TED Community » Simone Lackerbauer

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Digital lifestyle, cyberculture, VR & AR, SF, autodidacticism, new media, intercultural exchange, tech utopia & dystopia, art, literature, writing, illustrating, singing, foreign languages, travelling

An idea worth spreading

Cyberculture as a mainstream concept is based on the development of personalized usage of technological tools, such as computers. Autodidacticism and creativity play a decisive role in this process. Together with the cultural movements surrounding the first signs of cyberculture – such as the countercultural movements, libertarianism, new economy, cyberpunk in science fiction, and the VR hype – favored the emergence of technological utopia (and dystopia). These visions are based on different settings regarding the relationship between individuals, society, and the ever-accelerating technological progress, from technological determinism with postmodern cybernetic structures to positivist socio-constructivism and sociotechnical concepts. Media and mass culture reflect our struggle to cope with the changing shades of the real and virtual self in real and virtual societies.

Talk to me about

Cyberculture, virtual worlds, digital lifestyle, games, social networking, creativity, augmented reality, utopia, media & politics, science & research, think tanks, collaboration, education

People don't know that I'm good at

Singing. Being spontaneous, generous, geeky, ambitious, fierce, laid-back, serious. Talking nerdy.

My TED Story

TEDxParisUniversités in October 2010, right after I had moved to Paris. Googled TED and found the TED website, got inspired by events like TEDxSiliconValley, and the big TED Conferences. Got involved as a volunteer translator, later as Conversation Host. Went to TEDxParis in January 2011. Watched TEDGlobal 2011 on the webcast and was completely stunned. Went to TEDxBrussels 2011 in November 2011, then TEDxConcorde in January 2012 in Paris. Will be going to TEDxESCP in Paris in February, will watch the TED 2012 webcast live. Attended TEDxParisUniversités in April; haven't made it to a TEDx in Germany yet, but I'm keeping my eyes open. Would love to volunteer at a TEDx! And in 2012, I was happy to help with the translation of TEDGlobal posts into German for the blog of the Süddeutsche Zeitung.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +107.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: What adverse effects will the kids have, whose moms are working professionals?

  Aug 5 2012: Questions like this one are among the reasons why I don't see myself raising children anytime in the near future. I don't want to be confronted with these things, I don't want to have the impression I might be a bad mom, just because I would refuse to quit my job for my hypothetical children. In any case, how is it possible to generalize this sort of issue? Doesn't it depend on 1) the child itself and its character 2) both parents, not only the mother 3) the surrounding family and friends who can help?
  
  When I was little, I would spend lots of time with my great-grandmother, because my mom was working part-time. Did it harm me? Hell, no! On the contrary, it helped me to see the world from a different point of view with everything my great-grandmother told me. Moreover, it helped me to gain a tiny bit of independence, as in walking home alone all by myself, like a big girl.

• A reply on Conversation: Is the Mars Curiosity Rover really necessary?

  Aug 5 2012: You are definitely right there -- but the question is: can we afford to look at these things, or shouldn't we rather make these accidents happen in other, more pressing fields of science with a more direct benefit for humanity?
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  A reply on Conversation: Are constitutional monarchies still relevant in the 21st century?

  Aug 5 2012: I don't think you can talk about current monarchies without referring to their predecessors. Which doesn't mean to say: monarchies have always existed, so they should continue to exist today. On the contrary, it means that there has always been a reason why they existed: leadership and power in Ancient Greece which current monarchies are mostly not entitled with any longer; but back then, monarchies were also a symbol for political unity and represented the respective countries abroad, just like today. Chancellors and Prime Ministers aren't so very different when it comes to what they represent and how they are seen by the people or by foreign countries. Moreover, members of royal families in the direct line of succession are educated in political issues, so it's not like they are not qualified to ascend the throne.
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  A reply on Conversation: Are constitutional monarchies still relevant in the 21st century?

  Aug 5 2012: I strongly agree with Debra. As she said, the British are fond of their monarchy and the Queen is a remarkable person. Although we all have long ago outgrown fairy tales of princesses and knights, I think monarchies are still surrounded by a certain romantic aura -- and the values they represent live on. I think Monaco definitely is a great example for that (a Cinderella tale).
  
  I also think that royal families are able to pay their bills with their own money and I highly doubt that taxpayers' money is spent on royal décor. As for tourism... why not? People travel everywhere and anywhere to see the most amazing buildings and to attend the most stupid events. It's great that we are curious to see what's out there, what's going on in the world. I wouldn't say no to a guided tour through the royal palace... :)

• A reply on Conversation: Are we qualified enough to select our our own president, or prime minister or chief minister?

  Aug 5 2012: And if you made a certain knowledge about politics mandatory, e.g. by having the people attend politics classes? It wouldn't have to be like obtaining a diploma at university, but I think that just voluntarily concerning themselves with politics would help people to not vote for the prettiest face, but for the best program.
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  A comment on Conversation: Are we qualified enough to select our our own president, or prime minister or chief minister?

  Aug 5 2012: Isn't your model exactly what a representative democracy is supposed to be, as in the UK and in Germany? I'm saying "supposed to be", because the elected members of the parliament don't necessarily represent the opinions of all the people when it comes to selecting ministers and chancellors. I am tired of voting for a *political party* that has a political program which more or less (and rather less nowadays) corresponds with my personal ideas and beliefs. Instead, I would love to vote for the ministers directly and, so to say, tell them who they have to work together with, instead of letting the political party make those decisions for me.
  
  Would it be better to have regular citizens vote who don't know much about politics, or to have parties fight it out amongst themselves once we vote for them? I don't know. But I think more people would be interested in politics if we had the impression of truly being able to change things with our votes.

• A reply on Talk: Michael Hansmeyer: Building unimaginable shapes

  Jul 31 2012: I agree and disagree with both of you at the same time and I think your discussion is less related to the Talk, but to design itself. Isn't he difference between randomly drawing lines and extracting a design not previously envisioned from it, and envisioning a result which you then plan to draw a general difference between various types of designers and artists?
  
  We also have to ask ourselves: what was the purpose of his Talk? To show off well-known things (e.g. handling algorithms, Mandelbrot...), or to view design from a different perspective, less related to what we are used to?
  
  But very interesting thoughts indeed from both of you...

• A comment on Conversation: YOUR MOTTO?

  Jul 28 2012: Vive le temps volé - long live the stolen time, as in the time we take for ourselves and for our loved ones; the time that makes the difference between any life and *your* life.
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  A reply on Conversation: Do games make human smarter?

  Jul 24 2012: Are you saying that smart children / people should not play games in their leisure time, because the repetitive actions in games do not foster creativity and intelligence? I somewhat disagree with you here.
  
  As for PC, console, and online games -- the good ones are not only about repeating things and instant gratification after correctly applying the learned reflexes. Games are also about solving riddles, finding suitable strategies... and you can inlcude a lot of history or social problems in games and let players experience real-life issues in the context of virtual worlds!
  
  As for board and card games, the players are equally required to find the best strategies to win and to outsmart their opponents. A poker face can likewise be a useful tool in real-world situations, where you would not want your emotions to surface -- but that is just an example.
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  A reply on Conversation: why do earth's overall population grows, but in some countries decrease?

  Jul 24 2012: Germany - yes. But France - are you sure? I always had the impression that the French rather tend to have two or more children, because their social system makes it a lot easier to raise them, as for example the German system.