And the final TED morning….And again it didn’t disappoint in terms of highlights and amazing things to think about.

 TED Curator, Chris Anderson, started the morning with a quote that will live with me for a long time: “I’m
not sure if the pessimists or the optimists are right but I know damn
sure that it is the optimists that will get something done about it”

Statistician/Analyst
Alex Tabarrok gave a very compelling and extremely intelligent analysis
of why globalisation is a great thing for the planet, and a brilliant
thing for the development of great ideas. It was big zag from the usual
zig on globalisation. And he was very very persuasive. He goes into
this in a lot more detail at marginalrevolution.com

He
showed us some pretty amazing graphs to show that the growth periods
after the great depression outstripped by miles even the most confident
and optimistic growth analysis predictions from the 1920’s. Basically
his point was that growth washes away depression.

 Then
the truly brilliant Dan Ariely took us through why we should definitely
not trust our hunches and intuitions. A very good talk, perfect balance
of pathos and intelligence based upon personal experience as a serious
burn victim analysing whether to pull bandages quickly or slowly! He
was hugely fascinating on the subject of cheating – why we do it, what
makes us to do it, what makes us stop doing it and then how these rules
apply to what’s been going on in the stock market recently. He has a
lot more at predictablyirrational.com  And his great book on the topic “Predictably Irrational”

 Then
the ever amazing and truly jaw-dropping Nicholas Negreponte showed us
the next part of his $100 laptop project. Worth getting involved in.

TED, Palm Springs, as seen by Google Earth.

And
finally one of the most fascinating speakers of the whole four days,
Bruce Buenode-Mesquita, talked us through how Game Theory can be used
with 90% more accuracy than standard diplomatic/political analysis to
predict the outcome of international political events. I was a bit
sceptical too, but he is worth a read/listen. And if you are worried
about Iran and the nuclear bomb, don’t be. He reckons with 90% accuracy
that it is all going to be fine! For more info go here.

 So, what an amazing four days.  Lots
of new friends made. Huge amounts of business cards collected. And lots
of great connections to follow up. Bankrupt from the amount of books
bought at the TED Book Store. If you ever get the chance to go to this
event, go. It is truly brilliant.

 Oh,
and final mention to the man I met in the queue for a cab at the
resort. Jason Hackenwerth, balloon guy – he’s made them for kings and vagabonds, and he’s
been on Blue Peter and he made this absolutely amazing thing that has
been sitting in the TED@PalmSprings room for the last four days.