My ramblings on technology, faith, music and life in general..
The AI Revolution in Customer-Facing Roles: Where Do We Go From Here?
As Forrester concluded in their 2024 Predictions report: "Organizations that delay AI implementation in customer-facing functions will face a 30% revenue growth gap compared to AI leaders within 36 months – a deficit from which most will never recover." The teams I lead have already begun this transformation journey. We are trying to reimagine our processes from the ground up, and developing the skills that will define the next generation of customer advisors. The post The AI Revolution in Customer-Facing Roles: Where Do We Go From Here? appeared first on RUMINATION.
George Kuruvilla | March 2, 2025 | 12 min read The Dawn of a New Era AI has been around a while and it should no longer be a futuristic concept to those of us who’ve kept it at an arms length. It’s fundamentally reshaping how teams operate across the enterprise. As someone who leads customer facing teams that are still quite silo’d, I see both the immense opportunities and inevitable disruption ahead. The Current State: Efficiency Gaps in Customer-Facing Roles Today’s customer-facing teams operate with significant inefficiencies that we’ve simply accepted as “the cost of doing business”: Sales teams spend only 28% of their time actually selling, according to Salesforce research. The rest is consumed by administrative work and preparation. Solution consultants dedicate 15-20 hours preparing for each major demonstration, with 70% of that work being repetitive, according to Forrester. Professional services consultants frequently recreate solutions, with Accenture finding that 68% of custom work contains at least 70% identical components to previous implementations. Customer success managers struggle with proactive risk identification, with Gainsight reporting that traditional methods identify only 30-40% of churn risks early enough for effective intervention. These inefficiencies might have been tolerable in the era of “growth at all costs,” but that era has definitively ended. Macro Economic Realities: Profitability Trumps Growth <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-3-743x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5393" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-3-743x1024.png 743w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-3-218x300.png 218w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-3-768x1059.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image-3.png 811w" sizes="(max-width: 743px) 100vw, 743px" /> The economic landscape has shifted dramatically. Investors who once celebrated top-line growth at any cost are now demanding profitable, sustainable business models. The SaaS industry has experienced a profound correction, with valuations plummeting from 15-20x ARR to 5-6x ARR in recent years, according to Bessemer Venture Partners’ 2024 State of the Cloud Report. This new reality places immense pressure on SaaS companies to: Improve operational efficiency Increase productivity per employee Optimize resource allocation Demonstrate clear paths to profitability For context, a recent PitchBook report showed that the median time to profitability for SaaS companies has decreased from 9+ years in 2021 to an expected 4-5 years for companies raising funding today. Meanwhile, Gartner predicts that by 2026, 60% of SaaS companies will fail if they cannot establish profitable growth models – up from just 35% in 2022. The impact of this shift is already evident in employment trends. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after years of explosive growth, SaaS industry hiring has plateaued since late 2023, with a net growth rate of just 2.1% year-over-year – the lowest in over a decade. Yet revenue expectations continue to climb, with Morgan Stanley projecting that public SaaS companies will need to deliver at least 20% annual productivity improvements per employee to meet investor expectations. When speaking with other SaaS executives, one message comes through consistently: the mandate is clear – do more with less. Headcount growth has slowed across the industry, but performance expectations continue to rise. This isn’t a temporary adjustment; it’s the new standard. The AI Evolution: From Hype to Transformative Force Deloitte’s 2024 State of AI in the Enterprise report indicates that 78% of organizations now view AI in customer-facing functions as “mission critical” or “very important” to their business strategy – up from just 34% in 2021. The same report found that AI deployments in sales, marketing, and customer success have delivered an average ROI of 3.1x over the past year, significantly outperforming other functional areas. Generative AI: Creating Value at Unprecedented Scale Unlike traditional AI limited to pattern recognition, generative systems can create new content, code, and ideas. The Content Marketing Institute reports that organizations using generative AI produce 4.3x more personalized content with only a modest increase in staff. MIT’s research found that teams leveraging generative AI have reduced administrative workload by 62%, allowing customer-facing staff to spend approximately 15 additional hours per week on high-value customer interactions. AI-Powered Customer Research: The Foundation of Customer-Centricity AI has fundamentally changed how we understand customers by enabling comprehensive, continuous research that would be impossible through human effort alone. Harvard Business Review found that after implementing AI-powered customer research, sales conversations now spend 70% of the time discussing customer business challenges versus 30% before AI implementation. Bain & Company’s research reveals organizations using AI for deep customer research achieve: 32% higher new business close rates 2.3x more accurate initial solution scoping 47% faster time-to-value for new customers 1.9x higher expansion revenue within existing accounts Agentic AI: From Passive Tool to Active Partner While generative AI is impressive, the emergence of agentic AI represents an even more profound shift. Agentic AI systems don’t just respond to prompts – they take initiative, learn from interactions, and execute complex workflows autonomously. They function less like tools and more like digital teammates. The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI defines agentic systems as “AI that can perceive, decide, and act autonomously to accomplish designated goals while adapting to environmental feedback.” Their 2024 AI Index Report indicates that agentic AI deployment in enterprise settings has grown at a 212% CAGR since 2022. AI Companions: Digital Teammates Across the Customer Lifecycle The concept of AI companions – autonomous agents that work alongside humans as digital teammates – represents one of the most exciting developments in customer-facing roles. Unlike passive tools that require human direction, these companions proactively assist professionals throughout their workday. Here’s how AI companions are transforming each customer-facing role: For Sales Professionals Sales companions function as always-on sales assistants that handle routine tasks while surfacing critical insights: Meeting preparation: Before each customer interaction, the companion assembles a comprehensive briefing with customer research, relevant case studies, and suggested talking points aligned to the customer’s known priorities. Real-time meeting assistance: During calls, the companion listens actively, suggests relevant responses to objections, and surfaces appropriate resources at the perfect moment. Salesforce’s 2024 State of AI in Sales report indicates that sales representatives using real-time AI assistants successfully address 34% more customer objections and cite 2.7x more relevant case studies during calls. Autonomous follow-up: After meetings, the companion drafts personalized follow-up communications, updates CRM records, and schedules necessary next steps without human intervention. Deal coaching: The companion continuously analyzes deal progression, identifying risk factors and suggesting proven strategies based on patterns from successful past deals. For Solution Consultants Solution consultant companions elevate technical demonstrations from product showcases to business transformation discussions: Tailored demo creation: The companion autonomously builds customized demonstrations that align perfectly with each prospect’s industry, use cases, and articulated pain points. Technical research: The companion continuously researches the prospect’s technical environment, identifying potential integration challenges and architectural considerations before they become obstacles. Real-time technical support: During demonstrations, the companion provides real-time answers to detailed technical questions, ensuring the solution consultant never needs to say “I’ll get back to you on that.” Competitive intelligence: The companion monitors competitor movements and automatically updates battlecards and differentiation strategies based on market changes. . For Professional Services Professional services companions accelerate implementations while improving quality: Automated solution design: The companion suggests optimal implementation approaches based on the customer’s specific needs and constraints, drawing on patterns from thousands of previous implementations. Code generation: For customization work, the companion autonomously generates code, configurations, and integrations based on high-level requirements. GitHub’s Enterprise State of AI report shows that code generation tools improve developer productivity by 55% for custom integration work while reducing defect rates by 27%. Project management: The companion monitors project progress, identifies potential risks, and suggests mitigation strategies before issues impact timelines. Knowledge capture: Throughout implementation, the companion documents decisions, configurations, and customizations, ensuring perfect knowledge transfer to support teams. For Customer Success Customer success companions transform reactive support into proactive value creation: Usage analysis: The companion continuously analyzes customer usage patterns, identifying both adoption gaps and power users who could be advocates. Health prediction: Beyond simple health scores, the companion predicts specific risks based on subtle usage changes, communication sentiment, and market factors. Value realization tracking: The companion automatically tracks progress toward committed business outcomes, suggesting interventions when customers are off-track. Forrester’s Customer Success Index found that organizations using AI-powered value tracking achieve 42% higher value realization rates than those using manual tracking methods. Renewal preparation: Well before renewal, the companion assembles comprehensive ROI documentation and suggests expansion opportunities based on usage patterns. For Customers Perhaps most importantly, customers themselves increasingly have their own AI companions that transform how they evaluate, implement, and use solutions: Vendor evaluation: Customer AI companions autonomously research potential vendors, compare capabilities, and even conduct initial demonstrations without human involvement. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 60% of enterprise software purchases will involve AI assistants in the initial vendor screening process, dramatically compressing traditional early-stage sales cycles. Implementation assistance: During implementation, these companions help customers complete their required tasks, translate technical requirements into business language, and accelerate onboarding. Deloitte’s Enterprise Technology Adoption study found that customer-side AI assistants improve time-to-value by 41% and increase implementation satisfaction scores by 27%. Ongoing optimization: Post-implementation, customer companions continuously suggest optimization opportunities, feature adoption, and new use cases based on evolving business needs. McKinsey’s research on software value realization shows that customers using AI optimization assistants achieve 34% higher ROI from their software investments. This proliferation of AI companions on both sides of the relationship creates a new dynamic where AI-to-AI interactions handle routine matters, freeing humans to focus on strategic value creation. The Harvard Business Review estimates that by 2027, 35% of business-to-business interactions will involve AI-to-AI communication for routine matters, with human involvement reserved for complex negotiations, relationship building, and strategic alignment. Role Consolidation: The Inevitable Reality As AI capabilities advance, we’ll see significant consolidation across these roles. The bright line between sales, presales, customer success, and professional services will blur as AI handles routine tasks across the customer lifecycle. Rather than specialized roles focused on narrow parts of the customer journey, we’re likely to see the emergence of “full-stack customer advisors” who leverage AI to deliver value across the entire lifecycle. These professionals will be fewer in number but significantly higher in impact. This eminates the silos between sales, presales, professional services, and customer success, creating a unified role that delivers value end-to-end. To thrive as a full-stack customer advisor in an AI-driven SaaS landscape, professionals must develop a unique blend of skills that enable them to deliver value across the entire customer lifecycle. Key skills include AI proficiency, such as leveraging generative and agentic AI tools for automation, customer insights, and decision-making; business acumen, with the ability to align solutions to measurable outcomes and industry challenges; and technical fluency, encompassing solution architecture, data analytics, and integration expertise. Additionally, strategic communication is critical for articulating value propositions and building relationships, while adaptability ensures professionals can navigate role fluidity and continuously upskill as AI evolves. This combination of technical, strategic, and interpersonal skills will define the next generation of impactful customer advisors. Forrester’s research on the Future of SaaS Go-to-Market Models indicates that by 2028, 40% of SaaS organizations will have redesigned their customer-facing teams around integrated “customer journey teams” rather than traditional functional silos. Their model suggests that these integrated teams will be 35% smaller than their siloed predecessors while delivering improved customer experience metrics. Customer Evolution: More Educated, More Demanding While we focus on our own adaptation, we must recognize that our customers are evolving as well. They arrive more educated through their own AI-powered research, with higher expectations for immediate value, and decreasing patience for traditional sales processes. Gartner’s B2B Buying Journey report reveals the extent of this shift: the average enterprise software buyer now completes 57% of their buying journey before engaging with vendors, up from 33% just five years ago. Furthermore, 72% of buyers report using AI tools to research solutions, compare options, and develop preliminary requirements. Where customers once needed guidance through basic discovery, they now expect us to validate and expand upon their existing knowledge. Where they once accepted lengthy sales cycles as necessary, they now demand immediate value and rapid time-to-outcome. The Time to Act Is Now The most dangerous response to this AI revolution is hesitation. Teams that embrace these technologies today will develop the muscle memory and organizational capabilities to adapt continuously as capabilities evolve. Those who wait for perfect clarity before acting will find themselves hopelessly behind. By the time the impact of AI becomes obvious to everyone, the competitive advantage of early adoption will have already created an insurmountable lead for forward-thinking organizations. As Forrester concluded in their 2024 Predictions report: “Organizations that delay AI implementation in customer-facing functions will face a 30% revenue growth gap compared to AI leaders within 36 months – a deficit from which most will never recover.” The teams I lead have already begun this transformation journey. We are trying to reimagine our processes from the ground up, and developing the skills that will define the next generation of customer advisors. In the words of Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum: “In the new world, it is not the big fish which eats the small fish, it’s the fast fish which eats the slow fish.” And in today’s environment, the fast fish are those embracing AI. The future isn’t coming, it’s already here! <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fthe-ai-revolution-in-customer-facing-roles-where-do-we-go-from-here%2F&title=The%20AI%20Revolution%20in%20Customer-Facing%20Roles%3A%20Where%20Do%20We%20Go%20From%20Here%3F" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/the-ai-revolution-in-customer-facing-roles-where-do-we-go-from-here/" data-a2a-title="The AI Revolution in Customer-Facing Roles: Where Do We Go From Here?"> The post The AI Revolution in Customer-Facing Roles: Where Do We Go From Here? appeared first on RUMINATION.
Obsidian & Zettelkasten: Note Taking Evolved
By integrating Zettelkasten's principles with Obsidian’s technical capabilities—especially its formatting shortcuts and plugin ecosystem, you build a dynamic knowledge system that scales with your intellectual journey. The post Obsidian & Zettelkasten: Note Taking Evolved appeared first on RUMINATION.
<img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/h3bjellr8pkemsr6axku-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5384" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/h3bjellr8pkemsr6axku.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/h3bjellr8pkemsr6axku-300x300.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/h3bjellr8pkemsr6axku-150x150.png 150w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/h3bjellr8pkemsr6axku-768x768.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> I’ve always been a serial note-taker. Whether scribbling during meetings, jotting ideas from books, or dumping random thoughts, I’ve filled countless pages (digital and physical) over the years. But here’s the problem—I could never find anything when I needed it. My notes were like socks in a dryer: always there but impossible to pair. Then I discovered the Zettelkasten method and Obsidian. Skeptical at first , but after a few months of using this combo, my notes feel connected and useful in a totally different sense. Here’s how it clicked for me. What’s Zettelkasten? (And Why I Ditched Folders) Zettelkasten, a German word meaning “slip box,” was pioneered by sociologist Niklas Luhmann. He wrote 70+ books using this method, so I figured, Why not try it? The basics: Fleeting Notes: My messy brain dumps (like Post-its for ideas). Literature Notes: Summaries of books/articles I read. Permanent Notes: Atomic, reusable ideas linked together. No more nested folders! Instead, notes connect like LEGO bricks. For example, my note on “eInk displays” links to “productivity tools” and “digital minimalism.” Over time, these connections spark new ideas—like how Luhmann’s physical cards grew into a research machine. Why Obsidian Feels Like Zettelkasten’s Soulmate I tested Notion, OneNote, Google Keep and other tools first. But Obsidian won me over for five reasons: 1. It’s Just Markdown (No Lock-In) Notes live as simple .md files on my Google Drive. No proprietary formats, no subscriptions. After losing years of data once, this was non-negotiable. 2. Graph View = My Digital Brain The first time I opened Obsidian’s graph, I gasped. My scattered notes formed constellations. Suddenly, I saw how “note-taking” linked to “creativity” through 12 paths I’d never noticed. 3. Speed Wins With keyboard shortcuts, I create notes faster than texting. Ctrl+N for new, Ctrl+K to link—no mousing around. Even my workflow feels paper-like. 4. Plugins for Power-Ups Out of 1,000+ plugins, these are my MVPs: Templater: Auto-fill daily notes with date/headers. QuickAdd: One-click capture for fleeting ideas. Readwise Official: Sync highlights from Kindle/Medium. 5. Mobile Sync That Just Works Using this clever Google Drive hack, my notes stay updated across Mac, Windows, and Android. My Daily Workflow (Chaos to Clarity) Capture Mode Fleeting Notes: I type random ideas into a daily note (coffee thoughts count!). Web Clippings: Use the MarkDownload Chrome extension to save articles. Process & Link Convert fleeting notes to permanent ones. Example: Raw thought: “eInk reduces eye strain vs LCD.” Permanent note: Links to “digital wellness” and “eInk tech specs.” Add literature notes from books. I tag sources like #book/DeepWork for quick reference. Tidy Up Once a week, Hunt “orphan notes” with no links using the Unlinked Mentions plugin. Merge duplicates (I had 3 notes on “mind mapping” — oops). Update my “Map of Content” notes (like a table of contents for topics). The Basics and How To Get Started Step 1: Vault Initialization Create a vault in a synced folder (e.g., Google Drive) for cross-device access. Step 2: Template System Fleeting Notes: Ctrl+Alt+F to trigger template (date + capture field) Literature Notes: Auto-populate source metadata via Templater plugin. Step 3: Linking Protocol Wikilinks for explicit connections #BroadCategory tags for thematic grouping Step 4: Daily Workflow Capture ideas with /daily slash command Process literature notes using Ctrl+Shift+L hotkey Weekly review with Graph View gap analysis Syncing Obsidian Across Devices: My Google Drive Hack The Setup: Install Google Drive for Desktop. Create a folder Obsidian Vaults inside Drive. Set up vaults here—they’ll sync automatically. Mobile Access: Android: Use AutoSync for Google Drive to mirror files locally. iOS: Obsidian Mobile + iCloud Drive works smoother, but I stick with Drive for cross-platform sanity. Pro Tip: Avoid editing the same note on two devices simultaneously. I’ve had one conflict in 6 months, easily fixed via Settings > File Recovery. Plugins I Can’t Live Without Plugin Why I Love It Shortcut Kanban Turns notes into Trello-like boards /kanban Outliner Makes bullet points collapsible Ctrl+Shift+] Advanced Tables Auto-formats markdown tables Ctrl+T Style Settings Custom CSS for OCD folks like me — Controversial Pick: I avoid AI plugins. Tried ChatGPT Integration, but it overcomplicates simple notes. Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To) Over-Tagging: Tagged every note with #productivity, #tech, etc. Now I use 3-5 broad tags max. Ignoring Backlinks: My early notes were lonely islands. Now, I add 2-3 links per note religiously. Skipping Templates: Wasted hours reformatting. The Templater plugin saved me. Formatting Reference Section Video Tutorials Shortcut Mastery: Obsidian Hotkeys for Power Users (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ft9G6JUfO0 Zettelkasten Workflow: From Capture to Publication (2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqKluXIra70 Articles & Documentation Official Formatting Guide: https://publish.obsidian.md/hub/04+-+Guides/Plugin+Guides/Linter Academic Implementation: https://www.aidanhelfant.com/the-obsidian-beginner-resource-list/ Final Thoughts: Is Obsidian Worth It? If you’re a researcher, writer, or serial note-taker—absolutely. The learning curve feels steep (took me 2 weeks to feel fluent), but now I feel much more productive thanks to: Instant searcheability across all my notes Seeing connections I’d otherwise miss Owning my data completely By integrating Zettelkasten’s principles with Obsidian’s technical capabilities—especially its formatting shortcuts and plugin ecosystem, you build a dynamic knowledge system that scales with your intellectual journey. But if you’re happy with Apple Notes, OneNote or Google Keep, stick with them! Obsidian shines for complex knowledge gardens, not quick grocery lists. <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fobsidian-zettelkasten-how-i-finally-organized-my-chaotic-notes%2F&title=Obsidian%20%26%20Zettelkasten%3A%20Note%20Taking%20Evolved" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/obsidian-zettelkasten-how-i-finally-organized-my-chaotic-notes/" data-a2a-title="Obsidian & Zettelkasten: Note Taking Evolved"> The post Obsidian & Zettelkasten: Note Taking Evolved appeared first on RUMINATION.
2024 has been an exceptionally challenging year for our family. My father has battled Parkinson’s disease for over two decades, and this year, complications arose that affected his well-being. I cherish the ten days I spent with him in the hospital, reflecting on my upbringing. As a father to two young girls, I’ve gained profound… The post Happy Fathers Day, Appa! appeared first on RUMINATION.
<img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5342" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DSC_8777-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> 2024 has been an exceptionally challenging year for our family. My father has battled Parkinson’s disease for over two decades, and this year, complications arose that affected his well-being. I cherish the ten days I spent with him in the hospital, reflecting on my upbringing. As a father to two young girls, I’ve gained profound appreciation for his influence and the values he instilled in me, both intentionally and subconsciously. In retrospect, appa was never overly demonstrative. The word that best captures our relationship is “respect.” His vast knowledge spans world affairs, finances, his professional domains, and beyond. Even now, his memory astounds me, defying his condition. <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-1024x724.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5357" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-1024x724.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-300x212.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-768x543.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534943538039-dfff814a-8600-4145-91e0-7da184b312e9-1-2048x1449.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5358" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-768x576.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534948982556-180e91b5-9c87-4aa3-bd2a-a1f544f3e4a9-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG-20190626-WA0006-3-576x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5376" width="328" height="583" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG-20190626-WA0006-3-576x1024.jpg 576w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG-20190626-WA0006-3-169x300.jpg 169w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG-20190626-WA0006-3.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px" /> His reverence for the Lord is equally admirable. Twice-daily prayers were our norm. As he would leave the house for work, he would draw a cross on my forehead, a gesture I truly cherished. <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" data-id="5359" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5359" class="wp-image-5359" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-768x576.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_100554-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-808x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5360" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5360" class="wp-image-5360" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-808x1024.jpg 808w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-237x300.jpg 237w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-768x974.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-1212x1536.jpg 1212w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-1615x2048.jpg 1615w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20231007_095549-1-scaled.jpg 2019w" sizes="(max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="5362" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5362" class="wp-image-5362" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1534944108057-31d5450c-de67-40c7-955a-a0efd273750b-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1-1024x696.jpg" alt="" data-id="5363" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5363" class="wp-image-5363" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1-1024x696.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1-300x204.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1-768x522.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1-1536x1044.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-1.jpg 1787w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Selflessness defines him. Unlike many of his peers, he indulged in nothing for himself. Despite his executive position, he shunned extravagance and materialism. Yet, his generosity knows no bounds. Countless individuals have benefited from his financial support, time, affection, and counsel. This limitless altruism is a quality I deeply revere. <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5361" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-1024x684.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-768x513.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_0080-1-1-2048x1368.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> His love manifests in unique ways. He’d surprise me with cases of Coke (admittedly not the healthiest choice) or treat me to shawarma. I remember when he bought me my first computer. He came back from work and drove a long way to get it for me. It was an expensive purchase, yet he did that for me. When my 12th-grade math results fell short, he journeyed to Delhi to champion my cause. Later, he facilitated my Master’s at Columbia University, paving the way for my success. Many would have hesitated, given his numerous fiscal obligations, but he prioritized my future. His indomitable spirit and refusal to succumb to adversity are truly inspirational. His two-decade struggle with Parkinson’s exemplifies this resilience. While others painted grim scenarios, his optimism fueled his fight, enabling him to embrace life fully, making the most of each day. It’s an area where I falter, and I aspire to emulate his mindset. <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/e1e70ad4-5ccd-454c-be03-e601f5bc01e9-838x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5370" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/e1e70ad4-5ccd-454c-be03-e601f5bc01e9-838x1024.jpg 838w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/e1e70ad4-5ccd-454c-be03-e601f5bc01e9-245x300.jpg 245w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/e1e70ad4-5ccd-454c-be03-e601f5bc01e9-768x939.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/e1e70ad4-5ccd-454c-be03-e601f5bc01e9.jpg 909w" sizes="(max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px" /> Unlike other dads, growing up, appa did not often say that he loved me or give me many hugs and kisses. Nevertheless, he cultivated an environment of unwavering security and unconditional acceptance. His steadfast support never wavered. While the world’s opinions hold little sway over me, his pride remains my constant pursuit, mirroring the pride I hold for him. Appa stands as one of my greatest blessings, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate. I hope that I can be half the father to my children as he has been to me. Appa, you are loved beyond measure! The post Happy Fathers Day, Appa! appeared first on RUMINATION.
A Tribute To My Dear Grandfather, Dr. Samuel Krishnamurthy
From a very early age, I shared a special bond with my appacha. I clung to him and idolized him. He was ever-present in my life and always made me feel immensely loved. When I reflect on my childhood, most of my fondest memories have him in them. I spent almost every vacation with him… The post A Tribute To My Dear Grandfather, Dr. Samuel Krishnamurthy appeared first on RUMINATION.
<img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="5309" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5309" class="wp-image-5309" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534943943392-aba812f9-6534-4251-aace-e8bb93928fad-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535097797665-565c19ed-532c-4ed1-a6d3-4e18c03c3d2a-01-963x1024.jpeg" alt="" data-id="5310" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5310" class="wp-image-5310" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535097797665-565c19ed-532c-4ed1-a6d3-4e18c03c3d2a-01-963x1024.jpeg 963w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535097797665-565c19ed-532c-4ed1-a6d3-4e18c03c3d2a-01-282x300.jpeg 282w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535097797665-565c19ed-532c-4ed1-a6d3-4e18c03c3d2a-01-768x817.jpeg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535097797665-565c19ed-532c-4ed1-a6d3-4e18c03c3d2a-01.jpeg 1278w" sizes="(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-683x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5311" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5311" class="wp-image-5311" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-683x1024.jpg 683w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-200x300.jpg 200w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-768x1152.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819453948-d3eabf18-59cf-4adf-acf0-6df27f6fe8a6-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="5312" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5312" class="wp-image-5312" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535819630416-498a466a-2f93-4e7e-a93c-a4d0a371acfc_-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-1024x675.jpg" alt="" data-id="5313" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5313" class="wp-image-5313" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-1024x675.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-768x506.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-1536x1013.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_0039-2048x1350.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG-20200209-WA0094-768x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5314" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5314" class="wp-image-5314" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG-20200209-WA0094-768x1024.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG-20200209-WA0094-225x300.jpg 225w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG-20200209-WA0094-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG-20200209-WA0094.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-1024x683.jpg" alt="" data-id="5315" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5315" class="wp-image-5315" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1534944221715-e156666f-0cb3-46a0-ac2d-d06204c215ec-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> From a very early age, I shared a special bond with my appacha. I clung to him and idolized him. He was ever-present in my life and always made me feel immensely loved. When I reflect on my childhood, most of my fondest memories have him in them. I spent almost every vacation with him and was always by his side. I prayed with him, ate with him, slept next to him, would wake up early to go with him to the hospital, watch movies with him, and so much more. We were inseparable. It would not be a stretch to say that I worshipped him during my childhood. He had a massive influence on my life. I am proud that many of the habits and principles I hold today were instilled in me by appacha and my time with him. He is the most disciplined individual I’ve known. Every aspect of his life was clearly defined, planned, and occurred at a specific time of the day like clockwork! He would even note down the odometer readings from his car after every trip, no matter how long or short. He would take his daily earnings and split them into multiple categories: electricity, water, tithe, etc., and place them in envelopes. He even had a “Difficulty Days Fund,” and I remember his pouch to store those funds. He was meticulous about everything. And thanks to that discipline, he lived a long, good life! He always put his faith in Christ first and let it govern every aspect of his life. I still remember him waking up and praying each morning and conducting family prayer twice daily. Once he was at the hospital, he would read the bible and daily devotionals and then make notes. He was also scrupulous about tithing. He expressed Christ’s love by serving the the needy both financially and through his God-given talents. I remember the Charity clinic that he ran at this church. He served so many patients even into his 70s. I remember many of his sermons and how he was never shy or ashamed to share his life experiences. <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5332" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-768x576.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1535820634144-7715586c-1b78-454b-b069-591376f57d60-2-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2-1024x625.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5333" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2-1024x625.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2-300x183.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2-768x469.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2-1536x938.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/appachaammachyfunnyface_bw-2.jpg 2040w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> He was also a romantic and loved Ammachy beyond belief. I would catch them, sometimes holding hands and sharing stories. He would call her Kittamma affectionately. They were inseparable. I don’t think they have ever stayed apart, even for a day. During my time with him at the hospital, he shared stories of the two of them that Ammachy probably did not appreciate him sharing Again, his love for Ammachy can also be tied back to his faith. He shared his life stories during our times together at the hospital and evenings spent on the front porch. To me, his life was dramatic and far-fetched, the stuff movies are made of. How he fought for our freedom and was in prison for a while, how he came to faith in Christ and was disowned by his own family for it, his early days moving to Maharashtra throwing caution to the wind, and then his subsequent move to Changancherry – establishing his medical practice there, not knowing the language, how he raised his family, starting from nothing. In the end, it was all possible because he always put Christ first in his life and never attributed any of his accomplishments to himself but to God’s grace alone. He always reminded me of that fact. And because of that foundational belief, he was ever- willing to share his testimonial to anyone who would listen. Most of us refrain from talking about our faith in this day and age, lest it offends people. But my appacha taught me that when faith governs you and when the love of Christ has truly touched you, it is impossible to contain it and be quiet about it. You will take advantage of every opportunity that you get to share God’s love and his plan for salvation with others. I saw Christ’s love through my Appacha. Appacha was also a symbol of strength in my life. I don’t know many others who’ve fought cancer thrice in their 80s and lived to talk about it. He had a tenacious will to live and make the most of his God-given life. And he fought for it until the very end! <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-485x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5316" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5316" class="wp-image-5316" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165641-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-485x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5317" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5317" class="wp-image-5317" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165556-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> <img src="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-485x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5318" data-full-url="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-scaled.jpg" data-link="https://blog.gkuruvilla.org/?attachment_id=5318" class="wp-image-5318" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/20220107_165546-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> The last few days have been hard, and I want to forget how appacha had suffered in the end. Instead, I desire to cherish all the beautiful memories during our time together. Watching Bud Spencer movies, playing carroms, going together to Best Bakery to buy sweet nan and mutton puffs, the many vacations we got to spend together, and the countless gifts that he’s gifted us all, being ever-present in our lives! I particularly remember the first piano, a Casio, that he gave me. It had a massive impact on my musical journey in life. He was simply the best grandfather that anyone could ask for. We are truly blessed. While we will all miss him, he is now in heaven, and the suffering has ended. He fought the good fight and finished his race. He would have turned 97 in February. I will cherish all these memories, and I hope to lead a life that he would be proud of. I love you and miss you, Appacha. I wanted to end by sharing some of his own words that I hope will be inspirational to you all. He penned this after his fight with cancer: “God has raised me from nothing. From the day I was driven out of my home and given a peaceful Godly home to live happily, he has promised me his constant presence and a better, much better heavenly home. Then why should I be sad or worried? My only prayer was this: “Let thy will be done.” <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fa-tribute-to-my-dear-grandfather-dr-samuel-krishnamurthy%2F&title=A%20Tribute%20To%20My%20Dear%20Grandfather%2C%20Dr.%20Samuel%20Krishnamurthy" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/a-tribute-to-my-dear-grandfather-dr-samuel-krishnamurthy/" data-a2a-title="A Tribute To My Dear Grandfather, Dr. Samuel Krishnamurthy"> The post A Tribute To My Dear Grandfather, Dr. Samuel Krishnamurthy appeared first on RUMINATION.
Leadership and Teams: What We Can Learn From India’s Historic Test Series Victory in Australia
Cricket is a religion in India that over a billion people follow, and I am no exception. Yesterday, cricket fans around the world witnessed something truly historic, with India defeating the hosts, Australia in a 4 game test series. This is just the second time India has ever won a test series in Australia and… The post Leadership and Teams: What We Can Learn From India’s Historic Test Series Victory in Australia appeared first on RUMINATION.
<img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india-1024x622.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5279" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india-1024x622.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india-300x182.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india-768x467.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india-1536x933.jpg 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/india.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Cricket is a religion in India that over a billion people follow, and I am no exception. Yesterday, cricket fans around the world witnessed something truly historic, with India defeating the hosts, Australia in a 4 game test series. This is just the second time India has ever won a test series in Australia and also the first time Australia lost at the Gabba (Brisbane) since 1988. Needless to say, all of India is celebrating this remarkable accomplishment. I was up at 2:30 am watching every moment and captured this video, and I think the commentator said it best: “India win the test, they win the series, they win the hearts and minds of cricket fans all over the world. Test cricket’s heart is beating hard and it’s beating true. One of the greatest sporting performances ever seen on Australian soil. They were down, they were out and India have risen, and they’ve held on to the Border-Gavaskar trophy in a truly epic series.“ While the series win is awe inspiring for a number of reasons, I wanted to capture the lessons we can all learn from this remarkable team. Failure – A Necessary Step In Defining Your Destiny Failure can be a stepping stone to success, provided you approach it with the right attitude and learn from your mistakes. India suffered a historic loss in the first test, including their lowest innings score EVER. All the pundits had ruled them out and many felt that Australia would win the series 4-0. However they put the loss behind them and thought of what’s possible if they believed and played together as a team. And they accomplished the impossible! If the team had let all the negativity creep in, the series would have looked very different. Seize Your Opportunities When an opportunity comes along, you have to step up and seize the moment no matter how daunting it might seem. With all the injuries to the playing XI, a number of young inexperienced players with little to no test cricket experience under their belt had to step up and face the mighty Aussies. However they did not let fear get the better of them. They instead capitalized on the opportunity that they were given. They played beyond their potential and led India to victory, making all of us proud! When You Work Together As A Team, ANYTHING Is Possible. If you looked at the individuals on the Indian team and compared them to the Australian team, they were no match in any sense. In the fourth test match at the Gabba, where Australia has not lost a test match since 1988, the Aussie bowling attack had a combined 260+ matches under their belt compared to the Indian bowlers have a combined experience of under 6. But they relied on each others strengths and played as ONE TEAM, with different individuals stepping up at crucial junctures. They put the TEAM first and accomplished greatness, with the debutants playing crucial roles in the victory! A True Leader Can Inspire And Help Achieve The Impossible. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5289" data-full-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238.jpg" data-link="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/leadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia/fb_img_1611103705238/" class="wp-image-5289" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238-300x300.jpg 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238-150x150.jpg 150w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238-768x768.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FB_IMG_1611103705238.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Rahane was asked to step in and captain the team after the historic loss in the first test. He was not in an enviable position. India’s captain and number 1 batsman, Virat Kohli, was back in India, Rahane’s personal form was not the best and there were a number of injuries affecting many of the top players. Any yet he led with character, integrity and positivity bringing out the best in each and every member of the team. He led from the front by scoring a century that was instrumental in India winning the second test. In addition, during various situations in the games he spoke to his inexperienced players and motivated them when they needed it the most. And they came through for him and rewarded him for his belief in them. <a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fleadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia%2F&linkname=Leadership%20and%20Teams%3A%20What%20We%20Can%20Learn%20From%20India%E2%80%99s%20Historic%20Test%20Series%20Victory%20in%20Australia" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fleadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia%2F&linkname=Leadership%20and%20Teams%3A%20What%20We%20Can%20Learn%20From%20India%E2%80%99s%20Historic%20Test%20Series%20Victory%20in%20Australia" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fleadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia%2F&linkname=Leadership%20and%20Teams%3A%20What%20We%20Can%20Learn%20From%20India%E2%80%99s%20Historic%20Test%20Series%20Victory%20in%20Australia" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fleadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia%2F&title=Leadership%20and%20Teams%3A%20What%20We%20Can%20Learn%20From%20India%E2%80%99s%20Historic%20Test%20Series%20Victory%20in%20Australia" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/leadership-and-teams-what-we-can-learn-from-indias-history-test-series-victory-in-australia/" data-a2a-title="Leadership and Teams: What We Can Learn From India’s Historic Test Series Victory in Australia"> The post Leadership and Teams: What We Can Learn From India’s Historic Test Series Victory in Australia appeared first on RUMINATION.
Just like many of you, 2020 was a challenging and at the same time, a transformative year for me. I had the opportunity to step back and take a look at my life and make some much needed changes, some that I did not even realize was needed due to the rapid pace at which… The post 2020: A Year Of Change appeared first on RUMINATION.
Just like many of you, 2020 was a challenging and at the same time, a transformative year for me. I had the opportunity to step back and take a look at my life and make some much needed changes, some that I did not even realize was needed due to the rapid pace at which I have been living in the past. I wanted to take an opportunity to reflect on some of these changes and lessons. Regular Self Assessment Is Key To Leading A Value Centric Life Most of us don’t lead a balanced life. We’d like to believe we do and when asked about how we spend time, we paint this picture of a balanced life focused on our core values. However in reality, there is a huge disconnect between what we say and what we do. And to fix this disconnect, self assessment is a critical component. It starts by really honing in on what we consider our core value buckets, documenting these value buckets and then being honest with ourselves and constantly assessing how we are faring against our value buckets. Evaluating whether we are spending our time in a manner that aligns with our values and priorities. Thanks to some of the down time this year, I realized that I certainly was not leading a balanced life and needed to make some much needed changes. Don’t Underestimate The Importance Of Sleep and Exercise In prior years, I averaged between 4-6 hours of sleep most nights. I thought 4 hours was generally enough for my body, catching up on the third or fourth night. All the travel did not help the cause either. In 2020, I made a conscious effort to average 6-7 hours every night. I also exercised at least three times a week (treadmill mostly). What a difference its made! As a diabetic, I have struggled in the past to keep my A1C in check, and these two changes have helped me reduce my values. I feel a lot better in general. Don’t Take Your Family For Granted. Be PRESENT While I knew, that my kids were not fans of me travelling, I didn’t quite comprehend how much it impacted them. Even when I was home, I was not always truly present. I was distracted lost in my world and did not realize that my kids noticed it and how perceptive they really are. This year, I got to spend quality time with my family, and that perhaps was the best aspect of 2020. While I still am distracted often, I am trying to get better at making my time with my family meaningful and being truly present. While we did not go on fancy vacations or road trips, we watched movies together, played Wii, went on walks, drove around etc., and that meant the world to them. I realized that it doesn’t take a lot to please them. In my busy life, it’s sometimes easy to forget that without the support of my family, especially my wife, I am nothing. Time passes by quickly and I don’t want to regret not being present in the important moments. Less TV, More Books You never realize how much time goes by binge watching shows, till you stop! This year, we got rid of our Netflix subscription. The net result was more time spent reading books. I was never much of a reader (other than tech journals, magazines and current affairs). So to have read 20+ books this year was quite an achievement for me. Initially, I had to force myself to stick to it and get through books, but once I got the hang of it, I constantly felt the urge to read. The key to keep things interesting is to mix things up as much as possible and then try to apply what you’ve read in your daily lives . Goodreads ended up being a motivating factor as well as I had set a goal for myself that I wanted to achieve. I hope to read 25 books next year and build on this momentum. Wish me luck! Out Of My Comfort Zone When it comes to my career, tech has always been my comfort zone. It comes naturally to me. However, I realized the need to step out of my comfort zone and explore other areas. Normally I sign up for tech certifications, but this year I decided to shake things up and do my MBA (thankful to my wife for persuading me). This was something I had been contemplating for many years, but the pandemic ended up being the trigger event that got me to finally commit, and what a rewarding experience it has been so far! I also completed a couple of other online courses and in the process, got to interact with people from all over the world in various fields including the arts, finance, music etc. This has helped me broaden my world view, collaborate on new ideas and take a more holistic multi dimensional approach towards problem solving. So while it seemed daunting, taking the leap of faith and stepping out of my comfort zone was a great decision! Rededicating My Life To God 2020 was also a year of spiritual revival for me. I’ve had a couple of experiences over the years when I have truly surrendered my life to Christ. I had such an experience this year and it was one of my highlights. It was once again a reminder to me that this life of mine on earth is just a transitionary phase that I’m supposed to spend learning more about him, and sharing God’s love with others in whatever way I can. I realized that I could be doing so much more with my God given talents to serve those around me. I am praying that God uses me more and more to further His kingdom. Looking Ahead 2020 once again taught me that amongst all the hardships, God has a purpose. He wanted me to slow down a little and focus on what really matters: my family, my friends, my relationship with Him, my health and my community. I thank God for 2020 and look forward to 2021. Wish you all a blessed New Year! The post 2020: A Year Of Change appeared first on RUMINATION.
reMarkable 2 – As Close As It Gets To Writing On Paper!
I’ve always been one who likes to write things down in order to grasp what is being shared. I’m always scribbling, whether it be meetings, reading a book, watching a webinar etc. However, I’ve always had two issues related to note taking. First, its always hard to find information when I most need it. Second,… The post reMarkable 2 – As Close As It Gets To Writing On Paper! appeared first on RUMINATION.
I’ve always been one who likes to write things down in order to grasp what is being shared. I’m always scribbling, whether it be meetings, reading a book, watching a webinar etc. However, I’ve always had two issues related to note taking. First, its always hard to find information when I most need it. Second, I would prefer to have the content digitized in order to leverage the information whenever and wherever I need it. With this in mind, over the years, I’ve been trying to leverage touch screen laptops and tablets (both iOS and Android) to try and find the perfect paper and pen replacement. But I always fell short. I’ve been following the eInk tablet market for a while now and was extremely excited when the reMarkable tablet released a few years back. Back then I was skeptical about it being a v1 product (product features, writing latency, apps) and could not justify the price. So when the reMarkable2 was announced, I was super excited and all over it. I ordered my tablet back in September and received it about a week back. And based on my experience so far, I think I’ve finally found the replacement for a traditional notebook. In this post, I’ll try to explain why. The Design As part my preorder, I purchased the tablet, a polymer book folio (you also have the option to go with a leather folio or a polymer sleeve), and the marker plus which has the eraser (as compared to the standard marker which lacks the eraser). First thing I noticed when I received the shipment was the packaging and minimalistic design. Very apple like and appealing. The build quality of the tablet and the marker are excellent. It’s extremely slim (0.19 inches) and feels perfect when holding with one hand. The tablet has a 10.3 inch display and 226 DPI which I believe are the same as the original reMarkable tab. The folio is magnetic and the tab snaps in. While writing, the sleeve can be folded. The marker plus is just the right weight and feels like a high end pen in your hands. The marker is also magnetic and latches on to the tab. There is a single button on the tab, which can be used to power on the device and put it to sleep. The rest of the navigation is done by swiping (turning pages, closing docs etc.) Overall, it feels like a premium product! UI and Overall Performance The tab was extremely simple to set up. A full initial boot took about 45 seconds. The initial set up was very intuitive (set up remarkable account, configure WiFi, UI walkthrough). I was up and running in no time at all. The tab has a 1.2 Ghz dual core ARM processor with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage. I found the tab to be snappy in general and when navigating through the different functions (Notebooks, PDFs, EBooks, Favorites). Occasionally, you’ll notice the screen refreshing (much like the kindle). The battery time seems excellent so far. I’ve been using it quite a bit the past 4 days (on and off for 5 hrs/day) and I still have around 70% battery time. I suspect I can run a week (5 hrs/day) or more on full charge if all I do is take notes. Officially, reMarkable claims that the battery could last up to 3 weeks, but that is based on minimal usage. One interesting quirk that I’ve noticed is that the device only charges up to 98%. I’ve seen others talk about this anomaly as well on reddit and other forums. This is a no frills tab by design as it is purpose built to eliminate distractions. It’s primary purpose is to help you take notes quickly, read and mark up PDF’s and ebooks, convert your written notes to text and lastly share across devices and with others via email. The tab does all of these things as well as one could expect. One aspect that can use some more granularity is the types of notebooks that are available. Today, there is “notebook” and “quicksheets”. Would be great to have a few more options in there as default options. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_18-11-22-576x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5198" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_18-11-22-576x1024.png 576w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_18-11-22-169x300.png 169w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_18-11-22.png 602w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /> Writing As I mentioned earlier, I have been on a quest to find the perfect writing experience on a tab. I have tried the Google Pixelbook, Ipad Pro, Microsoft Surface Book 2, Ipad Pro and most recently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. And I can confidently say that all of the above pale in comparison to the writing experience on the reMarkable 2. First off, there is no perceivable latency (less than 21 msec). The cursive writing feels buttery smooth with the Marker. There is a surface resistance/friction that you feel when writing which is quite close to the writing experience on paper, which I quite enjoy and was missing on my other tabs. I would highly recommend getting the Marker with the eraser. Without it, it will take a couple of clicks to erase content, which can be frustrating while writing, especially if its a long document. The tab has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, which could be particularly useful for those who like to draw. Another nice aspect is how quickly I can start and resume taking notes when compared to other devices. On the iPad or an Android device, I have to power on, find the app, choose the notebook and so on. In addition, the tab constantly goes to sleep which can be annoying. On the reMarkable2, you wake the tab up from sleep (which is instantaneous) and you are right where you left off! I find myself taking a lot more notes and feeling a lot less frustrated now. The reMarkable2 has a good selection of pens, pencils and highlighters. You can organize your notes in notebooks and folders and search. You also have the ability to scribble something down quickly using what they call “quicksheets“. There is a collection of templates when it comes the paper type. You can also use layers, which can be handy when drawing. With all that said, I do miss the colors that are available to me on the other devices. What I’ve found is that I still tend to prefer the iPad or the Galaxy Tab when it comes to whiteboarding, but prefer the reMarkable2 for writing hands down! <iframe id="_ytid_84324" width="790" height="444" data-origwidth="790" data-origheight="444" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvIJ9bQUmPo?enablejsapi=1&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&modestbranding=0&rel=1&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&" class="__youtube_prefs__ no-lazyload" title="YouTube player" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy="1" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=""> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-485x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5208" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182336-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-485x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5209" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182341-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-485x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5210" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182357-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-485x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-5211" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-768x1623.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-727x1536.jpg 727w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-969x2048.jpg 969w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201212_182408-scaled.jpg 1211w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> Reading and Marking PDFs and eBooks Reading and notating PDF’s was a key use case that I was hoping to solve, and I am certainly not disappointed. It is quite easy to import, read, mark up and share documents, and the performance is really good. The reading experience is very similar to the Kindle. The design makes it convenient to hold the tab with one hand and read. I will get into the file synchronization and import process in the next section. I haven’t yet tried to edit really large files. I’ve seen some videos on Youtube that seem to indicate that it can take some time to make document wide changes to large files. However, based on my experience so far, I haven’t seen any issues editing files (PDF or eBook) Importing, Sharing Files and Accessing Notated Documents and Notes on Other Devices Remarkable has a number of apps available for the various platforms including Windows, Mac and mobile apps (iOS and Android). In addition they also have a chrome extension that makes it easy to easily transfer a website to the device to read and notate. So far, I have tested the Windows, Mac and Android apps, and also the chrome extension. The Windows apps is what I’ve been using to import documents to the tab. I don’t see the import function on the Android app on my Note 10 plus. The extension is what I find the most handy though. I read a lot of HBR articles for instance and it is so convenient to just use the extension, which converts and transfer the articles to the device. I can then mark it up and save the docs (See an example in the gallery below). What I find excellent is the conversion and how the article looks on the tab. The images are not carried over during the web page conversion process based on my experience so far. In regards to sharing docs, it’s quite easy to share via email directly from the tab. However, I have had mixed luck in terms of how quickly the files are sent. This could have something to do with the WiFi connection dropping at times. There have been scenarios where the email has not shown up for 3+ hours. There is no direct print from the tab itself. You will have to share the document via PDF and then print it from another device or access the document via the Windows/Mac/Android/iOS app and print it from there. Not a big deal for most. One of the questions that was brought up to me was the quality and fidelity of the conversion process, especially with regards to images and the quality of text. I have been told that the conversion on the kindle leaves a lot to be desired. Below is an example of an 8 page HBR case study that I imported via the Windows app and synchronized on the tab. The images look perfect and there is no garbled text. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-21-705x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5250" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-21-705x1024.png 705w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-21-207x300.png 207w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-21-768x1116.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/image-21.png 771w" sizes="(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px" /> One gripe that I have is the lack of integration with third party apps. For instance, I have a collection of docs that I have saved on Google Drive and there is no way to access my Google drive or any other third party app from the tab or from the apps directly. I hope this is something that Remarkable will address soon. With that said, I can access my notes and docs from any device using their app and export directly from the app to other storage repositories. I suspect reMarkable will release some sort of paid subscription service in the future (like everyone else). <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-32-11-1-516x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5225" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-32-11-1-516x1024.png 516w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-32-11-1-151x300.png 151w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-32-11-1.png 609w" sizes="(max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px" /> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1-1017x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5228" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1-1017x1024.png 1017w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1-298x300.png 298w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1-150x150.png 150w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1-768x773.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-17-56-1.png 1297w" sizes="(max-width: 1017px) 100vw, 1017px" /> <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-1024x419.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5230" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-1024x419.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-300x123.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-768x314.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-1536x628.png 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-12-12_19-16-12-1-2048x837.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Other Frills Worth Noting There are a few other features that I wanted to touch on that I haven’t yet covered: Convert To Text My handwriting has always been terrible (being forced to change from writing with the left hand to right hand back at a Catholic School in India did not help the cause). In fact, sometimes I myself can’t read my own writing. So, I was pleasantly surprised with the note to text conversion of the tab. It was not perfect, but fairly accurate, and considering my handwriting, that’s quite the feat! Selection Tool With the selection tool, you can select something you wrote or marked up. You can then resize, move, copy or cut that selection, and even the selection to a different document. This is particularly handy when you are sketching. LiveView (Beta) LiveView is a new feature that allows you to share what you are writing or drawing on a computer where the app is installed. This could be a useful feature. Eg: Sharing a whiteboard during a Zoom or Teams call. I have had mixed luck so far and can’t vouch for this functionality yet. Hope they address the quirks by the time the feature is officially out of beta. Customer Support and Documentation First and foremost, the only way you can reach support is through a form on their website, which is well hidden. I also found out that sometimes, they just send you canned responses, which can be extremely frustrating. There is no phone support as far as I can tell. Email responses can vary from 1 to 3 days based on my experience. I had to reach out to customer support a few times so far. First, I wanted to modify my initial order to include the Marker Plus. I was a little surprised to find out that they did not have the capability to modify the existing order. So I had to cancel and reorder. I reached back out to them to make sure that I did not lose my place in the queue due to this. They were kind enough to put me back where I was with the initial order (or so I was told). I also reached out to them to find out the status of my shipment, which was over 2 weeks behind schedule (in addition to the three months of waiting). Response was mixed. They could not provide any specificity. Overall, based on my experience so far, I’d say that customer support is mediocre. With regards to documentation, I think its quite good. I’ve been able to find technical documentation fairly easily to learn capabilities of the device. I’m quite pleased with the level of detail as well. Conclusion The million dollar question in my mind while deciding to purchase the reMarkable2 was whether it would be worth the money. Paying nearly $500 for a device to take notes and mark up documents seems like a lot and I debated the decision for a while. However, the minimalistic design is exactly what makes it worth it. The device itself is rugged and well designed and the UI is simple, intuitive and purpose built. It minimizes distractions and lets you focus on the task at hand. So if you are like me and like to take a lot of notes in addition to reading and marking up documents, then this will be well worth the investment. But if you only take notes occasionally or already own a newer iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, then maybe not. Another factor to consider is the lack of integration with third party apps like OneDrive, Google Drive, OneNote, Box etc. and how important that is to you. Personally, I find the tab to be a worthwhile investment that is already turning out to be an indispensable tool! Feel free to share your thoughts or if you have any questions in the comments section. Update – 01/10/20 <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-485x1024.jpg" alt="" data-id="5275" data-full-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-scaled.jpg" data-link="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/remarkable-2-as-close-as-it-gets-to-writing-on-paper/20210103_221624/" class="wp-image-5275" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-485x1024.jpg 485w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-142x300.jpg 142w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-768x1620.jpg 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-728x1536.jpg 728w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-971x2048.jpg 971w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20210103_221624-scaled.jpg 1213w" sizes="(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /> More than one month in, I wanted to update this post based on my experiences so far. I have grown more in love with the device as I can honestly say that it has made me more productive. Wanted to share some tips that have helped me make the most out of the tablet: There is an amazing facebook community that I’d highly recommend you join if you do end up purchasing the device. You’ll find tons of tips, templates and much more. The remarkable 2 helper app has been a God send. It is freeware that is built and maintained by Roland, a very active community member. The app allows you to copy community templates to the device, build your own community templates from images, change the sleep , power off screens etc. and much much more. Great tool that I’ve found to be super handy. If you are like me and like to read in the dark, then check out this reading light. With regards to spare markers, I’ve tried the Staedler noris digital, the noris digital jumbo and the remarkable marker plus. If you write fast like I do, I think you’ll appreciate the noris digital and noris digital jumbo. The remarkable marker plus is a great stylus and has a premium feel to it. But it can feel a little heavy to some. The noris digital (regular) is great for sketching since it feels very much like a pencil. I wanted to find a storage option for my marker when travelling. I ended up purchasing the Stilgut Pencil Holder elastic band which goes around the case. It’s only $5 and holds the marker securely. Highly recommend it. <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fremarkable-2-as-close-as-it-gets-to-writing-on-paper%2F&title=reMarkable%202%20%E2%80%93%20%20As%20Close%20As%20It%20Gets%20To%20Writing%20On%20Paper%21" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/remarkable-2-as-close-as-it-gets-to-writing-on-paper/" data-a2a-title="reMarkable 2 – As Close As It Gets To Writing On Paper!"> The post reMarkable 2 – As Close As It Gets To Writing On Paper! appeared first on RUMINATION.
Social Media, Personal Brand And Career Success
I was recently interviewed by my peer Sara Baker on a podcast as part of “Career Month” at Citrix. The topic of the conversation was Personal brand and how it can lead to career success. We covered a lot of topics including what defines your brand, building a brand, importance of social selling, the do’s… The post Social Media, Personal Brand And Career Success appeared first on RUMINATION.
I was recently interviewed by my peer Sara Baker on a podcast as part of “Career Month” at Citrix. The topic of the conversation was Personal brand and how it can lead to career success. We covered a lot of topics including what defines your brand, building a brand, importance of social selling, the do’s and don’ts when it comes to social media and a lot more. I want to thank Sara for this wonderful opportunity and for making this whole experience enjoyable. Here is the recording. Would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed. gkuruvilla · Personal Branding Podcast Featuring George Kuruvilla (Career Dev Month @ Citrix) gkuruvilla · NindiyaRe_Featuring Dipro Chakraborty.wav The post Social Media, Personal Brand And Career Success appeared first on RUMINATION.
Home Office Makeover: Building An Ergonomic Office Space On A Budget
My “home office” happens to be in the basement which is also my man cave. Pre COVID19, on the days that I was not travelling, I used to spend over 12 hours in the basement, and most of that time planted in my home office. However I had never really paid attention to ergonomics. I… The post Home Office Makeover: Building An Ergonomic Office Space On A Budget appeared first on RUMINATION.
My “home office” happens to be in the basement which is also my man cave. Pre COVID19, on the days that I was not travelling, I used to spend over 12 hours in the basement, and most of that time planted in my home office. However I had never really paid attention to ergonomics. I just pieced together the furniture and equipment over 13 years. Earlier this year, the lack of attention to ergonomics finally caught up. I developed cervical radiculitis which I attribute greatly to improper posture, all the travel and reading in bed. It resulted in severe shoulder pain and numbness in my left arm. Needless to say, I was pretty miserable for a couple of months and was on pain killers and had to undergo physical therapy. The one positive aspect out of this experience is that I finally decided to make a few changes, one of which was to update my home office. I shared a picture of my setup on LinkedIn and it garnered a lot of interest. I fielded a lot of questions about my setup. This is why I decided to write this post in the hope that I can help others who are dealing with similar issues, especially now with all of us working from home. THE DESK The first and perhaps the most important change that I wanted to make was to invest in a sit stand desk. For those of us who spend 8-12 hours in front of a computer, this makes a HUGE difference as it forces you to stand and move about. Fortunately, there are so many options. To me, the main decision criteria were the following: Reasonably priced Reliable with good warranty Dark surface (preferably real wood) Large surface (72×30) With these criteria in mind, I looked at a number of vendors including the Uplift desk, Autonomous desk, Vari Desk, Jarvis desk, New Heights XT etc. This post on btod does a great job comparing the pros and the cons of the various desks. In the end, I decided to go with the Uplift desk with a rubberwoood surface. I liked that they had a wide variety of large surfaces including real wood at a reasonable price, 7 year warranty on the entire frame (which is above average), excellent customer service and an awesome website that makes the entire ordering process a breeze (including the accessories). But you cant really go wrong with any of the desks. It comes down to personal preference. Desk Accessories In addition to the desk, I purchased the following accessories, some directly from uplift with the desk purchase and some separately: Advanced Comfort Keypad (Uplift) Magnetic Cable Organizing Channel (Uplift) Clamp-on USB Surge Protector (Uplift) UPLIFT Modesty Panel 72″ (Uplift) Bamboo Desk Organizer Set (Uplift) UPLIFT Standing Desk Mat (Uplift) Qline Underdesk Pencil Drawer Organizer Tray (Amazon) Calico Designs Metal Full Extension, Locking, 3-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet (Amazon) YOY Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip Water Drink Beverage Soda Coffee Mug Holder (Amazon) AmazonBasics Under Desk Foot Rest (Amazon) THE CHAIR The second major change was the chair. I always thought that expensive chairs are a waste of money and that a regular run of the mill office chair would suffice. But boy was I wrong! A few months in, I can assure you that splurging on a good ergonomic char that is RIGHT FOR YOU is well worth the investment. When I was looking for a chair, the first thing I did was crowdsource. I polled within my social network on what my friends were investing in and why. A few trends emerged: <a href="https://store.hermanmiller.com/home?lang=en_US&mrkgadid=3372431335&mrkgcl=583&mrkgen=gtext&mrkgbflag=1&mrkgcat=brand,core&&acctid=21700000001680207&dskeywordid=43700052333503801&lid=43700052333503801&ds_s_kwgid=58700005742484815&device=c&network=g&matchtype=e&locationid=%7bloc_phyiscal_ms%7d&creative=430425240663&targetid=kwd-10336911&campaignid=9608823324&adgroupid=104743270971&gclid=CjwKCAjw2a32BRBXEiwAUcugiLTiW_kYtgv_mVfGbBTyXBnvI7cOiuVxDbUydl_WbOIb561zxzumbBoCwnkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">Herman Miller was by far the most popular brand with Embody and Aeron being the two most popular models Secret labs (and gaming chairs in general) and Steelcase Leap v2 were not far behind. Many recommended that I should go to a store and try out a chair before buying one. In the end I ruled out Herman Miller as I thought they were overpriced and lacked the neck support that I was looking for. Steelcase, while good from an ergonomics perspective was not visually appealing to me. I was not a fan of gaming chairs and moreover they lacked all the adjustments that a higher end chair offered. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-25-934x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5151" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-25-934x1024.png 934w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-25-274x300.png 274w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-25-768x842.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-25.png 1116w" sizes="(max-width: 934px) 100vw, 934px" /> This is when I discovered XChair, specifically the X-4, and I instantly fell in love with the look. Also read a bunch of reviews where it was recommended for those looking for neck support in particular. Luckily I found a local RelaxTheBack store that carries the XChair. Once I sat in one, I knew it was the right chair for me. Every aspect of the chair was adjustable and once adjusted it felt like the chair hugged my body regardless of my posture. But the bottom line is that you really need to try out a chair before you know whether its right for you. THE MONITOR SETUP Another thing that I realized during this makeover is that monitor height really really matters. I still see a lot of people posting their office pics with a monitor mounted above another monitor. Depending on what you use the monitor for, looking at a monitor above eye level for sustained periods can definitely cause neck pain. Read more about monitor placement here I had a three monitor setup but the height of the monitors was definitely off and that was contributing to my neck pain. As part of the makeover, I purchased a monitor mount which helped me fine tune my monitor placement. My current setup still includes three monitors: Viewsonic VP3481 34 inch Ultrawide Monitor in landscape mode Two Dell U2412m in Portait mode. Dual Monitor Mount (Amazon) Dell Docking Station D3100 compatible with Surface Book 2 The monitor orientation is all about preference. Some prefer getting a really large ultrawide monitor (especially the Samsung or Dell Ultrawide monitors) and using that as the only display. I like having a couple of monitors in portrait mode as its particularly useful when using applications like Slack and Twitter. I leave Slack on one monitor, Twitter/WhatsApp and Messages on the other Dell and the center 34 inch is where I do the bulk of my work. I’ve found this setup to benefit my productivity the most. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26-1024x615.png" alt="" class="wp-image-5152" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26-1024x615.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26-300x180.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26-768x461.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26-1536x922.png 1536w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-26.png 1906w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Other Accessories In addition to the big purchases above, I also purchased the following accessories that have made a difference and are worth mentioning: Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard Logitech Vertical MX Mouse (Love this thing!!!) Logitech C930e Webcam Elgato Keylight Air Lights for Web Conferencing and Recordings Jabra Speak 510 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Amazon) Smart WiFi Alexa Light Bulbs for Office lighting (Amazon) – These bulbs work with Alexa and the color can be adjusted to reduce eye strain. Thoughts Three Months In While I was initially skeptical, I can tell you that these changes have definitely helped me deal with my condition. My shoulder pain and numbness have significantly reduced. I really enjoy spending time in my office and feel like my productivity has improved. Definitely worth the money and the effort. I would love to hear from all of you on your lessons learned. Let us all share our stories and help one another. <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fhome-office-makeover-building-an-ergonomic-office-space-on-a-budget%2F&title=Home%20Office%20Makeover%3A%20Building%20An%20Ergonomic%20Office%20Space%20On%20A%20Budget" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/home-office-makeover-building-an-ergonomic-office-space-on-a-budget/" data-a2a-title="Home Office Makeover: Building An Ergonomic Office Space On A Budget"> The post Home Office Makeover: Building An Ergonomic Office Space On A Budget appeared first on RUMINATION.
How to use a Sony Alpha or Sony RX100 series camera as a webcam (Mac and PC)
With all the talk lately about Canon releasing updates to enable their cameras to be used as webcams, I decided to venture on a science experiment. I have a Sony RX-100 IV, an absolutely amazing camera that is just sitting idle. So decided to try and figure out whats involved in getting it to work… The post How to use a Sony Alpha or Sony RX100 series camera as a webcam (Mac and PC) appeared first on RUMINATION.
<img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-23-1024x546.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4900" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-23-1024x546.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-23-300x160.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-23-768x409.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-23.png 1385w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> With all the talk lately about Canon releasing updates to enable their cameras to be used as webcams, I decided to venture on a science experiment. I have a Sony RX-100 IV, an absolutely amazing camera that is just sitting idle. So decided to try and figure out whats involved in getting it to work as a webcam, and I was able to get it to work on both Windows and Mac. Here is how I got it done: Tools Needed Windows Micro USB Cable OBS Studio found here Sony Imaging Edge Desktop Suite found here OBS Virtual Cam found here Mac Micro USB Cable Camtwist Virtualcam software found here Sony Imaging Edge Desktop Suite found here Configuring The Camera Before connecting the camera to your PC or MAC, go to settings and under Tools, make sure “USB Connection” is set to “PC Remote”. Also when you connect the camera to the computer, make sure you set the camera to “manual” mode for the RX100. I noticed that if its set to any other mode, Live View will not work. You can change the mode once you kick off Live View in manual mode. Configuration on Windows Before you get started, make sure you install Sony Imaging Edge Desktop and the Remote app within the suite. Install OBS Studio. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3-1024x989.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4876" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3-1024x989.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3-300x290.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3-768x742.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3.png 1078w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Now install the OBS Virtual Webcam plugin. Once you’ve installed all three apps, connect your camera to your computer via USB (using a data cable) and launch the Remote app. Once you launch the app, you will see your camera in the list below. Double click your camera and it will launch live view. If you dont see the option, try a different cable. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4-1024x575.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4877" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4-1024x575.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4-300x169.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4-768x432.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4.png 1269w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Now launch OBS Studio. Under “sources”, click the “+” sign. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-5-1024x115.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4878" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-5-1024x115.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-5-300x34.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-5-768x86.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-5.png 1718w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Choose “Window Capture”, choose “Create New” and give it a name. Click “OK” On the next screen, choose the following and click “OK” “[remote.exe]” for “window”, set “Automatic” for “capture method” “Match title, otherwise find window of same type” for “window match priority” You should see the following screen <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-9-1024x992.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4882" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-9-1024x992.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-9-300x291.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-9-768x744.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-9.png 1078w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> You should now adjust the borders by holding “Alt” and adjusting the borders with your mouse such that only the video is selected as shown below. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10-1024x994.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4883" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10-1024x994.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10-300x291.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10-768x746.png 768w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10.png 1074w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Now in OBS Studio, click on VirtualCam within the “Tools” menu. Make sure the “Start” button is greyed out and that “Autostart” is checked. Configuration is complete at this stage. Keep in mind that you should not minimize the Remote app while the webcam is running. You should also not resize the window for the Remote app. Now go into the collaboration tool of your choice and you should see an option to choose “OBS-Camera” as your webcam. Below is my configuration in GoToMeeting. This will also work on Zoom, Skype and Teams. Configuration On Mac Similar to Windows, install Sony Imaging Edge Desktop and install the “Remote” app. <img src="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-14-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4888" srcset="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-14-1024x576.png 1024w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-14-300x169.png 300w, http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-14-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /> Install “Camtwist” from the link above and launch the app. Double click Desktop+ as the source and configure the settings as shown in the screenshot below. Click select capture area and select the video portion from the remote app. Click on “Save setup” and give it a name. Configuration is complete at this point. Camtwist will be available as a webcam in your collaboration tool. Here is Skype as an example. Based on my testing, the functionality seems more stable on Windows. On my mac, the Remote app occassionally pegs the CPU and crashes. This could also be due to the fact that my mac is older hardware as compared to my Surface Book 2. Hope this was helpful! Do post feedback based on your testing! <a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gkuruvilla.org%2Fhow-to-use-a-sony-alpha-or-sony-rx100-series-camera-as-a-webcam-mac-and-pc%2F&title=How%20to%20use%20a%20Sony%20Alpha%20or%20Sony%20RX100%20series%20camera%20as%20a%20webcam%20%28Mac%20and%20PC%29" data-a2a-url="http://blog.gkuruvilla.org/how-to-use-a-sony-alpha-or-sony-rx100-series-camera-as-a-webcam-mac-and-pc/" data-a2a-title="How to use a Sony Alpha or Sony RX100 series camera as a webcam (Mac and PC)"> The post How to use a Sony Alpha or Sony RX100 series camera as a webcam (Mac and PC) appeared first on RUMINATION.