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Open API (Application Programming Interfaces)
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- They provide an open architecture, allowing any business to access data and functionality without any association with the API providers.
- Open APIs can bring in the profound changes in the overall digital ecosystem. Open APIs basically allow data to be accessible to larger institutions.
- Government of India has open API policy for programs like Aadhaar, eKYC, eSign, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) among others.
- Though Aadhaar data is handled by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and banks have no control over the data, still banks can use the data. For instance, banks use Aadhaar-enabled biometric authentication to open bank accounts.
- An open API also gives banks the ability to monetise your data. But that doesn’t mean all your information is made public. The data exchange in open APIs happens in a controlled manner.
- However, security does seem to be a concern with open APIs. Hence, not many banks currently offer them. But they are still works in progress and you can’t rule out the possibility that someday, any bank would be able to fetch your data from any bank, of course, with your consent.
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Unified Messaging Platform
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- MeitY has released Unified Messaging Platform for secure and efficient Government communications, envisages to provide email service to over 5 million officials of Central and State Government employees.
- NIC is the implementing agency.
- The service has been built through an open-source solution in accordance with the “Policy on adoption of Open-source software for Government of India”. This gives strategic control of government over the solution.
- The service provides a multilingual platform comprising of 11 local languages with a go-live in English and Hindi initially, followed by other languages.
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QR Code
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QR Code stands for Quick Response Code. Main purpose of development was to create a code that could be read quickly.
Features of QR Codes are
- High capacity of encoding of data
- Small printout size
- Dirt and Damage Resistant
- Readable from any direction in 360 degrees
- Structured Appending feature
QR Code has error correction capability to restore data if the code is dirty or damaged. Four error correction levels are available for users to choose according to the operating environment. Raising this level improves error correction capability but also increases the amount of data QR Code size.
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RFID Technology
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- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) refers to a wireless system comprised of two components: tags and readers.
- Reader is a device that has one or more antennas that emit radio waves and receive signals back from the RFID tag.
- Tags, which use radio waves to communicate their identity and other information to nearby readers, can be passive or active. Passive RFID tags are powered by the reader and do not have a battery. Active RFID tags are powered by batteries.
- RFID tags can store a range of information from one serial number to several pages of data. Readers can be mobile so that they can be carried by hand, or they can be mounted on a post or overhead.
- Reader systems can also be built into the architecture of a cabinet, room, or building.
Advantages of RFID
- Automates data collection, reduces human effort & error.
- Tag reading with no line-of-sight or item-by-item scans required.
- Multiple RFID tags can be read simultaneously.
- All RFID tags within range can be detected instantly and matched with information in your database.
- Assets can be cross-referenced against assigned locations & recorded as present, missing, or relocated.
- RFID can be integrated with active scanning and fixed readers for a totally automated tracking solution.
- Assets and employees can be tracked and located automatically for everything from supply chain & asset management, facility security & emergency planning.
- Available scanners support both RFID and barcoding so you can upgrade at your own pace.
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BharOS Software
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- IIT, Madras has recently developed ‘BharOS’ – an indigenous mobile operating system.
- It is a government funded AOSP (Android Open-Source Project) based operating system with no Google Apps or services.
- It comes with No Default Apps (NDA) which means that users are not forced to use apps that they may not be familiar with giving more permission controls to user.
- It offers ‘Native Over The Air’ (NOTA) updates which means that security updates and bug fixes will be automatically installed on the device.
- Private App Store Services (PASS). A PASS provides access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly vetted and have met certain security and privacy standards of organisations.
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