In December’s edition of ‘Tech for Good’, CNN anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout learns how technological innovations are helping individuals and their communities overcome challenges and pursue their passions.
Acclaimed classical pianist Joao Carlos Martins was forced to retire from playing after injuries and illness left him with limited movement in his hands.
A Bach aficionado, he feared he may never be able to play again. Everything changed, however, when he met industrial designer Ubiratan Bizarro Costa, who developed a pair of bionic gloves with exoskeleton technology which allowed Martins to play his beloved instrument once more.
Costa now dreams of producing the gloves on a bigger scale, while Martins has a renewed passion for piano thanks to his new magic hands.
Alizee Agier is a karate world champion from France who has type 1 diabetes. In the past, the only way for Agier to check her glucose levels was through a cumbersome blood prick test – a challenging process for a professional athlete.
The Freestyle Libre, a sensor that allows diabetics to easily monitor their glucose levels in real time, had a transformative effect on Agier who believes this device could be life changing for millions of people across the globe.
Lu Stout also meets Roy Goldenberg of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), a community of volunteers in Israel who have devised a method to manufacture custom built prostheses using 3D printers.
Not only has this allowed the production of affordable prosthetic arms that can be personalised to fit the user, TOM’s solutions are also open source – meaning anyone can access them for free.
CNN’s Tech for Good meets users who share how this technology has changed their lives.
Growing up deaf has not stopped London-based dancer and choreographer Chris Fonseca from performing professionally.
Using a tactile audio platform called SubPac, Fonseca is able to feel music through pulses against his body rather than soundwaves in his ear.
This immersive experience has many applications and could change the way music is enjoyed by all.
Art teacher Harumichi Shibasaki has been capturing the beauty of Japan’s Chiba since his childhood. Now in his 70s, he started posting painting tutorials on social media in 2016, allowing him to reach an international audience.
In the years since, he has amassed millions of views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers on YouTube. Broadcasting during the pandemic has further boosted his success, as people eyes are opened to new hobbies to pursue under lockdown.
Tech For Good Air Times
• Saturday, December 5 at 7:30pm HKT
• Sunday, December 6 at 2:00pm HKT
• Monday, December 7 at 5:00am and 12:00pm HKT