×
×
homepage logo

A Look Back: TED talks

By Gene Young - | Mar 29, 2012

I have discovered one of the biggest changes in communications since the invention of the printing press. It is called TED which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It is a global set of conferences owned by the private non profit Sapling Foundation. The goal of the foundation is to foster the spread of great ideas through the 18 minute TED talks. These talks are by the world’s smartest thinkers, greatest visionaries and most inspiring teachers, so that millions of people can gain a better understanding of the biggest issues faced by the world, and the desire to help create a better future. It was founded in 1984 in California and has since spread to many countries in the world.

An idea can be created out of nothing except an inspired imagination. An idea weighs nothing, it can be transferred across the world at the speed of light. An idea when received by a prepared mind can have an extraordinary impact, it can reshape the mind’s view of the world, it can dramatically alter the behavior of the mind’s owner, and it can cause the mind to pass on the idea to others.

I have found if you type in TED.com in your computer and use a forward slash and any subject you are interested in, you will be amazed at what you will find. The individuals doing the talking are limited to 18 minutes and they always have an audience in front of them. These talks have been transferred into 70 different languages and listened to by 500 million people.

Since we are visual people, online video has been added to these talks. Videos can do more things and have more influence than the printed word. It is face to face communication and what is amazing, one person can now be seen by millions of people worldwide.

I discovered this by accident when I was doing research for one of my columns, and now use it whenever I have questions. Several of the noted speakers have been Bill Clinton in 2007, Bill Gates in 2010. Mr. Gates talked about his view about the world’s energy future.

There is never an end to ideas and thankfully they can be shared for free.