Meet TED

 

I would like to introduce you to my new friend, Ted. Ted is not a person, but an idea, a website, an event. The tagline just under the title header on the homepage of ted.com says “Riveting talks by remarkable people. Free to the world.”  

Here you will find videos of speeches made by people from all walks of life, from all over the world.  This includes doctors, prisoners, orphans, business people, politicians, and researchers. These speeches cover a vast variety of topics from a first-hand description of what it feels like to experience a stroke, to jihad, art, engineering, medicine, music and theatre. And that’s just what’s on the first page!

Just yesterday I listened to a speech titled “How to solve traffic jams”. Is he serious? Maybe he’s speaking tongue-in-check….. Check out Jonas Eliasson’s speech for yourself to discover which.   

If you hear something that you want to discuss further you can start an online conversation, or join one in progress, and give your thoughts on the topic.  Other people can respond to what you write and share their ideas. This allows you to see different sides of the topic and learn even more. It might even change your opinion on a particular topic.

My friend Ted is fascinating. Just be careful he doesn’t steal you away from your other friends, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube……. or the living breathing people around you…..        

Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaundon/5757342705/">shaundon</a> / <a href="http://foter.com/Love/">Foter</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">CC BY-NC-SA</a>