Episoder
-
#ownyourdata with Brittany Kaiser
Whistle blower and data activist Brittany Kaiser, whose story is told in the Netflix documentary “The Great Hack”, joins Gareth and Ania on stage at Web Summit Rio. She talks about her latest initiative that will allow Brazilians to get paid for sharing their data.
RoostEdge – new SOEP sponsor
CEO of RoostEdge Eliezer Silveira Filho is on stage to tell us about how RoostEdge is connecting technologies and people, generating innovative, intelligent and high-impact solutions using Edge Computing and IoT, whilst also working with tech for good initiatives. We’re delighted to announce that we are partnering with Roost and you will be hearing more from Roost’s clients over the coming months.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Brittany Kaiser #ownyourdata
RoostEdge
Web Summit Rio
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
From Algorithm to Action: How AI & Automation are Redefining Business
In this episode, we dive into the booming technology scene in Brazil — now the 5th largest digital economy in the world. With over 260 million active mobile phones (more than there are people in Brazil!) and major investments in digital transformation, Brazil is rapidly becoming a global tech powerhouse. We’re joined by Alexandre Conceição, Strategic Business Executive Director, and Yan Sym, Data Science Manager, both from Qintess, a leading global digital consulting company rooted in Brazil’s innovation ecosystem. Tune in as we explore cutting-edge trends in AI and the future of digital banking.
The programme is presented by Angelica Mari and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Qintess
LinkedIn
InstagramAlexandre Conceição
Yan Sym
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Facebook
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Mangler du episoder?
-
Love, Lies & Digital Crime: The Global Web of Romance Scams
In this episode, we uncover the dark side of the internet where romance scams flourish across major technology platforms—and the heartbreaking consequences they leave in their wake. Victims are deceived by online personas, only to find themselves emotionally betrayed and financially devastated. But the story doesn’t stop there. Freelance journalist Emily Fishbein takes us deep into the criminal underworld operating in post-coup Myanmar, where trafficked individuals are forced into running these scams under threat and coercion. Emily, now a fellow with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network, shares findings from her pre-fellowship work featured in Al Jazeera and MIT Technology Review. This episode explores the intersection of technology, organized crime, and human vulnerability, shedding light on how digital platforms have become unwitting hosts to industrial-scale scams.
The Surprising Roots of Social Media in Ham Radio
Long before Facebook and MySpace, there was another kind of social media - the world of amateur radio. Celebrating 100 years since the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in 1925, we reveal how ham radio operators have been connecting, communicating, and innovating across the globe for a century - from disaster relief to space communication. A hobby rooted in analogue technology has evolved into a vibrant, digital, and community-driven space. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a podcast lover, or curious about the future of social connection, tune in to hear from broadcaster and radio amateur Jim Lee (G4AEH) as we decode the past, present, and future of this unique tech tradition.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Inside a romance scam compound—and how people get tricked into being there
Amateur radio services at the forefront
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Lifestyle and mental health - Nigerian startups empowering choice through tech
Buying electronic toys that speak your language or even a doll that looks like the proud owner is easy – that is if you’re white and speak English. It’s much harder to buy other ‘lifestyle’ products, for example, a child’s plate with Arabic writing on it, or a doll wearing a hiyab. Oyindamola Kazeem, realized this when she herself had children so she set up Hadiyang – the "one stop digital hub for Islamic products" in Nigeria. She was at Web Summit Qatar to expand her business to the MENA region.
Another Nigerian tech startup – “Howbodi” was also on a similar mission. Howbodi means “How are you?” in pidgin English and is also the name of an app and website that is using the latest AI tech, combined with human back up in the form of therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists to destigmatise mental healthcare in Nigeria. Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri and Zainab Kadiri are now looking for investors to finance standalone internet connected mobile mental health care booths, so people in rural areas can also have access to free mental health care.
This special edition was recorded at Web Summit Qatar in the exhibition hall. The audio quality is therefore different to our usual studio produced shows.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Hadiyang
Oyindamola Kazeem
Howbodi
Dr. May
Zainab Kadiri
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Kenya has a blood deficit and it’s especially urgent in places like the northwestern region of Turkana, where malaria, anaemia and violence are rife, driving up the demand for blood transfusions. The Ministry of Health is now planning to roll out technology to modernise blood transfusion services, extending the shelf life of blood and being able to automate the entire process.
The most detailed computer model of the brain ever built
The most detailed computer simulation of the human brain to date has been created. The model illustrates how the brain uses and stores energy. So far they’ve found that diet, exercise, and supplements may help mitigate the effects of aging on our brains. While the connection between physical health and brain health is not a novel concept, the depth of analysis regarding brain cell interactions, blood circulation, and blood chemistry provided by this model is unparalleled. This research has been published in Frontiers in Science, the leading open-access journal from Frontiers. The principal investigator, Dr. Polina Shichkova, tells Gareth more about the project.
GPS jamming on the up…again!
If you are a regular subscriber you might recall our show from last October discussing GPS jamming and spoofing. Recently, countries have been reporting an increase in the number of attempted disruptions to the radio signals used – these can impact aircraft operations, shipping, logistics, power grids, and any other sectors that depend on location or timing signals from satellites. Now the International Telecommunication Union has issued a joint statement urging countries to improve the security of these systems.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Kenya’s Blood Automation Plan
Modelling metabolism in the aging brain
Can we keep the brain energized as it ages?
To hear more from the authors, register for the complimentary virtual seminar:
https://events.frontiersin.org/aging-brain/fsci
Protect satellite navigation from interference, UN agencies urge
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
This week we have an AI-free show – instead we’re going to tell you about the latest tech in food packaging. Metalchemy is a startup that has created a biodegradable material designed to enhance the freshness of your food. Although this may not seem particularly groundbreaking, it is important to note that the material in question is at the cutting edge of nanotechnology.
This represents advanced chemical engineering, using silver nanoparticles to preserve food freshness.Metalchemy was the winning startup at the Doha Web Summit and CEO Federico Trotta joins us on the show.
Arab.org – clicking our support to NGO’s and charities
If you find that doing the right thing can sometimes feel like a challenging task, you will appreciate the platform we have on the show today. Arab.org serves as a convenient avenue for donating to charitable causes with just a single click. While this concept may not be entirely new, Arab.org distinguishes itself from typical fundraising websites. It functions as a hub for the NGO community, facilitating connections between NGOs and individuals who support their missions, while also streamlining some of their corporate operations. Ania met Arab.org founder Alexander Nehme in Qatar.
Branding – why getting our own digital brand is essential
It may feel uncomfortable when individuals advise you to "create your own brand," especially when so many people are now doing this online. Maha Abouelenein, a personal branding specialist and the CEO and founder of the global communications consulting firm Digital and Savvy, has authored the best-selling book "Seven Rules of Self-Reliance" and has some tips on
how to best market yourself online.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Metalchemy
Arab.org
Digital and Savvy
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Restoring US Government websites since Trump came to power
Since January 20th this year there has been a significant reduction of content on US government websites, following directives from the Trump administration to eliminate extensive data and resources, particularly those related to health equity, equity, diversity, and inclusion, or any other topics the administration considers excessively "woke." In response, groups of volunteers have come together to archive these websites before they become inaccessible. This effort is monumental, not only due to the vast amounts of data involved but also because of the technical challenges associated with backing up such large websites. Among the volunteers is Lauren, a dedicated research scientist who, despite her demanding day job, has been working late into the night on this initiative, alongside other public health experts, web developers, and Python programmers. Lauren is specifically focused on preserving information from one of the government's primary health websites, the CDC and she is on the show.
Innoora – the avatar communicating in Arabic with deaf people
A new avatar, which can ‘read’ webpages in sign language could help Arab deaf children across the Middle East and North Africa. Innoora is a startup that aims to transform communication for the deaf with AI-driven sign language translation, voice recognition, and emotion analysis. Ania met up with founder Basant Amr at Web Summit Qatar.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Restored CDC
Innoora
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Agritech in Uzbekistan: helping small-scale farmers recover from communist farming methods
Uzbekistan is tackling the many problems it faces in farming and agriculture with the help of technology. During its time as part of the Soviet Union, the country was forced to grow cotton which led to major environmental problems. The country has 5.5 million smallholders, many of whom are women. A new digital platform called Growz is creating tech solutions for smarter and more sustainable farming as well as allowing the farmers easier access to customers and suppliers. Murod Khusanov, the founder and CEO of Growz, was at Web Summit Doha and spoke to editor Ania.
Generating Power from Gravity
In the last of his series of reports from the Consumer Electronics Show, Jez Donaldson reports on a technology that generates power from Gravity – he’s on the show to explain how it all works.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Chhavi Sachdev.
More on this week's stories:
Growz
Jez Donaldson
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Myanmar tops the charts for the most internet shutdowns in 2024
India stands as a global leader in various sectors - technology, innovation, space exploration, and education in science and engineering. However, it has also consistently ranked first in internet shutdowns for six consecutive years. From 2016 to 2023, there were a total of 771 recorded incidents. According to the Freedom Law Centre India, a digital rights organization, the criteria for implementing these shutdowns are often lacking in transparency. Notably, in the past year, Myanmar has surpassed India, with the military regime responsible for 85 internet shutdowns, while India recorded 84. We check out the annual report on Internet Shutdowns from the digital civil rights NGO Access Now.
Glasses that improve the vision of patients with macular degeneration
200 million people worldwide have macular degeneration – a form of sight loss often associated with ageing. Now a US company say they have developed glasses that can improve their vision significantly. Jez Donaldson has been finding out more.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Chhavi Sachdev.
More on this week's stories:
Emboldened offenders, endangered communities: internet shutdowns in 2024
SolidddVision
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
The first African-born Arab woman to go into Space
Sara Sabry, is an engineer, citizen astronaut, and entrepreneur of Egyptian-Lebanese descent. In 2022, she made history by becoming the first Egyptian to journey into space during the Blue Origin NS-22 mission, as well as the first woman of African descent and Arab heritage to achieve this milestone. Additionally, she is the founder and CEO of the Deep Space Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing space exploration. In 2021, Sara completed a two-week simulation of a lunar mission and astronaut training program at Florida Tech, distinguishing herself as the first Egyptian woman qualified to conduct research in sub-orbital space. Sara spoke with Somewhere on Earth at Web Summit Qatar, in front of a live audience. More than 25,000 people attended the summit, where thousands of tech start-ups, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, were bidding for investments.
The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Sara Sabry
Sara Sabry at Web Summit Qatar
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Are teachers keeping up with their pupils when it comes to AI in the classroom?
A recent survey in the United States showed that more than 70% of students report using AI for their school assignments, even in the face of institutional restrictions on tools like ChatGPT. This finding comes from a study conducted by The Harker School, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The data shows that pupils are engaging with these LLMs more often than adults, suggesting that younger users are adapting to AI technologies quicker. But that begs the question are educators keeping pace with these developments? In a special edition about AI and the future of education Gareth and Ghislaine are joined by Mutlu Cukurova, a Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London. We also hear more tech for Good from CES in Las Vegas. The BeeKee Box is a classroom in a box that can be used where there is no connectivity.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington.
More on this week's stories:
Professor Mutlu Cukurova
BeeKee Box
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Recorded at Lansons Team Farner
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
AI can now sell your intentions – marketing your decisions before you make them
Machine learning is on the verge of commercialising your decisions even before you make them. New research shows that we are moving away from an attention economy to an intention economy as machine learning models, which can already imitate the way we write or talk, can now map previous activity onto future actions. Writing in the Harvard Data Science Review, Dr Yaqub Chaudhary, visiting scholar at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, and Dr Jonnie Penn of the University of Cambridge ask if AI predicting our intentions could be misused against us.
Geothermal Energy without the digging
Geothermal energy is going drill-free, using already available underground spaces, like car parks. Reporter Jez Donaldson met Margaux Peltier, Co-founder and CEO of Enerdrape, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company uses pre-cooled or pre-heated geothermal panels in walls, which capture heat from the surrounding concrete or the ground itself, making this energy renewable as no new heat is created. This is then redistributed around the building using a heat pump.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ghislaine Boddington.
More on this week's stories:
AI selling your decisions before you make them
Enerdrape
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Recorded at Lansons Team Farner
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link: https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Is Arabic another language that goes unchecked online?
A few weeks ago we reported on the almost impossible task of monitoring Kiswahili content online. This situation exposes millions of people to harmful and abusive content while the major social media companies continue to profit. In another report by the Centre for Democracy and Technology, similar conclusions have been drawn about Maghrebi Arabic – a language spoken by about 100 million people across western and central North Africa. Just like Kiswahili, monitoring Maghrebi Arabic is very difficult and current methods are completely inadequate. Dr. Mona Elswah is the lead author of the report on the Maghreb region and joins us on the show.
An AI that identifies prostate cancer
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has one of the lowest survival rates among major cancers. The absence of early symptoms and the lack of effective screening methods result in over 80% of cases being identified only after the cancer has metastasized and spread around the body. At this advanced stage, survival rates drop to below 10%. Treatment is available when detected early and this is where AI comes into the screening process. Jez Donaldson meets Dr. Logan Nye, a physician & computational scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, who is behind Galen Health, the company that’s designed the cancer detecting algorithm.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Moderating Maghrebi Arabic Content on Social Media
Galen Health – revolutionizing cancer screening with AI
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere
on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Is AI going to replace your job?
Is artificial intelligence a threat to your employment? If your profession involves machine learning or chatbot development, the outlook appears promising but for translators and some writing roles it’s not. Those are the findings of a study recently published in the Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organisation. Researchers analysed over three million job postings from a global freelancing platform since 2019. They identified which skills are being replaced, complemented, or remain unaffected by AI. Two of the authors, Dr. Fabian Braesemann from the Oxford Internet Institute, and Dr. Ole Tuetloff from the Copenhagen Centre for Social Data Science join Gareth and Ania on the show.
The World’s First Inclusive Digital Map
Jez Donaldson continues his search for the very best tech for good stories from the Consumer Electronics Show. This week he meets Brandon Biggs, CEO and Co-founder of XR Navigation (Audiom) inclusive map viewer. Using enhanced visual tech, audio and text it makes maps accessible to blind people, as well as those with other disabilities.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Winners and Losers of Generative AI
XR Navigation
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Podextra - how you can get a bit more of Somewhere on Earth...
Just a gentle reminder that we produce two versions of each show of Somewhere on Earth. There's the main show, which is available to everyone for free and there's an extended PODEXTRA edition where we delve a little deeper and chat longer to our guests - there are also no ads in this one. That's just $10US a month and you can cancel anytime - there's no tie in period. We welcome your support of any size, any time as without it we simply wouldn't be able to make the show.
You can also support us online - please do join, like, follow or repost - we appreciate every click and comment.
Thank you from the SOEP Team.
Facebook
Bluesky
Instagram
Threads
YouTube
LinkedIn
TikTok
WhatsApp: +44 7846 329 484
Subscribe to the PodExtra
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit our website:
Somewhere on Earth Productions
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Robobees – could they help solve world hunger?
A drone approximately the size of a thumb and weighing less than one gram is currently under development by a team at MIT. This team is focused on creating robotic insects that could serve various purposes, including functioning as pollinators in vertical farms—environments where crops are cultivated within tall structures designed for optimal growth conditions. The engineering challenge of designing such a tiny flying robot is huge. One major obstacle is replacing rotors with small, flapping wings. However, this approach presents its own difficulties, particularly that the wings tend to break at the hinge. The team at MIT have made some significant progress with this. Gareth spoke to co-lead author Suhan Kim. The research is published in the journal Science Robotics.
The latest tech for good gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show
Somewhere on Earth reporter Jez Donaldson has been to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This event is the largest of its kind globally, featuring the most recent advancements in technology and gadgets. Jez was on a mission to find tech for good. Over the coming weeks we will hear what he found. He starts with a company named OnMed, which is developing standalone hybrid telemedicine clinics that can be easily connected to a power source and the internet, allowing patients to consult with a real doctor via a screen.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Wairimu Gitahi.
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For the PodExtra version of the show please subscribe via this link:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Can Kiswahili online content be moderated?
It appears that 2025 will see a significant shift in content moderation practices, as Meta plans to eliminate independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram. This change may suggest a decline in standards, particularly in regions that have historically experienced limited online moderation. In many parts of Africa, small content teams have been tasked with overseeing entire countries or regions. Interestingly, while there are numerous content moderators in Africa, they are primarily employed as outsourced workers to assist with content moderation for major platforms based in the United States. These jobs are often mis-advertised too – with no warning
about the harmful content moderators will be forced to watch. A report by the Center for Democracy and Technology “Moderating Kiswahili content on Social Media” has looked at why it’s so difficult to moderate posts in Kiswahili.
The Strettons Podcast
The Strettons podcast proudly claims the title of the United Kingdom's inaugural dedicated village podcast. This initiative targets a collection of small villages located in the picturesque rural county of Shropshire, just next to Wales. While it may seem like yet another addition to the podcasting landscape—perhaps one you have already encountered and subscribed to—there is an intriguing technological narrative behind it, as shared by the presenters and producers, Sian Lovegrove and Pete Johnson who are on the show.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Wairimu Gitahi.
More on this week's stories:
Moderating Kiswahili content on Social Meda
More than 140 Kenya Facebook moderators diagnosed with severe PTSD
The Strettons Podcast
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your
podcasts or via this link:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on all the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
Twitter/X
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Capturing shooting stars with your doorbell cam
We’ve had the first meteor shower of 2025 – you may have missed it but your doorbell cam may have recorded it. The Quadrantids shower has captivated both amateur and professional astronomers, some of whom are now working together to find the meteors once they land on the Earth’s surface. When this occurs, there is a strong likelihood that the aptly named UK Fireball Alliance will identify them. This alliance consolidates images and videos from various sources, including doorbell cameras, dash-cams, security systems, and professional telescopes. The primary objective is to issue a comprehensive alert to scientists, indicating where they can locate the fallen meteors. Gareth met with Luke Daly, a lecturer in planetary geoscience at the University of Glasgow. He is also the treasurer of the UK Fireball Alliance and is on the show to tell us more.
EdTech Apps – are they any good?
The EdTech App market is worth billions of dollars a year but many of these apps are, in fact, counterproductive and may be causing more harm than good. That’s according to an Educational Technology researcher who has recently expressed her concerns in the journal Nature. Natalia Kucirkova, the Director of the International Centre for EdTech Impact and a professor at the University of Stavanger in Norway, is concerned that educational institutions, along with families, are squandering resources on apps that do not yield effective results. As she tells Gareth, better testing of these apps is needed, as is a certification process to identify those that are truly beneficial to children.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari.
More on this week's stories:
UK Fireball Alliance
Educational apps are worth billions. We need to make sure they work
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link for the PodExtra:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
Twitter/X
Bluesky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How to keep your data safe when protesting
The government of Georgia is set to deport 25 foreign nationals who were involved in protests that occurred late last year. This information has been reported by several news outlets referencing the Interior Ministry of Georgia. The demonstrations arose in response to the parliamentary elections held in the country. Considering the protests and the subsequent actions taken by the authorities, the digital rights organisation Access Now has issued a series of cybersecurity recommendations for individuals participating in peaceful demonstrations. During a protest, particularly if the situation escalates, it can be challenging to focus on cybersecurity when personal safety is at stake. Therefore, Access Now's guidance emphasizes the importance of securing one's devices prior to attending a protest. Much of the advice provided consists of fundamental digital hygiene practices that everyone should adopt, which is why we invited Access Now onto our podcast at the start of the year, a time when many are looking to establish positive habits. Mohammed Al-Maskati serves as the Director of the Digital Security Helpline at Access Now and is on the show.
New Year, New Tech Resolutions
The team discuss their New Year’s Tech Resolutions – and ask for yours in return.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Angelica Mari.
More on this week's stories:
Access Now – Digital Safety Tips for Peaceful Gatherings
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link for the PodExtra edition:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
BlueSky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Your favourite SOEP shows from 2024
Thank you for all your suggestions and comments; we have selected the most popular choices and put them together in our final show of 2024. From our special programme with Jimmy Wales, to the reliability of French language chatbots, we look at what you thought were our best bits of the year.
The PodExtra - The Creator Economy
This week we have a completely new episode for our paid for subscribers. Angelica Mari hosted a Podcast Live at Web Summit in Lisbon where she discussed the evolving landscape of the creator economy, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by content creators. She highlighted the importance of monetisation, the role of data, and the potential of immersive experiences in driving sales. But there's more to the creator economy - even though the push for more and more contact is great, ethical considerations (especially the need for authenticity and responsible use of technology), are vital to keep up trust with subscribers and clients.
The programme is presented by Gareth Mitchell and the studio expert is Ania Lichtarowicz.
More on this week's stories:
Somewhere on Earth
Production Manager: Liz Tuohy
Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz
Audio: Ion Minas Belesis at All is Joy Studios in London
For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or via this link for additional subscription extra material:
https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/
Follow us on the socials:
Join our Facebook group
Instagram
Bluesky
If you like Somewhere on Earth, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts
Contact us by email: [email protected]
Send us a voice note: via WhatsApp: +44 7486 329 484
Find a Story + Make it News = Change the World
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Se mer
