Fast Forward takes listeners on a thought-provoking and enlightening journey through six podcasts written and presented by Ghislaine Boddington.
This international series explores the transformative shifts that emerging technologies will bring to our bodies, minds, and behaviours.
Podcast | Fast Forward: tech past, tech future
Each episode features engaging conversations with global experts, delving into the past, capturing up-to-date knowledge, and unlocking future visions. From the exploration of digital realms and the power of avatars to the empowerment of women in gaming and the impact of technology on family dynamics, the series covers a wide range of fascinating topics. It also delves into personalised health data, the evolution of cyborg advancements, and the importance of diversity in the tech industry. Fast Forward Season 2 explores how emerging technologies will shape our lives and the world around us.
Trailer:
Episode 1 – The Metaverse Blend – hyper-enhancing our hybrid future.
Fast Forward Season 2’s inaugural episode focuses on the digital realm, exploring the creation of individualised avatars that shape our virtual identities and self-expression. We examine how these virtual representations empower us to express ourselves in unprecedented ways. We delve into the fascinating world of digital fashion futures, while also uncovering the collective power of avatars in collaborative groups within virtual worlds, particularly focusing on the dynamic participatory realm of e-sports.
Guests:
Michaela Larosse from the digital fashion house, The Fabricant, Netherlands
Professor Andy Miah, Chair of Science Communication & Future Media at the University of Salford, UK
Episode 2 – Women in Gaming – empowerment leads to engagement.
We review the history of gender representation in the gaming industry and the exhilarating transformations happening today. Join us as we embark on a captivating exploration, uncovering the evolution from the underrepresentation of women and non-binary individuals in gaming to the inspiring tales of change that are shaping the landscape. From a visionary young woman empowering a vibrant gaming community in Saudi Arabia to a seasoned LGBTQ+ advocate reflecting on the evolution she has witnessed throughout her career, we reveal the pivotal role of encouragement and inclusivity.
Guests:
Ghada Almoqbel, CEO of GCON, the girls’ convention for game developers and women in gaming in Saudi Arabia
Jennifer Donahue, Head of Publishing & Marketing at HiDef in California, USA
Episode 3 – Telegram to Telepresence – is the family being swept away on a digital tidal wave?
We delve into the present-day concerns surrounding data transmission within our homes and its profound impact on parental care. Discover the widening generation gap in social media understanding, where younger individuals, including children, become pivotal knowledge figures in the home with their extensive knowledge of online environments, trust, and risk. In this episode, we glimpse a future where haptic and touch technologies seamlessly merge with our digital lives, reshaping the once-protected home environment and offering virtual social tactile experiences. Join us as we explore future etiquette, evolving family dynamics, regulatory challenges, digital literacy, hybrid behaviours, and the emerging realm of collective haptic experiences.
Guests:
Sonia Livingstone, Professor of Social Psychology, London School of Economics, UK
Sly Spencer Lee, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Emerge, Los Angeles, USA
Episode 4 – Extended self – our future digital twins.
We consider the realm of Quantified Self applications, unlocking the transformative power of highly personalised body data. We navigate the diverse landscape of apps, online medical support, and synthetic data collection, enabling personalised approaches and longitudinal studies to address the complexities of ageing. Discover remarkable advancements that empower us to take control of our own well-being, while delving deeper into the critical issue of insufficient big data in women’s health and witnessing how innovative technologies are bridging the gap. Explore the concept of AI-led bio-digital twins, unravelling the extension of self and the many options and choices they offer. Prepare to expand your understanding of the boundless possibilities at the intersection of technology and our personal health journeys.
Guests:
Michael Geer, Co-Founder of Humanity.Health, a mobile app that gathers together our daily movement, nutrition, mind and recovery data, London, UK
Marijke Butkovic, a world expert in women’s health innovation and Founder of the global network Women in Wearables, London, UK
Episode 5 – Cyborg Shifts – embedding technologies into our bodies.
We focus on prostheses and implants and the convergence of these fields, leading to groundbreaking advancements in cyborg technology. Discover the evolution from simple pacemakers to digitally linked, extended prosthetics, while gaining a deeper understanding of proprioception and its intricate relationship with these augmentations. Get ready to glimpse into an evolving cyborg world where the very essence of humanity undergoes a fundamental transformation, as we explore the realms of robotics, the Cyborg Bill of Rights, and the intriguing possibilities of trans-species integration.
Guests:
Dani Clode, an upper-limb prosthetic, augmentation and product designer working with the Alternative Limb Project, University of Cambridge, UK
Neil Harbisson classes himself as a ‘Trans Species’ (Catalan-born British-Irish-American)
Episode 6 – STEM Women are changing the world.
In this final episode of the series, we look at the world of women in tech activism and networks, reaching across the globe. Discover the inspiring stories of young women like the Stemettes, who are dedicated to nurturing skills and fostering confidence among their peers, empowering them to thrive in STEM careers. Gain valuable insights from senior women, including a senior female cyber security lawyer advocating for global diversity regulation and compliance, and the CEO of the Stemettes, who passionately emphasises the need for tangible action now. Through firsthand experiences and unwavering support, these trailblazers inspire and empower younger women to cultivate resilience and confidence in their pursuit of success.
Guests:
Patricia Peck, CEO & Founding Partner of Peck Advogados, a Professor of Digital Law, and a Council Member of the Brazil Data Protection Authority, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, CEO of Stemettes, and a well-known expert on equity and inclusion, London, UK
With inputs from:
Carla Rosario
Maeve Stillman
Floriane Fidegnon-Edoh
Production and composition by Curtis James Simon James from Sounds Fancy
Techno-futuristic brand design by Paul Sizer
Video & animation by John Callaghan.
Direction and expert inputs by Susi O’Neill and David Emm
Fast Forward Season 2 is a Tomorrow Unlocked channel commission.
