My Ted Talk Picks

I'm pretty sure most of the people are aware of ted talks. I've started watching the videos recently, its a great way to kill time when traveling. Its also a great way to escape from my little bubble of life and the daily grind and routine.

The talks provides a new prespective and outlook to the world and things around us. Ideas forged out of passion and creativity, and their drive to do something. The stories are inspiring, innovations are ingenious and above all everyone of them is thought provoking.

The best part about the talks is of course the people. A diverse group from all walks of life. I can still remember the excitement when I discovered a woman who travels to the poles to take pictures of Icebergs. I could have never imagined a profession like that. Or a boy, who living in the middle of nowhere, built a windmill to save his family from famine. Or a Physicist who got his PhD in fusion phsycis, saw that science was too far away from the world's problems and turned to farming and founded Open Source Ecology. A computer guy who quit his job when he discovered his love astrophysics. The list goes on...

I have the utmost admiration for each of these people. They have dedicated themselves for the betterment of the people and world around them, sometimes putting everything on the line. They inspire you to stand up and be counted.

These videos have changed my way of thinking. I no longer think that a life changing idea will always occur to an elite section of people, it can come to anyone. And no idea is small. What inspires you can be as mighty as the sun or something as small as an ant. And its not just the big buildings and monuments that deserve the admiration, but also the little things that we take for granted.

So here are some of videos I've seen so far, that I found to be intesting, inspiring, innovative and thought provoking. This is a very small compilation, and by no means an exhaustive one. So please feel free to explore. (And I will also try to refrain from commenting on the video. I don't want to spoil the talk)

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Dale Dougherty: We are makers
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dale_dougherty_we_are_makers.html

William Kamkwamba on building a windmill http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/william_kamkwamba_on_building_a_windmill.html

Marcin Jakubowski: Open-sourced blueprints for civilization http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/marcin_jakubowski.html

Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days
http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days.html

Anil Ananthaswamy: What it takes to do extreme astrophysics http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/anil_ananthaswamy.html

Charlie Todd: The shared experience of absurdity http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/charlie_todd_the_shared_experience_of_absurdity.html

Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy.html

Kathryn Schulz: On being wrong http://www.ted.com/talks/kathryn_schulz_on_being_wrong.html

Richard St. John's 8 secrets of success http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html

Jeremy Gilley: One day of peace http://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_gilley_one_day_of_peace.html

Steve Keil: A manifesto for play, for Bulgaria and beyond http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/steve_keil_a_manifesto_for_play_for_bulgaria_and_beyond.html


Technology Innovation
-------------------------------
Pranav Mistry on the thrilling potential of SixthSensehttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsense_technology.html

Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos Photosynthhttp://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera_y_arcas_demos_photosynth.html

Amit Sood: Building a museum of museums on the web http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/amit_sood_building_a_museum_of_museums_on_the_web.html


Interesting ideas
----------------------------
VS Ramachandran on your mindhttp://www.ted.com/talks/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.html

Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing creativityhttp://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

John Hunter on the World Peace Game http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/john_hunter_on_the_world_peace_game.html

David Christian: Big historyhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/david_christian_big_history.html

Ric Elias: 3 things I learned while my plane crashedhttp://www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias.html

Dyan deNapoli: The great penguin rescuehttp://www.ted.com/talks/dyan_denapoli_the_great_penguin_rescue.html

Robert Hammond: Building a park in the skyhttp://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html

<sorry, couldn't refrain from commenting on this one. The last bit of sound is super cool. Be sure to catch the oldest song you will ever hear>
Honor Harger: A history of the universe in soundhttp://www.ted.com/talks/honor_harger_a_history_of_the_universe_in_sound.html

eye candy
----------------------
David Gallo shows underwater astonishmentshttp://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html

Marco Tempest: The magic of truth and lies (and iPods)http://www.ted.com/talks/marco_tempest_the_magic_of_truth_and_lies_on_ipods.html

Louie Schwartzberg: The hidden beauty of pollination
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/louie_schwartzberg_the_hidden_beauty_of_pollination.html

Mike Matas: A next-generation digital bookhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/mike_matas.html

Camille Seaman : Haunting Photos Of Icehttp://www.ted.com/talks/camille_seaman_haunting_photos_of_ice.html

Paul Nicklen: Tales of ice-bound wonderlandshttp://www.ted.com/talks/paul_nicklen_tales_of_ice_bound_wonderlands.html


music
-----------
Robert Gupta and Joshua Roman duet on "Passacaglia"http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_gupta_and_joshua_roman_duet_on_passacaglia.html

Ahn Trio: A modern take on piano, violin, cello http://www.ted.com/talks/ahn_trio_a_modern_take_on_piano_violin_cello.html


Enjoy the videos..