Quack medical devices were "fake news" but people bought them | Denny Daniel | TEDxFultonStreet
Denny Daniel |
TEDxFultonStreet
• June 2018
Vintage technology curator Denny Daniel of the "Museum of Interesting Things" demonstrates scary early electric appliances that made outrageous medical claims. Why did people buy and use these products? Denny Daniel is the curator and founder of The Museum of Interesting Things — a traveling interactive demonstration/exhibition of antiques and inventions that goes to schools and events and inspires kids and adults to be curious and to tinker.
The recession that disillusioned so many ironically spurred Denny into a buying frenzy of various interesting things for his newest vision, The Museum of Interesting Things. The epiphany that inspired the museum is two fold: one at Shea Stadium, and one with a neighbor’s son. A 1904 Thomas Edison Cylinder phonograph arrived at Denny’s apartment with a large curved horn. A neighbor’s child, Enoch, enjoyed postulating various methods to assemble it until he figured out how to put it together and make it work. That was when Denny realized he needed to put the things he owned to work inspiring people to invent and innovate. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx