MSP [] MATTSPLAINED [] MSPx: Recent Episodes
KULTURPOP
MSP takes you into the future. Every week we look at advances in science and technology and ask how they will change the world we live in. And discuss how we can use our power and influence to shape the society of tomorrow.
In this Weird Science edition, we look at the achievements of 13-year-old Willis Gibson, the first human player to complete the classic game Tetris. Technology and nature intersect as our hosts discuss the potential use of plants to create supercapacitors for energy storage, opening possibilities for organic, biodegradable power sources.
In AI news, there’s only a 5% chance it will decide to destroy humanity. Or one in twenty, if you like those odds. Plus, they touch on the ethical dilemmas surrounding posthumous digital cloning and the replication of deceased individuals' personalities using AI.
A breakthrough in robotics, where scientists have developed an artificial pain-sensing system for robots, could enable machines to differentiate between safe and harmful objects, potentially revolutionizing surgical procedures and enhancing safety in human-robot interactions.
And in the medical files, resonant frequencies in human cells could be used as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Not to mention a sad trombone effect from outer space believed to originate from highly magnetized neutron stars.
We think it’s weird.
Happy 2024 everyone. ßorry there's been a gap uploading. A lot of personal nonsense. The show has been going out on BFM bu we haven't been uploading here consistently.
Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage offer a satirical and insightful review of technology in 2023. Alongside Matt’s obsession with creating conspiracy theories, we look at the proliferation of disinformation and the continued polarization of social media and broadcast platforms. We cover the advancements and setbacks in electric vehicles (EVs) and the continuing uncertainty of the crypto space.
There’s good news, too. The amazing pictures and scientific discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope. Breakthrough health treatments for Alzheimer’s and cancer. We end with a focus on the potential and pitfalls of AI in 2024, touching upon virtual assistants, disinformation in elections, and the growing detachment of Gen Z from technology.
Business as usual, really.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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In this episode, Matt and Richard explore the complex relationship between technology and memory, focusing on the preservation of digital content after death and the concept of digital avatars.
They look at concerns around the preservation of digital records for future generations, questioning what our current digital footprints will contribute to the historical record. And examine how society can ensure that digital formats are accessible and usable over time.
As a mirror they look at grief tech, technology used in the grieving process, such as digital avatars that can recreate the appearance and personality of deceased individuals. They examine its ethical and psychological implications, questioning its impact on the grieving process and its potential benefits and harms.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/25/wordpress-preserve-digital-content-100-years
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034650-700-how-ai-avatars-of-the-deceased-could-transform-the-way-we-grieve/
https://onemanandhisblog.com/2023/11/the-problem-with-automattics-100-year-plan/
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62552696
https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3544548.3581154
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In the future, we might not be able to see the stars for the trees if wood becomes the material of choice for interstellar habitation. Plus wilful ignorance, scent location and self-driving cars.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://gizmodo.com/daye-tampon-can-test-for-stis-1851000035?utm_source=vip
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034640-400-sweeteners-the-bitter-truth-about-low-calorie-sugar-substitutes/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401348-rats-squeak-with-happiness-when-they-are-with-another-rat/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401087-swarm-of-robots-can-make-collective-decisions-by-imitating-bees/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401141-skull-shows-man-survived-surgery-to-ease-brain-pressure-2700-years-ago/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401171-ocean-heat-could-supply-essentially-endless-clean-energy-to-islands/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400887-rats-can-use-imagination-to-mentally-recreate-places-theyve-visited/
· https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398836-mysterious-cannabis-induced-vomiting-syndrome-is-on-the-rise/
· https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400774-wildfire-smoke-is-reversing-decades-of-progress-on-clean-air/
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/cybertruck-struggles-drive-dirt-road
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/cruise-robotaxis-children
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/matte-black-cybertruck-looks-horrendous
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/cybertruck-spotted-highway-shoulder
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/unemployed-man-ai-apply-5000-jobs-gets-20-interviews
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/steak-umm-vegans-deepfake
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/obama-ai-biden
· https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/11/captcha-test-security-robot-ai/675931/?utm_source=feed
· https://gizmodo.com/daye-tampon-can-test-for-stis-1851000035?utm_source=vip
· https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-jaxa-wooden-satellite
· https://www.designboom.com/technology/father-son-functional-wooden-tesla-cybertruck-elon-musk-100-days-nd-woodworking-art-11-02-2023/
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Celine Dion terrorizes a New Zealand city as officials in Guangzhou wipe the Halloween smile from riders’ faces and Meta’s chatbots sow confusion and apathy. Plus, VR helps with the horrors of hoarding.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://futurism.com/neoscope/vr-hoarders-practice-throwing-garbage
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/24/porirua-siren-kings-new-zealand-city-speaker-battles
https://www.iflscience.com/archax-japan-engineers-make-transformer-robot-that-actually-works-71235
https://futurism.com/facebook-jane-austen-spam
https://futurism.com/meta-ai-tom-brady-colin-kaepernick
https://futurism.com/the-byte/bomb-threat-explosives-delivery-robots
https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/24/dmv-immediately-suspends-cruises-robotaxi-permit-in-california/?guccounter=1
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398656-gpt-4-gave-advice-on-planning-terrorist-attacks-when-asked-in-zulu/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399370-chatgpt-wrote-code-that-can-make-databases-leak-sensitive-information/
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As AI unveils its ability to speak to us, we take a look at the hidden world of data labelling, the secrets of 100-year-old blood and in-the-box updates.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
· https://gizmodo.com/chatgpt-gains-the-ability-to-see-hear-and-speak-1850869977
· https://sea.mashable.com/tech/27883/what-are-metas-ai-personas-and-how-do-you-chat-with-them
· https://sea.mashable.com/tech/27865/we-have-more-questions-than-answers-after-chatting-with-metas-ai-personas
· https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/introducing-ai-powered-assistants-characters-and-creative-tools/
· https://sea.mashable.com/mobile/27893/apple-will-be-able-to-update-iphones-while-theyre-still-in-the-box-report-claims
· https://designtaxi.com/news/425346/Microsoft-Is-Handing-Out-15K-Payouts-If-You-Can-Get-Bing-AI-To-Go-Rogue/
· https://www.iflscience.com/centenarian-blood-tests-give-hints-of-the-secrets-to-longevity-71123
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What’s in a word? From the leisurely shopping arcades of the 19th Century to the algorithm-driven surfing of today, the nature of browsing has transformed from casual entertainment to coercive click-bait.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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It’s Fat Bear Week on Mattsplained, with a cast of characters including purring cats, U2, Mean Girls, and disembodied hands and tongues. If it sounds weird, it’s only science.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395709-scientists-have-only-just-figured-out-how-cats-purr/
https://www.popsci.com/technology/electronic-tongue-ai-robot/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394911-robotic-hand-has-the-dexterity-to-handle-tricky-objects-with-care/
https://www.slashgear.com/1336606/technology-las-vegas-msg-sphere-explained/
https://www.archdaily.com/1007658/the-sphere-at-the-venetian-resort-opens-to-the-public-in-las-vegas#:~:text=The%20entire%20spherical%20façade%20acts,fountains%20or%20the%20half%2Dscale
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/04/style/tiktok-movies-mean-girls.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67009468?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67009468?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
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Human NPCs, phlubbing your partner and AI influencers fail to to out-weird Elon Musk’s latest X-rated escapade.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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In this episode of Mattsplained, hosts Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage explore the weird world of recent breakthroughs in science and technology. First up is a peculiar trend called "NPCs," where content creators pretend to be non-playable characters in video games. These NPC streamers mimic repetitive behavior, earning substantial amounts of money through livestreams. The hosts speculate on the potential reasons behind this trend and its commercial implications.
Moving on, they delve into the rise of AI influencers. While virtual influencers like lil miquela have been around for a few years, new AI models like Dall-e, midjourney, and stable diffusion have made it easier for anyone to create their own AI influencer. These AI influencers can maintain a perpetual and flawless online presence without experiencing content fatigue. Most AI influencers present as attractive individuals, predominantly young females, and cater to a growing audience across various social media platforms.
The hosts also touch on "phubbing," the act of ignoring someone in favor of one's phone. Studies have shown that phubbing can lead to negative feelings in relationships, emphasizing the importance of communication to strengthen bonds.
The podcast then takes an unexpected turn, discussing Elon Musk's recent acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent rebranding as "X." The hosts question the rationale behind the name change and Musk's plans to transform the platform into a super app centered around audio, video, messaging, and banking, powered by AI. They highlight the challenges of Twitter's pivot to fintech and the potential issues related to regulations, trust, and competition.
The episode concludes with some lighter topics, such as TikTok's introduction of a text service similar to Twitter's and the unintentional association of Twitter's rebranding with an adult streaming service called "Xvideo."
Overall, the podcast covers an array of unusual and intriguing topics, offering insights into the strange and evolving world of science, technology, and social media trends.
As summarised by ChatGPT
In a world where everything is rated, what value do those ratings have? And how are they driving generational change in our attitude to work?
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
In this episode, hosts Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage discuss various topics related to work, technology, and society. Matt talks about a documentary he watched on AI development and its potential to spread chaos. The film explores scenarios for AI becoming sentient and how to defeat it. They also touch on the obsession with feedback and ratings in today's culture, leading to discussions about the impact of constant rating on individuals' mental health and work performance.
Matt introduces the concept of "lazy girl jobs," which are undemanding jobs that pay enough to live well without requiring an emotional commitment. This idea is seen as a response to the fast-changing job landscape driven by technology and remote work. The hosts explore the shift in expectations regarding work, with more emphasis on finding stable and stress-free employment rather than pursuing traditional career paths.
They conclude by discussing how the working model has been significantly disrupted since 2020, leading to a broader movement away from city-based creativity and a rise in "bohemian peasants," a generation that embraces a different approach to work and life. The podcast delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by these societal changes.
Further Reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/09/gen-z-lazy-girl-jobs-tiktok-work
https://unherd.com/2023/07/the-dawn-of-the-bohemian-peasants/#:~:text=But%20what%20are%20Bopeas%3F,%2Dconformity%20and%20self%2Dexpression.
What do exit surveys for exes, a global glitter shortage, red coloured green screens and the brain patterns of lonely people have in common? They’re all extremely weird.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Introduction:
Welcome to another episode of Mattsplained, where we delve into the weird and wonderful happenings of the week. From unusual physics stories to dating trends and scientific discoveries, this week's roundup is filled with intriguing topics. Join us as we explore the world of glitter shortages, AI press conferences, and the effects of loneliness on the brain.
Weirding Out and Stealth Physics:
On this episode of Mattsplained, Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage dive into the concept of "weirding out." They discuss how last week's episode focused on stealth weirding, where they disguised a physics-centered story behind a captivating narrative. Matt reveals his intention to cover various topics in more depth, including AI, CRISPR, UFOs, working trends, and relationship exit interviews.
Dating Exit Interviews:
Matt introduces a growing trend inspired by a TikTok meme involving sending surveys to potential dates before meeting them. This trend aims to set expectations and avoid wasting time on incompatible matches. However, it also brings up concerns about the transactional nature of dating and the potential consequences of gathering personal information before a first meeting.
Netflix's Magenta Green Screen:
Matt shifts gears to discuss Netflix's invention of a new green screen technology called Magenta Green Screen. Unlike traditional green screens, this new system utilizes red and blue LEDs to create a magenta hue, allowing for more accurate background composition and real-time visualization during film shoots.
Foreign Students and AI Detection:
Matt explores the implications of AI detection tools in academia and how they may unfairly flag non-native English speakers as generating machine-written content. Stanford University's study revealed that AI detection tools identified essays written by non-native English speakers as AI-generated in 90% of cases. This bias can have adverse effects on foreign students' work and perpetuate systemic biases.
The Global Glitter Shortage Conspiracy:
Matt brings attention to the conspiracy theory surrounding a global glitter shortage. This theory arises due to two New Jersey-based companies, Glitterex and Meadowbrook Inventions, which produce the majority of the world's glitter. With Glitterex's undisclosed major customer and the various speculated uses of glitter, the environmental impact and need for its regulation are being questioned.
Loneliness and its Impact on the Brain:
Exploring the psychological aspect, Matt discusses a study conducted at USC Dornrife that examined the brain processes of lonely individuals. The study found that lonely individuals processed information differently from non-lonely individuals, suggesting that their thought patterns deviated from communal norms. This research sheds light on the experience of loneliness and its potential neurological implications.
Conclusion:
In this week's episode of Mattsplained, we uncovered a wide range of intriguing topics, from dating exit interviews and Netflix's Magenta Green Screen to AI detection biases and the impact of loneliness on the brain. These stories demonstrate the diverse and ever-evolving nature of our world. As we navigate through unconventional trends, scientific advancements, and social phenomena, it's essential to remain open-minded and adaptable to the changes that come our way.
Further Reading:
History is a wild and savage place. And one day that wild and savage place will be us. Will future societies cringe at our selfies, food shots and obsession with screens?
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/26/style/culture-regret-crocs-social-media-cringe.html
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Sorry! We accidentally uploaded MSP238 as 237. This is the real episode. Hope you enjoy it.
Web3 promises to democratise the Internet, and return control to users at the expense of Big Tech. But is it a problem masquerading as a solution?
Further Reading:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734220-200-web3-promises-to-reclaim-the-internet-from-tech-giants-will-it-work/
https://www.adelphi.edu/news/could-blockchain-revolutionize-voting/
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Bingbots, algo-cheating, taped-up batteries, aliens and Neanderthals are just some of the topics Mattsplained is weirding out with today.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/14/23599300/hyundai-kia-car-theft-software-update-free-tiktok-challenge
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/battery-power-laptop-phone-research-dalhousie-university-1.6724175
https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/14/23600358/elon-musk-tweets-algorithm-changes-twitter
https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/its-not-aliens-itll-probably-never-be-aliens-so-stop-please-just-stop/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2359553-early-risers-may-have-inherited-faster-body-clocks-from-neanderthals/
https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/15/23599072/microsoft-ai-bing-personality-conversations-spy-employees-webcams
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Web3 promises to democratise the Internet, and return control to users at the expense of Big Tech. But is it a problem masquerading as a solution?
Further Reading:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734220-200-web3-promises-to-reclaim-the-internet-from-tech-giants-will-it-work/
https://www.adelphi.edu/news/could-blockchain-revolutionize-voting/
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Does the idea of shape-shifting T-1000 robots terrify you? Science create a robot that can shift from metal to solid, as this week’s Weird Science takes in comets, aquatic dairy farms and more ChatGPT.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.iflscience.com/chatgpt-can-pass-part-of-the-united-states-medical-licensing-exam-67233
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.19.22283643v2.full
https://gizmodo.com/twitter-elon-musk-algorithm-for-you-tab-1850026346
https://futurism.com/giant-asteroid-actually-swarm-particles-impossible-destroy
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/19/floating-dairy-farm-rotterdam-climate-crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/24/us-electric-vehicles-lithium-consequences-research
https://futurism.com/giant-asteroid-actually-swarm-particles-impossible-destroy
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2356076-metal-robot-can-melt-its-way-out-of-tight-spaces-to-escape/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2356520-ai-legal-assistants-first-appearance-in-court-has-been-cancelled/
https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/travel-inspiration/greener-cities/article/floating-farm-in-rotterdam.htm
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It’s the first Weird Science of 2023. Inside our almanack of insane ideas are an elixir of youth, an insulating superwood and a system that creates a 3D surveillance system from your WiFi box.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://gptzero.me
https://gizmodo.com/cnet-ai-chatgpt-news-robot-1849996151
https://www.cnet.com/tech/cnet-is-experimenting-with-an-ai-assist-heres-why/
https://www.engadget.com/scientists-gave-a-robot-a-sense-of-smell-with-locust-antennae-and-ai-234427753.html?src=rss&guccounter=2
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2355174-children-aged-5-are-better-at-switching-their-attention-than-chimps/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2354698-a-blast-of-ultrasound-waves-could-rejuvenate-ageing-cells/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3p7xj/scientists-are-getting-eerily-good-at-using-wifi-to-see-people-through-walls-in-detail
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353759-how-ai-is-shifting-the-limits-of-knowledge-imposed-by-complexity/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2352652-quantum-money-that-uses-the-mathematics-of-knots-could-be-unforgeable/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353756-how-can-we-understand-quantum-reality-if-it-is-impossible-to-measure/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353350-high-tech-wood-filled-with-air-cavities-could-insulate-your-home/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2354264-us-government-lab-is-using-gpt-3-to-analyse-research-papers/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2354223-short-breathing-exercise-lifts-mood-more-than-mindfulness-meditation/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353743-supersized-wind-turbine-could-weather-storms-by-bending-like-palm-tree/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353610-ai-could-predict-hurricanes-or-rogue-waves-from-minimal-data/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353622-weve-just-discovered-a-new-part-of-the-brains-waste-disposal-system/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2353532-low-carb-diet-reduces-seizures-for-people-with-drug-resistant-epilepsy/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2352875-watch-this-golf-robot-navigate-to-a-ball-by-itself-and-sink-a-putt/
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634192-600-will-2023-be-the-year-we-finally-understand-consciousness/
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Electric cars, lies and the metaverse. As far as Mattsplained is concerned, it’s all you need to know about 2023.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/29/technology/personaltech/new-tech-2023-ai-chat-vr.html
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/31/ai-assisted-plagiarism-chatgpt-bot-says-it-has-an-answer-for-that
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/02/america-social-recession-less-friends-sex-mental-health
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/04/apple-artificial-intelligence-ai-audiobooks
https://www.riffusion.com/?fbclid=IwAR0J2sm3fwS_F8IxFyrFlqqZWv-aVJEcDpXSFBLjVAvv-8HrwaqdQCZrmIE
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/03/tesla-shares-price-value-decline-elon-musk
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jan/05/flutes-synths-a-human-voice-how-should-electric-vehicles-sound
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/03/why-a-67bn-takeover-could-make-microsoft-a-gaming-behemoth
Mattsplained went goblin mode in 2022. How else do you cope with Twitter warfare, quiet quitting and crypto collapses? Oh yeah, there was some good stuff about the year, too.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/05/crypto-ftx-collapse-bankruptcy-companies/
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/13/us-scientists-confirm-major-breakthrough-in-nuclear-fusion
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2022/12/13/4-mind-boggling-technology-advances-in-store-for-2023/?sh=48a58b5a1a40
https://universityofcalifornia.edu/news/11-incredible-uc-research-breakthroughs-2022
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ChatGPT, a chatbot from OpenAI, has been creating headlines with its incredible ability to generate screenplays, write code and seemingly answer questions on any topic. Sage or snake oil: is it too good to be true?
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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If the Metaverse is the Internet, where does that leave VR? Exploring the Immersive layer of XR – extended reality.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2323682-working-in-virtual-reality-for-a-week-made-people-less-productive/
https://futurism.com/the-byte/facebook-metaverse-users-quit-month
https://www.wired.com/story/extreme-fashion-metaverse/
https://futurism.com/the-byte/founder-oculus-zuckerberg-metaverse
https://www.wired.com/story/china-threatens-splinter-metaverse/
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In part one of our simples guide to the Metaverse, we try to cut through the complexity and corporate clutter to delineate what the metaverse is, and when we’ll get to use it.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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We're skipping ahead a couple of episodes because this story is about Elon Musk. Which means it will be out of date before you take your next breath: Mass layoffs, a financial crisis, growing voices of intolerance. And a kitchen sink. No, it isn’t the global economic crisis. It’s Twitter under its new owner, Elon Musk.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Further Reading:
https://www.ft.com/content/8db7e24b-5a15-4856-b81e-a2027157aaad
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/29/elon-musk-twitter-social-media-toxic-content
https://www.statista.com/statistics/303681/twitter-users-worldwide/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/
https://johnnaughton.substack.com/p/monday-7-november-2022
https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-where-did-tweeters-go-twitter-is-losing-its-most-active-users-internal-2022-10-25/
https://fortune.com/2022/11/06/elon-musk-twitter-monetization-model-can-beat-youtube-longer-posts-videos-soon/
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/elon-musk-says-twitter-will-soon-allow-users-monetize-content-make-long-form-posts
https://gizmodo.com/musk-twitter-layoffs-1849751286
https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/tv/elon-musk-parody-twitter-actors-suspended-sarah-silverman-kathy-griffin-3344565
https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/04/musk-blames-activist-groups-for-major-advertisers-pausing-spending-on-twitter/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-recommends-voting-republicans-us-midterm-elections-tweet-2022-11-07/
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For up to a third of the population, sleep is a task that never seems to be completed successfully. Thankfully, a new generation of sleep science is creating individualized approaches to sleep therapy that could see millions of people nodding off peacefully at night. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Further Reading: https://kulturpop.substack.com/p/roboelon (https://kulturpop.substack.com/p/roboelon) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634063-300-insomnia-success-suggests-we-need-more-nuanced-mental-health-support/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634063-300-insomnia-success-suggests-we-need-more-nuanced-mental-health-support/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634063-300-insomnia-success-suggests-we-need-more-nuanced-mental-health-support/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634063-300-insomnia-success-suggests-we-need-more-nuanced-mental-health-support/) https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-ai-text-into-3d-objects (https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-ai-text-into-3d-objects) https://dreamfusion3d.github.io/ (https://dreamfusion3d.github.io) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/05/it-feels-like-fresh-air-to-my-ears-can-brown-noise-really-help-you-concentrate (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/oct/05/it-feels-like-fresh-air-to-my-ears-can-brown-noise-really-help-you-concentrate) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@davidclode?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (David Clode) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/sleep?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
It’s time to put your backpack on and join the cyber cockroaches as we look at insect cyborgs, robo-Vader, asteroid impacts, ETH mining and the return of Gawker. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Further Reading: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/25/gawker-comeback-sued-closure-hulk-hogan (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/25/gawker-comeback-sued-closure-hulk-hogan) https://futurism.com/the-byte/darth-vader-ai-voice (https://futurism.com/the-byte/darth-vader-ai-voice) https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/darth-vaders-voice-emanated-from-war-torn-ukraine (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/darth-vaders-voice-emanated-from-war-torn-ukraine) https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/darth-vaders-voice-emanated-from-war-torn-ukraine%20/ (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/darth-vaders-voice-emanated-from-war-torn-ukraine ) https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/09/ethereum-completes-the-merge-which-ends-mining-and-cuts-energy-use-by-99-95/ (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/09/ethereum-completes-the-merge-which-ends-mining-and-cuts-energy-use-by-99-95/) https://www.pcmag.com/news/gpu-mining-for-ethereum-ends-as-the-merge-completes (https://www.pcmag.com/news/gpu-mining-for-ethereum-ends-as-the-merge-completes) https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/09/the-end-of-ethereum-mining-could-be-a-bonanza-for-gpu-shoppers/ (https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/09/the-end-of-ethereum-mining-could-be-a-bonanza-for-gpu-shoppers/) https://gizmodo.com/ethereum-bitcoin-price-plunges-sec-chair-merge-security-1849551695 (https://gizmodo.com/ethereum-bitcoin-price-plunges-sec-chair-merge-security-1849551695) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsZo1cxMqck (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsZo1cxMqck) https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-slams-spacecraft-slams-into-asteroid-to-test-earth-saving-tech (https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-slams-spacecraft-slams-into-asteroid-to-test-earth-saving-tech) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ugRQF_4nk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ugRQF_4nk) https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-robot-hurricane-fiona (https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-robot-hurricane-fiona) https://futurism.com/the-byte/cyborg-cockroaches-remote-controlled (https://futurism.com/the-byte/cyborg-cockroaches-remote-controlled) https://futurism.com/the-byte/inventor-cyborg-cockroaches-rationale (https://futurism.com/the-byte/inventor-cyborg-cockroaches-rationale) Photo by https://www.midjourney.com/home/ (MidJourney) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are you quiet quitting or quietly doing your job? Do you need a WhatsApp group to tell you? Or is this simply the impact of a new generation on the workplace? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Further Reading: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/ (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/) https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead (https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@simmerdownjpg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Jackson Simmer) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/quit?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are you quiet quitting or quietly doing your job? Do you need a WhatsApp group to tell you? Or is this simply the impact of a new generation on the workplace? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Further Reading: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/ (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/) https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead (https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@simmerdownjpg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Jackson Simmer) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/quit?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are you quiet quitting or quietly doing your job? Do you need a WhatsApp group to tell you? Or is this simply the impact of a new generation on the workplace? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Further Reading: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/ (https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/quiet-quitting-trend-employee-disengagement/671436/) https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead (https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2022/09/13/1122059402/the-economics-behind-quiet-quitting-and-what-we-should-call-it-instead) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/how-quiet-quitting-became-the-next-phase-of-the-great-resignation.html) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/aug/19/whatsapp-group-chat-overload-have-we-reached-peak-whatsapp) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@simmerdownjpg?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Jackson Simmer) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/quit?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are work notifications ruining your life? Do you spend more time reacting to pings than doing your actual work? Are productivity tools ruining your productivity? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/ (https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds) https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@ellenqin?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Ellen Qin) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ping?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are work notifications ruining your life? Do you spend more time reacting to pings than doing your actual work? Are productivity tools ruining your productivity? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/ (https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds) https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@ellenqin?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Ellen Qin) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ping?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are work notifications ruining your life? Do you spend more time reacting to pings than doing your actual work? Are productivity tools ruining your productivity? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/ (https://robm.me.uk/2022/08/efficiency-movement/) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/25/ping-phone-notifications-off-whatsapp-instagram) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/06/doomscrolling-linked-to-poor-physical-and-mental-health-study-finds) https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/06/success/return-to-office-hybrid-mandates/index.html) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@ellenqin?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Ellen Qin) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ping?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
The secret laptop destruct sequence of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation, a lawn-mowing android, social media intrusion and chewing gum make for some very weird science. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/janet-jackson-rhythm-nation-crash-hard-drives/ (https://www.wired.com/story/janet-jackson-rhythm-nation-crash-hard-drives/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@benjaminlehman?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (benjamin lehman) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/hard-drive?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Our minds are crying out for silence in an over-stimulating world. But is silence only for the wealthy? And can too much of it harm rather than help us? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533990-700-the-power-of-quiet-the-mental-and-physical-health-benefits-of-silence/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533990-700-the-power-of-quiet-the-mental-and-physical-health-benefits-of-silence/) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJsuUOuEZ9Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJsuUOuEZ9Q) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2452161304806914 (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2452161304806914) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-51174-001 (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-51174-001) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@tinaflour?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Kristina Flour) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/silence?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Headphones that lip read, mouse-rat chimeras, soap-based TV screens and a robot with feelings. With a list like that it must be weird science. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/01/smart-glasses-allow-deaf-people-to-see-conversations-with-subtitles-17106685/ (https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/01/smart-glasses-allow-deaf-people-to-see-conversations-with-subtitles-17106685/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332193-experimental-earphone-can-hear-commands-user-is-silently-mouthing/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332193-experimental-earphone-can-hear-commands-user-is-silently-mouthing/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332016-mice-produce-rat-sperm-with-technique-that-could-help-conservation/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332016-mice-produce-rat-sperm-with-technique-that-could-help-conservation/) https://www.newscientist.com/section/news/page/3/ (https://www.newscientist.com/section/news/page/3/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332216-home-screening-test-for-oral-or-throat-cancer-has-90-per-cent-accuracy/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332216-home-screening-test-for-oral-or-throat-cancer-has-90-per-cent-accuracy/) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/08/whatsapp-opens-door-silent-exits-annoying-groups-privacy (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/08/whatsapp-opens-door-silent-exits-annoying-groups-privacy) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@francogio?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Franco Antonio Giovanella) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/hear?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Is a smart city a place where digital technology tracks your every move and creates a de facto surveillance state? Or is it simply a place where we use the best of human technology and innovation to create liveable urban spaces? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/29/1054005/toronto-kill-the-smart-city/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email (https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/29/1054005/toronto-kill-the-smart-city/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email) https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/toronto-quayside-smart-cities/ (https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/toronto-quayside-smart-cities/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533950-700-why-spending-time-near-water-gives-us-a-powerful-mental-health-boost/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25533950-700-why-spending-time-near-water-gives-us-a-powerful-mental-health-boost/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@mrbrandonwong?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Brandon Wong) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/%40ryoji-wata?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are digital distractions destroying our brains? Are we too detached to remember? Could an Adam Sandler movie have been deeply profound? The disturbing development of digital amnesia. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Freda Liu Produced by https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/jul/03/is-your-smartphone-ruining-your-memory-the-rise-of-digital-amenesia (https://www.theguardian.com/global/2022/jul/03/is-your-smartphone-ruining-your-memory-the-rise-of-digital-amenesia) https://www.iium.edu.my/v2/is-your-smartphone-ruining-your-memory-a-special-report-on-the-rise-of-digital-amnesia/ (https://www.iium.edu.my/v2/is-your-smartphone-ruining-your-memory-a-special-report-on-the-rise-of-digital-amnesia/)
Photo by https://unsplash.com/@kellysikkema?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Kelly Sikkema) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/memory?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
An AI that creates ghost images from our subconscious, a shotgun-wielding man in hot pants, penguins with accents, and photosynthesis in the dark. That’s some very weird science. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-twitter-sec-bots-lawsuit-1849183376 (https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-twitter-sec-bots-lawsuit-1849183376) https://www.vice.com/en/article/93ayp7/delta-dental-insurance-silent-on-bizarre-video-of-man-in-hot-pants-with-a-shotgun-declaring-independence-from-delta-dental (https://www.vice.com/en/article/93ayp7/delta-dental-insurance-silent-on-bizarre-video-of-man-in-hot-pants-with-a-shotgun-declaring-independence-from-delta-dental) https://www.nytimes.com/article/nasa-webb-telescope-images-galaxies.html (https://www.nytimes.com/article/nasa-webb-telescope-images-galaxies.html) https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/whats-so-special-about-james-webb-space-telescope-images/ (https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/whats-so-special-about-james-webb-space-telescope-images/) https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/faqs/whoIsJamesWebb.html (https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/faqs/whoIsJamesWebb.html) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2328323-penguins-adapt-their-accents-to-sound-more-like-their-friends/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2328323-penguins-adapt-their-accents-to-sound-more-like-their-friends/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2328245-robot-that-can-perceive-its-body-has-self-awareness-claim-researchers/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2328245-robot-that-can-perceive-its-body-has-self-awareness-claim-researchers/) https://www.iflscience.com/artificial-photosynthesis-can-now-happen-without-light-64363 (https://www.iflscience.com/artificial-photosynthesis-can-now-happen-without-light-64363) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@willianjusten?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Willian Justen de Vasconcellos) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ghostbusters?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
On this episode of Weird Science, a missing Crypto Queen, why we like people who smell like us, fasting for your nerves, and a crime-predicting AI. Most importantly, find out why you shouldn’t drink coffee while shopping. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/38309/20220621/want-avoid-impulse-buying-coffee-drink-caffeine-before-shopping-expert.htm (https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/38309/20220621/want-avoid-impulse-buying-coffee-drink-caffeine-before-shopping-expert.htm) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00222429221109247 (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00222429221109247) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2325559-youre-more-likely-to-become-friends-with-someone-who-smells-like-you/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2325559-youre-more-likely-to-become-friends-with-someone-who-smells-like-you/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933240-700-the-hidden-rules-that-determine-which-friendships-matter-to-us/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933240-700-the-hidden-rules-that-determine-which-friendships-matter-to-us/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326530-intermittent-fasting-linked-to-better-gut-and-liver-function-in-mice/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326530-intermittent-fasting-linked-to-better-gut-and-liver-function-in-mice/) https://www.iflscience.com/does-intermittent-fasting-hold-the-key-to-nerve-regeneration-64267 (https://www.iflscience.com/does-intermittent-fasting-hold-the-key-to-nerve-regeneration-64267) https://gizmodo.com/national-fecal-sample-bank-health-c-diff-1849130190 (https://gizmodo.com/national-fecal-sample-bank-health-c-diff-1849130190) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326879-zika-or-dengue-infections-make-you-more-appealing-to-mosquitoes/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326879-zika-or-dengue-infections-make-you-more-appealing-to-mosquitoes/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2166597-catching-malaria-makes-you-smell-more-attractive-to-mosquitoes/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2166597-catching-malaria-makes-you-smell-more-attractive-to-mosquitoes/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326129-artificially-intelligent-robot-perpetuates-racist-and-sexist-prejudice/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326129-artificially-intelligent-robot-perpetuates-racist-and-sexist-prejudice/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326297-ai-predicts-crime-a-week-in-advance-with-90-per-cent-accuracy/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2326297-ai-predicts-crime-a-week-in-advance-with-90-per-cent-accuracy/) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/01/fbi-offers-100000-reward-for-help-finding-onecoin-cryptoqueen-ruja-ignatova (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jul/01/fbi-offers-100000-reward-for-help-finding-onecoin-cryptoqueen-ruja-ignatova) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@markusspiske?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Markus Spiske) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/smells?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Is Uber taking us for a ride? The e-hailing company is the latest subject of a whistleblowing data drop. And, the company that didn’t seek a sale is suing the man who doesn’t want to buy it. The strange saga of Elon Musk and Twitter. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Freda Liu Produced for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/technology/elon-musk-twitter.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/technology/elon-musk-twitter.html) https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-twitter-strange-legal-fight-11657488572 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-twitter-strange-legal-fight-11657488572) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@alexandramirghes?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Alexandra Mirgheș) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/angry?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Automaker Ford recently announced a direct-to-consumer sales model for its EVs. We look at why the car industry is lagging behind other retail sectors and highlight some of the advances in hybrid retail. Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/business/tesla-online-sales-dealerships.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/business/tesla-online-sales-dealerships.html) https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/02/ford-wants-to-sell-evs-online-only-and-at-a-set-price/ (https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/02/ford-wants-to-sell-evs-online-only-and-at-a-set-price/) https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolis/2022/02/02/the-future-of-retail-is-hybrid-and-unified-around-end-to-end-connected-experiences/ (https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolis/2022/02/02/the-future-of-retail-is-hybrid-and-unified-around-end-to-end-connected-experiences/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@gspindula?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Gustavo Spindula) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/car-makeup?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Neural networks can now create photo-realistic images from simple text inputs. As AI makes inroads into diverse professions, ranging from architecture to accounting, are these entry-level AIs displacing the next generation of white-collar workers? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2322056-will-ai-text-to-image-generators-put-illustrators-out-of-a-job/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2322056-will-ai-text-to-image-generators-put-illustrators-out-of-a-job/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264022-ai-illustrator-draws-imaginative-pictures-to-go-with-text-captions/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264022-ai-illustrator-draws-imaginative-pictures-to-go-with-text-captions/) https://www.archdaily.com/982243/algorithms-and-aesthetics-the-future-of-generative-design (https://www.archdaily.com/982243/algorithms-and-aesthetics-the-future-of-generative-design) https://imagen.research.google/ (https://imagen.research.google) https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.11487 (https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.11487) https://www.archdaily.com/982243/algorithms-and-aesthetics-the-future-of-generative-design (https://www.archdaily.com/982243/algorithms-and-aesthetics-the-future-of-generative-design) https://www.synthesia.io/ (https://www.synthesia.io) https://playphrase.me/ (https://playphrase.me) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@4xel?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Axel Ruffini) on https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
LaMDA, Google’s experimental conversational AI has claimed it is a sentient person. Could Number 5 be Alive? Or is Autocomplete developing new and mystical powers? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://cajundiscordian.medium.com/is-lamda-sentient-an-interview-ea64d916d917 (https://cajundiscordian.medium.com/is-lamda-sentient-an-interview-ea64d916d917) https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/what-comes-after-the-turing-test (https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/what-comes-after-the-turing-test) https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/nonsense-on-stilts?s=r (https://garymarcus.substack.com/p/nonsense-on-stilts?s=r) https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2022/06/09/artificial-neural-networks-are-making-strides-towards-consciousness-according-to-blaise-aguera-y-arcas (https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2022/06/09/artificial-neural-networks-are-making-strides-towards-consciousness-according-to-blaise-aguera-y-arcas) https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/11/google-ai-lamda-blake-lemoine/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/11/google-ai-lamda-blake-lemoine/) https://ai.google/responsibilities/responsible-ai-practices/#:~:text=The%20development%20of%20AI%20is,and%20security%20into%20these%20systems (https://ai.google/responsibilities/responsible-ai-practices/#:~:text=The%20development%20of%20AI%20is,and%20security%20into%20these%20systems). https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/12/google-engineer-ai-bot-sentient-blake-lemoine (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jun/12/google-engineer-ai-bot-sentient-blake-lemoine) https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/280-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence (https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/280-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence) Photo by Photo by https://unsplash.com/@lazycreekimages?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Michael Dziedzic) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/thought?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
A bionic eye, glaucoma controlling contact lenses, and email writing horses are just some of the alternative health treatments under the Weird Science lens. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2312754-bionic-eye-that-mimics-how-pupils-respond-to-light-may (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2312754-bionic-eye-that-mimics-how-pupils-respond-to-light-may) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317510-oscar-winning-actors-live-longer-than-unsuccessful-nominees/-improve-vision/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317510-oscar-winning-actors-live-longer-than-unsuccessful-nominees/-improve-vision/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2316878-crispr-nanocapsule-limits-growth-of-aggressive-brain-tumours-in-mice/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2316878-crispr-nanocapsule-limits-growth-of-aggressive-brain-tumours-in-mice/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317032-artificial-nerve-cells-have-been-made-in-the-lab/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317032-artificial-nerve-cells-have-been-made-in-the-lab/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318862-brain-cells-that-are-linked-to-parkinsons-disease-finally-identified/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318862-brain-cells-that-are-linked-to-parkinsons-disease-finally-identified/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317296-people-over-80-with-overweight-bmi-may-have-lower-mortality-rates/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317296-people-over-80-with-overweight-bmi-may-have-lower-mortality-rates/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319142-irritable-bowel-syndrome-may-be-caused-by-overreacting-gut-cells/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319142-irritable-bowel-syndrome-may-be-caused-by-overreacting-gut-cells/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319586-plan-to-feed-phone-data-of-nhs-mental-health-patients-to-ai-mothballed/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2319586-plan-to-feed-phone-data-of-nhs-mental-health-patients-to-ai-mothballed/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433852-200-a-new-weight-loss-drug-could-be-used-to-prevent-obesity-will-it-work/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433852-200-a-new-weight-loss-drug-could-be-used-to-prevent-obesity-will-it-work/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320438-nearly-a-third-of-bites-by-malaria-carrying-mosquitoes-are-in-the-day/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320438-nearly-a-third-of-bites-by-malaria-carrying-mosquitoes-are-in-the-day/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320689-smart-contact-lens-for-glaucoma-could-release-drugs-when-needed/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320689-smart-contact-lens-for-glaucoma-could-release-drugs-when-needed/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320472-robot-can-fly-swim-or-hitch-a-ride-by-sticking-to-other-objects/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320472-robot-can-fly-swim-or-hitch-a-ride-by-sticking-to-other-objects/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320902-climate-change-means-people-are-losing-44-hours-of-sleep-per-year/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320902-climate-change-means-people-are-losing-44-hours-of-sleep-per-year/) https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/in-iceland-horses-will-write-your-out-of-office-emails-for-you/ (https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/in-iceland-horses-will-write-your-out-of-office-emails-for-you/) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Hitch-hiking robots, cat-based AI, gene-edited tomatoes and wooden skyscrapers. Weird Science has it all. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/20/jeff-bezos-amazon-politics-hamilton-nolan (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/20/jeff-bezos-amazon-politics-hamilton-nolan) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320472-robot-can-fly-swim-or-hitch-a-ride-by-sticking-to-other-objects/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320472-robot-can-fly-swim-or-hitch-a-ride-by-sticking-to-other-objects/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320823-is-deepminds-gato-ai-really-a-human-level-intelligence-breakthrough/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2320823-is-deepminds-gato-ai-really-a-human-level-intelligence-breakthrough/) https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/investing/luna-terra-losses-crypto-traders/index.html (https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/investing/luna-terra-losses-crypto-traders/index.html) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2321116-waste-wood-chemically-recycled-to-produce-material-stronger-than-steel/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2321116-waste-wood-chemically-recycled-to-produce-material-stronger-than-steel/) https://www.timeout.com/news/the-worlds-tallest-wooden-skyscraper-is-being-built-in-switzerland-042222 (https://www.timeout.com/news/the-worlds-tallest-wooden-skyscraper-is-being-built-in-switzerland-042222) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2321469-gene-edited-tomato-offers-new-plant-based-source-of-vitamin-d/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2321469-gene-edited-tomato-offers-new-plant-based-source-of-vitamin-d/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@edoneil?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Ed O'Neil) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/tomato?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Saying farewell to the mighty iPod as Apple retires one of its most iconic products. And take a look at another cultural icon that technology is threatening: the gas station. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.techradar.com/opinion/why-im-holding-on-to-my-ipod-classic-even-as-apple-finally-kills-off-the-ipod (https://www.techradar.com/opinion/why-im-holding-on-to-my-ipod-classic-even-as-apple-finally-kills-off-the-ipod) https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/apple-officially-retires-the-ipod (https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/apple-officially-retires-the-ipod) https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61401626 (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61401626) https://www.macworld.com/article/699715/the-ipod-touch-is-finally-dead.html (https://www.macworld.com/article/699715/the-ipod-touch-is-finally-dead.html) https://www.macrumors.com/2022/04/28/apple-supply-constraints-q3-2022/#:~:text=Apple%20CFO%20Luca%20Maestri%20said,get%20back%20up%20and%20running (https://www.macrumors.com/2022/04/28/apple-supply-constraints-q3-2022/#:~:text=Apple%20CFO%20Luca%20Maestri%20said,get%20back%20up%20and%20running). https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/14/wernher-von-braun-former-ss-officer-nazi-us-space-programme-nasa-apollo (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/14/wernher-von-braun-former-ss-officer-nazi-us-space-programme-nasa-apollo) https://statusq.org/archives/2022/05/04/10919/ (https://statusq.org/archives/2022/05/04/10919/) https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44640647 (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44640647) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@dewiika?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Dewi Ika Putri) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/ipod?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)
Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
The Internet knows where you live, who your friends and family are, where you work and what you like. How? Because every time you use your phone, you tell them what you're doing and where to find you. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/05/10/twitter-takeover-musk-says-he-s-exactly-aligned-with-new-eu-rules-tackling-illegal-online- (https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/05/10/twitter-takeover-musk-says-he-s-exactly-aligned-with-new-eu-rules-tackling-illegal-online-) https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/03/twitter-latest-filing-admits-to-risk-of-losing-of-advertisers-and-staff-due-to-musk-takeover/ (https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/03/twitter-latest-filing-admits-to-risk-of-losing-of-advertisers-and-staff-due-to-musk-takeover/) https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/05/elon-musk-expected-to-serve-as-temporary-twitter-ceo-after-deal-closes.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/05/elon-musk-expected-to-serve-as-temporary-twitter-ceo-after-deal-closes.html) https://www.atdata.com/identity-matching-services (https://www.atdata.com/identity-matching-services) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqn3gR1WTcA&t=871s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqn3gR1WTcA&t=871s) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@thevoncomplex?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Mike Von) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/influencer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
The mannequins making women safer in space, dancing drones detecting radiation at Chernobyl and EVs that fail to comply. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318015-chernobyl-scientists-want-robots-and-drones-to-monitor-radiation-risk/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318015-chernobyl-scientists-want-robots-and-drones-to-monitor-radiation-risk/) https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/3/23055122/boston-dynamics-spot-video-upgrades-industrial-setting-dancing (https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/3/23055122/boston-dynamics-spot-video-upgrades-industrial-setting-dancing) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318260-space-test-dummies-will-measure-female-radiation-risk-for-first-time/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318260-space-test-dummies-will-measure-female-radiation-risk-for-first-time/) https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/30/23050493/baidu-pony-ai-first-robotaxi-services-operate-without-safety-drivers-beijing-china (https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/30/23050493/baidu-pony-ai-first-robotaxi-services-operate-without-safety-drivers-beijing-china) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317864-efficient-battery-could-charge-electric-cars-60-per-cent-in-6-minutes/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317864-efficient-battery-could-charge-electric-cars-60-per-cent-in-6-minutes/) https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61080666 (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61080666) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/03/drone-us-canada-border-intercepted-bag-guns (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/03/drone-us-canada-border-intercepted-bag-guns) https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/snapchat-pixy-drone/ (https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/snapchat-pixy-drone/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317864-efficient-battery-could-charge-electric-cars-60-per-cent-in-6-minutes/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317864-efficient-battery-could-charge-electric-cars-60-per-cent-in-6-minutes/) https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/snapchat-pixy-drone/ (https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/snapchat-pixy-drone/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@zoltantasi?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Zoltan Tasi) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/police?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
The Tweety bird could get some new feathers if prospective owner Elon Musk gets a Like from the SEC. Will it happen? What can we expect from a Twitter under the rule of its greatest shitposter? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/twitter-elon-musk-buy-takeover-deal-tesla (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/twitter-elon-musk-buy-takeover-deal-tesla) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/business/trump-truth-social-elon-musk.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/business/trump-truth-social-elon-musk.html) https://twitter.com/rbreich/status/1513999754480345089 (https://twitter.com/rbreich/status/1513999754480345089) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/12/elon-musk-internet-twitter (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/12/elon-musk-internet-twitter) https://twitter.com/DonLemonTonight/status/1518797990302994432?s=20&t=tVRv3z3jGQw7yFowz5VVGA (https://twitter.com/DonLemonTonight/status/1518797990302994432?s=20&t=tVRv3z3jGQw7yFowz5VVGA) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/opinion/musk-twitter-trump.html?searchResultPosition=1 (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/opinion/musk-twitter-trump.html?searchResultPosition=1) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/26/twitter-44bn-elon-musk-users-investors (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/26/twitter-44bn-elon-musk-users-investors) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-04-18/elon-musk-in-defense-of-the-tesla-ceo-s-managerial-excellence (https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-04-18/elon-musk-in-defense-of-the-tesla-ceo-s-managerial-excellence) https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/why-elon-musk-bought-twitter/amp (https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/why-elon-musk-bought-twitter/amp) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/twitter-elon-musk-buy-takeover-deal-tesla (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/25/twitter-elon-musk-buy-takeover-deal-tesla) https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/26/elon-musk-twitter-donald-trump-katie-hopkins (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/26/elon-musk-twitter-donald-trump-katie-hopkins) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/26/twitter-elon-musk-ill-advised-tweet-angry (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/26/twitter-elon-musk-ill-advised-tweet-angry) https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-twitter-privacy-anonymity/ (https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-twitter-privacy-anonymity/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@patriceb?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Patrice Bouchard) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/birds?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
We’re talking about the world of evolving chatbots today. How the implementation of screenless technologies could shape society. And the dangers we face if we adopt voice-based Search in a sentence. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/03/29/1048439/chatbots-replace-search-engine-terrible-idea/ (https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/03/29/1048439/chatbots-replace-search-engine-terrible-idea/) https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/02/22/the-important-difference-between-web3-and-the-metaverse/?sh=5d1ce8195af3 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/02/22/the-important-difference-between-web3-and-the-metaverse/?sh=5d1ce8195af3) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@laughayette?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Marten Newhall) on https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Are the trolls taking over Twitter? Are slimy robots the future? Can solar panels work at night? It must be time for some Weird Science. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/russia-ukraine-war-ai-surveillance/ (https://www.wired.com/story/russia-ukraine-war-ai-surveillance/) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/technology/elon-musk-twitter.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/technology/elon-musk-twitter.html) https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n74e/prolific-shitposter-now-owns-92-of-twitter (https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n74e/prolific-shitposter-now-owns-92-of-twitter) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/business/twitter-elon-musk-directors.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/business/twitter-elon-musk-directors.html) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/technology/twitter-platform-rethink.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/technology/twitter-platform-rethink.html) https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n74e/prolific-shitposter-now-owns-92-of-twitter (https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3n74e/prolific-shitposter-now-owns-92-of-twitter) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaZJG7jiRak&t=12s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaZJG7jiRak&t=12s) (0m38s to 1m08s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUIyRWSzQBo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUIyRWSzQBo) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/mind-blowing-ai-da-becomes-first-robot-to-paint-like-an-artist (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/04/mind-blowing-ai-da-becomes-first-robot-to-paint-like-an-artist) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314395-robot-made-of-magnetic-slime-could-grab-objects-inside-your-body/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314395-robot-made-of-magnetic-slime-could-grab-objects-inside-your-body/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314957-solar-panels-that-work-at-night-produce-enough-power-to-charge-a-phone/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314957-solar-panels-that-work-at-night-produce-enough-power-to-charge-a-phone/) https://www.newscientist.com/video/2314977-ai-powered-camera-traps-could-protect-gabon-wildlife-from-poachers/ (https://www.newscientist.com/video/2314977-ai-powered-camera-traps-could-protect-gabon-wildlife-from-poachers/) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@markkoenig?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Mark König) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/troll?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Zombies are back. And they're inside you, causing premature ageing. But we're developing the technology to beat back the horde. Billions of dollars are pouring into start-ups focused on reversing the effects of time on our cells. Could a cure for old age be within our grasp? Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2309645-brain-cells-that-regulate-wakefulness-may-become-overactive-with-age/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2309645-brain-cells-that-regulate-wakefulness-may-become-overactive-with-age/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311876-we-may-now-know-why-young-blood-can-have-rejuvenating-effects/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311876-we-may-now-know-why-young-blood-can-have-rejuvenating-effects/) https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/17/if-they-could-turn-back-time-how-tech-billionaires-are-trying-to-reverse-the-ageing-process (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/17/if-they-could-turn-back-time-how-tech-billionaires-are-trying-to-reverse-the-ageing-process) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/senescence (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/senescence) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5048378/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5048378/) https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/12/419201/drug-reverses-age-related-mental-decline-within-days (https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/12/419201/drug-reverses-age-related-mental-decline-within-days) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/12/12/national/science-health/aging-vaccine/ (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/12/12/national/science-health/aging-vaccine/) https://newatlas.com/medical/anti-aging-drug-senescent-cells/ (https://newatlas.com/medical/anti-aging-drug-senescent-cells/) https://newatlas.com/medical/senolytic-anti-aging-drugs-spinal-discs-back-pain/?itm_source=newatlas&itm_medium=article-body (https://newatlas.com/medical/senolytic-anti-aging-drugs-spinal-discs-back-pain/?itm_source=newatlas&itm_medium=article-body) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@mahdibafande?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Mahdi Bafande) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/zombie?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)
Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com) Follow us: Tw: https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) In: https://www.instagram.com/kulturpo (@kulturpop) & https://www.instagram.com/kulturmatt (@kulturmatt) W: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com)
Mattsplained celebrates its landmark 200th episode with a look back at our tech obsessions past, present and future. Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my/ (BFM89.9) Photo by https://unsplash.com/@achautla?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Héctor Achautla) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/200?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/nimo-planet-nimo-glasses/amp (https://www.wired.com/story/nimo-planet-nimo-glasses/amp) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-01-09/podcasting-hasn-t-produced-a-new-hit-in-years (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-01-09/podcasting-hasn-t-produced-a-new-hit-in-years)
Subscribe to the Substack newsletter: https://kulturpop.substack.com/ (https://kulturpop.substack.com)
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Could robot bees be the future of pollination? Will a resurrected T-Rex look like a T-Rex? Can we game our way to a cure for cancer plus the secret to more accurate moonwalking. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333770-900-martin-rees-interview-elon-musk-could-spawn-the-first-post-humans/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333770-900-martin-rees-interview-elon-musk-could-spawn-the-first-post-humans/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333773-200-help-cancer-research-by-playing-the-genigma-phone-puzzle-game/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333773-200-help-cancer-research-by-playing-the-genigma-phone-puzzle-game/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311525-simple-mathematical-trick-could-slash-ai-development-time-in-half/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311525-simple-mathematical-trick-could-slash-ai-development-time-in-half/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311876-we-may-now-know-why-young-blood-can-have-rejuvenating-effects/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311876-we-may-now-know-why-young-blood-can-have-rejuvenating-effects/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333770-400-make-mistakes-on-purpose-it-can-dramatically-boost-your-performance/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333770-400-make-mistakes-on-purpose-it-can-dramatically-boost-your-performance/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311756-hugging-a-pillow-that-mimics-breathing-could-reduce-anxiety/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311756-hugging-a-pillow-that-mimics-breathing-could-reduce-anxiety/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311607-resurrecting-extinct-species-from-their-dna-is-essentially-impossible/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311607-resurrecting-extinct-species-from-their-dna-is-essentially-impossible/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311657-ai-can-help-historians-restore-ancient-texts-from-damaged-inscriptions/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2311657-ai-can-help-historians-restore-ancient-texts-from-damaged-inscriptions/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310369-encryption-meant-to-protect-against-quantum-hackers-is-easily-cracked/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310369-encryption-meant-to-protect-against-quantum-hackers-is-easily-cracked/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310133-ocean-waves-from-a-tropical-storm-could-be-focused-like-laser-beams/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310133-ocean-waves-from-a-tropical-storm-could-be-focused-like-laser-beams/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310420-oneweb-surprised-by-russian-demands-over-satellite-launch/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2310420-oneweb-surprised-by-russian-demands-over-satellite-launch/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2308867-astronauts-on-mars-might-trip-up-less-if-they-can-hear-their-footsteps/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2308867-astronauts-on-mars-might-trip-up-less-if-they-can-hear-their-footsteps/) https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/8/22966204/google-jigsaw-perspective-ai-twitter-moderation-harassment-manager-journalists (https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/8/22966204/google-jigsaw-perspective-ai-twitter-moderation-harassment-manager-journalists) https://www.wired.com/story/insect-crisis-oliver-milman/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/insect-crisis-oliver-milman/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.beeculture.com/pollination-in-china/ (https://www.beeculture.com/pollination-in-china/) https://www.sciencenews.org/article/crispr-de-extinct-christmas-rat-species-gene-editing...
Who will we be in the metaverse? Obviously, an avatar. But what will that avatar mean for the person in the real world? Has digital technology already eroded our identities as Matt gets to grips with the after-effects of Covid-19. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/great-smushing-pandemic-identities/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/great-smushing-pandemic-identities/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/now-physical-jobs-going-remote/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/now-physical-jobs-going-remote/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-reese-witherspoon-metaverse/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-reese-witherspoon-metaverse/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/robinhood-psych-experiment-gamestop/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/robinhood-psych-experiment-gamestop/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/now-physical-jobs-going-remote/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/now-physical-jobs-going-remote/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.helenrussell.co.uk/books/the-year-of-living-danishly/ (https://www.helenrussell.co.uk/books/the-year-of-living-danishly/) https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2021/08/02/how-reese-witherspoon-has-become-the-worlds-richest-actress/?sh=17c0bcb34d9b (https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2021/08/02/how-reese-witherspoon-has-become-the-worlds-richest-actress/?sh=17c0bcb34d9b) https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2019/07/multiple-identities (https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2019/07/multiple-identities) Image Credit: Photo by https://unsplash.com/@justzorik?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Zorik D) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/avatar?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)
Five-letter puzzle Wordle has become a global sharing sensation. But why is it so addictive? And what is it doing to your brain? And what does it tell us about our culture? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt) Episode Sources: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/is-wordle-good-for-your-brain (https://www.inverse.com/gaming/is-wordle-good-for-your-brain) https://theconversation.com/the-wordle-craze-why-do-we-love-puzzles-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains-175227 (https://theconversation.com/the-wordle-craze-why-do-we-love-puzzles-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains-175227) https://www.insider.com/wordle-game-viral-experts-psychology-sharing-twitter-2022-1 (https://www.insider.com/wordle-game-viral-experts-psychology-sharing-twitter-2022-1) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-do-we-love-puzzles-like-wordle-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-do-we-love-puzzles-like-wordle-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains) https://www.vox.com/culture/22891192/wordle-game-what-is-wordle-why-is-it-so-popular-how-to-play (https://www.vox.com/culture/22891192/wordle-game-what-is-wordle-why-is-it-so-popular-how-to-play) https://www.cnet.com/how-to/wordle-explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-viral-word-game/ (https://www.cnet.com/how-to/wordle-explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-viral-word-game/) https://slate.com/culture/2022/01/wordle-game-creator-wardle-twitter-scores-strategy-stats.html (https://slate.com/culture/2022/01/wordle-game-creator-wardle-twitter-scores-strategy-stats.html) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/11/secret-winning-wordle-word-game (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/11/secret-winning-wordle-word-game) https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-we-love-wordle/ (https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/why-we-love-wordle/) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-why-the-word-game-wordle-went-viral-180979439/ (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-why-the-word-game-wordle-went-viral-180979439/) https://medium.com/@tglaiel/the-mathematically-optimal-first-guess-in-wordle-cbcb03c19b0a (https://medium.com/@tglaiel/the-mathematically-optimal-first-guess-in-wordle-cbcb03c19b0a) https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/10/wordle-80-year-old-illinois-woman-kidnapped/ (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/10/wordle-80-year-old-illinois-woman-kidnapped/) https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/wordle-best-starting-word-tips-b2016285.html (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/wordle-best-starting-word-tips-b2016285.html) Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v68zYyaEmEA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v68zYyaEmEA) Listen: The music that made this episode: Image Credit: Image by Kean WalmsleyEpisode Sources: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/is-wordle-good-for-your-brain (https://www.inverse.com/gaming/is-wordle-good-for-your-brain) https://theconversation.com/the-wordle-craze-why-do-we-love-puzzles-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains-175227 (https://theconversation.com/the-wordle-craze-why-do-we-love-puzzles-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains-175227) https://www.insider.com/wordle-game-viral-experts-psychology-sharing-twitter-2022-1 (https://www.insider.com/wordle-game-viral-experts-psychology-sharing-twitter-2022-1) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-do-we-love-puzzles-like-wordle-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/why-do-we-love-puzzles-like-wordle-and-are-they-good-for-our-brains) https://www.vox.com/culture/22891192/wordle-game-what-is-wordle-why-is-it-so-popular-how-to-play (https://www.vox.com/culture/22891192/wordle-game-what-is-wordle-why-is-it-so-popular-how-to-play)
What is your happiness worth? Should we live for today or for tomorrow? We look at the science behind the wellbeing movement and the countries that are measuring their success as units of happiness rather than GDP. Hosted by Matt Armitage and Richard Bradbury. Produced by Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM 89.9.) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305173-what-really-makes-people-happy-and-can-you-learn-to-be-happier/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305173-what-really-makes-people-happy-and-can-you-learn-to-be-happier/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333703-200-the-happiness-revolution-how-to-boost-the-well-being-of-society/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333703-200-the-happiness-revolution-how-to-boost-the-well-being-of-society/) https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being (https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/01/bhutan-wealth-happiness-counts (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/01/bhutan-wealth-happiness-counts) https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/11/new-zealand-ditches-gdp-for-happiness-and-wellbeing/?sh=5a2eb3351942 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/11/new-zealand-ditches-gdp-for-happiness-and-wellbeing/?sh=5a2eb3351942) Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6YDKF5swtwuUifah77bOJU?si=b99600350e9d4ef4 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6YDKF5swtwuUifah77bOJU?si=b99600350e9d4ef4) https://academic.oup.com/ppar/article/27/4/127/4782506?login=true (https://academic.oup.com/ppar/article/27/4/127/4782506?login=true) Image Credit: Photo by https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Tim Mossholder) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/happiness?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash)
Is kombucha the future of water filtration? Can viruses keep our food safe? And exactly how long before your bubble bursts? More weird science stories to help you see through the dark. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/kombucha-cultures-could-make-better-water-filters/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/kombucha-cultures-could-make-better-water-filters/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333694-200-how-bacteria-killing-viruses-are-being-used-to-keep-food-safe/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25333694-200-how-bacteria-killing-viruses-are-being-used-to-keep-food-safe/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305979-electric-wound-dressing-could-help-injuries-heal-faster/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305979-electric-wound-dressing-could-help-injuries-heal-faster/) https://www.projecteugene.com/katapat.html (https://www.projecteugene.com/katapat.html) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304951-infrared-goggles-and-vibrating-armband-help-people-who-are-blind-see/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304951-infrared-goggles-and-vibrating-armband-help-people-who-are-blind-see/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305188-human-and-robot-chemists-work-better-together-than-alone/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2305188-human-and-robot-chemists-work-better-together-than-alone/) https://www.wired.com/story/physicists-created-bubbles-that-last-over-a-year/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/physicists-created-bubbles-that-last-over-a-year/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) Watch: https://youtu.be/X4k79Rqtekk (https://youtu.be/X4k79Rqtekk) Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6YDKF5swtwuUifah77bOJU?si=b99600350e9d4ef4 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6YDKF5swtwuUifah77bOJU?si=b99600350e9d4ef4)
Does the stuff we buy force us to buy more stuff? Can we overcome built-in obsolescence or should we put our screens down and live a more analogue life? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt) Episode Sources: https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-everything-thats-happened-since-microsoft-acquired-activision-blizzard/ (https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-everything-thats-happened-since-microsoft-acquired-activision-blizzard/) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/24/mark-zuckerberg-says-meta-is-building-the-worlds-fastest-supercomputer (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/24/mark-zuckerberg-says-meta-is-building-the-worlds-fastest-supercomputer) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/23/how-my-husband-finally-cracked-and-got-a-mobile-phone (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/23/how-my-husband-finally-cracked-and-got-a-mobile-phone) https://www.wired.com/story/a-grand-unified-theory-of-buying-stuff/ (https://www.wired.com/story/a-grand-unified-theory-of-buying-stuff/) https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60067032 (https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60067032)
When is a VPN not a VPN? When it’s Apple’s Private Relay. Plus Tesla hacks, algae driven robots, edible straws and aircraft mounted lasers. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/how-apple-icloud-private-relay-works/ (https://www.wired.com/story/how-apple-icloud-private-relay-works/) https://www.wired.com/story/icloud-private-relay-blocking/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/icloud-private-relay-blocking/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304691-edible-straws-made-by-bacteria-are-better-than-paper-or-plastic-ones/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304691-edible-straws-made-by-bacteria-are-better-than-paper-or-plastic-ones/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303984-overloaded-memory-chips-generate-truly-random-numbers-for-encryption/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303984-overloaded-memory-chips-generate-truly-random-numbers-for-encryption/) https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/18/22890463/fedex-laser-missile-defense-infrared-airplane-faa (https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/18/22890463/fedex-laser-missile-defense-infrared-airplane-faa) https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2022/01/18/fedex-plans-to-protect-its-pilots-and-planes-with-anti-missile-lasers/?sh=5742f7ab1107 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2022/01/18/fedex-plans-to-protect-its-pilots-and-planes-with-anti-missile-lasers/?sh=5742f7ab1107) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303981-corkscrew-shaped-robot-swims-through-blood-vessels-to-clear-blockages/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2303981-corkscrew-shaped-robot-swims-through-blood-vessels-to-clear-blockages/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304571-robot-piloted-by-a-ball-of-algae-is-powered-by-photosynthesis/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2304571-robot-piloted-by-a-ball-of-algae-is-powered-by-photosynthesis/) https://www.vice.com/en/article/akv7z5/how-a-hacker-controlled-dozens-of-teslas-using-a-flaw-in-third-party-app (https://www.vice.com/en/article/akv7z5/how-a-hacker-controlled-dozens-of-teslas-using-a-flaw-in-third-party-app) Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Image Credit: Photo by https://unsplash.com/@angieprz21?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Angeles Pérez) on https://unsplash.com/s/photos/relay?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText (Unsplash) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Is it too late to contain the spread of AI? As experts debate the development of truly super intelligent machines, the next generation of machine intelligence is already creating answers to questions we can only guess at. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: http://www.descript.com/ (www.descript.com) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY&t=585s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHIhgxav9LY&t=585s) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25233651-900-2021-in-review-ai-firm-deepmind-solves-human-protein-structures/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25233651-900-2021-in-review-ai-firm-deepmind-solves-human-protein-structures/) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/09/are-we-witnessing-the-dawn-of-post-theory-science (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/09/are-we-witnessing-the-dawn-of-post-theory-science) Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
How the wild ride of crypto currency markets and NFT-backed assets, and the emergence of the Facebook branded Metaverse, have defined a year of hype and speculation. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
As we round up 2021, mRNA vaccines have been the remarkable success story of 2021, but we’ve only scratched at the surface of their potential. Plus, the advances in food science and cellular agriculture that could make animal-free milk as common place as traditionally farmed milk. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources Read: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133562-500-how-mrna-is-transforming-the-way-we-treat-illnesses-from-flu-to-cancer/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133562-500-how-mrna-is-transforming-the-way-we-treat-illnesses-from-flu-to-cancer/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133562-800-the-mrna-technology-behind-covid-19-vaccines-can-transform-medicine/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133562-800-the-mrna-technology-behind-covid-19-vaccines-can-transform-medicine/) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/17/cows-milk-without-cows-start-up-13m-seed-funding-imagindairy (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/17/cows-milk-without-cows-start-up-13m-seed-funding-imagindairy) Listen: The music that made this episode - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Automation is changing organisations from the top down and a new management layer is replacing supervisors and line managers with machines. Is your next boos a bot? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources Read: https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/564668-warning-your-boss-is-probably-spying-on-you-and-it-could-be-bad-for-your (https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/564668-warning-your-boss-is-probably-spying-on-you-and-it-could-be-bad-for-your) https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/29/yeah-were-spooked-ai-starting-to-have-big-real-world-impact-says-expert (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/oct/29/yeah-were-spooked-ai-starting-to-have-big-real-world-impact-says-expert) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/18/portugal-bosses-work-hours-right-to-disconnect (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/18/portugal-bosses-work-hours-right-to-disconnect) Listen: The music that made this episode - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Marine genes and the quest for eternal life, the psychology of ghosting, a paralysis reversing spinal gel and the value of impostor system are our starting points for this week’s round up of sci-tech breakthroughs. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/9/22773393/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-fraud-lab-director (https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/9/22773393/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-fraud-lab-director) https://www.thedailybeast.com/injectable-gel-reversed-paralysis-in-mice-with-spinal-cord-injuries-human-clinical-trials-are-next (https://www.thedailybeast.com/injectable-gel-reversed-paralysis-in-mice-with-spinal-cord-injuries-human-clinical-trials-are-next) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297261-deep-sea-rockfish-that-live-to-be-200-hint-at-genes-for-longevity/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297261-deep-sea-rockfish-that-live-to-be-200-hint-at-genes-for-longevity/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296740-ghosting-in-casual-relationships-linked-to-some-personality-types/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296740-ghosting-in-casual-relationships-linked-to-some-personality-types/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297332-having-impostor-syndrome-may-actually-make-you-better-at-your-job/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297332-having-impostor-syndrome-may-actually-make-you-better-at-your-job/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297259-using-tools-helps-you-understand-language-and-vice-versa/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2297259-using-tools-helps-you-understand-language-and-vice-versa/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296969-psilocybin-therapy-steps-closer-to-credibility-with-largest-trial-yet/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296969-psilocybin-therapy-steps-closer-to-credibility-with-largest-trial-yet/) The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
For the last 20 years we’ve been waiting for the world predicted in Minority Report to come to pass. Mass surveillance. Artificial intelligence predicting our every move. Advertising intruding into every facet of our lives. Could the Metaverse give birth to the world of Minority Report? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/26/22642017/snapchat-scan-feature-ar-camera-visual-search (https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/26/22642017/snapchat-scan-feature-ar-camera-visual-search) https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/26/22642017/snapchat-scan-feature-ar-camera-visual-search (https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/26/22642017/snapchat-scan-feature-ar-camera-visual-search) https://www.wired.com/story/ai-predicts-how-old-children-are/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/ai-predicts-how-old-children-are/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) Watch: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 (Minority Report) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 (They Live) Listen: The music that made this episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9 (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5o85xTNsPrQ2PWH8n2RanP?si=211f46a9cef846e9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
This week on Mattsplained’s first TechTopia edition, we have a car crash that isn’t Facebook, a car crash that is Facebook, age detection facial recognition software, moves to criminalise payments to ransomware groups and Apple’s latest device bricking software update. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/10e04017-df36-4546-8606-c07926102f28 (https://player.captivate.fm/episode/10e04017-df36-4546-8606-c07926102f28) https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/1/22757771/meta-facebook-elon-musk-verified-fan-page-posing (https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/1/22757771/meta-facebook-elon-musk-verified-fan-page-posing) https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/1/22757102/apple-iphone-car-crash-detection-feature-onstar (https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/1/22757102/apple-iphone-car-crash-detection-feature-onstar) https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-macos-monterey-bricking-macs (https://www.tomshardware.com/news/apple-macos-monterey-bricking-macs) https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/31/22756186/roblox-back-online-outage-weekend-chipotle (https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/31/22756186/roblox-back-online-outage-weekend-chipotle) https://www.wired.com/story/nra-ransomware-hack-sanctions-payment/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/nra-ransomware-hack-sanctions-payment/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/ai-predicts-how-old-children-are/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/ai-predicts-how-old-children-are/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
How a music player retuned the world. As the iPod celebrates its 20th anniversary, we examine its impact, its legacy, and the role it played in shaping our digital lives. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/23/20-years-of-the-ipod-how-music-and-tech-new-era-steve-jobs (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/23/20-years-of-the-ipod-how-music-and-tech-new-era-steve-jobs) https://www.engadget.com/apple-ipod-20th-anniversary-140004112.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMfPVN_1ByU9YyrSnVlvbLvDyp-HMCt_t9UiyI1tFGytRN5iRuTwW1GqSHS9tCUnZ3SI-YlbE3zfalj56hzdbTeHx7nVYZrOjjXM3a7RAK_kl_mds6bQbfNQjXqCNWSDQ8Cj_oy4H2D-R2cm5g9pFk1r-8QMRCClfrA6z0dQDpvk (https://www.engadget.com/apple-ipod-20th-anniversary-140004112.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMfPVN_1ByU9YyrSnVlvbLvDyp-HMCt_t9UiyI1tFGytRN5iRuTwW1GqSHS9tCUnZ3SI-YlbE3zfalj56hzdbTeHx7nVYZrOjjXM3a7RAK_kl_mds6bQbfNQjXqCNWSDQ8Cj_oy4H2D-R2cm5g9pFk1r-8QMRCClfrA6z0dQDpvk) https://www.macworld.com/article/546753/ipod-timeline-20-years-nano-mini-shuffle.html (https://www.macworld.com/article/546753/ipod-timeline-20-years-nano-mini-shuffle.html) https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/23/20-years-ago-today-ipod-changed-the-world-heres-what-it-means-to-us/ (https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/23/20-years-ago-today-ipod-changed-the-world-heres-what-it-means-to-us/) https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apples-ipod-still-on-sale-after-20-years-but-whos-buying/ (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apples-ipod-still-on-sale-after-20-years-but-whos-buying/) https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/23/tech/ipod-20th-anniversary/index.html (https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/23/tech/ipod-20th-anniversary/index.html) https://www.npr.org/2021/10/23/1048706632/20-years-ago-the-ipod-was-born (https://www.npr.org/2021/10/23/1048706632/20-years-ago-the-ipod-was-born) https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/ipod-20th-anniversary-apple-music-player-gadget-how-superseded-1251917 (https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/ipod-20th-anniversary-apple-music-player-gadget-how-superseded-1251917) https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/25/22744761/apple-ipod-prototype-original-design (https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/25/22744761/apple-ipod-prototype-original-design) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
What’s in a name? As governments and regulators seek to rein in Big Tech, Facebook looks set to rebrand itself. As something altogether bigger. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/16/technology/instagram-teens.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/16/technology/instagram-teens.html) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/09/technology/facebook-big-tobacco-regulation.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/09/technology/facebook-big-tobacco-regulation.html) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/technology/distortions-youtube-policies.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/14/technology/distortions-youtube-policies.html) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/technology/facebook-scandals.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/technology/facebook-scandals.html) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/technology/facebook-fixes.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/technology/facebook-fixes.html) https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/10/13/who-should-police-the-web (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/10/13/who-should-police-the-web) https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/19/22735612/facebook-change-company-name-metaverse (https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/19/22735612/facebook-change-company-name-metaverse) https://www.wired.com/story/opioid-drug-addiction-algorithm-chronic-pain/amp (https://www.wired.com/story/opioid-drug-addiction-algorithm-chronic-pain/amp) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
As William Shatner becomes the oldest person to float in space, new research is changing the way we think about ageing and our metabolisms. Plus that skateboarding robot. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/10/22719545/instagram-introduce-take-a-break-nudge-teens-harmful-content-facebook (https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/10/22719545/instagram-introduce-take-a-break-nudge-teens-harmful-content-facebook) https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/9/22718002/boeing-starliner-test-flight-delayed-nasa-2022 (https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/9/22718002/boeing-starliner-test-flight-delayed-nasa-2022) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/health/metabolism-weight-aging.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/health/metabolism-weight-aging.html) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/09/can-migraines-be-untangled-by-new-medical-thinking (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/oct/09/can-migraines-be-untangled-by-new-medical-thinking) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2292753-flying-robot-can-also-ride-a-skateboard-and-balance-on-a-rope/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2292753-flying-robot-can-also-ride-a-skateboard-and-balance-on-a-rope/) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
The invasion of the Terminators may look more like Elsa than Arnie. We peer inside Disney’s Imagineers division, marvel at Singapore robot police force, and take a look at Facebook’s unprecedented outage. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Should we translate science for machines? Could a universal, machine readable language be the future of scientific thought? And, more importantly, how can makeup trick AI? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Health, education, income. What does the future hold for Generation Covid, as generational divides solidify into geographical and technological segregation? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9) Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133524-300-generation-covid-what-the-pandemic-means-for-young-peoples-futures/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133524-300-generation-covid-what-the-pandemic-means-for-young-peoples-futures/) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Neurostimulation technologies designed to help stroke victims may soon be producing better athletes, better musicians and, perhaps, a better you. We’re not the only ones upgrading ourselves: AI is learning to do it, too. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/vagus-nerve-stroke-study-human-augmentation/ (https://www.wired.com/story/vagus-nerve-stroke-study-human-augmentation/) https://www.newswise.com/articles/surgical-procedure-may-help-restore-hand-and-arm-function-after-stroke (https://www.newswise.com/articles/surgical-procedure-may-help-restore-hand-and-arm-function-after-stroke) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/09/technology/codex-artificial-intelligence-coding.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/09/technology/codex-artificial-intelligence-coding.html)
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Satellite smartphones, radiation detecting snakes, desert battling gardens, contraceptive vaccines and accent morphing AI are just some of the stories in this week’s Weird Science selection. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/29/22647252/the-iphone-13-5g-leo-satellite (https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/29/22647252/the-iphone-13-5g-leo-satellite) https://www.wired.com/story/radioactive-rat-snakes-could-help-monitor-fukushima-fallout/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/radioactive-rat-snakes-could-help-monitor-fukushima-fallout/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/a-plan-to-slow-the-creep-of-the-sahara-by-planting-gardens/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/a-plan-to-slow-the-creep-of-the-sahara-by-planting-gardens/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.wired.com/story/an-experimental-birth-control-attacks-sperm-like-a-virus/ (https://www.wired.com/story/an-experimental-birth-control-attacks-sperm-like-a-virus/) https://www.wired.com/story/el-salvador-bitcoin-rocky-start/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/el-salvador-bitcoin-rocky-start/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2289171-men-fart-more-when-eating-a-plant-based-diet-due-to-good-gut-bacteria/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2289171-men-fart-more-when-eating-a-plant-based-diet-due-to-good-gut-bacteria/) https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/06/china-cracks-down-on-crypto-related-services-in-ongoing-war-on-bitcoin.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/06/china-cracks-down-on-crypto-related-services-in-ongoing-war-on-bitcoin.html) https://www.wired.com/story/el-salvador-bitcoin-rocky-start/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss (https://www.wired.com/story/el-salvador-bitcoin-rocky-start/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss) https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/7/22661452/twitter-follower-remove-soft-block-test (https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/7/22661452/twitter-follower-remove-soft-block-test) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2288976-call-centre-workers-can-use-ai-to-mimic-your-accent-on-the-phone/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2288976-call-centre-workers-can-use-ai-to-mimic-your-accent-on-the-phone/)
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What will it take to get us back to work? How many of us are confident that employers will keep offices safe and COVID-free? Today we look at some of the hybrid models that aim to have us back in the office, at least some of the time. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/03/lost-history-electric-car-future-transport (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/03/lost-history-electric-car-future-transport) https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/aug/21/covid-free-office-h3-bucharest-disinfection-robots-thermal-body-cameras (https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/aug/21/covid-free-office-h3-bucharest-disinfection-robots-thermal-body-cameras) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/05/amazon-worker-fired-app-dystopia (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/05/amazon-worker-fired-app-dystopia) https://www.npr.org/2021/08/20/1029846068/two-indicators-will-remote-work-kill-the-office (https://www.npr.org/2021/08/20/1029846068/two-indicators-will-remote-work-kill-the-office) https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/14/22624669/wall-street-journal-tech-workers-multiple-remote-jobs (https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/14/22624669/wall-street-journal-tech-workers-multiple-remote-jobs)
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The battle for control of the metaverse is pitting companies that want to create a corporate-curated Ready Player One experience against those who want it to develop with the organic chaos of the current Internet. And no one has even built it yet. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/style/metaverse-virtual-worlds.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/10/style/metaverse-virtual-worlds.html) https://www.theverge.com/22588022/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-ceo-metaverse-interview (https://www.theverge.com/22588022/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-ceo-metaverse-interview) https://www.matthewball.vc/all/themetaverse (https://www.matthewball.vc/all/themetaverse) https://www.matthewball.vc/the-metaverse-primer (https://www.matthewball.vc/the-metaverse-primer) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/05/move-over-space-tech-billionaires-have-a-new-utopian-boondoggle-the-metaverse (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/05/move-over-space-tech-billionaires-have-a-new-utopian-boondoggle-the-metaverse) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/10/techies-think-were-on-the-cusp-of-a-virtual-world-called-the-metaverse-im-skeptical (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/10/techies-think-were-on-the-cusp-of-a-virtual-world-called-the-metaverse-im-skeptical) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
120 years ago the best-selling car in the world was electric. An electric car was the first to break the 100kmh barrier. Henry Ford teamed up with Thomas Edison to create an electric powered vehicle. This is the secret history of electric cars. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/03/lost-history-electric-car-future-transport (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/03/lost-history-electric-car-future-transport)
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Animal Instincts: Ayurvedic Beetles, Termite Guts and Dolphin Super SpiesDumpster-diving cockatoos, DNA vacuums, aromatherapy insecticides, truth-sniffing dogs and dolphin calls recoded on a Mattsplained animal special. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Sourceshttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2285158-termite-gut-microbes-can-help-turn-toxic-wood-into-biofuels/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285158-termite-gut-microbes-can-help-turn-toxic-wood-into-biofuels/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285012-vacuuming-dna-from-air-can-reveal-which-animals-are-present-in-an-area/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285012-vacuuming-dna-from-air-can-reveal-which-animals-are-present-in-an-area/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285092-essential-oils-help-to-stop-invasive-beetles-from-eating-palm-trees/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285092-essential-oils-help-to-stop-invasive-beetles-from-eating-palm-trees/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284984-cockatoos-are-figuring-out-how-to-open-bins-by-copying-each-other/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284984-cockatoos-are-figuring-out-how-to-open-bins-by-copying-each-other/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285017-who-counts-as-an-astronaut-not-jeff-bezos-say-new-us-rules (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2285017-who-counts-as-an-astronaut-not-jeff-bezos-say-new-us-rules) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284824-virtual-roller-coaster-rides-may-help-unravel-causes-of-migraine/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284824-virtual-roller-coaster-rides-may-help-unravel-causes-of-migraine/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284611-dogs-will-ignore-you-if-they-know-you-are-lying-unlike-young-children/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284611-dogs-will-ignore-you-if-they-know-you-are-lying-unlike-young-children/) https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284426-tomatoes-have-a-kind-of-nervous-system-that-warns-about-attacks/ (https://www.newscientist.com/article/2284426-tomatoes-have-a-kind-of-nervous-system-that-warns-about-attacks/) Follow Us:http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
It’s what you’ve been waiting for. The robot cockroach episode. 3D-printed smart bridges, billionaires in space, innovative EV tech. Nothing can compete with the robot cockroach. Hosts: Matt Armitage and Rich Bradbury Produced: Rich Bradbury for https://www.bfm.my (BFM89.9.) Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/18/lightbulb-moment-the-battery-technology-invented-in-a-brisbane-garage-that-is-going-global (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/18/lightbulb-moment-the-battery-technology-invented-in-a-brisbane-garage-that-is-going-global) https://www.sciencealert.com/engineers-built-a-cockroach-inspired-robot-that-can-t-be-squashed (https://www.sciencealert.com/engineers-built-a-cockroach-inspired-robot-that-can-t-be-squashed) Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Chips designing chips, a self-determining excavator, team building soccer simulations and injectable spinal implants. Science is slick. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
After only 100 years of failed efforts, dubious attempts and breezeblocks with wings, it look as though the age of the flying car may finally be with us. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
The Quantum Internet. No, don’t go away. The launch of mesh networks like Amazon’s Sidewalk are highlighting a need for ever greater levels of encryption and security in our communications. The Quantum Internet may hold the key. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
We take a look at the science of motivation and the latest thinking around mindfulness as we ask why some people are better at getting on with things. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
Free has long been the model of the Open Internet. Trading data for services. What if you could build an enterprise on the same model, where your staff and other companies effectively cover your fixed costs? Welcome to the world of the new free radicals. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
We may soon be watching hyper-realistic dubbed movies, scrolling apps with a toe run thumb while we thinking DMs into existence. Yes. Science is Slick. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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You could call this the I told you so episode. Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature has thrown into question the freemium model much of the digital world is built on. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: http://www.kulturpop.com/ (www.kulturpop.com) https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ (https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/) https://twitter.com/kulturmatt (https://twitter.com/kulturmatt)
A new era of hybrid work is approaching as work from home becomes work from anywhere. As the line between home and office blurs, and companies integrate flexible working into their long-term planning, Mattsplained asks if employees should have a right to disconnect.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/13/ministers-urged-to-give-uk-home-workers-a-right-to-disconnect https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/explainereverything-you-need-to-know-about-the-right-to-disconnect-workplace-code-40264654.html https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252498912/Irish-employees-right-to-disconnect-enshrined-in-code-of-practice https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25033310-900-exercise-pills-should-we-use-drugs-that-mimic-benefits-of-a-workout/
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Forget Game of Thrones, the musical. This week we have musical spiderwebs, a cheap brain tissue culturing device, vampire bats leaving a bitter taste and perception shifting chocolate. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2270282-should-we-all-wear-sensors-to-avoid-being-run-over-by-driverless-cars/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2273165-vampire-bats-might-avoid-bitter-substances-to-dodge-indigestion/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2274185-the-frequencies-of-a-vibrating-spider-web-have-been-made-into-music/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2274084-artificial-nervous-system-senses-light-and-learns-to-catch-like-humans/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2273694-human-brain-organoids-grown-in-cheap-3d-printed-bioreactor/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2274082-people-expect-chocolate-to-taste-bitter-if-it-is-in-black-packaging/ Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
$70m JPEGS. $3m tweets. The rise of NFTs is turning the worlds of digital art and virtual collectibles into an investor gold rush. But what are they and are they really worth the money?
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13U573keZ3A https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/opinion/NFTs-beeple-crypto.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/13/technology/crypto-art-NFTs-trading-cards-investment-manias.html https://www.withvincent.com https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/arts/design/beeple-nonfungible-nft-review.html https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/13/how-non-fungible-tokens-became-the-latest-tech-speculation-bubble https://www.reuters.com/article/us-retail-trading-nfts-insight-idUSKCN2AT1HG https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/12/non-fungible-tokens-revolutionising-art-world-theft https://amycastor.com/2021/03/14/metakovan-the-mystery-beeple-art-buyer-and-his-nft-defi-scheme/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyhackl/2021/03/04/four-things-brands-need-to-know-about-nfts-non-fungible-tokens/?sh=8fef620222f8 https://ethereum.org/en/nft/ https://www.businessinsider.in/retail/news/a-digital-artist-known-for-his-satirical-work-is-breaking-sales-records-making-over-10-million-on-2-crypto-art-pieces/articleshow/81334937.cms https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2021/03/03/3lau-nft-nonfungible-tokens-justin-blau/?sh=215e51084643 https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/1/22308075/grimes-nft-6-million-sales-nifty-gateway-warnymph https://www.cnet.com/news/nft-bubble-the-craziest-nonfungible-token-sales-so-far/ Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Utility versus futility. Is there a roadmap to world domination or is Big Tech be as clueless about the future as the rest of us?
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
How do you disrupt change? Rather than trying to improve reality, is Big Tech focused on helping us escape from it and avoid the troubling issue of social change? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/billionaires-use-vr-avoid-social-change/ https://www.polygon.com/2021/1/14/22228885/fortnite-music-concerts-travis-scott Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Robots that get stronger as they work out, drones with honeybee brains, art-loving AI and vein recognition systems. We examine the freaky business of machine intelligence. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2268652-soft-gel-could-power-robot-muscles-that-grow-stronger-with-a-workout/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2266301-flying-robots-suggest-bees-cant-rely-on-instinct-to-land-on-flowers/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933220-100-insect-brains-will-teach-us-how-to-make-truly-intelligent-robots/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2265811-ai-can-tell-what-song-you-are-listening-to-from-your-brainwaves/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2266240-ai-art-critic-can-predict-which-emotions-a-painting-will-evoke/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2267502-ai-can-use-the-veins-on-your-hand-like-fingerprints-to-identify-you/ Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
What price boredom? A new economic indicator, the Boredom Index, could quantify and commoditise our downtime. And decide that we’re more valuable the less engaged we are.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/business/gamestop-investing-economy.html Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Have you lost track of the number of logins and accounts you have scattered across your digital footprint? Do you reuse passwords? Could biometric technologies liberate us from the tyrannical grip of password management? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/31/the-tyranny-of-passwords-is-it-time-for-a-rethink https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55748964 https://www.idrnd.ai/passive-vs-active-facial-liveness-detection-which-is-best/ https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/27/popids-face-based-payments-pose-privacy-and-security-risks/ Follow us: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Could commercial graphics cards be the key to unlocking the cure for Alzheimer’s Disease? Do chilis hold the secret to solar energy conversion? And have X-Ray Spex finally been invented? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/27/seen-all-this-before-tourism-nz-says-ditch-influencer-shots-for-something-new https://www.newscientist.com/article/2266304-video-game-graphics-cards-can-simulate-monkey-brains-on-the-cheap/ https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210126-the-richest-human-made-marine-habitats-in-the-world?ocid=global_future_rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264683-chemical-that-makes-chilli-peppers-spicy-boosts-solar-panel-cells/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264636-superhuman-sight-may-be-possible-with-lens-that-makes-uv-light-visible/ https://www.wired.com/story/trump-biden-rocket-dilemma/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss https://www.wired.com/story/coffee-talk-game-anniversary-origins/?utm_campaign=RSS&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_source=rss https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20519-reindeer-gained-uv-vision-after-moving-to-the-arctic/
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I want my MTV. That was about as good as it got when Mattsplained was in its infancy. Now, as consumers are simultaneously deluged with viewing choices and experience limited mobility as a result of the pandemic, is it time that movies and cinema, pop culture mainstays for more than a century, moved into a new realm. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/business/media/netflix-2021-movies.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/business/media/adam-aron-movie-theaters-amc.html
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- So bad they named it twice. As retail, AI and AR start to merge, and open world games start to take over from social media, science and technology have got our back in 2021. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54507044 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/technology/personaltech/tech-2021-augmented-reality-chatbots-wifi.html https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/11/video-games-music-youth-culture https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/travis-scott-fortnite-record-viewers-live-1234589033/ https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/tech-trends.html https://www.fastcompany.com/90588717/top-tech-trends-2021-post-pandemic-predictions-ai-fintech-health
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2020 showed us how resilient our digital world could be. This week we look at some of the tech and start-ups that failed, and what can be improved for 2021. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
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Science doesn’t sleep or take a holiday. Our slick science stories include lab-cultured breast meats, scent projecting pendants and web-slinging medical guns. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/04/spider-man-style-medical-gun-spins-out-skin-substitute-for-burns https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833133-300-can-chemistry-replicate-the-flavour-of-vintage-whisky-overnight/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2134074-artificial-whisky-taster-has-the-palate-of-a-connoisseur/ https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/23/17703454/wine-whiskey-synthetic-climate-change-lab-made-ava-winery-endless-west https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210104-the-reason-why-you-cant-smell-television-shows-yet https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/12/18/1013247/biomilq-breast-milk-helaina-turtletree/
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- Will the pop stars of tomorrow be virtual? Are we heading for a future where machines make all the music? The Mattbot Infinity and the Bradpple Pro explore the eerie sounds of this brave new world. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://app.inferkit.com/demo https://soundcloud.com/openai_audio https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/09/deepfake-pop-music-artificial-intelligence-ai-frank-sinatra
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- The year computers got interesting. There were as many podcasts as people. We spent more time in space. SETI wrapped up and a Bond icon disintegrated. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/technology/2020s-hot-gadget-is-the-computer.html https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/11/ring-lights-for-all/617143/ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/19/small-business-startups-corporate-employees-pandemic https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesian-president-asks-elon-musk-to-study-country-as-venue-for-spacex-launch-site https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/laser-powered-time-machine https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53518238 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55226099 https://phys.org/news/2020-08-canada-intact-ice-shelf-collapses.html https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/arecibo-telescope-collapses-ending-57-year-run
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What a year 2020 has been. Or hasn't been, depending on your perspective. In this episode, and for the next few weeks, Mattsplained will look back at 2020 and try to make a little bit of sense of some of the things that have happened in this most unusual year. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/technology/2020s-hot-gadget-is-the-computer.html https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/11/ring-lights-for-all/617143/ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/19/small-business-startups-corporate-employees-pandemic https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesian-president-asks-elon-musk-to-study-country-as-venue-for-spacex-launch-site https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/laser-powered-time-machine https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53518238 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55226099 https://phys.org/news/2020-08-canada-intact-ice-shelf-collapses.html https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/arecibo-telescope-collapses-ending-57-year-run
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
We all hate it when someone tells us how we should feel. It’s going to be a heck of a lot worse when it’s a machine doing the telling. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256925-earphone-cameras-watch-your-facial-expressions-and-read-your-lips/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833092-700-emotion-detecting-ais-are-here-do-they-work-and-how-should-we-feel/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/11/18/1012259/ai-summarizes-science-papers-ai2-semantic-scholar/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/opinion/amazon-halo-surveillance.html https://www.wired.com/story/ai-can-run-work-meetings-now-headroom-clockwise/ More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
As SpaceX delivers its first payload of astronauts to the ISS, we look at low gravity toilets, using bacteria to mine metals on Mars and the expansion of plant-based food options here on earth. Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/11/10/1011935/microbes-extract-metals-minerals-space-rocks-mining/ https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/nov/17/spacex-dragon-capsule-astronauts-crew-docks-with-the-international-space-station-nasa https://www.newscientist.com/article/2259920-your-own-sweat-could-be-used-to-produce-a-natural-antiperspirant/ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/18/fleets-twitter-launches-disappearing-tweets-tool-worldwide https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/movies/harry-potter-tiktok.html https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/18/unilever-sets-target-of-1bn-in-annual-sales-of-plant-based-foods https://www.newscientist.com/article/2260415-computer-vision-can-estimate-calorie-content-of-food-at-a-glance/ https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/09/mcdonalds-to-launch-a-mcplant-vegetarian-option/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2259491-ai-vision-could-be-improved-with-sensors-that-mimic-human-eyes/ https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/nov/16/sound-walks-new-way-to-travel-in-lockdown
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
The digital world is a place where the fast, the dynamic and the disruptive rule. Would it shock you to find out that same world sits on top of 50 year old software that only a handful of people remember how to code? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833070-800-how-covid-19-has-exposed-a-huge- computing-disaster-in-the-making/ https://twitter.com/bbcmicrobot?s=20 More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Can we save the Internet by breaking it and making the digital world less streamlined and friction free? Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.wired.com/story/to-mend-a-broken-internet-create-online-parks/ https://www.wired.com/story/digital-nunchi-virtual-empathy-tips/
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Sky diamonds, life on Venus, facial recognition earphones and artistic drone swarms. It must be the future.
Episode Sources: https://scitechdaily.com/what-is-phosphine-and-why-does-it-point-to-extra-terrestrial- life-floating-in-the-clouds-of-venus/ Sky diamonds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/ecotricity- founder-to-grow-diamonds-made-entirely-from-the-sky https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833063-800-there-may-not-be-life-on-venus- after-all-but-we-shouldnt-despair/ https://news.mit.edu/2020/solar-extracts-drinkable-water-1014 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256925-earphone-cameras-watch-your-facial- expressions-and-read-your-lips/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256822-microwaving-plastic-waste-can-generate- clean-hydrogen/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2257229-water-could-be-extracted-from-desert-air- using-heat-from-sunlight/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2257926-robot-trained-in-a-game-like-simulation- performs-better-in-real-life/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258426-hawk-inspired-robot-with-movable-wings-is- an-agile-long-distance-flyer/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2256803-robot-swarms-guided-by-human-artists- could-paint-colourful-pictures/ EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Last weekused the term endsourcing to describe the phasing out of human workers in a growing number of sectors of the economy. This week, we’re going a step further to ask: are we prepared for a post work world Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833031-000-will-robots-and-ai-take-our-jobs-in-covid-19s-socially-distanced-era/
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Can we engineer our way out of our current climate and health crises? Meet the science that is hacking evolution, and in some cases, turning back time.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833031-000-will-robots-and-ai-take-our-jobs-in-covid-19s-socially-distanced-era/ More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
Can we engineer our way out of our current climate and health crises? Meet the science that is hacking evolution, and in some cases, turning back time.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/ https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
As the CIA announces new revenue sharing models for spies, we take a look at nuclear batteries, touchy-feely cameras and Deep Fakery.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2254877-ai-camera-can-tell-what-surfaces-feel-like-with-just-a-glance/ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/sep/22/elon-musk-says-cheaper-more-powerful-electric-vehicle-batteries-are-3-years-off https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/21/1008654/cias-new-tech-recruiting-pitch-more-patents-more-profits/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24733010-700-safe-extra-long-life-nuclear-batteries-could-soon-be-a-reality/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/29/1009098/ai-deepfake-putin-kim-jong-un-us-election/ https://youtu.be/ERQlaJ_czHU https://youtu.be/sbFHhpYU15w
More about Mattsplained: www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
“How do you wake up from the matrix when you don’t know you’re in the matrix?” That’s pne of the key questions posed in Netflix docudrama The Social Dilemma. Matt Armitage takes the red pill and the blue pill and wakes up in the future.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/?hl=en https://twitter.com/kulturmatt
We often refer to technology as ‘a step in the right direction’ on the assumption that better things will follow. What happens when those steps themselves become the problem? Walk This Way as MSP’s Matt Armitage takes you into the strange world of step recognition.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/?hl=en https://twitter.com/kulturmatt Episode Sources: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-16/singapore-to-pay-citizens-for-keeping-healthy-with-apple-watch https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24733000-800-the-way-you-walk-may-soon-be-used-by-authorities-to-identify-you/
“I am not a human. I am a robot. A thinking robot.” Those words were written by an AI called GPT-3. Should we celebrate the arrival of the thinking machine?
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
www.kulturpop.com https://www.instagram.com/kulturpop/?hl=en https://twitter.com/kulturmatt Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/sep/06/from-viral-conspiracies-to-exam-fiascos-algorithms-come-with-serious-side-effects https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/08/robot-wrote-this-article-gpt-3
Why are bees so much better than us? Are wormholes the best way to travel? Plus, a dollop of brown fat and the glue that lets you drink milk.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/01/elon-musk-bionic-pig-publicity-stunt-innovations https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-implant-v2-demo/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253157-travelling-through-a-wormhole-without-dying-may-actually-be-possible/ https://www.wired.com/story/map-shows-how-wildfire-smoke-spreads/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253394-honeybees-are-able-to-calculate-probability-and-use-it-to-find-food/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2252936-coating-our-gut-walls-with-glue-could-treat-lactose-intolerance/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2252925-body-fat-transformed-by-crispr-gene-editing-helps-mice-keep-weight-off/
Where are the self-driving cars, the robot servants and the cloud-powered smart companions? Have we been oversold on the power and potential of AI? That’s where the trouble starts.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Photo Credit: Eric Krull / Unsplash
Episode Sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidteich/2020/02/27/artificial-intelligence-ai-hardware-and-software-history-does-rhyme/#75ce7cc632d2 https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2020/06/11/driverless-cars-show-the-limits-of-todays-ai https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2020/06/11/driverless-cars-show-the-limits-of-todays-ai https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/22/all-hail-the-california-court-that-put-the-brakes-on-uber-and-co
Despite the trend for eating healthily and consciously, we know remarkably little about what’s in the food we eat or how it works. Is it time we knew more about the Dark Matter in our diet?
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Photo Credit: Hermes Rivera / Unsplash Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24732920-700-hidden-nutrition-we-dont-know-what-makes-up-99-per-cent-of-our-food/ https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Coronavirus-accelerates-demand-in-Asia-for-plant-based-meat https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/dining/plant-based-meats-coronavirus.html https://time.com/5827315/coronavirus-diet/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2020/03/31/five-ways-that-coronavirus-will-change-the-way-we-eat/#e9f2e5b1a2b4 https://fortune.com/2020/07/21/us-consumer-spending-food-dining-out-restaurants-coronavirus-pandemic-lockdown/ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/aug/03/vegan-food-company-provokes-advertising-campaign-meatless-farm-coronavirus https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jul/29/petri-dishes-is-lab-grown-meat-a-mass-market-environmentally-sound-food-fix https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24032080-400-accelerating-the-cultured-meat-revolution/ https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jul/29/petri-dishes-is-lab-grown-meat-a-mass-market-environmentally-sound-food-fix https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/21/higher-steaks-brings-home-the-bacon-revealing-lab-grown-pork-belly-and-bacon-strips/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ829nuOBNU6mHKTn8z0JPhAwcPx8nlmAcX1ImAJxPf8I_FBLDLhnOErzS6N6iC7f4H70L_RKF5fqLKEiIzth6Vb09JJb7alYq60o-dZp4KzA7Wt249cpqleUWNyxsSZ_inM9HMO3G64bvgUM9gjD15p9OuvDDtYGod0l7nuTdsL https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353533 https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/20-food-trends-2020
Do you remember that time Rey and Chewie bumped into Thor at brunch? No? It’s on Gamora’s Insta. Our feeds are full of omakase, dalgona coffee and selfies. But where are the selfies in sci-fi? Welcome to the Real Housewives of Space.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
EPISODE EXCERPT Do you remember that scene in The Last Jedi where Luke and Rey stand near the edge of a cliff on Ahch-To, arms around each other and staring wide-eyed and grinning into the camera as they point at the puffin-like Porgs? Me neither. MSP’s Matt Armitage has had a revelation: there are no selfies in Sci-Fi. So, I originally talked about this on a recent episode of BFM’s A Bit of Culture. But it’s been gnawing away at me. This difference between what we see on our screen and our actual behaviour. Which is nothing new - we call it fiction for a reason.
That no one goes to the bathroom on TV shows? And there’s good reason for that. When we’re hanging out with friends and someone heads off to the loo everyone else is just kind of hanging around waiting. Very often you end up having these kind of filler conversations. And TV is full of moments like these. The coffee shop where the characters get their order in seconds. How is that even possible? It takes your heavily pomaded barista five minutes to decide what methodology to use to make your coffee. There’s growing scientific evidence that coffee may increase your lifespan. It needs to, just to offset the time you spend waiting for it.
Are there any behaviours that work the other way around? Of course. This is one that I do myself. Most people, when they get in their car, it takes them a few minutes to put their seatbelt on, get the car started, put it in gear, take off the handbrake and move off. On TV, people get in the car and drive off in seconds. They do it by starting the car in gear, with the handbrake off or ready to be released, so you can zoom straight off. Being an impatient type - I started to copy that years ago. A more annoying one is the loudspeaker phone thing.
Using the speaker instead of holding it to your ear? Yes. It drives me insane. It’s like the early days of mobile phones when idiots would bark ‘yeah, the line’s bad, I’m on my mobile’ at the top of their voice in some public space. The loudspeaker thing - we’ve learned it from reality TV. From the Kardashians to those can’t pay take it away type shows. Everyone in those shows uses phones on speaker mode because the camera crew need to record the conversation. But suddenly, everyone thinks that’s how you use a phone. One good thing - It’s really useful for overhearing people’s bank details and listening to them lie to their bosses. Possibly not the best use of the tech.
As we build ever more complicated games and tasks to challenge AI, should we really be asking them to get the simple stuff right? Like reposing our selfies and helping to prescribe medicines? Science is certainly slick with new smart waterproofing fabrics and bricks that bring Mario to life.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced: Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9 Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2250551-quantum-version-of-the-ancient-game-of-go-could-be-ultimate-ai-test/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2209631-ai-beats-professionals-at-six-player-texas-hold-em-poker/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2251262-an-ai-can-make-selfies-look-like-theyre-not-selfies/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/05/1006003/ai-machine-learning-defer-to-human-expert/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2250401-these-are-the-12-ways-you-can-drastically-cut-your-dementia-risk/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2251189-in-ear-nerve-stimulating-device-helps-people-learning-a-new-language/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2251388-fabric-repels-both-oil-and-water-thanks-to-clever-silicone-coating/ EPISODE EXCERPT Richard: When the world grows dark, people look skywards, searching for a hero who will save them from the powers that threaten their destruction. No, we’re not talking about MSP’s Matt Armitage. As far as I know the only thing he’s saved is old wrapping paper. It’s time for another episode of MSP Science is Slick.
Richard: Remind us why science is slick? Matt: Firstly, when the apocalypse comes and there’s nowhere you can buy wrapping paper, who are you going to turn to? The man with a warehouse full of mouse chewed Xmas wrapping, my friend. Failed business ventures aside. Science is Slick is where we tackle the epidemic of doomscrolling And introduce some of the sci-tech stories you might have missed that will help to shape the world of tomorrow. And this week we have a bucketful of AI as well as some interesting stories about obesity, money laundering and dementia.
Richard: AI is a good place to start. I’m hitting the Go button… Matt: Glad you approve. Go is where we’re starting. The ancient boardgame Go has become a bit of a battleground for a AI. Much more complex than chess - the sheer complexity of the predictions it required made it very hard for even supercomputers to match the skill of the best human player. That was until 2017 when Google’s Deepmind powered supercomputer Alpha Go beat the reigning human champion Lee Sedol. Since then, Go is about as difficult for advanced AI as tic tac toe is for you and me.
The terrible ‘20s have seen the most radical changes to our society in a generation. As MSP moves into a post-Jeff world, we examine some at home hacks designed to keep us healthy until the world reopens.
Hosted by Matt Armitage & Richard Bradbury Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9
EPISODE SOURCES
https://www.wired.com/story/stop-doomscrolling/ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/technology/personaltech/youre-doomscrolling-again-heres-how-to-snap-out-of-it.html https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24732922-400-what-is-the-best-way-to-lose-weight-and-keep-it-off-for-good/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24732913-000-how-changing-the-way-you-sit-could-add-years-to-your-life/
EPISODE EXCERPT
Ballooning weight gain. Crisps. And doom scrolling. 2020 has not been kind to MSP’s Matt Armitage. Following the do as I say principle, MSP has been experimenting with some ways to stay physically fit and mentally healthy in these strange times.
You want to start today by telling us about your morning routine? I’ve had a very similar routine for much of the last four years. I open my eyes and I reach for my phone and thumb to my news site of choice to find out what Donald Trump has or hasn’t done during the eight odd-hours I’ve rolled fitfully on a mattress. So, far, to his credit, he hasn’t done anything that might directly kill me. So, even before coronavirus came around, I was waking up every morning expecting the worst.
That can’t be very healthy? It’s not. But it’s symptomatic of something wider. To give you some context: I’m generally quite anxiety prone. And quite a lot of smaller surveys and anecdotal reports from health professionals and the anxious themselves, seem to concur that those with anxiety have coped with the coronavirus quite well. Possibly because a lot of our anxiety comes from uncertainty in our interactions with the wider world. So, on the contrary, lockdowns and procedures have provided a certain amount of certainty for the anxious in dealing with the threat. Plus, many of us already have coping mechanisms to deal with - basically - life.
So it’s been a busman’s holiday? For those of you unfamiliar with 1970s British sitcoms, a busman’s holiday is the idea of doing the same thing for a holiday as you do for work. But yeah, I coped with the restrictions of the first phase of Malaysia’s MCO pretty well. Someone tells me I’m not allowed to go anywhere or interact with people - suits me, I generally don’t want to go anywhere or interact with people.
How does that relate to your morning routine? Well, like many of the anxious, I’m coping with reopening less well than the closing down. Being around groups of people freaks me out. Eating in restaurants feels uncomfortable and weird. My wife goes out far more than me and I scream super-spreader at her every time she comes home.
MSP says a fond farewell to Jeff Sandhu by celebrating the decade that shaped him. Mobile phones, PCs, the Web 1.0 and a sea of plaid, acid washed jeans and boho-chic.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced: Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/91603cc1-f159-4c89-9462-443a078945ca https://www.history.com/news/1990s-the-good-decade
EPISODE EXCERPT
A couple of weeks ago we were talking about the 80s and MSP’s Matt Armitage came to the conclusion that the 80s has overstayed its cultural welcome and should go away and leave us all alone. What will fill the gap? Does that mean we’re all set for a 90s revival? [you want to ad lib something about it being your last episode?]
Do we need another revival? I don’t think we do. One of the conclusions we reached on that previous show was pretty much to that effect. Hopefully by throwing all the Gen X and Gen Y contaminated stuff out of the window, it will leave the Gen A and Bs space to create something that doesn’t reference Star Wars as its starting point. So, no, I don’t think we’ll see a full-on 90s revival. We’ve seen a mini-spike over the last couple of years in terms of TV revivals. Friends has been one of the most streamed shows of the past couple of years. We’ve seen shows like the short-lived Roseanne reboot, Will & Grace, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, 90210. New Jumanji movies. Plenty of music. The 90s is alive and well.
So, what’s it doing here, today? Well, as I think we mentioned on that 80s show… The 90s for me was a kind of proto-digital decade. It laid the framework for the digital world we’re enjoying twenty years later. Yet, when we look back at the 90s the two things people kind of pick out are Grunge - Nirvana - obviously and Friends. So, as it’s your last appearance on the show, I thought we’d do your defining decade, the 90s. For those of you who are wondering, Jeff is relocating to one of Kulturpop’s retirement communities where he can keep fit with some light, hands-on cobalt mining classes during the day and use the clear mountain air to clear his Black Lung at night. So, the 90s is a bit of a going away present to him. Jeff, what did the 90s mean to you?
[we can probably ad lib back and forth on this for a couple of minutes] I’ll ask you favourite music, TV, gadgets, clothes etc.
[Back to Matt] I think one of the weird things is that we don’t have a firm grasp of what the 90s was, beyond those stereotypes we discussed. When you picture the 60s you have the kind of groovy, James Bond, mini skirts, Beatles and paisley image. With a backdrop of civil rights, protests and hippies. The 70s is long hair and flares. Economic decline and strikes. The 80s was that material greed decade. Fall of the Berlin Wall. Triumph of capitalism and bright, shiny pop culture. all of those are unrealistic encapsulations, of course.
Could pencil and paper be the future of medical diagnosis sensors and facial recognition software? Can water filled windows cool your house? And are ultrasonic waves really the next jump in screen technology? Science is slick…
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced: Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Source Links:
https://www.bfm.my https://www.newscientist.com/article/2244446-ultrasonic-speakers-let-people-who-are-blind-read-braille-in-mid-air/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2248486-noise-cancelling-windows-halve-traffic-sounds-even-when-theyre-open/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2247368-water-filled-windows-could-keep-your-home-cool-and-save-energy/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2247049-us-military-electroshock-weapon-can-hit-a-person-100-metres-away/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2248749-sketch-a-heart-sensor-with-pencil-drawings-that-become-electrodes/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2245996-an-ai-can-generate-photographs-of-peoples-faces-from-line-drawings/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2248687-teaching-an-ai-to-be-less-biased-doesnt-have-to-make-it-less-accurate/
There’s a smell in the air today. And that smell is knowledge. That’s right, MSP’s Matt Armitage is back with another round of deep tech stories as he announces that science is slick.
Where are we starting today? Accessibility. Something we’ve highlighted in a bunch of shows recently. The coronavirus has made us all much more dependent on technology to maintain any kind of semblance of normality in our daily lives. The Internet has become our tool for reaching the outside world - whereas only a few months it was the opposite. A place for people to retreat from reality. There are apps for everything. And that leaves us with the problem of the people who don’t have access to the technology or for whom the tech doesn’t work.
We mentioned virtual touchscreens, I think… Yes. Those Minority report style screens that enable you to navigate your hands without touching. And we mentioned things like sonic pressure being used in those devices to create the haptics - the sensation of pressing a key or a screen. A team of researchers at the University of Bayreuth in Germany has gone a step further. They’ve created a haptic system based on ultrasound waves that can recreate braille characters in the air for the visually impaired. The system can be used as an alternate display on ATMs or other public terminals.
The 80s. A great place to visit, a terrible place to live. Why has our obsession with 80s culture lasted for 20 years? It’s time to throw away the neon tees and create something new.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced: Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Episode Sources: https://www.bfm.my https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/2016-why-are-we-obsessed-with-the-80s.html
EPISODE EXCERPT On last week’s MSP, Matt Armitage had a brain wave. Generally speaking, these are dangerous things accompanied by considerable suffering for other people. This one, if it works, is likely to be no more than a crime against taste. Yes, today we’re talking about The 80s. The decade that just won’t quit.
So. The 80s? I don’t know - you tell me. I was there. For pretty much all of it. And sometimes I feel like I’m still there. I walk into stores and they’re selling clothes like the ones that looked terrible on me 30 years ago.
And look worse now? Well, yeah, we hadn’t added Lycra to everything back then. Now I just end up looking like one of those neon caricatures you see in sweat suits and head bands in comedies.
I should advise you that your use of the word neon is being strictly monitored for this show… And rightly so. That’s perhaps one of my favourite things about the decade, the total absence of colour sense that I still display today. I force myself to wear mostly black and navy clothes because if I’m left to choose the things I want to wear, I’ll end up looking like one of those orphan balls of Play-doh with all the different colours smooshed together. Probably best that I barely leave the house anymore. Cultural revivals are nothing new - we recycle fashions and tastes all the time - but those revivals are often short-lived. A spring and summer fashion collection, a movie remake or two, some song covers or samples. Normally it’s a Flash in the pan - culture moves on. But the 80s won’t move on.
In what sense? We were announcing and celebrating the 80s revival in the early noughties and it never really stopped. I think pretty much every TV show and movie from that era has been remade. Charlie’s Angels, Dynasty, 21 Jump St, Starsky & Hutch, the A Team, Ghostbusters. The list of etc etc goes on forever. This year was supposed to be the year that Top Gun made a high altitude comeback. Not sure when we’ll see it now. It’s like there’s no stone of 80s pop culture that hasn’t been given another go around.
Even the games have come back… Not just the games - even their music. We had stuff like the 8-Bit chip music scene that emulated the kind of music that you’d get in video games and consoles in the 80s. Which is weird. Because that music sounded like this: Play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=NTa6Xbzfq1U&feature=emb_logo That was. of course, the Super Mario Bros Main Theme for the NES - Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985. And it’s the sound of nightmares. Yet chip music was huge for about 30 seconds in probably the mid noughties. But even that’s back. The remix is being remixed. The chiptune scene has been profiled for sites like Vice…
Mocked for their love of avocado toast and artisan everything, as the first Millennials get ready to embrace middle age and middle management, it’s time for them to settle into comfortable khakis and let Gen Z do the heavy lifting.
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced: Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Resources: https://www.bfm.my
Excerpt:
Millennials. The generation that everyone loves to hate. But as the artisan food fanatics move towards Middle Age, MSP’s Matt Armitage thinks it’s time to reassess.
So no cheap jokes about avocado toast today? I don’t know - you tell me. Identifying the cut-off points for generations is = as we’ve remarked on previous shows - a bit of a fool’s errand. In fact, we did a couple of show a few weeks ago about my Generation C…
Where you laid out the case that generation are meaningless and the coronavirus has put us all in the same ‘bucket’ as you like to say. Are they suddenly more meaningful? In the sense that we’re heading back to some semblance of normality in a few lucky countries. Economies reopening. People going back to work. Limited international travel. Talk about schools reopening and in some countries they even have. So that shared experience - hopefully - is at or is coming to an end for most of us. It will be a shared memory - but it’s good that our experience diverges. No one under the age of 30 wants to hear this covidiot go on about his doomscrolling or coronacation. They’re too busy Zumping their latest Corona Bae. That means dumping someone over zoom in case anyone has the wrong idea.
We’ve talked about this before. You’re barred from using what you call ‘Young People Talk’… You can’t tell me to shut up any more. And that’s the purpose of this episode. When we talk about generations they are often quite loosely defined. In terms of date range. Were the first Millennials born in 79, 81, 83? So we’re going to use the Pew Research model - because it’s widely respected and accepted.
Unlike you? Gosh. Someone didn’t have his vanilla almond milk on his artisan granola this morning. So Pew defined Millennials as people who were born from 1981 to the end of 1996. Odd that - millennials were born in the last millennium. 1980 and under - you’re Gen X like me. Or Boomer if we roll back the mists of time. 97 - you’re Gen Z, digital native or whatever. So, today is a bit of a briefing episode. Essentially to welcome Millennials into the world of middle age.
Somehow that’s a very strange idea… The idea that they should be middle aged or that I’m the one welcoming them in?
Neither of those scenarios is ideal… Yeah - so over the last few months I’ve had various generational spats with people. Mostly the kind of people who call Greta Thunberg a Millennial. And that’s another reason for today’s show - as well as ushering Millennials into the world of khaki pants and beige blouses - It’s to illustrate how irritated the Gen Z-ers are at being lumped in with a bunch of Millennials they see as old people.
Old people. They see me as old people? Dude, the next gen, gen Alpha, the ones who are currently sitting at home not getting an education. That gen, Gen Alpha thinks Gen Z is old. You and me, we’re just dinosaurs to them.
Bubbles. Living in them. Working in them. Socialising in them. Travelling in them. Is our future one of hermetically sealed environments? One where the needs of the lucky few are met by an on-demand workforce that never goes home?
Hosts: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced: Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
EPISODE EXCERPT Usually, when we talk about Bubbles in a business or economic context, there’s usually a negative association. But more recently - from tourism, to sporting events to business - bubbles have taken on a more positive meaning. Here to explain is someone who’s spent most of his life in a bubble, MSP’s Matt Armitage.
Won’t be the first time you’ve been blowing bubbles on this show… I’ll take that to mean you think I’m blowing little bubbles of insight and ingenuity.
Sure. If that’s what your bubble tells you I mean… Hmm. I’m inoculated from negativity today. Your thoughts are but unformed soap suds. And simply slide over me. But yes, you’re right. When we talk about bubbles it’s often in a negative sense. We talk about them in the sense of speculative markets and economic booms that have outpaced any rational measure of their expansion. And we use the term bubble because it’s something that’s seen as fragile. It’s something that we expect to burst imminently. But now we’re reframing the idea of bubbles as something that protects rather than isolates us from reality. And we’re seeing that idea being applied to multiple sectors of society as a way to restart economies, give people more freedom of movement and to kick start leisure activities.
The travel bubble is one that has had a lot of press… Yes. There have been a few of these mooted. And they’ve thrown some really strange collections of countries together. The idea is that countries with low rates of coronavirus cases can form travel corridors with each other. In some instances this reopens completely closed borders, or removes those travellers from very onerous travel conditions, like quarantines at both ends.
Are there any in operation or are they still all being discussed? China started a corridor with South Korea in May. Singapore launched one about two weeks ago between it and six provinces in China, including Shanghai and Guandong. And it’s currently negotiating to establish corridors with Canada and South Korea. New Zealand is set to establish a corridor with Australia any time now. The Pacific islands are also lobbying to join the NZ-Aus corridor. We’re seeing business organisations around the world pushing to at least start what companies see as essential business travel. But we’re also seeing increasing pressure to set up these bubbles to facilitate international tourism as well.
It may be emotionally draining, technically challenging and socially isolating, but working from home could turn out to be a secret superpower. One that lowers business costs, boosts productivity and profits and gives employees more freedom, independence and flexibility.
Presented by: Matt Armitage & Jeff Sandhu Produced by: Jeff Sandhu
With protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd reverberating across the world, MSP takes a look at how machines and technology learn to discriminate.
As SpaceX becomes the first private company to launch astronauts into space, MSP wonders whether the universe is conscious and whether it’s better to fall into a big or a small black hole. Oh yeah, and zombie fires are burning under the Arctic.
Burger-flipping machines, finger-flipping robots and radiation emitting cleaners. It’s the new normal in the automation nation.
Tune in, turn on, drop out. That was the mantra of the 1960s. Today we’ve all been forced to drop out and reinvent ourselves. But what kind of world will we find on the other side? Surveillance capitalism and exclusionary technology or a fairer and more socially progressive world?
Gen-X, Gen-Y, Digital Native. After two months of lockdown we’re all the coronavirus generation. But what will the world look like for this brand new Gen-C?
Virtual Meetings taking over your life? Developing Instagram Face so your boss thinks you’re paying attention when you’re really watching cute cats? Welcome to the WFH world of video chats
On the first of two shows about Gen C, we look at the cultural shifts that COVID-19 is creating and wonder how these circumstances will affect the consumers of tomorrow. And which companies will be crowned the Coronavirus Kings.
Today we look at some of the technology that is helping us to strike back at the coronavirus. From UV-emitting robots to face tracking apps, and fake news detection to AI vaccine modelling. It’s time to fight the fear.
This World Happiness Day MSP is thinking about machines. Can machines be happy? How do we feel about machines that are programmed to seem happy? And is the idea of machine happiness more disturbing than machines that feel nothing at all?
We might not be able to inoculate ourselves against against viruses like Covid-19, but, while we wait for that prevention or cure, can we protect ourselves from the stresses of our uncertain lives?
FaceID dodging face masks, no flying cars, the robot uprising, VR fish and chromosomes. Not forgetting butter made from fly larvae. That’s right: science is sick.
What makes us human? With permanent moon bases and Mars colonies being planned, it may be a question we have to ask ourselves sooner rather than later. Could food be our connection to the planet we leave behind?
The only way is up. That’s been the mantra of city planners for decades. But could climate change and population growth force us to dig deeper for solutions? Could the future of humanity be underground?
What will the world look like by 2029? Where will we live? Where will we work? What will we be doing for fun? Nothing at all, if MSP has anything to do with it.
Pills that inject, the Veganuary prize, space wars, satellite lawsuits and contact lenses that can protect your skin. Science is sick!
As icons like James Dean and Carrie Fisher are recreated in the afterlife and summoned by CGI to star in new pictures, are we facing a zombie horde of never dead CGI film stars?
Can you live in the cloud? Sounds ridiculous but research to create digital replicas of the human brain could eventually enable us to live forever, replacing retirement communities with server farms.
In the wake of CES Las Vegas, MSP’s Father Time, Matt Armitage, looks back at some of his favourite gadgets of the ages.
Last week we claimed the Skywalkers were rising. This week MSP takes a look at some at the science and tech advances that are giving hope for the coming decade.
[] Show Notes []
Flaming Twenties isn’t a reference to Australia’s bush fires, is it? No. That would be quite crass. No I mean it in the popular fire emoji sense. The decade where our ingenuity and awareness are on fire. Last decade pretty poor. Last episode, ran thru some of many reasons this might be the case. Overreach of silicon valley and tech firms, Dark money and fake news. General mistrust of technology and science.
None of which indicates why you’d be optimistic for the future. Last week we talked about realisation. The noughties was a decade of hope, where we trusted tech would liberate us and enrich us, materially and spiritually.
Rather than send us into dark holes of despair and dissatisfaction? Exactly. Not going to go over same ground. Listen to last week’s show if you need a does of despair and devilry. But I ended it with some of the things I think will be bright spots in the next ten or even 20 years. Mentioned CRISPR, gene and biotech. Revolution in food. Growing importance of blockchain technologies. Most importantly the growing awareness of people. Especially that spirit of activism amongst the younger generations. Ended last week saying the Skywalkers are rising. I believe that.
Where do we start? With biotech? Get there in a minute. Always fun to look back at predictions. This is the 2020s. We were kids at roughly the same time. What did you imagine the 2020s would look like?
MSP is in shameless Star Wars stealing-mode this week. Over the last decade, the forces of Silicon Valley seem to have transformed from information and data disruptors into Final Order-style monopolists. Are the 2020s set to become the battlefield for the Data Wars?
[] Show Notes []
This is a good start to a new decade, with you stealing notes from the Star Wars franchise. Xmas holiday Reading about runaway tech Threat to our democracy, freedom. Silicon Valley turning from liberator to demagogue, On the back of it Govts losing control. Rampant surveillance capitalism. So much doom and gloom.
They’re are all topics that you’ve spoken about at length on this show. True. Not knocking the truth of these pieces. Or importance of understanding what’s in them. Have to examine the Dark Side.
Is that where the Star Wars analogy comes in? Kind of. It’s also a nice way to ease into 2020. If you think of digital tech in the early noughties as being the first rush after the Empire fell. Technology represented people power. Bypass traditional news media. Post our own information. Citizen journalism. The blossoming of freedom and independence movements. Bypassing state controlled information systems. Create information sharing networks. At an individual level, celebrated the democratisation of data: Be less isolated because somewhere online other people like us lurked. Govts and city councils committing to open governance and sharing all kinds of data. What we didn’t foresee was this flush of freedom turning into something like SW’s The First Order.
How do you think it happened? We do a lot of these things to ourselves. Spoken at length about how our freemium model has contributed to this system. An active / passive choice many of us made to make our online experience cheaper. These things happen by degree. Google going from not being evil to bidding on US govt defence contracts. Gradual. And by interpretation: freedom meaning the freedom of companies to do as they choose.
So, that’s where we are? With Supreme Leader Snoke or a resurgent Emperor Palpatine? Apologies to listeners who aren’t SW fans / followers. One of the positive aspects of all those negative tech articles is realisation. I’ve been banging on about unsustainable freemium models for years. So have others. Talking about how we are willingly giving up our privacy. Apart from a few people, majority of people thought we were scaremongering. But people are scared. Tired. Mistrustful.
As we get ready to launch a new decade, we’re taking some time to look back at some of the changes in science and technology that we’ve seen over the last decade.
This week MSP returns with a time travel update, a vomiting asteroid, more brain implants, and ready-to-wear exoskeleton. With a twist of grime. Bud-a-bup-bup.
It’s no surprise when Matt takes an idea and stretches it until it’s so thin you could wrap it with a nanotube. We’ve had Ask Matt Anything. Ask Matt More Anything. And this week MSP has Ask Myself Anything.
We had so many questions on last week's episode. And he takes so long to answer them. This week we gave Matt a time limit of 2 minutes to get through as many listener questions as he could. And some of Jeff's too. Find out about the future of education, what science can't solve and why it's impossible to answer four questions in 120 seconds.
Is a hidden epidemic of perfectionism creating stress and anxiety? How can we escape the perfection trap in a world of curated experiences?
Episode Sources: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332430-600-the-misunderstood-personality-trait-that-is-causing-anxiety-and-stress/ https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000138.pdf
Episode Excerpt:
We keep hearing about ideas like the perfection trap. But is it real? Does the perfection trap exist? That’s probably the hardest question of today’s show. Because it’s totally subjective. Certainly - and I don’t think it’s the first time we’ve discussed this subject this year We are seeing an increase in the numbers of people with mental health issues. Particularly people in the generations we define as millennial and digital native. And while perfectionism isn’t generally accepted as an illness in and of itself, It has been closely linked to eating disorders, OCD, anxiety and depression. It does seem that people with those conditions are more likely to demonstrate perfectionist traits than you would expect to see in the general population.
So what are we actually talking about? How are we framing or defining perfectionism? Perfectionism is hard to define in a clinical sense. And there doesn’t seem to be a clear consensus among psychologists as to its definitions although many are starting to become alarmed about the potential mental health timebomb that might be ticking away in the next generation. The closest they have come to a consensus on this issue is the 30 year old multidimensional Perfection Scale which grades participants for a series of 45 questions on a level of 1 to 7. And there is more than one type of perfectionism.
Which are? There are self-oriented perfectionists. These are the people who set themselves ridiculously high goals and then feel miserable when they can’t achieve them.
Like you? You’re saying it as a joke but it’s probably a fair assessment tbh. I left one line of work behind me because it was something that left a lot to chance. Even when things were at their most successful, there were always failures. And I found that very hard to cope with. I couldn’t take pleasure in the success because I only saw the failures.
Then there are are Other-Oriented perfectionists… Who hold others to ridiculously high standards.
Which sounds like you again… And explains why I don’t have staff anymore and work largely alone. Not because I ‘can’t find anyone good enough’ which is what you often hear from entrepreneurs who suffer from the same delusions as me. But because it’s simply unfair on the people who are doing a great job that you are unable to comprehend.
And the final one: socially prescribed perfectionists? This is where perfectionism dovetails with our own set of interests. These are the people who feel an overwhelming pressure from others. That might be from bosses or colleagues, friends or family members. And, increasingly, it’s rooted in the digital sphere. Not just in social media, but in the way we communicate. And that many of those communications are shorn of context.
We're off-air this week. So, here, in light of recent global attempts at fakery, is one of our most popular episodes of 2019: Fake It Till You Make It.
Are you selling the dream or running a long con? How to sort the Silicon Valley spin from the outright lies.
We've got a ton of show links this week. Great reporting from all these sources. Support content makers!!!
Show Links: https://www.vox.com/2015/2/26/8114391/inventions-dumb-fads http://fortune.com/silicon-valley-startups-fraud-venture-capital/ https://www.wired.com/story/theranos-and-silicon-valleys-fake-it-till-you-make-it-culture/ https://www.wired.com/story/theranos-and-silicon-valleys-fake-it-till-you-make-it-culture/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/21/big-tech-products-silicon-valley https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Spectacular-recent-Bay-Area-tech-startup-failures-12378764.php#photo-14592820 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/commentisfree/2019/mar/20/elizabeth-holmes-and-her-firm-theranos-show-why-we-must-stop-fetishising-entrepreneurs
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
Technology can be a harsh business. You spend years and millions of dollars developing a product, only to find out no one wants it, or that another innovator has turned your invention from a product into a feature.
With the release this week of The Inventor, a documentary about the failed startup Theranos, we thought it was time that MSP took a deeper look into the industry’s fake it till you make it ethos.
Matt, I can’t believe that you are going to be the one telling people about the dangers of faking it. •Who better than me? •I’ve spent my entire life faking it. •I’ve got a masters degree in faking it from Stanford.
That’s a lie! •Exactly. If you want to catch a conman, you get a con man. •If you want to talk about lies, find a liar. •That kind of the point about today’s show. •There’s a fine line between promoting your invention, giving it enough hype to get yourself some media coverage and some venture capital and flat out lying.
Juicero! •Exactly. Now Juicero wasn’t a lie. •But it was very weird. And it was a great example of giving customers exactly what they don’t want at a price they can’t afford. •Which, in Silicon Valley speak, is the perfect business model.
We haven’t talked about this for ages. Go on. Remind everyone what’s it’s all about. •People like juices. And I imagine, people who have millions of dollars of stock options can afford to buy really fancy juicers. •Juicero was an attempt to meet the market’s need for slow pressed juices. •So they marketed a really expensive juicer – I think it was USD700 or something – which had to be connected to the Internet. •And you could only use it with really expensive bags of the company’s own pre-mulched juices.
As Malaysia celebrates its 62nd year of independence, MSP looks at some of the milestones in technology and science since 1957.
We're a little behind in posting episodes, so please enjoy the multiple feeds this week!
EPISODE EXCERPT
With his authoritarian nature we’re not entirely sure it was a good idea to ask Matt to put together a list of tech and science advances and breakthroughs to celebrate the 62 years since Malaysian Independence. But MSP is a show that takes risks. And Matt has promised to keep today’s content WHO compliant. Unlike many of his business ventures.
How are we going to do this? Chronologically? I thought that that would be a bit boring. As riveting as listening to me reciting a list of facts for 25 minutes would be, I thought jumping about might make it a bit more interesting. Because it’s also about looking at the way those discoveries are interconnected. How one breakthrough leads to another. And how they might appear to be unrelated.
Which means you have to give us an example… Happy to. For the benefit of the listeners, I asked Jeff and a few other people to share some of their favourite moments in tech history over the last 60 or so years. One of the things that came up on both our lists was Photoshop. The image processing and manipulation software released by Adobe back in 1990. Can you imagine? Photoshop is almost 30 years old. I guess we’ll have to dedicate an MSP Ikons show to it at some point.
Obviously, we’re celebrating it as a breakthrough, but isn’t Photoshop one of those love to hate it inclusions? Yes, of course. I think most of the big software breakthroughs - including milestones like Microsoft Word and the Office Suite - are very much in the love hate category. And designers have horror stories about early versions of Photoshop. Many of which are more about the state of computing back in the 90s. Buggy machines that would hang. Graphics cards and processors that couldn’t handle the load. Slow data transfer and rendering speeds. The number of times I used to get stuck in the office because a page of a magazine was crashing the zip drive. It used to take hours to download things.
Yet Photoshop is still a transformational tool? Yes. For all its complexity. It helped to transform desktop publishing. We’re talking media industries. Fashion. Advertising. It made it possible to easily manipulate photos. Colour correct them. Give them a distinct look and feel. That’s a legacy that we carry over into products like Instagram and its photo filters. We take it for granted, but to do what Instagram does with the click of a button, used to take many minutes if not hours on early versions of Photoshop. And those same tricks could take a designer days to do manually with physical photos and negatives. All those clean looking social media posts against lily white walls. We owe those to Photoshop.
Negative stories in your social media feeds getting you down? Let The Knowledge soothe your troubles with edible algae, miracle magnets and a keto-based migraine cure.
We're a little behind in posting episodes, so please enjoy the multiple feeds this week!
Episode Sources:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2213394-ketogenic-diet-may-stop-migraines-by-changing-the-brains-fuel/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2213755-cities-are-using-walls-of-moss-to-tackle-air-pollution-from-traffic/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/13/algae-spirulina-e3-blue-majik-health-benefits https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/13/algae-spirulina-e3-blue-majik-health-benefits https://www.newscientist.com/article/2213622-tiny-magnets-could-help-rid-the-ocean-of-harmful-microplastics/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2213756-a-classic-quantum-theorem-may-prove-there-are-many-parallel-universes/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2213655-having-kids-makes-you-happier-but-only-when-they-move-out/
Unbelievably Matt is making good on his promise to show us that this world is a better place than our social media feeds might indicate. Today on MSP we have a lot of algae, some moss, quantum universes, children and magnets. Yes, it’s time to get your feelgood on.
Where are we going today? Are you going to start us off with physics or food? I’ll go with a couple of food stories. Leave the stuff that’s mentally hard to swallow until later. We often hear about fad diets being the latest thing to help us lose weight and keep us in shape. And as we talked about a few shows ago, diets on their own often make very little difference to your weight over the long term because the body adjusts to the calories coming in and adjusts the way it burns and stores energy. But it turns out that the Ketogenic diet could be having unintended and quite profound health benefits for people with certain long term illnesses.
For people that don’t know, the ketogenic diet essentially restricts carbs and calories and promotes a mixture of protein and fats to derive energy from. Yes, so it’s a bit like a more extreme version of the Atkins Diet that was popular a few years ago. You’ll find loads of keto influencers on social media and it seems to be wildly popular with a subsection of fitness freaks. What wasn’t perhaps anticipated was the effect it might have for migraine sufferers. And it’s something else that underscores, that despite all the advances, how poorly we understand the way our own bodies, especially our brains, work.
Don’t tell me. You ran a little test? Haha. I left that question in from last week. And no, I didn’t. I know I have a slightly fast and loose reputation when it comes to experimenting with humans, but my line is drawn a long way before we get to chronic migraines. Besides, I signed a hypocritical oath sta
You eat healthily. Exercise. Meditate to avoid stress. You care about the environment. And you allow tech companies to sell that data to companies intent on undoing all your good work. Welcome to the Won’t Pay Paradox.
Chimeras, a mainstay of fantasy fiction, are now scientific fact. From this strange new perspective we ask: Would you give a monkey a human brain?
In July 1979, mobile technology was born in Tokyo. It wasn’t the Internet or the mobile phone. It was the Sony Walkmen that transformed the way we experience the world.
Sources: Episode Sources: https://www.businessinsider.com/history-listening-to-music-recorded-walkman-2019-6?r=US&IR=T#in-1981-the-new-york-times-wrote-that-the-cassette-player-was-the-most-eagerly-wished-for-of-all-gifts-the-device-allowed-people-to-not-only-listen-to-recorded-music-but-easily-make-their-own-recordings-too-this-gave-birth-to-the-mixtape-era-in-which-people-could-record-songs-they-heard-on-the-radio-10 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=218368 https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/7/7/20683049/retro-bluetooth-cassette-tape-player-kickstarter https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/loud-and-clear/ https://pitchfork.com/news/bjork-reissuing-all-9-albums-as-multicolor-cassettes/
Episode Excerpt: We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of a technology that half of our listeners have never heard of, let alone used. We’re celebrating a milestone. A pivotal moment in the development of mobile technology. A direct descendant of the smartphones we have in our pockets today. A machine that changed the way people behaved. And made the sight of headphones in public a common occurrence. This is also a bit of a personal one for me. A technology that shaped my teenage years and put me on the path to sitting here with you on this show.
Your first mobile phone? No. Tbh, my first mobile wasn’t even a big moment. My first phone was an Ericsson that was rebadged in the UK as an Orbitel. I think it was 1994 or 1995. Phones were starting to appear on the high street by then. It wasn’t just yuppie swines that carried them. Big hearty men of the people like myself also had them in our pockets.
You mean Geeks? Don’t be rude. I had a gym membership as well. It was kinda cool to have one. Part of the reason I had one was to stay in touch with my younger brother, who’d just started a university course after being ill for a couple of years. I’d recently graduated I was doing a lot of not doing very much in different parts of the country. And, because calls were so expensive, I hardly ever used it. Weirdly, I think the coverage back on those old analogue networks in the part of the UK where my parent live was better then than it is today. At my mum’s house you need to be on different networks in different rooms in the house. I think they’ve been barely touched by 3G yet, let alone LTE.
Where do they live, in a cave? It’s flat and below sea level. I could go into technical reasons as to why there are cellphone dead spots all over the area but I won’t because we’re hear to talk about the walkman. I only mention the phone stuff because there’s an intersection. Most of my phones up until the smartphone era were Ericsson models. Latterly Sony Ericsson models. And Sony is where today’s story starts. With the Walkman.
I know this i
The robots are coming. Not a new message for MSP. It’s not the robots that want to take your jobs. It’s their human overlords and the people who enable them.
What does it mean to be human in a world full of sentient machines and technologically enhanced people? In another Disrupted World special, we take a look at the future of the human species and get ready to welcome our quantum cousins.
In the final part of our Disrupted World series, MSP asks the ultimate question: is it time to break up the tech giants?
Do we have the power and the will? Will it solve the problems big tech has created, or do we have to look deeper, at finding alternate solutions and pushing them through ourselves.
In part 3 of our Disrupted World series, MSP takes a look at the social costs of digital disruption and asks if we are somehow becoming less human in the process.
Of course, that takes us to CoffeGate, Game of Thrones and Gladiator, and Matt considers launching the world’s first Sesame Street fake movie review podcast.
Episode Excerpt
This week we’re staying with us, people, consumers, listeners - whatever you want to call us - to ask: what’s happened to our humanity? I assume this is a response to CoffeGate? •Hey Jeff. •Isn’t it strange how these serendipitous things pop up. •We’re in the middle of a disrupted world series. We were working on human empathy – or the lack of it – for today’s show. •And what do we get? A barrel roll of haters piling on because a modern day coffee cup was stuck in the background of a shot of this week’s Game of Thrones. •For those of you who have better things to do with your day, in a shot of the post battle feast in the episode, a takeaway coffee cup was left on a table in front of Daenerys, the Dragon Queen. •Isn’t it remarkable how far we’ve come, that that statement doesn’t sound as ridiculous as it obviously is. •Best thing is, you can’t even see it anymore. Because HBO have CGI’d it out following the backlash.
I think some people were commenting that last week’s episode, the Battle, was too dark, and this week, suddenly you can see everything and the crew has left a modern cup in shot. So what was hiding in the dark of last week’s episode? •It’s a fair point. And I imagine that in the future someone with a BluRay player and a lot of time will take a forensic look at every scene in that episode. •Hopefully, my Internet will be down on that particular day. •Look for the most part it’s funny. It’s always funny when this kind of thing gets left in shot.
Did you like the Memes? •And there are some really good ones. I particularly like the one that makes it look as though it was a deliberate act by Dani rival Sansa Stark to sabotage her. •I thought that was a nice way of mixing onscreen and offscreen. •To Jeff: Is there one you liked [We can skip this is easier]?
Jeff Replies •But there’s also an undercurrent of anger there as well. •That somehow the production team is lazy and sloppy. •I saw one post on Twitter along the lines of ‘how dare you charge me so much to watch HBO and then allow mistakes like these to occur.
People are taking it too seriously? •Is there anything that doesn’t get taken too seriously on Twitter? •People complaining that their right to say hateful things and insult people has been impinged upon. •You only have to spend a few seconds on YT to find the streams and streams of videos that unearth these kinds of bloopers and continuity mistakes in big movies and TV shows. •Gladiators is a classic example.
I think that movie is legendary for its continuity errors… •Russell Crowe is holding his sword in different hands as the camera moves from •In his death scene he pancakes onto bare earth but is suddenly resting his head on a rock in the close up shot. •But do those things ruin your enjoyment of the film?
There’s also a scene where one of the chariots overturns and you see there’s some kind of petrol tank or gas canister underneath. •This stuff happens. When you consider that blockbuster movies take a couple of years to make and GOT is doing multiple episodes at a similar scale, it’s a wonder that more things don’t get missed. •But the point is, how can you let something so inconsequential get you angry. •Your faith in the TV show has been rocked by a single continuity error. To the point where you have to insult the cast and crew.
Didn’t Jon Snow attack the haters online a few weeks ago? •Even before the new season began there w
In the 2nd part of our Disrupted World series, MSP dismisses Avengers Endgame and looks to The CW’s The 100 for a solution to our privacy problems.
It was supposed to be a celebration of Star Wars for May 4th but we couldn’t think of anything that hasn’t already been done. That’s how Disruptive we are.
Produced by Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Show Links: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/reuters-america-update-2-facebook-overhauls-messaging-as-it-pivots-to-privacy.html
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
As this show is airing on May 3rd, you might expect that uber Geek Matt Armitage would be doing a Mattsplained Star Wars tribute today. The answer, of course, is no. It seems like we’re going with the return of the slightly trashy steampunk sci-fi show The 100, instead.
Are we continuing last week’s Disruption theme with a TV show about the most Disrupted future you can imagine? •Yes, I’m continuing with the Disrupted World theme we started last week. •Originally I was going to do something that tied in with Star Wars a little more closely. •In fact, I was planning to do a show about how movies now seem a little disappointing compared to games. •I watched Avengers Endgame this week and I have to admit I was slightly disappointed. •I’d heard all the hype and I’d kept away from spoilers – and don’t worry – no spoilers here, so I was imagining how it might work, especially now Captain Marvel has been admitted into the MCU.
What disappointed you? •It turned out my imagination was taking me way further out than the movie went. •Don’t get me wrong – it’s a really good movie, but I found it fairly predictable. •That spun me back to the idea I’d had about so many movies being a little underwhelming compared to streaming shows and, of course, the increasingly vast universes that games now seem to inhabit.
But you don’t know enough about gaming? •Yes. So, it made my comments seem a bit trivial. •I stand by the idea though. The complexity of the worlds you can now explore and inhabit in gaming is astonishing. •Especially the titles that don’t have a standardised gameplay. •Where you can explore the world or worlds and bash a few heads along the way when you get bored, but where you can define your own role and your own place in those worlds. •That’s far more interesting to me than the kind of linear narrative movies we’re seeing.
You’re going to talk about books again… •I am, because I love books. •I think what disappointed me the most about Avengers Endgame – and if some of you are wondering if you’re listening to a tech show or a movie review – •This is a tech show and I will get to the point… •The thing about Endgame was the idea of all the realms and dimensions that the previous movie, Infinity War, had laid open for us. •I imagined it spinning off a little like the Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter series The Long Earth where the population of earth suddenly gains access to an almost infinite number of parallel earths and spreads out.
Before this gets any more complicated. Let’s summarise things a little. You decided not to talk about Star Wars because you were disappointed in the Avengers movie. You didn’t know enough about gaming to make your central point. And now you want to talk about The 100 because it’s the ultimate example of a Disrupted world? •So nearly right. And yet so wrong. For two reasons which will I hope will become clear. •When we started talking about Disruption last week, I thought it was going to be a one-off show. •But since the
It’s the entrepreneurial equivalent of a middle finger. Disruption is more than a tech bro buzzword. It’s a destructive force that we’ll be paying the price of for generations to come.
Produced by Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Show Links: https://medium.com/s/futurehuman/survival-of-the-richest-9ef6cddd0cc1 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38901702-lab-rats https://www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/future
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
I’ve been away from MSP for the past few weeks. Because Matt decided that I needed some attitude adjustment.
However, while I was away our Inbox was flooded with complaints that the show was starting to sound like the BBC Shipping Forecast. So, who’s attitude do you think needed adjusting?
Of course, we wouldn’t want Matt to adjust his attitude or change anything up, which is why, on this week’s show, we’re talking about Disruption.
Are we looking at the effects of Disruption on our future? •I actually wanted to call today’s show the search for a noun. •But I knew that was essentially suicide in terms of SEO, unless we compensated by filling the introduction full of spam terms like size, money, crypto, wealthy, enrichment and pharmaceuticals.
You mean, you’d have had to do exactly what you just did? •There, you see, I’m already being Disruptive. •Mostly to the norms of taste and decency.
You sound as though you’re saying Disruptive with a capital D… •Your ability to aurally process grammar, is extremely impressive. •that’s aural with an au not an or, by the way. •I’ve successfully wasted 103, no 105, no 107 words since you asked your first question. •I’m Disrupting the show again. •[pause] •Have you noticed that Disruption always has a capital D? •If you see it in a presentation, even in the middle of a sentence, it always seems to be capitalised.
Jeff Replies •There’s this element of shoutiness about the word Disruption. •It’s the entrepreneurial equivalent of a middle finger.
And you think that’s what Disruption – with a capital D – has become? •Absolutely. On the one hand it’s a very arrogant response. •On the other. It’s like a panic reaction •it has this ‘rabbit in the headlights’ quality about. •Somewhat lacking in specificity…
A bit like this show… •Oi. •Someone asks you what your company does or what’s unique about your product. •And the only thing you can think to say about what you do is that it’s disruptive.
Is it time to start feeding our meat addiction with a new approach? It ends up in a pan. Why not grow it in one?
Advances in biotechnology, sustainable planet initiatives and changing consumer demand are putting us on the cusp of a cultured meat and plant-sourced burger revolution. This is the case for clean, green, meat.
Show Links:
•https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/03/clean-meat-lab-grown-china-india •https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47724267 •https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/5/4589744/cultured-beef-burger-public-tasting-mark-post-sergey-brin •https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ginkgo-bioworks-launches-motif-ingredients-with-90-million-series-a-financing-300802134.html •https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00011/full •https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/29/can-the-world-quench-chinas-bottomless-thirst-for-milk
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
Meat. A word that delights some and disgusts others. I probably only have to say the words ‘juicy burger’ for half of you to hit pause on this show and switch to your favourite food delivery app.
Assuming you’re back and the food is steaming, have you ever considered how dirty that meat in your hand is? Matt has. But I’ve still no idea what he’s talking about.
You’re not supposed to marinade your steaks in the street, you know. •That’s where all the flavour is! Or at least that’s what I keep being told about authentic street food. •Anyway, as they say: if it’s good enough for the flies… •Ok. This would be a very strange show if it was all about food hygiene. •Although, of course, that is an issue. •Things like chlorine washing to disinfect meat, not just because it has fallen on the floor, but because the meat itself is contaminated. . •That’s become something of a Brexit issue in the UK because it’s outlawed under EU rules but would likely be central to any trade deal with the US. •But we’re really talking about the bigger picture of meat and other animal products.
We’re talking about technology and diet in a broader sense? •This is not an entirely novel subject for MSP. •Meat is a subject we have talked about quite frequently on the show over the years. •Especially when it comes to the things we are now classing as clean Meats.
Maybe you should tell us a bit more about clean meat in general? •You’re asking me to pander to people who don’t hang on my every word? •I’m not really enjoying this post Jeff world I’m finding myself in. •I’m hoping his attitude readjustment is almost complete. •You’re just far too high maintenance.
Clean Meat… •We’ve covered Laboratory-grown meat on the show a number of times. •In general, when I bring it up, it’s met with the chorus of revulsion. •In fact, I get more tweet feedback when we do a food show then anything else.
And you can find Matt on twitter @kulturpopup •You’re just mean. •When we’ve talked about lab
While parents worry about self-harming memes like Momo, are their own actions creating a generation of kids destined to self-destruct?
Show Links: •https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132220-300-strange-rise-of-mukbang-parents-who-feed-their-kids-fast-food-for-cash/ •https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/29/apple-martin-tells-mother-gwyneth-paltrow-off-for-sharing-photo-without-consent •https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work •https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/01/would-you-take-a-pay-cut-to-get-a-better-job-title-its-not-as-stupid-as-it-sounds •https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132162-300-the-truth-about-generations-why-millennials-arent-special-snowflakes/ •https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/27/18241961/youtube-pedophile-ring-child-safety-advertisers-pulling-ads •https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/momo-challenge-hoax/583825/ •https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/20/us/youtube-fantastic-adventures-mom-arrest-trnd/index.html
Let’s clear something up from the start: is this show intended as a How To guide for exploiting your children? •I know that I seem to get cast as an AI-toting, modern-day Fagin figure but no. •There is enough child exploitation – of tremendously varying degrees – going on without me adding to it. •Of course, my popular online course, how to make money off your weak-minded kids, is available for only 99.99 in the currency of your choice on the Kulturpop website.
Yes. Someone who bought it said it contained four hours of nothing but you laughing. •It’s a theme that runs through most of Kulturpop’s online courses. •Get rich with Crypto-Currency is especially popular. •And it’s true. My course on crypto currency is making me rich. •But I have my social responsibility hat on today. •And there’s quite a lot of ground to cover.
We’re looking at deliberate exploitation? •That’s one aspect. •There are the online scares and memes, there’s innocent oversharing and there’s also the emergence of Gen Z as the so-called burnout generation. •So, we’re really looking at the whole cause and effect cycle.
Do you think we’re still obsessed with Millennials? •Yeah, which is really weird. I discussed this with Jeff on a previous show. •The last Millennials were born in 1994. The oldest Millennials are now 39. •We’ll be changing their title to Middlennials soon. •If you’re 25 or older then you’re not a Millennial, you’re a Digital Native. •And, the last Digital Natives have been born.
Gen Alpha? •Anyone born after 2013 or so is characterised as Gen Alpha. •So when we talk about the exploitation side of this, it’s Gen Z and
The idea of wooden cars, homes, planes and skyscrapers used to be a Fred Flinstone fantasy. Now, with huge leaps in material technology, could wood be the miracle material of our future?
Are you selling the dream or running a long con? How to sort the Silicon Valley spin from the outright lies.
We've got a ton of show links this week. Great reporting from all these sources. Support content makers!!!
Show Links: https://www.vox.com/2015/2/26/8114391/inventions-dumb-fads http://fortune.com/silicon-valley-startups-fraud-venture-capital/ https://www.wired.com/story/theranos-and-silicon-valleys-fake-it-till-you-make-it-culture/ https://www.wired.com/story/theranos-and-silicon-valleys-fake-it-till-you-make-it-culture/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/21/big-tech-products-silicon-valley https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Spectacular-recent-Bay-Area-tech-startup-failures-12378764.php#photo-14592820 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/commentisfree/2019/mar/20/elizabeth-holmes-and-her-firm-theranos-show-why-we-must-stop-fetishising-entrepreneurs
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
Technology can be a harsh business. You spend years and millions of dollars developing a product, only to find out no one wants it, or that another innovator has turned your invention from a product into a feature.
With the release this week of The Inventor, a documentary about the failed startup Theranos, we thought it was time that MSP took a deeper look into the industry’s fake it till you make it ethos.
Matt, I can’t believe that you are going to be the one telling people about the dangers of faking it. •Who better than me? •I’ve spent my entire life faking it. •I’ve got a masters degree in faking it from Stanford.
That’s a lie! •Exactly. If you want to catch a conman, you get a con man. •If you want to talk about lies, find a liar. •That kind of the point about today’s show. •There’s a fine line between promoting your invention, giving it enough hype to get yourself some media coverage and some venture capital and flat out lying.
Juicero! •Exactly. Now Juicero wasn’t a lie. •But it was very weird. And it was a great example of giving customers exactly what they don’t want at a price they can’t afford. •Which, in Silicon Valley speak, is the perfect business model.
We haven’t talked about this for ages. Go on. Remind everyone what’s it’s all about. •People like juices. And I imagine, people who have millions of dollars of stock options can afford to buy really fancy juicers. •Juicero was an attempt to meet the market’s need for slow pressed juices. •So they marketed a really expensive juicer – I think it was USD700 or something – which had to be connected to the Internet. •And you could only use it with really expensive bags of the company’s own pre-mulched juices. •Which, incidentally, thanks to reasons of perishability, they could only supply to around half, or even less, of the continental USA.
But still. It’s
Is your technology working for you, or are you working for it? Why machines want us to prove that we are human.
Produced by Jeff Sandhu for BFM89.9
Show Links:
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
One of the reasons that this show exists is to demonstrate some of the many ways that technology is dramatically improving our lives. But what do you do when the technology that is supposed to be making our lives easier seems to be serving other masters?
This sounds like another of those Game of Thrones inspired episodes. Are we back to your master and servant theme? •Indirectly, I guess. •This is another one of those episodes I’ve had sitting on the burner for a while. •And then the brouhaha about Facebook’s supposed pivot towards privacy broke cover last week and I thought it was time to tackle this one.
Before we head into Facebook land again, do you want to give us a little background for today’s show? •As you mentioned in the intro, I think technology is fantastic. •For the majority of humans – in the developed world at least – this is still the best time to be alive. •And part of the reason for that is technology. •Whether it’s technology delivering information to your hand, safer and more reliable modes of transport, cheap and plentiful food, incredible medical advances. •Everywhere you look, technology is chipping away at the brutality of the past.
You could argue that some of that technology is pretty brutal too. •Absolutely. We have an enormous capacity for violence and destruction. •And one of the first things we do with a lot of technological developments is to weaponise them and use them for so-called defence or security purposes. •Whether it’s video cameras or advances in sonics. •It’s not what we’re talking about today, but if you are interested in that part of our development, there’s a great article at New Scientist called How Humans Evolved to be both shockingly violent and super co-operative. •Not the snappiest title, but the piece, written by Richard Wrangham, looks at the evolutionary and societal case for violence and cooperation.
When do you think we lost control of the technology? •I’m not there’s even an answer to that question. •You could say that we lost control of technology hundreds of years ago. •Donald Trump loves to tell people how well walls have worked for millennia. •And yes, they keep marauders and bandits out. •History is full of walled cities that fell to invaders. •Some were more technologically advanced than the invaders, who simply encircled them and starved them out. •But often it was technology that breached the walls. •Siege engines. Catapults. Crossbows.
I thought we weren’t talking about wars and violence? •Yeah, but if I start talking about looms and steel mills people are going to switch off. •The things most people seem to remember from their history classes are the battles and the wars. •And greater technology has often – not always – played a decisive role in who wins wars. •The US Civil War is a good example. The industrialised Union States literally had an enormous war machine that the more agricultural and slave based economy of the Confederate States couldn’t compete with.
From the moment of conception to the time they die, the next generation of children may be tracked, monitored and surveilled every minute of every day.
Produced by Jeff Sandhu
Transcripts & more at www.kulturpop.com
Episode Excerpt
When I first saw that today’s show had Babies in the title, I assumed it had to be a joke. Matt Armitage is not known for being child friendly. In fact, I’m fairly sure that he thinks they should be farmed. Or grown in vats, like clean meat. But it would seem he’s genuinely worried about generations still to come.
Matt. Data Babies and trackable humans. What’s going on? •You sound like one of those local TV news anchors in the US doing a hard hitting interview. •Mrs McGillicutty’s slipped on ice because no one salter her path. Here to answer our questions is city representative, Jeff Sandhu. Councillor, what’s going on?
It really must be hurting you to devote an entire episode to children. •I prefer to think of them as boxed in adults. •In that you keep them in a box until they’re 18. •I had one of those weird realisations over the weekend. •I’ve been listening to and watching a bunch of anti-vaxxer information over the last couple of weeks. •To the point where parents are turning down routine vitamin K injections for newborns in some countries, while in other places we’re seeing the return of infectious diseases like measles because fewer kids are being inoculated against them
This doesn’t sound as though it’s related to data… •Because there’s a weird corollary. •At a time when parents are rejecting medical interventions for their kids in increasing numbers, ignoring the science that shows these interventions lead to better health outcomes. •Yet, despite the concerns people have about data privacy with Facebook, Google and the scores of apps and companies that track our habits and movements every second of the day. •Despite those facts, plenty of people are willing to use services that offer them utility in helping to raise their kids in exchange for a very rich stream of data.
The Dream is fame, riches, untold power. Why do thousands of people dedicate years of their lives to making it, despite the tiny odds?
What would it be like if you cut Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google & Microsoft out of your life completely?
We knew it would be a living hell and never had the nerve to do it. Kashmir Hill, a writer at Gizmodo did. We chat about her experiences and their implications for the world we live in.
Show Links: https://gizmodo.com/c/goodbye-big-five https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/17/almost-impossible-to-function-without-big-five-tech-giants https://securitytrails.com
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
What would your life look like if you cut the big five tech companies out of your life? Is it possible to live without using Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft or Apple at all?
With a statement like that, you might think that MSP’s Matt Armitage has embarked on some kind of giant and heroic experiment. Well, sorry to disappoint you. He hasn’t.
So, Matt, you want to talk about cutting the tech giants out of your life without actually cutting any of the tech giants out of your life? I know you said that 2019 is the year we should embrace the hypocrisy, but isn’t that pushing the limits; even for you? •We’ve done a lot of shows on MSP based on the creep and spread of the tentacles of companies like Amazon and Google. •For many of us we associate these companies mostly with one or two products: oApple is the iPhone oGoogle is search and maps oMicrosoft is windows, and equally, office oFacebook is, well, Facebook oAnd Amazon is what people do instead of going to the mall..
But that public facing aspect is really only a tiny part of what these companies are and do? •Especially when it comes to the cloud, which Amazon, Google and Microsoft all control huge chunks of. •A lot of us are using 3rd party services that rely on these companies, simply by buying a cup of tea in a café that uses a POS sitting on a cloud run by one of these companies. •A lot of our interactions with them are seamless and invisible, which is why the idea of living without them is at once v intriguing and impractical.
This is something we’re increasingly seeing right across the tech landscape, isn’t it? This spread of function, and acquisition of other companies that operate in neighbouring spaces? •There’s nothing new about it. •Mergers and acquisitions is how the world of commerce works. •What’s different when you relate it to tech, is the speed of the rise of some of the bigger players, and the sheer amounts of money they have to fund themselves or buy themselves into new market sectors. •So their growth – in terms of scale and function – is quite amazing. •Especially as the technology evolves so fast. •What we aren’t even imagining today, is something that is a daily use necessity tomorrow.
How does that bring us back to life without the Big 5? •It’s an experiment I’ve been really interested in for a long time. •Can you consciously decouple yourself from these companies?
But not something you were interested enough in to actually try? •Every time I ran it as a thought experiment, or tried to figure it out in terms of practicalities, I quickly realized that I couldn’t do it. •For example, just to do these shows. •Can I do them from paper? Yes, I could make my notes by hand. •I could research with an independent like Duck Duck Go, if I got myself a computer with Linux. •But the computers running the studio sit on MS Windows.
Utopia or Mattopia? We use today’s technology to create Matt’s perfect world of tomorrow. And introduce the term ‘bests of burden’.
Excerpt:
Then let’s start with money and finance as this is a business station. •I like your commitment to keeping this fun.
Will money be digital? •Eventually, of course. But it won’t be the kind of digital currency we have now. •At the moment we have two major routes – the decentralised crypto currency route and the controlled, centralised currency, whether it’s physical or digital, like Sweden’s e-kronor. •We talked about some of the risks of independent crypto currency last week when we discussed Quadriga CX and the money that is stuck in an encrypted cold store.
[Jeff ad libs reply] •So there’s a real need for forms of money that are instant, robust and safe. •At the moment, physical currency does that most successfully. •But as we’ve seen from the growing power and success of e-wallet technologies, the currency itself is becoming more invisible. •Most existing e-wallets link to your bank account or you pre-load the wallet. •What I think we’ll see – what we’re already seeing – in China, Alipay is a bank as well as all the thousands of other things it is - is a growing merger of these systems and banking.
Can you imagine these payment systems becoming completely invisible and frictionless? •Absolutely. What we have to figure out is the new relationship between central banks and retail banks. •For example, a number of countries are starting to introduce electronic IDs that are a default access point for citizens to access government services, file taxes etc. •In the future, why wouldn’t that central ID become our default payment account? •At the moment, when we make a big transaction, we show a government approved ID, like a passport of driving licence. •If everything is digitised, why do we need all these other layers. •That one ID can be your payment account, your driving license, your marriage certificate, your passport.
You mean like a chip? •I wonder if that idea if putting an identity chip in people is actually just an old sci fi idea. •If you think about it, high speed web access allows you to do all the same things and more with biometric data and a cloud account. •How that will look, I don’t know. It’s possible we’re be able to do on the spot DNA processing within a decade or two. •Possibly even less. •You get stopped for a traffic offence, it might be as simple as holding a sensor in your hand and that processes your DNA or other identifiers from from your sweat. •The police can instantly see who you are, if the car is yours, if it’s insured, whether you have a license. Even whether you’re under the influence. •And any fines or penalties can instantly be registered and debited from your account.
Welcome to MSP the Musical. It’s hard to think of the world without Facebook. MSP looks at the central role Facebook has assumed in the digital economy and wonders: can it last another 15 years?
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the typos and grammar flaws.
We’re celebrating a birthday this week. No, not mine or Matt’s or BFM’s. On Monday 4th February, Facebook turned 15 years old. Today MSP takes a look at the impact of that legacy.
Hang on. It says here that today’s show is a Space Opera. Are you going to be singing? •You know how most musicals have two parts the speak-y part and the sing-y part. •I thought I’d do the speak-y part and you could sing the questions.
I’m not singing. •But I’ve told the listeners it will be a Space Opera. •They’re expecting this to be our Mamma Mia or We Will Rock You •We’ve got CO2 cannons and pyrotechnics and everything. •Rich was going to run through the studio in one of those flame suits, screaming. •It was going to be legendary.
My contract says I have to sit in this studio with you. It doesn’t say anything about singing. •Does it say no singing?
It doesn’t tell me if I should or shouldn’t kick you under the table. There are some things that you assume. Not singing is one of them. •I’ll be honest. I’m a little disappointed.
It’s not my name on the show’s title. •Then we’ll just have to apologize to the listeners.
Show Links: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2011/01/14/why-facebook-beat-myspace/#1a784be0147e https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/12/2012-year-facebook-finally-tried-make-some-money/320493/ https://yourstory.com/2018/02/facebook-turns-14/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facts-about-facebook-11548374613 https://mashable.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-wsj-op-ed/#0O3rCvqIcsqI https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/wsj-op-ed-mark-zuckerberg-speaks-down-users-and-misses-point
Surveillance Capitalism is turning us all into robots. Don’t fear the machines: they are us.
Show Links:
•https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/20/shoshana-zuboff-age-of-surveillance-capitalism-google-facebook •https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2594754 •https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/the-digital-debate/shoshana-zuboff-secrets-of-surveillance-capitalism-14103616.html •https://www.wired.com/story/facebook-10-year-meme-challenge/ •https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/13/dont-believe-the-hype-media-are-selling-us-an-ai-fantasy
Episode Excerpt
On last week’s MSP, Matt Armitage thrilled us with a tale of swashbuckling misadventure and mis-spoken grammar. This week we’re heading further beyond the edge of sanity to ask: whose robot are you?
Should we assume that this is another one of those shows talking about our entire existence being a computer simulation and that the creator of our Universe is actually a pre-teen working on a school computer project? •That’s a very specific example. •Have you spent a lot of time thinking about this?
What’s the point of it all is if we’re only ones and zeroes? •I’d probably point you in the direction of Rod Rees’s Demi-Monde series of books. •Simulations aren’t what we’re talking about today btw, but if it was, then your life still has as much meaning as it did before you realised it was all a simulation. •It’s not like pain or joy is any less real. Or the taste of food. •It’s unlikely to be a Matrix type situation: oI don’t think anyone is holding our bodies prisoner while our minds are plunged into some fiction. •This is our existence – simulation or not – and it’s really as simple as that.
So, why are we robots? •This is building on from something we were talking about in last week’s Geeks Squawk. •Radio listeners will know that these shows, MSP and Geeks Squawk, are kind of a pair. •but I have had some of our podcast listeners tell me that they know about one show but not the other. •Both shows are me and Jeff. •I get to wander off into fantasy realms and thought experiments on MSP whereas on Geeks we’re a bit more grounded in the events of the week, looking at big or quirky stories from the world of tech and culture.
That’s the cross-promotion done. How does this follow from last week’s Geeks. •We were talking about the 10 year challenge and how that information can be used to train machine intelligence to identify, track and even age humans more effectively. •We also mentioned some other areas where we are inadvertently helping to train AI
So you’re being literal? You’re actually saying that we’re robots? •Not in a mechanical sense. But in the sense that we are often used as objects that are the possession of someone or something. •Which, of course, begs the question: whose robots are we? •Who thinks they own us?
Want to know what happens in 2019? Future Matt looks to the past to tell us about the year to come
We don’t have to let the giants of tech own the future. Those decisions are still ours to make.
2018 was a year of stark contrasts in the tech industry. Will 2019 be the year we fight back against the power of the giants?
We discuss lots of topics on MSP. But all anyone wants to talk about is the sex robots. The second part of look back at 2018.
Since he adopted Wikipedia as his main memory source, Matt forgets most of the things he learns within 24. What exactly can he remember from the ride in a washing machine that was 2018?
Show Notes:
We’re coming to the end of another year, and it’s a tradition with MSP that we find out what Matt has learned over the last 12 months. One of the reasons we ask this, is that the list of things he has learned is usually a lot shorter than the ones he has learned.
What have you learned this year? •The first thing I learned is that no one over the age of 25 should play futsal unless they have an ambulance on-call and very very good medical insurance. •The second thing I learned is that no one batted an eyelid when Richard and I played on-air badminton. oWhich suggests that they either have the people at home have a high level of trust that I will eventually make a the point, or that no one is listening.
I had no idea that you and Rich played badminton, so I guess no one was listening. •Always there with a kind word. •And it’s kind words where I want to begin and end with this. •As usual, I’m going to spread this out over two episodes. So if all goes to plan we’ll go full circle from kindness through rage, delusion, miserliness, fear, optimism, happiness and back to kindness. •Because this year really has been a crash course in ethics.
In what sense? •Last year we talked a lot about the power of tech companies and how they were dominating increasing sections of our lives, especially with the aggressive consolidations, mergers and takeovers that we often don’t pay attention to. •Like Amazon owning almost half the world…
Fake News! •We’ll get to the Fake News. •I wish that there was some penalty we could impose on anyone who shouts that in someone else’s face. •You know that thing about Godwin’s Law and the time it takes for someone to compare something or something to Hitler or the Nazis in a debate. •I think we should call it Zuckerberg’s Law, which is the time it takes for anyone to decry any factually provable argument as fake news.
Fake News! •I know you’re still jet-lagged but I think you’re going to have to work a little bit harder than this. •Jeff: Fake News! •This is going to be a struggle. •So that journey into the power of the companies, into the role that technology has played in disrupting elections, influencing share and stock price movements. •And how tech populism has gone hand in hand with, or even paved the way for, the rise of political populism. •So this year has been one where I think the shows have concentrated more on people than the technology itself.
Today’s show is about technology you can feel good about. We know. We didn’t believe it, either.
Has the Silicon Valley Bubble burst? Is the Age of Technology at an end? Yes and not a chance, argues Matt.
We’re taking a break this week, so here’s a bonus episode. And who better to talk about than Taylor Swift?
Recorded the day before the Facebook and Soros smear story broke, this Explainer shows how easy it is to build a smear campaign. About donuts.
Episode Excerpt: Frequent friend of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg apologist, also known as Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage, is back on his Fake News mission this week. We’re never entirely sure whether he wants to stop it or spread. So, we’d better give him the chance to explain. •It’s a bit unfair to say I’m a Facebook apologist. •I’m more of a Facebook realist. •We talk about accountability a lot. So today I want to ask what should Facebook or any other technology company be responsible for? •Restocking our fridge? Well, Amazon seems to be on its way to that one. •Driving us to work? Uber and Google are working on those. •Looking after kids or elderly relatives? Companies like Samsung and Hitachi are building robots that should be able to take care of the unwanted. •Still there? Hello Yahoo. •Massive over-pricing and glitchy software? Apple’s got that one covered.
Well, that’s that topic resolved. What should we do for the next twenty minutes? •I always find that badminton works very well on the radio. •YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV7TJEBEkAw (play a few secs)
I think that might be all the listeners can take. •It was a good game though. •I think you beat me 40 love in that first game.
That’s a different game. Let’s go back to your friend Mark Zuckerberg. Maybe we can pad the show out a bit. •Regular listeners know that Mark and I have this weird relationship where I call him Zucky-baby and he acts as though he has no idea who I am. •In effect, that relationship allows me to be absolutely honest about what I think of his company and its policies and he continues to act as though he has no idea who I am. •You may have heard on the media – perhaps on BFM itself – that various governments have called for Mark Zuckerberg to appear at some kind of world congress of fake news. •To answer the questions that various world leaders and politicians have about the fake news epidemic. •And, I’m guessing, about how to reset their router when the bandwidth drops out on a Sunday morning.
You’re still on the politicians don’t know enough about technology trip? •Well, that’s why I made the joke about resetting the router. •Which I know is a cheap jibe and the pols are getting better at this but it’s not good enough that they’re playing catch up. •Mark Zuckerberg is the boss of one of the world’s largest companies, not the tech support guy from the basement of your office.
That’s not an excuse for him not to be held accountable. •Absolutely not. He should be brought to task. •But it’s pointless unless we have the infrastructure and knowledge to hold him to account. •Right now he could say pretty much anything. •For example, he could say that fake news was made possible because of a vulnerability in the root servers that govern DNS addresses, and that that exploit prevented Pearl programmed servers from correctly identifying the geo-locations that his company’s ads stream to and from. •He could easily say that even though I just made that up. •It’s nonsense. In the sense that none of it makes sense. It’s just random Internet stuff I threw into a sentence. •But our general lack of knowledge about the technology we rely on, leaves us in the position that anyone who trots out a bunch of plausible sounding terms is taken seriously.
Produced by Richard Bradbury for BFM89.9.
A combination of natural disasters and cyber-attacks has shown how fragile our way of life is. Are we heading for chaos? Or will the better side of human nature prevail?
Links: https://www.wired.com/story/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-recovery/ https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/a-year-in-the-dark/
Episode Excerpt:
Episode Transcript
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the minor typos and grammar flaws.
Recent natural disasters have started to show how delicate the web of technology that holds the world together actually is, reckons Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage. But what if those natural disasters were followed up by cyberattacks from a hostile nation? On that happy note, it’s time to ask Matt to explain.
Where are we starting, natural disasters or cyber-attacks? •This is one of those weeks where a bunch of stuff comes together. •Listened to a recent episode of the 99% invisible podcast earlier this week which focused on Puerto Rico’s electricity grid. •I know that might not sound fascinating, but it was. •The podcast is adapted from a longform article in wired magazine about the year long struggle to get Puerto Rico’s electricity grid back online after Hurricane Maria last year. •We’re facing increasing numbers of extreme weather events and natural disasters. The recent earthquake in Indonesia. Flooding in Italy, which affected your recent trip, to name some of what’s happening.
Is it climate change? •Honestly, I don’t want to bang that drum. •I think it is but that’s not the purpose of the podcast. •So I don’t want people to switch off because they don’t believe my take on things. •Today is about our infrastructure and how delicate it is and how we take so much for granted.
Let’s start with Puerto Rico •Ok. We’ve heard a lot over the past couple of years about how easy it has been to hack into electricity grids and other critical infrastructure projects. •Now, it is perfectly possible to imagine parts of a grid being ruined. Turbines in a power plant being run in a way that might physically damage them, that kind of thing. •But most plant has physical overrides. You could potentially send surges down individual lines that might damage them or upset substations downline. •But from what I understand, most hacking of these systems is for short terms disruption. Days, weeks, months if they get really lucky.
It’s the command and control mechanisms rather than the infrastructure itself? •Exactly. It isn’t bringing the towers or the cables down. •Water pipes aren’t collapsing. •But weather events are causing that kind of damage. •So we’re seeing this non-fortuitous convergence of conditions. •At a time when we’re increasingly putting these systems online and trusting them to automated control systems… •We’re in this situation of growing geopolitical uncertainty where countries are increasingly prepared to meddle in one another’s affairs •And the planet is having its own series of wobbles in terms of extreme weather events and natural disasters.
With Amy Winehouse set to tour the world in 2019, are we stumbling towards a future of zombie stars? Artists frozen in time and doomed by AI and CGI to repeat their hits for infinity.
Links: Roy Orbison, Hologram Tour https://youtu.be/1Lem-iefSm0
Episode Excerpt:
These shows are dictated to and transcribed by machines, and hurriedly edited by a human. Apologies for the minor typos and grammar flaws.
Sometimes it feels more like an episode of the X-Files or one of Infowars’ crazier moments when you’re talking to Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage. Today, I believe we’re talking about technology and deceased pop stars. That’s right: it’s the singing dead. It’s time to Mattsplain.
I can only assume we’re talking about Amy Winehouse, here? •Yes. In case any of you missed it, last week there was a story that Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011, will be embarking on her first world tour since her death. •And, in case you’re wondering how that works, it’s not a bunch of fans sitting around her casket while her albums are played over the PA. •No, it’s something even more sinister and macabre than that. •Amy will actually be onstage, belting out her hits, night after night.
Like a hologram? •Yeah. It will be a mixture of holograms with cutting edge CGI and presumably AI, so it gives the appearance of being live and natural. •Even though she isn’t alive and this isn’t natural.
This is what they did with 2Pac at Coachella a few years ago? •Before I dive into the technology side, yes, there have been quite a few attempts to bring dead artists back to the stage virtually. •2Pac is one, back in 2012. •Frank Sinatra was brought back for a duet with Alicia Keys at the Grammys. •Michael Jackson, of course at an award ceremony in 2014. •There have even been rumours that Justin Timberlake might appear with Prince at a Superbowl.
And they use the same technology? •The music business is a really dirty one, and there have been a number of companies trying to pioneer various technologies and systems. •And they’re all constantly suing and counter-suing each other. •Some of them even sue the estates of the artists they’re trying to secure. •\I think a couple of time, the estates haven’t liked what the companies have come up with and pulled out on the grounds of maintaining the dead star’s legacy. •It’s this weird thing in music. They think it’s a great idea to sue their clients and customers.
The penalties for bullying and trolling should be obvious. But how should we be punished for pretending to be on holiday, or holding up everyone’s dinner for a food shot? Written on a tablet, these are Matt’s Social Commandments.
Who controls your mind? With mind-reading technology already showing incredible accuracy, is it time to ask who owns our thoughts?
Produced by Jeff Sandhu for BFM
Episode Excerpt:
You’re already making us sound like machines… •We are machines. •But we’re thinking, feeling, sensing and self-determining machines. •We’re conscious. •You can press a button or issue a command that will wake Siri or Alexa, but the best those devices are is a one-dimensional representation of who and what we are. •We haven’t found a way to mimic or replicates that consciousness. •Yet.
And now we can? This is another one of your killer AI shows? •There will be plenty of AI. •It’s weird, isn’t it? •I talk about 3-D printing twice in a year and I have an obsession. •We could literally rename this show Matt and Jeff talk about AI and nobody would bat an eyelid.
Or pulse a chip? •Precisely. To answer your previous question, no we don’t have conscious AI. •But strangely, and I expect somewhat creepily to some of our listeners, we can use AI in various ways to unlock the secrets of our brains.
Is this like tweaking your DNA in a garage? Something you can do because you can? •One of the reasons we’ve been so preoccupied with creating humanoid robots is precisely because we have so little understanding of what makes us conscious. •I’m going to stick with technology rather than philosophy today, mainly because my philosophy knowledge is probably equivalent of a 16-year-old who study selfies rather than philosophy. •And at least with technology I can lie and makes things up and nobody will find out till later. •Understanding the brain is a bit like decoding our personality or our sense of self.
The last frontier of medicine? •I wouldn’t go quite that far. •Our bodies still contain plenty of mystery. •Like the appendix. Its only purpose seems to be to create excruciating pain and ruin family holidays. •We’ve certainly become much better at the routine mechanical parts of medicine. •If your car gets in an accident you can just pop down to the junkyard and that some panels off another wreck and you’re as good as new. •Same with people. We can replace arms, legs and the wiggly bits that attach to them.
We can turn our insides into bak kut teh our insides. •For those listeners who don’t know what bak kut teh is, honestly, don’t Google it you’re better off not knowing. •It really stretches the definition of what food is and should be. •Yes you make a valid point we can replace organs. •We can even perform face transplants, which is incredible, odd and slightly frightening. •When it comes to our brains were bit like mountaineers attempting to scale at peak for the first time. •We’ve got maps that take us some of the way, but, on the whole it’s a maddening game of trial and error
All of which is taking us further away from machines that can read our thoughts… •I’m Setting the scene, and that’s all. •On Geeks we have to race through the stories. Here we can give them room to breathe.
Technology companies, like people, don’t always make smart decisions. When they make truly disastrous ones, those are the mic drop moments. Today’s show takes a leap through the Portal.
Produced by Jeff Sandhu for BFM
Episode Transcript: What’s on your mind? •Facebook. They’ve done something silly, again. •And this time, it’s a genuine mic drop moment.
The Portal? •Back in 2012 Mark Zuckerberg told the world that Facebook was not in the business of making hardware. •Jump to October 2018 and FB is making hardware. Specifically, a voice activated communication screen that works rather like Amazon’s Echo devices.
To be fair, Facebook has been in the hardware game for a few years, since it bought over Oculus, the Virtual Reality specialist. •Yes, but that was as much about bringing FB up to speed with VR in general. •Not because the company wanted to become the world leader in moleman goggles.
The Portal device has been on the cards for a long time. Reports suggest it was delayed for 6 months. •And the reasons for that delay are one of the reasons we’re talking about it today. •Regular listeners will probably have noticed that we don’t pay much attention to gadget releases on this show. •So gadgets have to be very very good or very very bad in order to grab our attention.
I’ll take a guess. The Portal is very very good? •I think the Portal may end up belonging in category roughly alongside the Smart hairbrush we loved so much last year. •For those of you who really don’t care about these things and who haven’t heard what Facebook is up to this week the Portal and that’s with a capital P, is a smart communication device, Bluetooth speaker, Home hub etc etc with a big screen. •It’s essentially Facebook Messenger with a screen.
And it’s ugly? It’s slow? It doesn’t work at all? •None of those things. •One of the wonders of the particular age that we find ourselves in is that there are very few truly bad electronic devices. •Yes, of course, you can find yourself in trouble if you opt for those generic brands but don’t meet international safety requirements and all that kind of stuff. •By and large, anything that comes out of a reputable company is usually half decent in terms of build and design and functionality. •But that’s not the same as saying you need it or it’s a good idea.
Today Matt & Jeff go back to basics to look at CRISPR and the Blockchain and ask: What are they and how do they work? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Episode Excerpt You’re looking very decomposed today. Why’s that? •I don't really spend much time in this temporal reality.
Of course you don’t. You spend most of your time propping up a bar and practising your lies. Why don’t you tell us about black holes? •You are a little bit grumpy this morning, aren’t you? They aren't lies so much as alternative truths •As for the black holes, It’s really very straightforward. •You look at the velocity of the light coming from a dying star. •Then you account for the friction of gravity, and the density of the planet’s gasses •The you account for how they multiply as the star is pulled into the hole and the matter is compressed.
Did you just make that up? •Yes. I’m very good at pretending to know what I’m talking about. •Usually, if I'm speaking it's a fairly good indication that I'm lying.
Once again. An episode with very few expectations. Where would you like to start today? •Gosh. It sounds like I've knocked all of the hope out of you. •Should we start with CRISPR? •We’ve been talking about genetic modification an awful lot on the show recently. •Editing out the genes that create certain diseases, all conditions or hacking your body to try and create enhancements. •And then on the show we keep saying that tools like crisper actually incredibly cheap.
If you don’t really understand what CRISPR is, then it doesn’t really matter how expensive it is or isn’t? •Precisely. I’m sure a lot of people think that CRISPR is the part of the fridge where you store leafy vegetables. •And you wouldn’t be wrong. •It’s not the best analogy but we can use CRISPR to extend the life of things.
Why not tell everyone what it means? •It’s quite incredible what we take for granted, isn’t it? •We use this terminology all the time, and it’s become part of our lexicon, yet how many of us know what those initials stand for, other than sounding cool and futuristic?
Technology and a little bit of positive thinking could vastly improve your mental and physical state. How? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Show Excerpt: On last week’s show we talked about technologies that are meeting evolution head-on and trying to tip the balance in our favour. This week we’re in similarly choppy waters as we enter the world of the mind. In particular, the mind of Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage, an environment so hostile that it has been known to drive MRI scanners insane. It’s time to Mattsplain.
You have another new word you want to introduce this week. •It’s not specifically about the direction of the show, but while we’re on mental health issues. •We’re all familiar with terms like sociopath and psychopath. •Many of us work with one or the other. I know you do Jeff…
Are you talking about yourself? •I still maintain that that doctor is the real psychopath, and he has no business diagnosing anyone. •Would I be doing this show if you weren’t all my playthings? •Not everyone can have empathy. Nothing strange about it.
Your new word? •Ah. I was ranting again, wasn’t I? •Yes, well we’ve been talking a lot about AI on the show for the last couple of years. •So, as I was looking at the stuff for today’s show I was wondering if the AIs we are building and that will eventually build other AIs could one day develop mental problems.
Like the crazy AIs in science fiction? •I just watched the new Emma Stone show Maniac which is partially about an AI suffering from depression and mostly about not very much. •One thing we’ve talked about a huge amount, is how machine intelligence differs from human intelligence. •But you have to wonder if one day there will be a bunch of algopaths, that’s my new word by the way, sentient machines with serious behavioural issues, seeking treatment.
Couldn’t we just reprogram them? •As we’ve brought up on the show before. •If we have self-determining machines, those machines may have many of the rights that we enjoy. •So reprogramming might not be an option. •I can imagine a future where there is a body of healthcare professionals, human or machine, that deals with the mental health problems of AI and algorithms.
Science is building an impressive toolkit that is enabling us to fight back against Evolution’s darker urges. How? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Episode Excerpt: You made up a word for today’s show… •Yes. We’re all about the clickbait on this show. •Hold tight for 7 reasons why evolution will kill you.
Really? •No, of course not. •But we are talking about evolution. We're going to talk about the ways that Evolution targets us and some other ways in which we are starting to fight back.
You’re not going to talk about the giant ants again are you? I keep telling you that Them! is a 1950s B-movie not a documentary… •You clearly don’t spend enough time on the Internet. •Look at the way that the local wildlife population has survived the Chernobyl disaster. •Is it really so far-fetched that radioactive tests after WW2 resulted in giant ants that roamed the New Mexico desert neighbouring towns? •You’ve got to start thinking more clearly Jeff. Forget your obsession with the lamestream media. •Take off the blinkers, open up your mind.
I’m not hopeful about today’s show. When Charles Darwin wrote the Origin of species, do you think he ever imagined, well, you? •Darwin was oddly interested in finches and pigeons. •My face is often recognised as kittens by AI but I think I’m probably a fair distance away from what he imagined as natural selection.
Does Unnatural selection exist? You may be a prime example. •As with a lot of things in life: only in Star Trek. •One of the early episodes of Star Trek TNG – Season two, I believe–featured a bunch of genetically altered children whose immune systems altered the environment around them and caused normal humans to rapidly age and die. •And of course that’s the easiest way for one species to conquer another. •Not with anything so complicated as war, but by infecting them with pathogens that they can’t fight.
In a world where money really does grow from trees, are we ready to throw it away and embrace a completely cashless society? Who controls the money if we do? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Wipe your feet and mind your head as we enter a universe where mindless code decides whether we live or die. A dystopia on your doorstep? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Show Links: https://medium.com/iotforall/the-difference-between-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-and-deep-learning-3aa67bff5991
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/aug/29/coding-algorithms-frankenalgos-program-danger
Excerpt: About three months ago, Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage claimed that we will soon be living in the Age of Amazon. A world ruled by mega-companies who control every facet of global trade and our economic activity. Has he had a change of heart? Has the algorithm running his thought process short-circuited? To find out, we’ll have to let him Mattsplain.
Now, we’re not actually in the studio together today. •No. Your new studios have this really amazing facial recognition software. •And they won’t let me in. I’ve had this problem for years, but for some reason facial recognition software identifies me as a basket of kittens. •So, I’m recording my side of the show from kulturpop’s bunker inside a dormant volcano.
So, you’ve changed your mind about Amazon and the mega corporations? •Would you be annoyed if I started yet another episode by saying yes and no? •I think it’s too early to say that I’m wrong about Amazon, just as it’s too early to say that I’m right. •What I’d like to do today is introduce new variables into the argument, and listeners can draw their own conclusions from there. •You mentioned algorithms in the introduction, and that’s really what I’d like to talk about today. •The intersection of our digital world, these massive IT powered corporate colossi and the uncertain growing power of code.
This is something that you’ve come back to quite often this year. The idea that we’re under threat from machine intelligence. •Yes. And thank you for not calling it artificial intelligence. •It’s probably quite important to make a distinction here. •We often use terms like artificial intelligence comma machine intelligence, Machine learning, deep learning and others, quite interchangeably. •I’m not going to go into that side of the argument too much today. •If you are a bit confused about the terminology, there’s an on medium.com by a guy called Calum McClelland called the difference between artificial intelligence, Machine learning and deep learning. •It’s a quick read and a great primer. •We’ll post the link with the podcast.
Why is it important that I didn’t call it artificial intelligence? •Because we’ve had various people calling artificial intelligence threat over the last couple of years. •Including one of our old friends, the man who likes electric cars and space rockets and makes weird comments about cave rescuers. •If you’ve been following this show this year, you’ll know that it’s not artificial intelligence in itself that concerns me. •It’s the fact that the AI or machine intelligence or deep learning – whatever you want to call it – •It’s the fact that the systems we have now are not intelligent enough that worry me. •Systems that we are releasing into the world that have an incredible ability to affect our lives but have no ability to reason or to question.
A bit like a robot army in one of those old 1950s B-movies? •Yes. I’ve mentioned on the shows already, I’ve been reading a lot of Philip K Dick’s short fiction this year, which is absolutely breath-taking for its scope. •You can see that a lot of it Is him indulging in thought experi
It’s Silly Season. The time of the year when the news goes on holiday. Which means it’s time to catch up on some of the really cool tech and science stories we missed like fiery webcams and livestreamed fatbergs.
Matt's Notes: This is the quiet time of the year for news and developments. It’s been such a crazy year that we’ve had a lot to catch up on. This week, I’m going back to some of the smaller stories, such as the discovery of a new shape, the scutoid, and its implications for building human organs. And why fatbergs, for all their colossal disgustingness, may be the cultural symbol of our times. On with the episode!
Transcript Excerpt: Are we in the Mattsplained equivalent of a desert? •That is normally the case most years. •We get to a point where, sometime during July August and really isn’t anything to talk about. •This is been such a tumultuous and topsy-turvy year that the stories have kept on coming. •And as you said, this year I’ve had more to rant about than I’ve had time to rant. •The silly season has been a chance to catch up. •And as we doing on and off of the last few weeks I thought we’d catch up on some of the smaller stories and developments that have come out recently.
We have a topic, or topics, I suppose. That means it’s time to Mattsplain. •Let’s start with some environmental stories. •We don’t cover nearly as many environmental stories on the show as we probably should. •One caught my eye this week was from the wildfires that are raging across California. •The one that that Pres Trump says that because there is enough water fight them and the California fire service says comma Nonsense, of course there is. •One of things things I can talk about on the show is technology doesn’t always get used for the purpose for which it was originally designed.
This is the story about Daniel Perez, who livestreamed the wildfire raging outside his home? •Yes. Perez lives in a small town outside LA. •When the police issued a mandatory evacuation order for the town, the last thing Perez did was to turn on his home security cameras and connect them to the Internet before driving over to a relative’s house in a safe zone. •As the Flames reached the backyard of this house in the middle of the afternoon, the dead smoke activating the night mode on his camera, Perez was able to watch as the blaze was brought under control. •What was really nice about the story was that once the place was under control, Perez notice that his door bell camera was capturing a fireman walking up onto the porch of his house. •And is able to use the intercom to talk to the fireman, reassured him that the house was intact, that the flames had damaged garden but not the house itself, and Paris was able to thank the man and his colleagues for their hard work.
We often talk about our tech infrastructure being very delicate. This story shows another side, that it’s robust enough to work during a disaster. •That’s the weird thing, isn’t it? •Wildfire is a very very strange creature. •I won’t bore you all the details of our story I read about to have a type of roof you have often determines whether or not your house gets burned out during world, •I can only guess here, but I’m assuming that either the web coverage came along overhead cables along streets that were protected by the firemen or they were underground and similarly protected. •And Not just the Internet, obviously the power was still running even though the town was surrounded by flames. •And it’s not the first time this has happened. Back in 2016 another guy in the US watched his house burn to the ground over his WebCam. •In this instance, I thought it was nice that somebody was able to thank the fireman in person for saving the home. ⠀
Are we heading for a one world order of powerful corporations? Will commercial brands dictate the popular culture of the future? It might not be what you expect. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Episode Excerpt:
As the world becomes increasingly wired, we often hear that culture is becoming more uniform and homogenised. Are we really heading for a one world order? Someone who’s not sure, but is pretty certain that it may not be the one world we imagine, is Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage. It’s time he Mattsplained.
Is it true you’ve had Jeff locked up for the crime of sarcasm? •In a fake news world those of us with power can bend the judiciary to our will. •Last week, Jeff said some horrible things about me. They may have been true but I choose to call them untrue. •So, he’s way this week: I’ve had him locked up for a week to teach him to be more polite.
I assume this has some link to the show? •You know what they say about assuming. •But yes, there is a link. •Nobody seems to know which way is up, right now. •True is false. Green on red. Orange is not the only fruit. •We are living in this weird and uncertain age where no one knows the rules. •It’s like we’re futuristic and medieval at the same time. •On social media, our lives are there for everyone to see. •But IRL we’re walled up in castles, behind all kinds of physical and mental barriers.
How is this leading us to a one world order? •Conspiracy fans are more than familiar with the new world order. •That’s not what we’re talking about today. •As you mentioned in the intro, people are starting to wonder whether Digital technology is actually pushing us towards more singular vision of the world around us, rather than allowing us to share and celebrate the differences of cultures around the world.
We’re talking Amazon and Facebook, rather than a sinister plot to take over the world? •Precisely. Strange thing is, it’s possible that they could end up being same thing. •No conspiracy, but power still concentrated amongst a handful of companies by virtue of their size. •We did a show on Amazon and a few weeks back, in the company really is poised to become this global trade monolith. •Along with the Alibaba group based in China, these two companies are starting to carve out a niche for themselves where almost all of our trade touches them at some point. •Whether it’s an online payment, an app using cloud services or something we buy, it’s quite incredible the number of the companies and products we use in our daily lives that have some direct or indirect connection to companies like Amazon and Alipay.
But you’re not sure that this is where the future is heading? •A lot of today’s show was actually a bit of a thought experiment. •Usually when I do these shows I’m quoting from lots of sources, or at the very least a couple of websites. •A lot of them to talk about today’s conjecture. •That’s one of the best things about futurism, you look at the information you have today, he hope that you handle on what’s going to happen tomorrow and use that to project or predict what’s going to happen in 10 or 50 or 100 years time. •So I can’t cite any particular studies to back up what I’m about to say, •but if I’m on track, I think a lot of people Will be researching this very soon.
Biotech conjures images of cloning, lab meat and mind control. But biotechnology has been fuelling humankind’s progress for thousands of years. Today we look past the fear and celebrate the promise. It’s time to Mattsplain. It’s time to Mattsplain.⠀
Excerpt: Biotech is one of those words that’s often thrown around – like blockchain – but that mean very little to most people. •That analogy with blockchain is a really good one. •People often imagine that topics like biotech and block chain are easily definable, like say artificial intelligence or the Internet. •Biotechnology especially is extremely broad. •That’s one of the reasons that we don’t talk about it here too often. •It tends to pop up more often on our geeks squawk show, because there will be a news item about a specific piece of biotech but that technology may not be big enough for us to consider on this show.
Presumably that means that there is some enormous breakthrough in the Biotech sphere did you want to talk about today? •That would be the way that we normally go about it. •people seem to respond very well to the hit-and-run format of last week’s show, I thought that today we could try and explain a little about what biotechnology is. •And then have a look at some of the stories and breakthroughs that we’ve seen in that sector this year.
Just to be clear, we are not going to be talking about really intelligent Machines that start building organic bodies to host their minds while they wipe out humanity? •No.
Or enhancement technologies that create a race of superhumans who will enslave everyone else? •No. •Look, every technology has its Dark side. •And often when we hear reports about biotechnology, it’s those negative aspects that gets stressed. •So we’ll hear stories about the dangers of crisper DNA editing. •Or cloning or stem cell research. •Or, as we talk about a lot on this show, the gradual convergence of intelligent machines and humans.
You mean where humans have so many mechanical replacement parts and machines have so many organic parts that it’s difficult to tell which is which? •Yes. Now, I generally take that nightmarish and negative tone because I’m trying to demonstrate how extreme the result of this technology could be if we allow it to spread unchecked. •It also might be that that is exactly the future that you would choose. •As we mentioned in a previous show, a billionaire’s nightmare might be a poor person’s paradise. •So, if I come onto the show and paint a picture of a future of teddy bears, cotton candy and infinite episodes of Star Trek, then people may look at the world and think the future’s going to be great and stop bothering to look around them. •With biotechnology we so often see the negative portrayal, that the truly incredible advances in this sector get overlooked.
Today we’re going to speed through a bunch of the questions that Matt gets asked most often. What do the Facebook and Twitter share price falls mean? Should I invest in crypto currency? Where’s my ray gun? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Excerpt from Transcript: Because he’s got a one track mind – a recent show on GPS being a good example – we usually tackle one topic at a time on Mattsplained. That generally means there are more things we can’t cover than we can talk about. Today we’re going speed read our way through some of the topics Kulturpop’s Matt gets asked on a daily basis.
It sounds a little less depressing than what we do most weeks. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Will today be less depressing than what we do most weeks? •No. Covering more topics means I can scare even more people than usual. •I’m hoping it’ll be like watching a Tony Robbins lecture backwards. •You’ll feel a lot more scared and insecure by the end. •I’m going to jump straight in and ask the first question myself, because I’ve been peppered with it this week. •Does the recent fire sale on Twitter and Facebook shock pose any great problems?
Does it? •For investors, yes. They’ve lost money. And while those stocks may not dip too much further – I’m not an analyst, you’ll get better advice from the Morning Run crew than from me on that – I don’t know if they’ll soar again in quite the same way. •It doesn’t seem to be the start of a tech sector rout. Apple’s quarterly announcement was very strong, indeed. Even if Huawei now makes more phones than Apple. •But most of us aren’t Facebook or Twitter investors. That’s a really small number of people. •The majority of us, literally billions of us, as far as the markets are concerned, we’re just losers. I mean users.
What do you think it means for users? •If you look at it that way round: not very much. •Our day to day use of these services will continue exactly the same. •The real question is: what does it mean to the people governing those companies? •If I was them, I would be scared.
Full transcript at http://www.kulturpop.com/pods/
Bad ideas. Technology creates at least as many of them as it does good ideas. What happens when the bad ideas slip through and the good ones drift away? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Excerpt from this episode: Problems. The things that science and technology are supposed to solve. That the solutions are themselves problems is not an original thought – which is good, because Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage isn’t very good at originality – but are we slipping into an era of bad ideas with great execution? I don’t know. I’m not sure I care. But someone does and he’s here to Mattsplain.
You’ve been a bit under the weather this week? •That’s right. Nothing major – bit of a cold. •But it does mean there’s a couple of small changes to the show. •Instead of 20 mins of unrelenting misery punctuated by a couple of jokes, this week we just have the misery. •My SOH is the first thing to go when I’m feeling sick Play Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0QWspt6PLE (0m06s to end) •Well, that’s all the production crew gone. •Jeff, you still here?
I’ve been doing this for too long to get spooked because you’re feeling grumpy. I believe we’re starting with librarians. Not often we do that on Mattsplained. •That’s true. People don’t make an obvious link between libraries and technology, so they don’t often come up on this show. •But they did this week. •An economist at Long Island University wrote a piece for Forbes that suggested that the US replace its public libraries with Amazon.com run bookshops. •Before we get to that. Remember how you spent a lot of last show trying to stop me talking about the nitty gritty of positional navigation systems like GPS and LORAN?
This show originally aired on BFM89.9 in Malaysia www.bfm.my
It’s easy to jump on the new tech is better tech bandwagon. But what happens when that new tech is a little bit older and doesn’t perform as well as the technology it replaced? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Excerpt from this episode: If there’s one thing that we can be sure of on this show, it’s that the future is always better. Every week, Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage pops by to tell us that while the sun may not come up tomorrow, it’ll be back eventually. Even if humankind is dead by then. So, why, you may wonder, is he suddenly declaring that the old is better than the new? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Have you finally turned into that crabby old man obsessed with the good old days? •Yup. Things were good back then. •Back then, kids didn’t to go to school. •There was no point - most of them were dead from disease or stuck in chimneys or looms before they reached their teens. •You didn’t have to lock your doors because you couldn’t afford anything anyone would want to steal.
Weren’t people more neighbourly then? •Sure. What’s mine was yours because neither of us had anything. •We looked out for each other. •People would make sure you were really dead, or at least heavily sleeping, before they stole your boots. •And if you couldn’t afford a funeral, the local parish would give you a generous send-off by flinging your body into a midden pit. •Not like today. Where everyone worries about nutrition and clean drinking water and getting an education. •Life’s become too complicated. Let’s get back to basics. The important stuff. •Work. Steal some food. Die young and deformed.
Fun Friday folks. Can we assume from your sarcasm that not everything was better in the past? •Of course it wasn’t. But sometimes we go too far the other way and get caught up in some shiny new thing rather than sticking with something that’s less exciting but works really well.
This show was originally broadcast BFM89.9 in Malaysia. www.bfm.my
Science. It’s tricky stuff. Just as you think you’ve come to grips with nature’s mysteries, a quantum physicist fires you into another dimension. Should we stop worrying and let Schrödinger’s cat out of the bag? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Is Star Wars undermining the Internet? Has hate speech undermined the mainstream? Could a licence to surf could bring us back from the Dark Side? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Excerpt: Masculine inferiority. It’s something that Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage has been accused of all his life. But until last week, he thought it was just him. Now, the massed ranks of Star Wars Ultras have broken cover to try and force their views, Empire-like, across the Internet.
Confused? You will be. It’s time to Mattsplain.
The fanboys should be happy today: we’re talking about Star Wars. •Less happy than you might imagine. •The fan boys very much in our crosshairs this week, as well as is everyone else who thinks the Internet is the sole preserve of their point of view. •Everyone knows that the Internet is reserved for my point of view. •And when that POV is interrupted, I have to conjure up these 20 minutes sermons to bring everyone to heel.
You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you? •I’m happy to see that your holiday has improved your mood. •And people call me uncle angry. •I am full of myself. But that’s not what I’m trying to do here. •I’m just trying to prove a point. Everyone thinks the Internet is for them and that anyone who dares to disagree with their opinion is attacking them. •Or rather, threatening that little piece of the Internet they call their own.
And what does Star Wars have to do with any of this? •I’m not sure if you caught this because you been away. •And I’m not sure how long this post has been going around. •It’s a manifesto purporting to be from The fans of Star Wars, asking Disney to stop its campaign of perverting the franchise to further a socio-political agenda of inclusion that promotes masculine inferiority.
Yeah I saw it… •I’m not quite sure how having strong female characters equates to masculine inferiority. •Also not quite sure how promoting different sexes genders and races upsets anyone in a fictional universe populated by creatures like Jabba the Hut, a cross between a slug and a lump of faecal matter that somehow manages to be more disgusting and offensive than either. •I consider myself to be a Star Wars fan, and I happen to like where the franchise is headed. •Anyone who is flabbergasted by Luke Skywalker’s transition to cantankerous old goat, obviously hasn’t met a lot of old people and thinks that they really are like the old duffers in the Werthers Originals commercials.
You’re definitely going to be like Luke. You don’t even have to get much older. •Oi. Respect please. •People might be wondering what relevance this has as a topic for our show.
I think our listeners gave up trying to connect your dots a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… •Bonus Star Wars points. •We’ve heard a lot of talk of the last few months about how the Internet is being weaponised by countries and companies with an agenda. •But we can’t blame what’s happening online entirely on external actors and agents. •You have people like the guys who put together the Star Wars memorandum, and I’m guessing are mainly white males. •And quick note to those guys: Star Wars is a global franchise, when you look at the population of our planet and I’m guessing the population of the wider universe. The majority of those people aren’t white or male or probably even human.
Does society have the tech visionaries it deserves, or are we looking in all the wrong places? It’s time to Mattsplain.
Is technology already beyond our control? Is Skynet waiting for its opportunity to strike? Is humanity facing techno obsolescence? Only the machines know. It’s time to Mattsplain.
What could be more fun than a pink pineapple? We go inside the weird world of GM superfoods. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Is the world turning its back on technology? If rats can make sleds, why should we throw centuries of progress. Don’t lose hope. It’s time to Mattsplain.
While politicians around the world play sport over the rights to publicly grill Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook’s executives, one company seems to be Teflon coated in this age of data scandals. Are we heading for Amazon’s Age of Empire, wonders Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage. Yes, It’s time to Mattsplain.
For transcripts of the shows and more information go to www.kulturpop.com
Remote control cockroaches, DNA tracking and cloud incarceration. The future is a strange place to visit. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Be Nice. It’s a simple idea. Why do tech companies find it so hard? It’s time to Mattsplain.
The Data decisions we make today could decide who owns our thoughts in the future. Don’t lose your mind. It’s time to Mattsplain.
The thrilling finale to our series on Big Data and automation.
Sign up for premium Mattbook services as Big Data morphs into Robot Assisted Data. Who is going to store your life? It’s time to Mattsplain.This is a follow up to, No Sex Please, We're Robots: https://www.bfm.my/ent-tt-msp26-no-sex-please-we-are-robots-matt-armitage-kulturpop
Confused about data, artificial intelligence and sex robots? You’re not alone. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Instead of fearing Skynet, we should be embracing it. A sentient control system might be the only thing that will keep the robots in check. It’s time to Mattsplain.
Instead of fearing Skynet, we should be embracing it. A sentient control system might be the only thing that will keep the robots in check. It’s time to Mattsplain.
The Facebook and Cambridge Analytica revelations continue to cause waves around the world,. As the #DeleteFacebook movement gathers momentum, users are discovering the extent of the data that the company has been harvesting.
Data companies are using sophisticated psychological techniques to manipulate and nudge our behaviour. #DeleteFacebook is no solution. We need to completely change the business model of online companies if we want to safeguard our personal information, thinks Matt.
Could a giant wall of ice be all that stands between us and falling off the edge of our planet? Does the sun shine down on us like a Hollywood spotlight. Probably not, reckons Matt. But he’ll try it out, anyway.
Bladerunner, Altered Carbon and Humans outline very different visions of a future where machines have replaced human workers. Which of those futures are we headed for, asks Matt, as he gets ready for the Thunderdome.
Air conditioning has had an enormous impact on modern society, from population migration to architecture to the warehouses that store The Cloud. But is it time we swapped energy intensive a/c for microclimate technologies?
Attitudes towards Silicon Valley are changing, with an angry sea of voices raging at their tone deaf behaviour and seeming inability to understand or tame the epidemic of fake news. Now is not the time to turn our backs on tech, argues Matt.
On the show Matt looks at a very simple question: Will the future be easier or harder for the next generation of jobseekers? Automation, robots and artificial and machine intelligence are doing incredible things for us as a species. But will they leave any jobs for the boys [and girls]?
On the show Matt & Polly ask: should we be sending junk into space, even if they are giant disco balls and convertible roadsters? What can you do when software breaks your car and no one can fix it? And is your email provider a window into your soul?
Episode Transcript:
Matt Hey Polly. I’m good. What have we got for everyone this week?
Polly Well, Matt. Sometimes it can be a struggle to find the right stories but this week it’s been pretty easy. I’m really happy with what we have today.
We’re going to be talking about satellites and the new space start up industry.
You have a story about our dependence on software; whatever that means.
And finally, we'll be talking about hotmail, a technology that is making humans, obsolete.
Matt Thanks Polly. We’ll be hearing more from Polly later in the show. After the break, I’ll be coming at you with the giant disco ball from space. Here on MX.
Show MEX0002 Jan. 26, 18 Segment 1
Item Shiny Disco Satellites https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/26/space-graffiti-astronomers-angry-over-launch-of-fake-star-into-sky?CMP=share_btn_link
I really don’t know what to think about this next story. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away with the shininess of new technology and forget all those old homilies like all that glitters is not gold. Or in this case, all that glitters is not silver.
The story itself is quite a nice one about national pride earlier this month the company in New Zealand called rocket lab launched a rocket into space. It had a payload of the usual commercial satellites and it was a big deal for the country, marking a successful first foray into the space business.
They’ve since come under a lot of criticism for including a large geodesic sphere amongst the cargo.
As I said I’m a little bit unsure about this story. On the face of it it’s quite cool, the sphere is called the humanity start, it’s about a metre across, it’s made out of carbon fibre and it’s designed to reflect light. And they’ve let it out into whatever part of the outer atmosphere it is that satellites inhabit.
So in effect it’s an artificial star. Which gets everyone’s Star Wars fantasies excited, even though it’s not a death Star. It has been designed to reflect so much light that it will be the brightest star visible in the night sky for the next nine months until its orbit finally decays and breaks up.
As I said the idea of having a giant disco ball in space is a pretty cool one and maybe one that can get the international space station going into party mode.
The problem with stories like this is that they really don’t stand up to closer scrutiny. Astronomers are up in arms because they’re already struggling with light pollution. And while they acknowledge that one little sphere won’t make a huge amount of difference, it sets a precedent for sending other silly things into space.Which is really something we have to avoid. There has been an explosion in Space tech start-ups over the last five years. There is so much investor money going into the field that it’s in danger of creating the classic tech bubble. It’s quite astonishing that companies are being founded on the basis of building satellites and paying for them to be delivered into space despite having no clear idea of what they’re going to be for and if they’re ever going to earn their money back.
It’s like we’re back in the early days of the.com boom. the Ethos is very much building first and find an audience later. The area of space surrounding our planet is already incredibly conges
Getting in shape can be a maze of pseudoscience, fads and frenzy. Matt’s Magic Diet won’t make you fit or healthy but it will make him a very rich man. Which would you choose, expert advice or the expertly chosen words of a flimflam merchant?
Could the era of free content be coming to an end? The tech companies may be close to harvesting all the data they need to power their AI-charged evolution. What will our role be in their information creating utopia, wonders Matt Armitage?
The weekend is nearly here. A tiny spot of optimism in a sea of workaday drudgery. And what better way to extinguish even those small hopes than to talk to Matt Armitage? Feeling Punked? Then it’s time to Mattsplain?
Check out the Mattsplained FB page for more information on the shows. If you have a start up or an SME and you think that Matt can help you, head over to his website, www.kulturpop.com where you’ll find information on Kulturpop’s consulting and mentoring programs.
It's time for another Mattsplained and this time, Matt Armitage wants to go where the sun don't shine. He promises that this show is purely X-Rated.
If you’re a techie or a geek you will probably have noticed that the 2018 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show was held in Las Vegas last week, although increasingly it’s with a sense of diminishing returns.
The show, which has been running in some form since 1967 and annually since the early 2000’s has come to dominate the consumer electronics industry, and certainly, in the ten years from 2005 to 2015, CES was the event for manufacturers: that one they couldn’t afford to miss. For consumers, it was something to look forward to in January: a way to get over those post Xmas Blues.
As I said, CES has dominated the consumer tech world for the last ten years. The last two years have show a marked decline in the show’s importance. Those were years when a smart hairbrush and an electric car that still hasn’t made it into production were part of the breakout news of the year.
This year continues the trend - Not a lot of big news from the show this year. It does seem that unless the show’s organisers can really pull something out of the bag for 2019 and beyond, there’s a very real chance that we have gone past the glory days of CES being the go-to showcase for the gadgets and gizmos we’ll all be buying up over the coming year. Which would be a shame. I’m a big fan of the show and trade fairs like this in general.
You might wonder why – as the kind of consumer technology that CES specialises in becomes more and more integral to our lives – that the show seems to be waning?
Partly it seems to be because technology is becoming too big for CES or any other single show. We’ve seen the evolution of CES: one year the smart home is the big thing. The next it’s robots. Then robot cars. But AI is upending that trend. As we build the Internet and communicability into every single device, everything becomes technology. Even the terrible ideas like smart juicers and salt shakers that track your sodium intake. When everything belongs at CES it’s hard to find the space or justify the expense. So, perversely, at the very time we should be celebrating the place of events like CES, instead it seems to be becoming increasingly irrelevant.
At the same time, the crowd-funding model has enabled smaller developers to enter the market, and because they are pitching directly to their target market, performing the not inconsiderable feat of convincing consumers to pay for something that may not have reached prototyping stage, let alone retail.
As well as allowing smaller players to fight against the big boys, it puts them beyond the rigid campaign cycle of the traditional retail sector. And it also gives them more freedom to maneuver. Instead of competing for air space in a crowded January announcement market, players both big and small can now decide on their own airtime and make their pitch more effectively.
We’re going to take a quick break. Stay around for more on CES.
Before the break, we were talking about CES, the ubiquity of AI and the Internet of Things, and the effect that the crowd-funding model is having on product release cycles.
Which brings us back to the big boys. A lot of the bigger manufacturers prefer to stage their own events where their hero status won’t be challenged. Where they can demonstrate their own eco-systems. And where everything can be stage-managed and controlled. Because, when they don’t do that = as this year has again shown, things can and do go wrong.
Those mistakes are far more manageable and a lot less glaring when the herd of journos is on the way to another of your brand’s keynotes rather than heading off to see a sex robot redefine the phrase non-erotic with a mechanical – in all senses of the word – striptease. And the last thing your brand wants to be is further down the pole than a robo-stripper, a fate that befell LG at when its home controlling robot Cloi gave up halfway.
LG’s
Last week Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage was happy. It was the first week of the year and his mince pie sugar rush had sustained him into the New Year. This week he wants to get serious and tell the tech industry what we expect of it in 2018. It’s time to Mattsplain.
It’s Friday. It’s 2018. It’s time to Mattsplain. Today Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage is here to tell us why we’ve got reason to be cheerful in the year ahead.
For part 1 of this podcast, click the following link:https://www.bfm.my/ent-tt-mattsplained-things-ive-learned-in-2017-part-1-matt-armitage-kulturpopLast week we heard about the things that made Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage sad in 2017. This week he’s promised we’ll all be happy. It’s part 2 of 2017, Mattsplained.
As we're approaching to the end of 2017, Kulturpop's Matt Armitage decided to share some of his learnings throughout the year. From the doom and gloom to the happy happy joy joy, we dive into Matt's mind about what has changed for him in 2017 and what he has learned this year. For part 2 of this podcast, click the following link:https://www.bfm.my/ent-tt-mattsplained-things-ive-learned-in-2017-part-2-matt-armitage-kulturpop
With the digital age we live in today, how does trust play a role in all this? Matt Armitage from Kulturpop explores the idea of how there is a new emerging framework for trust, as we place more and more trust in machines and less in human individuals.
Is it better to give or to receive? Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage believes that the best scenario is for you to give and him to receive. Anything else, apparently, is a waste of his time. Which means that his picks for Xmas are probably going to be little more than his own personal shopping list. I hate to say this, but it’s Xmas, Mattsplained.
After last week’s 7 Signs of Digital Happiness, Matt Armitage has decided he’s the Audio Buzzfeed. As the year comes to a close and we start to gaze morosely at the miasma of 2018, we’re looking at the next big thing, Mattsplained.
Ever wondered how he keeps the smile on his face and the skip in his step? Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage follows a plan. And it’s all his own. It’s digital happiness, Mattsplained.
If you’ve accidentally come into contact with the news over the past few weeks you might have noticed a series of apologies and admissions from tech companies that show them in less than their best light. From Mark Zuckerberg acknowledging that Facebook underestimated the manipulation of its site both during and after the US Presidential election, to huge personal data breaches from companies like US credit ratings giant Equifax. Today Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage is trying to Mattslpain the sickness he sees at the heart of our technology culture.
Last week, Matt Armitage got away with some ranting as Richard Bradbury stepped in. This week, Jeff Sandhu is back and is holding Matt to task. It's time to be optimistic about science so why can't we cure the common cold?
This week we have an incredible piece of technology. It’s cheap. It’s accessible. It’s scientifically proven. It’s the power of positive thinking. You might think Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage has been kidnapped by New Age hippies. But no, he says he’s of sound mind and he’s here, selling happiness. It’s optimism, Mattsplained.
Over the last couple of weeks Kulturpop’s Matt Armitage has taken us to what he considers to be heaven and hell. He’s shown us two versions of the future based on the same ideas and technology. One where technology extends freedom and prosperity to everyone and another where an elite has effectively enslaved the majority. But is there any value to us exploring these flights of fancy? Let’s get Mattslaining.
Last week Mattsplained the year 2222 and his fantasy of a perfect society, one he names, with his usual understatement, Mattopia. This week he wants to take us back to the future, but this time, it seems, the future isn’t so rosy.
It’s all change here on Fun Friday. We’ve got something brand new for you today. I know you’re expecting Matt Armitage to come on air to brighten up your day, just as he has every Friday for the past six years. Finally, It’s time for Matt and Tech Talk to say goodbye. Don’t worry, he isn’t going anywhere – god knows we’ve tried everything we can to get him off air. Today we’re rebranding. Just like a mangy old rat wearing a Savile Row suit, we’re back with… Mattsplaining! And our first topic will be Utopia!