The Digital Human

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BBC Radio 4 LW

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world

Digital Human

BBC Radio 4 FM

The Digital Human: Series 13: Oracle

Oracle

Series 13

BBC Radio 4 - The Digital Human, Series 13, Oracle

Aleks Krotoski explores living in a digital world.

Living in a digital world. Aleks Krotoski explores our age-old obsession with predicting the future and asks if big data might provide humanity with a true oracle.

From the dawn of civilisation, human beings have yearned to predict the future. In the past you might have consulted the Oracle at Delphi or sat down for a tarot reading to steer you through life. 

Today, the internet offers amazing potential for predictive technology. There isn't a part of the natural world or human existence that isn't recorded and quantified, even the most mundane aspects of our lives are broadcast into the universe thanks to our prolific use of social media. 

By analysing the cornucopia of data we can detect patterns and understand behaviour... but can we really predict the future? Developers claim yes we can, from what movie will be a breakout hit, to when there will be a run on cold and flu medicine, even to the outcome of a child's' entire life - all we need is the right data. But do we want that?

In today's Digital Human Aleks Krotoski explores why it is we feel the need to predict the future to find our place in the present world, and discovers that prediction could end up being a cursed crystal ball if handled incorrectly.

The Digital Human: Series 13

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Aleks Krotoski explores life in the digital age.

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Oracle

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