Themes Tales of Invention

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TED has always loved a good creation story. No matter the scale -- kitchen, continent, or solar system -- invention grants us access to the frontiers of our understanding.

Legendary designer Philippe Starck's lively ruminations on his own creative process suggest how the patterns of a civilization might affect, say, the design of a citrus juicer. Jan Chipchase investigates the worldwide impact of mobile phones -- and the impact of culture on next-generation mobile technology. Explorer and adventurer Bill Stone, meanwhile, fires up a rapt audience with his ambitious plan to harvest energy from the moon.

Copyright lawyer Larry Lessig gives a brief history of creative freedom and copyright, and talks about how contemporary copyright law could strangle future artistic invention and interpretation. William Kamkwamba tells how he built a windmill from scrap metal when he was 14 years old. And Amy Smith shares her transformative low-tech tools for saving life in the developing world.

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Discuss this theme: Tales of Invention

  • mwaffaq al ziadat – April 17 2008

    when we talk a bout innovation we should remember our responsipilty towrds our kids, let them try, let them ask finaly give you a short time for you to learn from their non-stoped energy

  • marty schnoor – April 2 2008

    Reza,

    Another thought... as I was reading your proposal my mind wandered to this thought... I wonder how much diversity of thought there would be in a group (of any size) listening to a single speaker. Capturing the ideas is one very useful idea, capturing the representation of the diversity of thought among the group might not be as useful, but it sure is interesting (to me. Apparently I am easily entertained)

  • Buck P Creacy – February 29 2008

    I finally became a member of TED.com after lurking for the longest time. This site is so refreshing to coem to and hear discussions of substance and hear intellegent people speak, and hear such great hopes for mankind. I lvoe this site.

    Thank you TED, for this refreshing "drink of water"... in a desert of souless information and pseudo science nonsense.

  • mohsen nazir – November 18 2007

    It's Wonderful Work ... I will help you with all money and effort you need ... once I get rich which is after 10 years from now.

    - Really I appreciate if I can find Episodes on flying inventions OR the physics of flying and it's wonders.

    - May God bless your effort.

  • jeremie laflamme – June 19 2007

    Reza

    I love your idea and wish you luck. I can only offer my time, as I'm not part of the elite rich an famous.

  • Reza Yassan – May 24 2007

    Is there anyone in the field of Innovative Educational Ideas that can give me feedback on the following idea and help to make it in to reality -of course I will contribute - but need a serious partner who is willing to go "50/50" on this - what I think - revolutionary idea in the field of enhancing education / learning in our schools:
    Here is the idea:
    Automated Class-Note compilation system using a central processing computer and electronic clip-board.
    The way it works is: Students are given an electronic clip-board with hand-writing recognition (script-recognition) software. As the lecture in the class-room is going on each person is contributing their own version of what they understand and assimilate from the lecturer (from thier own thought-angle).
    As they are writing their ideas down it is collected by a central processor and duplicates are deleted (can use fuzzy-logic processor or genetic algorithm to do this part) as the lecture progresses. (each individual idea becomes part of the collective idea - i.e., no one can claim the note as their own but must share it as a group's idea)
    At the end of the lecture every one has contributed to a single body of a ducument reflecting collective assimilation of the lecture by the instructor. Everyone is then given an electronic copy of the compilation including the instructor. In this way at the end of each lecture one not only collects his/her own thoughts and assimilations but gains insight in to the collective thoughts of all those present at the lecture and who contributed. In this manner one can gain much more from each lecture than just his/own understaning of the subject matter.

  • Emanuel Spyer – April 12 2007

    Really nice videos. Ideas worth spreading! always. This beta should stay forever.