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Fixed That For You

Do you make, break, and tinker with things? Are you a seeker of unconventional wisdom? Do you think in algorithms? Then welcome to FTFY, also known as Fixed That For You—a show about solving problems with data and algorithms.


Data vs. Running While Blind

4.22.2019   |

Running the New York City Marathon is a major accomplishment for anyone. Now imagine doing it without being able to see.

In this episode of Fixed That For You, we follow Simon Wheatcroft—who has been blind since the age of 17—on his quest to run the New York City Marathon. Find out how Simon used data collection to take a massive step forward for the visually impaired around the world.

In the race of his life, he battles skyscrapers, metal bridges, and massive crowds, pushing a piece of experimental gadgetry to its breaking point. Find out what happened and whether it can be a massive step forward for visually impaired people around the world.

Data vs. Da Vinci

4.8.2019   |

10,000 tulips, the price of Bitcoin, and competing computers. On this episode of Fixed That For You we ask “Can a computer make art?” If that sounds too philosophical, just remember, artificial intelligence is trying to save us time by doing the repetitive jobs we hate. Artist Anna Ridler goes from writing simple formulas in Excel to directing a Generative Adversarial Network that creates a dynamic art installation.

Data vs. Dating

3.25.2019   |

Should I stay or should I go? In every romantic relationship, there is a moment that you ask yourself, “Is it worth it?” Well, Rashied Amini, a NASA engineer with a broken heart, has the answer. He’s created a “Love Life Prediction Algorithm” — comparing your ‘bird in the hand’ with every bird that is still out there. Be warned; you might not like the answer his algorithm gives you.

Data vs. Wildlife Poachers

3.11.2019   |

Turtles have been around since the days of the dinosaurs — but are they about to follow them into extinction? Conservation scientist Kim Williams-Guillén is doing her best to prevent that. In this episode of ‘Fixed That For You’ we combine 'Breaking Bad,' a Hollywood special effects expert, and a 3D printer to track down poachers on remote tropical beaches.

Data vs. Dan Brown

2.25.2019   |

Of the thousands of books published this year, how can we predict which will become bestsellers? Book lovers, Jodie Archer and Matt Jockers, set out to answer this million dollar question with an algorithm. In this episode of ‘Fixed That For You,’ we merge art and science by turning words into numbers. Discover the secret similarities between The Da Vinci Code and Fifty Shades of Grey, and learn how an open-source library can help you write a best-seller of your own.

Data vs. Hamburgers

2.11.2019   |

Is the humble hamburger our planet’s new hero? It is according to biochemist Pat Brown. In this episode of ‘Fixed That For You’ we visit Brown’s Impossible Foods lab where he’s broken down America’s favorite food into one delicious dataset. Join us as we figure out exactly which molecules make burgers taste the way they do, and then try to find those exact same molecules in plants.

Data vs. Diabetes

1.28.2019   |

What if an algorithm could be your doctor? Living with Type 1 diabetes usually means making a lot of medical decisions on your own, sometimes daily. In this episode of ‘Fixed That For You’, you’ll hear about a problem millions of sick people face daily. It’s the story of Dana Lewis, a young woman who got tired of managing her disease, and decided to replace biology with data by creating an artificial pancreas. The results? Life changing.

Data vs. Deadly Stampedes

1.14.2019   |

There is a festival in India so amazing that millions of people attend every year – despite the near certainty that many will die. Nilay Kulkarni grew up hearing the horror stories of human stampedes that claimed hundreds of lives annually.

With a desire to prevent what seemed inevitable, the guiding voice of his grandfather, a hackathon, and a set of black rubber mats, Kulkarni took on human stampedes. This episode of ‘Fixed That For You’ combines the science of crowd control with the power of a lifesaving DIY data collection tool.

This is FTFY: Fixed That For You

11.26.2018   |

Do you make, break, and tinker with things? Are you a seeker of unconventional wisdom? Like to celebrate engineer-specific thinking? Then welcome to FTFY, also known as Fixed That For You—a show about solving problems with data and algorithms.

Launches January 14.

Get updates on new episodes!

Episode 8 - Data vs. Running While Blind

Episode 8 - Data vs. Running While Blind

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