Focus Merit

Category: Science and Technology

Switzerland released the world’s first app “SwissCovid” based on Google and Apple’s contact-tracing tech

June 2, 2020
SwissCovid
  • The first app to get advantage of the Apple and Google Exposure Notification API has been launched in Switzerland. The app is called “SwissCovid” and is right now available to select essential workers.

Prime Minister declares “My Life My Yoga” Video Blogging contest

June 1, 2020
My Life My Yoga
  • Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India on 31st May urged one and all to participate in the “My Life – My Yoga”(also called “Jeevan Yoga”) Video Blogging Contest, a mutual effort by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), through the course of his monthly Mann Ki Baat address to the nation.

Google releases a new app ‘Sodar’ that will aid you to maintain social distance

May 31, 2020
Sodar
  • Google is supporting people to maintain their social distance. The tech giant has released a new app called ‘SODAR’ that will encourage people to maintain distance in real life using augmented reality.

Airtel Payments Bank pairs up with Mastercard for farmers, SMEs

May 28, 2020
Airtel Payments Bank
  • Airtel Payments Bank has tied-up with Mastercard to generate customized financial products for Indian farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These financial products mainly for those territories where there is less access to bank administrations.

RIL launches WhatsApp chatbot to address rights issue queries

May 28, 2020
WhatsApp
  • Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has released a “WhatsApp chatbot” to address rights issue queries of its 2.6 million shareholders on the offering.

NPCI releases AI virtual Artificial Intelligence assistant PAi

May 28, 2020
PAi
  • An Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chatbot “PAi” has been released by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).
  • This chatbot has been launched to spread awareness around NPCI’s products such as FASTag, RuPay, UPI, AePS on a real time basis, hence growing the digital financial inclusion in India.

Facebook releases calling application “CatchUp”

May 27, 2020
Facebook releases calling application “CatchUp”
  • A calling application titled as “CatchUp” has been released by the social media major Facebook to coordinate call timings with friends and family members, and will allow users to verify availability of time with a group of up to eight people.

NASA renamed its telescope after ‘Mother of Hubble’ Nancy Grace Roman

May 27, 2020
NASA
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has renamed its succeeding-generation space telescope “Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST)” in praise of Nancy Grace Roman.

“Zaggle” ties-up “Visa” for innovative payment solutions for SMEs

May 26, 2020
  • In order to launch innovative payment solutions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups, a Fintech startup Zaggle has paired-up with payments technology major “Visa”.

“Parabolic Trough collector” developed to help solar energy device manufacturers

May 24, 2020
parabolic trough collector.

“Parabolic Trough collector” has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. This trough will focus sunlight on a small area where it will be absorbed and used for heating and energy generation. This project will be under the Center’s National Solar mission.