Ghislaine Boddington has written and presented a new documentary for the BBC World Service titled Me and My Digital Twin, produced by Boffin Media Ltd and released in December 2024.
The programme follows Ghislaine’s exploration into the creation of her own digital human twin, an AI-powered virtual version of herself designed to advise, support and represent her, potentially even beyond her lifetime. As technologies converge, the idea of a digital bio-twin, formed from real-time biometric data and enhanced by artificial intelligence, is moving closer to reality.
Through a series of encounters with cardiologists, engineers, performance artists and digital innovators, Ghislaine investigates how this emerging concept is already taking shape across health, wellbeing, sport, education and the workplace. In a journey that involves dancing in a Belgian basement, virtual table tennis and a discussion on digital death, she delves into both the technical possibilities and the ethical, cultural and regulatory questions surrounding our future virtual selves.
Commissioned as one of 12 documentaries for the BBC World Service 2024/25, Me and My Digital Twin was first broadcast globally on 30th November 2024.
Fast Forward takes listeners on a thought-provoking and enlightening journey through six podcasts written and presented by Ghislaine Boddington.
This international series explores the transformative shifts that emerging technologies will bring to our bodies, minds, and behaviours.
Podcast | Fast Forward: Tech Past, Tech Future (July 2023)
Each episode features engaging conversations with global experts, delving into the past, capturing up-to-date knowledge, and unlocking future visions. From the exploration of digital realms and the power of avatars to the empowerment of women in gaming and the impact of technology on family dynamics, the series covers a wide range of fascinating topics. It also delves into personalised health data, the evolution of cyborg advancements, and the importance of diversity in the tech industry. Fast Forward Season 2 explores how emerging technologies will shape our lives and the world around us.
Fast Forward Season 2’s inaugural episode focuses on the digital realm, exploring the creation of individualised avatars that shape our virtual identities and self-expression. We examine how these virtual representations empower us to express ourselves in unprecedented ways. We delve into the fascinating world of digital fashion futures, while also uncovering the collective power of avatars in collaborative groups within virtual worlds, particularly focusing on the dynamic participatory realm of e-sports.
Episode 2 – Women in Gaming – empowerment leads to engagement.
We review the history of gender representation in the gaming industry and the exhilarating transformations happening today. Join us as we embark on a captivating exploration, uncovering the evolution from the underrepresentation of women and non-binary individuals in gaming to the inspiring tales of change that are shaping the landscape. From a visionary young woman empowering a vibrant gaming community in Saudi Arabia to a seasoned LGBTQ+ advocate reflecting on the evolution she has witnessed throughout her career, we reveal the pivotal role of encouragement and inclusivity.
Guests: Ghada Almoqbel, CEO of GCON, the girls’ convention for game developers and women in gaming in Saudi Arabia Jennifer Donahue, Head of Publishing & Marketing at HiDef in California, USA
Episode 3 – Telegram to Telepresence – is the family being swept away on a digital tidal wave?
We delve into the present-day concerns surrounding data transmission within our homes and its profound impact on parental care. Discover the widening generation gap in social media understanding, where younger individuals, including children, become pivotal knowledge figures in the home with their extensive knowledge of online environments, trust, and risk. In this episode, we glimpse a future where haptic and touch technologies seamlessly merge with our digital lives, reshaping the once-protected home environment and offering virtual social tactile experiences. Join us as we explore future etiquette, evolving family dynamics, regulatory challenges, digital literacy, hybrid behaviours, and the emerging realm of collective haptic experiences.
Guests: Sonia Livingstone, Professor of Social Psychology, London School of Economics, UK Sly Spencer Lee, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Emerge, Los Angeles, USA
Episode 4 – Extended self – our future digital twins.
We consider the realm of Quantified Self applications, unlocking the transformative power of highly personalised body data. We navigate the diverse landscape of apps, online medical support, and synthetic data collection, enabling personalised approaches and longitudinal studies to address the complexities of ageing. Discover remarkable advancements that empower us to take control of our own well-being, while delving deeper into the critical issue of insufficient big data in women’s health and witnessing how innovative technologies are bridging the gap. Explore the concept of AI-led bio-digital twins, unravelling the extension of self and the many options and choices they offer. Prepare to expand your understanding of the boundless possibilities at the intersection of technology and our personal health journeys.
Guests: Michael Geer, Co-Founder of Humanity.Health, a mobile app that gathers together our daily movement, nutrition, mind and recovery data, London, UK Marija Butkovic, a world expert in women’s health innovation and Founder of the global network Women in Wearables, London, UK
We focus on prostheses and implants and the convergence of these fields, leading to groundbreaking advancements in cyborg technology. Discover the evolution from simple pacemakers to digitally linked, extended prosthetics, while gaining a deeper understanding of proprioception and its intricate relationship with these augmentations. Get ready to glimpse into an evolving cyborg world where the very essence of humanity undergoes a fundamental transformation, as we explore the realms of robotics, the Cyborg Bill of Rights, and the intriguing possibilities of trans-species integration.
Guests: Dani Clode, an upper-limb prosthetic, augmentation and product designer working with the Alternative Limb Project, University of Cambridge, UK Neil Harbisson classes himself as a ‘Trans Species’ (Catalan-born British-Irish-American)
Episode 6 – STEM Women are changing the world.
In this final episode of the series, we look at the world of women in tech activism and networks, reaching across the globe. Discover the inspiring stories of young women like the Stemettes, who are dedicated to nurturing skills and fostering confidence among their peers, empowering them to thrive in STEM careers. Gain valuable insights from senior women, including a senior female cyber security lawyer advocating for global diversity regulation and compliance, and the CEO of the Stemettes, who passionately emphasises the need for tangible action now. Through firsthand experiences and unwavering support, these trailblazers inspire and empower younger women to cultivate resilience and confidence in their pursuit of success.
Guests: Patricia Peck, CEO & Founding Partner of Peck Advogados, a Professor of Digital Law, and a Council Member of the Brazil Data Protection Authority, Sao Paulo, Brazil Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, CEO of Stemettes, and a well-known expert on equity and inclusion, London, UK
Production and composition by Curtis James Simon James from Sounds Fancy Techno-futuristic brand design by Paul Sizer Video & animation by John Callaghan. Direction and expert inputs by Susi O’Neill and David Emm Fast Forward Season 2 is a Tomorrow Unlocked channel commission.
BBC Digital Planet (formerly BBC Click) has launched on April 30th and Ghislaine Boddington continues as the bi-weekly Studio Expert, co-presenting, commenting and analysing the items, giving topical commentary and insights alongside anchor presenter Gareth Mitchell and Studio Expert Bill Thompson.
BBC Digital Planet is a weekly radio show broadcast weekly on BBC World Service (8 x a week into different timezones). It discusses technology and how it impacts our daily lives. It is presented by Gareth Mitchell with the weekly participation of Bill Thompson and Ghislaine Boddington. Produced for BBC World Service by Ania Lichtarowicz.
We are concerned with new trends, new technologies, and new ways we use digital tools in our everyday lives rather than just talking about the latest shiny toys and gadgets. As we explore how the ever evolving digital world is changing our culture and our societies, we don’t shy away from the news of the day, looking at how digital technologies shape the top stories affecting us all.
BBC Digital Planet has a passionate and engaged audience around the world and is also available as a downloadable Podcast for 30 days after broadcast. You can download to the podcast here.
There is also an active Facebook group – Digital Planet Listeners – that you can follow and join here.
Ghislaine Boddington presented at 4YFN (4 Years From Now) Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which took place from 25 – 27 February 2019. 4YFN showcases the latest tech startup innovations from around the world. Featuring curated content, pitches, competitions and dedicated networking sessions, the event is tailor-made to connect the international startup community, investors, talent and corporations.
On Monday 25 February, Ghislaine Boddington, Co-founder and Creative Director of body>data>space, joined the 4YFN as a Body and Immersive Tech Expert, giving a keynote on her research ‘The Internet of Bodies’ and presenting as part of Biohacking Onstage: Live Human Chip Implant Show later on that day.
Opening Keynote Futurism: Internet of Bodies Monday 25 February, 11:40 – 12:10, Fira Montjuïc Hall 8, Agora Stage Speaker: Ghislaine Boddington (Creative Director & Co-Founder, body>data>space)
Biohacking Onstage: Live Human Chip Implant Show Monday 25 February, Fira Montjuic Hall 8, Banco Sabadell Time for some Biohacking! The future of the human species is here. Join us as we create a human “cyborg” in front of your eyes! We will implant an RFID chip into the hand of a willing subject and test its functionality! We will talk about the future of biohacking and human modification and how this will effect our lives in the long run. What is going on in the world of biohacking right now? What can YOU do to biohack yourself? What does the future of biohacking entail? The Biohacking Live Human Chip Implant took place at 4YFN Barcelona 2019 with Edgar Pons of Nanoboost and Ghislaine Boddington of body data space. Watch the video here.
You can find more information about the conference and the speakers here.
Ghislaine joins Douglas Rushkoff for a conversation about the nature of immersive technologies and how we might bring our bodies with us into the digital realm. Rather than diminish the role of the physical body, Ghislaine’s work celebrates the body as an integral part of enhanced immersive experience. Full podcast avaliable here.
Ghislaine Boddington 