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Jack Myers Live from TED: Prologue
The famed TED Conference gets underway today in Monterey and continues through Saturday. It's impossible to describe TED other than there's a waiting list, you are a "member," not an attendee; events continue throughout the year and around the world; and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Daphne Zuniga's TED documentary, available through NetFlix, is the best way to understand TED without experiencing it directly. Thanks to my friend Vic Sarjoo of Sir Groovy, my personal TED started last night with a dinner hosted by Sir Groovy board member Martin Pazzani, president of Elias Arts Holdings, and Julian Treasure, chairman of The Sound Agency. One of the great benefits of TED is meeting an incredibly eclectic group of people from around the world. Dinner guests included Bob Moore, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis USA, who is the only creative officer of a major U.S. agency headquartered in Seattle; Herb Kim, CEO of CodeWorks, a software company in Liverpool, England; David Kusek of Berklee College of Music; Jeremy Silver, CEO of Sibelius Software in England; and Sean Phelan, who recently sold his London-based web mapping company to Microsoft.
People are one of TED's greatest assets, and connections start literally from the moment the TED experience begins to the closing picnic Saturday afternoon. Those who come to TED expecting to cherry pick the sessions they attend, pop out for a quick phone call or must-attend business conference call, or who arrive late and leave early, miss the opportunity to understand TED as a gestalt -- a total immersive experience that requires full time and attention. I arrived early yesterday and bought local small production wines at Terranova, my favorite wine store and walked around the farmers market, buying incredibly aromatic flowers for my room and Guayaki Yerba Mate Pure Endurance drink to sustain me for the next several days.
Several long-time TEDsters, as we are called here, are curious whether this year's TED will deliver not only on the expectations of an experience not only rich in social, cultural, societal, cause-related and scientific discovery around the theme "The Big Questions," but whether it will also incorporate the promise of Technology, Entertainment and Design, the three foundation elements on which TED was originally built. This year's event seems to lack any relevant tie back to the media and entertainment industry, although it's always unfair to judge TED in advance. Fans of guitarist Kaki King will be envious to know she closes today's agenda at 5:30 this evening after we hear from anthropologist Wade Davis, paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey, artist Chris Jordan, neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor, particle physicist Patricia Burchat, paleontologist Pater D. Ward, "expert" John Hodgman (the PC guy from Apple commercials), and spiritual teacher Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Now you understand why a media guy like me wonders if curator Chris Anderson has moved totally away from the historical foundation of TED. But the opportunity to hear 20-minute presentations from people I would otherwise have no connection to is why TED is such a unique experience. And Anderson sprinkles surprises and special three-minute presentation throughout the event.
Also speaking here later this week are historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin, Al Gore, musician activist Bob Geldof, DNA origamist Paul Rothemund, Thomas Krens, terrorism investigator Steven Emerson, journalist Samantha Power, musician Vusi Mahlasela, novelist Amy Tan, designer Yves Béhar, visual effects wizard John Knoll (Star Wars), ocean explorer Robert Ballard (found the Titanic, the Bismarck and PT-109), mushroom expert Paul Stamets, Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson, designer Isaac Mizrahi, Boston Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander, and singer Nellie McKay. And this is just a partial list. Performers who contribute throughout include amazing storyteller and Brooklyn-based Rives, back for his third year at TED; singer and satirist Jill Sobule, Julia Sweeney, the juggling Raspyni Brothers and online comedian Ze Frank. The house band is led by the exceptional Thomas Dolby.
There are more than a thousand people here at TED, the last in Monterey. Next year, TED expands and moves further away from its roots to the Long Beach Conference Center. This year, in addition to Monterey, 300 TEDsters are also gathered for a simulcast in Aspen. I would like to be blogging directly from the Main Hall here at TED, where I'm one of the fortunate 500 with Main Hall passes, but TED urges us to leave our laptops in our hotel room. "We think our speakers merit your full attention," they explain. Bloggers are required to sit in the back row of the Main Hall or in one of the simulcast lounges. Plus, once the laptop is open and connected to WiFi, the temptation to check e-mail, correspond, check in with the office, chat online with friends, is just too strong. And when that happens, the TED experience gets pushed to the back of the brain. So for the next few days, I'm immersed. TED starts at 9:00 AM today with TED Drive opportunities to test drive Lexus, BMW and GM cars of the future, and with opportunities to attend the optional TED University -- more than 40 nine-minute lectures prepared by TED attendees. I'm registered for three "classes." Then at 1:30 the agenda officially begins, continuing through tonight's Welcome Party until 10 PM. Thursday's and Friday's agendas starts at 8:15 and continue through to 10 PM each day, and Saturday's schedule is from 8:15 to 12:30 PM, followed by the closing beach party.
I'll do my best to write -- but no promises. And since TED really is a holistic experience, my comments a few days and weeks post-TED will probably be the most relevant.
Live From TED Day One: Queen Noor, Robin Williams, Sergey and Larry
TED is truly about the content and the experience, but there can be no doubt the networking opportunities are an incredibly exciting and enticing part of being here in Monterey for these four days. Here's who I saw and connected with in the past three hours at the optional TED University, which to attend requires that you arrive one-day early: Queen Noor of Jordan, Robin Williams, Cameron Diaz, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, Jackie Bezos, Dean Kamen, Sony's Steve Mosko, Lee Daley, David Alberts, Eric Kuhne, Dan Klitsner, , Warren Packard, Paul Bricault, Bill Gross, Coca-Cola's Marc Mathieu, David Kidder, Jim Young, Majora Carter, Sarah Ferguson, Steve Rosenbaum, Jason Port, Scott Trowbridge, Linda Allison, Scott Cutler… and so many more.
The ideas, epiphanies, contacts and connections (human, emotional and intellectual) are already reaching a crescendo. Those TEDsters who miss TED University miss the point of being here: to open the mind, body and spirit to the greatest intellectuals of our time in their specific fields. From sustainability to magic, TED University offers a wealth of insights, ideas, fun and even chocolate.
Chatting between sessions with Virtual World expert Steve Nelson, I learned about footage never seen from the virtual world episode of NBC's The Office. NBC has to add this footage, some of which takes us into Dwight's Second Lifecloset, onto NBC.com Hulu.In this new media world, how can valuable footage like this be left on the cutting room floor? At the IAB Conference earlier this week, I spent time with Hulu CEO Jason Kilar. If you're reading Jason and Ben Silverman, here's a great opportunity to truly differentiate and draw audiences to Hulu and NBC.com. Steve also pointed out that virtual worlds and Second Life have moved through the "hyperbole and trough of disillusionment" and are now "moving up the slope of enlightenment." They are finding their place as educational tools, virtual corporate headquarters for corporate meetings and events, and as a venue for relevant, ongoing and cumulative small events rather than providing a mass advertising medium.
Tom Wujec of AutoDesk spoke about "the art of making ideas visible and the science of eliminating PowerPoint;" David Rose shared ten really valuable tools for making Google more effective as a search term; David Kidder, author of The Intellectual Devotional, introduced the idea of creating a personal board of directors to "unlock the next phase of growth in your life; Tom Guariello of TrueTalk shared insights on the future of social media and the inevitability of an Open Social platform such as OpenID andGoogle's OpenSocial. These are just a fraction of the offerings at TED University that I was able to attend. Of the 1100 registered users at TED here in Monterey an estimated half were registered for TED University.
The full conference starts in one-hour. Maybe I should overcome my resistance to Twittering so I can stay in touch with you.
Robin Williams Saves TED and BBC From Tech Meltdown: Jack Myers Live From TED
It's 11:30 PM Wednesday in Monterey. Thursday morning at 7 AM I will be meditating with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. TEDis best experienced from early morning to late at night and you never know when a classic TED moment will occur.
I don't think there could be a more inspirational, emotional or extraordinary story than Jill Bolte Taylor's. A brain scientist who suffered and recovered from a devastating stroke, Taylor's story is more than a medical curiosity. It is a story about the power we each have to choose who we are in the universe and how our life force is defined by our right brain/ left brain power structure. In her 18-minute segment, Taylor brought the 1200 TEDsters here in Monterey and another 300 in Aspen to tears and she received a five minute standing ovation.
Just a few more of the attendees at TED this year are Goldie Hawn, Daphne Zuniga, Meg Ryan, Microsoft's Craig Mundie, Forest Whitaker, Kleiner Perkin's John Doerr with his daughter, Kevin Wall, Fred Goldring and Ken Hertz, Mike Walsh, John Girard, Jim Turner, Matt Groening, Paul Allen, Pierr Omidyar, Scott Carlin, Lu Li, Lawrence Bender, Susan Bratton, Aileen Lee, Craig Venter, Jeff Bezos. Most surprisingly, this year TED founder Richard Saul Wurman has returned, the first TED he has attended since Chris Anderson acquired and restructured the event five years ago. Read about other TED attendees at
Where else but TED could I chat about book publishing with Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson ("the other one") and author Seth Godinjust minutes after watching Robin Williams perform a stand up impromptu comedy riff? Williams was in the audience for a special after-hours TED event -- the taping of a BBC World Debate on the future role of media in news, featuring journalist Carl Bernstein, Jordan's Queen Noor, Google's Sergey Brin and other notables. Two minutes into the taping, a technical problem stopped production and Williams totally stole the show, stepping onto the stage and riffing for ten minutes of pure comedic brilliance. "I think we have an example of old media at work here," he joked. Turning into an old man, he stared into the audience: "Online? You kids today…online. Your mom and me, we DID lines. WE WERE AWAKE!!."
Later, at a small dinner event hosted by CondeNast Portfolio, Ken Hertz, Fred Goldring and William Morris' Paul Bricault, Hasbro's Dave Capper demonstrated UDance, a new video game that promises to do for dance what Guitar Hero did for rock. It will be available at major retailers in time for Christmas. Capper also inveted Tooth Tunes, the best selling tooth brush that plays rock n' roll that only you can hear when it touches your teeth. At the dinner, I learned about the Blue Man Group's Blue Man School in Manhattan, which plans to expand from its current grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade level to straight through high school. As a big fan of Blue Man, what a thrill to have dinner with the three founding members, along with Meg Ryan, Daphne Zuniga, NetFlix' Ted Sarandosand eBay co-founder Jeff Skoll.Zuniga, who is starring in a new production at San Francisco Bay Theater, The Scene, produced an award-winning documentary about TED available at Amazon and NetFlix. She first learned about TED during our Lunch at Michael's conversation in
.It's challenging to share the TED experience without seeming disingenuous and overly enthusiastic. There is a shared sense of belonging, welcoming and mutual involvement. TED moments are often life changing. While you have not heard of most of the speakers, any one of them could change your life forever. There is not a moment to be missed at TED.
JackMyers Live from TED: BusinessWeek.com Comments on TED are Misguided
I'm proud to be a "TEDster" since 1992 and I'm fascinated by Sarah Lacy's perceptions in her Businessweek.com blog. She is honest in admitting she's envious not to be invited, but Business Week should sign her up now before it's sold out for next year and agree to pay for her or she should pay herself and find out whether her perceptions are accurate or not. I'm of course biased because I'm here and have been one of the "Fawning" bloggers at www.jackmyers.com. I have been critical of TED in the past but I see little evidence here of Sarah's criticisms. There are many students, educators, low-paid staffers of cause related and non-profit organizations. There are many entrepreneurs who have paid their way as an investment in their own personal intellectual, spiritual, and purpose-driven lives. All of that is available to take or leave, along with scientific exploration, music appreciation, global vision and extraordinary networking with the most eclectic audience you will ever meet at any conference. In my Live at TED commentary, I've been reporting who is attending. From celebrities to students, there is more equality here than at any conference I've been at. When a technical glitch occurred stopping a presentation, Robin Williams jumped on stage and entertained for ten minutes. The common denominator among all attendees is curiosity, not elitism. Next year, TED moves to Long Beach, a move many long time TEDsters mourn. But there is an excitement also about sharing TED with a larger world, and TED curator Chris Anderson makes all the presentations and special TED moments available to all at the TED.com website. It's a high price to attend TED, but I doubt there is even one attendee who is complaining.
TED is a Very Personal Group Experience
Friday 2 PM PT: After a very special group "Oneness Blessing" session with Tony and Sage Robbins at TED, Fred Goldring commented to me, "we zoom through our lives and here we stop to experience our life and realize how grateful we are." TED is humbling, empowering, motivating, overwhelming, educational, transformative. "We have a boundless curiosity," said science writer Richard Preston in closing this morning's session. At TED, the limits of our potential, our truths, our reality, our biases, our limitations are all challenged. TED, for those who are open to the
full experience releases the soul of someone whose mind is locked up just as music releases the soul of someone whose body is locked up, as we saw first hand
when cerebral palsy patient Dan Elsey from Tewksbury Hospital outside Boston was wheeled onstage by presenter Tod Machover, head of the MIT Media Lab Hyperinstruments/Opera of the Future group.Elsey, who has use only of his facial muscles and has been outside of Massachusetts only once before in his life, was flown by TED sponsor FlexJets to this year's event to present a concerto he composed and performs through facial control of the Hyperinstrument computer developed by Machover. The technology has the same basic functionality for empowering speech as the computer used by Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist who spoke to TEDsters Wednesday in a special satellite interview with TED curator Chris Anderson. Elsey's performance, during which his normally contorted facial features relax into a peaceful, composed and wonderfully focused presence, demonstrated the transformative power of the universe when human will and technology converge.
The 1,200 attendees here in Monterey and another 300 in Aspen are also being exposed to the serious threats facing the world and humanity. But even the most jaded observers must be impressed by the extraordinary intellectual power and resources that are at work identifying and addressing the issues confronting us. Yesterday, TED shared the wishes of three TEDPrize winners, and as I write this the TED community is gathered at lunches exploring how the wishes can be achieved, and identifying the voluntary contributions being made by TED members, who include many of the world's most successful and brilliant business people, explorers, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, physicists, physicians, musicians, performers and inventors, plus many like me who are simply very fortunate to be here and have the opportunity to learn, experience and contribute.
Author Dave Eggers TEDWish:
"I wish that you -- you personally and ever creative individual and organization you know -- will find a way to directly engage with a public school in your area and that you'll then tell the story of how you got involved, so that within a year we have 1,000 examples of transformative partnerships." based on the early response, I expect the number will grow toward 10,000.
Neil Turok's TEDWish:
"My wish is that you help us unlock and nurture scientific talent across Africa, so that within our lifetimes we are celebrating an African Einstein."
Karen Armstrong's TEDWish:
"I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abraham traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect (the Golden Rule)."
Two years ago, film-maker Jehane Noujain presented her TEDWish for a one-day event when the world would come together in a day of global commitment to peace. May 10 2008, thanks to the support of TEDsters, is Pangea Day, a moment in history when a four-hour program of short-films, music and speakers will be watched by a global audience of millions. Hosted live from Sony Studios in Los Angeles, audiences live on every continent will be linked by satellite, TV, Internet, phones and thousands of organized Pangea Day events. TED members will be hosting events at their homes, in restaurants, offices and other venues and an exceptional group of talented people will be spreading the Pangea Day message over the next two months and beyond. Organizers here at TED include Delia Cohen, Kevin Wall, Sony's Don Levy, Goldie Hawn, Bob Geldof, Lawrence Bender, Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan, Forest Whitaker, Paul Simon, Jeff Skoll, Jim Hornthal, plus WPP chairman Sir Martin Sorrell and MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath. Here at TED, History Channel president Nancy Dubuc shared her commitment to support the event.
To learn more about Pangea Day and to view the TEDWish presentations, visit www.TED.com and www.PangeaDay.org, and if you are interested in next year's TED, which will move to Long Beach after 24-years in Monterey, register now.
There are many highlights at TED, and just meeting interesting people is a significant part of the experience. Jason Port introduced me to Agistix.com CEO David Fox, who just acquired a tequila brewery in Mexico and will soon be marketing Cerritos brand tequila. Although it was still morning, he pulled out a bottle and cups and shared a shot with me and Scripps Networks' Deanna Brown. We both gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up. TED founder Richard Saul Wurman returned for his first TED after selling the conference to Anderson six-years ago and after resolving an acrimonious relationship between the two. A half-hour on-stage conversation between Wurman and Anderson was not only cathartic for many TED old-timers but an important introduction to Wurman for newer TEDsters who never knew him. Jay Walker, who has brought selected items from his home library to TED, including an original Sputnik spacecraft and the original Gutenberg Bible, extended an invitation to all attendees to visit him and experience his amazing collection first hand.
In addition to those here I've mentioned in previous Jack Myers On the Road at TED blogs, TEDsters here include NBCU's Beth Comstock, Lifetime's Andrea Wong, Jon Kamen, Microsoft's Craig Mundie, Sun Microsystems' John Gage, Dr. Dean Ornish, Microsoft's Joanne Bradford, Twitter's Biz Stone, Wikia's Gil Penchina, Neiman-Marcus' Ginger Reider, Magnify's Steve Rosenbaum, Susan Bratton, Chris Fralic, Skype's Don Albert, HBO's Scott Carlin, Gerry and Kit Laybourne, Ricky Strauss, Blaise Zerega, Daphne Zuniga, Lawrence Bender, Al Gore, and the founders of Blue Man Group.
Also this morning, Lawrence Bender and Fred Goldring shared with me their new "We Are the Ones" Barak Obama video, available at www.WeAretheOnesSong.com. Check it out.
More to come as I find time here to write.