Jisha Surya
First Published : 26 Jan 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Techies are always accused of living in a virtual world. But if you ask the employees of Technopark, they will tell you of the umpteen virtues of being in the virtual world. Nearly a dozen websites and discussion forums owned and operated by the techies, enable them to discuss on various topics, buy and sell goods and even help them in finding their life partners. Expresso checks out some of the most popular websites and discussion forums based in Technopark, which give an insight into the life of a techie.
TPBAZAAR
The techies might be thanking the broker who troubled Ranjith Ramachandran , an employee of Technopark-based UST Global, during his search to find a place of stay. The bizarre situation he had faced during his initial years in the city prompted him to think about a free classified site exclusively for the techies. Hundreds of techies, including non-Keralites, have to put up with occasional transfers. Finding places of stay, purchasing household items etc becomes easier when they meet others who are on the move and desperate to sell their household fare to save the trouble of transportation. With www.tpbazzar.com, it is all an easy task, free of cost and with no third party intervention. Since a large chunk of techies are checking the site, immediate responses are assured. The site now has more than 8,000 users.
No just this, automobiles, gadgets etc are also being sold through this site. “When it is among techies, the transaction is easy. We don’t have to waste time and money with unnecessary bargains. Also selling gadgets are easy, since the techies know the real value of it,” Renjith said.
Taking a cue from its popularity, some brokers too have joined as the website’s members. But the moderators are keenly monitoring the activities and would block users about whom there are complaints. But, transfers are no more a headache for the techies and even companies are promoting this site.
TECHNOPARKTODAY
This user-friendly website not only serves the Technopark employees, but also IT professionals in general. The website www.technoparktoday.com is the techies’ best option to update on news, career, technology, opinion, movie review and other interesting topics. It is not a surprise that even journalists or others interested to know the events in Technopark, log on to this site for details. Originally started two years ago as a blog with contributions from independent bloggers, the site now has 47 contributers, both individuals and organisations.
Renjith, who also runs this site, said it has 12,000 users. “This site works on the inputs from contributors who have different interests. Some are interested in news, some films, others on gadgets. Some organisations do post on walk-in-interviews and job opportunities. It is highly useful for IT professionals who are keen to know latest news, issues and trends,” Renjith said.
He added that technoparktoday.com was first site to break the news about the controversial mass lay off at IBS. It had also reported many such incidents in Technopark. The site also had launched campaigns on issues concerning techies, like use of speed breakers on roads inside the park.
MYTECHNOPARK
Serious news to funny mails are part of the discussion forum www.mytechnopark.com. It has more than 11,000 users. However, only around 200 are active with daily updates. Use of pseudo names like chip, villager, dimitriz, nucking futts etc, enables techies to freely discuss any topic of their interest. While some introduce latest issues to the discussion forum, others use the forum as a platform to brush up their writing talents. Ghost stories, plea for more facilities, complaints against companies etc are all part of this forum. Some even use the forum as a classified site. “Someone would upload a thread and various comments will follow it. Like, for example, news on a condom shop about to begin at Technopark sparked heated debate among the members,” one of the moderators said. The moderators will monitor and delete controversial topics at times. Like some social networking sites, mytechnopark.com too is blocked at
some offices.
ITSMATRIMONY
Most of us might have received a funny mail at the time of recession - a matrimonial profile which specified that the bride would accept anyone other than IT professionals. The matrimonial site www.itsmatrimony.com is the techie’s answer to this mail. This is a matrimonial site exclusively meant for the techies. First began as site for the wannabe brides and grooms in the Technopark, itsmatrimony now accepts profiles of IT professionals anywhere in the country. The site is now at its initial stage and needs more development. Currently the site has 70 profiles.
PARKCARPOOL
The idea of carpooling came as part of the green computing initiative of the Group of Technology Companies (GTech). After the initial reluctance, techies are finding it highly useful in saving fuel and money in the time of rocketing petrol prices. Hundreds of employees are using the carpooling site www.parkcarpool.com, either to register their names as a host or to check it as a user. Those willing to share their car with others headed to a common destination can register their names with the site along with their employee ID number and other official details. The destination, time of departure, registration number of the car, number of seats available and phone numbers of car owners are uploaded on the site. The users of the facility share the fuel bill. The website features routes of daily trips as well as long-distance journeys. Since this economic mode of transport is fast catching up among the techies, the hits for the site is on a steep rise.
TECHIE STORE
The website www.store.technoparktoday.com was founded as a forum to sell products made by techies. The site was an instant hit with more and more techies and their spouses uploading different home-made products like cakes, ID card holders, laptop cooling pads and lot more innovative things. Following the huge demand for products, the administrators have decided to hold updating of the site for a short period, since they are “too busy to manage the sale of the products right now”. Said one of its moderators, “Most of the products like cakes must be delivered on time. Right now, we are only building up the facilities for delivery and storage. The response to the site was too huge to handle. But we will be back soon with the necessary modifications.”
Apart from these sites, technoparknews.com, technoparklive.com etc are available, but are not very active. The news about cricket competitions in technopark will be available in technopark.crickees.com.
jisha@expressbuzz.com
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