Summary
How do we cope when the tech we rely on stops working? This week we look at different types of blackouts . We explore the Bangladesh internet shutdown, which affected up to 170 million people for 10 days. We turn to South Africa, which experienced 15 years of daily power outages until very recently. Then to a country which still experiences blackouts now - Cuba. We meet the game developers who work even when the electricity cuts off.
Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producer: Imran Rahman-Jones Editor: Monica Soriano
(Photo: A red road sign saying "404". Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 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. |
| 0:37.8 | Hello and welcome to TechLife with me, Zoe Kleinman. If you're a regular listener, you'll |
| 0:42.1 | know that in this program, we usually explore how technology around the world impacts our |
| 0:47.0 | lives. But today we're looking at what happens when we lose access to the tech we've come to rely |
| 0:52.3 | on every day. We're here from Bangladesh, where the government cut off internet access for more than a week |
| 0:57.3 | to try and deal with violent civil unrest. |
| 0:59.9 | Only solution was like this, Mafel phone call. |
| 1:03.2 | Also, if you send a text message, it doesn't reach the other end instantly because of the lower bandwidth. |
| 1:09.9 | We'll also go to a country which has been experiencing |
| 1:12.2 | regular power outages for several years, South Africa, |
| 1:16.2 | to learn how people adapted to blackouts |
| 1:18.4 | and the tech which helps them keep the heating on. |
| 1:20.7 | There are a variety of ways to solve this in this match, |
| 1:23.1 | the most common being batteries, but batteries are really expensive. |
| 1:26.6 | And we'll hear from two game developers in Cuba who keep on working when the lights go out. |
| 1:48.6 | We're starting today's tech life with the violent political unrest in Bangladesh. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in -244 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.