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Intelligent
security Olympic
show-offs
Not very
British PACESETTER
Manish Joshi Bismil
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Home, smart home The
new millennium has seen smart technology enter our homes. Gizmos and gadgets are performing tasks that had earlier been done manually. Electronics and appliances are communicating with each other and doing chores that we once did with our hands. Today, we find ourselves dazed by a burst of technology delivered at our doorstep. High-end computers, powerful mobile phones, sophisticated air conditioners, high-definition television sets, powerful vacuum cleaners and a host of other devices like microwaves, dish washers, home theatres, sound-sensitive music systems that can all be remotely managed from faraway locations. But even this gadgetry is fast becoming commonplace as scientists and engineers are now working on the premise that sophisticated technology will be a matter of survival in the future. Hi-tech advances are becoming a prerequisite for a sustainable development, environmentally as well as socially. That is the main reason why design laboratories the world over are working overtime to make futuristic home products that will save both space and time. cooking up innovation The Electrolux Design Lab, for example, holds an annual global design competition for innovative ideas for futuristic products that can become invaluable because of their multiple utility. One of the award-winning entries recently was a kitchen gadget called the Heart of the Home. This is virtually a kitchen on a dining
table. It is a multi-utility platform where the user simply places the food to be cooked on the surface. The appliance recognises it, analyses the ingredients and presents a list of suitable recipes. After deciding on a recipe, the user simply presses down on the surface and creates a hole which is used as a pot or a frying pan and sets the temperature and time with a simple touch of a finger. Once the dish is cooked it can be served on plates. The pots and pans will even out and become flat surface once
again and the platform can be used as a tabletop. With technology entering every space of the home, it is devices like these which will revolutionise future homes. Rooms will have electric blinds and curtains operated by remote control. A smart home will have mood
lighting that creates artificial sunlight and night sky. In fact, some design laboratories are working on a technology where there will be no artificial light, instead the walls will light up the time you enter the room. You can even change the colour of the walls to suit the decor. Sci-fi homes There will be windows that will adjust the amount of light required, washing machines that will wash, spin-dry, iron and fold clothes, and walls that will turn into digital screens. The home will have everything we have seen in sci-fi movies. All smart home appliances will have computers fitted in them. Companies like LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and General Electric have launched Internet-enabled refrigerators that can take inventory of items inside it, alert the owner about it or even order new groceries when these are needed. The LG refrigerator has a touchscreen on one of its two doors which can be used to browse the web, watch television and take and store digital photos. Though the launch of smart gadgets is great news but what is exciting scientists more is making gizmos communicate with each other and make electronic decisions on our behalf. For example, while heading home a person through his or her mobile phone can start the microwave oven for a certain amount of time so that raw food placed in it in the morning turns into a hot meal waiting for him or her. Similarly, the air conditioner or heating can be turned on so that the room is cool or hot — depending on the weather — when one arrives home. Preserving natural air If a UK-based company Green Structures has its way, it may make air conditioners and heating systems redundant. It is working on special thermal accumulators. A thermal accumulator is a passive thermal energy store that allows for the temporary storage of high or low temperature energy for later use. The cool natural air can be used in summers and hot air during winters. The bathroom is another space that is coming in for a technological revolution. Scientists are working on a gadget which can be operated through a mobile to fill up the bathtub to the required temperature even when you are sitting in office. A washroom is being developed that will come with a heating and cooling element — depending on the weather — to keep your body warm or cool. It will have an automatic illuminating panel for night-time usage. It will be fitted with an intuitive auto-open and-close lid, an integrated, retracting bidet, air dryer, built-in air deodoriser, heated seat, floor-level vents to keep your feet warm and self-cleaning UV technology. Indeed, technology is all set to take over our lives and the smart home of the future is almost upon us. A home that is all networked and not just works on its own but understands the needs and preferences of the people living in it.
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Scientists are working to develop security systems that are remote-controlled even from faraway locations. One of the most popular devices is hand recognition where people entering a house will have to get their hand scanned for detection. In case of any impending danger, all doors will get automatically locked in a blink of a second that can only be opened from the inside. Panic alarms will get set off in neighbouring houses and even at the nearest police station. The alarm system will automatically switch on the lights and notify the security. Not just for unwanted intrusions, smart home security systems will also help keep an eye on children and the elderly in the house. Cameras that can beam images even on the mobile phone placed at vital points in the smart home will keep a tab on the activities and well being of the elderly and the kids. A smart home camera that monitors the movements of the occupants can be life-saving for the elderly who stay alone or for people whose children have to stay alone for some part of the day. A special security device learns to recognise their habits and can notify neighbours or relatives or even a doctor if there is an emergency. If an elderly person has a medical condition that can be of concern, the vital signs can be routinely sent to the appropriate medical facility. For example, in a diabetes patient the smart home will learn to identify dangerous readings, and alert a pre-determined doctor or a hospital so that help can be reached immediately. Scientists and researchers are working on one simple premise — a smart home will not be a smart home if security issues are not in place!
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Olympic show-offs Take a look at the statistics. It is estimated that four billion people from 220 countries around the world will watch 10,500 athletes participate in the Games. More than 8.8 million tickets have been sold for an estimated $6.5 billion. The Olympics will generate more than $15 billion for the British economy. Tourists will chip in with a revenue of $3.28 billion and organisers are expecting to raise more than $1.55 billion from the sale of merchandise. Olympic Games, however, are not just big business for the host country. The Games make amazing financial sense for leading and not-so-big companies around the world, who virtually deluge the market with collectibles and kitsch. It is estimated that by the time curtains come down on the London Olympics on August 12, more than 80 per cent people coming to watch the event will go home owning a piece of the Games — a souvenir as a happy recollection of the Games. There’s an astonishing variety to choose from — stuffed mascot toys, posters, key rings, pin badges, flags, T-shirts, sunglasses, watches, shoes, umbrellas, die-cast vehicles, figurines, towels, tableware, bed linens, replicas of medals, torches, official athlete-signed memorabilia and limited edition collectables. Olympic memorabilia This is also the season for the auction of Olympic memorabilia. Major London auction house Bonhams is holding a series of auctions of souvenirs from earlier Olympics ranging from a sepia-toned picture of the inaugural 1896 Athens Olympics opening ceremony up to the Beijing Olympics of 2008. Also on offer are hundreds of medals won by athletes — some in obscure games as tug-of-war which was a team event till 1920 and rope climbing that was discontinued in 1924. Graham Budd Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, has held an auction that included a series of medals, including a bronze medal as the second prize in the 1896 Olympics. In that Olympics, there were no gold medals, the winner received silver and the athlete who came in second went home with a bronze medal. Though the sales of 2012 Olympics mementoes is booming, avid collectors give these a go-by and have their eye on rare memorabilia. For example, the 2012 Olympics’ torch carried by soccer legend David Beckham already has collectors vying for it. When it goes under the hammer, it is expected to fetch well more than £7,000 (around `6 lakh). Collectors say it is these rare Olympic objects that tend to make the best long-term investments. Limited edition collectibles Though most of the souvenirs are eminently affordable and aimed at the tourists thronging to watch the Games, there are also limited edition collectibles that target the high rollers. Omega has re-introduced its 1948 classic Seamaster watch with the London 2012 logo on its dial costing $6,800 (`3.74 lakh). Wedgewood, the English company producing fine china, has produced a stunning assortment of commemorative giftware to mark the 2012 Olympics. These range from a gift-boxed London Olympics mug priced at £25 (around `2,150) to a limited edition London 2012 vase costing a cool £20,000 (around `17.15 lakh) Panasonic has launched the London Olympics special Lumix 3G compact system camera and the HDC-SD90 HD camcorder in a limited edition range with the pair collectively priced at around $1,400 (`77,000). Kodak has re-introduced the limited edition Brownie box camera that it had launched in 1900 which sold millions of units through the first half of the 20th century. There’s a global industry out there for collectibles. Whether limited edition or in surplus supply, there’s an enthusiastic buyer for all of them. The Olympics usher in a carnival kind of festivity where people can’t resist the temptation of buying a memento and taking home a piece of the Olympic history to preserve for generations.
Rise to an Olympic dawn Do you often dream of going to London to watch the Olympics? Your dream can come true with this new bed linen inspired by a poster of the Olympics that London earlier hosted in 1948. It comprises quilt covers and pillowcases for single and double bed settings and will remind you of the Games every night. Price:
$30 and $45 for single and double bed settings (Rs 1,650 and Rs 2,475)
Raise a toast Price:
$25 (Rs 1,375)
Australia Post has taken the lead in releasing an Olympics 2012 stamp. Titled ‘The Road to London’, it features several iconic London landmarks — the Dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and London’s most identifiable symbol of all — the Clock Tower, popularly referred to as Big Ben. This is a real work of art in philately. Price:
60 cents (Rs 33.50)
Down to the ‘T’ Among the first Olympic souvenirs to hit the market are T-shirts. London Olympics has once again re-iterated this with more than 45 companies and websites offering T-shirts in different hues, sizes and styles with all of them having the Games as their underlying theme. Such is the competition out there that you will be spoilt for
choices.
Prices: Between $5 and $30 (Rs 275 and Rs 1,650)
Duck for cover England’s summer showers are as unpredictable as the fortunes of sportspersons competing in the Olympics. An umbrella is an essential part of one’s attire in this city. A number of companies are offering Olympic theme-based umbrellas you can choose from. The official Team GB Olympic umbrella is large enough to shelter the whole family. Price:
$30 (Rs 1,650)
Among the most popular souvenirs of the London Olympics are the various kinds of key-rings in creative shapes and sizes that have flooded the market. Among the highest in demand are the iconic London red telephone box, the Union Jack, the ubiquitous Bobby and the Olympics logo. The sales of these key-rings have been booming. Price:
Between $5 and $10 (Rs 275 and Rs 550)
Catch hold of the mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, the iconic mascots of the London Olympics and Paralympic Games, are the most sought-after Price:
Between $1 and $20 (Rs 55 and Rs 1,100)
Has your favourite athlete or team won the coveted gold at the London Olympics? If yes, you can own a piece of history with a gold medal replica made from a zinc alloy that has the same look as the original. It comes with the similar deep purple ribbon with the printed logo London 2012 Olympics, which will surely make you feel like a winner. Price: $80
(Rs 8,800)
Royal Doulton, the 200-year-old English tableware and collectibles company, has brought out stylish figurines of Olympic sportspersons in action. Made from bone china that gives a three-dimensional representation of the sport, these abstract figurines are elegant souvenirs of the London Olympics cast in glass. Price:
$185 (Rs 10,175) per figurine
If shoes were competing, sports gear companies would have been vying for gold. Nike has introduced Air Max 2012, Reebok has
Reebok Pump Fury ‘London’ $155 (Rs 8,525)
Nike Air Max 2012 — $170 (Rs 9,350)
Sporty wrist Price:
$75 (Rs 4,125)
Watch this This has to be one of the most valuable souvenirs of the Olympics 2012. In a special tribute, Omega has reintroduced the Seamaster Co-Axial London 2012 watch, based on classic design of the Seamaster 1948 when London last hosted the Olympics. The watch has the Games logo on its dial and is in a limited edition of 1948. Price:
$6,800 (Rs 3.74 lakh)
Add a fizz
Wearable memorabilia Polo Ralph Lauren has designed the official Olympics uniform for Team USA and it has proved to be a great hit despite its steep cost. The Team USA classic-fit shirt, flat-front trousers, silk tie, belt, uniform shoes, women’s skirt, cap, Olympic ceremony beret and double-breasted blazer are clocking brisk sales as wearable Games’ memorabilia. Price:
$1,000
for entire outfit (Rs 55,000)
Apart
from global merchandising giants who contribute about 20 per cent of the collectibles on sale at the London Olympics, ever wondered who is producing the rest of the 80 per cent of those posters, pins, key rings, T-shirts, sunglasses, watches, shoes and other paraphernalia which will notch up sales of over the $1.55 billion merchandise during the London Olympics? The colourful memorabilia is certainly not as British as it looks. Don’t be surprised to see labels like Made in India, Made in China or Made in Bangladesh on the 444 products on sale. Despite protests from the local industry, the British authorities outsourced the production of a majority of the memorabilia on sale during the Games and only eight per cent of the products have been made in England. China was the major beneficiary with 67 per cent of the souvenirs being manufactured in its factories, including the Olympic and Paralympic mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville. Turkey came in second with nine per cent and the rest of the manufacturing was shared by India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Poland, Slovakia and Germany. However, no one knows the source of production of protest merchandising which is doing roaring parallel business. T-shirts and other stuff displaying slogans like Official Protester in exactly the same official style and font size are being lapped up by people who failed to get tickets or are just bored stiff by the hype created by the authorities.
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PACESETTER Manish Joshi Bismil An actor, director, magician and puppeteer, Manish did not let his stammer come in the way Vasudha Gupta The
one advantage of being the best in any field is that it ends up hiding your flaws. At the age of 14, when most children worry over scoring well, Manish Joshi Bismil made his biggest flaw his strength. Battling stammering, Manish is among the youngest theatre personalities to perform a play for two hours in a solo play, without stammering. “Each time I start performing, my friends wait for me to stammer, I manage to disappoint them every time, ” he laughs. Manish recounts: “After a visit to a play, I would learn lines from Kabuliwalah and recite them in the bathroom.” Performances for families and in school brought Manish into contact with a few students from the National School of Drama. He completed a one-year-diploma in Theatre from Himachal Cultural Research Forum and Theatre Academy (HCRFTA). This experience helped when he performed with established names like Habib Tanvir, Sanjay Upadhyay, Alok Chaterjee, David Freeman, Tim Supple, Laura Thatcher and Salim Aarif. At 31, he is a renowned theatre artiste as well as a magician. “I always want to blend my two talents — theatre and magic,” he shares. It was under the able guidance of his guru, Sanjay Upadhaya, Director of the MP School of Drama that he learnt the skill. “Mixing the language was great and took me to the Kingdom of Dreams as a freelance theatre director,” he shares. His theatre company, Ras Kala Manch, is one of the most active theatre groups in Haryana, Manish has given 99 great performances of Hum Toh Aise Hi Hain in India, Pakistan and Spain. He is also working on a script of Theatre on Bikes and plans to work with renowned artists. Manish hopes to bring gymnasts, acrobats and theatre artists to promote theatre in India. I could never recognise myself in the character I played till I started looking for familiar elements,” he shares. His business background meant battling family pressures. “Just like any other subject, theatre too has theories,” he says. It was a Russian practitioner who introduced Manish to the “Magic If” Theory “The theory revolved around the concept that if I were king, what would I do,” he adds. Applying this, Manish imagined himself to be perfectly normal and curbed his stammer on the stage. “Several members in my family still believe that I work in television,” he laughs at the lack of awareness about theatre.
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Bling it on
VINTAGE BEAUTY REDISCOVERED
RUN MISTY FOR ME
So when was the last time you got home from office with red eyes and a foul temper? Familiar symptoms? You probably blamed it on a stressful day. Doctors have been warning that eyes bear the brunt of the computer and it is imperative to rest them from time to time. With the Shih-Chan Chiu mouse you would have no such worry. The wireless mouse’s battery drains out very fast and you would have to get up and play Yo-Yo with the mouse to re-energise it. Child’s play? Yes, and great for your eyes as well!
CHARGED UP BUCKLE
MAJESTIC OFFERING
Mercedes-Benz makes some of the best cars in the world. But how many people know that it also makes haute couture, premium watches, hip sneakers, trendy eyewear and stylish neck ties. And now, adding to that list, the auto giant has created a men’s fragrance which is as exclusive as its car. The fragrance to be introduced in October 2012 combines woody notes with delicate floral essences and has a spicy mix of bourbon pepper, nutmeg and vetyvar grass. And like the
sturdy Merc, it is masculine and spells class from afar.
EYE CANDY
TIMELESS APPEAL
Revitalise lifeless hair
Watch this space At first, it will be easy to be dismissive of the minimalist design and simple dial of the new Romaine Jerome Moon Invader. But this is no ordinary watch. True to its name, the Moon Invader has been inspired by the historical moon landing of Apollo 11 and is modelled after a lunar landing pod with the specialised corners depicting the landing gear. It has been crafted from steel from the spare parts of Apollo spacecraft. Wearing the watch is like wrapping your wrist with space-age history.
A CUT ABOVE THE REST
To mark the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence, Appleton Estate has brought out a 50-year-old rum which is a blend of 20 rums each aged for 50 years. The dark mahogany rum called the Old Jamaica Independence Reserve is packaged in a crystal decanter. It has been aged over five decades and exudes aromas of powerful oak, rich vanilla layered with cinnamon, maple and orange peel. If you want the heady stuff then you must hurry as it is in a limited edition of 800 bottles.
CATCH THE CAP
Note: All prices are converted at the rate of Rs 55 a dollar
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With
For
The competitive spirit of the Olympics gives a heady high to spectators. You can add to that adrenalin rush with a mug of the famous old-fashioned cask-conditioned London draft. The 600-ml frosted beer mug is not only attractive but also forms an important part of the London Olympic memorabilia.
Letter to London 
Key to the Olympics
souvenirs. They both have a single eye made out of a camera lens, a London taxi light on their heads and the Olympic rings represented as friendship bracelets on their wrists. From soft toys to key-rings and bracelets, they are omnipresent.
Feel like a winner
Glass apart 
Shoes for Olympics
Pump Fury ‘London’, Adidas has launched Adizero Prime Accelerator. So have a host of others like Puma, New Balance and more. All these shoes capture the spirit of the Games in their own special ways.
Adidas Adizero Prime Accelerator $130 (Rs 7,150)
In a special tribute to the 2012 London Olympics, Swiss watch major Swatch has launched a pair of specially designed sports-inspired watches. The designers of the trendy Gents have merged pro-sport aesthetics and the 2012 London Olympic Games logo to create the attractive two-toned sporty watch.
As one of the biggest supporters of the Olympics, Coca Cola has rolled out the limited edition packaging for its beverages. The specially designed bottles feature yellow, blue, orange and black stripes on a red background, an Olympic torch image in white and the iconic Olympic rings indicating that happy times are here again.
Price:
$3 for 250 ml bottle (Rs 165)
It’s being termed as one of the greatest vintage car discoveries of the century. The ‘lost’ Mercedes Benz of 1928 vintage has finally been found. The only surviving ‘S’ Type Sports Tourer was found lying in the garage of a British family. Its present owner is the great-grandson of the man who bought it in 1928. After his death, it had been parked in the garage till it was bought by London auctioneers Bonhams in its unrestored condition in original dark battleship grey colour and blue leather upholstery. Those who are passionate about car memorabilia can bid for it in the Bonhams’ London auction to be held on September 15, 2012.
How would you like to enjoy a leisurely afternoon in your garden in the peak of summer when the temperature is soaring beyond 40 degrees? Crazy idea, you’d say. But not that crazy if you possess the portable evaporative Misting Kit. The kit, launched by Peekay Farms, is ideal for cooling small lawns, balconies or any other open air space. The fan dissipates thousands of tiny water droplets, each smaller than the size of a grain of salt. The droplets are so light they actually suspend themselves in the air without causing wetting, thereby reducing the temperature by 10-15 degrees so that you can enjoy your open space in the peak of summers. 
PLAYFUL MOUSE 
Has your mobile ever ‘died’ on you? Yes, we’ve all had that frustrating experience when the phone’s battery runs out and there’s no charger in sight. Since carrying a bulky charger in your pocket is not an option what do you do? Here’s the solution. Wear a charger around your waist. Yes, you read that right. Volt Buckle is launching a charger that doubles up as your belt buckle. But if you want this Buckle-cum-iPhone-charger-cum USB-device you will have to book now. The company is looking for advance orders to finance the gizmo. So buckle up and make your contribution.
According to ancient folklore, guardian lions are said to bring good luck, protection and happiness to a household. The majestic Lioness by Lladró has been inspired by the traditional bronze, iron and granite sculptures standing guard at the entrances to palaces, temples and noble houses. The painstaking ornamentation of the breastplates and armour, the elaborately carved mane and tail make this stunning sculpture a blend of tradition and artistic creation. In case you want this good luck limited edition lioness, take a big fat cheque with you. 
If you are high on fashions this is one pair that you must possess. The Dolce and Gabbana Gold Edition Eyewear for men and women introduced in June, 2012 has created a sensation. These aviator- designed coolers come equipped with polarised lenses and the arms of the frame have the logo of Dolce and Gabbana. The package includes a black leather case packed in an exquisite jewelry box. These Aviators already have a long list of celebrity buyers making them one of the coolest accessories for fashionistas. 
Take a trip down memory lane with Buck’s vintage collection of trunks that celebrate the romanticism of an era gone by. These travelling chests were the choice of high society people who travelled in steamboats and luxury trains in times gone by. Made of high quality leather, with a wooden base these handcrafted journey bags have old-style fixtures, locks, belts and ornamentation and are available in choice of compartments, tones and vintage designs which promise to take you on a trip back in time.
Price: $200 (Rs 11,000)
This knife surely has a cutting edge. It’s so expensive that you’d need a gun to protect it! American company Bladesmith
Hoffmann and designer Quintin Nel have collaborated to craft one of the best knives the world has ever seen. The blade is made from airplane-grade carbon steel, the handle is crafted from sterling silver with the stocking from eight diamonds. Called Nesmuk, the knife comes in a stylish box. It is the sharpest knife ever in the world. So sharp, it will rip a glaring hole in your pocket!
CHEERS FROM JAMAICA
It’s a bottle opener with a twist. The Handy Bar Accessories bottle opener doubles up as a cap catcher. Next time you are having friends over for beer or soft drinks, show off this smart stainless steel opener that flips off the cap and drops it into the container attached to it which can hold up to 30 caps. No mess but lots of stress. The transparent cap bag will be a constant reminder of how many beers you’ve downed!