Tech Life

BBC World Service

Tech Life discovers and explains the ways technology is changing our lives, wherever we are in the world. We meet the people with bright ideas for rethinking the way we work, learn and play, and get hands-on with the products they dream up. We hold tech giants to account for their huge power to affect our lives, and ask who wins, and who loses, in the technology transformation. Tech Life is your guide to a future being made, and remade, at lightning speed in front of our eyes.

  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    TikTok world

    This week we're taking a global look at TikTok, and some of the problems the video sharing platform has been facing. Also on Tech Life, you want to keep in touch with your child, but is there an alternative to giving them a smartphone ? We hear from video gamers in South Africa. And a female tech boss from Brazil shares advice on how others can follow her success.

    Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn

    (Photo: The TikTok logo on a mobile phone screen. Credit: Chesnot/Getty Images)

    30 April 2024, 7:30 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    Humanoid robots

    We're looking at humanoid robots - the ones that look like us. They have arms and legs. But are they really that practical and useful ? And how might they develop in the future ? Also in this edition of Tech Life, you've heard of charging points for electric cars and bikes ? Well, next it's plug-in points for cruise ships ! We learn about Bitcoin halving. And tech is helping farmers in Ghana to grow more crops.

    Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producer: Tom Quinn

    (Photo: An image of Atlas, the Boston Dynamics robot. Credit: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images, and Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

    23 April 2024, 7:30 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    Fixing undersea cables

    We dive the ocean depths to find out how you fix undersea cables that keep us online. Also this week, the documentary that's programmed to have fifty two quintillion different versions. If you're planning to watch all of them you'll possibly need a coffee, so we look at the tech behind coffee bean roasters. And how do you enrich the tech lives of lemurs and parrots ? We speak to an expert.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn

    (Photo: Illustration of a submarine communications cable. Credit: Christoph Burgstedt/Getty)

    16 April 2024, 7:30 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    Space junk

    This week on Tech Life we are looking at the problem of space junk, the man-made debris hurtling around our planet. Could it threaten some of the everyday tech we all rely on?

    Also this week, don't you just hate it when stuff doesn't work? Are internet and social media outages becoming more frequent ? A doctor in Argentina has created a video game to help calm the nerves of children facing a hospital operation. And what weighs three tonnes and is the size of a mini-van ? It's the world's largest digital camera.

    Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn

    (Photo: A NASA illustration of space debris around Earth. Credit: Nasa/Getty)

    9 April 2024, 7:32 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    Predicting the future of tech

    The internet plays an important role in most of our lives today. What will it, and other tech, look like in the future ? We take a long view with a veteran of the tech industry. Also on Tech Life this week, some of the biggest social media platforms have been accused of obstructing information on abortion and reproductive healthcare in developing countries. And health tech helps to combat child malnutrition in Africa.

    Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn

    (Photo: A photo of a computer taken in 1982. Credit: BBC)

    2 April 2024, 7:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 26 seconds
    Charging electric bikes and scooters

    Electric bikes and scooters are popular. But charging them can be inconvenient, and occasionally risky. We look at various approaches to charging batteries around the world. Also this week, our reporter Marc Cieslak meets schoolchildren involved in a project to introduce them to artificial intelligence and programming through skills acquired playing chess. And we try out the next generation of Bluetooth connectivity.

    Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Alasdair Keane and Tom Quinn

    (Photo: Charging an electric bike. Credit: Henglein and Steets/Getty Images)

    26 March 2024, 8:30 pm
  • 26 minutes 29 seconds
    Tech Life meets Spot the robot

    There are hundreds of former nuclear reactors around the world, which are harmful for those trying to decommission them. That's where a four legged robot called Spot comes in and Tech Life have been to meet it. Also in this episode; the impact of auto-correct constantly misspelling names and how scientists are using AI and tourist boats to learn more about whales.

    Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Alasdair Keane

    (Picture: Spot the robot at a decommissioned nuclear plant /BBC)

    19 March 2024, 8:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 9 seconds
    Mobile phones

    What do you look for when buying a mobile phone? And what do you do with your old phone? Have you thought about trading it in and recycling? Your needs might vary, depending upon where in the world you live. We explore the options. Also this week, find out about the digital repatriation of historical artefacts.

    (Photo: A pile of mobile phones. Credit: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)

    12 March 2024, 8:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 20 seconds
    Exploring space

    Zoe Kleinman visits a satellite earth station from the era of the first moon landings, and a spaceport developing horizontal rocket launches. Find out how tech is being used to communicate deep into space, and launch rockets from jet planes. Also on Tech Life, cyborg jellyfish could soon be swimming the ocean depths, providing valuable data to scientists. And an AI-generated internet radio station keeps you up to date with non-news.

    PHOTO: Zoe Kleinman at Goonhilly Earth Station. Credit: BBC.

    5 March 2024, 8:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 25 seconds
    Tech Life in Barcelona

    MWC in Barcelona is a big global mobile phone industry event. Shiona McCallum is there for Tech Life, looking out for new tech and innovations which could impact our lives. This year, wearable tech is attracting alot of attention. Also in this edition, we want to know your top tips for fixing tech problems.

    (Photo: Shiona McCallum tries the AI Pin at MWC in Barcelona. Credit: BBC)

    27 February 2024, 8:30 pm
  • 27 minutes 20 seconds
    Detecting audio deepfakes

    Voice cloning is becoming so sophisticated that even live phone calls can be generated by machine. Is it possible to protect yourself ? Mouthguard technology is monitoring the hardest tackles on rugby players - our reporter gives it a try. Also in this week's Tech Life, we look at tracing your family tree with tech. And hear about winter-proof long-distance drones delivering supplies in Norway.

    PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images/demaerre

    20 February 2024, 8:30 pm
  • More Episodes? Get the App
ยฉ MoonFM 2024. All rights reserved.