Slow learning

I am referring to the “Slow fight against rat race” article in the Sun Newspaper. AFPRelaxNews (2010). Slow is a concept that is gaining popularity in the world where everything is done “good, clean and fair” and so it began with food production in Italy. This concept was started by an Italian protesting the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant and since then it has spread to 130 countries. It now extends to all walks of live not just food, starting with slow cities, slow money, slow design, slow travel and even slow sex movements.

This caught my attention when it engulfed the software development world. The concept of slow software development caters to the reusability of code and implementing best practices in the design stages. This is a great concept for the old software development dogs like myself who have been working IT for more than 10 years. However, too few of us actually value the experience of an old dog. It was never taught in computer schools on how to write good slow programs because it was always about speed and while barely getting the requirements right. This has led to very messy and haphazard software development that required a lot testing and verification before usage. Although the testing methods have become every complex to address bad coding styles but the idea of relooking the development process itself was never an option.

Slow learning is simply a form of play that enriches ones thinking while letting our intellect lead the learning process. It is not for slow learners or the inability to learn at a normal pace. It is about taking the normal pace of learning to higher levels using the slow learning method. It is a process that takes the learner from one stage of understanding to another entirely by their own inquisitiveness. The rate of learning for everyone is fixed at a very young age. However, the quantity of learning is determined by the duration and with a fixed rate of learning, improvements can be achieved with persistence. The longer we spend learning, naturally we will learn more. But how do we learn more and while still maintaining the rate learning.   

Here is an example of slow learning. When I learned the 9 times table, I was very happy because I had memorized every possible multiple of 9 from 1 to 12. But I went blank when I had to tabulate 13 X 9 because it was outside my comfort zone. Not like most others, I did not run to the calculator. Instead I looked at the 9 times table again. My first observation was that each one of the multiple of 9 added up to 9.

E.g. 1

1)      2  X  9  =  18  =>  1  +  8  =  9

2)      3  X  9  =  27  =>  2  +  7  =  9

Was it by chance, no it was not; it was because I love the number 10. The easiest way to see how good or badly you are scoring is to measure how far away you are from 10 in exams. And each time I added the two numbers I always got 9 in the 9 times table. The rate of learning kicked in again moving me from the above example to the next level. As I went down the table even for the larger numbers when added the total sum of the multiple of 9 was still 9. This was a great discovery for me. These are the little moments in math that makes ones joy grow.

There was another number series unfolding, first it appeared as a blink of a possibility in my mind but then it became real when I actually saw it. At 10 years old the only number series I knew was 1 to 10 or backwards. Due to the love of the number 10 a sequence was unfolding because it was always a measure how well you were doing in any subject. Unknowingly I was writing numbers from 1 to 10 on one side and the reverse in the other side then adding it up.

E.g. 2

1)      3  X  9  =  27  =>  2  +  7  =  9

2)      4  X  9  =  36  =>  3  +  6  =  9

3)      5  X  9  =  45  =>  4  +  5  =  9

4)      6  X  9  =  54  =>  5  +  4  =  9

5)      7  X  9  =  63  =>  6  +  3  =  9

The joy of learning was elevated further with another discovery. Without any further a due I tabulated 13 X 9 with ease because it came after 108 (which is 12 X 8) and the answer was 117. See how it easy it was.

I had discovered a whole new world of numbers and I it became mine. Although there were scores of others that had seen this before but the joy of slow learning was so great that it gave me confidence. That I could solve even the toughest problems with slow learning.

I began to look at other numbers and saw some pattern or the other in each one of them. Then it quickly occurred to me that each number will have a different way of behaving because of how far they are from 10. I began to look at life and saw that they all have some pattern or the other and it all behaves differently. In the heart of it all is slow learning that allows us to make sense of the various patterns that we have around us.

The sages have always propounded slow learning in many forms and one of the greatest teachings is slow breathing in Yoga. It allows the body to enjoy more with few more pronounced breathing. Breathing with a rhythmic pattern with fixed duration creates  mind and body that is alert and sharp. So why not incorporate slow learning in our everyday live and activity.

References

1.       AFPRelaxNews (2010) – The Sun Newspaper December 28,2010 Pg. 15 – Slow Fight against the Rat Race 

It is time to throw out the Gregorian calendar to save the world

Heavy rains have come a little earlier than expected. It was pouring really hard and the locals took little time to fret about the bad weather. When I was watching the security at the Ole Ole Bali shopping store in Gunung Agung directing traffic of arriving tourist in the rain, I was a spectator who was bored with shopping so I went out to enjoy the rains. The view of the plantations was so spectacular. It was an experience that is worth documenting and it brings my thoughts as to why we have a calendar. As we drove up and down the slopes of the mountain the farmers were out in the fields like still painting working on their soil. Each engrossed in mending the water ways to ensure that it is prepared for the coming rains.

The glaring disparity was the stages of the crop were in the rice field was staggering. Some were harvested and some were still in the nursery. I could not help but ask the guide as to why is this was so? To my astonishment he said that the rains have come earlier than expected. This an age old trade where it is older than the religion that is practiced in Bali. The farmers were learned from their elders for many generations and now they have begun to accept the Gregorian calendar to define the agrarian life.

The start and end of each crop cycle is determined from scientific researchers that are regulated by a calendar that is no longer relevant in these times. Banks disperse fund to the farmers based on the calendar and the government measures the output to the call of the Gregorian calendar.  The farmers are divided by the many competing technologies old and the new today from the new age scientist and age old family tradition to find the best solution for the farmer that leaves them in a quandary to work on their own. The farmers have become incapable of determining the start and end of their cycles with changing global climate. Both the old and the new have clashed without a resolve in hand.

Most of them are adversely affected as to length of the seasons and now have resorted to their own measure of how to determine the coming of the rains. Some have 2 cycles of rice in a year and now the genetically modified rice grains can produce 3 yields a year. Driven by profits the farmers’ resorted to higher yieldingg rice grains and taking their chances with nature of the coming of the rains. The dilemma is not in seeking profits but the inability to determine the weather.

Just before this rainy season was a month long of draught. The droughts are shorter and much dryer each year. This is an alarming change in just 50 years of industrialization. What is happening is that the Gregorian calendar is starting to dysfunction. What was just agreed on in just last century and which was started by the Papacy to determine the coming of Easter is no longer useful to the warming world. A simple arithmetical measure to calculate the calendar in the Gregorian system is no longer applicable if it does not consider any celestial movements. There were several revivals during the protestant age to rectify the calendar but it was met with the sword. There is no time to fight about it now. The looming shortage of drinking water, food production and food storage needs to be relooked before it is too late. If we rely on the Gregorian calendar what is inevitable is war due famine and poverty.  

All over the world the global cycle of birth and death, spring and autumn, planting and harvesting is changing. Times are changing and we need to do something about it? We need is a more complex calendar that is more accurate to help our farmers cope with global warming. Crop planting and harvesting should have a more rooted relevance with celestial movements that affects the climate. It has been accepted by many civilization before that the moon and other planets have an effect on the earth and its climate. This brings to the discussion the need for astrology as a tool to answer a tough question simply and not just mere astronomy. What the west had discredited and labeled as useless and old folk tale has to be brought to the forefront to solve a problem.

The need for the study of astrology was to determine the weather 5000 years ago and it will have a lot relevance today, more than ever. It was the ability to predict the weather that drove the development of the science of astrology however, a unscrupulous few that resorted to use it to predict personal futures. However, the primary focus of astrology was to develop a system for farmers to determine the crop and manage their sedentary living based on climate changes. The idea of correcting the calendar was done yearly as opposed to once every four years. This has removed any erroneous days for thousands of years where each month has a different number of days and each day may have a different start and end time. The older systems that do not revolve around religious superstitions should not be our focus. There is no place for prejudicial and egoistical acceptance but purely based on the accurateness of the system. These yearly corrections are not taking place therefore adversely effecting how we define one year to the next and one season to the next.

We don’t have to look very far because it is still in practice till today, astrology I mean. Some selected few have already been seeking the guidance for centuries. Maybe it should be that selected few that should start traveling the world and bring some simplicity to the complexity that the world is facing. For the world to sustain the population growth that is happening now, we need to ensure that there is enough food before the world plunges into war and famine.

The Assange Hackalanche

This is the face of the "Deternet Age". We are now in the post Internet age. The demise of the what the US Constitution upholds (the freedom of speech) and for the destruction of the Internet (the freedom to share information). THE DETERNET AGE. The divide between the free speakers living in the free world and rest of the world will be dealt with a harsh blow. Everyday businesses and people like you and me will be the ones that will be paying the price. This saga will increase the cost of IT security and compound the insecurity that is already rampant amongst us about the Internet. The Internet will no longer be a medium that is safe and secure. It will be open to angry hackers that will either discredit your content or steal your personal information for profit. The cost of maintaining your Internet presence will be ever increasing, even a Giant like Google was attacked in China. What about your business and your personal information? Remember these slogans, it will become catch phrases for security companies to snare the ignorant Internet user.

Wikileaks is an online information portal released damaging secret communications transcripts between the US Diplomatic offices around the world to the US Department of Foreign Affairs. The founder Mr. Julian Assange (pic above) is not directly involved in the leaks but having links with the Wikileaks is enough. The documents contain very damaging information about many countries and it has put a lot of lives at danger. However, the savagery and atrocities committed by the US overseas in Afghanistan and other lesser nations were brought to light in videos and photos on Wikileaks. Inconveniently he is now charged with the rape in Sweden. May this be another plot to indict someone of inconvenience like the possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction. There is no reason for Mr. Assange's arrest however, the avalanche of attacks that have begun is a cause for arresting.

As we speak the Prosecutors office in Sweden has been attacked by hackers. "Hackers are rushing to the defence of WikiLeaks, launching attacks on MasterCard, Visa, Swedish prosecutors, a Swiss bank, Sarah Palin and others who have acted against the site and its jailed founder Julian Assange." The Star Publication (9th Dec 2010). It is very regrettable how this story is unfolding. This is not going to be good for anyone. Hackers who have many years of experience can get into any system given the right resources. Now the prize to champion free speech is overwhelming and there is nothing holding them back. It is not hard to be a hacker, you just have to be angry enough. If you don't believe me ask Mr. Gooi Kok Seng, alias Delpiero (Malaysian Boleh Hacker now arrested in the US).

Hey Mr. Anonymous, you maybe a gang of bandits or a lone ranger attacking targets weaker than yourself. It wont be too long before your hackalanche will be met. By doing this vial act of destroying the Internet, you may be securing a future for yourself but by putting an end to those who have paid for it.

Businesses are already cringing on the notion of putting information and sharing it over the Internet. This is very unwelcome news for those millions who have invested in making the Internet a possible solution that is safe and secure. Millions more will have to be spent to make it more secure and this is to pay for the work of a few angry bandits. The general mindset towards Internet Security is going to deteriorate and if anyone dare even to suggest that they have a solution, I am referring to the likes of big security companies like Symantex, Kaspersky or Panda I would question it.
  
Banks are going to increase their internet banking security and this is going to cost money. Therefore our Internet banking fees will increase. Every other entity on the Internet is going to risk their exposure if they don't invest millions to protect themselves before getting online. Guess who is going to pay for it all. If this saga begins here then the end is in the "Deternet Age" where everyone will be deterred from using the Internet because it is too expensive and too unsafe if you don't spend enough money for your online service.

Leadership in motion

Farewell President Datuk Seri Samy Vellu. This day will go down in infamy for the future generations to remember. He is a man who carried the burden of many but only for a few to benefit. He was generous and kind but never more committed to the cause of nurturing and empowering younger and brighter leaders. A leader that took the roots out of the Indians and now he is leaving it in the middle of the streets, naked and homeless.

Hearing the farewell speech is very nerving in that Datuk Palanivel will be taking over without any problems. Almost like saying that there would be if you don't obey me. Further reading between the lines spells Datuk Subra is already aligned to take the president's position. This seems like a mere cosmetic handover to save the face of the deputy. It is like the UMNO plot that played out when Tun Mahathir left. Repeatedly announcing that Najib will be the successor after Badawi. Eventually it did and the country was saved.

There could never have been a better time for this movement. I welcome the new President and hope that his patients will prove better than the fast moving past president. CONGRATULATIONS Datul Palanivel. "Although this may not be your fullest intent but this is definitely a position to reckon with Sir". The smooth transition of power is a trait to be commended. Both leaders have put their people forward and making it as soft as possible.

What is apparent is that the Indians have to quickly find their own place in this country and know that the leaders are only there to share in our self earned glory. We have to rely on our selves, community and associations to deliver what the people need. For this realization, I have to thank Datuk Seri once again.
 

Cloud Computing for Tamil Schools

            This is an initiative to empower the Tamil Schools in Malaysia to efficiently manage and operate their schools with a cost effective and cutting edge IT infrastructure. The goal is to create a platform for monitoring and managing all aspects of the school efficiently. Efficiency is measured by giving the best education to our students that money can afford. Further to ensure that every penny spent is fully utilized and accountable.

The title is Cloud Computing because it really makes a lot of sense to utilizes this technology that is fast growing on the internet today. Thanks to the rapid development in IT, fueled by the need for communication, IT systems have matured very quickly and cost effectively. I am sure you would have heard of Google the Internet search giant. Today they are a threat to the incumbent giant Microsoft because of cloud computing. Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Google Online Maps, Google Docs, Google Calendars are just a few examples of Cloud Computing; sharing software on the internet very cost effectively (almost free) is bringing about a lot efficiency cost effectively. There is no need to own and operate any software or hardware. No installation or maintenance is required and it can be used at anytime from anywhere.

However, I would to like describe Cloud Computing and how it will be used to help the Tamil Schools to improve their School Management, Student Management and Customer Relationship Management.

Brief Overview of Cloud Computing

There are 3 major parts to cloud computing which was first tested in 2008 by Intel, HP and Microsoft. These three are Application, Platform and Infrastructure that make up cloud computing as a service. The major providers of platforms are Google, Oracle, Microsoft, Sales Force.com to name a few have their own implementation of Cloud Computing that does the same thing effectively. 

Traditionally you would have to setup a huge infrastructure like servers, racks, cooling rooms, backups, system administrators and security systems to operate and run a server on the internet 24/7. Then comes the platform or operating system that can support the demands of the scalability and uptime requirements. Most platforms are complex implementation of various Operating systems with dedicated hardware or infrastructures. Finally the applications are even more complex where it can cross between platforms and infrastructure. Similar to a highway that allows any vehicle with loads to use as one single transport channel.  

Today all these services can be outsourced and you can focus on the usage of your applications based on your current demand. The system infrastructure can be scaled up or down based on your demands. Basically paying for what you need only when you need it. This reduces the cost of ownership of IT both in software and hardware cost and maintenance. There is no software to install or maintain, no virus attacks can affect the data, or no onsite maintenance required. This technology is the next cost cutting venture for businesses that is going to sweep across the corporate world in the next 18 months. It is expected to grow to US$100 billion by the end of 2011.

There are various options for the platform and the infrastructure that is required to manage and operate the cloud computing service for Tamil Schools in Malaysia. Many proven platform will have the necessary capabilities to deliver this technology cost effectively to the community as a social responsible effort. However, the key is the requirements and how much of the schools operations that can be managed via the cloud.

You may already have used Cloud Computing but may not have realize it. An example that comes to mind is Facebook. It is a very good example that proves that 400 million people have learned how to use Cloud Computing WITHOUT a single training session. From young children to elderly grandparents have all started to be cloud computing savvy. Why not our Tamil students?

This only proves that age is not a barrier and learning is not limited to the classroom.

The Objective

The proposition here is to create a Facebook equivalent for Tamil Schools. The objective is to develop a comprehensive database of all students, teachers, parents, staffs and others who contribute to the development of the Tamil School system in Malaysia. The Tamil School Management system is an application that will be the primary database that drives the entire objective of this project. The database is to track the development of student potentials and further enhanced with training programs, scholarships and certifications for advanced learning. Identifying the needs and providing for the students placements needs either in further education or skills training and jobs. 

The next enabler needed for empowering our youth with is a Student Management System. This will extract attendance and exam results for the School management system to produce performance reports of Tamil School students. These students that portray a potential in any specific area such excellence or deficiencies can be given the correct attention immediately. This is addressing the problems and opportunities while they are still in school.

Once the potential student has enrolled in these programs, these students can be tracked on their progress and development so that the investment of time and cost can be justified for these programs. This system also serves as an accountability tool for sponsors and social workers to determine the best return for their contribution. A database of skills programs, training opportunities and other auxiliary services can be targeted to potential students with needs.

Finally is up-to the minute notification. This is to alert the related individuals on the progress and presence of the tracked students. This will enable parents and teachers to keep a closer tab on the development of their students. This is only one part of the customer relationship management for the Tamil schools. The customers are defined as those that benefit from the services provided by the schools which is the parents and the students. This applications is for the teachers and staff of the schools to notify and inform their customers of the pertinent information using Short Messaging Service (SMS) and emails systems.

School Management System

The main objective of school management is to stream line the operation in accordance with best practices which incorporates the ministry and state education department guidelines. All reports and forms required for submissions to the respective departments will be catered thru the school management reporting tool application. These reports will be created with a click of a button and improve the day to day operation of the office staff leaving them with more free time to focus on other not repetitive matters. This will ensure that the staff will get an immediate benefit when using the system.

The Tamil school office management staff must be active users of this application. Handling of office management and operational tasks must be done thru the School Management System. School management includes enrollment, admission, accounts, administration, monitoring of attendance and exam results reporting.

There are several ways to enable the office to use this application on a daily basis by and one of them is to get them to use the system to generate the required reports.

Some sample reports but an exhaustive list can be added as per their requirements:

1.    Admission list by year/class

2.    Listing of Student/Teachers by year/class

3.    Class Timetable Scheduling/Year Planner

4.    PIBG Notification Newsletters

Student Management System

The student management system is a collection of applications that serves to manage the programs and activities for each student. Based on student profiling, each student will be attending and requiring specialized attention that will be monitored and tracked. Programs and activities carried out by any organization will be managed such that each students benefits fully.

Student management system is a collection of applications that extract and tabulate information for all organizations to search and source for their target customer. It is this application where students can be matched based on the skill requirements with what is available out there from skill providers. These skills matching applications will enable employers and/or other skills training institutes to reach out to the large pool of Tamil students effectively. This is a powerful proposition for and NGO that is fully committed to address the needs of the youth in the area of eduction.

Customer Relationship Management

There are many applications that focus purely on customer management however the Tamils Schools require a more custom solution because there are many customers. The parents and students who are the customers have different needs the same goal. An intuitive use of IT is the key to manage these two types of customers with one application. Here are some of the applications that will in the CRM collection of applications.

Key application functions and features;

1.    Notification and alerting

2.    Web portal with announcements and highlights

3.    Newsletters and publications

4.    PIBG Member Database

5.    Funding and Sponsorship management

6.    Feedback and complaint management

The Cost

            This initiative is a community effort and cost is set at the bare minimum. The constrains are only the inherent cost that is payable to 3^rd parties that is essential and required to host and maintain the application, platform and infrastructure. However, if this cost is shared over large number (e.g. >100) of schools  then it becomes more affordable. Without burdening any one school, this solution will have to  pay for itself. Our intention is to create a large pool of schools to adopt this system and we have a much higher rate of churning a business model that is self sustaining.

Possible implementor and their costing:

            

Item	Website	Product	Pricing	OTC	Recommendation
1	http://www.enov8.com	School Management System (SPS)	None available on site	N/A	Malaysian company but may not be suited for our purpose.
2	http://ww w.ialda.com	School Management System 1.2.1	Free	None	Installs on the PC this is can be a problem.
3	http://www.mushroomsoftech.com/ Mushroom/School.htm	School Management System	USD 222/yr	RM 700/yr	Possible solution but need to know support level
4	http://www.quickschools.com	Apollo	USD3/student/yr	$∞	Not feasible
5	http://www.eduswift.com	EduSwift	None available	N/A	Possible solution but need to contact the vendor in India
6	http://www.schoolmanagementsystem.net	School management system	None available
7	http://www.cri-mms.com	MMS: Student Information Management System	None available
8	http://headmastersoft.com	School Management System Pro	€119	RM500.00	PC based no exactly cloud computing but some adjuadjustments can be done