TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design)

TED is a global set of conferences owned by a private non-profit Foundation under the slogan: “Ideas Worth Spreading”. The main conference it is hold annually in Vancouver, Canada, although TED events are also held throughout North America, Europe and Asia, offering live streaming talks. Currently there’s more than 1500 TED Talks, all are subtitled in English, and many in other languages.

Speakers at TED events have a maximum of 18 minutes to share their messages, which are delivered in highly polished speeches.

TED’s mission is to spread great ideas worldwide, giving an insight into a great variety of topics like: technology, entertainment, design, business, science, global issues, etc.

Chris Anderson (Curator of TED conference), (left), and Google’s Sergey Brin discuss Google Glass at TED 2013.

 

It is one of my favourite sources for inspiration and practical advice. I think TED talks have certainly set a benchmark in recent years and I wanted to share it with the team, as I feel is not that popular in the office.

I like the fact that the speakers bring to learning a lifetime of previously acquired information and experience, exposing with effective video instruction without dumbing down. It is also a good opportunity to have a glimpse of other disciplines you might not be familiar with.

Bill Gates “Teachers needs real feedback” at TED 2013

TEDx

In the spirit of “Ideas worth spreading”, alongside TEDx is a program designed to give communities, organisations and individuals the opportunity to create their own TED-like events at the local level.

 

TEDxTokyo

TEDxTokyo was the first TEDx conference to be held following the US launch event in 2009. TedxTokyo, located in Hikarie building, Shibuya from 2012, has become a powerful platform for bringing together global innovators and creative talent from Japan and around the world.

Nowadays there’s actually many Tedx hold all over Japan,  if you want to keep updated with TED events hold in Japan here is the link. Next one is TEDxKyoto 28th of September, for next TEDxTokyo we will have to wait until October 8th. 

TEDxTokyo 2013

Talks

As there’s tones of Talks, there is available playlists curated by TED  like: “20 most popular TED Talks of all time” , “Kickstart your creativity“, “Talks to give you wanderlust“, etc.

Here are some beautiful and clever talks I’ve chosen (with Japanese subtitles):

“Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children.”

From TEDxIndia. “…Pranav Mistry invented a wearable device that enables new interactions between the real world and the world of data”.

“Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive.”

From TEDWomen “Sheryl Sandberg, COO at the helm of Facebook looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions.”

 

What are your favourite TED Talks?