TEDBlog October, 2010 Archive
14 October 2010
The art of the eco-mindshift: Natalie Jeremijenko
Natalie Jeremijenko’s unusual lab puts art to work, and addresses environmental woes by combining engineering know-how with public art and a team of volunteers. These real-life experiments include: Walking tadpoles, texting “fish,” planting fire-hydrant gardens and more. (Recorded at Business Innovation Factory 5, October 2009 in Providence, RI. Duration: 19:51)
Watch Natalie Jeremijenko’s talk on TED.com where you can download it, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 700+ TEDTalks.
14 October 2010
Introducing the TED iPad App
Today, TED releases the new TED iPad app, an innovative way to browse and watch TEDTalk video. The app redesigns the TED experience for the touchscreen, offering some cool iPad-only features for exploring, saving and watching.
The iPad app, which is the first official mobile app released by TED, lets viewers browse our almost 800 TEDTalks, running from 3 minutes to 30 minutes long, on a wide range of topics. The app is free and can be downloaded through the App Store in iTunes.
“The iPad presents a thrilling new platform for delivering a TED experience,” said June Cohen, Executive Producer of TED Media. “We rethought the user experience to take advantage of the portability, the touchscreen and the focused media time people have when they travel or settle in for an evening. We think TED fans will particularly love the “Inspire me” button, which creates a custom playlist to fill the exact amount of time they have free.”
The TED iPad app features include:
+ “Inspire Me” button. Touching this icon reveals an elegant watch face and the question: “How much time do you have?” Dial up a time, choose the type of talk you want (Inspiring? Funny? Jaw-dropping?) and you’ll get a playlist of talks that fits your schedule.
+ “Themes” serves up curated playlists of TEDTalks around topics such as “The Power of Cities,” “How We Learn,” “A Greener Future” and “Unconventional Explanations.”
+ “Tags” breaks down TEDTalks topics into some 250 categories, from “insects” to “robots,” from “happiness” to “fish.”
“Saved Talks” allows you to download and queue up several hours of TEDTalks for viewing offline anytime.
+ “Playlist Browser” lets you browse ahead in any playlist while watching a saved talk. It’s accessible by tapping the Info button.
The TED iPad app was developed by Matt Drance, a former Application Frameworks Evangelist at Apple who worked on the first iPhone SDK. He now works with the firm BookhouseSoftware. Read TED’s Q&A with Matt Drance >>
This first generation of the app does not yet support downloadable subtitles, but support for this feature on the iPad and on TED.com is in the works. A version of this app optimized for iPhone/iPod will be released in the first quarter of 2011.
Rolex, the supporting partner for the TED iPad app, figures prominently in the app’s “Inspire Me” feature, which evokes a watch face as it asks viewers “How much time do you have?”
The TED iPad app is available in Apple’s iTunes Store today for free. Download here >>
14 October 2010
TED’s iPad App: Q&A with developer Matt Drance
TED iPad App developer Matt Drance.
The TED iPad project was inspired by a number of requests coming in from TED fans wishing to see TEDTalks on mobile devices. In the past, the development community has graciously volunteered building various applications on both iPhone and Android platforms. When the iPad came out, we saw an opportunity to try our hand with our first foray into mobile platform development. The larger screen real estate of the iPad is a promising feature for viewing TEDTalks. We were also excited about what users may want to do with the content in offline mode, as well as what a TEDTalk playlist could look like. With assistance from OjingoLabs in the preliminary design stages and Matt Drance from BookhouseSoftware on final delivery, we hope we’ve brought to life a product that enables our fans to enjoy TED beyond the browser experience.
Matt took some time off from his busy day of coding to share with us thoughts on the project from behind the scenes.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: how did you come to be in the iPhone development space, and perhaps a glimpse into one shining moment in your career?
I grew up on Long Island, and I’ve been professionally involved in software development since I moved to California in 1999, with most of that time spent at Apple. I was the Application Frameworks Evangelist while the iPhone SDK was initially rolled out, which was obviously a tremendous learning opportunity. I helped companies build the first few generations of iPhone apps day in and day out until I decided to go off on my own and try life on the other side of the fence.
I think the decision to go independent has certainly been a shining moment for me. I loved every moment of my time at Apple, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it, but I think everyone dreams of doing their own thing, and that journey has been incredibly rewarding. It’s working out wonderfully so far, which certainly helps. This project has definitely been a highlight, and I’m sure it will continue to be for a long time.
When you were working on the TED iPad App, was there an a-ha moment, a breakthrough during the process that you’d like to talk about?
You need big obstacles to have big breakthroughs, and thankfully there were not many of those with this first release. Once I got familiar with the project in its then-current state, everything was pretty smooth. It’s been fun all the way through.
What feature are you most excited about with this app?
(more…)
13 October 2010
Haiti’s disaster of engineering: Peter Haas on TED.com
“Haiti was not a natural disaster,” says TED Fellow Peter Haas: “It was a disaster of engineering.” As the country rebuilds after January’s deadly quake, are bad old building practices creating another ticking time bomb? Haas’s group, AIDG, is helping Haiti’s builders learn modern building and engineering practices, to assemble a strong country brick by brick. (Recorded at the TED Senior Fellows conference at TEDGlobal 2010, July 2010 in Oxford, UK. Duration: 8:30)
Watch Peter Haas’s talk on TED.com where you can download it, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 700+ TEDTalks.
12 October 2010
3 lessons for nonprofits (from Coke): Melinda French Gates on TED.com
At TEDxChange, Melinda French Gates makes a provocative case for nonprofits taking a cue from big corporations such as Coca-Cola, whose plugged-in, global network of marketers and distributors ensures that every remote village wants — and can get — a Coke. Why shouldn’t this work for condoms, sanitation, vaccinations too? (Recorded at TEDxChange, September 2010 in New York, New York. Duration: 16:29)
Watch Melinda French Gates’s talk on TED.com where you can download it, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 700+ TEDTalks.
12 October 2010
TEDGlobal in 2011: in Edinburgh!
TED announced today that TEDGlobal 2011, which was originally scheduled to take place in Oxford, is moving to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The dates won’t change: the conference (theme: “The Stuff of Life“) will take place 11-15 July 2011. We have asked TED’s European director, Bruno Giussani, to explain the reasons for the move and what TEDsters can expect from the new location.
Why this move?
TEDGlobal has successfully taken place three times in Oxford (2005, 2009, 2010). We love the city and its great beauty and rich historical and cultural roots. We are proud of the events that we have been able to organize there, and grateful to all those who have helped us make them happen. However, the (lack of) infrastructure in Oxford was increasingly limiting our ability to develop TEDGlobal in new, imaginative ways. After an extensive analysis, we have found a fantastic venue, the Edinburgh International Conference Center (EICC) and have decided to make it the new home of TEDGlobal.
Why Edinburgh?
When we started considering a move, we looked at several other UK cities. Edinburgh topped our analysis. The town’s cultural life is vibrant and far-reaching (think of the Edinburgh Festival). The city (and its university) was one of the major centres of the Enlightenment. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, and poet Walter Scott were born in Edinburgh. Its tradition includes being the home of philosopher David Hume and of economist Adam Smith (and of Harry Potter author JK Rowling, too), among many others. We firmly believe that Edinburgh will be a very fitting home for TEDGlobal, as much as Oxford has been — just with improved facilities and infrastructure.
Will the move change the mix of those who attend TEDGlobal?
Not significantly. We will keep the size of the conference roughly the same (800 attendees), and we expect a similar high-level audience profile as the one in Oxford. We are comforted in this decision by the overwhelmingly favorable response to a survey that we submitted a couple of weeks ago to all those who have already registered to attend. We may use the increased capacity of the theatre to attract a few additional attendees from countries that aren’t currently very well represented at TED conferences, making the event even more international.
For those who have never been to Edinburgh: how do you get there?
The city is located about 380 miles north of London. It’s a 1h20 flight from London’s airports, and Edinburgh’s airport is well-connected internationally, as is Glasgow’s airport, an hour away. However, I would suggest that attendees who have some flexibility consider traveling by train at least one way, leaving from London’s Kings Cross: it’s a beautiful 5-hour train ride across the summer countryside.
Tell us more about the actual venue.
The Edinburgh International Conference Center, which will host TEDGlobal, is a fantastic piece of event architecture. It features a great, intimate theatre (actually, three of them, with surprising characteristics) and enough space and flexibility for hosting TED University, TEDx workshops, the TED Fellows conference, arts and tech exhibits, simulcast lounges, networking spaces and more. I’m just back from a visit there with TED’s Operations director Katherine McCartney, and we are very excited at the new possibilites offered by this infrastructure.
There was a charm to Oxford: how will we re-create that?
Ediburgh is actually a very nice city. It doesn’t feature the dreaming spires and gargoyles and Harry Potter-esque dining rooms of Oxford, but its old town is one of the best-preserved European medieval cities. It is dominated by Edinburgh Castle, a fortress atop a volcanic rock. The city is rich in museums (including the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Museum), it is home to the Scottish Parliament (whose spectacular new building was designed by star Catalan architect Enric Miralles). We will carefully weave TEDGlobal into the fabric of the city, using its intriguing landmarks for special events.
Remind us of the theme of the conference.
The theme of TEDGlobal 2011 will be “The Stuff of Life.” Over four days, with 50-plus speakers and performers from all over the world, we will look at who we are, what we do, and how we relate to each other and to other living organisms. We will analyze the resources, technologies and skills that make life possible and keep it going — and the many things that make it interesting, enjoyable and worthwhile. We will explore themes that are basic to our humanity, and those that threaten it. The team is at work to make this a stellar experience; We’ve been working on the program for the last few months, and it’s shaping up to be amazing.
Registration is open (and half the tickets are already gone). A TEDGlobal 2011 pass costs US$5,200 until the end of March 2011; after April 1, 2011, a TEDGlobal 2011 pass will cost US$6,000. Register here >>
09 October 2010
Poetry in motion: TEDTalks Playlist
Today’s playlist is about poetry. Where does a poem come from and how does it reveal itself? These speakers perform poems that come from the battlefields, childhood, and even from inside a computer, to create a lyrical soundtrack in some traditional and not-so-traditional ways.
C.K. Williams shows how growing up is not so easy, and opens up about the experiences and oddities of youth.
Emmanuel Jal channels the war-torn terror of his childhood to produce words and music that inspire.
Rives tells a type-faced story about a boy who loves a girl with a ponytail.
We’d love to hear more of your favorite TEDTalks about Poetry. Add your suggestions to the comments below, join the conversation on Facebook, or email contact@ted.com with the subject PLAYLIST: POETRY. (Jog your memory with the TEDTalks spreadsheet.)
Curator of this playlist: Rachel Tobias
09 October 2010
Behind the TEDTalk: New mini documentary starring Sir Ken and Raghava KK
With 300 million views since we started posting video in 2006, TEDTalks have become a powerful cultural force. But it all starts with a single person on a stage …
At TED2010, we sent a video crew to follow two speakers as they prepared to give the talk of their lives. One, the artist Raghava KK, had never spoken at TED before. The other, Sir Ken Robinson, in 2006 gave one of the most emailed TEDTalks of all time; this was his first time speaking at TED since then. Follow both speakers on their journey to the TED stage in this charming 8-minute film:
And watch these TEDTalks:
Ragava KK’s Five lives of an artist
Sir Ken Robinson’s: Bring on the learning revolution!
Sir Ken Robinson’s classic talk from 2006: Do schools kill creativity?
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08 October 2010
Fellows Friday with Kellee Santiago
What was your first experience with video games?
Well, I had played games all my life growing up. In my house, it was me and my younger brother. It was something that we could always share. We made every game cooperative, I think, whether it was or not.
I really liked this one PC game called “Sleuth.” It was like “Clue.” You played as the detective, and the goal was to find out who was the murderer, with what, in what room. Your icon was this little ASCii smiley face that moved around. If you hadn’t solved the mystery in so many moves, you would start hearing footsteps behind you. Eventually, you could get caught by the murderer. And it just scared me to death! [Laughs] I just loved that. It was so simple, but so effective and so evocative.
But I was coming from a theater background when I came to the University of Southern California’s MFA Interactive Media program. In the second semester we had to take a course on the history of games throughout human history. It discussed how the evolution of play occurred. It was really inspiring to me. Coming from my background in theater, I was always really inspired by creating new and original work. That’s why I was drawn to interactive media, because a lot of new theater was incorporating digital media and interactive elements. It was that same inspiration that drew me to games. I felt there was so much untapped potential in video games, as a communicative and expressive medium. It was really attractive as a creator.
Moving from theater to developing video games seems like a big jump. Did you have a background in computers?
I had grown up with computers. My dad was in software engineering. So we always had a computer at the home, as soon as you could. His rule of thumb was, “Do whatever you like, just make sure you back-up and make a copy first.” I think that really did leave me open to experimenting with technology, and inspired me to use technology, as it evolved, to express new messages. Every stage of evolution in technology unlocked more possibilities for creative communication. I find that really exciting.
Tell us about your flagship video game, “Cloud.”
“Cloud” was the student game that launched thatgamecompany. “Cloud” was an experiment in seeing if we could (a) make a game that expressed something different than video games had in the past, and (b) if people were even interested in playing that type of game. This was five years ago, and a lot has happened in games in the last five years, so it’s funny to think about it. But we really didn’t know at the time. We thought, “Maybe people only want to play ‘Grand Theft Auto’ style games. What do we know?”
07 October 2010
The good news of the decade?: Hans Rosling on TED.com
Hans Rosling reframes 10 years of UN data with his spectacular visuals, lighting up an astonishing — mostly unreported — piece of front-page-worthy good news. Along the way, he debunks one flawed approach to stats that blots out such vital stories. (Recorded at TEDxChange, September 2010 in New York, New York. Duration: 25:35)
Watch Hans Rosling’s talk on TED.com where you can download it, rate it, comment on it and find other talks and performances from our archive of 700+ TEDTalks.
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