Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: Refreshing But There’s Room For Improvement

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With its offering of ThinkPad X1 Fold, the world’s first foldable laptop, Lenovo has started a renaissance that aims to muddle the border between laptops and tablets. In fact, there are people who do reckon this path-breaking product as a tablet. 

First and foremost, in sync with its name, X1 Fold is indeed a foldable laptop to its core. When you fold it halfway, Lenovo's Vantage software would split the screen, and you can seamlessly convert the lower part of the screen to an on-display keyboard, akin to on your mobile phone or tablet. And yes, it is incredible that when stretched fully, the two sides of this foldable laptop spread seamlessly without any trace of the fold between them.

Input Devices

Keyboard - Cool, but impractical

The X1 Fold comes with a detachable Bluetooth keyboard that would come in handy as you open it completely to use the entirety of the screen. One of the coolest things about using the keyboard is that it would be held in its place fittingly using magnetism. Plus, when attached to the laptop, it charges automatically via USB-C. The keyboard is naturally smaller than typical, which explains why there are so many double- and triple-key assignments. We bet you would not want to use it for a lot of typing.

Touchscreen - Tiny and troublesome

The touchscreen isn't as responsive as we've come to expect from the latest smartphones and tablets. The flexible surface could be to blame because it doesn't recognize the inputs smoothly, and there's a feeling of resistance while you are trying to glide your fingers across the surface. In practice, this is quite inconvenient and, in a way, ruins the user experience.

Stylus - Stylish, but not smooth

The accompanying active stylus boasts 4,096 pressure levels for fine control. It is comfortable to hold and charges through the same USB-C as the keyboard. It can detect the tilt of the pen for more realistic shading while working with graphics. Although the stylus does its job, you can't still shake the resistance feeling from the touchscreen surface.

Look and Feel

The ThinkPad series from Lenovo was originally aimed at business executives. However, the classy leather finish on the exterior exudes a diary-like charm, and any writer would be happy to hold the X1 Fold in their hands. Also, it folds fittingly over the keyboard when docked, with magnets keeping it tied to its apt position. The mini keyboard features an elastic fabric holder for the stylus, making the X1 Fold a highly portable system even with separate peripherals.

The interior of the back kickstand is lined with a lovely red felt fabric that contrasts wonderfully with the black leather. The stand at the back keeps the laptop steady smoothly while in an erect position, but because this is a touchscreen, hitting the top-left corner of the screen too hard may cause it to rock a little.

The display of X1 Fold, a 13.3-inch 2K (1536 x 2048) QXGA resolution screen made of flexible plastic rather than glass, is generally pleasing to the eye. The middle "seam" is only visible up close when the screen is fully open, but it is much more prominent when the screen is folded, with the default Windows 10 wallpaper's blue backdrop turning a much lighter shade of blue right down the middle. We didn't find it particularly bothersome, but it is undeniably present.

The screen's bezels aren't the widest we've seen, but they're also not the smallest. When the keyboard is docked, the screen shrinks to only the portion visible above the keyboard, allowing you to view the Windows 10 taskbar.

Performance

Depending on your purpose, the X1 Fold's performance ranges from mediocre to poor. In sync with its minimalistic theme, it employs the Intel Core i5 Lakefield SoC, a new hybrid architecture from Intel, that aims at shrinking chip sizes for mobile devices and ultra-thin laptops. Unfortunately, in the tests conducted, Lakefield scores poorly when stacked against its counterparts. The X1 Fold further fails to live up to the claims by Lenovo in terms of battery life and processing of dynamic visuals.

Verdict

Despite the fact, that Lenovo attempted to bring something radical on the board by introducing X1 Fold, akin to many radical technological innovations in the past, it would take some time for foldable laptops to catch up with the mainstream offerings. Being said that, you can buy X1 Fold if its hefty price tag (nearly ₹2,50,000) is not an issue for you, and you love to flaunt the coolest gadgets. As a plus point, it is perhaps the most portable device in its class. And, of course, it is a conversation starter. 

On the other hand, you may refrain from purchasing X1 Fold, if you can’t afford to ignore the price tag and practicality is an uncompromising factor for you. With questionable battery life, it is not apt for a heavy workload.

How AI Will Change Our Lives In 10 Years

 AI, the latest buzzword in the technology sector. In view of many prominent tech gurus, AI perhaps would have a more astounding effect on our lives than any other invention in human history, including electricity and IT. The public first acknowledged the advent of AI, when Deep Blue, an IBM machine, defeated the reigning chess world champion- Gary Kasparov, the best chess player ever to have walked on the planet, in many people’s opinion. AI has long ago surpassed chess and started affecting human lives in many ways. Though the field of AI is extremely fluid, let’s check the projection on how AI will change our lives in 10 years from now.

Education

With the help of AI, we can expect another renaissance in the education sector. 

1. Most textbooks would be digitized.

2. Early-stage virtual tutors would assist human teachers. 

3. The AI-enabled facial analysis would assess students' emotions to help identify students who are struggling or bored. From the stats obtained from these assessments, the teachers and educators would be able to better mold the methods and courses to cater to the unique requirements of these students.

Finance

AI is all set to bring about a new kind of egality to the world of finance. Currently, the way the finance sector behaves is far from ideal, and it is the main reason for the economic disparity. As the rich are in a position to hire the best of the brains, that ensures they keep on getting richer in contrast to the common mass. However, AI with its open-source fin-tech solutions is poised to more or less level this field.

Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, AI is set to cause a sea change. Let’s check out a few of the expected outcomes, say after a decade.

1. Diseases would be quickly and reliably diagnosed.

2. An amalgamation of a doctor’s intuition with the machine-like precision of AI would increase the success percentage of critical surgeries.

3. AI would soon outperform even the best of the doctors, as the latter possess limited memory and simply cannot match the AI in terms of knowledge.

4. The process of pharmaceutical discoveries would get streamlined and speed up. 

5. Virtual nursing assistants would monitor patients. 

6. AI-enabled big data analysis would help to provide a more personalized patient experience.

Sports

Though it started with chess, the use of AI for strategy purposes has already made inroads in other games and sports. Apart from individual games that require brainpower, AI would also be used in all sorts of team games wherein a game plan is critical, such as cricket, football, or hockey.

Shopping

AI is already changing the way we shop. Most probably you have noted that the browser on our PCs and mobiles would display ads of the same products or services that we have searched for moments ago; AI certainly has a part to play here. In the future, we would definitely see a better prediction as companies with the aid of AI would be able to better predict our requirements and purchase patterns. Furthermore, it would also ensure that a product, if in demand, is stocked up both at stores and warehouses to ensure its availability.

Transportation 

In a decade or so, autonomous automobiles would be the backbone of the transport system, especially in metropolitan cities and the surrounding urban areas. In case you still insist on driving yourself, thanks to AI, your road safety would be considerably increased, plus you would be able to significantly cut down on wait times. Moreover, important traffic data such as accidents, road closures, and the shortest routes to a location would further assist you in avoiding traffic jams.

Unlike AI's, our capacities are limited; most probably, in 10 years from now, AI would touch our lives in many ways that we can't even imagine now. We can just hope that it doesn't follow the pattern of Hollywood movies, where it causes the doom of humanity. We would love to hear your thoughts on AI. Please feel free to pour those in the comments section below.

B2B Data: Types And Tools

Are you curious about how B2B data can aid you with prospecting?

Read on, this article contains insights that you need to know about

B2B data types and tools.

Prospecting for new clients is a difficult task for any salesperson, especially in the B2B sector. It's critical to have a well-targeted list of pre-qualified leads. Time is money, and this is especially true in sales and marketing. The significance of high-quality B2B data cannot be overstated. 

You'll need a lot of B2B business data, but gathering it efficiently and without wasting a lot of time is difficult. Hence, it is imperative that we inspect this topic in detail.

What is B2B Data?

B2B data, or business-to-business data, in layman’s words, refers to any type of information about businesses. B2B data is often a list or database of individual contacts containing an array of data points that may be utilized for sales and marketing purposes and to create your ideal customer profile, such as analytics, demand generation, lead generation, outbound sales, 

Types of B2B Data

For your sales and marketing teams to leverage, you can check out several distinct types of B2B data. These B2B business data types can be utilized to efficiently engage and target your prospects, depending on your product or service and selling procedure.

Account Data

The information on the companies or accounts you want to target is known as account data. It gives you more information about each organization, allowing you to figure out who to target and how to better target them by personalizing your message or improving your proposition. Examples- company name, recent funding, internet traffic, C-level recruitment, or even a newly published literature.

Contact Data

Contact data provides you with information about the executives at a company or account with whom you wish to interact. Data points such as contact name, job title, and email address will be included.

These executives should be your ideal customers, and they will be the focus of your sales and marketing efforts. 

Different communication channels can be employed to send your message to contacts, depending on the data you have on them. As an example, an email address would allow your salespeople to reach customers exclusively via email. However, if you can obtain contact numbers or even social media accounts, that would allow for multi-channel outreach, increasing the likelihood of interaction with the targeted executives.

Engagement Data

The interactions between your prospects and your company are represented via engagement data. This data can reveal whether they have previously downloaded something from your portal, liked a post on your social media company handles, or even their time spent on your website.

Engagement data can also be used to retarget prospects who may have opened an email or clicked on your ad but did not take any action afterward. This data is useful when combined with the intent data, as it first displays how the prospect interacts with your brand before determining their likelihood of becoming a buyer.

Intent Data

Intent data is a type of behavioral data derived from online usage insights. It determines the user's purchasing intent to discover if and when they intend to buy something. This data will reveal information about the products or services they are exploring. 

Intent data can be acquired from users who visit your website or related websites, such as a competitor' or comparison websites, using internet trackers. Email openings, material downloads, and website visits reveal what they're interested in and reveal purchase patterns and signals. This allows your sales personnel to prioritize accounts that are actively looking for a solution above accounts that aren't.

Firmographic Data

Firmographic data refers to the various features that are used to classify enterprises into categories. Information such as industry, company size, and revenue can be included can be considered among this data. For example, you may create a segment to target manufacturing enterprises with 50-200 employees and monthly sales of ₹10,00,00,000 or more.

Firmographic data allows your sales and marketing teams to focus on specific organizations, allowing them to personalize their offering to meet the needs of those companies.

B2B List Building Tools

If attempted manually, developing a B2B list is a time-consuming operation that requires a lot of prospecting. Fortunately, there are several B2B list-building tools available nowadays that would make your job easier. And, here we've included a few for your perusal, with the motive to lighten your workload.

AeroLeads

This software is a complete prospecting and list-building solution for B2B companies. It not only finds your prospect's contact details, email address, and phone number but also other important information like their business name, location, social accounts, and even their WhoIs information. It also seamlessly integrates with top CRM platforms, such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoho.

ContactOut

ContactOut is a simple but effective Chrome plugin that searches LinkedIn for your prospects' email addresses and phone numbers. Apart from that, it has a dashboard that allows you to manage your saved contacts with ease. Moreover, it also possesses a powerful search engine that enables you to locate contact information that isn't even available on LinkedIn.

Crunchbase

Crunchbase is an online database of businesses and startups; it is best suited to locate companies and their founders (for collaboration). It features several parameters that allow you to search businesses based on their start-up date, niche, and funding rounds. You can also save and export your searches as a CSV file.

Hunter.io

Hunter, a popular email search engine, is one of your best bets for finding your prospects' business emails. Its Chrome and Firefox extensions can be used to find email addresses on virtually any website. Furthermore, this search engine makes it quite simple to find the email addresses of a company's executives using only their website's domain. It also has an email verification option that allows you to verify your list rapidly.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is essentially a professional social network, and it should be your first stop if you want to build a B2B list. You can locate decision-makers in your target companies using LinkedIn with ease. With innumerable searches and filters, a premium membership effectively transforms the site into a comprehensive people search engine, which allows you to narrow down your search to your desired specifics.

Sumo

Sumo will come in handy if you're planning to take the lead capture path. It has opt-in features, like pop-ups and welcome mats, as well as heat maps that show you where your visitors click on your site and a floating social share bar as an alternative. Last but not least, it is absolutely free!

VoilaNorbert

VoilaNorbert is an email search engine that allows you to find the email address of your prospects. All you need to do is enter their name and company website, and it will automatically retrieve their email address.

As you have nearly read the entire article, do you agree with our perspective on B2B data and its tools and types? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

The Different Ways Companies Can Leverage AI and Other Advanced Technologies in Their Recruitment Process

Technology and its implication have always been decisive factors for the success of businesses, nations, and civilizations. History reveals to us how European nations dominated the world in terms of both trade and war courtesy of their technological superiority.

The modern era is no different for businesses to thrive; they must employ the latest technologies to provide them the requisite edge in this cut-throat competition. AI akin to atomic bombs in warfare is a game-changer pertaining to technology. If employed optimally, it has the ability to facilitate and smoothen your recruitment process. Let's discuss a few points to validate how strong this argument is.

Impressive First-Impression

A quite common English proverb is- “The first impression is the last impression.” An applicant may detest the application process if asked to fill a huge form with generic and repetitive information. The negative vibes thus created may even affect the joining decision of the applicant. You do not wish that; instead, you wish to build a rapport with applicants to win them over for your company. With the aid of AI, a lot of information can be captured and auto-populated. This saves the time and effort of applicants that can be channeled to know further and important details about them. Importantly, applicants would most probably like the different and smooth application process. And, if all things are tied, most probably he would decide to board your organization. 

Chatbot Engagements 

Employee engagement via chatbots, that along with their seemingly human-like communication, aids recruiters to capture candidates’ thought processes. The conversation with a chatbot may reveal the attitude, persona, adaptability, goals, and even competency of an applicant. After being cognizant of the candidate’s thought process, it is easier for the recruiter to engage better, address potential roadblocks, and gauge whether the candidate would be a fit for the organization or not. Similarly, the feedback process is also important as it aids in streamlining the process. And, it would be a great help for recruiters to prepare for subsequent interviews.

Social Hiring

Social media especially Linkedin is not only a way to connect to your peers, but it is nowadays readily being used as a hiring platform. However, with more than 500 million users on Linkedin, the selection and eventually recruitment process would be a behemoth task, to say the least, if left alone to human endeavors. Thankfully, AI can save the day for you by taking care of your mundane work and ensuring a smooth selection of short-listed candidates.

Automating High-Volume Tasks

More than 50% of recruiters shortlisting suitable candidates from a large number of applications as the toughest part of their job. It is usually noted that with every passing year your hiring numbers tend to increase; however, the HR manpower remains the same. This implies that a steady increase in output is expected of the team members.

Screening resumes manually is a tedious process considering generally anywhere from 75% to 88% of resumes are not a fit for the role. As a result, it takes up to 23 hours of your time to pick the right candidate for the role. AI enables you to automate tedious and repetitive activities, such as candidate sourcing, compiling databases, screening resumes, and scheduling interviews. This would reduce the man-hours required per candidate and ultimately make life easier for HR professionals and save on revenue for the organization. As an unseen advantage, the momentum gained during AI-enabled recruitment allows you to select the candidate faster in comparison to your competitors. Consequently, you put the paperwork for your potential hires quicker than the competition. Thus, the short-listed applicants are more likely to opt for your offers.

Bias Removal

To quote the celebrated American author Veronica Roth, “But I think that no matter how smart, people usually see what they're already looking for, that's all.” In layman's words, it is near impossible for us human beings to be free from biases. Many a time our biases blind us and we tend to judge a book by its cover. This inherent limitation can affect the recruitment process adversely.

AI and other advanced technologies can aid recruiters to negate the bias factor. Thus, AI-enabled recruitment would take place in an impartial fashion, keeping aside superficial indicators like- looks, gender, name, race, and religion.

Optimum Talent Absorption

As a recruiter sometimes you get really talented individuals, whom you may have to let go of due to some mismatch between their skills and the prerequisites of the position. Generally, such a resume is not discarded afterward. However, courtesy of AI and other advanced technologies, such resumes are automatically added to a talent pool database. These technologies automatically scan for a suitable position whenever it is available and notify you regarding the same. Thus, they enable you to reroute talents to their suitable position and saves a ton of work for you.

 Facial Expression Analysis

Video coupled with AI is an important tool that you can use to interview applicants. Videos are the closest you can get to a face-to-face interview in a COVID-stricken era. However, it provides you a significant advantage in comparison to a generic face-to-face interview. You do have the option to replay the video again and recalculate the applicant's candidature. AI can interpret signals from the candidate's facial expressions. It can complement your gut feeling while analyzing the interview videos. It is certainly a handy tool for you to bank on while gauging an applicant's replies and personality traits.

As a bottom-line, we can conclude that AI and other advanced technologies empower the recruitment process in an organization. And, with their employment and optimum usage, companies can surely reap substantial benefits.

What Is UI and Types of UI Design? Popular Trends in UI Design for Web

What is UI?

"User interface," or UI, design implies the design of user interfaces and other types like voice-controlled interfaces for applications, software, or websites. It’s about aesthetics of programming, the appearance (graphical layout), with a notion to improve user experience. 

In layman's terms, a user interface is the feature of an application or device that allows users to interact with it. It includes buttons that users click, reading text, text entry fields, images, sliders, screen layout, transitions, interface animations, and all remaining items the user may interact with. Imagine you are filling a contact form on a company’s website, your user interface, in this scenario, most probably would comprise of a text box, drop-down list, radio buttons, and similar components that allow you to fill in the requisite details into the company’s portal.

To summarize, it can be said that UI comprises elements that are needed to be designed, such as animation, interaction, or any other visual element.

 

Types of UI Design

There are several types of UI design; however, the following three tops the charts-

1. Graphical user interface (GUI): A GUI is an arrangement of interactive visual components of computer software on a digital screen. A GUI displays components that convey information, and allow actions to be taken by the user. The components could switch color, size, or visibility as the user starts interacting with these components on the screen. The essential features of a well-designed GUI should ideally be sketched to support decent findability and learnability. 
2. Voice user interfaces (VUI): A voice-user interface lets humans interact with computers using voice. It uses speech recognition to grasp voice commands and questions; moreover, it also uses a typical text-to-speech method to reply. An ever-increasing demand for voice-enabled assistants across the globe showcases the fact that its usage is quickly gaining traction.
3. Menu-driven interface: A menu-driven interface allows you to interact with a device through a series of screens or menus. It displays a range of options in menu form via pop-ups, full-screen, or drop-down. It can be both verbal and visual. ATMs are an example of a menu-driven interface.
   

 

Popular Trends in UI design for Web

The following are the latest hot trends in terms of UI design:

1. Aesthetic illustrations: Aesthetic illustrations are a significant factor for elements laced with animation and line-style drawing. This UI design trend is gaining popularity as it enhances the aesthetics, makes the design artistically appealing.
2. Audio-user Experiences: This trend is probably going to soar high even more shortly. It augments web experiences significantly by the addition of musical scores and other sound effects.
3. Breaking typography rules: Originally, it started as a trend in 2020. Now stabled, this trend would perhaps still be trending in the foreseeable future. The essential element to this trend is that even after shattering the typography rules, a user could still comprehend the intended projection of the designer.
4. Color-changing Gradients: It's been a savage comeback by color-changing gradients after being overshadowed by flat designs for a brief time. By the virtue of adding depth, dimension, and realism, it is trending everywhere with a range of features, such as multi-color bold background gradients and subtle texture gradients.
5. Dark-theme Design: With an increasing number of people caring for the environment and their eyes, no wonder that the demand for dark-theme design is soaring. This theme augments the readability factor for typography.

A Bit About Bite-sized Learning

Bite-sized learning in sync with its name corresponds to a learning style analogous to the quantity of food one could gulp in a bite instead of a usual platter. In layman's terms, it implies that a learner gets to learn only the amount he could pay full attention to and simultaneously enjoy thoroughly. Hence, the courses and learning modules are broken into chunks to suit the learners better.

Apt for Lower Attention Spans

Tons of content and data are generated every moment courtesy of worldwide internet connectivity. With options aplenty, it is natural that new generations (millennials and onwards) have lower attention spans compared to their older counterparts. Bite-sized learning can be a blessing for these and subsequent generations.

Suited for Modern Era Workforce

For most people, who are not related to academics, increasing hours of training at their workplace may seem a bit overwhelming. Many among them may have started an occupation as they wanted (apart from earning money and independence) to distance themselves from boring lectures. Some of them may even be drop-outs. On average, they invest only around 1 percent (4.8 minutes per day) of their time learning. Hence, classroom training and lengthy e-learning modules would not be that effective. Bite-size learning being twice as engaging is better for this new generation workforce.

 

From a producer's point of view, bite-sized learning is both cost-effective and time-efficient. It could be produced at a quarter of the budget required for conventional courses and takes 60% less time. It is a win-win situation for content creators as well as learners. So, do not waste time while sitting on the fence; enroll now to learn how you can reap benefits from this modern era revolution—bite-sized learning.

Smart Textiles 101: Tech Woven Textiles

One can claim that the advent of human civilization initiated when our ancestors invented—stone tools, the crudest form of technology. In fact, history teaches us that any civilization that has gained a technological edge over its rivals has generally prevailed. Even in the 21st century, this holds true as most developed nations are miles ahead of their contemporaries, courtesy of their technological advances. Our modern lives are interwoven with technology. And, that is what the budding concept of smart textiles is all about. 

Passive Smart Textiles

The first of the smarts textiles were the original trendsetters. The first generation of smart textiles, their novel properties included being woke to the surrounding environment and stimuli. Mostly they consist of simple sensors. They record the effect of the environment on it. They can record changes in the form of color, shape, and both electrical and thermal resistivity. Plasma treated textiles, textiles with optical sensors, and UV protective textiles are some of the prime examples.

Active Smart Textiles

These textiles followed the passive smart textiles to be reckoned as the second generation of smart textiles. Apart from the sensors of their predecessors, these textiles are also armed with actuators. Hence, they can not only sense but also respond to external stimuli. They can absorb vapors, get heated automatically, and further store it, manifest the chameleon effect, memorize shapes, regulate temperature, and resist water.  

Ultra smart textiles

These textiles apart from being proficient sensors and actuators can adapt to benefit you optimally in accordance with the external stimuli or change in environment. These textiles come along with an in-built micro-computer which acts as a brain for the fabrics. Examples of these textiles would be space-suits, musical jackets, and wearable computers. The latest of these textiles are in the process of incorporating artificial intelligence and advanced computer interface.

Pros and Cons

Pundits deem technology as a double-edged sword. The benefits of smart textiles come along with some limitations too. We would, however, as eternal optimists count the blessings first. The first thing that strikes the mind would be enhanced communication. As these communication systems would be integrated into these fabrics. A simple application of these textiles would be to adjust their temperature in proportion to the environmental temperature so as to keep the wearer always comfortable. As monitoring gadgets, these textiles would have numerous applications in the form of biometrics among athletics, patients, and fitness enthusiasts. The military application would literally arm soldiers with uniforms that could camouflage in accordance with the background of surroundings plus let them coordinate with other team members and the command center automatically. For miners and engineers working in hazardous conditions, it can even save their lives in critical situations. For the youth, it would augment in their ‘cool’ factor, and they can flaunt their swag with color changing and even dynamic light-emitting clothes in parties and nightclubs. One of the most prominent uses would be for astronauts and scientists trying to explore uncharted waters in the depths of the ocean or safeguarding them in space, and even on other cosmic entities. For example- these suits would be able to automatically react and protect the astronauts in case they note a spike in the radiation. 

The limitations include the shorter operating duration for smart textiles as they depend on the ingrained battery life. Data security is a crucial factor to be concerned about. Most of these textiles have little or null bandwidth in terms of data protection. Businesses can use this personal data to bombard the wearers with their unwanted marketing and sales efforts. Governments can use this personal information to track or monitor consumers. Moreover, if cybercriminals gain access to these records, they can put consumers in a precarious situation.

Why There Is Free Hosting But No Free Offshore Hosting

 

Image source: Picserver.Org

Currently, there are about 333.8 million domain name registrations, which is steadily increasing by 1% annually. Statistics also reveal that there are roughly 1.94 billion websites. As a result of the slow speed of websites, the conversion rate drops by around 7%. This drop rate results in losses of approximately half a billion dollars. To prevent the conversion losses due to the slow running of websites, you should only bank on top-notch hosting providers. 

Free Hosting

The saying goes- “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” The question naturally arises - why would some companies provide free hosting services?  What’s in it for them? A bit of research reveals that these companies would make money via advertisements they place on the free spaces on your website.

Offshore Hosting

Unlike its counterpart, offshore hosting is chargeable. The charges are fair as generally reputed and reliable service providers offer offshore hosting services. It tends to negate the issues you would face if you employ free hosting services.

Offshore hosting is expensive due to many reasons. The internet is connected using undersea cables. The offshore hosting centers need to ensure the availability of electricity around the clock. They have to invest in generators. Due to the difference in socio-economic conditions, manpower needed for installations and repairs in the data centers is relatively expensive. The space to host the servers is also expensive for an offshore hosting service provider.

So, which one is better for you? It mostly depends on the nature of your business. If you are just starting your business or a solopreneur and not in a position to invest in offshore hosting, you may opt for free hosting services. You, however, should always seek to upgrade to offshore hosting at every possible opportunity to avail professional and reliable services.

3D Printing Perfecting Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing in India

 

Though the world is yet to witness the full potential of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology, it is already reckoned by industry pundits as a game‑changer, akin to the advent of steam engine and conveyor belt assembly line. Considering its paramount significance, let’s see how it dwells in the Indian industrial ecosystem.

Comparison

Although, 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology dawned on the Globe in the year 1980, it sprouted in India as recently as in 2012. Still nascent in India, it has only 3.3% of the overall Asian market. In comparison to that, the Japanese and Chinese are way ahead with their stats around 30% and 35%, respectively. As the abovementioned facts point it out that India has been slow to adapt; however, one can only hope that akin to the fabled “tortoise and hare” story, India finishes strongly as well.

Upside

From the operation point of view, there are a couple of advantages. First, the basic versions of these machines are quite easy to operate. For the sake of an example, even school kids would be able to operate these printers. Second, the raw materials and the operating cost are not that expensive; they are well manageable within the budgets of most businesses opting for this manufacturing process.

Challenge

The main challenge that entrepreneurs and businesses narrate is the steep pricing factor of these machines. The other significant challenge associated with the implantation of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology in India is the dearth of a qualified pool of technicians. In tone with that, the lack of research and development and serious funding are also roadblocks for this technology to flourish in the Indian industrial arena.

Recourse

In the face of these overwhelming challenges, one can note how the Indian “jugaad” comes handy. For example—a few of these printer sellers are collaborating with entrepreneurs to lease it to the latter at a manageable rate. It is a win-win situation, as the entrepreneur doesn’t have to invest a substantial initial amount kickstarting the operation. The printer manufacturer also doesn’t lose anything. Now, that one of their product (machine) is engaged, its replacement could be produced. This aids in their business continuity; moreover, they also gain a source of recurring revenue per utilized machine. Additionally, this creates a motivation for the competitors of these early-bird entrepreneurs, who though initially watch it unfold from the sidelines, but sooner or later would follow suit in the spirit of competition or for the fear that they do not lose out on a lucrative business venture. 

The scope of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology in India is immense. There is a myriad of opportunities, especially in terms of small-scale production like children's toys, office utility items, and daily household gadgets. Most of these items are now imported mainly from China and other countries. By application of this technology, the dependence on imports could reduce significantly. Not only, it would let the consumers have cheaper and better‑quality products, but also save the nation of precious foreign reserves and improve the GDP simultaneously.