Welcome to Atomun - TeleSUR's program on science and technology in Latin America, focusing on the human side of science and technology at the service of progress. Our host Danny Perez introduces today’s program with a glimpse of the movie “Her,” in which the main character Theodore Twombly gets a smart operative system, a kind of virtual secretary that he names Samantha and comes to love. In the 21st century many aspects of this work of fiction express the daily reality of millions of people who see their computers as their best friends and use devices such as smart phones and tablets to organize their activities. We then focus on Venezuela, where the Bolivarian government has followed the example set by former President Hugo Chavez in promoting the country’s scientific and technological progress based on a concept of sovereignty and independence. The Simon Bolivar Satellite, for example, has made it possible for isolated rural areas of the country to have access to telecommunications, TV and internet signal, as well as to tele-medicine and tele-education. Furthermore, the transmission and reception of ultrasound, X-rays and MRLs is now possible for people living in indigenous communities. Children and young people can take classes without the need to be in a classroom, and the establishment of special research institutes has made advances possible in the fields of biochemistry, physics, experimental medicine, cellular biology, astronomy and seismology. teleSUR
