“The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.” With these words Derek Sivers (TED, april 2010) explains how a movement is started. Watch this entertaining 3 minute TED talk and get inspired to try it yourself!
When you think of materials for clothing, you probably think of cotton or polyester or leather. Suzanne Lee (TED, 2011) came in to contact with a biologist and together they set up a process where it is possible to grow your own materials: Microbial – cellulose. Using this ‘vegetable leather’ she is able to design regular clothing and perhaps in the future even other constructions like a chair or a house. What will you grow with this process?
Have you ever tried to make a toaster from scratch? It could be a good project to try at home, but it is a lot more difficult than you might think! Thomas Thwaites (TEDSalon London, 2010) started at the basis (how do you get steel?) and discovers how much work it takes to get all the right components for something as common as a toaster.
Scientists are able to put a robot on Mars. So why not in our homes? Cynthia Breazeal (TEDWomen, Feb 2011) realized that for people to accept robots in their living room, it is important to look at the social interaction between robots and humans. Humans act sociable because it is in their nature. When robots mimic these features, people are more likely to interact with them in a natural way and even enjoy the ‘company’ of that robot.
Perhaps not something you can do at home right now, but definitely something you want to try in the future. In this short TED talk Jinha Lee (TED, 2013) shows how he was able to create an interface which allows you to work inside the computer. He demonstrates how the lines between the physical and the digital world are starting to dissolve.
People with the God complex are certain they understand how the world works. For every problem there is a definitive answer. You might know such a person in your family, at work or at school. Tim Harford (TEDGlobal, 2011) uses compelling examples on how using trial and error, instead of thinking there is just one answer, could lead to some extraordinary results. Let’s just try a bunch of stuff.
This video would have actually fitted right in the theme of last year’s TEDxDelft; Never Grow Up. Just to show you what you can do with Lego from your own home, watch this entertaining video by Hillel Cooperman (TED, Feb 2010). Whatever you can think of, you can make in Legos.
The core business of architects is designing big buildings, right? Alastair Parvin (TED, Feb 2013) argues that in the current economy, this is no longer the case. Instead of building a new school, why not look for other solutions for the infrastructure problem? Instead of professionals designing enormous offices, why not ask the people actually using the building to help design it? Design your own home and build it Ikea-style with technology already available now.
Young-ha Kim (TEDxSeoul July 2010), celebrated novelist in South Korea, wants you to unleash your inner artist. As a child we are all artists. The moment a child starts to lie, is the moment storytelling begins. We all have this in ourselves, but suppress it because of our daily lives. With funny anecdotes and great examples, Kim urges you to ignore the excuses you make and be an artist, right now!
(This video contains several subtitles including English and Dutch. Click on the bottom right-hand corner for options).
Smart materials exist. These are materials like ink that conducts electricity, a window that turns from clear to opaque at the flip of a switch and jelly that makes music. Catarina Mota (TEDGlobal, July 2012) inspires amateurs to use these smart materials and play with them, tinker at home and just experiment with it. The talk is right up the alley of TU Delft’s resident McGuyver Scientist Rolf Hut (TEDxDelft 2011 performer). Get to know these smart materials now.
John Hodgmen (TED March 2012), comedian and self-exclaimed expert, explains the concept of design in a very comical way. Hodgmen uses some well-known examples of design and how we subconsciously give meaning to objects, or how objects just blend into our lives. How does design pervade your home?
We will be posting some inspirational TED(x) talks for you to view at home. Get in the mood of TED and be inspired by this year’s TEDxDelft theme: Do try this at home!
Do watch this at home! Jon Nguyen: Tour the solar system from home
This talk by Jon Nguyen (TEDxSanDiego, Dec 2011) is great for every wannabe astronomer (or already accomplished astronomer for that matter). We all know Google Maps, which allows you to zoom in from above on a part of earth. Nguyen made a tool to zoom out into space. With his program you can ‘play’ with satellites and planets and learn about the solar system. Do try this at home!
To get you all in the mood of our TEDxDelft theme’Do try this at home’
Why can’t two slices of pizza be used as a slide clicker? Why shouldn’t you make music with ketchup? In this charming talk, inventor Jay Silver talks about the urge to play with the world around you. He shares some of his messiest inventions, and demos MaKey MaKey, a kit for hacking everyday objects. Read more
We’re very proud that the talk by Erik Schlangen, held at TEDxDelft 2012, has been selected by the TED.com editors to be featured on www.ted.com. Only 1{95388bbb2e9df0f2b3d26445fc24fe82185b1b567dbb094bc3a45074083d0a2b} of all worldwide TEDx talks organised is selected. Schlangen amazed his audience at TEDxDelft by repairing a broken piece of asphalt through heating it in a microwave oven – on stage. This ‘self-healing asphalt’ is a ground-breaking innovation in the roadbuilding sector, as it can save up to millions of dollars in terms of repair costs and reduction of traffic jams caused by road maintenance.
Watch the talk here:
Read more
Sometimes you’re in the mood to watch a TEDTalk — but you’re not sure which one to start with. Never fear — the Surprise Me player is here! Let this new serendipity engine handpick a playlist for you to watch that fits your mood and the amount of time you have.
Want 25 minutes of ingenious talks? Or 40 minutes of jaw-dropping ones? Let us surprise you >>
View! Rate! Comment! Help discover amazing new talent and shape the lineup for TED2013 by choosing your favorite videos from our worldwide talent search. Watch and vote on over 290 videos from 14 different cities. Your voice is critical! Read more
You might have a 5-year plan, but what about a 200-year plan? Artist Raghava KK has set his eyes on an ultra-long-term horizon; at TEDxSummit, he shows how it helps guide today’s choices and tomorrow’s goals — and encourages you to make your own 200-year plan too.
“When I think of the future, I never see myself moving forward in time. I actually see time moving backward towards me.” (Raghava KK) Read more
Since 2009, TEDx events have been organized all over the world. The popularity has grown exponentially, on average 6 to 7 TEDx events per day nowadays.
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Throughout human evolution, multiple versions of humans co-existed. Could we be mid-upgrade now? At TEDxSummit, Juan Enriquez sweeps across time and space to bring us to the present moment — and shows how technology is revealing evidence that suggests rapid evolution may be under way.
Juan Enriquez thinks and writes about profound changes that genomics will bring in business, technology, and society. His TED Book, “Homo Evolutis,” explores those changes.
At TEDxSummit, project groups were formed to make proposals to TED. The one I joined made a proposal to introduce regional lens websites: TEDx websites in native languages and focusing on relevant and regional TEDx-events and -talks. In our case: “TEDx in Nederland en in het Nederlands” treating the Netherlands and Flanders as a region.
Not to be mixed up with a TEDxNetherlands – this is not what we mean. We propose an online aggregation and overview per region, not a regional TEDx event. Read more
After more than a year of planning and dreaming, we’re finally launching our new TED-Ed website, whose goal is to offer teachers a thrilling new way to use video.
The site is in Beta. But we think there’s enough there to show why we’re so excited about this. Because the goal is to allow any teacher to take a video of their choice (yes, any video on YouTube, not just ours) and make it the heart of a “lesson” that can easily be assigned in class or as homework, complete with context, follow-up questions and further resources. Read more
1: Do not invite celebrities as speakers. Make celebrities out of your speakers.
2: If a company says ‘no’ to your sponsorship request, invite them to your event anyway.
3: “Ithaka gave you a splendid journey. Without her you would not have set out.” Poem bij Constaine Cavafy, 1911.
4: Design a cue-less event. Use your imagination and innovation to avoid cues for coffee, busses, whatsever.
5: Swap favours between sponsors.
6: Invite last year’s speakers to curate and host your TEDx salon or cinema event.
7: Interview fellow TEDx organizers and share the interview through your event’s blog or newsletter.
8: Pick one TED or TEDx talk a week and share and comment on it on your event’s website (‘team’s weekly pick’).
9: Give EVERYONE on your team access to EVERYTHING that is going on AT ALL TIMES.
10: Ban emails. Only use project sharing software like Basecamp.
Today, April 16 at 18.30, watch TEDxSummit 2012 Opening Night, a two-hour TED session featuring speakers and performers from the region and beyond.
Photo: James Duncan Davidson
Speakers include TEDTalks star and health-data guru Hans Rosling … boundary-breaking artist Raghava KK … TEDx teacher Diana Laufenberg … “solar cracking” expert Nesrin Ozalp … and the wonderful young singer Zain Awad!
TEDxDelft team members Simone en Rob are going to be watching the opening ceremony live in Doha, Qatar.If you have any questions about TEDxSummit or the opening night. Feel free to send us an email.
You probably have one too: a favorite Dutch word.
Yours might be beautifully written or pronounced (ideally both). Maybe your favorite word has multiple meanings. Or it might have no meaning at all but you love it because it just sounds funny.
Whatever your reason, your favorite Dutch word is the best of them all! And this is your chance to let your word shine…
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Earlier this week we got to welcome a new member to the TED-family: TED-Ed.
TED-Ed is an educational channel on Youtube, full with video lessons especially meant for students and teachers. With the promise ‘Lessons worth sharing’, TED-Ed wants to ignite curiosity and to make learning irresistible.