Inspiration from TED Talks

April 11, 2011 By Aminda

The TED 2011 conference was held last month in Long Beach, California and a selection of featured talks has recently been posted on-line. As usual, the presentations do not disappoint, with plenty of inspiration to invent and connect. Here are a couple of highlights.

Eric Whitacre: A virtual choir 2,000 voices strong

Two years ago, composer Eric Whitacre was inspired by a fan to lead a virtual choir of singers from around the world, using the power of YouTube. His goal for the first choir was to bring together 50 people, for the 2nd, 900, which ultimately became 2,052.

His story will be appreciated not only by artists and inventors but anyone who has worked on a virtual team. Whitacre poetically describes his virtual choir as “individual souls on desert islands, sending messages in bottle out to each other.” His presentation share moving quotes from participants of all ages and from around the globe and stories about how the satisfying it was to connect with people and participate in an undertaking of such scope. It was like a virtual Esprit de Corps, in Whitacre’s words.

Mick Ebeling: The invention that unlocked a locked-in artist

When Mark Ebeling, founder of international production company The Ebeling Group, was connected with an artist paralyzed head to toe by ALS, he was moved to help. The artist, known as TEMPT, was left with only use of his eyes and without the insurance coverage that could provide the advanced technology needed to communicate. It had been seven years since he had last been able to draw.

Through a process of connecting and researching available tools, Ebeling determined that a solution was possible. He enlisted a team of programmers to solve the problem and ultimately created the “eyewriter”, utilizing components including cheap sunglasses, camera parts and LED lights. Although the current design is, in Ebeling’s words, the artistic equivalent of an etch-a-sketch, it allows any paralyzed person to draw or communicate. Despite the fact that the team has made the design available for free, they are already working to make it stronger and faster. While the eyewriter has received significant media attention, and was honored as one of top 50 inventions of 2010, this presentation tells the story powerfully, concluding with Ebeling’s mandate, “If you see something that’s not possible, make it possible.”

Registration is open for TEDGlobal 2011,”The Stuff Of Life”, to be held July 11-15, in Edinburgh, Scotland


Share on      
Next Post »

Reader Comments


I saw that Mick Ebeling TED talk and was also greatly moved by it - as you tend to be by a lot of TED talks.

I really liked how he took the task on board and took full responsibility for it - sort like if not me then who, if not now then when? Really inspirational.

Going to check out the Eric Whitacre one now. Cheers for sharing some of the better inspirational TED talks. We can all benefit from watching them.
Jamey
Posted by Jamey K on December 4, 2011

Add your Comment

[LOGIN FIRST] if you're already a member.

fields are required.




Note: Your name will appear at the bottom of your comment.