How play leads to great inventions

Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Not always. Open in your browser

This week on TED.com November 19, 2016

Talk of the week Steven Johnson: How play leads to great inventions 07:25 minutes · Filmed Oct 2016 · Posted Nov 2016 · TED Studio Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, not always. Steven Johnson shows us how some of the most transformative ideas and technologies, like the computer, didn't emerge out of necessity at all but instead from the strange delight of play. Turns out, you'll find the future wherever people are having the most fun. Watch now »

Playlist of the week 6 talks that’ll inspire you to learn a new language Open up a whole new world of possibilities and experiences with these talks that show the benefit (and fun!) of learning a new language. Watch » 6 TED Talks • Total run time 1:08:18

This week's new TED Talks Unlock the inner workings of the world through one of the most imaginative art forms ever: mathematics. Roger Antonsen explains how a change in perspective can reveal patterns, numbers and formulas -- and create understanding of what was once a mystery. Watch » In this lucid explainer of a complex technology (that might just change everything), Bettina Warburg describes how the blockchain will eliminate the need for banks and governments to facilitate trade. Age-old models of commerce and finance are about to change. Watch » Now more than ever, it's important to look boldly at the reality of race and gender bias -- and how they can combine. Kimberlé Crenshaw uses the term "intersectionality" to describe this phenomenon; as she says, if you're standing in the path of multiple forms of exclusion, you're likely to get hit by both. In this deeply moving talk, she calls on us to bear witness -- and speak up for victims of prejudice. Watch » Let's define our students by what they can contribute, not what they lack, says educator Victor Rios. Sharing his own story of perseverance as an inner-city kid, Rios shares three ways we can shift attitudes about students who face challenges and risks -- so we can focus on their promise, resilience, character and grit. Watch »

Read more on ideas.ted.com Behavior: Why we love what we make -- even when it's not so great » Dan Ariely on the surprising joy we feel when we make things Biology: Should we bring back the woolly mammoth? Meet two unlikely allies in the quest for de-extinction

Quote of the Week “ We want to understand things. Understanding has to do with the ability to change your perspective. If you don't have that, you don't have understanding." Roger Antonsen Math is the hidden secret to understanding the world

TED Radio Hour: the food we eat Food is more than nourishment. It's a source of pleasure and guilt — and an agent of change. This episode, TED speakers explore our deep connection to food. Listen to TED Radio Hour on iTunes »

TED EN ESPAñoL A weekly newsletter about TED Talks newly translated into Spanish, Spanish-speaking events around the world, and much more. Sign up for TED en Español »

 

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