Technology Entertainment Design = TED

Welcome to my hub page about the TED conferences or better known as just TED. TED is short for Technology, Entertainment, Design, Its a annual conference held in Long beach, California in the USA. It was founded in 1984 by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks, but is now curated by British journalist and magazine publisher Chris Anderson. Since its begins TED has grown from a technology and design focused conference to a multi disciplinary event and global movement for innovation and change. It is famous for its short 18 minute presentation style and quality of speakers which ranges from nobel prize winner to celebrities.

I have been a hugh fan of TED for a number years now and was first introduced to the conference when i started working in the design industry, since then i have attended a few local TEDx events as well. TEDx events are localized extensions of the TED conference aimed at building local communities and effecting change.

The great thing about TED is that most of the talks are available free online at the official TED website, the talks are a great source of information and educational material. TEDx talks are also available on youtube.'

Here in this hub you will find a brief introduction to TED conference, related links and information but if you are really interested in knowing more then just attend one of your local TEDx events.

TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a global set of conferences (TED, TEDGlobal, TEDx) owned by Sapling Foundation a private non-profit formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading." Which is also the motto for TED.

TED was originally founded in 1984 as a one-off event but became an annual event held in February from 1990 to 2009 in Monterey, California. TEDs currently home is now in Long Beach and Palm Springs. TED's early emphasis was primarily technology and design, targeting the near by Silicon Valley audience. However since its origins TED has evolved to address a wider range of topics within various research fields, the practice of science, business, social issues and culture. One of the unique aspects of TED is that speakers are given a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas in the most innovative and engaging ways possible. Other shorter presentation of 3 to10 minutes are common and enabling audience to be more focused and not loss attention. Past presenters have included Bill Clinton, Jane Goodall, Malcolm Gladwell, Al Gore, Tim Brown, Gordon Brown, Richard Dawkins, Bill Gates, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and many Nobel Prize winners. In addition TED is also known for its live performances, within the conference schedule, these include musician, artist, live theatre and magicians, Bring fun and entertainment to education and the traditional style of conferences of talking heads. As a result TED has grown so popular that in June 2006, the TED talks were offered for free viewing online through the official TED.com site. And as of November 2011, over 1,050 talks are available free online. TED Talks have also been translated into multiple languages as part of the TED Open-Translation Project, which aims to "[reach] out to the 4.5 billion people on the planet who don't speak English," according to TED Curator Chris Anderson.

We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.

TED was founded by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks in 1984, Richard Wurman is an architect & graphic designer who is considered to be a pioneer in the practice of making information easily understandable and credited for coining the term information architect in 1979. He left TED in 2002, passing the curator and host position to Chris Anderson former British computer journalist and magazine publisher (Wired Magazine).

Entry to TED is by invitation only, with an annual membership fee of $7,000 USD, which includes attendance to the conference, club mailings, networking tools and conference DVDs. However a lower entry point was developed in the form of TEDActive, were attendees can still gain the TED experience, through a live stream for $2000,

In 2009 TED also begin TEDGlobal a companion conference, held in the UK each summer. In 2009 & 2010 TEDGlobal, was held in Oxford, UK, during July. However in 2011 the conference was moved to its new home in Edinburgh, Scotland.