Ideas worth spreading

TED2011

March 2011

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Unintended consequences

Every new invention changes the world -- in ways both intentional and unexpected. Historian Edward Tenner tells stories that illustrate the under-appreciated gap between our ability to innovate and our ability to foresee the consequences.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Every new invention changes the world -- in ways both intentional and unexpected. Historian Edward Tenner tells stories that illustrate the under-appreciated gap between our ability to innovate and our ability to foresee the consequences.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

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Edward Tenner is an independent writer, speaker and editor who analyzes the cultural aspects of technological change.