Thiruvananthapuram: An automated floor cleaner that can manoeuvre around a room without bumping into furniture while sweeping up dust and mopping the floor squeaky clean. Anyone used to household chores will not mind dishing out a fortune for such a gadget.
A team of final semester students of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Lourdes Matha College of Science and Technology near here have developed an automatic cleaning robot as part of their course work.
The robot uses sensors to detect the presence of an object near it and steers clear. It collects the dust and dirt in a bag provided inside the machine. The machine is equipped with a timer that switches it on. It works on a rechargeable battery power pack.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Spells against global warming
Thiruvananthapuram: With a wave of his magic wand, P. Preeth replaced an incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and slashed the amount of a water bill from Rs.1,000 to Rs.90.
The 27-year-old magician, an animator by profession, was demonstrating how an eco-friendly lifestyle can not only save money but also help cool the warming globe. He won the first prize in the �Eco-Magic competitions organised here on Sunday under the auspices of the Magic Academy and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
Speech and hearing impaired, Mr. Preeth relied upon mime and magical visuals to drive home his point. He won the first prize in the senior category.
Nursing student and magician Abhinraj used his skills to present symbolic images of the huge glaciers of the past, their depleted versions caused by global warming and the areas flooded by the rising sea level.
The 27-year-old magician, an animator by profession, was demonstrating how an eco-friendly lifestyle can not only save money but also help cool the warming globe. He won the first prize in the �Eco-Magic competitions organised here on Sunday under the auspices of the Magic Academy and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
Speech and hearing impaired, Mr. Preeth relied upon mime and magical visuals to drive home his point. He won the first prize in the senior category.
Nursing student and magician Abhinraj used his skills to present symbolic images of the huge glaciers of the past, their depleted versions caused by global warming and the areas flooded by the rising sea level.
DPI officials pass the green test
Thiruvananthapuram: A lush green farm greets visitors to the sprawling campus housing the office of the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) in the city. Swaying banana palms share space with neatly planted rows of amaranthus and ladys finger.
Employees in the office are preparing for a bountiful harvest. They are proud of the farm they have created. It was in October last year that the project to develop a vegetable garden on the four-acre campus was taken up under the Clean Kerala Mission with encouragement from DPI A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.
Employees in the office are preparing for a bountiful harvest. They are proud of the farm they have created. It was in October last year that the project to develop a vegetable garden on the four-acre campus was taken up under the Clean Kerala Mission with encouragement from DPI A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish.
Changes in inland fishery Bill sought
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Bangalore-based Asoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment has said that the Kerala Inland Fishery Bill should lay emphasis on protection of the habitat and measures to increase fish resources.
In suggestions submitted to Fisheries Minister S. Sarma on the basis of a workshop conducted by the organisation here recently, it said the current emphasis of the Bill was on regulation and policing.
The trust said the section dealing with aquaculture should stress against culture and distribution of exotics species. Provisions to ensure this should be included in clauses dealing with inspection of seedlings and certification
In suggestions submitted to Fisheries Minister S. Sarma on the basis of a workshop conducted by the organisation here recently, it said the current emphasis of the Bill was on regulation and policing.
The trust said the section dealing with aquaculture should stress against culture and distribution of exotics species. Provisions to ensure this should be included in clauses dealing with inspection of seedlings and certification
Bid to bring down accidents on Kovalam-Kollam highway
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) will step up enforcement in those stretches along the Kovalam-Kollam stretch of NH 47 where people are most accident prone. This is in view of the mounting road accidents in the corridor. Awareness drives will also be taken up, sources said.
Four persons travelling in a car from the airport to their home were killed in an accident involving two cars at Kadambattukonam early on Thursday. Driver fatigue and attempt to overtake another vehicle at a sharp curve reportedly resulted in the head-on collision. The lack of medians along many vulnerable stretches, failure of motorists to maintain lane discipline and misuse of high beam lights are posing problems despite efforts to rectifying engineering defects of these roads.
The MVD will undertake continuous enforcement along the Kadambattukonam-Chathanpara stretch to check over speeding, rash and negligent driving, jumping of yellow lines, dangerous overtaking and other offences.
Four persons travelling in a car from the airport to their home were killed in an accident involving two cars at Kadambattukonam early on Thursday. Driver fatigue and attempt to overtake another vehicle at a sharp curve reportedly resulted in the head-on collision. The lack of medians along many vulnerable stretches, failure of motorists to maintain lane discipline and misuse of high beam lights are posing problems despite efforts to rectifying engineering defects of these roads.
The MVD will undertake continuous enforcement along the Kadambattukonam-Chathanpara stretch to check over speeding, rash and negligent driving, jumping of yellow lines, dangerous overtaking and other offences.
Dalawa\'s sword comes home
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The personal sword of Velu Thampi Dalawa, the ruler of erstwhile Travancore who fought against the British, will henceforth adorn the Napier Museum in the capital city.
The sword is placed inside a bulletproof enclosure which will be monitored constantly using nine security cameras. The enclosure will be monitored from a control room situated inside the Museum police station. Ten policemen will form the outer ring of security for the priceless sword.
It was playback singer K.J. Yesudas who placed the sword inside the special enclosure on Sunday evening. As part of a government initiative to spread awareness about the role of the Dalawa in the fight against British imperialism, school students will be admitted free to the Napier Museum and to the adjacent zoo on all Sundays.
Earlier, Culture Secretary V. Venu and Chief Secretary P. Prabhakaran received the sword from the representatives of the Centre led by Union Culture Secretary Jawahar Sarkar. The sword was then handed over to Minister for Culture M.A. Baby and to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran.
The sword is placed inside a bulletproof enclosure which will be monitored constantly using nine security cameras. The enclosure will be monitored from a control room situated inside the Museum police station. Ten policemen will form the outer ring of security for the priceless sword.
It was playback singer K.J. Yesudas who placed the sword inside the special enclosure on Sunday evening. As part of a government initiative to spread awareness about the role of the Dalawa in the fight against British imperialism, school students will be admitted free to the Napier Museum and to the adjacent zoo on all Sundays.
Earlier, Culture Secretary V. Venu and Chief Secretary P. Prabhakaran received the sword from the representatives of the Centre led by Union Culture Secretary Jawahar Sarkar. The sword was then handed over to Minister for Culture M.A. Baby and to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
No need for support from AMMA: Thilakan
KOZHIKODE: Actor Thilakan has said no support from AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) is required for acting and a camera would work without any aid from FEFKA (Film Employees Federation of Kerala).
The actor, who has been suspended from AMMA, was speaking at the �puja of �Achan, a film directed by Ali Akbar, in which he plays the protagonist, here on Saturday. Thilakan said acting was his job but he received no support from the Communist leaders when he was denied the opportunity to work. �I am a Communist, but the leaders are supporting the millionaire superstars, he said.
He said the character of the father he would be playing in �Achan was different from such roles he did before. �I will make this father very different,� he said.
The actor, who has been suspended from AMMA, was speaking at the �puja of �Achan, a film directed by Ali Akbar, in which he plays the protagonist, here on Saturday. Thilakan said acting was his job but he received no support from the Communist leaders when he was denied the opportunity to work. �I am a Communist, but the leaders are supporting the millionaire superstars, he said.
He said the character of the father he would be playing in �Achan was different from such roles he did before. �I will make this father very different,� he said.
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