I’m usually not too interested in all the cool technologies that are out there or expected to be around in future years. However, this article on safer cars got my attention because of the unsafe driving habits and accidents that happen in our society on an everyday basis. This car is expected to behave as required to avoid crash when in potential danger of being crashed.

I’m not too optimistic of the idea of having a self-driving, crash-proof car because in order for it to operate in an expected manner there has to be an infrastructure capable of co-coordinating massive volume of sensitive information (eg. being able to recognize street signs, pedestrians, different type of vehicles, traffic signals, speed of surrounding cars) efficiently. If there’s lack of enough coordination, accident is inevitable.

Another potential problem that I see with this idea of introducing self-driving, crash-proof cars is that not every car on the street will be of the same type. If they are then the coordination might be easy. However, with all different type of cars-human operated, self-driven, and crash-proof, the probability of incurring accidents will be even bigger!

I’m little proud that I have always been cautious and put as little information as possible on the web. For example, the email address I use for getting membership of various websites is a fake one. Also, my facebook and twitter accounts don’t include my real name. Moreover, I never gave out “additional voluntary information” that the websites ask people for. However, I did have a habit of being logged in into multiple websites for convenience. After learning about filter bubble in class, I make sure I log out from places that I don’t wish to get linked to the next site I browse. After I log out I also clear my browsing history and cookies although I’m not convinced that doing such would give me the highest level of protection. However, taking these steps are probably helpful. Another habit I gave up recently is signing into websites using computers that are not mine. I used to make online purchases from school computers or a friend’s computer. Now I make sure I do it only from my personal computer. One silly thing that I sometimes do on the web and now I’m thinking of not doing anymore is filling out surveys. It feels like surveys require a great deal of personal information (eg. feelings, attitudes, choices, and preferences) although they may not be my social security number, credit card number or my home address.

Privacy has been a concern for a while. In past four years, I have heard many times that there’s no such a thing called “privacy”. However, the author of a NY times article gave the issue a different dimension. The article I was reading is here.

The author has taken a lot of time and spent some good amount of money as an attempt to protect her privacy. I would simply give up since I can’t really do much to protect the privacy of information that I put on the web! However, I do like the 2 questions she has posed. They are here: Can we ensure that those who can afford to buy privacy services are not being deceived? And even more important, do we want privacy to be something that only those with disposable money and time can afford?

It’s the 5th day since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing. Rescue effort continues with experts from many countries including the United States, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Australia using 39 aircraft and 42 ships. The search attempts covered 27,000 square nautical miles centering the area where the jet vanished.

We live in the technology era that makes every piece of information just a click or few away. At least, that’s what we think of. However, the plane mystery has no trace of getting resolved even after 4 days. One of the reasons why the plane lost connection with radar is assumed to be technology failure. Now that the plane has been a complete mystery for 4 days, rescuing technology also failed so far. On the other hand, family and friends of people who boarded the plane are heart-broken as nobody knows the fate of 239 people on board. I really wish there was a way of conveying condolences to these people.

There’s no way I mean that we should lead our lives without the usage of available technology. Technology plays a vital role in bringing easiness, comfort, convenience, efficiency, and timeliness in everyday life and we all know it. However, how much we should depend on it is up to us. At least, in my opinion.

For example, we do need a cell phone that can reach out to our families and friends within seconds. Who could deny its efficiency over posting hand-written letters? Although I secretly wish of receiving a hand-written letter instead of hundred calls and several hundred text messages. Back to the technology talk, we can even use the same cell phone device for many other purposes such as checking time, emails, bank accounts, reading books, calculating, recording, taking pictures, listening and watching audio and videos etc. I usually make sure that I use my cell phone or any other technology only as much as I need which leads me to the thought that obsession and dependency come as choice. As I’m able to establish a control over my technology usage it saves me time to focus on other important things.

At this point I’m interested in knowing how many of my classmates keep their technology usage to the minimum just to avoid dependency? Or how many at least agree that dependency is a choice?

Ek Ronga Ek Ghuri started as a facebook page in November of 2007. Initially, a group of facebook friends would hang out there on a daily basis. Chit-chatting, poking fun of each other, sharing music and photos, writing and sharing nonsense rhymes were usual activities of the group members. But soon those people became essential part of each others lives. They would depend on the group members for every possible matter. Within few months, the “Ghuri” (the kite) team became a family.

Eventually, the creators of the page expressed an interest in arranging an online poetry competition and received enormous positive response from the group members. The Ghuri team consisted of youth from various professions and students of renowned education institutions of the country. Almost all of them had some sort of involvement in art and literature. Everyone helped out posting adds in different facebook pages and blogs asking for poems for the contest. The response from the participants was spontaneous. A selection committee took the responsibility to judge the quality of the submissions.  Three best poems were selected for award. The award day was a big day for Ghuri as everybody finally got to meet the virtual faces.

In 2009, tornado Aila stroke Bangladesh and left it with massive destruction.  Ghuri team volunteered to step out of the facebook page and decided to reach out to people in need with aids. That’s the beginning of Ghuri as a social work team. The same year Ghuri volunteers took the initiative to buy new and collect used warm clothing to distribute among the needy as winter got bitter for the poor. Since then, they are doing it every winter. Ghuri also runs a smile campaign that distributes little gift bags to children of slum areas on the occasion of vivid religious and cultural festivities.  Apart from that, Ghuri team volunteered in the rescue effort and aid distribution in Neemtali fire incident, Savar tragedy, and several other national incidents.

In 2011, Ghuri came up with its own press. It has published numerous popular books during the Ekushey book fair, nations biggest book fair in 2012 and 2013. Ghuri also published several little magazines. By now it has become a strong platform for new authors.

Starting from last year, Ghuri has expanded its activities even more. It has registered as a volunteer organization at the ministry of social welfare of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Ghuri activities of 2013 at a glance:

1. Project for street children

2. Project for the poor and homeless adults

3. Creative activities such as photography contest, best blogger award, writing contest etc

4. Publishing new author’s books

5. Helping out in national crisis

6. Campaigns for social justice

Bangladesh is  a developing country of South Asia. Usage of the internet, blogs, facebook etc was a fun and cool thing in the beginning. But we have talented, motivated, dedicated, educated and of course, amazing souls who have been utilizing this cool technology for even cooler purposes. Ghuri is just one example. I can write about at least hundred more organizations that are contributing to volunteer, raise awareness on vivid issues, educate people, donate, form public opinion, run campaigns and many more. I take the pride of being one of the first two people behind Ghuri. I also feel proud to say that my team includes students, doctors, engineers, architects, photographers, writers, teachers, pharmacists, government officials, NGO workers, bankers, biochemists, journalists, web developers and many more. The message I’m trying to convey here is internet made it possible to bring and gather people from all parts in society on one platform. Now we are like a family working for greater good of our beloved nation. Thus, I consider technology as a blessing for me.

To visit the site we have made for Ghuri: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ekrongaekghuri/ and http://ekrongaekghuri.com/

My sincere apology as the sites are done in Bengali.