Awesome TED Talks (and similar enlightening lectures)

[ThunderPeel2001]

60s dream technologies are based on the premise that we would still be doing the same shit we were doing fifty years ago, only better. Instead, we are doing amazing things nobody could have anticipated then.

Such as...?

[brkl]

Huh? If we're talking about day-to-day technologies like flying cars were supposed to be, smart phones, Google and Wikipedia obviously. Or if you're interested in cutting edge stuff then this thread is a good place to start.

[ThunderPeel2001]

Huh? If we're talking about day-to-day technologies like flying cars were supposed to be, smart phones, Google and Wikipedia obviously. Or if you're interested in cutting edge stuff then this thread is a good place to start.

Hmm. I'd take a flying car over a smart phone, I think (You know they predicted iPads in 2001: A Space Odyssey?) It's an interesting point about how interconnectiveness has changed our day-to-day lives, though. I'm still not hugely convinced it's a massive step forward, however technically impressive. I guess I have Luddite tendencies

[brkl]

If you're referring to what I found by Googling it (some years ago I would have had to just watch the film until I came across what you meant), that's a portable, flat device that shows video. Video is easily the least interesting feature an iPad has. Just a legacy technology, basically. IMO forward and backward are meaningless concepts here: without the industrial revolution, the world around us would be doing a whole lot better. But things sure are different and increasingly so.

[ThunderPeel2001]

[brkl]

[Luftmensch]

Great lecture about standards of proof in software development by Greg Wilson.

Here's some interesting comments on the lecture itself, also worth reading.

[melmer]

Ridiculous dude crashes TEDx and performs a fake talk for 20 minutes uninterrupted

[Twig]

...This is amazing.

[Erkki]

Great lecture about standards of proof in software development by Greg Wilson.

Here's some interesting comments on the lecture itself, also worth reading.

This is pretty good. I want to check out that book.

[TychoCelchuuu]

TED talks are lying to you.

[Roderick]

An enjoyable read though that was, I find it hard - perhaps due to the late hour - to parse its meaning. I understand that the idea's by Ted can act as an echo chamber to emphasize their profundity (when they may actually be quite banal), but there is surely enough practical knowledge also? At the same time, a lot of Ted is meant to be inspirational, so it's logical it exudes that almost religious touch.

 

The strange man crashing Ted X was worthwhile to watch. Especially around the twelfth minute it gets bonkers. Pity there are no burly men escorting him off at the end, or an admission of any kind.

[Ucantalas]

I don't know if TED talks are "lying", per se. Sure, they're not necessarily always immediately usable in real life situations or  applicable to all individuals (but again, what things are?). Like Rodi said, they're really more of an inspirational show, something to help people try and achieve more and be the best they can be.

Also, it's not like the article even goes on to explain how it's a lie, just that the author presumed advice was meant for a certain audience when it was meant for a different one. I'd hardly call that a lie. (But then that's just me complaining about petty stuff.)

It was still an interesting read, so thanks for posting it.

[clyde]

The thing I really got out of the article is that creativity is often judged based on the resulting product's perceived usefulness. Making the biggest mud-pie in the world isn't really considered creative unless it's baked by Banksy. The author seems to be proposing that this narrow perspective on creativity is intended for a class of people who deal in financial markets and who qualify effort by how much it money it might make. I would be willing to suggest that because we have largely become a market-society, this method of valuing things is just as common with people outside the financial sector of expertise.

The author could have gone to a little more effort by explaining to us what creativity is good for, if not for money made.

[eot]

This might not be for everyone

 

But this one is

[clyde]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7ZVWIELHQQY

[Stuart]

Craig Ferguson is such an awesome guy. I'm amazed he's still on broadcast TV, he should be much better known and be on cable TV with his own big show. But, where he is right now, he's a beacon of comedy and introspection in an otherwise vapid, boring segment in late night broadcast TV.

[Roderick]

Wow, that is funny AND frank AND amazing.

[Ucantalas]

I'm not a big fan of that style of show, but I genuinely like listening to Craig Ferguson.