PODCAST · technology
Think: Digital Futures
by 2SER 107.3
Each episode explores how today’s technology is transforming tomorrow — from our biology, habits, relationships, spaces to our place in the universe.
Episodes
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Would you make love to a robot?
Techno-sexuality. Digi-sexuality. I-dollatry and Robophilia are new sexualities made possible by technology. So who is behind these identities? And what’s the attraction? Featuring Dr Belinda Middleweek, Senior Lecturer in Journalism in the School of Communications at University of Technology...
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Musical Robots
Ya like robo-jazz? Featured: Dr. Richard Savery: Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF), Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature Produced and Presented by: Cameron M. Furlong Music: Shimon Aarhus perf. Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and Shimon (provided by Dr....
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The comeback of stem cells: why this time, they might work.
For decades, stem cells have been the technology that’s just around the corner. The medicine that would fix just about part of the body. But stem cell injections haven’t delivered on their advertised potential. Now, thanks to ingenuity and machine learning, they'll have a shot. Featuring Dr Jiao...
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Conscious AI and the Universe
What is 'consciousness'? Featured: Dr Mahendra Samarawickrama; Director of the Centre for Consciousness Studies, Director of the Centre for Sustainable AI Produced and Presented by: Cameron M. Furlong Music by Trev Lewis from Hagfilms, Drakensson, and TheoTer. Sourced from Freesound.org The…
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Is AI Art, 'Art'?
Where do AI generated imagery fall in the world of art? In September 2022, Jason M. Allen controversially won first prize in the Colorado State Fair's "digital arts/digitally-manipulated photography" competition. This event sparked a growing debate in the art world and on social media over the...
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Collecting Music in the Digital Age
All of us have our own relationship with music, for some it provides some background colour to the day, for others it’s an integral part of life. But technology has changed our relationship with music, both in how we consume it and how we collect it. While it’s easier than ever to access an...
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Preserving Video Game History
Advances in technology and art require a solid foundation of history in order to improve, progress and innovate. What happens when that history is tied up with copyright restrictions or only exists as an expensive artifact? With video games the highest earning entertainment products, can…
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Artificial Intelligence and Beer
Do you trust a robot with your beer? Featured: Doctor Nick Bennett: Senior Lecturer, School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Danielle MacDonald: Brewer, Sydney Brewery Produced and Presented by: Cameron M. Furlong Music by Trev Lewis from Hagfilms; sourced from Freesound.org. Outro music...
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3D Printing Stem Cells
Can a printer save a life? Featured: Professor Majid Warkiani: Biomedical Engineer, University of Technology Sydney Sajad Razavi Bazaz: Biomedical Engineer, PHD Candidate, UTS Produced and Presented by: Andrew Herlinger Music by Trev Lewis from Hagfilms, Drakensson, and TheoTer. Sourced from...
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Robot and Human Trust
Does your robot trust you? As research hastens to making Brain-Computer Interfaces between robots and human a reality, we ought to examine the cultural significance behind it. We must consider the definition of “trust” and how it can be applied to an interface between a robot and a human. We can...
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Hey Google, Is That a Fact?
What happens when you ask Google to tell you the truth? Featured: Associate Professor Heather Ford: Head Of Discipline Digital and Social Media, UTS Produced and Presented by: Lawrence Bull Music: Theme for Empty Stage by Luella Gren It’s never been so easy to access quick information – a third…
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A Kenyan Superhero VS Wikipedia
Just how representative is the world’s largest encyclopedia? Featured: Associate Professor Heather Ford: Head Of Discipline Digital and Social Media, UTS Produced and Presented by: Lawrence Bull Music: Ha-He by Just a Band The world’s biggest encyclopedia has a big problem. Female editors at...
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Fairness in Artificial Intelligence
Are the decisions made by AI really as unbiased as we think they are? Featured: Distinguished Professor Fang Chen: Executive Director of The Data Science Institute, UTS Doctor Ben Swift: Senior Lecturer, School of Computing, ANU Produced and Presented by: Andrew Herlinger Music by Trev Lewis from...
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Whiskey Sniffing Electronic Nose
For the last 5 years, Dr. Su and his team have been developing an electronic nose that can sense gas compound patterns in the air. The E-nose that they have developed has the capability to distinguish between different brands of whiskey, including smelling out counterfeits. However, the dream…
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The Gender Legislative Index
How can AI help in ensuring gender equality in legislation? Featured: Dr. Ramona Vijeyarasa: Senior Lecturer Faculty of Law, UTS; Architect of the Gender Legislative Index The Hon. Ruth Forrest: Member of the Legislative Council of Tasmania; Independent member for Murchison Produced and Presented...
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Being queer on dating apps
Most of our search for love and sex has been uploaded onto apps - for better or worse. What effect is this having on queer communities, and what are the experiences of queer people using these apps? Language warning Featuring: Paul Byron, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Communication, UTS…
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Empathy in the digital world
As technology and social media algorithms evolve faster than we can monitor them, how has our ability to empathise with others been affected? Featuring: Joshua Krook, PhD candidate, University of Adelaide. Dr Heather Ford, Head of Digital and Social Media, UTS. Brennan Hatton, CTO and co-founder…
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Navigating the fertility industry online
What are the experiences of women using technology to make a baby? And how are they navigating the fertility industry online? Featuring: Natalie Hart, donor egg recipient Professor Anita Stuhmcke, faculty of law, UTS Dr Lizle Oosthuizen, reproduction medicine specialist, Cape Fertility...
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Digital vaccine passports and mass data collection
In order to open up safely after two years of restricted movement, many countries are introducing COVID-19 vaccination passports. But how will this work? In this episode we look at the safety and privacy concerns of these technologies and consider how they should cater to the digitally...
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Streamers go dark over hate raids
In this episode we observe how online hate speech can result in real-life consequences. How gaming and social media platforms are failing to censor dangerous content. And pushback from the community. Featured: DK, content creator and gamer on Youtube and Twitch Dr Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, senior...
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Neurotechnology and the law
Technologies used to read and alter the brain are being introduced in courts around the world. But how will neuro-based evidence revolutionise the way we view criminals? Who decides who is a good citizen? And how do we create a future worth wanting and not merely inherit whatever future results...
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3D-printed housing in the face of climate change
As communities become increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, how are architects using 3D-printing to ensure buildings are energy efficient? Featured: Dr Kim Loo, western Sydney GP, NSW chair, Doctors for the Environment Associate Professor Hank Haeusler, Director of the…
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A billionaire space race
Amazon CEO and billionaire Jeff Bezos recently flew into space, days after billionaire Richard Branson made it into orbit. Space has always been a frontier for innovation, but what has been achieved so far, by the growing privatisation of the space industry? What risks are there? Featured: Kurby...
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A game to support dementia diagnosis
Dementia is a confronting disease, with many barriers to early diagnosis and lengthy diagnostic processes. Researchers are developing new technologies in the hopes of easing that process. Featured: Sheila and Dale Fernanda Tavares Vasconcelos Oliveira, PhD student, Faculty of Engineering and...
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A digital archive to support Indigenous repatriation
A huge repatriation effort has been ongoing for decades, in an attempt to return the ancestors and sacred objects of Indigenous people back to their homeland. We speak to two men who’ve helped develop a digital archive - to support that movement. Featured: Steve Hemming, associate professor,...
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How do we extract renewables minerals sustainably?
As we expand our mining of minerals for the green energy transition, we may harm the biodiversity of surrounding areas and cause other environmental consequences. How are researchers developing alternative technologies to extract metals like Lithium sustainably? Featured: Professor Rick Valenta,...
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Are new surveillance laws encroaching on privacy?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has jumped on the opportunity to expand surveillance laws following the success of Operation Ironside. But members of the cybersecurity community say new laws have been rushed and may encroach on individual privacy. Featured: Patrick Fair, commercial lawyer with...
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The ethics of genetic testing in IVF
As a parent, you would do whatever you could to ensure that your child has a good life. But what if you knew that your unborn child would have a condition that would severely impact their quality of life? What if you could, at the earliest possible stage, choose against this? Featured: Dr Peter...
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Are digital mental health services working?
Which groups of Australians are benefiting most from digital mental health services? And how are psychologists adapting their practice to incorporate these new tools? Featured: Richard Mason, Batyr Lived Experience Speaker Bethany Wootton, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, UTS...
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3D printing hearts, ears and skin
The technological capabilities of 3D printers continue to advance. In this episode, we explore the capability of 3D bio-printing, the printing of biological structures, such as heart tissue, bones, and skin. Could 3D printed heart tissue replace heart transplants in the future? What hurdles are...
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Automation and redefining work
Machines are beginning to replace human judgement and other cognitive tasks, not just physical labour, seeing millions of unemployed in coming decades. What will become of the unemployed masses? Idleness and depression? Or bountiful travel and leisure? And how will we distribute welfare equally?...
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NFTs and the future of digital art
How are NFTs redefining the art world? Are blockchain powered marketplaces empowering artists or harming the environment? Featured: Craig Blackmoore, digital artist, founder House of Blackmoore Jaysson Guerrero, senior research consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of…
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Google and ethical AI
Why has Google fired members of its ethical AI team? How pervasive are problematic algorithms in society? And who is holding developers of new technologies to account? We speak to leading AI researchers about current challenges facing the industry. Featured: Tiberio Caetano, Chief Scientist,...
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Online devices and privacy
Online devices are becoming ubiquitous in our lives. Some of them are convenient, or even essential- others are just fun novelties. But many people haven’t considered the security risk of, for example, having a camera connected to the internet in their home- or a doll that records their…
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1800-dial-a-government
They say that nothing gets things moving like a crisis. In this episode of Think: Digital Futures, we’ll take a closer look at how your smartphone is fundamentally changing the way we interact with government services. In today’s world of delivery food and Zoom meetings, should accessing…
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Sensing the future
Sensors, ever smaller and cheaper, can collect ever more nuanced sets of data. With that data, we can understand our world in ever more detail. That can mean cleaner air in our cities, more efficient water usage, or even saving a rainforest species.
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Farming futures
As climate breakdown makes farming an evermore unstable and unpredictable industry, technology is developing ways to maximise the efficiency of agriculture. This episode we look at how internet enabled devices, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are being used to improve farming...
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A constant drone
Drones are all around us these days... everyone seems to own one, for better or worse. But should we be more wary of these flying sentinels? While they've proven to be effective in some of our biggest challenges, like wildlife conservation, they also pose massive risks to our civil liberties, and...
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The fourth industrial revolution
We're living in an era of unprecedented change... just like previous industrial revolutions, our current one (well underway) is more than the sum of its technological advances; it's the incredible social change that goes along with it. Join former World Economic Forum advisor and author Nicholas...
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Predicting super bugs
Scientists have been warning the world about the rise of anti-microbial resistance for decades now- some strains of diseases like gonorrhea, tuberculosis and staph infections are almost completely resistant to even our most powerful drugs. A new project, headed up by the University of Technology...
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Block to the future
Blockchain, Bitcoin... maybe you switch off when you hear those terms. But the cutting edge technology, and all the exciting possibilities it raises, can be summed up in one word: trust. From making sure your coffee really is fair trade, to trading solar power hours with your neighbour…
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Online elections
As more of our lives move online, could our democratic rights also be exercised on the internet? Is voting from your phone or computer as safe as popping your ballot into a cardboard box on election day? This week we look at the ins and out of electronic voting- how it's used, and how it could be...
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Creeping capability
Since 2015, Australia has been developing a database of citizen's biometrics, to be fed into facial recognition software for the purpose of combating crime and identity theft. Most Australians are unaware of the scheme- but if you have a passport or state issued photo ID, your face is in this…
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A fair fight
The world's biggest tech companies are in a big fight... with an Australian organisation. The ACCC has presented a plan that will force Facebook and Google pay more for news content shared on their sites. It could save the dying journalism industry, but so far, they're not playing ball.
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How will tech affect our human rights?
In this special episode, we sit down with the Human Rights Commissioner Ed Santow. How does technology stand to affect our human rights? Facial recognition, AI, predictive policing... we discuss it all ahead of the AHRC report due out later this year.
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Can a hashtag save a life?
Social media has well and truly become a place of activism. With current COVID restrictions, that is now necessary, with public gatherings banned. How effective is activism online? Derided as "slacktivism", is there nonetheless real world results from our online stands?
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All quiet on the regional front
Regional news has been on the decline ever since the advent of the internet. COVID has exacerbated the decline sharply. Without a local publication, huge swaths of regional Australia are becoming "news deserts". As we turn more and more to social media for our information, what is the future of...
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The Gambling Bug
It doesn’t take much to realise that gambling is fast becoming part of our everyday. From the pokies, sports betting, online games and apps, gambling is everywhere and accessible at any time. While the temptations are manageable for some, for others they can be difficult to shake. In the time of...
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Is telehealth here to stay?
Telehealth has seen a rapid expansion since March, as the government scrambled to slow the spread of coronavirus. Medical professionals have welcomed the changes, and medical associations are calling for them to stay in place after the pandemic is over. So why did it take a pandemic to bring...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Each episode explores how today’s technology is transforming tomorrow — from our biology, habits, relationships, spaces to our place in the universe.
HOSTED BY
2SER 107.3
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Think: Digital Futures have?
Think: Digital Futures currently has 172 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Think: Digital Futures about?
Each episode explores how today’s technology is transforming tomorrow — from our biology, habits, relationships, spaces to our place in the universe.
How often does Think: Digital Futures release new episodes?
Think: Digital Futures publishes regularly with 172 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Think: Digital Futures?
You can listen to Think: Digital Futures on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Think: Digital Futures?
Think: Digital Futures is created and hosted by 2SER 107.3.
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