Big Life Fix invents impossible

Acclaimed tech-for-good TV show Big Life Fix returns to BBC2 this week for a new run of four programmes. The show sees engineers and designers working with people facing seemingly intractable personal challenges, to see how tech can help ‘invent the impossible’.

Tech-for-good TV show Big Life Fix returns to BBC screens for a second series this week, bringing leading tech inventors together with people in need to help build solutions that change their lives for the better. The show is produced for the BBC by independent production company Studio Lambert.

Big Life Fix featured at DigitalAgenda’s 2017 Impact Awards event in London — with a team led by Microsoft innovation director Haiyan Zhang appearing on stage with Emma Lawton, who has Parkinson’s Disease.

In the show’s first series, Zhang and Lawton worked to develop a new wearable device that effectively tricked Emma’s body into reducing her Parkinson’s-related tremors. Viral video of Emma’s watch had more than 53m views.

The second series takes on a new set of personal challenges.

• Forty-year-old Graham was passionate about snowboarding until an avalanche buried him under the snow, leaving him severely disabled. Engineer Yusuf Muhammed works with Graham to stand upright and control a snowboard independently once again.
• Alexander lives with a rare genetic disorder that causes extreme sensitivity to the sun’s UV rays. Materials expert Zoe Laughlin helps find a way to protect Alex’s skin from the harmful rays that is lightweight and ventilating, while also allowing him to go out in public without being stared at.
• Kyle’s ambition to be a hairdresser was hampered by a deformed hand that made it impossible for him to hold hair while cutting or styling it. Engineer Jude Pullen worked to give Kyle the dexterity required to work as a professional hairstylist.

Later episodes in the series address personal health challenges including epilespy, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

Liverpool-based photographer James Dunn — who also featured in the first series of Big Life Fix fighting a rare skin condition — died in April aged 24 after succumbing to the disease. In the show Dunn learned to take photos remotely using a camera rig and tablet, supported by engineer Pullen.

In the final months of his life, knowing his time left alive was limited, Dunn had been working with US Ai founder Pete Trainor on creating an enduring legacy using artificial intelligence.

Big Life Fix airs on BBC2 at 8pm on Thursday 26 July.

Big Life Fix expert team

Ross Atkin Akram Hussein Zoe Laughlin Yusuf Muhammad Jude Pullen Ruby Steel Ryan White

Haiyan Zhang

Originally published at www.digital-agenda.co.uk on July 24, 2018.