7 Tech Innovations By Indians; Highlight on Independence Day 2016

For India’s Independence Day, we take a look at some of the most important technological innovations over the years by Indians.

7. i-Diya

Developed by an IIT B student, the i-Diya is a small, portable solar powered LED light and mobile charger. There are three variations available, the i-Diya basic is the smallest and most portable. The i-Diya home is a solar lamp that can illuminate a home. The i-Diya charge is the version with the mobile charger. The device is sold by the company illumind solartek Pvt. Ltd. The i-Diya is made to work in demanding weather conditions. It was designed in mind keeping the needs of the rural population in mind, including food stall owners, healthcare workers, and street-side hawkers.

6. SmartCane

Navigating Indian roads can be hazardous even for those with sight. There are various obstructions at street level, including uneven footpaths, potholes, wayward vegetation, hawkers and street dogs. A regular cane can help the visually challenged avoid these obstacles, but there are other dangers as well, at chest and face level. These include sides of trucks, protruding air conditioners, overhanging wires, clothes hung out to dry, tree branches or protrusions from construction sites.

The SmartCane allows the visually challenged to detect these obstacles, providing faster and safer mobility. The SmartCane is an electronic device with a high battery capacity that vibrates a cane in four different modes on detection of obstacles. The SmartCane is added to a regular cane and can be held with various grips. Developed by IIT Delhi, Saksham.org organises distribution and training camps for the SmartCane.

5. Microwave Communication

Jagdish Chandra Bose pioneered the development of wireless communication with a technological demonstration of microwave transmission in Calcutta. Bose’s innovations included developing a mercury coherer, a component of radio receivers. Using mercury significantly improved the performance and usability of radio recievers. Bose could have patented the idea, but his focus was on the product and not on making profit from it.

However, due to pressure from friends and colleagues, he holds the first patent for a solid state diode that detects electromagnetic waves. The demonstration included ringing a remote bell, setting off a gunpowder explosion and sending the waves through the body of the Chairman, Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. To boost the capacity of broadband networks, India is planning to implement backhaul networks that use microwave transmission.