CES 2015

Every year, I look forward to CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and MWC (Mobile World Congress) conferences. This year's CES was mostly about Internet of Things. In fact so much that, some said it was about Internet of Everything and I could not agree more. 

Here is a glimpse.

Aren't these cool?

Parrot Pot: The first question my mom asks me whenever she comes back from a day's outing, is whether I watered plants? My usual answer, "Oh! I forgot". If you are anything like me, you will love Parrot Pot. Why? Coz it automates your job. Check out this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwbsNkBbnAY

AmpStrip: There are many healthcare-wearables now at various stages of development. But this one caught my eye because of its size and ease. Just peel it and stick it. It does all the hard work of monitoring the most critical part of your body, the heart. What else does it do? Check it out here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i4iF7mNulI

MakerBot's composite metal 3D printer: I have always been fascinated by the realistic output of 3D printers. Now, with the composite metal option, I can only see their benefits growing.

Sony's Smart Eye: Yayy!!! Finally I have some hopes of getting a "Glass". 
http://www.cnet.com/news/sony-teases-new-head-wearables-at-ces-2015-smarteyeglass-attach-and-the-smart-b-trainer/

Connected cars: Wow!!! Cars that charge, drive, and park on their own, cars that assess your driving skills and send report to your insurance company, gesture controlled car, watch-controlled cars...

Do we really need these tech?

mamaRoo's baby rocker: Putting your kid back to sleep when it suddenly wakes up from a nap is no easy task. But is it really worth "automating"? 
http://coolmomtech.com/2015/01/4moms-mamaroo-infant-seat-and-swing/

Baby Gigl: Inclinometer in this bottle tells you how to hold the it while feeding your baby.
http://mashable.com/2015/01/04/smart-baby-bottle-baby-gigl/

Smart pacifier Pacif-i: GPS tracker for your toddler. Well, among other things.
http://www.popsci.com/ces-2015-smart-pacifier-peace-mind-blue-maestro

Sensoria's smart socks: Socks that track your exercise and send the data to your mobile. Just curious. Do they stink as well? 
http://www.cnet.com/products/sensoria-fitness-smart-sock/

Digitsole insoles: What if you don't like wearing socks? Don't worry, your insoles can track them. 
http://www.digitsole.com/#video

Sidewing:

You get into the car to go to office. But it stops by your favorite coffee shop on the way. The guy at the takeaway counter hands over your preferred coffee. By the time your finish your coffee, you have arrived at your office. You get down, wrap up your work, and your car is at the door to take you to the dinner party your friends have organized for you. Once you are out of it, you are taken to the airport just in time to receive your son who is coming home for vacations. Your car drops you at your house, goes to the 24/7 service center to get some minor repairs done, and is back in the garage fully geared up for another day's grind.

You car knows everything. It is connected. And, this is just a sample.

Shettikere Yoga Madhava temple

This was one of those unplanned trips. Since we three cousins had time after dropping my aunt and uncle at Yeshwantpur Railway Station at 1.45 p.m, we decided to visit Hoysala temples at Vigna Sante and Shettikere in Tumkur district.

Half way through, considering the road condition, distance, traffic, etc., we realized that we can cover only Shettikere.

Shettikere

We reached Shettikere at about 5 p.m. Though the temple was closed, a kid in front of the temple led us to the priest's house and got us temple keys.

We took some snaps in and around the temple. But we still did not know anything about it (info available on the internet not included).

Entrance

Main deity: Yoga Madhava

We thought of asking the priest and came out of the temple. Just outside the temple, we stopped a localite to ask for an alternative route back home as the road we took to reach here was pretty bad. But as soon as we told him that we came from Bangalore, this guy volunteered to give us all the information he had about the temple. Here is what he told:

• Earlier, the current village of Shettikere was divided into two parts, Bharatapuri and Shettikere. As per that, the temple is actually in Bharatapuri.
• The temple was constructed in one day and one night.
• The huge dhwajasthambha (flagstaff, the single stone pillar in front of the temple) was carried by one person. The boulders used in the temple wall were also carried by human beings.

• Two chariots, made of silver and bronze, are believed to be buried deep inside the ground on either side of the main temple complex.

• The inscription inside the temple gives all the details about the temple. One can read by holding a mirror to it.

• The main deity is facing east.
• The area around the temple encroached by villages.

After getting all the details, we visited the priest's house, thanked him, and started our journey back home.

Route:

Onward: Bangalore > Gubbi > Kibbanahalli Cross > Chikkanayakanahalli > Shettikere
Return: Shettikere > Saasalu > Kibbanahalli cross > Gubbi > Bangalore

Sidewing:

• The father of the kid who got us keys and the current priest were classmates.
• The priest told us that Bhyrappa, the only person who knew the complete history of the temple, passed away. 
• The temple looks magnificient when it is lit in the evenings. The main deity can then be seen from a distance of 300 meters outside the temple complex. We did not wait till then though.
• The guy who gave us all the details was drunk. No, not the priest. I am referring to the other guy.