Wednesday July 13

The second day of TED - and shear volume of ideas, passion, and extraordinary individuals is dizzying. It's not possible to blog every talk, or all the ideas that are kicking around. And I suspect that I'm not alone in experiencing certain talks more deeply than others - either because they help me engage things that I care deeply about, or because the directly challenge ideas I've had.

The idea that type is visual speech was one of the ideas that Erik Spiekermann glued to the side of my head. I've always felt that type was important and emotional, but always figured that it was esthetic, not narrative. But Spiekermann is a towering figure in the world of type- and his passion for information architecture was pretty amazing - even if it was at times hard to comprehend.

But the morning's talk by Iqbal Quadir is the one I'll NEVER forget. Grameen Phone. I'd met him that morning at breakfast, and he didn't want to talk about what he did. He wanted me to wait till the talk. And it was worth it. Because the idea that a Cow is like a Cell Phone isn't something that makes sense until you hear Iqbal tell it. What he's done is masterful, and world changing. He has created GSM cellular service in Bangladesh. And while wiring a country of XX million may be impressive, he invented a business model by partnering with a Bangladeshi bank, and actually loaning the capital equipment to local business people (mostly women) who in turn retail the use of the phones in the local villages.

He was a investment banker in NY who had an 'ah ha' moment when his computer network at his NY office went on the firtz. As he tells it - his mind wandered back to a day in 1971 when he was a kid. Back then, his family was living in a rural village to escape a war that was ravaging the big cities.

His mother sent him to a nearby village to fetch medicine. He walked eight miles only to find that the pharmacist was out. He spent the afternoon walking home. Back in NY, that story had him think "connectivity is productivity."

He raised money (after a ton of no's) and then built GrameenPhone - creating both a new economic system and a communication system. It's simply brilliant - and he's an inspiration. I love his story. And I hope we'll be able to find a way to get it on film.

Barry Schwartz gave a talk about the Paradox of choice - which I totally related to. You should read his book, the point of which is that Choice can create dissatisfaction -since the more variations there are, the more of a chance that you made the wrong choice. It's got me thinking about how to narrow choices, and make decisions with less looking over my shoulder - which I think was the point of the talk (or at least the point that I took away from it).

I can't even begin to tell you what the talk about William McDonough was about. it was amazing - his Cradle to Cradle vision of ecological design systems is just one of the 20 things he's done to implement environmentally sensible architecture. He's currently designing a city in China. who's written extensively about new shadow cities around the world

The surprise was - I expected a 18 minute talk about terrible conditions, the need for Western intervention, and aid. But Far from it. Instead, his take was respectful, suggesting that what was happening was neighborhoods--which he described as "dominate most of the cities of the developing world--are vibrant and energetic, but horribly misunderstood."

the pictures, his travels, and his attitude were a refreshing understanding that things in the world - while not picture perfect - are all part of a eco system that can evolve and change, but not with hand wringing. In fact - Nuewrith said that there are real political activists and leaders growing in those shadow cities.

Anyway - a overwhelming day - with more ideas than I can record here. and at least two amazing films that should be made...

wow- I'm exhausted.