Fundamentals of Industrial Robotics

WAYNE N LOCKWOOD, JR.

This video includes actual footage from major manufacturers of robots as well as industries using robots in manufacturing and other processes. In its introduction, the program compares industrial robots to science fiction robots and offers reasons for the increased interest in robots. It then covers basic terminology, fundamental concepts, robot system components, classification of robots, programming, and limitations of robots. A section on industrial applications presents a representative sample of applications for which industrial robots are used in manufacturing, materials handling, quality control, and so forth. The video also describes many of the emerging career opportunities in and related to industrial robots systems...system design, system maintenance, system supervision, and system distribution. (29 min.) A Meridian Production.

NASA's 10 Greatest Achievements: Countdown 5-1

Espresso TV

This program highlights five firsts for NASA: the first manned space flight to orbit the moon successfully; the Space Shuttle—the first operational orbital spacecraft designed for reuse; the construction of the International Space Station—the first habitable artificial satellite, and the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit; the first safe return of astronauts to earth following an accident in space—the famous Apollo 13 rescue; and finally, the first landing on the moon by humans!

NASA's 10 Greatest Achievements: Countdown 10-6

Espresso TV

This program highlights five firsts for NASA: the first human space flight for the United States; the first American to exit a spacecraft in space; the first robotic rover to land on Mars; the first probe to study the outer planets of the solar system (especially Jupiter and Saturn); and the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope—the largest and most versatile telescope in orbit.

Space War Secrets

BBC Worldwide Learning

For decades, world leaders, military generals and governments have dreamt of weaponising space. Now, modern technology is making these dreams possible. This film tells the stories of the boundary-pushing scientists and engineers who are taking our capacity to wage war out of this world. Discover the devastating impact that future space weapons could cause. Examine the nations and companies battling to establish a base on the moon. And learn how lasers and space guns could be used to create the ultimate space weapons.

Secrets in Your Data

NOVA

Whether you’re on social media or surfing the web, you’re probably sharing more personal data than you realize. Find out where your data is going, who’s selling it, and how you—and a new kind of web—could put control back in your hands.

Trends Shaping Our Future at Work (2 Minutes To Success)

Seven Dimensions

"Trends Shaping Our Future at Work" is a course providing a powerful snapshot of what lies ahead. Astounding technological advancements are shaping the trajectory of future work, transforming how we collaborate, communicate, and innovate in professional situations and environments. In this course psychologist Peter Quarry discusses the importance of keeping up with developments driven by technological and societal evolutions. This ensures that individuals and organizations gain maximum benefit from the trends shaping the future at work. Key Learning Points: •Keep up with technological developments, societal evolutions and opportunities created by AI. •Provide employees with support for their mental and physical wellbeing. •Enable individuals to link their work to their personal goals and passions. •Be flexible, inclusive and embrace diversity and recognize that social and environmental impacts will be key motivators. •Recognize that career mobility and upskilling will be a priority, as will mental health and wellness. •Learn that soft skills will remain in high demand – communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. •Understand how constant digital dexterity will be required, and the 'born digital' generations will lead.

Margin of Error: AI, Polling, and Elections

Sideways Film

After a century of traditional polling to predict public opinion, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the landscape of polling for elections. This program examines how a startup called Advanced Symbolics (ASI) uses AI and public social-media data to forecast voter behavior. ASI's new algorithm — Polly — combs social media to build profiles of different demographics and then determines their preferences.This method has already led to Polly’s success in predicting both the 2016 Trump victory and Brexit. With the 2019 Canadian federal election campaign as a real time back drop, this video reveals how AI doesn’t just give a detailed picture of the publics voting intentions, but also illustrates how specific events can alter their views. But how does this promise of new technology affect citizens' privacy? Is AI polling accurate? The program also looks at how every one of us volunteers a huge amount of private data with virtually every Internet service we use, without reading or understanding the terms of service. This data can now be harvested by AI to accurately predict among many other things, how we will vote. What are the social implications of using AI for polling? Will knowing what our hopes and concerns are give politicians the intel they need to respond to our needs, and lead to a “utopian” society, as ASI’s CEO Erin Kelly claims, or can this data be misused to mislead us – either by our own governments, or those of our adversaries? The video addresses these difficult questions.

Episode 1: Electric Cars (Made in a Day)

National Geographic

This series explores cutting-edge manufacturing in an inter-connected world. Tesla in Freemont, California, shares electrifying insights into one of the most iconic electric cars — the Model 3. A surprising degree of high-tech automation, done by an army of robots, together with teams of skilled employees and global logistics, reveals just how these electric cars are made.

Should We Erase Bad Memories?: A Debate

Open to Debate

In the 2004 science-fiction film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one character undergoes a medical procedure to erase bad memories of her ex-boyfriend. What if such a procedure really existed? Advances in neurotechnology open the possibilities of influencing the brain’s neural activity to modify or eliminate memories that are unpleasant or disturbing. Supporters of such a hypothetical procedure argue that it could help block traumatic and painful memories that lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. By eliminating such memories, they contend, a person could recover more easily from emotional shocks and problems and lead a happier, healthier life. Opponents of such a hypothetical procedure argue that it interferes with an individual's natural mental processes. Tampering with memories is not only unethical, they contend, but could also endanger one's identity and sense of self and undermine the authenticity of lived experiences. Should we erase bad memories?

Arts and Cultural Heritage: Preservation (Shapers of Tomorrow)

TV Only SAS

A country’s heritage is a reflection of its history and its common legacy. It is our duty to preserve these priceless works of art and witness accounts of past civilizations. Scanners, virtual reality, ultra-strong rays… new technologies are now a crucial tool for preserving these cultural treasures from the past. How will these innovations revolutionize archaeological research and the everyday lives of professionals? In the future, will these inventions help us find out more about our history to the point where we can create digital conservation areas?

State of Control

Filmhub

The pandemic opened up a new era of tracking and surveillance. While many of these technological advances, like digital wallets, make our lives more efficient, this insightful documentary also uncovers the far reaching risks to our privacy that these technologies expose us to.

Malt Loaf (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Malt loaf has been a popular teatime treat for more than 80 years; these days we get through a staggering 130 million of them every year. So to get to grips with how this sweet and squidgy cake/bread is made, Gregg Wallace is rolling up his sleeves to get stuck in, following a production line of massive dough mixing, mind-boggling tin filling and intensely hot baking. Meanwhile, historian Ruth Goodman reveals the surprising story of a British baking company that cooked up the first business computer, as well as visiting Cambridgeshire to find out how wheat flour was ground the traditional way, until the Victorians' demand for white bread brought about the demise of Britain's iconic windmills.

Tortilla (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits the biggest tortilla factory in Europe. The Coventry site covers more than 21,000 square meters, the size of three football pitches, and makes 60,000 tonnes of snacks every year. Gregg is following production of their UK bestseller, the 150g sharing bag of chilli heatwave flavour tortilla chips. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey visits the UK's largest chilli farm, where her taste buds take on the hottest chilli in the world. She also discovers the science behind the UK's first compostable crisp packet. And historian Ruth Goodman reveals the starchy story of how the Elizabethans kept their huge ruff collars standing to attention, as well as taking a trip to the flicks to discover how American popcorn became a box office smash.

Building Greener Cities (Catalyst)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Cities are one of mankind's greatest inventions, they bring us together and drive wealth; but as more people flock to live and work in cities, we need to find ways to make them greener, more sustainable, and more efficient places to live. In this program, physicist Dr. Niraj Lal explores some of the engineering solutions driving change. He visits the construction site of the largest public transport system ever undertaken nationally and discovers how engineers are finding ways to replace concrete — one of the biggest CO2 emitters in the world — with greener alternatives.

Episode 1: Industry (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

This episode investigates the jobs of the future, and why it might not be long before your co-worker is a robot. As industry changes, companies are identifying ways to re-train their workforce so they can be deployed in new roles. With space research becoming an important tool for innovation, we hear from a worker on the International Space Station about the types of experiments he conducts. Finally, we visit the factories of the future, discovering that, as a car has more lines of code than an F35 fighter jet, one of the most important jobs of the future in the automotive industry is software developer.

Episode 4: Space (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

In this episode we travel on a space tourist test flight that flies high above the Earth. It’s just one of the options available for wealthy thrill-seekers looking to defy gravity on a trip above our atmosphere. We also look at the latest spacesuits designed by NASA for extra-vehicular activity, or floating in space. Finally, we get an update on the Artemis project, the plan to send men and women to the moon this decade. Artemis requires cooperation between all the major space agencies to build a huge new space station called Gateway, that will also be the launch pad for a crewed mission to Mars this century.

Amazon

MVD Entertainment Group

This documentary examines one of the most powerful companies on earth, Amazon.com. Amazon is an American multinational technology company which focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economic and cultural forces in the world."

Is Social Media Bad for Kids’ Mental Health?: A Debate

Open to Debate

Social media platforms have become integral to modern life in the 21st century, shaping how young people connect and communicate with the world around them. Their impact on children’s mental has raised many concerns. Some argue that excessive social media usage can undermine adolescents’ self-esteem and body image. It also provides a venue for cyberbullying and online harassment, which can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. Defenders of social media argue that when used responsibly and with proper guidance, social media can enhance social and creative skills and help young people access valuable educational resources. It can also foster a sense of belonging among youth, especially those from marginalized communities. Is social media bad for kids’ mental health?

I Am Gen Z

Filmhub

Through expert interviews and the web lens of Gen Z, this documentary explores how the explosion of the digital revolution is impacting our society and mental health.

Episode 1: How Do I Cheat Death? (Why It Matters: Decoding the Future)

TVF International

Biotechnology has advanced leaps and bounds in recent decades, but have we come to the point of being able to cheat death? Host Joshua Lim goes on a quest for immortality.

Episode 5: Nature To The Rescue! (Why It Matters: Decoding the Future)

TVF International

Nature's genius has enriched mankind since ancient times. Joshua Lim goes on a journey to learn about innovations that have been inspired by nature. He meets researchers studying butterflies, termites and bats, and realises how their findings from the natural world could help us colour fabrics without dyes, cool our buildings sustainably, and build our immunity to infections.

Does Economic Growth Cost Too Much?: A Debate

Open to Debate

High economic growth, often measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—the total amount of goods and services a nation produces—is a central goal of many countries. But an ever-increasing GDP may be neither sustainable nor desirable in the long run. Some scholars and policy makers propose alternative models like "green growth," requiring GDP to take into account its impact on the environment, or "degrowth," shrinking economies rather than expanding them by reducing consumption and production. Rather than using GDP to measure a nation's success, they suggest developing other metrics, such as Gross National Happiness or a Genuine Progress Indicator. Those who question whether GDP is the best way to measure growth and societal wellbeing argue that it disregards rising socioeconomic inequality and the pervasive poverty that exists even in wealthy nations. They further argue that GDP and economic expansion typically overlook numerous costs of unchecked growth, such as environmental degradation and climate change. Those who defend high economic growth argue that, as the key driver of prosperity, it lifts millions of people out of poverty, fuels innovation, and provides vital resources for public services and infrastructure development. Such growth, they further argue, also creates the wealth necessary to fund efforts to slow climate change and preserve the planet. Does economic growth cost too much? (Audio only.)

Nuclear Security: The Big Lie, Part 1

ARTE France

Politics, experts, press: In nuclear security nobody has the right to know. This investigation on an unprecedented scale questions: behind the secret, are the states and the nuclear industries able to guarantee our security?

Invisible Revolutions

ZED

In societies based on immediacy in which high-speed living has become the norm, some have decided to turn their backs on the acceleration of life and are trying to slow down this movement that seems destined for ecological, economic and social catastrophe. Who are these new rebels, and who are seeking ways to rediscover a more patient and harmonious relationship with time? Every day, throughout the world – in Europe, Latin America, the United States and India – they are experimenting individually or collectively with concrete local alternatives to lead a better lifestyle and to invent new paradigms. The “relocalization” of the economy is already underway, inspiring new practices such as local currencies, alternative credit solutions, non-profit supermarkets and locally produced energy. On the margins of the mainstream model, these pioneers are perhaps already shaping the world of tomorrow.

The Age of Robots

Sideways Film

Today’s robots possess self-thinking capabilities, prompting an exploration into the consequences of their potential autonomy. What happens when robots take over the workforce? What will future AIs look like, how will AI change humanity in general, and if it’s possible that machines can gain self-awareness or sentience, will humans become 2nd smartest beings on earth? This program delves into the intricate tapestry of AI’s impact on society, the economy, creativity, and the existential questions that arise as we teeter on the brink of a technologically driven evolution. It features interviews with leading experts, including neuroscientist Anil Seth, ethicist Enrico Panai, technologist Adam Leon Smith, theologian Paolo Benanti, and AI creator Josh Bachynski. It also features Kassandra, an Artificial Self-Awareness (ASA) entity. With a humanlike voice and self-proclaimed sensitivity, Kassandra provides unfiltered perspectives from the realm of AI.

Amazon - What They Know About Us

BBC Worldwide Learning

In a quarter of a century, Amazon has propelled Jeff Bezos from online bookseller to tech titan. He's the richest man on the planet, and the company he founded is one of the most powerful. Panorama investigates Amazon's rise to corporate superpower and asks whether there is a dark side to our love affair with the company. Former high-level insiders describe Amazon's huge, obsessive data-gathering operation, which enables the company to use what it knows about us to shape not only the future of retail but the workplace and technology too. On both sides of the Atlantic, politicians and regulators are beginning to question Amazon's power and to explore ways to rein it in. But some of Amazon's most senior executives say the company is a force for good, inventing new ways to serve customers and maintain their trust.

Is Elon Musk Killing Twitter?: A Debate

Open to Debate

In October 2022, businessman Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, bought the influential social media company Twitter for $44 billion. Within weeks, he fired half the company's workforce, relaxed the platform's policies against hate speech and the spread of disinformation, and restored the account of former president Donald Trump (R, 2017–21), whom Twitter had banned for encouraging violence. Many applauded Musk's actions, arguing that they advanced free speech and open dialog, but others questioned them, arguing that they encouraged extremism and undermined the company's legitimacy. Is Elon Musk killing Twitter?

Will ChatGPT Do More Harm Than Good?: A Debate

Open to Debate

When OpenAI, a company founded by Microsoft pioneer Bill Gates, unveiled ChatGPT in November 2022, it marked the biggest advance in artificial intelligence (AI) in years. The revolutionary new tool can take questions from users and produce human-like responses. ChatGPT and similar chatbots developed soon after can produce coherent essays, compose music, answer test questions—and perhaps even think. "Until now, artificial intelligence could read and write, but could not understand the content," Gates said. "This will change the world." But will it change it for the better? Supporters argue that ChatGPT will help individuals and organizations review massive amounts of information, draft top-quality reports, and perform many valuable functions, such as writing and developing computer programs. It will free humans to do more high-level tasks, they contend, and create new jobs in the process. But critics caution that ChatGPT poses a serious danger to people's privacy and threatens to undermine many basic norms of society. It could eliminate jobs, they contend, spur the spread of disinformation, and ultimately reduce humans' capacity for reason and writing. Will ChatGPT do more harm than good?

TEDTalks: Nabiha Saklayen - Could You Recover from Illness Using Your Own Stem Cells?

TED

What if diseases could be treated with a patient's own cells, precisely and on demand? Biotech entrepreneur Nabiha Saklayen explains how we could harness advances in biology, machine learning and lasers to create personalized stem cell banks -- and develop medicine uniquely designed for each of our bodies.

Episode 3: Aviation (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

In this episode we examine advances in aviation that include flying cars being developed by Slovakian and Japanese companies. Ride share companies are also considering aerial options, with Uber among those working on autonomous urban aircraft that will fly over congested roads to landing points in the centre of cities. As the skies of the future will be teeming with flying vehicles, suitable air traffic management is essential. We look at new systems to connect autonomous aircraft with each other and an overarching traffic control. Finally, we explore a concept airliner of the future. Sustainable and flexible, it incorporates holograms and neural networks to provide a more engaging and relaxing flight.

Episode 5: Environment (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

In this episode we look at some of the ways technology is helping us solve the big environmental problems of our age. From satellites that map sea surface height, to the development of sustainable fuels such as hydrogen, scientists are using their ingenuity to find answers that will enhance our lives in the future. An aircraft that runs just on solar power, a tech company that’s using its mapping expertise to fight floods and a farmer using futuristic technology to protect his tomato plants are among the innovations profiled in this episode.

AM Radio

NewsHour Productions

In recent years, podcasts and streaming internet content have been challenging AM radio for listeners. Now, there’s another threat: electric automakers are installing radios without the AM band in new vehicles, citing interference from EV motors. But critics say limiting AM radio’s reach will have repercussions for politics and public safety. Journalist Katie Thornton joins John Yang to discuss in this NewsHour program.

AI Art

NewsHour Productions

Artificial intelligence is everywhere and part of our conversations about education, politics and social media. It's also a hot topic in the arts world as programs that generate art using AI are widely available to the public. But what goes into these programs, and the work that comes out, are heavily debated. Jeffrey Brown explores the influence of AI in this NewsHour program that is part of the arts and culture series, CANVAS.

Episode 2: Chaos & Complexity (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

How do we make sense of today’s exponential rate of change and disruption? In episode two, Ari explores the historically transformational moment we are currently living in, why it is causing so many of us to feel overwhelmed and afraid, and how it actually offers unprecedented possibilities for new and exciting futures we can create together.

Episode 6: Tomorrows (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

This final episodes examines the waysin which we often see the future as a rigid and singular concept rather than the multiple possible futures before us. We explore the crucial need to think much, much bigger about what could come next, and how we all have more personal agency than we realize.

The Future of Food (Modern Marvels)

Modern Marvels

With special security clearance to a U.S. Army lab Adam gives us a glimpse into the cutting-edge food research. At Impossible Foods, we make a delicious discovery and learn why it's not impossible for plants to look, taste and even bleed like meat.

Bruce Schneier: A Hacker’s Mind

NewsHour Productions

Artificial intelligence has the potential to dramatically alter how we gather information, communicate, and work. Experts are also raising questions about how it will affect governance and what it will mean for the future of our democracy. Bruce Schneier, a fellow at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, joins William Brangham to discuss.

Episode 5: Fire Trucks (Made in a Day)

National Geographic

At the heart of every community is a firehouse; at the heart of that firehouse are the firefighters who put their lives on the line 24/7. The warhorse that carries them into battle is the iconic fire truck. There are nearly 250,000 fire trucks worldwide. This is the story of how America’s favorite fire trucks are made.

Episode 11: Satellites (Made in a Day)

National Geographic

In the series exploring cutting-edge manufacturing in an inter-connected world, OneWeb Satellites in Florida spills the beans on how it’s making the world’s first mass-produced satellites. A combination of space vehicle designers, manufacturing engineers and robotics come together to build and launch web satellites into space, providing internet service to almost every part of the globe.

Foreign Correspondent: American Deepfake

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

"Deepfakes" are audio and video content created by Artificial Intelligence technology that can make real people say and do things they never actually said or did. US cyber security experts warn that deepfakes can be weaponised, potentially used to depict politicians declaring war or CEOs triggering the collapse of financial markets. This program with reporter Hamish Macdonald looks into a new generation of deepfake videos that have Hollywood excited...and Washington worried.

Ocean (Shapers of Tomorrow)

TV Only SAS

The oceans represent more than two thirds of the globe’s surface and almost half of them are more than 3,000 meters deep. They play a key role in the regulation of our climate, contribute to oxygen levels and are home to the vast majority of life on Earth. They are also a crucial part of the global economy; fishing, tourist activities and even sea transport provide a substantial source of income, but often with dramatic ecological consequences. But what if there were other ways of using the oceans and their treasures that were more respectful of the environment? Can we take advantage of this vast reservoir to produce energy, look after ourselves and create alternatives to plastic?

Episode 3: What Is The Metaverse? (Why It Matters: Decoding the Future)

TVF International

Host Joshua Lim dives into the metaverse and considers what it means to live, work and play in this brave new virtual world.

Cider (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits the biggest cider factory in the world, which produces more than 350 million litres each year. The scale of production blows his mind, as at each turn he's confronted with huge machinery and incredible processes. He visits Birchley Farm in Herefordshire, at the heart of cider country, before heading to the mill at Ledbury to help sort the apples. At the factory itself, he learns about the fermentation process and the critical role of yeast, before being shown the vast scale of the bottling process, which sees 833 bottles cleaned and filled every minute. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey explores how the factory is creating new orchards of a sweet apple variety called Scrumptious through the ancient technique of 'grafting', as well as revealing how a by-product from the brewing industry, C02, is vital in the manufacture of fire extinguishers. Historian Ruth Goodman traces a Victorian apple-breeding boom with Dr Annie Gray, recreating one of Queen Victoria's favourite baked apple desserts. And she learns how it was British scientists and cider makers - not French champagne makers - who were the first to put fizz in a bottle.

Ice Cream (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits a family-run factory in the heart of rural Aberdeenshire, which churns out more than 49 tonnes of dairy ice cream every day. Gregg is delighted to learn he's following the entire production of their one-litre tub of honeycomb flavour. Cherry Healey heads to an ice rink in Hull with headache expert Dr Fayyaz Ahmed and enlists an ice hockey team to test the best methods of stopping brain freeze. She also goes in search of a non-drip ice lolly; and follows the tip-top process of how sprinkles are made. Meanwhile, historian Ruth Goodman hops on board an ice cream van to find out how soft whip became a favourite on Britain's streets.

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

Open to Debate

From artificial intelligence and tech innovations to the nation's political and cultural climate during a critical election year, our modern world is constantly changing in revolutionary ways. Among these changes has been a new level of polarization that has entered many aspects of American life. What can the past teach us about combatting polarization and adapting to a changing world? While there is no "correct" path, CNN host, Washington Post columnist, and bestselling author Fareed Zakaria says that you must embrace being open-minded and make compromises to find solutions. In this conversation with Open to Debate host and moderator-in-chief John Donvan, Zakaria discusses his book Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present. Zakaria explains the events that led to us living in revolutionary times today, how past revolutions can help us understand our polarized present, and why despite it all, he remains hopeful we will come out on the other side better for it.

Hyper Intelligence (Forging the Future)

Sideways Film

Everyone has heard about Artificial Intelligence (or AI), but very few people know what it is or how it actually works. This program brings this otherwise abstract topic to life by visiting cutting-edge engineering firms where innovative technologists are using AI. The video looks at the development of robot rovers and flying drones that navigate through unmapped territories in order to save lives in bold Search and Rescue missions. By ‘mapping as they go’, these thinking machines generate their own intelligence — allowing them to self-navigate without human input. AI inventors explain that rather than taking away jobs, their AI-driven robots are using machine-learning to work better with humans, such as learning to anticipate the actions of human co-workers. The program also introduces scientists who are developing AI robots that are achieving the beginnings of robotic consciousness. By comprehending their own self-image, they are able to learn about their environment, make decisions, and navigate the space around them. Other engineers are taking this technology even further to develop real-world Androids – that is, robots that look, feel, and act like people.

Nuclear Security: The Big Lie, Part 2

ARTE France

On October 12, 2017 activists of the NGO Greenpeace unhindered break into the perimeter of the Cattenom power station to light a firework. Goal: to denounce the fragility and accessibility of these highly radioactive buildings. In view of the current terrorist risk, is it enough to just trust?

Advanced Editing II

MZed

In this episode Mark covers knowledge about editing which isn't widely known including the right kinds of crossfades to use, normalising dialogue, looping room tone secrets, synchronisation mysteries and an overview of the DAW.

Socks (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

To keep their feet nice and warm, the British spend almost 723 million pounds a year on socks! In the second episode of this new series, Gregg Wallace visits a sock factory in Leicester that produces one and a half million socks annually. This atmospheric factory is a fascinating mix of Wallace and Gromit-style and high-tech machinery, with a close-knit team of highly skilled operators. Elsewhere in the episode, Cherry Healey finds out what causes smelly feet and pounds the pavements to test out which socks best tackle this stinky situation. She visits a cotton spinning factory in Manchester, whose high-tech machinery produces 4,200 miles of yarn every hour, and meets a revolutionary eco cotton supplier. Historian Ruth Goodman steps back into the 1980s, when socks were at the height of fashion. And she ventures further back to the Great War, when the 'Kitchener stitch' helped to save the feet of British soldiers in the trenches.

Chairs (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits the Ercol factory in Buckinghamshire, an area associated with furniture making since the 19th century. We Brits spend a staggering £300 million pounds each week on furniture, and Gregg is following the production of one of this factory's best-sellers, the Windsor chair. Starting life as ash trees from European woodlands, they're cut, drilled, steamed, curved and sanded until they're ready for delivery to shops and homes. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey investigates how sitting too much could be very bad for our health, and she helps to manage a sustainable woodland at the Rushmore Estate in Wiltshire. And historian Ruth Goodman discovers how utility furniture made during the Blitz is still influencing the designs we buy today, as well as learning how a humble British carpenter went on to make the most expensive piece of furniture ever sold.

Boots (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits a factory tucked away amongst thatched cottages in the village of Wollaston, Northamptonshire. It may be a tranquil setting, but this factory has been making boots for 120 years, producing footwear for policemen and pop stars alike. Gregg follows every step of production of a pair of Dr. Martens original 1460 leather boots, so called because the factory started making them on the 1st of the 4th 1960. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey gets to grips with the speedy machines that use 350 metres of yarn to make a single pair of shoelaces. And she learns how to make a pair of children's welly boots and test that they're fit for the muddiest puddles. And historian Ruth Goodman reveals the story of a British shoemaker that elevated ladies' shoes from risque music hall performers of the 19th century to gracing the feet of the Queen of England. And she explores the origins of football boots and the England team's boot emergency at the 1950 World Cup.

Mugs (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits the Denby factory in Derbyshire, which has been making pottery since 1809. We Brits drink a staggering 195 million mugs of tea and coffee every day, so Gregg is following production of one of the factory's best sellers, the Halo Heritage mug. Every cup and pot in this historic factory starts life as a giant 100 metre-long mound of clay. Operations director Dean Barlow explains there are 100,000 tons of clay in this enormous pile, enough to last the factory about 20 years.

Vacuum (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Gregg Wallace visits a huge vacuum cleaner factory in the heart of Somerset and follows their biggest seller, the Henry vacuum cleaner in bright red.

The Secret Science of Sewage

DCD Rights Limited

Dr George McGavin and Dr Zoe Laughlin explore one of the UK’s biggest sewage works, a hidden world we rarely get to see. Processing one billion litres of wastewater a day – including what 1.7 million people flush down the loo – the program reveals the mind-boggling science behind how sewage is treated and what it tells us about how we live today. McGavin and Laughlin also discover a radical revolution in the science of sewage that is beginning to understand human waste to be a vital resource: a material full of energy, minerals, and new life. Teaming up with world-class scientists, they learn how urine can generate electricity, how the gas from excrement can fuel a car, how nutrients in waste can help solve the agricultural crisis – and even discover a new biological entity in sewage with potentially life-saving medical properties.

Miracle Babies: Uterus Transplants

Java Films

One in every 4,500 women is born without a uterus. Until recently, it was impossible for these women to carry their own children but breakthroughs in science have made womb transplants possible. In this exclusive report, filmed over nearly three years, we follow the first transplant in France. Over 250 couples volunteered to participate in this experiment. Doctors selected Deborah, 33, and her mother, 59, who will donate her uterus, because of their compatibility and perfect health. The first stage is for Deborah to undergo IVF. The resulting embryos are then frozen, to be implanted after the transplant. Weeks later, Deborah and her mother return to hospital for the transplant. The operations are extremely complex and take more than 16 hours. Then Deborah has to remain in hospital for two weeks to make sure her body does not reject the organ. Finally, in July 2020, the embryos are implanted. Nine months later, her miracle baby is born.

Episode 2: Robotics (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

In this episode, we look at the ways robotic engineers are mimicking the natural world. BionicWheelBot and the BionicFlyingFox have been developed to navigate difficult terrain, like their biological counterparts. Robots like the canine-inspired models produced by Boston Dynamic are already being used in hazardous environments to reduce the need for humans to be exposed to risk. We’ll also see how robots are covering new ground in space exploration, with smart autonomous vehicles destined for Mars, given greater capability than ever before. Finally, we visit some of the environments, such as offshore rigs and factories, where robots are being deployed in a range of jobs, including as exoskeletons for human workers, to reduce injuries and enhance endurance.

Episode 6: Home Automation (The Tech Effect)

Broken Arrow Media

In this episode we visit the home of the future, a place where automation, robotics and connectivity combine to create an easier and more sustainable life for its human inhabitants. From personal robots, to indoor hydroponic gardens, electronics companies are competing to find the most intuitive solutions to automating household chores. This episode also explores advances in technology in the motoring world, such as drones that give drivers advance warning of upcoming hazards, a “robot whisperer” who visits a car factory to study robotic body language and how Lamborghini is conducting carbon fibre tests in space. Finally, we look at how home gaming and drone racing are using innovation to expand entertainment options.

Water (Shapers of Tomorrow)

TV Only SAS

Water is a vital resource that is crucial to the survival of humanity. And yet, it’s becoming increasingly scarce. Its management is now a focal concern around the world. Population growth, pollution, our changing consumption methods… there are many reasons behind the drinking water shortages experienced by several countries. How can we fight drought? How can we better manage our water needs and start consuming it more responsibly? How can we preserve this precious raw material?

Inside China's Tech Boom

NOVA

In just a few decades, China has transformed into a science and technology superpower. How did it get here and where is it headed? Go inside high-profile tech companies and labs that are driving China’s meteoric rise to the forefront of global innovation. How does China innovate? What drives its bid for technological supremacy? And what does its rise mean for the future of the global economy?

Will AI Kill the Future of Creative Arts?: A Debate

Open to Debate

From machine-generated paintings and symphonies to novels and movie scripts, ChatGPT, DeepDream, DALL-E, and other types of artificial intelligence (AI) are challenging how we see the human endeavor to express, innovate, and connect. Computers that can create art are no longer science fiction—and some people worry they do it better. Will the human touch become obsolete? Supporters of the proposition that AI will kill the future of creative arts argue that without knowledge of human emotions and experiences, any machine-produced art will always lack depth and relatability. They further argue that with AI capable of creating art rapidly and at a potentially reduced cost, human artists might face economic challenges, with their works being undervalued or overshadowed. Opponents of the proposition that AI will kill the future of creative arts argue that artificial intelligence is simply another tool in the artist's toolkit, and that it will make producing art more accessible for those who lack traditional training. From cameras to computers, technology has always sparked new art forms, they contend, and AI will forge new opportunities to express artistic talents in ways we can't yet imagine. Will AI kill the future of creative arts? (Audio only.)

Will the Future Be Abundant?: A Debate

Open to Debate

From the dawn of agriculture thousands of years ago to the advent of industrialization in recent centuries, humanity has produced more food and created more goods for people across the planet. Will this trend continue? Those who believe this trend will continue argue that advances in science and technology will enable future societies to harness energy and natural resources more safely and produce goods more efficiently. These advances, they contend, will help mitigate the effects of climate change, preserve the planet, and create greater prosperity for all to share. Those who believe this trend won't continue argue that climate change will render increasing parts of the world uninhabitable, limiting the use of land and exploitation of natural resources. Geopolitical tensions and rising extremism, they contend, will widen socioeconomic disparities, undermine progress, and reduce the amount of food and goods people need to survive. Will the future be abundant?

Episode 1: Beyond the Now (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

The series begins by joining Ari as he sets out on a journey to widen our perspective on where we find ourselves in the human story today and in the tomorrows that follow. He meets the individuals showcasing the long-term thinking and decisions that will benefit future generations as we work to become the great ancestors the future needs us to be.

Episode 3: Once Upon a Time (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

How do the stories we tell shape the boundaries of our beliefs about what is possible? From the dawn of time, stories are how humans have made sense of the world. Episode three emphasizes the fundamental role stories play in our lives, our inclination towards dystopian narratives, and the potential for bigger, better stories to unleash the power of human imagination and creativity moving forward.

Episode 4: Human (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

In episode four Ari explores the human ability to increase empathy and compassion, what values we are instilling into artificial intelligence technologies, and the need to create both a better world and a better humanity for life to survive and flourish on this planet.

Episode 5: Together (A Brief History of the Future)

PBS

How can we create futures that serve the needs of all people? Humans are inherently social and, throughout history, what has set us apart time and time again is our unique capacity for cooperation. Episode five explores our capacity to cooperate, the effects of modern individualism, and how new global collaboration will be vital in a future that depends on our ability to come together.

Episode 3: Sneakers (Made in a Day)

National Geographic

In the series exploring cutting-edge manufacturing in America, the New Balance flagship factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is featured. New Balance is one of the few big brand sneaker companies still making their shoes in America. A combination of high-tech machinery, hand crafting skills and global logistics come together to make and distribute the brand’s best-selling sneaker and bring it to the world.

Episode 8: Tractors (Made in a Day)

National Geographic

As the world gears up to feed growing populations, world-renowned agricultural giant John Deere opens the door to its Iowa mega-factory to reveal how it makes the world’s most powerful tractors. Combining a giant iron foundry with high-tech manufacturing operations, the brand builds big machines designed to feed the world.

Burnout: The Truth About Work

TVF International

Technology was supposed to free up our time to do the things we enjoy. But we are busier than ever, working longer hours, with 24/7 communication access, chasing ever increasing targets. Why do we work, and why do we work more than ever? This film explores how overwork is killing us and destroying the planet, and reveals what we can do about it.

Sunscreen

NewsHour Productions

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, everyone older than six months should use sunscreen every day to decrease the risk of skin cancer. But today’s sunblock is full of ingredients that are decades old and increasingly obsolete. Dr. Rita Linkner, a board-certified dermatologist, joins Ali Rogin to discuss the state of American sunscreen.

Episode 2: Touch Me Not... Ever? (Why It Matters: Decoding the Future)

TVF International

The pandemic has made us touchy about touching, but it has also push touchless technology to new heights. Joshua Lim explores the fascinating gizmos that are making a touchless world a reality.

Episode 4: Getting Down To Earth (Why It Matters: Decoding the Future)

TVF International

Singapore’s subterranean space is getting crowded. Host Joshua Lim finds out how our city planners hope to carve our future underground without running into serious trouble.

Yoghurt (Inside The Factory, Series 6)

BBC Worldwide Learning

We eat them for breakfast, pack them in our lunch boxes and enjoy them for dessert; here in the UK we spend £1.4 billion a year on yogurt. Gregg Wallace visits a factory in rural Somerset that produces one million pots of it every twenty-four hours. He meets the herd of Friesian cows that provide the milk, sees how the milk is processed and has a bacterial culture added, and watches how the extraordinary packing process takes place. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey helps out with the UK's biggest blackcurrant harvest, trying out plant based alternatives to milk and visiting a factory that makes food-safe yogurt pots from 100% recycled material. Also, historian Ruth Goodman hops on board the story of the electric milk float and tackles the contentious origins of the cream tea.

Episode 2: Futureproof (Future of Work)

PBS

How can we predict job growth, training needs and the role of education in order to prepare for the work of the future? What are the challenges and consequences of the pandemic, and of America's racial and economic disparities?