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Tech Life

Bionic arms and robotic thumbs

Tech Life

BBC

Tech News, News, Technology

4.4221 Ratings

🗓️ 18 June 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Presenter Shiona McCallum is joined by technology reporter Paul Carter to look at some of the latest developments in artificial limb tech. Paul talks about his own personal experiences of trying out different prosthetics. Shiona interviews the youngest boy in the world to be fitted with a bionic arm, and his mum. Sierra Leone benefits from a prosthetics project. And would you want an extra robotic thumb ?

Presenters: Shiona McCallum with Paul Carter Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: A photo of presenter Shiona McCallum in the Tech Life studio with technology reporter Paul Carter. Credit: BBC)

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, so I'd like to tell you where you'll find more just like it.

0:05.6

I'm Izzy Lee Poulton, an assistant commissioner for BBC Sounds, which means I'm involved in the whole podcast making process.

0:12.2

Whether that's developing fresh formats or facilitating eye-catching artwork, I helped project manage all the details that make our podcast stand out.

0:19.7

At the BBC, we've got access to storytellers

0:21.9

and experts across a huge range of subjects. It could be psychologists, comedians, celebrities or

0:27.7

journalists, no podcast or day, looks the same here. So no matter what you like, check out BBC

0:33.3

Sounds. There's probably another podcast on there that you're absolutely love.

0:43.3

Hello and welcome to TechLife, the program exploring how technology is affecting your life,

0:48.9

no matter where you are in the world. This week, a special program on technology and artificial limbs. We speak to the youngest boy in the world to be fitted with a bionic arm.

0:57.7

A look at a robotic thumb that attaches to your hand.

1:03.0

So the third thumb is a extra robotic thumb that's actually controlled with my toes.

1:04.8

So you can hear it move now.

1:34.1

And Sierra Leone's multi-million dollar project in prosthetics to help amputees. This week there's someone else in the studio with me.

1:36.3

It's tech reporter Paul Carter.

1:36.7

Hello.

1:37.2

Hello.

1:38.6

Absolute pleasure to be here.

1:40.2

It's nice to have some company.

1:42.4

Welcome to TechLife HQ.

1:48.5

It's great to have you on the program. And there is a good reason that you're here, Paul. We're talking about prosthetics.

2:01.4

Yeah, so for context, I was born without lower arms or legs. And throughout the course of my life, I've used, tried, experimented with practically every type of prosthetic you could imagine.

2:05.9

So that's my kind of personal experience and my personal reason for talking about prosthetics.

...

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