From UPI payments to ticketless rides: 6 everyday Indian experiences made futuristic by technology

Commonplace technology in India isn't quite as prominent as what you might find in a European country. More often than not, it progresses slowly, and quietly seeps into our routines, transforming our lives in a myriad of little ways.

The future, as it turns out, isn’t waiting for us: it is already woven into chai breaks, WhatsApp groups, metro queues, and shopping sprees.

From being a vital part of India's national pastime to radically transforming customer product selections, here are 6 ways in which modern technology has gently transformed Indian life:

 

Tap, scan, pay, and done

Today, cash feels like an antique. Indeed, from rickshaw rides and snacks at the tea shop to booking movie tickets and buying flowers for festivals, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has made instant payments truly ubiquitous. Money now moves faster than you can pull out your wallet.

 

Your travel oracle

Gone are the days when you had to stop every once in a while to ask passersby for directions. Today, Google Maps not only gives you clear-cut directions, but also a host of useful information you might need, such as traffic updates, secret tea shops on the way in case you need to refuel (very important!), updated metro timings, estimated journey duration, and even crowd levels—all before you even begin.

 

10-minute groceries (and midnight biryani)

Craving a biryani just as the clock strikes twelve? Running out of coriander before dinner? Worry not, because applications like Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zomato deliver a wide range of products in minutes. After slow and steady changes over the years, these applications have truly come a long way, and have become an important contributor to India's economy.

 

Ticketless rides

In a number of cities, all it takes to buy a few metro tickets is a few clicks on WhatsApp. Then, just scan your phone at smart gates, and you’re through. Taxi services also facilitate a fluid-fast process of booking, after which you may have to wait for a second or an eternity—depending on your fate. Then there you have it: a ride to quickly get you to work, especially when you have an important meeting, or to a restaurant when it is raining outside.

 

Alexa! Thou hast been summoned!

Smart speakers continue to push the boundaries of what makes them 'smart'. With Amazon Echo's Alexa, Google Nest's Google Assistant, and the Apple HomePod's Siri, you get all the services of these devices personalised in your own language. From reminding you of train timings and solving your sudden queries to being your personal DJ, these devices have become very common in Indian households (and even shops too).

 

Your very own trial room

Augmented Reality (AR) has transformed shopping in revolutionary ways. Whether it’s virtually 'wearing' clothes, trying out sunglasses, or testing a sofa's placement in your drawing room before purchase, you now have the option to virtually test almost anything before buying, allowing you to endlessly test the products you are interested in, without slowly driving shop assistants crazy.

Sci/Tech