TED: The Future We Will Create

I had no idea that a conference of TED's magnitude was going on virtually in my backyard for the last 20 years. I pretty much know every time there is an Apple/Mac show, but a conference like TED goes unnoticed.

This was an eye-opening documentary. TED features some of the most brilliant minds of our time and some of the most influential people as well. I like how very diverse the guests and the speakers were. There were guests from all over the country and all over the professional map as well. Between the inventions and the ideas that were displayed, I was thoroughly amazed.

I watched this documentary thinking that I would see the latest and greatest in technology and sneak peaks at what is around the bend, but I got to see a snippet of that plus more. I got to see and hear ideas that would help better humanity and better the world. I don't think that there was a single speaker that I wasn't impressed with, even the science professor that was talking miles over my head. It is a good documentary about a conference with great goals. With so many elite individuals you would think that the conference would be full of egos, but you never got that vibe. It seemed like everyone there was there for other than themselves. And even if some egos slipped into the conference, there were plenty of well grounded and globally conscious individuals to quickly put things into perspective and keep the egos in check.

Don't bother with the video. This is an INCREDIBLE conference and I would love to attend or meet most any of the people speaking there. I thought the video was very poor, jumped around and I really didn't get much out of it. There are some great parts of it on YouTube where you get to hear some of the speakers, for more than 30 seconds that is. If you want to get some good information for each person speaking then it is best just to go to YouTube or other video service. It would be amazing to be offered a seat at this conference, it would also be amazing to have the money to go. I suppose I would come up with 4,000 dollars if I was asked to attend such a wonderful, motivating, powerful event.

If I was able to get an invitation to be one of the 1000 to attend this conference, I would not be able to come up with the $6000 needed to register. Now, I no longer have to. Even if i cannot mix with the superstars in the world of innovative design, and science, and arts, I can still enjoy their presentations.

This film gives you just a taste of what the movers and shakers experiences. People from Google, Microsoft, people with ideas meeting people with money and entrepreneurial skills. People from arts and people who are making a difference in the world.

Innovators in theoretical physics share the stage with the creator of the $100 laptop. Ideas in how we will interact with computers are viewed along with new ways of viewing and sharing data.

People like Majora Carter talk about wanting to make sustainability sexy while schmoozing with Al Gore, who exhorts us to get our act together.

Award winners are encourages to rub the magic lamp and present a bold idea that could change the world. Bono did it in the past and One.org was created. Out of this year's conference comes Pangea Day.

Now, everyone can share the experience and ideas on Ted.com. It may be post-conference, but the inspiring and innovative speeches are there to watch over and over. Check it out.