CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity

HONG KONG, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In the second episode of CNN’s new series ‘Tech For Good’, anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout meets five inspiring people from across the globe who are using technology to beat the odds and excel in everything from sport, to cultural preservation, to gaming.

CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity
CNN’s ‘Tech for Good’ meets inspiring people who are using technology to overcome adversity

CNN first speaks with South African surfer and swimmer Caleb Swanepoel, who was back in the water just three weeks after losing his leg in a shark attack, with the help of a state-of-the-art prosthetic limb. Designed by German company Ottobock, the prosthetic is computerized and uses sensors to mimic a natural gait – allowing Swanepoel to continue doing what he loves most, and even compete in international championships.

Wearable technology is helping British ultramarathoner Simon Wheatcroft stay on track. Faced with the challenges of mobility that came with losing his eyesight as a teenager, Wheatcroft helped to develop technology that could enable him to run without a guide. Stout learns how he uses the Wayband, a watch-like haptic device by WearWorks which sends pulses to his wrists whenever he veers off-course. He hopes the technology will enable a new level of independence for the visually-impaired community. 

Archaeologist Solsiré Cusicanqui uses technology to conduct drone surveys and 3D modelling to unearth the secrets of a pre-Hispanic civilization that prospered in the Andes Mountains in Peru. She explains to CNN how such discoveries have helped instill a sense of identity and pride in the local communities of Peru’s northern highlands, and shares how technology has empowered her as a female archaeologist.

Stout then meets Adonian Chan, a graphic and type designer with an ambition to preserve an endangered calligraphy style native to his hometown of Hong Kong. Chan is using software called Glyphs to digitize the style – called Beiwei Kaishu – into a contemporary typeface which could eventually be installed on phones and computers. He says the technology allows him to adapt this ancient writing style to the needs of modern society, preventing its extinction.

Finally, ‘Tech for Good’ catches up with Ryan Hart – also known as ‘Robotnik’ – a professional video gamer from the UK. Hart reveals that he found a community in arcades after becoming homeless when he was 18, and that he turned to competitive gaming as a form of creative expression. He has since won hundreds of events around the world, and is now considered one of Europe’s best players.

Tech for Good Episode 2 trailer: https://bit.ly/2CW4bKR 
Tech for Good Episode 2 images: https://bit.ly/2E9Rr3N 
Tech for Good microsite: https://cnn.it/2ECCs23 

Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, August 29 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm HKT
Sunday, August 30 at 10:00am HKT
Monday, August 31 at 12:00am HKT

About CNN International 

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 475 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI’s non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a WarnerMedia company.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200826/2899716-1?lang=0

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