I know I'll get downvoted by the Indian crowd here on HN, but I feel this needs to be said:
This illustrates the characteristically Indian trait of mindless hero worship. Our media has a tendency to blow such things out of proportion, even if it's immediately apparent to anyone even slightly technically competent that they are definitely not original, or as revolutionary as they are claimed to be.
Almost any body who climbs the Mount Everest after the first person did it is also not doing anything original. Yet the difficulties in climbing Mt Everest don't change no matter how many people climb it.
The point is not to invent shoes to charge mobile phones. But to do something to break out opportunity famine, difficult economic situations and social inertia that prevents progress by doing things like this.
Like you mentioned 'Indian Crowd'. Bulk of the 'Indian Crowd' on forums like these probably don't even have the same scenarios or circumstances in life to understand why stuff like this matters to the other people to whom it matters.
I think it has more to do feeling pride for one's own country. I fail to see how this is "mindless hero worship", rather than a means to push India into the spotlight for their 15 minutes of fame, granted the story makes international headlines.
>> I think it has more to do feeling pride for one's own country.
India has considerably more impressive achievements to be proud of.
>> I fail to see how this is "mindless hero worship"
Of course it is. Some kid does something entirely ordinary (and probably realises that is the case), and the media treats it like the next big thing and calls him a prodigy. (For examples, look at the links I posted.)
>> rather than a means to push India into the spotlight for their 15 minutes of fame, granted the story makes international headlines.
I agree with what you're saying, but I think this is more of an Indian media tactic. No one would know about this student otherwise, so you should be pointing your finger at the reports/journalists to create better content. I suspect this story was aimed at their Indian audience.
This achievement is largely forgettable to our population, but when Indians read this they feel a sense of pride for their fellow people's achievements. I think the Indian media is just exploiting this Indian trait to get more views.
The point is not to invent shoes to charge mobile phones. But to do something to break out opportunity famine, difficult economic situations and social inertia that prevents progress by doing things like this.
Like you mentioned 'Indian Crowd'. Bulk of the 'Indian Crowd' on forums like these probably don't even have the same scenarios or circumstances in life to understand why stuff like this matters to the other people to whom it matters.