Sliced Bread

Alex Himel, VP of Wearables at Meta, talks Ray-Ban smart glasses, cameras, audio, AI features and design tradeoffs. Professor Philip Morgan, Head of Optometry at Manchester, outlines myopia trends, contact lens advances and clinical implications. They explore hands-free interactions, accessibility uses, privacy and whether smart lenses or glasses will gain mainstream traction.

What will the office be like in future? Greg Foot, host of BBC Radio 4's 'Sliced Bread' brings you 'Dough', examining the rise of future wonder products.Greg is joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow, before a leading futurist offers their predictions on what life might be like within five, ten and fifty years.This time we’re looking at the future of the office - asking whether in years to come, we’ll even need one? If so, is the ‘conference room’ soon to be a thing of the past, replaced with cafes, comfy chairs, and table tennis tables?And will our future HQs be home to service robots and AI receptionists?Greg learns how the Covid-19 pandemic changed office working and the trends transforming the look of high-end office developments. He is joined by the futurist Tom Cheesewright and guests including:- Professor Matt Davis, University of Leeds - Jane Clay, Strategy Leader and Principal at Gensler which designs and refurbishes buildings around the world - Mike Dalloz, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of The Meeting Pod Company.Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Could ticketless travel and satellite connectivity be coming to our rail network? Greg Foot examines the rise of future wonder products.He's joined by experts, entrepreneurs and industry innovators to discuss the trends we're seeing today and where they may lead us tomorrow, before a leading futurist offers their predictions on what life might be like within five, ten and fifty years.In this episode Greg hears how renationalisation, digital signalling, satellite connections, ticketless technology and battery power might transform our trains in the future. With him is the futurist Tom Cheesewright and guests including: - Dickon Ross, Editor of Rail Magazine - Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General at the Rail Freight Group - Mike Butler, Director of Rail & Innovation at Clarus NetworksProduced by Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

What will mobile phones be like in future? Greg Foot investigatesGreg Foot, host of the BBC Radio 4 show 'Sliced Bread', brings you 'Dough'.Each episode explores future wonder products that might rise to success and redefine our lives.Experts and entrepreneurs discuss the trends shaping what today's everyday technology may look like tomorrow, before a leading futurist offers their predictions on what life might be like within five, ten and fifty years.This time we’re looking at the future of mobile phones - asking whether our handsets will shrink, stretch, roll, fold… or even disappear as new technology takes over? And will super-smart devices with AI assistants that second-guess our every move become the new normal? Alongside Greg is the futurist, Tracey Follows, and expert guests: leading strategist in the tech industry, Chetan Sharma, innovator and creator from one of the world’s newest Mobile Phone manufacturers, “Nothing Mobile", their AI and design lead, Sélim Benayat and co-founder and CEO of Honest Mobile, Andy Aitken.This episode was produced by Linda WalkerDough is a BBC Audio North Production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Sleep deprived parents everywhere are tempted to reach for anything that might help them get a little more sleep overnight – but can products promising to encourage babies to snooze for longer – really do that? And is there any science to back it up?That is exactly what tired Dad-of-three Dave wanted to know – and whether there were any future implications from using these gadgets, docks, blinds and sleep bags? New Dad Greg Foot speaks to Director of the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre Professor Helen Ball, to find out. You can also read the official Safer Sleep guidance, by copy and pasting the links below into your browser:NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/baby/baby-basics/newborn-and-baby-sleeping-advice-for-parents/safe-sleep-advice-for-babies/Lullaby Trust - https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/safer-sleep-overview/RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOMPRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Which knife is best for the kitchen and how do you keep it sharp?After buying various knives over the years that ended up blunt, listener Susan is looking for one that will last. She's seen an array of different types and materials: Damascus steel, Japanese Gyuto knives, as well as alloys and additions that promise a sharper edge. They vary hugely in price - anything from £50 to £1,000. And if you do invest, how do you keep a knife sharp?To cut through the marketing BS, presenter Greg Foot is joined in the studio by Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials & Society at University College London, and Rob Haslam aka Mr Knife Guy. All of our episodes start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Do you really need a VPN?Listener Andrew has seen and heard lots of adverts for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and wants to know if they'll beef up the security on his computer. Will they provide extra protection from malware or hackers?To get the answers, presenter Greg Foot is joined in the studio by Professor Victoria Baines, fellow of the Chartered Institute for IT.All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you have seen a wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, please do email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a voicenote to our Whatsapp number - 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Listener Amanda was Kefir curious, and got in touch with Sliced Bread to ask if the Kefir she was consuming for breakfast every day – was really having an impact on her health, cognitive function, and her gut?She wasn’t the only person to get in touch about kefir either, with others saying they keep seeing the benefits of fermented foods crowed about on social media. Greg Foot talks to head of the Food Biosciences department at the Irish National Research Body Teagasc, to get to the bottom of it.Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT

Jeff Foster, NHS GP and Director of Men's Health at Manual, explains testing pathways and treatment options. Mike Kirby, President of the British Society for Sexual Medicine, outlines clinical guidance on testosterone deficiency. They discuss what testosterone does, how testing and diagnostics work, treatment types and safety, fertility and sporting risks, and when long-term therapy might be appropriate.

Listener Jenny, who enjoys a 90% cocoa bar from time to time, got in touch to ask if some of the reports that dark chocolate can have a positive effect on things like circulation and mood - have any truth behind them? But Jenny also told Sliced Bread that since she read reports that heavy metals such as lead and cadmium could be in dark chocolate - she's been unable to enjoy her regular bar, until she knows it's safe to eat!Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them? If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM  PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH & GREG FOOT