: It wasn’t a spark but more of a long overdue decision. Inspired from my Dad I have always wanted to be running my own business since I was young. My last Employer inspired and ignited the spark which lead me to take this decision. The chance came, I simply took it. Working for something with a vison did make more sense to me.

Question: How do you made the founding team to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?

Suvin: I’m always proud of my founding team and i read in the management blogs that its too tough to build the right team. I have also heard stories where founders split very easily for silly things. But in our case, i explained the whole idea to the right people who were equally passionate. If you ask any of them, all of them nurtured the dream of starting up. Not only the founders, every colleague has been given an idea where we are heading to and the challenges. This helped us to take the right roles and started working towards the common goal.

Pradeep: A good team with the value added technical knowledge and with the clear vision and focus is the real asset for any firm whether it is start-up or established.

Anil: We welcomed people who were willing to join us who had skills synergistic – not overlapping, but with similar goals and passions. Who were willing to take risk and pain to achieve the common goals.

Question: What motivates you?

Suvin: We love what we do and i believe that’s the best motivation one can ever have being an entrepreneur.

Pradeep: Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.

Anil: I consider the words “YOU CAN’T” to be essential motivational tools for me. I treat negative comments as food to fuel my appetite for success. There have been a plethora of people tell me, we couldn’t accomplish something, or I needed to think realistically, but realistic thinking is a synonym for mediocrity.

Question:. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

Suvin: In an Entrepreneur’s life, fear is always there in one form or the other. During the initial days you fear about survival and when organization grow up you start fearing about scaling up and sustainability. So there is no point in living with the fear. On the business side, we do the risk analysis and always keep alternative plans ready. On the personal side prayers and strong belief in God always helps me. I have a personal liking to this line from the Bible – “For by Thee I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.”

Pradeep: For me It is passion vs parents. Even now the society is the real fear-factor which prevents the
young entrepreneurial aspires in making the way of their own. For overcoming the fear or barriers ,
Make every rejection moment an opportunity for revolution.
And believe in the power of Almighty.

Anil: If we had fears, we wouldn’t have been doing this. Whom or what shall I fear, when God is on my side? I emphatically ask myself this question, when there is an aroma of fear lurking in my daily activities.

Question: How do you define success?

Suvin: Defining success is very difficult. It varies from one person to another. For us success is when you change someone’s life in a positive manner, whether it be through providing job, helping in business or making their life better. A happy employee, happy customer or an end user getting benefit from our technology solution provided to an NGO etc. Making Millions is not our definition for success.

Pradeep: Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.

Anil: I dont have any defination of success now. Maybe later when I get old and retire, I will be able to recollect what all I have achieved. Only based on that I would be able to define success.

Question: About the days in Amrita

Suvin: Amrita is the common link which the co-founders share and that’s the best place where you can take lessons on entrepreneurship. You have AMMA as a living example and when i told her about starting up she asked to “go ahead if we have the courage “. Before even i thought about starting up there were faculties who sensed the talents in us and suggested to do something innovative than going for a job. I should be thankful to Bri. Jisha and Ravi shankar sir who mentored us when we have no idea as what a business is all about. Amrita family is so diverse that there is always a helping hand for an alumni.

Pradeep: The continuous evaluation system with the most updated syllabus can make you the right candidate for the industry. Your skills will get polished heavily by the array of seminars,presentations and practicals, it is like a part of the daily life in the campus.
Apart from that It is the place where we can Cultivate noble human values and The spirit of serving the world . And of-course the divine blessings from beloved AMMA can make you ever stronger.

Anil: Intially it was bit tough. It took me some time to get familar to new environment. But slowly I started enjoing the diversity. I still remeber the way we had to cross a lake each day which leads to college. We have our beloved faculty. Interaction with them was very easy. It used to be so friendly. Those days were very different but very good.

Question: Nice role models you are. What advice do you have for other amritians?

Suvin: Our advice is to do what you really love and never give up. Keep faith in God and there is nothing more than his grace. Dream it and keep working on your dream.

Pradeep: I love the people who are true to themselves whatever the cost. So be yourself and aim high.

Anil: The most important advice is “Just Do It!”. Stop wishing and start acting!. You must understand the business that you are going into. Do not enter a business with romantic notions.

Article Courtesy: (Amrita Alumni Network Website)http://amritians.net

1 Comment "

Chamba – Swathanthra Cinema Project

November 17th, 2010

Wow… I really appreciate the great idea of having a Swathanthra(open) animation movie by invoking contributions from people around the world. Kudos to the team behind the project.

Chamba is the brainchild of some young, open source enthusiasts. Chambakka is one of the commonly found fruit in almost all houses in Kerala. In childhood days we used to pluck Chambakkas from the Chamba tree of all the nearby houses. Nobody will restrict you from doing this because it is “open” for children(remembering the nostalgic days from my childhood). Children like this fruit more than grownups. I think, Chamba is a nice name that can be given to such an open source project.

Chamba project is an initiative to experiment and explore a more collaborative and open approach to film making. This project brings together animators, open source enthusiasts, art directors, programmers, hobbyists, funding agents etc from around the world through social networking platforms. The movie will be developed using the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D animation called Blender. The project is named after the Blender foundation’s project naming models like Orange, Peach etc.

Those who are interested in this innovative idea and want to contribute or promote the project please visit the site http://www.chambaproject.in/

Students can do a lot in this project. Pls visit http://www.chambaproject.in/faq/ for the ideas…

Students can organize Swathanthra Cinema Festivals in the college, talk to students, teachers and other friends about free culture and Chamba project. Distribute CDs/DVDs of Free Movies like Elephant’s dream, Big Buck Bunny, Sintel, Sita Sings the blues, Yes Men etc. Print T Shirts and stickers about Chamba and other free culture projects and distribute them. Organize fund collection drives (even if it is 5 rupees or 10 rupees important part is participation of everyone in this project) among your friends, parents, relatives and local business. Help spread the word about this project among your online or social networking contacts like facebook/twitter/identi.ca friends. Help with web site maintenance, help to pick a good story, distribute chambakas (chamba fruits) There are lots of things students can help with, your imagination is your limit.

Visit Chamba web page and get involved right now!

7 Comments "

“BarCamp” – A New Revolution in Knowledge Sharing

October 4th, 2010

When I first heard of the term “BarCamp” a few years back, I was totally confused with it. Lot of thoughts went through my mind. The term “Bar” is little bit confusing here. I thought it as a gathering of drunkards in a bar. With this thought in my mind, initially I was indifferent to it.

One day, during a casual talk with one of my colleagues Mr. Anish Chandran, I came to know that this BarCamp is an ad-hoc gathering of technology enthusiasts from different parts of the country/world at a particular place. By that time, he already attended two three barcamps organized by barcampkerala team. He also took a few sessions in those barcamps. His words changed my attitude towards it.

With this idea in our minds, during the second anniversary celebrations of ACM student chapter, we introduced “Technical Unconferencing” in the campus last year. Students and faculty of our campus got a unique platform to share their thoughts on various technical areas they are really interested in. As their audience, they got people with same mindset and most of the sessions were on ablaze. Those who came there just to see what it is also took part actively in it.

People feel very relaxed when a technical/non technical session is organized in a very informal way in an open environment. In a classroom type setup or in a formal seminar session, all the people listening to it may not be interested in that topic. People feel it improper in leaving the room during the session. But ”unconference” is just the opposite of the normal conference where there is no such formalities. People can come in and go out at any time on their own interest. Here there is no spectators, only participants.

Barcamp is a group of such unconferencing sessions on different technical and non technical areas going on simultaneously. People can attend any of these sessions according to their interest.

A Little History and the conduct of BarCamp

BarCamp arose as a spin-off of Foo Camp, an annual invitation-only participant driven conference hosted by the founder of O’Reilly media, Mr. Tim O’Rrilly.

Is an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment.

It is an intense event with discussions, demos and interaction from participants who are the main actors of the event.

“Foo” and “Bar” are placeholder names usually used in computer programming or computer related documentation. The terms are used to name entities such as variables, functions and commands whose purpose is unimportant and serve only to demonstrate a concept.

The first BarCamp was held in Palo Alto, California, from August 19–21, 2005.

BarCamps are organized and evangelized largely through the web.

Anyone can initiate a BarCamp through the site www.barcamp.org

The Kerala version of BarCamp started three years back by a group of technology evangelists.

They can be reached through the site www.barcampkerala.org

The first ever BarCamp in Kerala was organized at Technopark Trivandrum on 13, Nov, 2007.

After this, seven more BarCamps were hosted successfully in different organizations/institutions across Kerala.

BarCamp Kerala 9 @ Amritapuri Campus

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus is hosting the 9^th BarCamp in Kerala on 14, Nov,2010.

We are also very glad to celebrate the third anniversary of BarCamp Kerala in our campus.

Those who are interested in the idea and not yet registered for the camp, please do it now itself through the site www.barcampkerala.org

There are no registration fees or any charges for the barcamp as this is a user-generated conference.

If you wish to take a session, register the topic for your session in the site by clicking the link “Sessions“.

Attendees can register by clicking the link “Attendees“.

On behalf of Amrita and BarCamp Kerala, I personally invite each one of you to be an integral part of this new revolution of knowledge sharing…

7 Comments "

Dream gives vision, Vision gives Thoughts and Thought leads to Actions

October 3rd, 2010

Dear Swami Vivekananda ,

I trust, you remember me as a fellow-traveller on your voyage from Japan to Chicago. I very much recall at this moment your views on the growth of the ascetic spirit in India, and the duty, not of destroying, but of diverting it into useful channels.
I recall these ideas in connection with my scheme of Research Institute of Science for India, of which you have doubtless heard or read. It seems to me that no better use can be made of the ascetic spirit than the establishment of monasteries or residential halls for men dominated by this spirit, where they should live with ordinary decency, and devote their lives to the cultivation of sciences – natural and humanistic. I am of opinion that, if such a crusade in favour of an asceticism of this kind were undertaken by a competent leader, it would greatly help asceticism, science, and the good name of our common country; and I know not who would make a more fitting general of such a campaign than Vivekananda. Do you think you would care to apply yourself to the mission of galvanazing into life our traditions in this respect? Perhaps you had better begin with a fiery pamphlet rousing our people in this matter. I should cheerfully defray all the expenses of publication.

23rd November 1898
Jamshedji N Tata

This letter was written by Jamshedji N Tata to Swami Vivekananda asking him to take the leadership of a Research Institute for Science in India.

Jamshedji N Tata met Swami Vivekananda for the first time during a ship journey from Japan to USA in 1893. During his casual talk with Jamshedji Tata, Swamiji asked, for what mission he was travelling?

Jamshedji replied that he wanted to bring steel industry to India

Swamiji blessed him. He suggested steel technology had two components – one is steel science and the other is manufacturing technology.

What can you bring to this country in material technology – you will have to build material science within the country

Earlier when Jamshedji went to London he asked for technology transfer for Steel Plant. UK steel manufacturers looked at Jamshedji and said that if Indians make steel, Britishers will eat it.

Jamshedji crossed Atlantic Ocean, talked to Americans and brought manufacturing technology for steel. And the Tata Steel was established in Jamshedpur. The IISc born out of a vision of great minds is the foremost scientific research institution providing post graduate education.

The visionary Jamshedji gave one portion of his asset for starting a science institute today known as Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore.

Jamshedji brought two establishments to this country – first one was steel plant and the other was an educational research institution

A visionary like Jamshedji with the blessing of Swamiji established Indian Institute of Science in 1905 with his funds. This institution as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda dreamt, has one of the best material science lab. Also, Indian Institute of Science is a world class institution in various areas for physics, aerospace technology, knowledge products, bio-science and bio-technology. This is the one institution where convergence of technology like bio-technology, information technology and nano-technology is emerging. This institution also participated in the research and development of space programmes, defence programmes and also many societal missions……

In Simple, This great institution took its birth from the above letter that a progressive industrialist had written to a spiritual leader….

This gives an important message that Dream gives vision, Vision gives Thoughts and Thought leads to Actions…

Conclusion:

100 years ago — Swami Vivekananda had predicted that, in another 100 years, India would rise again and show the world the path to enlightenment. IISc took its birth from the vision of Swami Vivekananda in 1905 and after almost 100 years, as Swamiji predicted, from Amma’s vision, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham took its birth to enlighten the whole world.

Pranams at The Lotus Feet of my Beloved Mother….

This excerpt was taken from the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s address at the Youth Convention and inauguration of the Vivekananda Institute of Value Education and Culture at Porbandar, Gujarat on January 12, 2006.

2 Comments "

Amrita ACM ICPC – 2010

August 31st, 2010

: 2009 ICPC Contestants @ Amritapuri Campus

ACM ICPC – Asia Amritapuri Site Regional Contest 2010

(http://icpc.amrita.ac.in/2010)

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is a multitier, team-based, programming competition operating under the auspices of ACM and headquartered at Baylor University. The contest involves a global network of universities hosting regional competitions that advance teams to the ACM-ICPC World Finals. Participation has grown to several tens of thousands of the finest students and faculty in computing disciplines at almost 2,000 universities from over 80 countries on six continents. The contest fosters creativity, teamwork, and innovation in building new software programs, and enables students to test their ability to perform under pressure. Quite simply, it is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious programming contest in the world.

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) traces its roots to a competition held at Texas A&M in 1970 hosted by the Alpha Chapter of the UPE Computer Science Honor Society. The idea quickly gained popularity within the United States and Canada as an innovative initiative to raise the aspirations, performance, and opportunity of the top students in the emerging field of computer science. The contest evolved into a multi-tier competition with the first Finals held at the ACM Computer Science Conference in 1977. Operating under the auspices of ACM and headquartered at Baylor University since 1989, the contest has expanded into a global network of universities hosting regional competitions that advance teams to the ACM-ICPC World Finals. Since IBM became sponsor in 1997, the contest has increased over 800%. Participation has grown to involve twenty-two thousand of the finest students and faculty in computing disciplines from over 1,931 universities from 82 countries on six continents. The contest fosters creativity, teamwork, and innovation in building new software programs, and enables students to test their ability to perform under pressure. Quite simply, it is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious programming contest in the world. The annual event is comprised of several levels of competition:

Most grueling moments @ the contest environment

Battle of the Brains - The contest pits teams of three university students against eight or more complex, real-world problems, with a grueling five-hour deadline. Huddled around a single computer, competitors race against the clock in a battle of logic, strategy and mental endurance. Teammates collaborate to rank the difficulty of the problems, deduce the requirements, design test beds, and build software systems that solve the problems under the intense scrutiny of expert judges. For a well-versed computer science student, some of the problems require precision only. Others require a knowledge and understanding of advanced algorithms. Still others are simply too hard to solve – except, of course, for the world’s brightest problem-solvers.

Revealing the problem solutions by judges on stage after the contest

Judging is relentlessly strict. The students are given a problem statement – not a requirements document. They are given an example of test data, but they do not have access to the judges’ test data and acceptance criteria. Each incorrect solution submitted is assessed a time penalty. You don’t want to waste your customer’s time when you are dealing with the supreme court of computing. The team that solves the most problems in the fewest attempts in the least cumulative time is declared the winner.

Amrita in ACM ICPC

ACM – ICPC is the world’s largest programming contest, primarily sponsored by IBM, and this is the sixth year Amrita is conducting the Asia Regional Contest. In India, only two institutions( IIT Kanpur and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) are authorized by ACM to conduct this contest. This year, it is going to be a multisite contest where more than 150 teams are expected to participate from different campuses inside and outside India. In the years 2005 and 2006, the contest was held in Coimbatore campus. Last three years since 2007, the contest is being held in Amritapuri (Kerala) campus. During the past three years, 200 (60 to 65 teams) participants attend the Onsite Contest at Amritapuri Campus and this year, we are increasing it to 450 (more than 150 teams). To attract the participation of mentors (coaches) of these teams, we are planning to announce “Coaches Award”, and for the students, “Special Award for Top Ten Teams”, “Best Performance Award”, etc. The contest is a three day event with lot of excitement, fun and games with an excursion to the nearby scenic places.

Contestants enjoying delicious food

Amrita ICPC Online & Onsite Contest Dates Announced

Online Contest is also called as the “Preliminary Round” scheduled on October 17th 09:30 AM IST. All the teams shall complete the registration process before October 10th in order to participate in the Online contest. For more information on the registration process please visit the site

http://icpc.amrita.ac.in/2010

The teams shortlisted from the online contest will be invited for Onsite Contest which will be held in Amrita University, Amritapuri Campus on 11^th and 12^th of December, 2010. Two to three teams selected from the onsite contest will participate in the ACM-ICPC, 2011 World Finals to be held in Cairo, Egypt.