Format for 2011 is TEDlike

There is no doubt that WTFmediaconf 2010 took the conference to a new level.  It was informative and the speakers were impressive.  Impressive in delivery and impressive in their innovation.  The just under 40 speakers were briefed to WOW the audience and that is what they did.  Each speaker had a 30 minute slot.  Matthew Buckland, a regular speaker at WTFmediaconf, suggested “You should make this the TED South Africa Conference.”

As good suggestions should always be investigated I found more about TED and speaking at TED.

A bit of background:  TED was first held in 1984 and featured early demos of the Mac and Sony’s compact disc.  Chris Anderson acquired the curatorship of TED in 2001 from its founder Richard Saul Wurman.  TED search for presenters who “will inform and inspire, suprize and delight.”  TED presenters, they boast “run the world’s most admired companies and design its best-loved products; they invent world-changing devices, and create ground-breaking media. They’re trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses.”

Well, I have watched enough TED videos to know that is true.  According to the website “TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design — three broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future. And in fact, the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that matter in any discipline.  The format is fast paced: 50+ talks over the course of four days (to say nothing of the morning and evening events). This immersive environment allows attendees and speakers from vastly different fields to cross-fertilize and draw inspiration from unlikely places. This is the magic of TED”  The result, also according to the website is “Unexpected connections.  Extraordinary insights.  Powerful inspiration.”

There are three TED events:  TED Conference, TEDGlobal or TEDActive.  (You can find out more about each at http://www.ted.com/)  I also found out that you cannot attend TED without an invitation.   TED invites (and you can apply to be invited) 1’000 of the world’s most remarkable people.  And that you can to apply to be a speaker.  It is also interesting to note that TED limits their speakers to an 18-minute talk.  The idea is that the speakers only communicate their best ideas.   I must admit that I like this idea very much.  Neither does TED pay speakers – apart from covering travel costs and accommodation.

So WTFmediaconf  2011 is going for shorter talks and vibrant speakers who we will continue not to pay.

Now how can I get myself invited to TED in February 2012.