TED talks are truly incredible. They can inspire you, make you laugh, bring tears to your eyes, and cause your jaw to hit the floor. For those who know nothing about TED, here is a bit of background information. TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a global set of conferences run by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, under the slogan "Ideas Worth Spreading." While the original intent was t
o have an emphasis on science and technology, TED has certainly broadened its topics, touching on things like love, economics, and even culture. Those of you who watch TED Talks may have already seen many, if not all, of the talks below; however, I'm sure there are just as many of you who haven't seen a single one. So here a 5 intriguing TED Talks that should spark your interest.
Pranav Mistry, who is an MIT grad...just to illustrate his brilliance, invented SixthSense technology. According to Mistry's website SixthSense is, "A wearable gestural interface that augments the physical world around us with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with that information." In layman's terms, SixthSense can project interfaces, much like the one on your touchscreen devices, onto everyday surfaces like sheets of paper and sticky notes. Think about having Smart Board technology with you everywhere you go. To be honest, Mistry's invention is too brilliant for me to explain it to you...so you're just going to have to watch the video for yourself.
It may be cheating to add an entire website to this, but I think it's appropriate. TED-Ed videos are informational videos geared towards kids aged 8-18 that tend to be shorter in length than their adult-geared counterparts. Granted, most of us are no longer in the age range above, but these little videos give you answers to things we know little to nothing about, but don't care to search for because we take them for granted. For example, why blood types matter, what's the big deal with gluten, and how to unboil an egg...sort of. (We don't take this one for granted at all...I still don't believe it can be done.) So if you're just curious about the world around you check out some TED-Ed videos.
3. Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything
Cameron Russell is stunning. I mean drop-dead gorgeous...I'm sure both men and women will agree. Russell has modeled for top designers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Victoria's Secret. However, the thing about Russell is she realizes that as a "pretty white girl" she has won a genetic lottery, and this is why she is a model; she is able to fit into our society's definition of physical attraction. During her empowering talk, Russell gives us a little peak at the modeling industry, tells us why image isn't everything, and acknowledges the privileges she has because of the color of her skin and the way she looks.
4. Esther Perel: Rethinking infidelity...
At this time in our lives many of us have loved, or experienced something we thought was love...and many of us have been cheated on. Esther Perel, a Belgian psychotherapist who specializes in relationships, delivers a rather insightful thought on infidelity and why we are unfaithful. Anyone who was loved, been loved, or plans on loving can find something to take away from this talk as Perel looks at infidelity, its causes, and what it really means from a different perspective than we've ever seen before.
5. David Gallo: Underwater astonishments
Astonishing is an apt description of David Gallo's talk. Have you ever seen the video clip on social media the demonstrates the camouflage capabilities of the octopus? If not, this is where that clip came from. Gallo will take you from your seat, plunge you into the ocean, and take you on a watery adventure that will have your jaw scraping the floor. Guaranteed. This isn't a talk you want to pass up.
Well, these are 5 of my favorite TED talks. I've tried to include talks from different disciplines and talks that will evoke different emotions so you can get an idea of what TED talks are all about. If you've never seen a TED talk think of this as a little guide to get you going on your TED journey, and if you have maybe you'll find a video on the list you haven't seen yet. Whether it's a rainy day, you want something to show a friend, or you just want to watch something before you go to bed, you can turn find a probably find a TED talk that will tickle your fancy.
