Ethan Zuckerman is liveblogging TED2009, and has posted his notes from the morning session, “Predict.” Despite current troubles, speakers were decidedly optimistic for the future. Here’s an excerpt from Ethan’s article on Alex Tabarrok:
“Tabarrok sees growth coming from new ideas. He believes that future growth comes from ideas that have high R&D costs, but low production costs. He quotes Jefferson, with the wonderful maxim about knowledge, that he who lights his candle at mine receives light without darkening me. As he phrases it, ‘One apple feeds one man, one idea can feed the world.’ ”
Of course, there’s much more to see on Ethan’s blog. He has notes on statistician Nate Silver‘s discussion of the presidential elections and race, as well as political scientist Bruce Bueno de Mesquita with predictions on Iran. There’s also an update from Nicholas Negroponte on his One Laptop per Child program and a discussion about Dan Ariely and asking questions.
A positive outlook on the future may be what we all need now.