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How Smarter Cars Save Lives | Prasad Pillai | TEDxNITTrichy


let me take you back to my college days

let me take you back to my college days sometime in 1997 the times when we

sometime in 1997 the times when we

sometime in 1997 the times when we didn’t have Facebook lives were not

didn’t have Facebook lives were not

didn’t have Facebook lives were not conquered by the social media Facebook

conquered by the social media Facebook

conquered by the social media Facebook Twitter and the Instagram all that and

Twitter and the Instagram all that and

Twitter and the Instagram all that and directions were the interactions were

directions were the interactions were

directions were the interactions were direct one fine day I was along with my

direct one fine day I was along with my

direct one fine day I was along with my dad and our driver I was going to visit

dad and our driver I was going to visit

dad and our driver I was going to visit our latest a lady’s house and we were we

our latest a lady’s house and we were we

our latest a lady’s house and we were we hit the roads we hit the NH 47 in in

hit the roads we hit the NH 47 in in

hit the roads we hit the NH 47 in in Kerala it was sunny afternoon hot and

Kerala it was sunny afternoon hot and

Kerala it was sunny afternoon hot and humid and my dad is a very

humid and my dad is a very

humid and my dad is a very safety-conscious person so he was

safety-conscious person so he was

safety-conscious person so he was continuously telling his you know

continuously telling his you know

continuously telling his you know talking to us talking to our driver was

talking to us talking to our driver was

talking to us talking to our driver was a little bit appeared a little bit

a little bit appeared a little bit

a little bit appeared a little bit sleepy that day it was kind of

sleepy that day it was kind of

sleepy that day it was kind of continuously telling his things to keep

continuously telling his things to keep

continuously telling his things to keep us from sleeping to keep us from dozing

us from sleeping to keep us from dozing

us from sleeping to keep us from dozing off and you know it’s very difficult to

off and you know it’s very difficult to

off and you know it’s very difficult to resist that temptation in in the sunny

resist that temptation in in the sunny

resist that temptation in in the sunny afternoons in Kerala hot and humid too

afternoons in Kerala hot and humid too

afternoons in Kerala hot and humid too little dose a little bit and you know

little dose a little bit and you know

little dose a little bit and you know like falling dome egos you know I first

like falling dome egos you know I first

like falling dome egos you know I first dozed off my father also dozed off and

dozed off my father also dozed off and

dozed off my father also dozed off and then ultimately I think our driver also

then ultimately I think our driver also

then ultimately I think our driver also dozed off at least just for a little

dozed off at least just for a little

dozed off at least just for a little little bit time and I don’t know how

little bit time and I don’t know how

little bit time and I don’t know how much time passed all I can remember now

much time passed all I can remember now

much time passed all I can remember now is that I woke up to a huge part and my

is that I woke up to a huge part and my

is that I woke up to a huge part and my my head hit something and I couldn’t see

my head hit something and I couldn’t see

my head hit something and I couldn’t see anything around me just complete

anything around me just complete

anything around me just complete darkness and as if I woke up too you

darkness and as if I woke up too you

darkness and as if I woke up too you know woke up from a bad dream I could

know woke up from a bad dream I could

know woke up from a bad dream I could hear some voices around me telling me

hear some voices around me telling me

hear some voices around me telling me some things but I couldn’t really

some things but I couldn’t really

some things but I couldn’t really understand what they were telling me

understand what they were telling me

understand what they were telling me and time passes on and I regain myself

and time passes on and I regain myself

and time passes on and I regain myself and I found it it was not what I was in

and I found it it was not what I was in

and I found it it was not what I was in I was in an accident and I had a load of

I was in an accident and I had a load of

I was in an accident and I had a load of condition and I regained myself thinking

condition and I regained myself thinking

condition and I regained myself thinking that you know it was realizing that was

that you know it was realizing that was

that you know it was realizing that was not a huge accident as I thought and

not a huge accident as I thought and

not a huge accident as I thought and quickly you know I looked around and I

quickly you know I looked around and I

quickly you know I looked around and I found my dad is a little bit more

found my dad is a little bit more

found my dad is a little bit more injured you know he had he had to get

injured you know he had he had to get

injured you know he had he had to get some stitches

some stitches

some stitches me and my driver we were just fine we

me and my driver we were just fine we

me and my driver we were just fine we just had some minor bruises you know we

just had some minor bruises you know we

just had some minor bruises you know we went to the nearest hospital sort of

went to the nearest hospital sort of

went to the nearest hospital sort of things out thank God and you know we

things out thank God and you know we

things out thank God and you know we moved on but all people are not so lucky

moved on but all people are not so lucky

moved on but all people are not so lucky as some of us are what shook is in last

as some of us are what shook is in last

as some of us are what shook is in last the most in the last few years ago in

the most in the last few years ago in

the most in the last few years ago in 2010 one of our close family ladies one

2010 one of our close family ladies one

2010 one of our close family ladies one of my close family relatives was

of my close family relatives was

of my close family relatives was involved in a fatal accident and he lost

involved in a fatal accident and he lost

involved in a fatal accident and he lost his life again on the very busy and

his life again on the very busy and

his life again on the very busy and dangerous intersections on NH 47 in

dangerous intersections on NH 47 in

dangerous intersections on NH 47 in Kerala he was at the peak of his life

Kerala he was at the peak of his life

Kerala he was at the peak of his life and peak of his career he had elaborate

and peak of his career he had elaborate

and peak of his career he had elaborate plans of what he wants to do forward

plans of what he wants to do forward

plans of what he wants to do forward with his life and nothing could be

with his life and nothing could be

with his life and nothing could be completed and to the families it was

completed and to the families it was

completed and to the families it was such an untimely and unexpected loss

such an untimely and unexpected loss

such an untimely and unexpected loss that the families couldn’t come out of

that the families couldn’t come out of

that the families couldn’t come out of it

it

it even now and today I want to tell you

even now and today I want to tell you

even now and today I want to tell you that this is a situation that every

that this is a situation that every

that this is a situation that every family in India is at the risk of facing

family in India is at the risk of facing

family in India is at the risk of facing and already facing and every minute

and already facing and every minute

and already facing and every minute every four minutes one family is

every four minutes one family is

every four minutes one family is undergoing this pain you know from that

undergoing this pain you know from that

undergoing this pain you know from that day I had a deep realization that

day I had a deep realization that

day I had a deep realization that perhaps the most painful most difficult

perhaps the most painful most difficult

perhaps the most painful most difficult human tragedy is loss of life to an

human tragedy is loss of life to an

human tragedy is loss of life to an accident on the road

this is

this is a situation that many of us may not have

a situation that many of us may not have

a situation that many of us may not have ever faced or may not even phase in our

ever faced or may not even phase in our

ever faced or may not even phase in our lifetime this is like a one you know one

lifetime this is like a one you know one

lifetime this is like a one you know one or two times in our lives will fate will

or two times in our lives will fate will

or two times in our lives will fate will face a situation like this just like you

face a situation like this just like you

face a situation like this just like you know our college graduation for buying a

know our college graduation for buying a

know our college graduation for buying a house our marriage these are life events

house our marriage these are life events

house our marriage these are life events and yet what I feel so striking is that

and yet what I feel so striking is that

and yet what I feel so striking is that the amount of preparation and attention

the amount of preparation and attention

the amount of preparation and attention and care that we give to all these other

and care that we give to all these other

and care that we give to all these other life events is so enormous when compared

life events is so enormous when compared

life events is so enormous when compared to the preparation that we give for this

to the preparation that we give for this

to the preparation that we give for this one life even a road accident and it can

one life even a road accident and it can

one life even a road accident and it can trump our entire life

we’re never prepared for this and at the

we’re never prepared for this and at the same time in India many of us think and

same time in India many of us think and

same time in India many of us think and many of us have not aware how much

many of us have not aware how much

many of us have not aware how much drastic and what is the extent of this

drastic and what is the extent of this

drastic and what is the extent of this problem that we are now running into as

problem that we are now running into as

problem that we are now running into as a country to all those who think that

a country to all those who think that

a country to all those who think that think that this is not a serious problem

think that this is not a serious problem

think that this is not a serious problem I want to tell them what if I tell you

I want to tell them what if I tell you

I want to tell them what if I tell you that in 15 years road accidents will be

that in 15 years road accidents will be

that in 15 years road accidents will be claiming the lives of people more than

claiming the lives of people more than

claiming the lives of people more than what deadly diseases like hiv/aids

what deadly diseases like hiv/aids

what deadly diseases like hiv/aids tuberculosis and malaria combined will

tuberculosis and malaria combined will

tuberculosis and malaria combined will claim such drastic is the situation that

claim such drastic is the situation that

claim such drastic is the situation that we have

in India and world over and and it is

in India and world over and and it is very alarmingly more and more number of

very alarmingly more and more number of

very alarmingly more and more number of lies are being claimed to road accidents

lies are being claimed to road accidents

lies are being claimed to road accidents and what concerned me most was even in

and what concerned me most was even in

and what concerned me most was even in this days of cutting-edge technology

this days of cutting-edge technology

this days of cutting-edge technology where we have lot of electronic gadgetry

where we have lot of electronic gadgetry

where we have lot of electronic gadgetry that we own now we have a very powerful

that we own now we have a very powerful

that we own now we have a very powerful cell phones cell phone in your hand

cell phones cell phone in your hand

cell phones cell phone in your hand there is really no technology that is of

there is really no technology that is of

there is really no technology that is of use that is of real use when it comes to

use that is of real use when it comes to

use that is of real use when it comes to an accident there’s nothing out there

an accident there’s nothing out there

an accident there’s nothing out there and that was concerning me very much and

and that was concerning me very much and

and that was concerning me very much and I started thinking how can I possibly

I started thinking how can I possibly

I started thinking how can I possibly change that what can I do to change that

change that what can I do to change that

change that what can I do to change that situation

with my team back in Kerala I had a

with my team back in Kerala I had a startup and with my team basically we

startup and with my team basically we

startup and with my team basically we thought about what to do and we came up

thought about what to do and we came up

thought about what to do and we came up with a simple vision my vision was that

with a simple vision my vision was that

with a simple vision my vision was that basically we create a simple IOT sensor

basically we create a simple IOT sensor

basically we create a simple IOT sensor device that will automatically detect an

device that will automatically detect an

device that will automatically detect an accident and inform the occurrence of an

accident and inform the occurrence of an

accident and inform the occurrence of an accident to a central database of

accident to a central database of

accident to a central database of central server infrastructure and from

central server infrastructure and from

central server infrastructure and from there on we can provide or build lot of

there on we can provide or build lot of

there on we can provide or build lot of alert mechanisms a lot of other systems

alert mechanisms a lot of other systems

alert mechanisms a lot of other systems on top of that using this data so that

on top of that using this data so that

on top of that using this data so that was our simple system and with my team

was our simple system and with my team

was our simple system and with my team we were able to create such an IOT

we were able to create such an IOT

we were able to create such an IOT sensor device and with this larger

sensor device and with this larger

sensor device and with this larger version that we can install that type of

version that we can install that type of

version that we can install that type of a device in all vehicles bikes cars

a device in all vehicles bikes cars

a device in all vehicles bikes cars trucks whatever that is going on the

trucks whatever that is going on the

trucks whatever that is going on the roads and all these devices will beam

roads and all these devices will beam

roads and all these devices will beam data to a centralized server

data to a centralized server

data to a centralized server infrastructure from which that data can

infrastructure from which that data can

infrastructure from which that data can be further used for making very critical

be further used for making very critical

be further used for making very critical decisions for emergency relief emergency

decisions for emergency relief emergency

decisions for emergency relief emergency care and later on to find out to

care and later on to find out to

care and later on to find out to analytics to find out and get insights

analytics to find out and get insights

analytics to find out and get insights on how we can improve the road

on how we can improve the road

on how we can improve the road infrastructure that we have

basically the most simplest application

basically the most simplest application that we found out was how we can bring

that we found out was how we can bring

that we found out was how we can bring help how we can bring emergency relief

help how we can bring emergency relief

help how we can bring emergency relief to people who are facing a catastrophic

to people who are facing a catastrophic

to people who are facing a catastrophic accident situation in real time with

accident situation in real time with

accident situation in real time with minimal delays in bringing help

minimal delays in bringing help

minimal delays in bringing help so our device basically will detect an

so our device basically will detect an

so our device basically will detect an accident this device is going to

accident this device is going to

accident this device is going to transmit information to a central server

transmit information to a central server

transmit information to a central server and from the central server it is going

and from the central server it is going

and from the central server it is going to alert a support center a support

to alert a support center a support

to alert a support center a support network who will contact the people

network who will contact the people

network who will contact the people inside the vehicle and find out their

inside the vehicle and find out their

inside the vehicle and find out their assess the situation how much of a

assess the situation how much of a

assess the situation how much of a problem they are under and then later on

problem they are under and then later on

problem they are under and then later on the same system will be alerting the

the same system will be alerting the

the same system will be alerting the support networks and then followed by

support networks and then followed by

support networks and then followed by engaging personal network so I felt that

engaging personal network so I felt that

engaging personal network so I felt that we are at this perfect storm of

we are at this perfect storm of

we are at this perfect storm of technology and we are in the sweet spot

technology and we are in the sweet spot

technology and we are in the sweet spot where we can implement many new things

where we can implement many new things

where we can implement many new things in our society which will transform and

in our society which will transform and

in our society which will transform and revolutionize emergency relief and

revolutionize emergency relief and

revolutionize emergency relief and emergency care all this data now we are

emergency care all this data now we are

emergency care all this data now we are getting captured into a central server

getting captured into a central server

getting captured into a central server into infrastructure and just imagine

into infrastructure and just imagine

into infrastructure and just imagine what we can do with it we can have now

what we can do with it we can have now

what we can do with it we can have now mobile apps that will directly beam this

mobile apps that will directly beam this

mobile apps that will directly beam this information just like a Twitter it’ll it

information just like a Twitter it’ll it

information just like a Twitter it’ll it will send information to all the

will send information to all the

will send information to all the followers about accidents that happen in

followers about accidents that happen in

followers about accidents that happen in our vicinity so that they can go and do

our vicinity so that they can go and do

our vicinity so that they can go and do their contribution to help the victim

their contribution to help the victim

their contribution to help the victim that is facing this situation or just

that is facing this situation or just

that is facing this situation or just imagine a whatsapp like chat application

imagine a whatsapp like chat application

imagine a whatsapp like chat application chat messaging platform which can

chat messaging platform which can

chat messaging platform which can connect all the stakeholders including

connect all the stakeholders including

connect all the stakeholders including the ambulance hospitals our families

the ambulance hospitals our families

the ambulance hospitals our families everybody who are concerned in helping a

everybody who are concerned in helping a

everybody who are concerned in helping a person in distress imagine an ambulance

person in distress imagine an ambulance

person in distress imagine an ambulance who is nearby

who is nearby

who is nearby the vicinity of an accident communicated

the vicinity of an accident communicated

the vicinity of an accident communicated that there was an accident at nearby and

that there was an accident at nearby and

that there was an accident at nearby and they can offer to go and help

they can offer to go and help

they can offer to go and help immediately without loss of time and

immediately without loss of time and

immediately without loss of time and imagine those people who are driving

imagine those people who are driving

imagine those people who are driving in front of the ambulance sometimes not

in front of the ambulance sometimes not

in front of the ambulance sometimes not knowing an ambulance is just behind them

knowing an ambulance is just behind them

knowing an ambulance is just behind them and blocking the way inadvertently they

and blocking the way inadvertently they

and blocking the way inadvertently they can be now they can now be alerted

can be now they can now be alerted

can be now they can now be alerted through our cell phones through their

through our cell phones through their

through our cell phones through their phones that there’s an ambulance coming

phones that there’s an ambulance coming

phones that there’s an ambulance coming behind them because of an accident that

behind them because of an accident that

behind them because of an accident that happened in the vicinity and they were

happened in the vicinity and they were

happened in the vicinity and they were gladly or they will try to accommodate a

gladly or they will try to accommodate a

gladly or they will try to accommodate a smooth passage of an ambulance through

smooth passage of an ambulance through

smooth passage of an ambulance through the road and we won’t have this many

the road and we won’t have this many

the road and we won’t have this many preventable deaths happening on the

preventable deaths happening on the

preventable deaths happening on the roads and we can save some of these

roads and we can save some of these

roads and we can save some of these lives I was so excited I thought that

lives I was so excited I thought that

lives I was so excited I thought that this was one of the best things that we

this was one of the best things that we

this was one of the best things that we can implement I couldn’t sleep for some

can implement I couldn’t sleep for some

can implement I couldn’t sleep for some days and

that was a few years ago fast-forward to

that was a few years ago fast-forward to today we have the solution we have made

today we have the solution we have made

today we have the solution we have made devices we have made technologies to

devices we have made technologies to

devices we have made technologies to implement at a large scale I’m sure that

implement at a large scale I’m sure that

implement at a large scale I’m sure that there are many different themes in our

there are many different themes in our

there are many different themes in our country in startups in colleges like

country in startups in colleges like

country in startups in colleges like these in multinational companies inside

these in multinational companies inside

these in multinational companies inside the government who can build enormous

the government who can build enormous

the government who can build enormous lis wonderful systems in our country

lis wonderful systems in our country

lis wonderful systems in our country wonderful technology platforms in our

wonderful technology platforms in our

wonderful technology platforms in our country that will work in hand with us

country that will work in hand with us

country that will work in hand with us to help our own people who are in

to help our own people who are in

to help our own people who are in critical need in an accident or other

critical need in an accident or other

critical need in an accident or other emergencies much to my dismay I found

emergencies much to my dismay I found

emergencies much to my dismay I found that most of the people who I talked to

that most of the people who I talked to

that most of the people who I talked to most of the people who I meet basically

most of the people who I meet basically

most of the people who I meet basically think that such a system is not possible

think that such a system is not possible

think that such a system is not possible to be implemented in India or it’s going

to be implemented in India or it’s going

to be implemented in India or it’s going to be very difficult for us to implement

to be very difficult for us to implement

to be very difficult for us to implement such a system in India many people who

such a system in India many people who

such a system in India many people who are successful in business they think

are successful in business they think

are successful in business they think that this type of a system should be

that this type of a system should be

that this type of a system should be done by the government some people think

done by the government some people think

done by the government some people think that this is like charity you cannot you

that this is like charity you cannot you

that this is like charity you cannot you can never build a successful business

can never build a successful business

can never build a successful business around this team

I was disheartened in India we should

I was disheartened in India we should start asking what is the price of life

start asking what is the price of life

start asking what is the price of life what is the price of our life what is

what is the price of our life what is

what is the price of our life what is the price of the life of our family and

the price of the life of our family and

the price of the life of our family and what is the price of life of somebody

what is the price of life of somebody

what is the price of life of somebody who is dying on the streets in an

who is dying on the streets in an

who is dying on the streets in an accident we can never put a price or a

accident we can never put a price or a

accident we can never put a price or a money for an amount – the life of a

money for an amount – the life of a

money for an amount – the life of a person or life of a living being it is

person or life of a living being it is

person or life of a living being it is priceless but as a country what is the

priceless but as a country what is the

priceless but as a country what is the economic cost that we are paying because

economic cost that we are paying because

economic cost that we are paying because of this accident will at least enable us

of this accident will at least enable us

of this accident will at least enable us to think about why we should bring a pan

to think about why we should bring a pan

to think about why we should bring a pan India or a countrywide solution that can

India or a countrywide solution that can

India or a countrywide solution that can combat this increasing number of

combat this increasing number of

combat this increasing number of accidents passing laws and enforcing

accidents passing laws and enforcing

accidents passing laws and enforcing with fines is not the way to go the more

with fines is not the way to go the more

with fines is not the way to go the more systematic coordinated technology based

systematic coordinated technology based

systematic coordinated technology based system that can revolutionize emergency

system that can revolutionize emergency

system that can revolutionize emergency relief is our way forward in India the

relief is our way forward in India the

relief is our way forward in India the total cost as a society we pay for

total cost as a society we pay for

total cost as a society we pay for accidents is about 3 lakh crore and this

accidents is about 3 lakh crore and this

accidents is about 3 lakh crore and this is 3 percent of the GDP India’s GDP in

is 3 percent of the GDP India’s GDP in

is 3 percent of the GDP India’s GDP in the last year

the last year

and what is 3 lakh 3.8 lakh crore what

and what is 3 lakh 3.8 lakh crore what how much is that amount it is a

how much is that amount it is a

how much is that amount it is a humongous amount we know that but how

humongous amount we know that but how

humongous amount we know that but how much is it I’m not saying that if we fix

much is it I’m not saying that if we fix

much is it I’m not saying that if we fix the if we improve and if if there are no

the if we improve and if if there are no

the if we improve and if if there are no accidents happening in India then we are

accidents happening in India then we are

accidents happening in India then we are going to save or make 3.8 like core

going to save or make 3.8 like core

going to save or make 3.8 like core growth but what I am really concerned

growth but what I am really concerned

growth but what I am really concerned about is the human effort

about is the human effort

about is the human effort the monetary equivalent of human effort

the monetary equivalent of human effort

the monetary equivalent of human effort that is wasted on accidents it is huge

that is wasted on accidents it is huge

that is wasted on accidents it is huge our own effort is wasted basically due

our own effort is wasted basically due

our own effort is wasted basically due to these accidents and you can see the

to these accidents and you can see the

to these accidents and you can see the amount that we are we are losing or the

amount that we are we are losing or the

amount that we are we are losing or the human effort wasted two accidents is

human effort wasted two accidents is

human effort wasted two accidents is much more than even the difference

much more than even the difference

much more than even the difference budget of our country if you look at

budget of our country if you look at

budget of our country if you look at such pirate mission that much effort

such pirate mission that much effort

such pirate mission that much effort that we lose for accidents we can weaken

that we lose for accidents we can weaken

that we lose for accidents we can weaken finance for 29 years such part mission

finance for 29 years such part mission

finance for 29 years such part mission in the same way we could have funded the

in the same way we could have funded the

in the same way we could have funded the national foot security scheme for seven

national foot security scheme for seven

national foot security scheme for seven years from the the amount that we lose

years from the the amount that we lose

years from the the amount that we lose in one year we could have converted 847

in one year we could have converted 847

in one year we could have converted 847 cities into smart cities from this

cities into smart cities from this

cities into smart cities from this amount that we waste or that is wasted

amount that we waste or that is wasted

amount that we waste or that is wasted two accidents every year ultimately

two accidents every year ultimately

two accidents every year ultimately everyone’s life is precious if you want

everyone’s life is precious if you want

everyone’s life is precious if you want to know the price of life you should ask

to know the price of life you should ask

to know the price of life you should ask the family of the victim who lost a life

the family of the victim who lost a life

the family of the victim who lost a life to an accident then you will understand

to an accident then you will understand

to an accident then you will understand you will be able to empathize with the

you will be able to empathize with the

you will be able to empathize with the true price of life of a person who is

true price of life of a person who is

true price of life of a person who is dying on the road

dying on the road

dying on the road and we must also imagine that this could

and we must also imagine that this could

and we must also imagine that this could happen to anybody in our country any

happen to anybody in our country any

happen to anybody in our country any family in our country we are all running

family in our country we are all running

family in our country we are all running the risk so today on a closing thought I

the risk so today on a closing thought I

the risk so today on a closing thought I want to ask you this question will you

want to ask you this question will you

want to ask you this question will you stand up and will it be prepared to

stand up and will it be prepared to

stand up and will it be prepared to protect the life of ours our family and

protect the life of ours our family and

protect the life of ours our family and also our citizens in the country by

also our citizens in the country by

also our citizens in the country by creating and helping create and

creating and helping create and

creating and helping create and demanding for a similar system the

demanding for a similar system the

demanding for a similar system the technology based system that can know

technology based system that can know

technology based system that can know when accidents happen where accidents

when accidents happen where accidents

when accidents happen where accidents happen and bring help to the emergency

happen and bring help to the emergency

happen and bring help to the emergency relief immediately to the people in

relief immediately to the people in

relief immediately to the people in distress or villages think that this is

distress or villages think that this is

distress or villages think that this is not a big deal

not a big deal

not a big deal ignore this problem and just let it a

ignore this problem and just let it a

ignore this problem and just let it a pass thank you

pass thank you

pass thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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