TED 2008 has opened – The Big Questions

David Heath
Thursday, 28 February 2008 17:40

IT Industry - Market

TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design is a growing organisation of free-thinking and problem-solving people seeking to deeply understand the world and to use that understanding for a better future for us all.

Lofty aims, I’m sure.  But, strangely, TED is achieving them.  Annual conferences in Monterey, California are sold out at least 12 months in advance, usually before the previous one starts.  Fifty prominent people are each given just 18 minutes to tell their story, along with many smaller presentations.  Al Gore featured in 2006, Jane Goodall in 2003.  This year, TED2008 has already seen Stephen Hawking, Ravi Shankar, Louise Leakey and Robin Williams. 

Still to come this year, amongst others, are Robert Ballard, the Oceanographer, Craig Venter, founder of the Institute for Genomic Research, Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club and Al Gore (again!).

How popular are the conferences?  On January 25th, TED announced that a ‘spare’ ticket was available (a VIP was unable to attend at the last moment) to be auctioned via eBay – proceeds going to charity.  The final bid?  $US 33,850.  The normal price is $US 6,000.

TED started with its first conference in 1984 and hasn’t looked back.  They have a very simple mission, as expressed on their website  – “spreading ideas.”  And very big ideas they are too.  Every year, they sponsor The TED Prize for 3 people winning a prize of $100,000 to help “Change the World.”  Oddly, one of the winners last year was Bill Clinton, we can only hope getting Hillary elected wasn’t how he hoped to “Change the World.”

TED is an organisation that really does seem to have some hope in changing the world.  They have the support of prominent people and the interest of thousands, if not millions of people around the world.  They vehemently hope you get involved and the web site describes many ways you can help.

Have a look at the website, get involved.  TED is important.