Talk:
Ueli Gegenschatz: Fulfilling the dream of flight in a high-tech wingsui
Brief Synopsis:
Ueli talks about his experiences in all sorts of freefall methods--paragliding, skydiving, base-jumping, and his latest--wing-suit diving. He talks briefly about the progression from one method to the next, pushing limits by using physical preparation, developing new equipment, and mental preparation.
There is a 3 minute sequence of video towards the end of some of the events described, and a rather lengthly wing-suit dive, which Ueli calls "probably the closest thing possible to flying"
Ben on Ueli:
I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was interesting to see the progression of techniques and the knowledge and skill developed. It was also interesting to see the complete calmness in each one of the base jumps; he has complete comfort from experience, and that's relatable. We all have that for different things.
On the other hand, I thought parts of the talk were very self-congratulatory. I felt like sometimes the goal was simply to create a sense of awe in the viewer, and I never appreciate that. To me, awe is one of the worst emotions to evoke--it creates a distance between the speaker and the listener, and instead of feeling the possibility and probability of how something comes to be, the audience is asked to feel the IMpossibility of it. It all goes against this sense of understanding, progression, and preparation. And I think it happens a lot in many domains.
Lastly, I had to wonder (once again) what it means to be human. This guy has these experiences, and many of us can't have them. We get something from watching a video of someone else doing it. We could get something from a simulation of the same thing. I guess, what makes this guy's endeavor anything interesting to the rest of us? How important is personal experience vs. living "through" others? And as we start to really understand reward systems in the brain and think about taking control of them, what becomes the purpose of hard work and life? Hard questions that scientists surely aren't addressing, and that I don't trust any philosopher to tackle in any meaningful way.
Personally, I think we'll need to start making definitions of what it is to be human, what it is to lead a meaningful life, and incorporate those into our social structure. The way things are now, I feel that technology is integrated tightly with a consumer culture where the status quo is too much individuality, selfishness, and personal greed. It's a dangerous combination--allowing ourselves to take away most avenues of meaning, and in its staid placing a culture of selfish endeavors and ownership. I don't see a happy end if that paths continues.
Takeaway:
Not much!
Rating: ***
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ben on David Pogue: Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone
Talk:
David Pogue: Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone
Brief Synopsis:
David Pogue is the NY Times editor for technology, and in this end-of-year talk he describes what he sees as the major steps of innovation in techology over the coming year: the further stages of merging the phone with the Internet.
Funny, witty, and sharply opinionated on which technologies and companies are doing right and wrong, it's a fun, light talk about quite a few current technologies that can make our lives easier:
Ben on David:
There was one really funny part towards the end where he pretends to be talking to his grandchildren about our current technology... I thought the talk was worth even that one moment. He ends with a song, which started out a bit cringe-worthy, but rounded into dramatic shape by the end.
Really, just a good time while you get to hear about new technology and see where things are headed. Gotta say, though, the business models behind any of this stuff are really not looking strong. I feel like we're still in the 'dot-com' era...
Takeaway:
Probably worth reading this guy's columns sometimes. He's funny and brutal, but he does seem to get it right.
Rating: ****
David Pogue: Cool new things you can do with your mobile phone
Brief Synopsis:
David Pogue is the NY Times editor for technology, and in this end-of-year talk he describes what he sees as the major steps of innovation in techology over the coming year: the further stages of merging the phone with the Internet.
Funny, witty, and sharply opinionated on which technologies and companies are doing right and wrong, it's a fun, light talk about quite a few current technologies that can make our lives easier:
- Free calls using VOIP... one phone plan from T-Mobile offers this!
- Free 411 via texting or voice recognition
- Free answering of any question at any time
- Free 'call-me' service for times you expect to NE
- Automatic transcription of voice mail
- It broke the old model of cell phone companies holding veto power over every aspect of phone design
- It created the idea of the app store
Ben on David:
There was one really funny part towards the end where he pretends to be talking to his grandchildren about our current technology... I thought the talk was worth even that one moment. He ends with a song, which started out a bit cringe-worthy, but rounded into dramatic shape by the end.
Really, just a good time while you get to hear about new technology and see where things are headed. Gotta say, though, the business models behind any of this stuff are really not looking strong. I feel like we're still in the 'dot-com' era...
Takeaway:
Probably worth reading this guy's columns sometimes. He's funny and brutal, but he does seem to get it right.
Rating: ****
Ben on Jacek Utko: Can design save the newspaper?
Talk:
Jacek Utko: Can design save the newspaper?
Brief Synopsis:
Jacek Utko sees no reason that newspapers need survive. We can delay their demise, but ultimately they offer what other sources offer better, cheaper, faster. So what is the solution to saving the newspaper?
Offer something new: put design into a newspaper. Consider it as an artwork, as a coherent whole, as a symphony. Have form and content, use design to drive not just the layout, but the stories in the paper. He has done it, won numerous awards, and, maybe most surprisingly, seen readership and subscriptions increase after years of stagnation and in times of decline.
Ben on Jacek:
One of the nice, brief talks on TED where you get to see an idea, examples of the idea, and come away with a small inspiration in about 6 minutes. It's not revolutionary, but I think anything can look at these principles and take something away.
For example, Science is presented and published with a lack of good design--and because of it content suffers. There is rarely an attempt to compel the reader with a story. Instead articles are dry, information-driven, and inaccessible to non-experts. In addition, scientists isolate themselves from the general public, leaving interpretation and dissemination of scientific discovery to a select few, and ultimately cultivating a divide between scientists, the highly educated, and the rest of the world.
Takeaway:
Keep design in mind in everything.
Rating: ***
Jacek Utko: Can design save the newspaper?
Brief Synopsis:
Jacek Utko sees no reason that newspapers need survive. We can delay their demise, but ultimately they offer what other sources offer better, cheaper, faster. So what is the solution to saving the newspaper?
Offer something new: put design into a newspaper. Consider it as an artwork, as a coherent whole, as a symphony. Have form and content, use design to drive not just the layout, but the stories in the paper. He has done it, won numerous awards, and, maybe most surprisingly, seen readership and subscriptions increase after years of stagnation and in times of decline.
Ben on Jacek:
One of the nice, brief talks on TED where you get to see an idea, examples of the idea, and come away with a small inspiration in about 6 minutes. It's not revolutionary, but I think anything can look at these principles and take something away.
For example, Science is presented and published with a lack of good design--and because of it content suffers. There is rarely an attempt to compel the reader with a story. Instead articles are dry, information-driven, and inaccessible to non-experts. In addition, scientists isolate themselves from the general public, leaving interpretation and dissemination of scientific discovery to a select few, and ultimately cultivating a divide between scientists, the highly educated, and the rest of the world.
Takeaway:
Keep design in mind in everything.
Rating: ***
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