TED Community » Benjamin Rowell

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Biology, Art, Cycling, Guitar

Talk to me about

Whatever you want, I am always happy to engage in good conversation.

People don't know that I'm good at

Guitar

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.20 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: Conversation with Simon Lewis: How do we make the most of our Consciousness?

  Sep 27 2011: How can we develop an integrated approach to maximize our most precious resource on Earth — our collective consciousness — and nurture it in each of us?
  
  - I think the web is a perfect example of a place where our collective conciousness is nurtured and surfaced. Take TED as an example; an idea that once manifested itself in the mind of one person, has now gone on to transform the lives of millions of people around the world. TED is like a collective brain and it's website is the portal into it. I think we should have more places like TED; places which connect people, drive innovation and give people a very real and grand sense of well-being.
  
  Why aren’t measurable repeatable approaches, to bridge the gap from potential mind toward actual mind, widely...?
  
  - I think that's a very interesting question and certainly not an easy one to answer. My twenty or so years of life experience tell me that variety holds up well against a lot of things. Trying different things, trying new things, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and being encouraged to do so, really helps you to unlock your own potential and give you a feeling of wanting to share it. As science and technology continues to develop, I think our understanding of our connectomes and the universal properties of concious mind will be uncovered. Once they are uncovered, we can explore the differences between those individuals who maximise the use of their conciousness and teach/ train others to exploit it. Until that time arrises, I think it would be sensible to suggest simply sharing our thoughts. In order to unlock the tools and share them ubiquitously amongst the worlds pupulation, you need to create a central hub; somewhere that ideas and thought can be explored and tuned into. This is where the internet comes into play and is one of the ways in which it's revolutionsing our planet. The web should house the global conciousness; and I think it already does, it's just sometimes hard to filter through.
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  A reply on Conversation: LIVE CHAT With Sean Gourley: What are some of the lessons from war we can apply to other human endeavors? June 17, 2PM EDT

  Jun 17 2011: My thoughts precisely. The logistics of commanding a large group of soldiers also comes into play. Although decisions made by insurgent groups are still hierarchical, the way in which they deploy for an objective is far less regimented than an army operation. Their agenda is also often very different.
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  A reply on Conversation: LIVE CHAT With Sean Gourley: What are some of the lessons from war we can apply to other human endeavors? June 17, 2PM EDT

  Jun 17 2011: The lucidity of a smaller group of insurgents is my guess at what sometimes gives them the upper hand. The way they behave is possibly far less predictable than a well structured, larger military group.

• A comment on Talk: David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes

  Apr 15 2011: A magnificent perspective, thoroughly enjoyed this talk.

• A comment on Talk: Mark Bezos: A life lesson from a volunteer firefighter

  Apr 1 2011: Definitely not what I was expecting but an incredibly powerful message none-the-less.

• A comment on Talk: JR's TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out

  Mar 4 2011: I have been a supporter of this nature of work for a long time now. The simple fact that it champions inherited beliefs and opens up the perspectives of individuals in areas of great controversy, is surely its biggest advocate.
  
  This talk was both inspiring and moving. I shall be keeping a close eye on the future work of JR.
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  A comment on Talk: Tom Chatfield: 7 ways games reward the brain

  Nov 4 2010: Great talk, the gaming industry has fantastic untapped application and potential.

• A comment on Talk: Gero Miesenboeck reengineers a brain

  Nov 4 2010: I read about Meisenboeck's work early last year. The work this man is doing is genius.
  
  Hurrah for brilliant science.

• A comment on Talk: Jessica Jackley: Poverty, money -- and love

  Oct 18 2010: This was a hugely inspiring talk and the work Jessica is doing is fantastic.
  
  The feeling of guilt in these situations is definitely something everyone can relate to, and the idea of removing that feeling of guilt and replacing it with stories of growth is great. I can't express enough the admiration I have for the work she is doing.

• A comment on Talk: Ze Frank's web playroom

  Oct 15 2010: This was a great talk. Ze is a master of creative digital social interaction. His wacky ideas don't need justification, in practice they are brilliant. Something about his work brings people back down to earth and encourages selfless behaviour. Can't wait to see what he's doing next!