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"Holodeck” , a virtual world in reality, 3D immersed video was created By Mr. Oliver Kreylos

Want to enter virtual world? Want to play virtual games using your smart phone? Yeah! It is possible in near future. Mr. Kreylos , a professor at University of California Davis, has created a 3D video representation of himself into virtual world combining three Kinects with an Oculus Rift.

He fixed Kinects Peripherals for Microsoft X box in an equilateral triangle to capture his image, which he and we can see his image moving in virtual world as he is moving in reality. You can see in the following video though it is fuzzy, It’ll be clear in our upcoming days. It was not an animation Hollywood fiction movie. It is real. It takes sometime to your mind that it is immature. Yes, it is a prototype and still to be developed and being developed.

It was known from a source Apple has patented holographic phones which will be available in near future. But there were big debates about how it is going to affect young children. However, 3D has already marked its seat fixed as much useful feature like 3D printing which can take the exact pictures of human organs and highly helpful in transplantations

By: Ramu Magham At 05:57

CBSE Class 10 results 2014, CBSE 10th class results 2014

CBSE Class 10 Result- 2014 has been declared for Chennai and Trivandrum region. This year there were 1328970 students appeared for the class 10 examinations. The result of the students has increased to 5.54 percent. Students can check their result entering their hall ticket number and date of birth.

CBSE Class 10 results 2014 will be announced on 22 May 2014 for other regions. The much awaiting students can visit this blog for constant updates regarding CBSE Class 10 results 2014.

All the best for the students who are waiting for CBSE 10th class results 2014. Candidates can download CBSE 10th class results 2014 either from this website or from

CBSE Class 10 results 2014 for Chennai and Trivandrum Region

By: Ramu Magham At 17:17

The Road Not Taken Questions and Answers CBSE Class IX

The Road Not Taken Questions and Answers CBSE Class IX

1.Describe the two roads that the author comes across.
Ans. The author comes across a fork in his travel. He stands and looks at the both roads which are equally lay with grass. One was much traveled and the other was less traveled.

2. Which road does the speaker choose? Why?
Ans. The speaker has chosen the road less traveled. Because there may be two reasons. One is that he has left the other road for another day anticipating that he may come back in future and the other is that he wants to prove his adventurous nature and to show the world that his brave decision has led to the success attained by him.

3.Which road would you choose? why?
Ans. I would choose the road less travelled. Because, the entire wold is running on a theme 'me'. If I follow somebody's footsteps,I cannot be identified as an individual.The life is too short ,whether you choose or do not choose,you must die.I don't want to die as unrecognized fearing the short ditches on my way.
'Face the problem, become tough, reach destination' is my philosophy.

4. Does the poet seem happy about his decision?
Ans. No, He is not happy about his decision. Because the title is "The Road not taken" not "The Road Less Traveled". Though the last word of the poem 'difference' suggests a positive note/ expression, the word is said with deep grief, according to the word 'sigh' used in the first line of the stanza.

By: Ramu Magham At 08:57

The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

About the Poet:

By: Ramu Magham At 20:59

AP SSC BOARD CHANGES ITS EXAMINATION PATTERN FROM 2014-15

AP SSC BOARD, Board of Secondary Education Of Andhra Pradesh, has changed its examination pattern from rot learning and dumping the learnt text to Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation method, which has been followed by CBSE, from the academic year 2014-15.

The students should be tested in intellectual, emotional, physical, cultural and social traits. This cannot happen in one day examination. So BSEAP has brought forth to the uplift the souls and knowledge of children.The main ideas which are coming into force from the academic year 2014-15 are:

Changes:

Four Formative Assessments will be conducted replacing unit test (Each test for 25 marks).
Public Examination paper will be given for 80 marks instead of 100 marks.
There will be seven papers in total. All subject tests will be conducted as one paper except science.(Physical Sciences-50, Natural Sciences-50.
Examinations will be conducted in alternative days.

Pass Criteria:

The average of four formative assessments will be taken for 20 marks and it will be added to the total of the final summative assessment secured by the student. Every Student must secure minimum 40 marks to pass. And minimum 30 marks must be secured from the written test conducted for 80. otherwise the student will be considered as failure,though the student secures 40 marks in overall grade count.

Question Paper Pattern:

Time Duration: 3hours

Max. Marks: 80

Five mark questions - 4 4×5=20

Three mark questions - 10 3×10=30

Two mark questions - 10 2×10=20

One marks questions - 10 1×10=10

Choice:

Internal Choice for 5 and 3 mark questions.

Thus, AP SSC Board has brought many changes in 10th class examination pattern which will be effect from 2014-15 academic year.

SSC RESULT 2014 AP

By: Ramu Magham At 00:02

What is Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE method)?

What is Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE Method)?

Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) is a developmental process of assessment which emphasizes on two fold objectives. These objectives are:

continuity in evaluation and assessment of broad based learning
behavioral outcomes on the other.

In this scheme the first term `continuous' is meant to emphasize that evaluation of identified aspects of students`growth and development' is a continuous process rather than an event, built into the total teaching-learning process and spread over the entire span of academic session.It means "regularity of assessment, frequency of unit testing, diagnosis of learning gaps, use of corrective measures, retesting and feedback of evidence to teachers and students" for their self evaluation.

The second term `comprehensive' means that the scheme attempts to cover both the scholastic and the co-scholastic aspects of students' growth and development. Since abilities, attitudes and aptitudes can manifest themselves in forms other than the written words, the term refers to application of variety of tools and techniques (both testing and non-testing) and aims at assessing a learner's development in areas of learning like :

Knowledge
Understanding/Comprehension
Applying
Analyzing
Evaluating
Creating

The CCE scheme is thus a curricular initiative, attempting to shift emphasis from testing to holistic learning. It aims at creating good citizens possessing sound health, appropriate skills and desirable qualities besides academic excellence. It is hoped that this will equip the learners to meet the challenges of life with confidence and success.

By: Ramu Magham At 21:58

MBA Study Material - Production and Brand Management – Understanding Brands

Production and Brand Management – Understanding Brands

New product planning

New product

A new product is a product that is new to the company introducing it even though it may have been made in same form by others.

Types of New Product

New to the world: this is new to the world. no close substitute were existed .innovators will be attract the new product.

New to the company: This is new to the company, which is already in the market.

Addition to existing product: This product is called as modified product of basic product. Based on the Changes in the consumer tastes and preferences, basic product will be reintroduced into the market with Some major or minor changes.

Improved and Revised: This product is advanced product of basic product with additional features.

Reduction in Cost: A product is said to be a new product when it is introduced into the market with reduced price.

New product development (NPD) is the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A product is a set of benefits offered for exchange and can be tangible (that is, something physical you can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief). There are two parallel paths involved in the NPD process: one involves the idea generation, product design and detail engineering; the other involves market research and marketing analysis. Companies typically see new product development as the first stage in generating and commercializing new product within the overall strategic process of product life cycle management used to maintain or grow their market share.

The stages

1. Idea Generation is often called the "fuzzy front end" of the NPD process

Ideas for new products can be obtained from basic research using a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities & Threats). Market and consumer trends, company's R&D department, competitors, focus groups, employees, salespeople, corporate spies, trade shows, or ethnographic discovery methods (searching for user patterns and habits) may also be used to get an insight into new product lines or product features.
Lots of ideas are generated about the new product. Out of these ideas many are implemented. The ideas are generated in many forms. Many reasons are responsible for generation of an idea.
Idea Generation or Brainstorming of new product, service, or store concepts - idea generation techniques can begin when you have done your OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS to support your ideas in the Idea Screening Phase (shown in the next development step).

2. Idea Screening

The object is to eliminate unsound concepts prior to devoting resources to them.
The screeners should ask several questions:
Will the customer in the target market benefit from the product?
What is the size and growth forecasts of the market segment / target market?
What is the current or expected competitive pressure for the product idea?
What are the industry sales and market trends the product idea is based on?
Is it technically feasible to manufacture the product?
Will the product be profitable when manufactured and delivered to the customer at the target price?

3. Concept Development and Testing

Develop the marketing and engineering details
Investigate intellectual property issues and search patent databases
Who is the target market and who is the decision maker in the purchasing process?
What product features must the product incorporate?
What benefits will the product provide?
How will consumers react to the product?
How will the product be produced most cost effectively?
Prove feasibility through virtual computer aided rendering and rapid prototyping
What will it cost to produce it?
Testing the Concept by asking a number of prospective customers what they think of the idea - usually via Choice Modeling.

4. Business Analysis

Estimate likely selling price based upon competition and customer feedback
Estimate sales volume based upon size of market and such tools as the Fourt-Woodlock equation
Estimate profitability and break-even point

5. Market Testing

Produce a physical prototype or mock-up
Test the product (and its packaging) in typical usage situations
Conduct focus group customer interviews or introduce at trade show
Make adjustments where necessary
Produce an initial run of the product and sell it in a test market area to determine customer acceptance

6. Technical Implementation

New program initiation
Finalize Quality management system
Resource estimation
Requirement publication
Publish technical communications such as data sheets
Engineering operations planning
Department scheduling
Supplier collaboration
Logistics plan
Resource plan publication
Program review and monitoring
Contingencies - what-if planning

7. Commercialization (often considered post-NPD)

Launch the product
Produce and place advertisements and other promotions
Fill the distribution pipeline with product
Critical path analysis is most useful at this stage

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING NEW PRODUCT

1.      Is there sufficient demand?
2.      Will it be profitable?
3.      What is the likely payback period?
4.      Does it fit the firm’s image?
5.      Does it fit the firm’s product portfolio?
6.      What is the likely life cycle of the product?
7.      How is the competition?
8.      How easy will it be to manufacture?

FAILURE OF NEW PRODUCTS:

1.      Poor idea
2.      Under estimation of competition
3.      Over production cost
4.      Poor performance
5.      Technical problems
6.      Poor planning
7.      Inadequate promotion
8.      Poor packaging
9.      Faulty pricing

SUCCESSIVE FACTORS OF NEW PRODUCT

1.      Reasonable pricing
2.      Attractive packing
3.      Effective promotion strategy
4.      Proper planning
5.      Technical support
6.      Good performance
7.      Low competition
8.      Good idea

CONSUMER ADOPTION PROCESS

Adoption is an individual’s decision to become a regular user of a product. Sequence of events beginning with consumer awareness of a new product leading to trial usage and culminating in full and regular use of the new product. Over time the adoption process resembles a bell curve formed by innovators, early adopters, the majority of consumers, late adopters, and laggards.

An innovation is any good, service, or idea that is perceived by someone as new. The idea may have a long history, but it is an innovation to the person who sees it as new. Innovations take time to spread through the social system. Rogers defines the innovation diffusion process as “the spread of a new idea from its source of invention or creation to its ultimate users or adopters.”

The consumer-adoption process focuses on the mental process through which an individual passes from first hearing about an innovation to final adoption. Adopters of new products have been observed to move through five stages:

1. Awareness -The consumer becomes aware of the innovation but lacks information about it.

2. Interest-The consumer is stimulated to seek information about the innovation.

3. Evaluation -The consumer considers whether to try the innovation.

4. Trial-The consumer tries the innovation to improve his or her estimate of its value.

5. Adoption -The consumer decides to make full and regular use of the innovation.

The new-product marketer should facilitate movement through these stages. A portable electric dishwasher manufacturer might discover that many consumers are stuck in the interest stage; they do not buy because of their uncertainty and the large investment cost. But these same consumers would be willing to use an electric dishwasher on a trial basis for a small monthly fee. The manufacturer should consider offering a trial-use plan with option to buy.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION PROCESS

People differ in their approach towards adopting a new product. Some differ in adopting new fashion, some in adopting new appliances, some doctors are hesitant to apply new medicines and still some farmers do not apply new implements. This is called adoption culture. Once the customer buys the product, they increase the use and then others follow. Here others means are late adopters by nature. Let us categorize these customers into three units

1) One who are early adopters. They are very quick in their response. These people are venture some and willing to try new ideas. In fact they are innovators in life and early adopters.

2) Secondly Early Majority. They are very careful people and take time to adopt things. They tend to collect information about the change or the product, study carefully and then adopt on the basis of their merits.

3) The third ones are late majority and traditionalists. They are the ones who adopt late and then use the product.

The following the main factors influence the customers towards new product

1.      Individual readiness to try new product
2.      Characteristics of innovation
3.      Personnel influence
4.      Relative advantage
5.      Compatibility
6.      Social acceptability
7.      Cost

PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT-SPECIAL ISSUES

INTRODUCTION

All products and services have certain life cycles. The life cycle refers to the period from the product’s first launch into the market until its final withdrawal from market. During this period significant changes are made in the way that the product is behaving into the market i.e. Its reflection in respect of sales to the company that introduced it into the market. Since an increase in profits is the major goal of a company that introduces a product into a market.

The understanding of a product’s life cycle, can help a company to understand and realize when it is time to introduce and withdraw a product from a market, its position in the market compared to competitors, and the product’s success or failure.

For a company to fully understand the above and successfully manage a product’s life cycle, needs to dev e l o p strategies and methodologies, some of which are discussed later on.

PART 1: PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE MODEL

The product’s life cycle - period usually consists of five major steps or phases: Product development, Product introduction, Product growth, Product maturity and Product decline. These phases exist and are applicable to all products or services.

Fig. 1: Product Life Cycle Graph

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PHASE

Product development phase begins when a company finds and develops a new product idea. This involves transforming various pieces of information and converting them into a new product. A product is usually undergoing several changes involving a lot of money and time during development, before it is sent to target customers through test markets. Those products that survive the test market are then introduced into a real mmarket and the introduction phase of the product begins. During the product development phase, sales are zero and revenues are negative. It is the time of spending with absolute no return.

2. INTRODUCTION PHASE
The introduction phase of a product includes the product launch with its requirements to getting it launch in such a way so that it will have maximum impact at the moment of sale. A good example of such a launch is the launch of “Windows XP” by Microsoft Corporation.

This period can be described as a money loss period compared to the maturity phase of a product. Large expenditure on promotion and advertising is common, and quick but costly service requirements are introduced. A company must be prepared to spent a lot of money and get only a small proportion of that back. In this phase distribution arrangements are introduced. Having the product in every counter is very important and is regarded as an impossible challenge. Some companies avoid this stress by hiring external contractors or outsourcing the entire distribution arrangement. This has the benefit of testing an important marketing tool such as outsourcing.

Pricing is something else for a company to consider during this phase. Product pricing usually follows one or two well structured strategies. Early customers will pay a lot for something new and this will help a bit to minimize that sinkhole that was mentioned earlier. Later the pricing policy should be more aggressive so that the product can become competitive. Another strategy is that of a pre-set price believed to be the right one to maximize sales. This however demands a very good knowledge of the market and of what a customer is willing to pay for a newly introduced product.

3. GROWTH PHASE
The growth phase offers the satisfaction of increasing the sales in the market place. This is the appropriate timing to focus on increasing the market share. If the product has been introduced first into the market, (introduction into a “virgin”1 market or into an existing market) then it is in a position to gain market share relatively easily. A new growing market alerts the competition’s attention.

The company must offer product extensions, services, warranty and try to differentiate them from the competitors ones. A frequent modification process of the product is an effective policy to discourage competitors from gaining market share by copying or offering similar products.

Promotion and advertising continues, but not in the extent that was in the introductory phase and it is oriented to the task of market leadership and not in raising product awareness. A good practice is the use of external promotional contractors to build awareness and interest in market.

This period is the time to develop efficiencies and improve product availability and service. Cost efficiency and time-to-market and pricing and discount policy are major factors in gaining customer confidence. Good coverage in all marketplaces is worthwhile goal throughout the growth phase.

4. MATURITY PHASE
When the market becomes saturated with variations of the basic product, and all competitors are represented in terms of an alternative product, the maturity phase arrives. In this phase market share growth is at the expense of someone else’s business, rather than the growth of the market itself. This period is the period of the highest returns from the product. A company that has achieved its market share goal enjoys the most profitable period, while a company that falls behind its market share goal, must reconsider its marketing positioning into the marketplace.

During this period new brands are introduced even when they compete with the company’s existing product and model changes are more frequent (product, brand, and model). This is the time to extend the product’s life.

Pricing and discount policies are often changed in relation to the competition policies i.e. pricing moves up and down accordingly with the competitors one and sales and coupons are introduced in the case of consumer products. Promotion and advertising relocates from the scope of getting new customers, to the scope of product differentiation in terms of quality and reliability.

The battle of distribution continues using multi distribution channels2. A successful product maturity phase is extended beyond anyone’s timely expectations. A good example of this is “Tide” washing powder, which has grown old, and it is still growing.

5. DECLINE PHASE
This is the time to start withdrawing variations of the product from the market that are weak in their market position. This must be done carefully since it is not often apparent which product variation brings in the revenues.

The prices must be cut and promotion should be pulled back at a level that will make the product presence visible and at the same time retain the “loyal” customer. Distribution is narrowed. The basic channel is should be kept efficient but alternative channels should be abandoned.

PART2: ANALYSIS OF PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE MODEL
There are some major product life cycle management techniques that can be used to optimize a product’s revenues in respect to its position into a market and its life cycle. These techniques are mainly marketing or management strategies that are used by most companies worldwide To comprehend these strategies one must first make a theoretical analysis of the model of product life cycle.

In the mid 70’s the model of product life cycle described in “Part 1”, was under heavy criticized by numerous authors. The reasons behind this criticism are described below:

a. The shift changes in the demand of a product along a period of time makes the distinction of the product life cycle phase very difficult, the duration of those almost impossible to predict and the level of sales of the product somewhat in the realm of the imagination.

b. There are many products that do not follow the usual shape of the product life cycle graph as shown in fig.

c. The product life cycle does not entirely depend on time as shown in fig.1. It also depends on other parameters such as management policy, company strategic decisions and market trends. These parameters are difficult to be pinpointed and so are not included in the product life cycle as described in “Part 1”.

Nevertheless, a product manager must know how to recognize which phase of its life cycle is a product, regardless of the problems in the model discussed above. To do that a good method is the one, suggested by Donald Clifford in 1965, which follows.

Collection of information about the product’s behavior over at least a period of 3 – 5 years (information will include price, units sold, profit margins, return of investment – ROI, market share and value).
Analysis of competitor short-term strategies (analysis of new products emerging into the market and competitor announced plans about production increase, plant upgrade and product promotion).
Analysis of number of competitors in respect of market share.
Collection of information of the life cycle of similar products that will help to estimate the life cycle of a new product.
Estimation of sales volume for 3 – 5 years from product launch.
Estimation of the total costs compared to the total sales for 3 – 5 years after product launch (development, production, promotion costs). The estimate should be in the range of 4:1 in the beginning to 7:1 at the stage where the product reaches maturity

By: Ramu Magham At 06:59

Prepositions Practice Test - 5

Prepositions Practice Test - 5

More English Grammar Practice Tests

How to prepare and make a good oral presentation.

How to prepare and make a good oral presentation.

"Holodeck” , a virtual world in reality, 3D immersed video was created By Mr. Oliver Kreylos

CBSE Class 10 results 2014, CBSE 10th class results 2014

CBSE Class 10 results 2014, CBSE 10th class results 2014

CBSE Class 10 results 2014 for Chennai and Trivandrum Region

The Road Not Taken Questions and Answers CBSE Class IX

The Road Not Taken Questions and Answers CBSE Class IX

The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost

The Road Not Taken

AP SSC BOARD CHANGES ITS EXAMINATION PATTERN FROM 2014-15

Changes:

Pass Criteria:

Question Paper Pattern:

Time Duration: 3hours

Max. Marks: 80

Choice:

What is Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE method)?

MBA Study Material - Production and Brand Management – Understanding Brands

Production and Brand Management – Understanding Brands

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