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Technological Convergence in the IT Industry in India -The Case Study of a

Start-up

Sanjeev SanghiProfessor, Applied Mechanics

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

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Technological Convergence*

• Modern presence of a vast array of different types of technology to perform similar tasks

• Synergistic combination of voice (and telephony features), data (and productivity applications) and video onto a single network

• Resource sharing and interaction with each other to create new efficiencies

* from Wikipedia

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Single platform

• User wants all applications on a single device

• Converged picture– Internet– Mobile– TV– DVD/CD/Video/Audio– Ipod

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Apple's iPhone

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Goal of a start-up

• Making meaning– Provide new and compelling technology– New applications of existing technology which

redefine user experience

• Long lasting– Cutting edge technology as differentiator

• Valuable to customers– Unique value proposition for customers

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Example

●Variable photo recognition technology– Recognises photos like human brain – Pick up this image even as part of a larger

picture (with any orientation)●Similar Image search●Various business applications

WTOCase study of a startup from

university environment• Concepts from Tensor Algebra (theory)

• Applications in fields of audio and video: dynamic compression

• Extracted key features from audio –video: extract concepts from documents

• Personalized web search: complimentary to generic web search engines– “ I'm feeling lucky” from Google– Specific use to mobile search

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Search Results

Jaguar SEARCH

T6 Personalized search results

Search Results

Jaguar SEARCH

Results from www.t6labs.com

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Technology Evolution

• Feedback from users and funding agencies

• Holistic picture of search: add regional language queries

• Developed transliteration technology as most of the keyboards are English keyboards

• Two technologies- Personalization and Transliteration

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Technology Evolution

• Initial Platform: Web based

• Diversification to Desktop

• Type, search, email in local language using English keyboard

• Technology Convergence

• Port on Mobile platform

• Much wider user base (India)– 160 million Mobiles– 19 million computers

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Convergence

• Starting from an idea of Tensor Algebra

• Emerged as mobile based multilingual query system

• Adaptability to morph and leap into to a new space

• Business Model– Accountable Ad synchronization system

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T6 Personalized Mobile Search

Query processing

Mobile User User specificresults in

queried language

T6 Personalized

MobileServiceDeliveryPlatform

T6 Smart Client (SMS/ GPRS)

MultilingualQuery

T6 MobiSearch

Search Platform

Content Aggregation Platform

T6 Contextual Advertisement Platform

Yellowpages

Other info

services

Mobile Internet

pages

Carriers content

T6 Contextual Advertisement

Platform------------------Auto selection

from ad inventoryBased on: Content

requested/being served,

Location / Time, user query logs,

context of search termand users personality

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Challenges

●Turn an idea into business opportunity●Building a team●Execution of ideas●Right FUNDING

● Bootstrapping -- Take money from customers● Government funding / Angel funding● VC funding – many stages

● seed stage● Early stage● Growth stage

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Recommendations

• Global mentorship programme

• Global incubation funding – Public Private Partnership

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!Contact

Sanjeev Sanghi

Professor, Applied Mechanics

I.I.T. Delhi, India

sanghi@am.iitd.ernet.in