Interesting lectures ted in Russian. TEDx: what it is, the meaning and meaning of the conference, why it is held

I remember everything so clearly, like it happened yesterday. Adrenaline euphoria, and then immediately unspeakable shame. Two years ago I was asked to speak at a TED conference. And then… the invitation was cancelled. Now I will tell you everything in order, it will be like the confession of a rejected lover who still reads the posts of his ex on Facebook.

First there was a letter: a student from Oxford wrote to me, the son of a friend of a friend whom I had not seen since my university years. This intricate chain alone was enough to immediately play the music from Brideshead Revisited in my head - there was such a series in the eighties. This student asked me if I would be willing to speak at TEDx Talks at the Sheldon Theatre, on any topic of my choice. However, I later found out that TED with an additional "x" is not exactly the same as just TED. TEDx is like a franchise. But these speeches are still posted on Youtube under the TED logo.

After reading the letter, I jumped up from my desk. I radiated the purest passionate self-adoration. Speaking at TED is like receiving an order of honor, only better. This conference is a rock and roll gallery of fame for nerds. In an instant, a picture appeared before my eyes: I would be standing on stage, like most TED speakers, in a strict dark suit and a light-colored shirt without a tie. They will put a tiny microphone on my head on a thin plastic shackle, stretching along my cheek right to my mouth. Even if the microphone is not needed, I will put on an unconnected one.

I'll be strutting around the stage, juggling statistics and cool facts about cinema, culture and the internet like journalist Malcolm Gladwell or sociologist and prognostic genius Nate Silver. On the count of times, I'll make the audience shake with laughter. On the count of two, they will go silent, their eyes bulging, because I will completely blow their brains out with the casually mentioned piece of my secret knowledge. I even prepared a couple of jokes "for my own". I came up with the name of the lecture: "The Selfish Meme" - hello to Richard Dawkins with his "Selfish Gene". Isn't it brilliant?

And then something terrible happened. About a month later - I still hadn't written my speech, but had already sketched out some ideas - I answered the organizers. I wrote that I was ready and asked what dates my performance was scheduled for. The answer was immediate: since I had not responded earlier, they decided that I was not interested in their offer, and invited someone else. At least that's how I understood them. Maybe there really is a brilliant, award-winning statistician somewhere at MIT, an expert on emotional intelligence named Peter Bradshaw, and they've only just realized that I'm not him. I deflated like a punctured balloon.

The occasion to remember this embarrassment now, in 2017, is the 60th anniversary of the writer and entrepreneur Chris Anderson, who dreamed up the TED conference as we know and love it. Now his brainchild has grown to enormous proportions: more than two and a half thousand speeches have been posted online with a total number of views of about four billion, and TEDx has hosted 15 thousand speeches.

Initially, the TED conference, whose abbreviation stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Design", was conceived as a one-time event - in 1984 it was moderated by the architect and designer Richard Saul Wurman in Monterey, California. In 1990, the conference was decided to be held on a regular basis, and soon it became incredibly popular. In 2001, the non-profit Chris Anderson Sapling Foundation began to manage the project. In 2005, with the advent of YouTube, the history of TED had a real breakthrough. A year later, Anderson made the decision to release the TED Talks for free. Speeches by Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and other famous TED speakers immediately became Internet hits.

Why has the TED format become so popular? It should be understood that the manner of presentation adopted at TED is largely inherited from specific speeches, the so-called afternoon speeches. In the days when I was still a boy, the ability to push such speeches beautifully - to bring up a rather serious topic and dissect it with unobtrusive humor - helped some smart people jump over a couple of steps. career ladder. In addition, the books of so-called motivational writers like Dale Carnegie became the foundation for TED. But the TED project borrowed most of all from the BBC Christmas Science Lectures for Schoolchildren, which have been published since 1963 - the lecturers tried to speak loftily, but in a popular and emphasized informal way, like today's conference speakers. Another important part of the TED secret is apoliticality. "Technology, entertainment, design" - there is nothing to quarrel about here. The themes strive for an all-encompassing globality in the spirit of “we are the world” or, conversely, for the extremely mundane details of our lives, in which great wisdom sometimes looms.

The TED Talks project is designed to be a kind of chest of ideas, an inexhaustible source of motivation. But some of his releases on YouTube can bring the viewer to the handle. Before writing this article, I watched a lot of different speeches, one after another. After that, I was like delirious. I overdosed on TED and started to see a sign or a puzzle in every piece of nonsense. For example, sitting in a half-empty subway car, I looked around and thought: “Wow! People are seated so as to be away from each other. The first - to one end of the car, the second - to the opposite, the third - to the middle and so on. Just like the lineup in the Wimbledon tournament bracket!”

But the worst thing about TED Talks is the eruptions of platitudes from conceited, narcissistic celebrities. Perhaps the worst speaker was Bono. In 2013, he delivered the Good News About Poverty speech. It was unbearable to watch. Like many super-rich people, he is terribly concerned about the poverty of people in developing countries and in the states of Africa: firstly, it is always relevant, and secondly, it is completely safe, since the discussion of poverty in home country can force the public to inquire about the prosperous tax return.

Bono said that the availability of antiretroviral drugs in third world countries is very important for the fight against HIV and AIDS. Okay, that's a healthy idea. But at the same time, it did not occur to him to refer to the words of at least one inhabitant of those countries about whose well-being he was so worried. In addition, Bono selected facts and pictures for his speech with the same pretentiousness with which Madonna selected orphans for her orphanage in Malawi. At some point, he began to convince the audience that he was here not at all as Bono - a rock star, but as a transmitter of knowledge. As proof of this, he took off his famous glasses and put them upside down for a couple of seconds, portraying, as it seems to him, a beautiful botanist in his absent-mindedness. He cracked a joke: "Let's look at the Brazilian development model... Who doesn't love Brazilian models?" — and paused. But no one laughed. Then, with unbearably ostentatious self-deprecation, he said that if all the problems he named were solved, no one else would have to "listen to a little, boring self-proclaimed Christ" like him. He spread his arms, miming the crucifixion, and at the same time made a movement with his fingers, as if begging, “come on, applaud!” Few applauded.

The Silver Medal in the Most Disgusting TED Talk Competition I give to Elizabeth Gilbert, the writer who gave the 2009 speech "Your Elusive Creative Genius." She, as they say in Scotland, takes on too much. For example, Gilbert said that her super hit "Eat, Pray, Love" unexpectedly became an international bestseller. That writers should perceive inspiration as something given from above, and not as an everyday routine. What is terribly nervous, preparing to embark on "a frighteningly anticipated sequel to his own hit." In a word, the writer has achieved outstanding success in the ability to show off modestly.

Bronze will go, in my opinion, to David Cameron. Before squandering Britain's EU membership and then moving from politics to entrepreneurship, Cameron delivered a smugly unctuous lecture on "A New Age of Public Administration." He talked about how monolithic forms of centralized government would give way to regional activists, volunteer groups, ideological loners, and enlightened corporations thanks to the internet. Pure, ringing emptiness. His performance was so arrogant, so mindlessly pompous, that he could probably take half the gold from Bono.

I don't mean to say that all TED Talks are bad. In 2017, there was a great informative talk by Rudyard Williams titled “Why Racism is Bad for Health” about how racial inequality subtly affects the standard of living and health of the whole society. Considered by many to be the best lecture in TED history, “How Schools Suppress Creativity” by Sir Ken Robinson, an education expert, delivered in 2016. If this topic were raised by another speaker, then, most likely, his speech would be unbearable. But Robinson is a born comedian, witty yet calm. He doesn't have the typical TED talker habit of running around the stage with a pointer while slogans and ugly graphics pop up behind him or on the screen. Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor gives a gripping account of how she suffered a stroke. For her, as a neuroscientist, this terrible event turned out to be the most educational experience in her life.

My favorite is Monica Lewinsky's "The Cost of Shame" lecture. Unlike other speakers, she managed to avoid complacency and self-promotion. She talked about how someone's sense of shame becomes a reason for general hysteria, how shame turns into a product and is monetized. Lewinsky showed her own take on online bullying. This is especially important now that Melania Trump has turned this topic into the sphere of her own charitable interests - despite the fact that online bullying remains her husband's only tool for communicating with the world.

All in all, there are definitely good things in the TED universe. However, to see them, you may first have to wade through posturing, platitudes, and pompous self-presentation. But if you draw a balance, then below the line it turns out that TED is still on the bright side. The only pity is that the conference will continue to live on without my revolutionary contribution to its history - without the "Selfish Meme".

10 examples of how not to speak at TED:

10. Simon Sinek - How Leaders Inspire Action (2009)

Superficial chatter about what makes Apple a market leader and why it was Martin Luther King who led the civil rights movement.

9. Keith Hartman - The Art of Wearable Communication (2011)

A crazy artist and writer shows off silly hats with special tubes that allow you to talk to your own brain. If this is a joke, then it's not funny.

8. Jason Seiken - "If PBS Can Do It, So Can You!" (2012)

A PBS Digital Communications Chief's story of how he made boring public television trendy in the new digital age.

7. Brené Brown - The Power of Vulnerability (2010)

A smug, self-help speech about not being afraid to be vulnerable. At the same time, Brown would rather die than show himself "in all his vulnerability."

6. Bill Clinton - "My desire is to restore Rwanda!" (2007)

Clinton was the most bullied by other TED speakers. And his unbearably boring and conceited chatter about Rwanda and the restoration of its healthcare system - gundezh, gundezh, gundezh ...

5. Bill Gates - Upgrade to Zero (2010)

Did I just say that Bill Clinton is boring? Well, one Bill is worth another. This Bill on climate change and energy is a story about important things, reduced to monotonous, colorless ranting.

4. Malcolm Gladwell - Choice, Happiness and Spaghetti Sauce (2004)

Gladwell is a TED star, but this talk was terrible. He shamelessly advertised his book Illumination.

3. David Cameron - "A New Era of Public Administration" (2010)

With his feigned regret at how unpopular politicians have become these days, Cameron looked like an Eton student in a debate.

2. Elizabeth Gilbert - Your Elusive Creative Genius (2009)

1. Bono - "Good News of Poverty" (2013)

In this speech, Bono brilliantly demonstrated his most important feature - the absolute inability not to think about himself. He is on the TED stage, he is the most important and intriguing thing that is happening here. Fighting poverty is his passion. Was it worth devoting an entire lecture to self-praise alone?

Over a morning cup of coffee, one colleague excitedly tells you about drones that carry water in poor African countries. Another, predicting the invasion of robots in our workplaces, shares ideas for making money in this Time of Troubles. You are confused: what is going on? It's simple - TED happened to the world.

Try, for example, to find lectures of your idols. Perhaps they spoke at TED conferences? We found speeches by the famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, the leader of the U2 group and the American illusionist David Blaine.

If you are into the esoteric, the positive girl from Vienna will tell you about the scientific approach to the paranormal. Do you have a 3D printer lying around at home? See what organs and body parts you can print on it. Anyone who wants to raise a child prodigy should check out the video about the young inventor. How many interests, so many videos at TED.

Instructions: how to learn English from TED videos

You can watch TED just for fun. But if you want to seriously improve your level of English, use our tactics. Yes, it will take a little more time, but it will bring more benefits.

Do not immediately read the transcript or turn on subtitles. Watch the performance without them. Unfamiliar words can be understood from the context. Intonation, facial expressions, gestures of the speaker and the reaction of the audience often become hints. So you develop the skill of listening to speech and linguistic guessing.
Watch the video again, but with English subtitles. Use the transcript to write down vocabulary and grammatical constructions that are new to you. Look them up in dictionaries.
You can watch the entire video again or its individual fragments to work through what you have written.
If some points are still unclear, turn on the video with Russian subtitles.
Take a rest. As they say, take it easy (do not overdo it).
Review new words and structures. Try to make sentences with them.

Let's practice. Watch an excerpt from a talk about Pixar cartoons.

The magic ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life. - The magical ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life.

Lexical parsing

Text	Phrases
Because in the end, we are not trying to recreation the scientifically correct real world, we're trying to create a believable world, one the audience can immerse themselves in to experience the story. We use science to create something wonderful. We use story and artistic touch to get us to a place of wonder.	to recreate - recreate scientifically - scientifically believable - believable to immerse - immerse to experience - experience, experience
This guy, WALL E, is a great example of that. He finds beauty in the simplest things. But when he came in to lighting, we knew we had a big problem. We got so geeked-out on making WALL E this convincing robot that we made him binoculars almost optically perfect. His binoculars are one of the most critical acting devices he has. He doesn't have a face or even traditional dialogue, for that matter.	lighting - lighting to get geeked-out - to be obsessed (usually in relation to technology) convincing - convincing, plausible a binocular - binoculars critical - decisive, significant a device - device, device for that matter - for that matter, with regard to this
So the animators were heavy dependent on the binoculars to sell his acting and emotions. We started lighting and we realized the triple lenses inside his binoculars were a mess of reflections. He was starting to look glassy-eyed. Now, glassy-eyed is a fundamentally awful thing when you are trying to convince an audience that a robot has a personality and he's capable of falling in love.	dependent - dependent to sell - demonstrate acting - acting game a lense - lens a mess - mess, confusion a reflection glassy-eyed - with a glazed look (slang - numb, drunk) fundamentally - absolutely, wholly and completely awful - terrible to convince - convince a personality - personality, individuality capable - capable to fall in love - fall in love
so we went to work on these optically perfect binoculars, trying to find a solution that would maintain his true robot materials but solve this reflection problem. So we started with the lenses. Here's the flat-front lens, we have a concave lens and a convex lens. And here you see all three together, showing us all these reflections.	to go to work - get to work a solution to maintain - save, maintain to solve - solve a flat-front lens - a lens with a flat surface a concave lens a convex lens - convex lens
We tried turning them down, we tried blocking them, nothing was working. You can see here, sometimes we needed something specific reflected in his eyes - usually Eve. So we couldn't just use some faked abstract image on the lenses. So here we have Eve on the first lens, we put Eve on the second lens, it's not working.	to turn down - remove specific - specific, specific faked - fake, fictitious
We turn it down, it's still not working. And then we have our eureka moment. We add a light to WALL E that accidentally leaks into his eyes. You can see it light up these gray aperture blades. Suddenly, those aperture blades are poking through that reflection the way nothing else has. Now we recognize WALL E as having an eye.	a eureka moment - a moment of insight accidentally - accidentally to leak - leak, seep a aperture blade - aperture blade to poke - become visible to recognize - to realize
As humans we have the white of our eye, the colored iris and the black pupil. Now WALL E has the black of an eye, the gray aperture blades and the black pupil. Suddenly, WALL E feels like he has a soul, like there's a character with emotion inside. Later in the towards movie the end, WALL E loses his personality, essentially going dead.	the white - protein an iris - the iris of the eye a pupil - pupil a soul - soul a character - character a movie towards - closer to, before to lose - lose essentially - in fact, in essence
This is the perfect time to bring back that glassy-eyed look. In the next scene, WALL E comes back to life. We bring that light back to bring the aperture blades back, and he returns to that sweet, soulful robot we've come to love. There's a beauty in these unexpected moments... when you find the key to unlocking a robot's soul, the moment when you discover what do you want to do with your life.	to bring back - return a scene to come back to life - return to life soulful - sincere to come to love - to love unexpected - unexpected to unlock - unlock, open to discover - open, discover

Grammar

Two tenses are often found in the video: Present Continuous (present continuous) and Past Continuous (past continuous):

You are trying to convince an audience that a robot has a personality. - You trying to convince viewers that the robot has a personality.
We turn it down, it "s still not working. - We remove them (lenses), but still nothing does not work.
Suddenly, those aperture blades are poking through that reflection. - Unexpected aperture blades become visible through this reflection.

He was starting to look glassy-eyed. - His eyes began to seem glass.

Now we will not do a detailed grammatical analysis, but you can read about Present Continuous in this article, and about Past Continuous - in another article.

Other TED products

The TED family is quite large. In addition to the links we gave above, there are other resources.

TED-Ed Lessons

After watching the lesson, you can take a video test in the Think section: there are multiple choice questions on the understanding of the material heard (comprehension check). The Dig Deeper section provides additional resources on the topic, and the Discuss is where you can discuss anything that hurts on the topic with others.

Ideas TED Blog

Today's TED Talk mailing list

Prepared TED Lessons

What to do if it's hard for you to study on your own? Take advantage of the lessons!

TED4ESL

Lessons Plan Digger

On the Lessons Plan Digger website, in the Ted Talks section, you will find short video assignments that will help you better understand the topics of the lectures.

English

You can find ready-made video analyzes with vocabulary and grammar on our blog:

TED Tutorials

21st Century Reading

Textbooks from National Geographic are designed for different levels: B1, B2 and C1. One module of the textbook consists of two units of a general theme. In the first unit, you read the text and complete tasks, and in the second unit, you watch an excerpt or an entire TED lecture that contains vocabulary and grammar from the first unit.

Keynote TED Talks

Another National Geographic project whose textbooks cover more levels of knowledge in English: from Elementary to Proficiency. On the site you can find 10 free pages from each textbook, they will let you know what exercises you will have to deal with.

Top 10 TED Talks

We've found ten of the most viewed TED Talks and broken them down into levels. Choose the ones that suit you and get started.

intermediate

Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model (Cameron Russell)
Cameron Russell admits that she hit the "genetic jackpot": a tall and beautiful girl works as a model. She speaks honestly about the modeling industry, which seemed so attractive to her at the age of 16.
The price of shame (Monica Lewinsky)
Monica Lewinsky shares her innermost thoughts about the shame that she lived with for many years after the well-known scandal surrounding her person and former president US Bill Clinton.

Upper Intermediate

Your body language may shape who you are (Amy Cuddy)
Social psychologist Amy Cuddy talks about common misconceptions about body language.
How great leaders inspire action (Simon Sinek)
The phenomenon of leadership on the example of Apple, Martin Luther King and the Wright brothers.
The puzzle of motivation (Dan Pink)
Another lecture on motivation from analyst Dan Pink. He says that the traditional compensation system is not working as well as it seems.

In the table below you can find all of these lectures with the topic, grammatical features and speaker's accent.

Name	Level	Grammar	Subject	Accent
1. Do schools kill creativity? (Ken Robinson)	Advanced	Reported speech Conditional sentences	Education, creativity, importance of mistakes	british
2. Your body language may shape who you are (Amy Cuddy)	Upper Intermediate+	Present/Past Continuous	Body language, non-verbal communication	American
3. How great leaders inspire action (Simon Sinek)	Upper Intermediate+	Question sentences	Business, selling-buying	American
4. Why We Do What We Do (Tony Robbins)	Advanced	present tenses	motivation	American
5. Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model (Cameron Russell)	intermediate	present tenses	Appearance	American
6. The power of introverts (Susan Cain)	Upper Intermediate+	Past tenses Infinitive/Gerund	Self-discovery, extraordinary talents	American
7. The happy secret to better work (Shawn Achor)	Upper Intermediate+	Conditional 1	positive psychology	American
8. Teach every child about food (Jamie Oliver)	Upper Intermediate+	modal verb need	Food, overconsumption, eating healthy habits	british
9. The puzzle of motivation (Dan Pink)	Advanced	Strong adjectives	Motivation, rewards at work	American
10. The price of shame (Monica Lewinsky)	intermediate	past tenses	Regrets, mistakes and how to let it go	American

We hope we inspired you to take your TED class! If you feel that it’s hard to figure it all out on your own and you need help, feel free to enroll in English at our online school.

It has long been known the truth that all smart people think the same way. However, every happy carrier of the intellect experiences an irresistible desire to hear his own kind. TEDx conferences are called to help with this. What this is, every person who considers himself to be an intelligentsia must know.

TED conference: brief background

In 1984, the American architect and graphic designer Richard Wurman set out to bring together prominent figures in the new information industry under one roof. In less than a few years, the initiative grew into something more - T echnology E entertainment D design:

From a highly specialized cabal of computer geniuses, the TED conference has become a collection of bright personalities of various profiles: scientists, philosophers, musicians, philanthropists, businessmen, etc.;
The event is a series of presentations where each speaker has 18 minutes to deliver their message to the assembled audience;
TED has never positioned itself as an organization for the poor. The annual membership fee is $8,500. For this money, the participant receives not only the right to attend events, but also membership in the mailing list club, access to online tools and DVDs;
Numerous sponsors also provide money for holding events, including almost all corporations from the 500 largest in the world (Coca-Cola, Google, AOL, General Electric ...);
Such well-known persons as Bill Gates, David Cameron, Larry Page and many Nobel Prize winners managed to mark the site.

worldwide franchise

Tectonic shifts in the area information technologies occur not only in America. However, the staff of TED itself does not exceed 140 people and cannot serve the needs of billions of people on Earth. That is why in 2009 the fund's curators came up with the idea of licensing the conference format around the world.

The franchise was named TEDx :

Anyone can obtain a license for the temporary lease of a trademark and concept for free - only if the principles and general philosophy of TED are observed;
Local conference organizers may solicit sponsors, but waive all copyright to speaker-created content. It becomes the property of the parent company;
As of the mid-2010s, the library of video performances consisted of several tens of thousands of videos from more than 130 countries;
The main language of the reports is English, however, the videos, as a rule, are accompanied by subtitles in different world dialects, including Russian;
In 2010, 531 events were held, by 2017 their number increased to 1860;
The main goal pursued by the foundation is to initiate a socially important discussion in a particular region of the world.

Varieties of events

The TEDx license allows you to organize one of the following types of events:

Standard. Free format event;
University. Held within the walls of the higher educational institution on the initiative of employees of the administration of the university, a separate faculty or ordinary students;
Youth. Has a specific theme covering the problems of modern schoolchildren, children or students;
educational. Faculty, students or administration discuss future trends in education;
TEDxLive- online broadcast of the session from the global TED event;
« Women's» ( TEDxWomen). The main issue follows from the title: the socialization of women in the modern world and gender issues;
Entrepreneurial. A platform for business discussions, where it is supposed to create culture medium to innovate and share business experience;
Library. Nothing different from the standard, except for the venue;
Second level event. The license to conduct it is issued only to program participants with at least two years of experience.

Conferences in Russia

Here are the main facts and figures that relate to this event in our country:

Despite the popularity of such rallies in the West, in Russia they are just beginning to come into vogue. Total organizers does not exceed fifty;
There is a "TED Embassy" in the country, which represents the interests of the organization and promotes its philosophy. As of 2017, Andrey Egorov, the founder of the Skolkovo Open University, acts as an ambassador;
The largest event of this format, held in the Russian-speaking space - TEDxMoscow. It is held, as a rule, on the territory of co-working;
Among the "specifically Russian" topics: the development of the Russian North, the problems of relations with migrants, gay rights, security on the World Wide Web and the clash of "physicists and lyricists". All performances are available online;
A relatively small team (about 12 people) works in the Moscow cell.

Rules for organizers

All of the following rules apply to Standard events, but apply to all others:

The trademark ownership license is issued for a period of 12 months and is applicable for one event only;
The name of the conference should reflect the location: city, district or even street (TEDxSydney, TEDxPokrovkaSt);
It is recommended to choose speakers from the specific region of the event. So, professors from St. Petersburg will be unwanted guests at TEDxMoskow and vice versa. Locality is the main slogan of this format;
As a rule, the audience cannot exceed one hundred people. More numerous events can only be created by those who have ever been to a global TED conference;
Duration is not particularly standardized. Depending on the capabilities of speakers and listeners, performances can last from a couple of hours to a day;
Ticket prices are limited to $100 (5,700 rubles at the current exchange rate). For exhibiting higher price tags, a fine or even revocation of the license follows. This requirement only applies to developing countries where locals do not have the opportunity to spend significant funds on cultural leisure.

The third technological revolution that swept California in the second half of the 20th century brought to life a new fusion of knowledge at the intersection of technology, entertainment and design. These three pillars are at the heart of the philosophy of the TEDx conference. What it is is gradually being learned in Russia, although much later than in developed countries.

TED (eng. Technology Entertainment Design; Technology, Entertainment, Design)- famous annual conferences that have been held since 1984 in the USA and other countries. Perhaps they represent the most successful embodiment of the concept of "Edutainment" (education + entertainment), which is learning as a way to have fun and spend time.

TED speakers are famous experts and authors: Steve Jobs (Apple), James Cameron (Avatar), Richard Dawkins (The Selfish Gene), Jim Wales (Wikipedia) and many others. They know how to really surprise; while their theories are easy to understand.

The mission of this international (and recently joined by Russia) movement is IDEAS WORTH SPREADING: spreading unique ideas that are found at the intersection of disciplines and doctrines. Lecture topics are very diverse: science, art, design, politics, culture, business, global problems, technology and entertainment.

We have selected 15 most impressive lectures, enjoy.

You can see them in this post, or you can - in the cozy atmosphere of the Eight bar, on big screen -

1. “Keep your plans to yourself” (3m 16s)

Derek Sievers, the music entrepreneur who, according to Esquire magazine, changed the face of today's music industry

2. “Exoskeletons for humans” (6m 24s)

Heitor Bender, CEO of Berkeley Bionics, the most promising manufacturer of robotic suits and exoskeletons

Heitor Bender of Berkeley Bionics shows on stage two amazing exoskeletons, HULC and aLEGS - robotic devices that could one day allow a person to effortlessly carry up to 90 kilograms or allow wheelchair-bound people to stand and walk. This is a powerful demonstration with important implications for various human potentialities.

3. “Jaime Lerner sings about the city” (15 m 40s)

Jaime Lerner, architect and urban designer, three times mayor of the Brazilian city of Curitiba, he revolutionized urban governance

Jaime Lerner rebuilt urban environment in his hometown Curitiba in Brazil. In parallel, he changed the way urban architects around the world looked at what was possible in urban planning.

4. “Time to think about what's going on in bioengineering” (19m 42s)

Paul Ruth Wolp, Chief Bioethicist at NASA, Consultant for Medical Experiments in Space

A scientist talks about amazing bioengineering experiments, from hybrid pets to mice with human ears on their backs. Isn't it time to establish a set of rules and regulations? Paul asks.

5. "Fundamentals of plant intelligence" (13m 51s)

Stefano Mancuso is recognized by Wired.com as the pioneer of interdisciplinary research in plant neuroscience.

Plants behave surprisingly wisely: they fight pests, get the most out of nutrients... But can we assume plants actually have their own unique form of intelligence? An Italian botanist, Stefano Mancuso, gives some interesting facts.

6. “Mathematics of War” (7m 22s)

Sean Gourley, a physicist and conflict theorist, has discovered a shocking pattern in the nature of modern warfare - and perhaps a model for resolving such conflicts. His discovery was recognized by Nature, the Pentagon and the House of Lords; Gorley has now been appointed adviser to the new Iraqi government

Collecting raw data from news, NGO reports, and newspapers and plotting it on a graph, the scientists analyzed the timing of the attacks, the coordinates, and the extent of the weapons used. And they came to a startling conclusion: war is an equation.

7. “Real-time brain scan” (4m 00s)

Christopher Decharme demonstrates new way using functional magnetic resonance imaging to show brain activity - thoughts, emotions, pain - in action. In other words, you can actually see what you feel.

8. “The Myth of Violence” (19m 18s)

Pinker describes the decline in violence from biblical times to the present day, and argues that, even if it may seem illogical and indecent, given the events in Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in the history of our species.

9. “How bacteria communicate” (18m 11s)

Bonnie Bassler, Princeton molecular biologist who won the MacArthur Genius Grant for her discovery of “bacterial Esperanto.”

Bonnie discovered that bacteria "talk" to each other using a language of chemistry that allows them to coordinate defenses and prepare attacks. The discovery has staggering implications for medicine, industry and our understanding of ourselves.

10. “How architecture contributed to the development of music” (16m 00s)

David Byrne, musician, writer, filmmaker, conservationist, digital music theorist, cyclist, urban designer, artist, humanist

As his career progressed, David Byrne moved from performing his music at the CBGB to performing at Carnegie Hall. He asks himself: can it not be that music is created by the place where it is performed? David Byrne explores traditional African concerts, Wagner operas, and arena rock concerts in an attempt to understand how context has driven music to innovate.

11. “Era personal robots” (14m 04s)

Cynthia Brizel, founder of the Personal Robotics Department at MIT, creator of the social robots Kismet and Leonardo

As an alumnus, Cynthia Brizel wondered why we use robots on Mars but not at home. She recognized the need to train robots to interact with humans. Now she designs and builds human-centric, super-social robots that teach, learn and play.

12. “Is the Internet what Orwell was afraid of?” (11m 53s)

Yevgeny Morozov, Belarusian writer, influential blogger in the West (Net.Effect), researcher of a not very grateful topic - how the development of new media affects the society of not the most developed countries

The journalist and TED activist slams so-called "iPod liberalism" -- the assumption that technological innovation always advances freedom and democracy -- with sobering examples of how the internet helps despotic regimes stifle dissent.

13. "Year of biblical life" (17m 36s)

AJ Jacobs is best known for Esquire's articles at the intersection of philosophy, gonzo journalism and performance art.

Writer, philosopher, humorist, and journalist AJ Jacobs talks about a year he spent biblically—following the laws of the Bible as literally as possible.

14. "Mystery Box" (18m 05s)

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. Abrams' first feature film, Mission: Impossible 3, was the most expensive directorial debut in history. Abrams' largest project - " Star Trek"- was released on movie screens in May 2009

He is world-famous for his super-successful ABC Entertainment television series Alias and LOST, which offer extraordinary concepts for an exciting script and use the potential of the television film form to the fullest.

5. Bobby McFerrin shows the full power of the pentatonic scale (03m 04s)

Robert "Bobby" McFerrin Jr. - American jazz singer and conductor, ten-time Grammy Award winner, author of the acapella hit "Don" t worry, Be Happy "

As part of the TED conference, Bobby McFerrin shows what the "pentatonic scale" is.
The pentatonic scale will turn out if you play one black key in a row on the piano, starting from C-sharp. All Eastern music is based on it. yka.

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We are often afraid seem vulnerable, lose something important in a relationship with a loved one. We worry about every step we take at work or in raising children. Sometimes it seems that the subtleties of female psychology work against us. But do not despair. Due to the peculiarities of our nature, we can achieve a lot in any area of life.

The purpose of TED conferences is to spread ideas that can affect how people communicate, your outlook on life, and even change the whole world. Over the 30 years of the project's existence, many interesting performances have accumulated that will be of interest to every woman.

We have compiled the best TED video lectures for women on self-development for you. You can improve your language skills or turn on Russian subtitles. Enjoy watching!

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS

1/5 Should women's vulnerability be addressed?

Brené Brown studies human communication - our ability to empathize, accept, love. In a witty and funny monologue, she shares her research, which has led her to find herself and try to re-penetrate the essence of human relationships. She will tell you whether a woman should fight weakness and vulnerability.

2/5 Why do we love and lie?

Anthropologist Helen Fisher takes not the most simple theme- Love. The researcher explains its evolution, biochemical foundations and social significance for people.

In my research, I always asked the same question to lovers: "Would you give your life for her or him?" And people answered “Yes!” as if I were asking them to pass the salt.

anthropologist Helen Fisher

3/5 What You Didn't Know About Orgasm? 10 unexpected facts

Mary Roach explores the sexual side of human relationships. She turns to scientific research to make 10 amazing orgasm claims you never knew existed. Sometimes weird, sometimes very funny.

ATTENTION! The video is for adults only.

4/5 What withSecret of attraction in a long-term relationship?

In long-term relationships, we often expect our lovers to become us and best friends, and excellent sexual partners. Esther Perel argues that perfect sex involves two opposing needs: the need for protection and the need for surprise. Witty and eloquent, Perel reveals to us the secret of erotic intelligence.

5/5 How can math help you in love?

Finding the right partner isn't easy, but can it be done with math? Anna Fry gives three mathematically proven tips that will help you make the right choice of your chosen one and strengthen relationships.

ABOUT WOMEN IN THE MODERN WORLD

1/5 Why attractive appearance is not the key to success?

Cameron Russell admits she won the "genetic lottery": she was lucky to be tall and beautiful model underwear. But don't judge her by her looks. In this fearless conversation with the audience, she takes a critical look at the industry she is a part of.

2/5 Can women achieve full equality with men?

Expert on public policy USA Ann-Marie Slaughter explains what gender equality really means. Should it be women who fight for him? In his talk, Slaughter shares an idea about how society can achieve gender equality and what changes need to be made to achieve this. She believes that it is necessary to reconsider the roles of men and women in the family and labor relations, and the state should pay more attention to social policy.

3/5 Why are there so few women leaders in the world?

Why are women less likely to hold leadership positions than men these days? Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg answers this question and gives 3 essential tips for women who care about their careers.

4/5 How to become successful in the world of men?

Looking back on her career as an engineer, lawyer and mother in Abu Dhabi, Layla Hotate shares three rules that helped her achieve professional heights in today's world. The success of an Arab businesswoman can teach us perseverance, prioritization, and the ability to continually improve at work and at home.

5/5 How to unleash your creative genius?

Elizabeth Gilbert, best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love, reflects on society's high expectations of creative people. In the course of a frank monologue, the writer answers the question: “What if a genius is not a specific person, but something that lives in us regardless of our desire?”.

TIME TO CHANGE AND CHANGE

1/5 How does body language define you?

Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that our gestures can influence the opinions of others about us and our own self-esteem. For example, even if we doubt ourselves, “confidence posture” boosts our sense of self-respect and increases our chances of success in whatever endeavor we take on.

2/5 How to make stress your friend?

Stress is now considered the enemy of global health. Meanwhile, new research shows that stress can only be bad for us if we are afraid of it and see only negative aspects in it. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal encourages us to see stress in a positive light and learn to deal with it easier.

3/5 What is the danger of a single point of view?

Our lives and cultures are made up of many stories that are closely intertwined. The novelist Chimamanda Adichie talks about the dangers of a single point of view in his talk. If we hear only one story about a person or country, we run the risk of misjudging the situation and forming an erroneous opinion about it.

4/5 Why is the third decade of your life important?

Clinical psychologist Mag Jay says that in today's world, the third decade of a person's life is treated with disdain. The researcher believes that these years will not pass without a trace. She gives 3 tips to all twenty-year-olds on how to make themselves known in these important years.

Try yourself in what interests you, consciously choose friends and companions in life, make new acquaintances - now is the time.

5/5 Why Diets Don't Usually Work?

In this honest conversation with viewers, neuroscientist Sandra Aamodt shares a personal story to explain how our brains control our bodies. She believes that diets often don't work and do us more harm than good. The scientist proposes to stop counting every calorie in the diet and learn to listen to your body.