SparkDialog

Dr. Marie Moe is a cyborg.  She has a pacemaker that controls the beating of her heart, and without it, she would die.  But Marie also has a PhD in information security, and worked on cybersecurity for the Norwegian government.  So she wondered if this new piece of tech within her could be compromised.  She wondered, “Could someone hack my heart?”

Many people don’t think that hacking a pacemaker would be a problem – but like any computer, it is made of software and firmware.  Many times, they even have a bluetooth connection.  And where there is connectivity, there is hackability.

Marie began asking questions to her doctors.  She read the technical manual of her pacemaker.  And what she found worried her.  Her pacemaker had security holes.  Someone could hack her heart.

Marie now is a Research Manager at SINTEF and is also an Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.  She is also a member of I Am the Cavalry, a grassroots organization that deals with cybersecurity and everyday life.  We talk about how devices like a pacemaker can be compromised, and what we can do about it.

You can follow Marie at @MarieGMoe.

Background music you hear are clips from Her by Drake Stafford licensed under CC BY 4.0, Dybbuk Box by Sergey Cheremisinov licensed under CC BY 4.0, Stay the Course by Kevin McCleod (https://incompetech.com) licensed under CC BY 4.0, Probably Shouldn’t by DJLang licensed under CC by 3.0. , and Lost Time by Kevin McCleod (https://incompetech.com) licensed under CC BY 4.0.

The post Ep 70: Hack My Heart – with guest Dr. Marie Moe appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

What if you could build cameras that can see around corners or through walls?  It sounds like something out of a spy movie, and completely unrealistic.  But sometimes, what seems like science fiction is actually possible.

Today we talk to David Lindell, a PhD student in the Stanford Computational Imaging Lab.  David is heading a group that is developing cameras that can see around corners and through objects.  They do this using a camera that emits a laser beam, which can bounce off surfaces, sort of like how a bat or a dolphin uses echo location.  By doing this, their camera can see in real time objects around corners or through objects.

The applications of this type of technology are wide ranging, from self-driving cars to helping surgeons see through tissues while performing surgery.  We talk about how this camera works, David’s inspiration for the camera, and even talk about this video, where you can watch the camera in action!

Music in this podcast is provided by https://filmmusic.io:  “Super Power Cool Dude”, “Inspired”, ”Funkorama”,  “Werq” , and  “Your Call” , all by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com).  They are provided by the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

The post Ep 69: Cameras that can See Around Corners – with guest David Lindell appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

What would happen if we found a message from a civilization on another planet? Chances are, they won’t be speaking English. We can’t talk to dolphins, dogs, or trees. What makes us think we ever would able to understand a message from not only another species, but from another planet? How would we go about decoding a message from ET?

In the movies, we’ve seen messages made primarily of mathematics, which is supposedly the universal language. We’ve gone about teaching aliens our languages, while learning theirs. Is any of that realistic?

Today, we’re talking to Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen. Sheri is what’s called a xenolinguist – a person who makes it her business to wonder how we would actually decode a message from ET. By looking at the commonalities of the 7,000 or so human languages that have existed over time, she can come up with some generalizations that languages would have. But then she asks some questions that explore what is fundamental in a language in general. What if the aliens have a hive mind? What if they have no eyes? What if they have different genders, or no gender at all? All of these things, in some way or another, affect the language that they speak.

Sheri is also a member of METI – or Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence. You can think of METI as a twin of SETI – while SETI searches for extraterrestrial intelligences, METI thinks about how we can message them, or how we would start decoding a message from ET.

It’s a fascinating discussion – and a lot of fun. But more than that – by the end, we realize that even if we never find a message, or even if we never decode it, we learn a lot about who we are as humans.

Background music you hear are clips from Pumpkin Soup and reCreation by Airtone licensed under CC by 3.0, In Suspense at PodSummit licensed under CC0 1.0, Kalte Ohren by Dysfunction AL licensed under CC by 3.0, The Right Voice by Robbero licensed under CC by 3.0, Longing by gurdonark licensed under CC by 3.0, and 28 Aussens@iten by Stefan Kartenberg licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 68: They’re Not Speaking English – Decoding a Message from ET – with guest Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

It’s been 50 years since we’ve first set foot on the moon.  That moment, the human species was brought together – our dreams, our goals, our visions of a future not just confined to one pale blue dot, but one that is constantly expanding outwards.

A lot has changed in those 50 years.  Some people believe we’re not where we should be.  We haven’t gone back to the moon in decades.  Humans haven’t visited Mars or asteroids.  Funding for space is limited.  But on the other hand, we’ve sent up many missions that have visited the moons of Saturn, Jupiter, and even distant Pluto.  And now space industry is becoming a reality with corporations are now participating in space travel more than they ever have before.

Today we talk to Dr. Jim Bell. Jim is an astronomer and planetary scientist at the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University.  He studies the geology of other worlds, works heavily in space exploration, and is president of the The Planetary Society, the world’s largest public space advocacy organization.  We talk about the future of space and space industry – from tourism to mining of other worlds.  We discuss how governments, corporations, and academia are all working together to make our future in space a reality.  A few of these projects that Jim is involved in is NeoShare, a program to visit Near Earth Asteroids, and developing payloads for Blue Origin.

You can follow Jim on Twitter @Jim_Bell.

Background music you hear are clips from Route 17 by djolliej featuring daniloprates licensed under CC by 3.0, Sudden Goodbye by Alex featuring TheDice licensed under CC by 3.0, Space MTV by Komiku licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain,  The Royal Vagabond by Jockers Dance Orchestra liscened under Public Domain Mark 1.0, Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix), by spinningmerkaba featuring Morusque, Jeris, CSoul, Alex Beroza licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 67: Space Industry – A Future in the Stars – with guest Dr. Jim Bell appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

No one knows what the future may hold.  Or can they?  Today on the podcast, we talk to Brian David Johnson, a futurist.  Brian’s business is the future and predicting the future of technology.  Weaving together a mix of ethnography, culture, trends, technology, and science, he helps businesses and enterprises forecast what the next decades may bring.

So what does Brian think the future has in store for us?  We talk about the future of technology,  social media and how it is affecting the next generation, the future of warfare, the technological singularity where AI becomes smarter than humanity, and creative AI.  Brian discusses what it takes to be a futurist.  And we discuss which science fiction movie we think may be the closest to our actual future.

The biggest takeaway from talking to Brian?  We shouldn’t fear the future.  Our devices aren’t in control – we are.  We have the power to make our future – so let’s make it a good one.

You can follow Brian at @BDJFuturist.

Background music you hear are clips from Where Was I by Lee Rosevere licensed under CC by 4.0, Improvisation on Friday by Alex Beroza licensed under CC by 3.0, Nonstop by Kevin MacLeod, (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0, Mysterium by Doxent  licensed under CC by 3.0, Floating Cities by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0, and Behind Us by BOCrew licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 66: What the Future May Hold: The Future of Technology – with guest Brian David Johnson appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

Come on, that can’t really happen, can it?  How often have you torn apart science fiction movies for their sheer implausibility?  Today, we take a look at several implausible science fiction concepts and ask – can they happen in real life?

We’ll span the gamut with all types of movies.  We’ll talk about some pretty cool concepts (some plausible, some not so much):

Which of these could really exist?  Take your best guess, and then give the podcast a listen!

(Thanks to one of the patrons of the podcast, Mary, for the suggestion that we discuss a transporter!  You can become a patron of the podcast and provide questions and topics for the podcast here.)

If, after the podcast, you want to read more about these “implausible” science fiction concepts, I suggest reading this report on a space elevator, this article on a quantum transporter, and this information on Near Earth Asteroids and how we can protect ourselves.

Background music you hear are clips from Rewound by Chris Zabriskie licensed under CC by 4.0, Envision by Keven MacLeod  (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0,  I dunno by grapes featuring J Lang and Morusque licensed under CC by 3.0, Nothing by Kai Engel licensed under CC by 4.0, The Vendetta by Stefan Kartenberg licensed under CC by 3.0, and Crisis by Keven MacLeod  (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 65: The Plausibility of Implausible Science Fiction appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

Living with autism has many challenges.  One of these is making a living as an adult.  Especially for individuals with severe autism, this can seem like a challenging, insurmountable task.  Today we talk to two individuals who have their own personal experiences with autism and thriving with autism.

Colin Weiss is a Research Assistant for the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute at George Washington University.  He studies autism in both children and adults, and develops strategies for adults to use to successfully navigate many everyday challenges.  Besides studying autism, Colin himself is autistic.  He speaks about his own challenges and successes.

Harish Bikmal also experienced autism.  His son, Himal, was diagnosed with a severe form of non-verbal autism at the age of two. Harish and his wife struggled to develop Himal’s talents, until finally they discovered the right fit – painting.  As Himal produced more and more of his paintings, Harish co-founded a startup called Zenaviv with his other son, Saket.  Zenaviv is a small business that helps children and their caregivers and adults with autism develop their artistic talents and make a living off of art.

Today we talk all about what is known about autism, thriving with autism through art, and finding each individual’s unique gift to the world.

Patrons of the podcast at all levels also will receive a discount for anything purchased through Zenaviv’s store now through August 31, 2019!  If you’re not a patron and want to sign up, check out the Patreon page.

Background music you hear are clips from Depart by Analog by Nature licensed under CC by 3.0, Once Tomorrow by Josh Woodward licensed under CC by 3.0, Serenity by Jason Shaw licensed under CC by 3.0, Phased at Podsummit licensed under CC0,  and Glitter Blast by Keven MacLeod  (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 64: Thriving with Autism through Art: with guests Colin Weiss and Harish Bikmal appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

Many disorders of the mind are commonly treated by medication.  But what if you could alter the brain itself, treating the problem at the source?  This is exactly what deep brain stimulation does.  These are implants that are placed deep within the folds of the brain and can treat all sorts of things – from Parkinson’s Disease to Alzheimer’s to depression.

But therapies involving the brain that are even more understood than deep brain stimulation are controversial, particularly, psychiatric electroceutical interventions and electroconvulsive therapy.  They are feared.  Is this fear founded?  Is it because the implants use electricity?  Or is it because of their unfavorable portrayal in the media, such as the very famous scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?

Today, our guest is Dr. Laura Cabrera from Michigan State University.  Laura is a neuroethicist who looks at the ethical and societal implications of deep brain implants, psychiatric electroceutical interventions, and electroconvulsive therapy.  These therapies have profound effects on patients of various disorders, but sometimes they are poorly understood.  The brain is a complex organ, and sometimes, strange things are changed when these patients receive therapy.  Some patients even have elements of their personality changed.  Does this mean they become a different person?  And which way does the ethical pendulum swing – is it better to withhold treatment that could change someone’s life, or give them treatment even if it means they might change in unpredictable ways?

Background music you hear are clips from Dream on This Side by Ivan Chew licensed under CC by 3.0, night Rain by airtone licensed under CC by 3.0, The Descent and Bushwick Tarantella Loop by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0, and Asking Questions by Rafael Krux licensed under CC0.    

The post Ep 63: Deep Brain Stimulation: with guest Dr. Laura Cabrera appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

No women should ever die of cervical cancer.  It grows very slowly, giving time for detection.  In a perfect world, it would be discovered before it grows into its deadly form.  But in reality, there are many barriers to women’s healthcare.  Lack of access.  Cost.  Misinformation.  And shame when talking about the female body.  Let’s discuss improving women’s healthcare.

Today, we talk about an inexpensive device called the Callascope, designed for improving women’s healthcare.  It is small and affordable, using a machine learning algorithm to detect cervical cancer.  This device can streamline exams and make them more comfortable and accessible to women worldwide.  I am joined by Libby Dotson and Andrea Kim.  Libby is a graduate from Duke and works for the Center for Global Women’s Health Technologies.  She also has directed the curation of the (In)visible Organ exhibit, part of the Calla Campaign.    Andrea is a documentarian, working with the Calla Campaign to create a documentary about the development and implementation of the Callascope.  Finally, we discuss the accompanying art exhibit, how to revolutionize women’s healthcare, how women can improve the relationships that they have with their own bodies.

Background music you hear are clips from Sardana by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) licensed under CC by 3.0, Quiet Rain by onlymeith licensed under CC by 3.0, City Sunshine by Kevin MacLeod licensed under CC0, and Reverie (small theme) by _ghost licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 62: Improving Women’s Healthcare: The Calla Campaign: with guests Libby Dotson and Andrea Kim appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.

On the evening of April 15th, the entire world watched with shock and horror as Notre Dame cathedral burned.  At the time, it was unclear how much of the cathedral would survive.  Now, with the roof and the iconic spire gone, how will it be rebuilt?  Today on the podcast we discuss why Notre Dame was built the way it was, technology and the Notre Dame fire, and how laser scans may help to rebuild.

Fires are not unheard of in cathedrals, and many have caught fire in the past.  This fire, however, was partially extinguished with cutting edge technology.  Firefighting robots helped to put out the blaze, while drones monitored the fire’s progress from above.  Now that our attention turns to rebuilding, new technologies may also be employed in the design and reconstruction.

Today on the podcast we are joined by Professor Stephen Murray.  Stephen is an expert in medieval architecture.  He taught for fifty years at Columbia University and Indiana Bloomington. Along with his knowledge of Gothic architecture, he also used lasers to map the interiors of cathedrals around Europe.  His late student, Andrew Tallon, mapped Notre Dame cathedral with these lasers.  Stephen talks about why Notre Dame was built the way it was and how it used the best technology of the day.  Some of this technology even helped protect the church from further damage in the fire.  We talk about technology and the Notre Dame fire, how the cathedral may be rebuilt, and how laser scans may be of help.

Background music you hear are clips from Paris, a recording by xserra of a priest singing with the organ in Nortre Dame,  café connection by morgantj feat. Morusque,  and the Egmont Overture and Gymnopedie No. 3 by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).  All songs are licensed under CC by 3.0.

The post Ep 61: Technology and the Notre Dame Fire: with guest Dr. Stephen Murray appeared first on Elizabeth Fernandez.