This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
What’s a trend happening now that we should be aware of?
This afternoon at TED U, as the stage was being set up for a musical performance by Somi, host June Cohen asked the audience at the Lyceum Theater: “What’s a trend happening now that we should be aware of?”
What do you think?
Topics:
TED University tedglobal2011 trends
Autumn Frisco 10+
simon roger
Laurens Rademakers 50+
-- the stellar rise of an African middle class. --
I've seen youngsters in Douala and Kinshasa doing things with fashion and mobile technology that would be seen as very trendy over here in Europe.
And this is only the beginning.
The rapid rise of Africa will take all of us by surprise.
simon roger
Laurens Rademakers 50+
I think political instability is a major factor in fostering creativity (contradictory as this may sound).
Just one example: recently, in Kinshasa, there was a very popular song, with some sexual undertones. The government has banned it (as does often). So now everybody's finding new ways of sharing and playing it in public, - in hidden, creative, stealthy ways.
When political instability takes out communication networks (as it has been the case often in Africa, but now also in the Middle East), new technologies pop up. I think of the creation of "illegal" ad-hoc networks made by very little means.
In short, political instability is not always counter to creativity. Economic desperation isn't either, it's rather an engine of it.
Of course, for a genuine middle class to arise, there needs to be a level of economic and political calm and prosperity. This calm is growing all over the continent. The number of wars and political conflicts has gone down dramatically since the 1980s. But often, we only get to see news about war and misery when we watch our media reporting on Africa.
That's why I think Africa's rise will surprise us. The bulk of countries there are rapidly creating middle classes, have stability on most fronts, and are growing economically at stellar rates.
Ask any serious international stock portfolio manager, and you'll find stocks of at least the Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Namibian exchanges in that portfolio. Not that I like stock markets, but it's a signal for growing stability and a transition towards countries that are growing and innovating.
simon roger
L.A. Hall
simon roger
-to all interested in what Laurens wrote, though not really about middle class but about the innovation and creativity that can result out of big problems and limitations-
Jimmy Strobl 50+
http://www.ted.com/conversations/4224/help_reveal_stop_the_secret_w.html
Comment deleted
Jimmy Strobl 50+
Edit: I've flagged the comment since I feel that It's a personal assault on Jam!
Edit2: or am I wrong by doing this? I interpreted your comment as "She's a slut", if that's not the case I apologize.
Adam Newton
Jam Cipres 500+
I am always grateful for Jimmy for the kindness and courtesy.
I request Mr. Newton to see this blog from which this conversation is inspired. http://blog.ted.com/page/2/
Adam Newton
Travis Tokarek
Unity, Compromise, Hope......?
Judge Pau 50+
Virtualization and Network convergence
Jam Cipres 500+
Jimmy Strobl 50+
Gavin Smith 10+
Jimmy Strobl 50+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality
Mohit Chhabra 500+
simon roger