Radiolab

The Wubi Effect


Listen Later

When we think of China today, we think of a technological superpower. From Huawei and 5G to TikTok and viral social media, China is stride for stride with the United States in the world of computing. However, China’s technological renaissance almost didn’t happen. And for one very basic reason: The Chinese language, with its 70,000 plus characters, couldn’t fit on a keyboard. 

Today, we tell the story of Professor Wang Yongmin, a hard headed computer programmer who solved this puzzle and laid the foundation for the China we know today.

Episode CreditsReported by - Simon AdlerProduced by - Simon AdlerTHE DETAILS TO SIMON ADLER’S LIVESHOW!For People in ChicagoSimon will be performing at the Chicago at the Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple on Saturday, September 30th (https://zpr.io/jePmFHyKUqiM).For People in BostonSimon performs at the WBUR City Space on Friday, December 8th (https://zpr.io/jePmFHyKUqiM).

 

Our newsletter comes out every Wednesday. It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing [email protected]

Leadership support for Radiolab’s science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

RadiolabBy WNYC Studios

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

41,796 ratings


More shows like Radiolab

View all
Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,071 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,569 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,745 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,215 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,218 Listeners

Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

77,308 Listeners

Snap Judgment by Snap Judgment and PRX

Snap Judgment

11,599 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,846 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

31,972 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,161 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

22,146 Listeners

Invisibilia by NPR

Invisibilia

21,665 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,319 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

11,978 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,883 Listeners

Dolly Parton's America by WNYC Studios & OSM Audio

Dolly Parton's America

16,351 Listeners

The Other Latif by WNYC Studios

The Other Latif

465 Listeners

Radiolab for Kids by WNYC

Radiolab for Kids

991 Listeners