FastForward is a thought-provoking podcast exploring technological developments through the lens of ethics and the future of humanity. Each episode asks how technological advancements came to be, who benefits and who is ultimately impacted by such developments.
FastForward is hosted by R. Alex Love, a human resources and diversity equity and inclusion consultant, and Rev. Benjamin Perry, a minister and author.
For some context, FastForward was originally recorded in 2018, a different space and time for us all! One important note is that our cohost, Alex, has gone through a name change since the time of recording, you will see the R. to denote their former name that is referenced throughout the recording to minimize confusion.
In this series finale episode, Ben and Alex discuss the current state of brain-reading technology as it pertains to prosthetics. Ten years ago Ben read an article about a military research project that aimed to create a helmet that could aid soldiers in communicating telepathically. He was freaked out then, but now understanding where the technology stands, it seems there was relatively little to fear. It appears that the research hasn’t gone far, but is still being pushed forward, notably by the Chinese government in an effort to read basic emotional states of public workers. While mind-reading is seemingly a dream of the distant future, the ethical questions about privacy and consent remain.
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3 Mar 2022
The Future of Transportation: Yes, Autonomous Cars… But Then What?
It’s projected that by 2050 more than 60% of the world’s population will live in cities. Yet public transportation remains one of the biggest challenges for cities like New York, DC, and Los Angeles. As we look forward to a more urbanized world, how will we cope with the population’s transportation needs? Alex and Ben discuss the nuances of autonomous cars and the lingering issues that exist (like how these cars can’t properly “see” Black people when avoiding pedestrians) as well as what the future of cities might look like. Looking beyond the current technological advances of self-driving cars and public transportation band-aids, when will our society shift from the question of “what’s good for me?” to a larger perspective of “what’s good for us?” Our hosts dream of a more collaborative world where the leaders of these decisions are focused on building the best world for our community at large.
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17 Feb 2022
Death & Dying: We’re All Gonna Die!
Alex and Ben dive into death and dying. As technology advances, we’re able to keep people alive indefinitely via machines that keep vital organs functioning. However, several problems arise in these instances, including the high cost of these medical interventions, significantly diminished quality of life, and perpetuated fear of dying. Death remains one of the topics that we avoid the most with people we love- but we’re all going to die. So, how can we instead shift our energies toward embracing this ultimate truth? Some people choose not to face it at all and invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into cryopreservation with little understanding of whether the technologies will work to re-animate humans in the long run. Alex and Ben talk about uploading human consciousness to a computer or cloud and explore how they feel about these life-extending technologies.
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3 Feb 2022
Reproductive Technology: IVF and Genetic Modification
Alex and Ben dive into reproductive technology. 1 in 6 couples globally deal with infertility. But when it comes to reproductive technology, the access to other alternative modes of reproduction are reserved for the rich. What are the consequences for a society where only a select number of people can afford the IVF process, for instance? Genetic modifications are on the horizon which will most likely lead to “designer babies”. Who benefits from these technological advances and what are the implications for our society at large? Alex and Ben explore the ways that these methods of procreation create and enforce biases and hierarchies.
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20 Jan 2022
Sex Tech: A Bandaid Solution to An Isolated Society?
Alex and Ben dive into the ethics around sexual technology. As new companies emerge with technology like VR sexual experiences and AI-enhanced sex robots, what are the parameters and guidelines for our intimate relationships, legislation and our children? Teledildonics, the field of sexual technocology that allows people to experience stimulation and pleasure remotely, is growing- what impact will that have on our intimate relationships and our communities at large? Alex and Ben explore the dissonance between creating legislation surrounding sex tech, in a world that still struggles to view women as sexually autonomous.
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6 Jan 2022
Bleeding Edge Documentary: The Medical Device Industry is Horrifying!
In this episode, Alex and Ben share their horrified responses to the documentary Bleeding Edge about the medical device industry. Spoiler alert- the regulations in place are shotty at best! With few regulations in place for new medical devices to be approved, there exist myriad ways for harmful devices to end up in patients’ bodies. One major medical device of interest is the permanent pregnancy prevention method called “Essure” which releases bits of metal into a person’s fallopian tubes. The havoc that these medical devices have unleashed on people’s health seems to disproportionately affect women. Alex and Ben discuss the ways that medical devices get approved and how the regulation process banks on the old systems of how things have always been done, which leaves little to no room for innovation or creating a better system for the future.
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16 Dec 2021
Climate Change: We Need A Cultural Shift
In this episode Alex and Ben explore the complexities of mitigating climate change and the downsides of recent geoengineering projects. From carbon capture to blue carbon restoration to mirrors in space, Alex and Ben discuss the inherent failures of geoengineering and how it falls short of addressing the real causes of climate change. For the hosts, addressing climate change means addressing personal and institutional behavioral changes. By empowering communities and personal responsibility, climate change is less likely to affect us all - from the marginalized communities of the east to the wealthy of the west.
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2 Dec 2021
Artificial Intelligence: Convenience or Control?
In this episode, Alex and Ben discuss artificial intelligence, the Siris and Alexas of the world. What are the long-range implications of using this kind of technology? The devices in our homes are listening to our conversations and gathering information. Where and how is the information used, and will it work against us in the future?
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18 Nov 2021
Robots Doing Parkour?
In this episode, Alex and Ben discuss Boston Dynamics robots that climb, jump and do parkour. Join us as they discuss the implications behind this technology which is potentially helpful in many ways but equally has the potential to be leveraged to devastating consequences.
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18 Nov 2021
Food Scarcity: Can Technology Save Us?
In this episode, Alex and Ben tackle the topic of food scarcity. Is technology the answer? Vertical farming at first glance seems like a great solution, but what about the costs? Join us as the discussion turns to GMOs, vertical farming, and the technologies that could potentially solve these issues, none of which are silver bullets.
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15 Nov 2021
FastForward with Alex and Ben Teaser
In this teaser, we meet hosts R. Alex Love and Benjamin Perry as they discuss the root of the podcast, a lively discussion exploring technological developments through the lens of ethics and the future of humanity.
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