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TechStuff

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TechStuff is getting a system update. Everything you love about Tech Stuff now twice the bandwidth with new hosts, Oz Woloshyn (Sleepwalkers) and Karah Preiss (Sleepwalkers). 

Oz and Karah bring humour and wit to the table as they break down what's happening in tech...and what it says about us. 

TechStuff is the podcast where technology meets culture. 

We speak to the folks building the future to understand what tomorrow will look like and how our technology is changing us: how we live, how we love, how we work and even how we die. With a healthy dose of drama, too, as tech titans clash over their interstellar ambitions. 

Get in touch here: [email protected]

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Episodes

Invented by Accident

Not all inventions are the product of careful experimentation. Sometimes, someone pulls a whoopsie and learns something new. This episode is all about those types of discoveries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 14, 202418 min

When Did Google Stop Being a Search Company?

For a couple of years in Google's early history, it was a real search company. But that would change in 2000 as Google would embrace advertising. Learn how Google would shift to become a dominant force in online ads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 12, 202444 min

Tech News: Power-Hungry AI and Malicious Toothbrushes

Sam Altman of OpenAI wants to see a huge investment in new semiconductor fabrication plants to support AI implementations. The FTC hopes to reverse the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger. And did hackers really take over millions of smart toothbrushes? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 09, 202421 min

Pivot to Video

Back in 2015, Facebook made a claim that would lead advertisers and content creators to shift focus to online video. There was one problem -- the claim ended up being bogus. How did the pivot to video strategy become a dark, grim joke in the tech sector? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 08, 202442 min

A Small Episode About Big Data

What does Big Data actually mean? How has the science of Big Data changed recently? What are the potential benefits and pitfalls of Big Data? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 05, 202439 min

Tech News: US Senate Grills Big Tech CEOs

The Senate Judiciary Committee met with CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg with accusations that their companies are actively causing harm to children, and they weren't happy with the response. Plus, a judge tells Elon Musk that he will not be getting the massive compensation package promised to him by Tesla's board of directors. And TikTok says goodbye to Taylor Swift's music (and all other UMG tracks). Plus more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 02, 202436 min

HOVERCRAFT!!!

Who invented the hovercraft? What happened to all the hovercraft that used to provide transportation options in the UK? How do they work? We look into all this, plus a classic Jackie Chan action flick. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 202445 min

Operating Systems that Time Forgot

Sometimes, an operating system has served its purpose and it's time to go live on a farm. We take a look at some operating systems that are no longer supported and explore why moving on can sometimes cause a problem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 29, 202443 min

Tech News: The Political War Against Social Media

From New York City to the state of Florida, politicians are getting serious as they face off against social media companies like Meta TikTok. Plus, we have a bunch of news around AI, an update on Tesla that has investors upset and we say farewell to an amazing little helicopter on Mars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 202438 min

Moving Around in VR

An interesting set of challenges crop up when you want to translate movements in a physical space to a virtual one. How do you keep people safe? How do you manage groups in the same physical space? And can you still look cool if you're running around on an omni treadmill? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 25, 202448 min

AI at CES 2024

At this year's CES, several trends revealed themselves among the exhibitors. But none were more prevalent than the incorporation of artificial intelligence. How are companies using, or at least claiming to use, AI in their products this year? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 23, 202447 min

TechStuff Classic: History of Electricity Part One

Did you know that engineers were harnessing electricity long before they even knew what it was? We take a look at the history and tech behind electricity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 19, 202454 min

Rerun: Copyright and Fair Use

In this episode from 2021, we look at the thorny issues of copyright and how fair use isn't some proactive safety play to avoid those pesky copyright strikes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 18, 202454 min

Rerun: How Fuel Cells Work

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device; it turns chemical energy into electrical energy. Jonathan and Chris discuss fuel cells in detail from their origins to why they're not practical for general use yet in this episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 16, 202436 min

TechStuff Classic: The Wonderful World of Audio Animatronics

It might be a small world after all, but how did Disney imagineers create the first audio animatronics and how do they work? Find out in the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 13, 20241 hr 15 min

Rerun: It's All Relative

How do the theories of special relativity and general relativity apply to satellites? Why is the speed of light constant, but time and distance are not? We get all Einstein up in here! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 10, 202447 min

Rerun: Machine Consciousness

Is it really possible for a machine to achieve consciousness? What does consciousness even mean? From philosophy to technological obstacles, we look at the problems and possibilities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 08, 202441 min

TechStuff Classic: Pew Pew Lasers

Lasers can be used to threaten our enemies, cut steel and even amuse our cats. Find out the history of lasers and how they work in this episode of Techstuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 05, 20241 hr 11 min

How CT Scanners Work and A TechStuff Update

How does CT (computed tomography) scanners work? What's going on with TechStuff? In this episode, you are invited into Jonathan's brain to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 03, 202423 min

TechStuff Classic: TechStuff Enters the Singularity

What is the technological singularity? How might the technological singularity come about? What do critics say about the idea of the singularity? Listen in as Jonathan and Lauren explore the technological singularity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 02, 202444 min

TechStuff Predicts What Will Happen This Year

I swore I would never do another one of these. But what the heck, let's get out the crystal ball and make some predictions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 01, 202437 min

Big Stories of 2023: The Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal

Nearly two years after Microsoft announced its intention to acquire video game company Activision Blizzard, it sealed the deal. But it wasn't a sure thing. We look back on how government officials around the world nearly prevented the merger and why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 31, 202329 min

The Death of Hyperloop One

What was once a blue sky engineering dream has finally been put to bed. Hyperloop One never achieved its goal, but it did manage to be a hot spot for drama and controversy before petering out. We look back on the company. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 30, 202319 min

Big Tech Stories of 2023: Crypto Competitors and Crime

While FTX's failure happened in late 2022, the story of Sam Bankman-Fried's literal trials and tribulations played out this year. Plus, his rival Changpeng "CZ" Zhao entered a guilty plea on securities violations. We look at how two leaders in the crypto space had to face the music in 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 29, 202321 min

TechStuff Classic: The Macintosh Story Part 3

From the return of Steve Jobs to the most recent Macs, we look at how the computer has changed over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 29, 20231 hr 1 min

The 12 Days of Tech Christmas

While Christmas 2023 might be over, I have a little present for all of y'all -- 12 days out of 2023 that were important in the tech world for one reason or another. From cryptocurrency controversies to Apple getting into augmented reality, we look at a dozen days that stood out in 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 28, 202322 min

Rerun: The Tech of Stranger Things

Jess Royal and John Hilton drop what they're doing on Stranger Things to come by the studio and talk about what their jobs require. From Christmas lights to the upside down, we learn about what it takes to make a show work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 26, 202351 min

Rerun: Lighting Up the Holidays

We look at the history of incorporating lights in winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah and how electricity changed things dramatically. We'll also dive into those over the top displays that sequence lights with sound and talk about why it was such a challenge for the electrician on Stranger Things to make lights blink a specific way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 25, 202345 min

Big Stories of 2023: X - The ex-Twitter

At the beginning of 2023, Twitter was still called Twitter. It was facing multiple challenges in the wake of an acquisition. Elon Musk had reduced the staff by more than half. Advertisers were getting antsy. And then it all got much worse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 24, 202320 min

Big Stories of 2023: The Mounting Opposition to TikTok

The video sharing platform TikTok faced opposition and scrutiny around the world. Some suspect it of being a surveillance tool used by the Chinese Communist Party. Others worry that it is warping young minds. We look back over TikTok's rocky 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 23, 202320 min
Hosted on Omny Studio
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