Series 1, Episode 4 synopsis:
15-year-old Erin Power from Balbriggan and would love to be more independent, but at school, she needs an SNA with her at all times, and when she tries to socialise with friends, her mum has to stay nearby at all times. Designer and inventor James Carrigan and coder Niamh Stockil are determined to come up with some fixes that change Erin’s life for the better. Fixes that will allow her to go out with friends and help her with her passion for writing.
15-year-old Josh Garvey from Rathfarnham has down’s syndrome and is non-verbal. He uses a tablet to speak, but it’s heavy, the volume is low, and it’s full of distractions. Can Games designer John O’ Donnell come up with a communication system for him that streamlines everything and allows him to express himself, at home, at school and in his all-important drama class?
Series overview:
A brand new RTÉ series, Big Life Fix, challenges a group of leading designers, engineers, computer programmers and technology experts to create inventions that will transform people’s lives. Filmed over the course of a full year, the group uses cutting edge science and technology to build practical solutions for those who need their help.
Based at TOG, a facility for makers in the Blackpitts area of Dublin city, the team harnesses the power of science to create tailor-made inventions for individuals and families. Between them, they can build everything from space satellites to life-saving medical devices and military hardware.
Made with the support of Science Foundation Ireland, this series marries real problems and human drama with science, proving that with a little bit of ingenuity – nothing is impossible.