Changes

*** Instrumental in the introduction of Linux into the undergraduate CS lab

*** Instrumental in the introduction of Linux into the undergraduate CS lab

* Penchant for clean design and efficiency

* Penchant for clean design and efficiency

**Won appreciation award for the self-initiative of single-handedly developing a custom test automation framework for streamlining the QA jobs

**Won appreciation award for the self-initiative of single-handedly developing a custom test automation framework for streamlining QA

**Received first prize in intra-college software competition

**Received first prize in intra-college software competition

**At the NGO, managed the development of web applications including a CMS website and CRM solutions. Increased the number of unique visitors to the website over 30 fold within a year. Saved around 20% in operational costs through streamlining various processes.

**At the NGO, managed the development of web applications including a CMS website and CRM solutions. Increased the number of unique visitors to the website over 30 fold within a year. Saved around 20% in operational costs through streamlining various processes.

; If your project is successfully completed, what will its impact be on the Sugar Labs community?  

; If your project is successfully completed, what will its impact be on the Sugar Labs community?  

<!--Give 3 answers, each 1-3 paragraphs in length. The first one should be yours. The other two should be answers from members of the Sugar Labs community, at least one of whom should be a Sugar Labs GSoC mentor. Provide email contact information for non-GSoC mentors.-->

<!--Give 3 answers, each 1-3 paragraphs in length. The first one should be yours. The other two should be answers from members of the Sugar Labs community, at least one of whom should be a Sugar Labs GSoC mentor. Provide email contact information for non-GSoC mentors.-->

:OLPC/Sugar is based on the principles of Constructionism. Discoverability and learnability of the system with minimal/no external help hence becomes a very important factor. My work will pave way for a framework for improving the discoverability of the features of the system in a customized manner depending upon the individual using the system. I am going to bank upon only one factor: age. But once the framework is mature (couple of years from now), I can imagine various plugins that take into account other differences: culture, previous experience with technology, physical disabilities - to name a few. This will immensely improve the system's reach and usability among the millions of children using it.

:Sugar (& OLPC), I believe, is based on the principles of Constructionism. Discoverability and learnability of the system with minimal/no external help hence becomes a very important factor. My work will pave way for a framework for improving the discoverability of the features of the system in a customized manner depending upon the individual using the system. I am going to bank upon only one factor: age. But once the framework is mature (couple of years from now), I can imagine various plugins that take into account other differences: culture, previous experience with technology, physical disabilities - to name a few. This will immensely improve the system's reach and usability among the millions of children using it every day.

; <!--Sugar Labs will be working to set up a small (5-30 unit) Sugar pilot near each student project that is accepted to GSoC so that you can immediately see how your work affects children in a deployment. We will make arrangements to either supply or find all the equipment needed.--> Do you have any ideas on where you would like your deployment to be, who you would like to be involved, and how we can help you and the community in your area begin it?

; <!--Sugar Labs will be working to set up a small (5-30 unit) Sugar pilot near each student project that is accepted to GSoC so that you can immediately see how your work affects children in a deployment. We will make arrangements to either supply or find all the equipment needed.--> Do you have any ideas on where you would like your deployment to be, who you would like to be involved, and how we can help you and the community in your area begin it?

I will be travelling between Canada and India. I am interested in observing how children with radically different levels of exposure to technology react to Sugar. I would like a primary deployment center at Vancouver. But I would also like to visit a center at India when I make a visit (once a year) and observe how differently the children who haven minimal exposure to technology react to the design of Sugar UI.

I will be travelling between Canada and India. I am interested in observing how children with radically different levels of exposure to technology react to Sugar. I would like a primary deployment center at Vancouver. But I would also like to visit a center at India when I make a visit (once a year) and observe how differently the children who haven minimal exposure to technology react to the design of Sugar UI.

; What will you do if you get stuck on your project and your mentor isn't around?

; What will you do if you get stuck on your project and your mentor isn't around?

Use the alternate contacts obtained from mentor beforehand. Fall back on community: IRC and then if still the problem exists after 12h contact mailing list. If nothing works and if it seems like I am slipping schedule, contact GSoC person Tim McNamara.

Use the alternate contacts obtained from mentor beforehand. Fall back on community: IRC and then if still the problem exists after 12h contact mailing list. If nothing works and if it seems like I am slipping behind on schedule, contact the GSoC person: Tim McNamara.

; How do you propose you will be keeping the community informed of your progress and any problems or questions you might have over the course of the project?  

; How do you propose you will be keeping the community informed of your progress and any problems or questions you might have over the course of the project?  

Maintain wiki page documenting progress, problems and solutions. Blog when a milestone is reached. Mail a weekly summary to the mentor, other developers interested/knowledgeable in the area and if necessary, the developer mailing list.

Maintain wiki page documenting progress, encountered problems and solutions obtained. Blog when a milestone is reached. Mail a weekly summary to the mentor, other developers interested/knowledgeable in the area and if necessary, the developers mailing list.

====Miscellaneous====

====Miscellaneous====

[[Image:Mohanr_gsoc_2010_Sugar.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of my first modification to my development environment. Note that the drop-down menu text has my email address (in place of the word "Restart").]]

[[Image:Mohanr_gsoc_2010_Sugar.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of my first modification to my development environment. Note that the drop-down menu text has my email address (in place of the word "Restart").]]

; What is your t-shirt size?

; What is your t-shirt size?

:XXL (yeah I know, I have to lose weight :)

:XXL (I know, I have to lose weight :)

; Describe a great learning experience you had as a child.

; Describe a great learning experience you had as a child.

:I have been star-eyed kid passionate about absolute energy conservation for as long as I can remember; drawing plans and trying to build perpetual motion systems during playtime. I am not sure when or how it happened, but eventually I began to realize that perfect energy conservation might not be possible. That friction, trade-off and losses are an inevitable part of the equation.  

:I have been star-eyed kid passionate about absolute energy conservation for as long as I can remember; drawing plans and trying to build perpetual motion systems during playtime. I am not sure when or how it happened, but eventually I began to realize that perfect energy conservation might not be possible. That friction, trade-offs and losses are an inevitable part of the equation.  

I still catch myself wanting to design the perfect architecture, write the perfect program or buy the perfect laptop that will last perpetually. I have to remind myself often that Engineering (and much of life) is a balancing act of making the most elegant compromises in the given time frame (and improvise  later). Its been a tough and valuable lesson.

I still catch myself wanting to design the perfect architecture, write the perfect program or buy the perfect laptop that will last perpetually. I have to often remind myself that Engineering (and much of life) is a balancing act of making the most elegant compromises in the limited time frame (and improvise  later). Its been a tough and valuable lesson.

; Is there anything else we should have asked you or anything else that we should know that might make us like you or your project more?

; Is there anything else we should have asked you or anything else that we should know that might make us like you or your project more?