Tech Life

Tech Life

By BBC World ServiceNewsTechnologyTech News
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    45th

    on Tech News

  • Favorites

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  • Typical duration

    27 min

    per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Tech Life episodes

  • What you don’t see

    Luckily much of what we see on social media is safe. But somewhere, somebody has to watch all the horrific content uploaded online in order to filter it out for the general public. We speak to a former moderator who worked on Meta platforms in Ghana. Plus, the community project in Puerto Rico with an innovative way of keeping its power on. And we say goodbye to video call program Skype.

    (Warning – this episode includes some distressing content and a reference to suicide.)

    Presenter: Chris Vallance

    Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A blurred out picture with a graphic of an eye and the text imprinted on it: "Sensitive content". Credit: Getty Images.)

    27 min
  • Weighing the world's forests

    A groundbreaking space mission will help scientists peer through dense jungle canopy to measure the difference the world's forests are making to climate change. We interview the expert who came up with the idea.

    Also on Tech Life: It's clicked billions of times a day, but do you know how it started in the first place ? We find out why the world gave a big thumbs up to the 'like' button. And digitising agriculture in Ghana - how tech is streamlining the growing and selling process for thousands of farmers.

    Tell us about the one item of tech that you simply can't do without – please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: An illustration of the Biomass satellite in space. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab)

    27 min
  • Talking dolphin

    Do dolphins have their own language ? And could we 'speak' to them ? An AI large language model from Google, called DolphinGemma, is helping experts study dolphin communication. We interview Doctor Denise Herzing, the Research Director and founder of the Wild Dolphin Project, about her work and how it might bring benefits for humans and dolphins.

    Also in this edition, we find out how tech is changing the way NFL fans watch football games, and mega-batteries are helping to keep the lights on.

    Tell us about the one item of tech that you simply can't do without – please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A photograph of Atlantic spotted dolphins. Credit: Google)

    27 min
  • AI discrimination

    This week we're looking at artificial intelligence and how it can discriminate against us, affecting our chances of getting work or being approved for a loan. What causes it ?

    On the flip side - could it be AI to the rescue ? We learn about a computer model that predicts the behaviour of people who go missing. Could it help emergency services find those lost in the wilderness ?

    And Tech Life's gaming expert gets hands-on with the new Nintendo Switch 2.

    You can tell us about the one item of tech that you use in your life everyday – please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A hand holds a magnifying glass with the word BIAS magnified on a white background. Credit: Getty Images)

    27 min
  • Beyond the tip of the iceberg

    Tech Life looks at icebergs. Climate change means there are more of them in our oceans, breaking away and slowly melting. Scientists need to study them - but how ? We speak to an expert about robotic gliders, which are opening up new research opportunities.

    Also in this edition, can we trust artificial intelligence ? One of its problems is that it hallucinates, so we find out more about it.

    How can tech help people who are blind or partially sighted watch TV ?

    And our reporter gets his hands dirty examining rhino poo!

    You can tell us about the one item of tech that you use in your life everyday – please get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Imran Rahman-Jones

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A photograph of a robotic glider suspended above the water. Credit: Doctor Natasha Lucas)

    27 min
  • Jamming and spoofing

    Tech Life looks at satellite navigation and the increase in cases of signal interference. How could this affect shipping and aviation safety, and what can be done about it ?

    Also in this edition, what digital material of cultural significance should be stored for the future ? A volunteer project is improving Wikipedia's photographs. And we find out about efforts to harness the power of the moon on the Faroe Islands.

    Tell us about the one bit of tech you use in your life everyday – get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Zoe Kleinman

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: An image of a Galileo navigation satellite. Credit: BBC)

    27 min
  • Living life with a mind-reading chip

    What is it like to live with a computer chip in your brain ? Noland Arbaugh became the first person to receive a device from Elon Musk's neurotechnology firm, Neuralink. Noland tells the BBC about his operation to implant the chip, how he can control a computer with his thoughts, and how it has improved his life.

    Also on Tech Life this week, we explore a crypto solution to an electricity problem in rural Zambia, and look at one attempt to tackle the tricky subject of copyright and AI.

    Tell us about the one bit of tech you use in your life everyday – get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Imran Rahman-Jones

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A photograph of Noland Arbaugh attending a sporting event. Credit: Noland Arbaugh)

    27 min
  • Archiving achievement

    A former US Air Force engineer found articles about her were removed from the internet, on US government instructions. She tells us why she wants to archive them for the future. Then, we go inside Africa’s biggest tech market. Plus, the blind astronomer who listens to space. And quantum computers may be on the verge of a breakthrough. We explain why this matters.

    Tell us about the one bit of tech you use in your life everyday – get in touch by emailing [email protected] or send us a Whatsapp on +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance

    Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: Ex-US Air Force flight test engineer Jessica Peterson in the back seat of a T-38, taking a selfie video as the plane does an upside down roll. Credit: Getty Images)

    27 min
  • Surviving digital banking outages

    This week on Tech Life, we ask why online banking and payment outages happen, and find out what you can do to protect your data and money.

    The first Saudi Arabian woman to run an international body speaks to us about her life in tech, and her role in charge of the Digital Co-operation Organisation.

    And if you had to spend a long time on the Moon or Mars, what kind of base would you want to live in ?

    We are always keen to hear from you. You can email us: [email protected], or send us a text message or voice note on Whatsapp: +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Graham Fraser

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: A woman's hand holds a mobile phone. A login window for online banking is on the screen. Credit: Torsten Asmus/Getty Images)

    27 min
  • The doctor will see you now

    Live trials are under way in Ghana of holoportation 3D telemedicine tech. It allows a patient in a remote location to connect to a doctor many miles away, and be examined. We speak to the lead engineer involved in the project, as well as a patient and a doctor benefiting from the portable kit.

    Also on Tech Life, what happens when a country's leader decides the names of some places (or stretches of water) are about to change ? Do online maps update ? How is it decided ? Our reporter has been searching for the answers.

    And what is it like working as a technology correspondent, reporting on the busy and ever-changing North America tech scene ? We chat to Lily Jamali who does exactly that for the BBC.

    We are always keen to hear from you. You can email us: [email protected], or send us a text message or voice note on Whatsapp: +44 330 1230 320.

    Presenter: Graham Fraser

    Producer: Tom Quinn
    Editor: Monica Soriano

    (Image: Image of a female doctor communicating with a patient on a portable video link. Credit: Hiraman/Getty Images)

    27 min

About Tech Life

From the publisher's feed

Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world. We meet the people with bright ideas for rethinking the way we work, learn and play, and…

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