Valves, Transistors, Integrated Circuit Chips, Artificial Intelligence, and Moore's Law, Are We Headed Towards A Tech Tsunami?

An interesting article on Medium, by Shubransh Rai titled, 'A Tech Tsunami Is Coming Very Soon...' caught my eye. It reminded me of an article I had written a few years back. When I wrote the article a few years ago on Blogspot, titled,  'Valves, Transistors, and Moore's Law – Have we reached Human Limits?' I was not trying to be prophetic, but then it appears that with the advent of Artificial Intelligence, we might indeed have reached human limits!

While I don't desire to be a doomsday prophet, I do have a few concerns regarding the challenges that Artificial Intelligence might offer to us 'Human Beings'. Move away valves, transistors, and integrated chips, we are talking about moving beyond the hardware. We are talking about processing mind-boggling amounts of data (pun intended) and churning out interpretations, analyses, predictions, and premises that go beyond the computational skills of a grand Chessmaster. 

Imagine pitting Artificial Intelligence against a Chessmaster, and having the game end in a few moves with the Grandchessmaster wearing a sheepish smile having lost a battle to a machine-based intelligence. Imagine being able to hack into the minds of your opponents, rivals, and enemies and outthinking them at their moves. Would you blame Artificial Intelligence for dealing with insider trading, doctoring the stock market, or even pre-empting a takeover? Talk about outsmarting the most 'intelligent' (pun and irony intended) creature on earth!

But all this computational ability is the result of having hardware capable of managing calculations and computations that go beyond the capabilities of valves, transistors, and integrated chips. In earlier times, we had floppy drives, CD-ROM disks, and hard disks that had limited capabilities for storing data, and our processors had limited capabilities. Today, we talk about data in terms of terabytes and teraflops. 

Cloud computing and quantum computing have taken the lead, and the amount of data being stored and analyzed goes beyond the human brain's capabilities. This is where things become interesting, and in that case even scary. The world has seen how intelligence has become the new means of survival of the fittest. Evolution of life forms takes eons but the evolution of AI and AI-based computing is moving at a breathtaking pace! We, cannot, ever, think of upskilling and adapting to the pace with which technology and data processing are evolving.

In this competition between Human intelligence and Artificial intelligence, the former has already abdicated its centuries hold on dominance in intelligence. Prescience, sentience, emotional quotient, and awareness are soon going to be areas in which Artificial intelligence is going to gain lead. AI is already replacing copywriters, financial analysts, designers, coders, architects, climate analysts, the list is endless.

Disruption is a keyword and in these chaotic times, the emergence of Artificial intelligence coupled with technology has made things rather difficult for all human beings. Industry 4.0 also called as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR is a disruptive phase driven by Artificial Intelligence, data analytics, and human-machine interaction, including the introduction of robots, bots, and virtual technology. The accelerated rate at which technology is replacing older technology, the rise of innovations, and the rapid diffusion of all of them have caused an abrupt change in societies all over the world. Those who can adapt to the new technology survive but those who are not able to do so will have to concede defeat. What this means in terms of economic, cultural, and social impacts can be imagined even as we see a large number of layoffs by large corporations all over the world.

Last but not least, I would like to quote from my article published a few years back and the link of which I have shared below:

Moore’s Law states that the number of transistors on an integrated board will double every two years (approximately 18 months). This in itself points towards the doubling of processing power, doubling of memory space, and of course computing power. My first computer had a hard disk with a memory of 760 megabytes and today we are talking about terabytes! It is frightening, isn’t it? The information surfeit is so great that we can’t handle it, this is because as human beings we have limitations in filtering the amount of information that we can process. The result is a generation exposed to stress resulting from the daunting task of filtering and processing a large amount of data, most of which is of no use! While no doubt it took us human beings millennia to evolve, for transistors however this is not the case. While the computing power of computers and hand-held devices is doubling every two years, we however are not able to keep pace with the computers and mobile phones. The advent of artificial intelligence and electronic intelligence is a possibility that may soon become a reality.

https://medium.com/quantum-information-review/a-tech-tsunami-is-coming-very-soon-36580de7f490

https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.com/2017/02/iot-and-education-implications-for.html

Collared Pratincole Spotted at the Chandu Budhera Canal Area

On a recent visit to the Chandu Budhera canal area on the 31st of March, 2025, I was able to spot a few Collared Pratincole birds at the Chandu Budhera Canal area in Gurugram bordering New Delhi. A distinct bird with an elegant necklace and a red bill, and a brown body plumage. On doing some research on the bird, I came to know that it is a winter visitor to India. The survival rate of these birds is very low since they live in can be very hot.

The population of this bird is on a decline mainly in Europe because of a reduction in the sizes of their habitats. These birds feed on insects which are becoming fewer in numbers due to developmental activities. Breeding is a major problem for these birds.

While in earlier years the species used to be spotted in the months of August to November, climate changes might have had an impact on the late arrival of these birds in the Northern Plains of India. It is safe to assume that Collared Pratincole birds might be more likely to visit the Northern plains of India during the Autumn season.

Collared Pratincole birds, are waders that are sparse winter/autumn visitors to India. They breed in Central Asia and migrate to warmer regions like those in Africa during cold winter months.

Photographing Bar-headed Geese-Tips and Tricks

Photographing Bar-headed Geese can be most rewarding, especially if you can get really close to them without distressing them. They are specially spooked by abrupt movements, flashy clothes and abrupt movements. Wearing camouflage clothes, muted colors and clothes that break the body shape can be of much help.

The months of February and March see Bar-headed Geese heading for the wetlands in and around Gurugram in Haryana, India. Some of the favorite wetlands and Biodiversity hotspots include the Chandu Budhera canal area bordering New Delhi, and the Basai Wetland. Bar-headed Geese home in for these places since they have been following ancient migratory routes.

The ideal time of the day to photograph Bar-headed geese is during the early morning hours. The Golden is usually between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. when the soft tones of the sun enhance the colors of the birds. Action shots of the birds capture the movements of the birds beautifully especially when they are taking off or landing.

Having a landscape context can highlight the birds making them standout of the background and foreground. Landscapes include waterscapes, green areas and in some cases derelict buildings, that can be found in abundance at the Chandu Budhera canal area.

Photographing and documenting the behavior of birds, including their interactions, and feeding behavior can make for interesting shots. Having a zoom lens or a telephoto lens 300 mm or more can be a boon because it allows you to photograph these birds from a comfortable distance without spooking them.

Ensuring a sharp focus, in my case focusing on the eyes gives you good results. Last, but not  least, you need to compose your photographs while taking the photographs. Practicing ethical wildlife photography norms make a big difference. As a wildlife photographer, you need to respect the privacy of these birds. I have come across a few wildlife photographers who throw objects at birds in order to make them take to the air so that they can take flying shots.

We often work as a team, my brother and me, moving around in synchronized movements, using hand signal so as to not frighten away the birds. I prefer riding a bike to these destinations as it is easier to park and can find its way in some of the toughest terrains.

Bar-headed Geese Spotted at the erstwhile Basai Wetland Today!

It is amazing to see Bar-headed Geese returning to their wintering habitat in the now defunct wetland that was once a vibrant Biodiversity hotspot in Gurgaon that supported a vibrant ecosystem! What was once a huge wetland is now a small dried up patch of wasteland on which Bar-headed Geese keep returning every year. Unfortunately this patch which is imbedded in their navigation history has shrunk to a few square meters!

The Basai Wetland in Gurgaon is a prime example of the desecration of a prime wetland by unscrupulous builders and various organizations that have deliberately turned a blind eye to the wanton destruction of an important biodiversity hotspot. First they opened waste sewer pipes into the marshland, then they allowed people to breed the banned catfish. Now, buildings are sprouting from the marshland like mushrooms overnight, and flyovers bisect the once thriving wetland into slices!

Spotting Bar-headed Geese at the Basai wetland remind me of the poem, 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou and I would like to quote the first stanza below:

You may write me down in history
With bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

The lines by Maya Angelo might as well be the voice of disappearing wetlands in India, or even the voices of migratory birds fighting back, returning to what were once their wintering habitats! Unfortunately, much money is being pumped into non-viable Ramsar wetland sites like the Sultanpur National Park which doesn't have its own source of water has become more of an arid wasteland that defies artificial resuscitation!

Of course we all know that Bar-headed Geese of great importance to scientific research because it is baffling how they are able to fly at heights of over 22000 feet without Oxygen. Also the accuracy with which they navigate during migration to the Indian Subcontinent is a mystery. Their endurance in flight is exemplary, and their migratory patterns have been of much study.

River Terns Spotted at the Sultanpur National Park early in the month

The spotting of quite a few River Terns on the 7th of March, 2025 at the Sultanpur National Park was unusual in itself. I have rarely come across these birds at the Sultanpur National Park, though I have spotted them at the Chandu Budhera canal a few times.

River Terns or the Indian River Terns are Terns belonging to the family of Laridae. It is a resident breeder supposed to be found along inland rivers throughout the Indian subcontinent, according to  an entry in Wikipedia. 

I was able to take a few photographs of the birds, not realising that they were River Terns. As a result, I was not able to take significant care in getting them into the frame. However one question arises and that is, what were these River Terns doing so far away the nearest inland river systems? Well I guess it is all about shifting or shrinking ecosystems in the area.

The River Tern population is declining in numbers and this could be because of shrinking ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots that support riverine birds in India and neighbouring countries. Whatever might be the case, it was a pleasant surprise to spot these birds.

The Amazing Sarus Cranes of the Chandu-Budhera Canal area

Sarus cranes are among the largest native birds in India. They can fly and are distinctly unique, matching the height of an average Indian. Sarus cranes are the world's tallest flying birds and can appear intimidating.

Sarus cranes are also India's only resident breeding cranes. While a significant number of these birds can be found in Uttar Pradesh, they have been spotted in pairs at the Sultanpur National Park, the erstwhile Basai wetland, and of course at the Chandu Budhera canal abutting the Najafgarh wetland. While Sarus Cranes and human beings exist close to each other, in Uttar Pradesh, those found in Haryana, especially Gurgaon, are more wary of human presence.

The drying up of the Basai wetland and the near drought-like conditions at the Sultanpur National Park have forced the larger birds, native or migratory, to gather at the Chandu Budhera wetland. Larger birds like Sarus cranes and the Bar-headed geese need much food to survive. Dried up wetlands have little to offer in the form of Molluscs, snails, insects, and crustaceans, besides grains, and other vegetables.

Pairs of Sarus Cranes are perfectly synchronized to each other. They feed together, fly together and sing together. While they are preening themselves, one will always be on the watch while the other busies itself putting its feathers right, and looking for niggling fleas.

These rather majestic birds are known to be with each other for life. Adults can mostly be found in pairs, a male and a female. The male Sarus Crane is taller than the female bird. Both of them are regarded as metaphors of integrity and devotion. These majestic cranes are victims of human developmental activities, including the construction of roads through biodiversity hotspots, and the building of housing societies on drained-out wetlands.

Haryana, especially Gurgaon, is losing its wetlands, biodiversity hotspots like forests, green fields at an alarmingly fast rate. Soon the Sarus Crane will be as extinct as the Siberian Crane which has not visited its nesting grounds in Northern India for decades.

While I have mentioned the birds as belonging to Chandu Budhera, it wouldn't be unfair to suggest that these birds might inhabit a larger area and not be limited to one Biodiversity hotspot. Thus Sarus cranes might travel from the Sultanpur National Park to the Chandu Budhera zone, while in the process dropping in at various other convenient places.

These birds, metaphors of love, devotion and dedication might soon become extinct in the coming four or five years. It is important to take up steps to ensure the safe existence of the Majestic and Graceful Sarus Cranes in Haryana, especially Gurgaon.

The Bar-headed Geese Have Arrived!

Yesterday, Friday, the 7th of March, after a rather disappointing visit to the Sultanpur National Park, I decided to visit the Najafgarh Lake Zone at Chandu Budhera. On reaching the lake I was pleasantly surprised to spot hundreds of Bar-headed Geese! It was even more surprising to see them reach their nesting ground so late in the winter season. I spotted these birds in the month of November 2023. Incidentally, I did not spot any of these birds in 2024.

The late arrival of Bar-headed Geese in the Gurgaon district could be because of climatic disruptions, change in weather, and availability of feeding grounds. It is also pertinent to note that the birds that once could be spotted closer to the city have now chosen to visit wetlands that are farther away. The Sultanpur National Park rarely hosts Bar-headed Geese and the Basai Wetland is no longer a wetland.

Bar-headed Geese are fascinating birds. They are capable of flying long distances all the way from central Asia, Tibet and parts of Russia and Mongolia. Bar-headed Geese can fly at great heights were there is hardly any Oxygen to breathe. Last but not least, they are amongst the greatest navigators in the world!

Their late arrival in the district of Gurgaon, in Haryana could be because of unfavourable weather and climate conditions. Strong head winds, lack of food, and global warming might have impacted their migration to India. Yes, it is unfortunate that their stay will be marred by the approaching summer season.

Bar-headed Geese are now forced to seek other more lush and better resourced areas than the Sultanpur National Park and the now defunct Basai Wetland. It is a matter of great concern that human industrial activities, conversion of wetlands into residential areas, and the general apathy of various organizations has resulted in these birds switching to other locations. The reduced number of Bio-diversity hotspots, lack of wetlands, is driving away migratory birds from the plains of Northern India. This has implications for us. A reduction in water resources and forests, the vanishing green areas are bound to have a future impact on the livability index for human beings.

 

Meltdown-A Poem

 Meltdown

People rush past a narrow path

Knocking each other on the path,

Their minds on the task ahead,

They barely register others.

A meltdown has taken place

A role-reversal between machines

And people. People do the hard work

Machines find time to rest!

People rush down a road so dark

That leads to a future so stark!

Of their own making is the world

A role reversal so rude.

For so would they meddle with

Science, thus making a machine with

The will to rule! And thus they head to

A meltdown of all things so good.

Countries fights for control

Over resources so scarce, to rule

Over the poor would be their role.

While machines watch thoughtfully!

Thus they said, 'Let them fight,

What good did they do the earth? What

Good have they done to themselves?

Let Earth rid herself of them!'

Sadness rules the world harshly

 And people lose their sense of humanity.

Goaded by pride and vanity, they hurt

One and all, just for supremacy!

Children pore into textbooks,

To be the best, to excel in exams,

In a world where rank and marks

Matter, humility makes an exit!

Even machines wonder at such

Harsh competition, the desire so much

To outshine one  another, so that they

Trample into dust love and empathy.

As humanity goes into a meltdown,

All human feelings get shut down.

Humanity copies machinery while

Machinery becomes more human!

Competency Based Questions for Lessons from the Vistas Textbook

 Answer the following questions in 120-150 words each.

Marks Distribution:
Content: 3 Marks
Grammar+Expression: 2 Marks
Total 5 Marks

1. You are Charley, from the story ‘The Third Level’. On one of your trips to Detroit, you come across a girl named Sophie. Draft a conversation with her describing your ability to travel back and forth in time.

You may begin like this:

You: Hello, Sophie, do you believe in time travel?

Sophie: No, I have heard about it but not to the extent of believing it.

You: Let me tell you about…………

2. Sam just landed in Galesburg in 1894. Draft a diary entry on his behalf regarding his first day in the city.

3. You are one of the Surgeons who operated upon the Tiger King. Draft a Diary entry for the day you operated on the Tiger King and were not able to save him. Describe the events that immediately followed the operation.

4. The British officer’s wife has just received fifty diamond rings from the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. Draft her letter to her sister Jane in London about the rings, and the circumstances that led to the Maharaja sending them to you.

5. You are Mukund Padmanabhan, draft an interview with Tishani Doshi regarding her recent trip to Antarctica. 

You may start like this:

Mukund: Good morning Tishani, tell me about the Students’ on Ice Program?

Tishani: Good morning, Mukund, it is a program that offers students an opportunity to visit Antarctica.

6. Tishani Doshi has just returned from her trip to Antarctica. Draft her letter to her friend, Hana in Mumbai describing how she felt about the trip.

7. On behalf of Tom, the American Sailor, write a letter to Dr. Sadao and Hana expressing your gratitude for saving his life. You boarded a Korean fishing vessel and were able to reach America after the war was over.

8. You are Dr. Sadao. Complete his letter to the Chief of Police reporting the whole matter of Tom's presence in your house. Begin the body of the letter with the following opening lines: “On the twenty-first of February, an escaped prisoner was washed up on the shore in front of my house.”

9. On behalf of Derek, write an article describing how you were able to overcome your fear of the scar on your face and moved on in life. What are your suggestions to others who suffer from a poor self-esteem based on a poor body image. Use the title: ‘Overcoming Handicaps in Life’.

10. Derek’s mother has noticed a positive change in her son, Derrick. She writes to her mother to describe the transformation. Write a letter for her.

11. Zitkala-Sa travels to modern-day Chennai where she meets Bama Faustina Soosairaj. Write the conversation that took place between both of them based on their perceptions of the exploitation of marginalized communities by mainstream communities.

You may start like this:

Zitkala-Sa: Good day, Bama, what are your thoughts about the emancipation of lower caste citizens in your state?

Bama: Good day, Zitkala-Sa, well, we still have a long way to go. Education has helped, but progress is slow!

12. You are Bama, write a diary entry for the day you witnessed an elder carrying a packet of ‘Vadai’ for the landlord who was overseeing the threshing of wheat.

A Visit to The Pratapgarh Farms by Members of the Church of the Epiphany, Gurgaon

Members of the Church of the Epiphany organized a picnic to The Pratapgarh Farms at Jajjhar on the 22nd of February, 2025. It was a day of singing hymns and prayers while on the bus, and joyful fellowship. The day at the venue passed rather quickly what with all the activities taking place. The exotic foods were a main draw and these included Sarson ka Saag, Makki ki Roti, Bajra ki Roti, Bajre ki Khichri, and the Lemonade that was just right. 

After a one and a half hour of travelling and numerous hymns, everyone was famished, so on reaching the venue, everyone rushed to the counters for a sumptuous breakfast. Sitting on the traditional Chowki's waiting for the piping hot Rotis and the Saag to be served, along with bites of Jaggery was indeed a rewarding experience.

The activities were varied and everyone tried a hand at Archery, Air-rifle target practice, and Catapult target practice. Trying a hand at churning butter, or getting the hands hennaed was engrossing enough.

We were also able to spot a few amazing birds and domestic animals. Among the most exotic domestic animals that I was able to spot was the Majestic Mahesh, the King of Gir Bulls.

Spotting the famous Kaddaknath Rooster, Emu and Guinea Fowls was a most amazing moment.

The static displays of the Mig 21 aircraft, missiles (that some of us launched) were interesting beyond description.

A few vignettes from the visit

And on the way back.....

Eco-Tourism, and Farm Tourism are emerging trends in sustainable tourism associated with providing employment to numerous people living in the area. Produce from farms is used to provide meals that are served in house. Incidentally Pratapgarh Farms in Jajjhar is a prime example of an industry that is providing not just a suitable opportunity, a complete package for families and corporates to chill out, but also an occasion for people to sample traditional foods, handicrafts, attire, games, thrills and spills in responsible manner.