TEDx Leeds.
So after a couple of years of watching the awesome stuff at TED.com I heard about an event happening in Leeds - 3 guest speakers, 3 existing TED talks and the event presented by Imran Ali.
First up was Kevin Kelly’s popular talk on “5,000 days of the web”, recorded in 2007.
He tells us that the web was only 5,000 days and then indulges in some blue sky thinking around what’s in store for the next 5000 days - interesting but not particularly inspiring and 2 years on, perhaps his opinion would be different.
Next up, the first live speaker, Dr Norman Lewis with his response to Kevin’s talk and a few ideas of his own.
Norman is a great presenter, engaging, passionate, and highly opinionated. He talked about a change in the human mindset - one of fear over optimism - and in particular the lack of funding in technological research.
I couldn’t agree with everything he said but you’ve got to admired the guy’s passion and idealism.
Time for another recorded talk, this time by Rives, a poet I think (I gather he’s quite popular over the pond), 3 minutes of entertainment using “emoticons”.
He was quickly followed by Charles Cecil of Revolution Games.
I liked Charles, but I know for some, his talk barely scrapped the surface of what’s happened in gaming over the last 20 years and that’s probably a fair point.
He only had 20 - 30 minutes though and he held my attention for the duration - so worth sitting through for me at least.
Onto another quick recorded TED talk, this time it was Jacek Utko on how to save newspapers. It’s only a 5 minute spot but well worth checking out - his work is exceptional.
Closing the event out was Clive Grinyer on “The Democratisation Of Design”.
Clive delivered an entertaining talk on subject he’s clearly passionate about but sat at my desk this morning I’m struggling to to remember exactly what I took away from it! Hopefully it’ll turn up on youtube or something and I’ll be able to remind myself!
So the points on this one go to Norman. His talk was easily the most thought provoking and definitely the most talked about afterwards - maybe it could even be an “idea worth spreading”.
There’s more up and coming TEDx events happening all over the North of England (and around the world) so check out some links below.
Links:
TEDxLeeds: http://www.tedxnorth.com/leeds09/index.php
Imran Ali: http://imran.typepad.com/
Rives tells a story of mixed emoticons: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/rives_tells_a_story_of_mixed_emoticons.html
Kevin Kelly on 5,000 days of the web: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html
Jacek Utko asks can design save newspapers: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jacek_utko_asks_can_design_save_the_newspaper.html
Norman Lewis: http://www.wgrids.com/people.html
Charles Cecil: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cecil
Clive Grinyer: http://www.clivegrinyer.com/
