Gopala Krishna's Blog

Some interesting puzzles

2010-09-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you some interesting puzzles.

During my intermediate days, one of my physics lecturers asked me this puzzle.

Puzzle 1: A Bear falls from a mountain of 500m high and dies on the spot. The time of fall is 10 seconds. Using this information find out the color of the bear…I mean the “hair” color of the bear. (You might be wondered what is the link between the above information and the hair color of the bear..But there is a link..Find it out!!!)

This is another interesting puzzle which I have c’n on the T-Shirts of IITian’s at IIT Mumbai. If u is a true Computer geek you can definitely interpret the meaning of this sentence.

Puzzle 2: There are 10 types of people …those who can interpret binary and those who cannot.

This is a number puzzle which can be solved by using a simple C++\C# program.

Puzzle 3: Definition of a magic number: if the sum of the factors of a number is equal to that number then it is called a magic number …for example 6 Is a magic number because factors of 6 are 3, 2, 1 and 3+2+1 = 6. 28 is a magic number because factors of 28 are 14, 7, 4, 2, 1 and 14+7+4+2+1 = 28. Now the puzzle is find out the magic numbers less than 100000 ( FYI there is only one magic number between 100-1000 and only one magic number between 1000 – 10000 and no magic numbers between 10000-100000).

For getting answers to the above puzzles mail me at gopalakrishna.iitb@gmail.com

Rhythm based Search Engine Framework

2010-02-20T00:13:00.000-08:00

From last few days a rhythmic tune has been running over my mind 24/7. I googled over the internet for the songs, background scores and ended up listening\downloading so many songs, but couldn’t be able to find the song which embeds this tune. Though I know the exact tune (the programmatic rhythm) I couldn’t be able to search over the internet based on the tune or rhythm.
After putting efforts for around 20-30 days I finally figured out the song using Google search. As I guessed it’s scored by none other than the music legend Ilayaraja. I used to hear this tune during my school days and at that time I don’t even know abcd’s of music …but it seems I enjoyed this tune a lot. That’s the power of melodious music.
Then suddenly an idea flashed in to my mind…y can’t we develop a search engine which could be able to search the rhythmic tunes embedded in songs \background scores?
For example, I have a simple tune like “Ta na na na naaaaa na……….. Ta na na na” ( This tune is from “Chariots of fire” as u might have guessed) it would be better if we have a search engine which grabs all the songs, background scores which embeds\”is based on” this tune.

Some of the basic functionalities which we can expect from this Search Engine Framework:
1) It could be able to search all musical compositions based on raga
Let’s call it as “Raga based search”
Example: All background scores\songs which embed Madhuvanti ragam
Also, it would be better if we have a provision to add filters like: Only Illayaraja’s or
Balamurali Krishna’s works in Madhuvanti raga
2) It could be able search all musical compositions based on a fugue
Let’s call it as “Fugue based search”
Example: All fugues scored in C minor
Filter: J.S. Bach’s, Mozart’s fugue works
3) It could be able to search all musical compositions based on arbitrary rhythmic strings
Let’s call it as “Rhythmic string search”
Example: String like “Ta na na naaa na”, “ Taaa na na nananaa….Taa na na nanana”
4) It could be able to search all extended musical compositions like Symphonies
Let’s call it as “Symphony based search”
Example: All Choral symphonies or All Pastoral symphonies
Filter: Ilayaraja’s and Beethoven’s symphonies

At this point of time I could be able to figure out these four basic functionalities in this search framework and you can look out for more additions in my next blog posts.
As you might have guessed, right now I am working on basic technology needs (voice recognition, rhythm capture, Harmonic progression capture, musical notation parser etc) for developing this product. If you have any suggestions or if you know any existing product with this kind of functionalities please let me know.

References:
http://webspace.webring.com/people/dv/vasudevanvrv/carnatic/raagams.htm
http://www.oocities.com/ilaiyaragam/index.html
http://www.jsbach.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilaiyaraaja
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Mozartreq/main.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beethoven

Expressiveness + Movies + Love + Work + Mind

2008-10-06T06:45:00.000-07:00

Instead of getting buried inside the search framework stuff all the time, thought of writing an article on Expressiveness + Movies + Love + Work + Mind etc …

Recently I heard an interesting quote from one of my friend at Microsoft – “Most of the people in this world are not much expressive just bcoz they fear that something may go wrong if they express what they believe in”. And most of them don’t really want to bear the consequences if something goes wrong. Yes he is right.

Movies and expressiveness – There is tight coupling between movies and “expressiveness”. I haven’t seen a single person who doesn’t like movies. Why? Because most of the things which we can’t do or express (what we really want to do) in real life can be expressed through movies/tales (But we seldom get a chance, unless we r a director or novelist...). I have seen people complaining that most of the movies made nowadays are related to Love (90%). Why? Just bcoz most people seldom like to express love in the real world (I am not inferring only the teenage love). Hence this topic becomes an integral part of movies and tales. Personally, I feel like Love is something which needs to be expressed. Whatever we don’t (or can’t) express in real life that things become an integral part of movies/tales (and of course our dreams too…).

Love – Let me ignore all the other flavors of love (Mother – Son etc) and just focus on love which happens with a boy and gal at an age of 18-28. I have seen many ppl (especially teenagers) who are ready to do anything for love. But teenage love is dangerous just bcoz at that age we can’t make distinction between real “Love” and an “Infatuation” (of course some people do...But definitely not at the age below 19). There is quotation like “Everything is fair in love and war”… yes that’s really true but applicable only for love and not for Infatuations. So one needs to know the clear distinction between love and infatuation whenever they talk about (or implement) the rules of love. I am sure every person in this world goes through a series of infatuations (even though they may not experience love...i.e. teenage love) in his life time. Personally I feel like we shud enjoy them and shouldn’t take them seriously as long as they doesn’t harm anyone. Love is more enjoyable than an infatuation.

Let me quote some good dialogues from my favorite movies. They really make u know the power of love. To demonstrate the power of love I am using movie dialogues instead of real life scenarios just bcoz as explained above what we can’t express in real life can be better expressed through movies\tales.

Movie: “A Walk to Remember”
Shane west: r u scared of death?
Mandy Moore: I am scared of not being with u.

Movie: “Jab We Met”
Kareena Kapoor: Am I doing the right thing (At the time of eloping)
Shahid: No, You are not doing the right thing. But it’s ok...u only said that everything is fair in love…

Movie: “If Only”
Paul Nicholls: In your life, if u has one day left what would you do
Jennifer Love: That's a hard question.
Paul Nicholls: I just like to know
Jennifer Love: Well, Shoe shopping....eating.....
Hmm...It’s an easy answer..I will spend up with u...just being together..like
now ..doing nothing...

Mind and Heart – Whatever we express, originates from mind, heart or Mind + Heart. When we are in love, generally we use only our heart (heart goes to 100% utilization level at that time). But at that time, we have to use our mind too up to some level... The obvious question is “why?” …”In order to figure out whether it’s really love or an infatuation”. If it’s really love, go ahead and enjoy using your heart at 100% utilization level.

The most important part – WORK and LEARNING - Mind and Heart plays an important role in Working\Learning. People who use only mind during work\learning can’t make better products unless they put their heart into what they do. Most successful people in this world are the ones who put their hearts while doing work...I mean they like and love what they do from the core of their heart. So while working or learning anything… love the work and keep right blend of heart and mind into it. By putting your mind, u will get the creative output and putting ur heart u will get the real satisfaction i.e the real things which we expect while doing work or learning something. Finally, what I mean to say is put a correct blend of Mind+Heart while working or learning something. That fetches u the creative output and outmost satisfaction.

Disclaimer: The above inferences are from my real world experiences and sometimes these fundaes may look like bullshit if we look them from a different angle

Truth of life

2008-09-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

God created the Donkey. And said to him.'You will be a donkey. You will work un-tiringly from sunrise to sunset carrying burdens on your back. You will eat grass, you will have no intelligence and you will live 50 years.
'The donkey answered :'I will be a donkey, but to live 50 years is much. Give me only 20 years'
God granted his wish.
God created the Dog. And said to him :'You will guard the house of man. You will be his best Friend. You will eat the scraps that he gives you and you will live 30 years. You will be a dog.
'The dog answered:Sir, to live 30 years is too much, give me only 15 years.
God granted his wish.
God created the Monkey. And said to him :'You will be a monkey. You will swing from branch to branch doing tricks. You will be amusing and you will live 20 years.
'The monkey answered :'To live 20 years is too much, give me only 10 years.
'God granted his wish.
Finally God created Man... And said to him :'You will be man, the only rational creature on the face of the earth. You will use your intelligence to become master over all the animals. You will dominate the world and you will live 20 years.'Man responded :'Sir, I will be a man but to live only 20 years is very little, give me the 30 years that the donkey refused, the 15 years that the dog did not want and the 10 years the monkey refused.
God granted man's wish.
And since then, man lives 20 years as a man, marries and spends 30 years like a donkey, working and carrying all the burdens on his back. Then when his children are grown, he lives 15 years like a dog taking care of the house and eating whatever is given to him, so that when he is old, he can retire and live 10 years like a monkey, going from house to house and from one son ordaughter to another doing tricks to amuse his grandchildren.

Article on IITians attitude...

2008-03-21T04:01:00.000-07:00

This was originally posted at
http://helloji.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/iit-insufferable-indian-tribe/
The post is really hilarious and bit unreasonalble frm IITian’s point of view. if u look at any organization i am sure we can find fair number of IITian’s in the top management which proves that they are really capable.. take any reputed company (like microsoft) u can find fair number of IITian’s. Some of the core qualities IITian’s have ( which u can’t find in non-IITian’s) :
Never give up attitude
Excellent problem solving skills
Structured way of thinking
Ability to learn things very fast
Love to do challeging work
Also, i don’t agree with the argument that IITian’s always boost or market IIT brandname …infact they are not the persons who popularized the IIT brand name..non-iitians are the ones who actually popularized it realising that it’s worth to be popularized. The reason behind this popularity — IITians outperformace in almost every field.Being an IITian i never used IIT brandname in any of my initial conversation. i was made to use it just because after talking for a while ppl used to ask me “what’s ur background??”. This type of situation happens to most of the iitians bcoz the way of thinking of iitians is completly different. This is the one of the big differentiating factor between IITian’s and non IITians..The core qualities which i have mentioned above reflects in every IITian’s conversations. The work they do reflects these qualities. so people are curious to know where the person has developed these qualities.. obvious answer is IIT !

2007-09-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

Recently i came across this quote. it's really awesome.

We make them cry who care for us..
We cry for those who never care for us.
We care for those who never cry for us.

This is the truth of life.,it's strange but true :)

2007-09-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hi..

This is my first blog msg..
i will keep on updating the info in here.

Please visit my personal website:
http://gopalakrishnaiitb.faithweb.com/

Pleae visit my techincal blog @
http://gopalakrishnatech.blogspot.com/