This is the first time I can honestly say that I have ever had to convert a research paper into a speech, let alone a TED talk. With less then a week to prepare I knew I had to be very good manging my time in preparation. The problem that I faced was that I felt that my paper by itself was weak, so I decided to redue major portions of my thesis and almost create a new argument. I did not define media and technology very clearly in the paper and I made sure to do this in my speech so my audience would not be confused. I also decided to switch the viewpoint I wanted to express to something that could apply to a bigger audience. I felt the transition was successful. In preparing for a TED talk, I did not do much differant then if it was a regular speech. I prepared in a leture hall, but obtained a clicker to switch slides while speaking. This proved extermely helpful because it basically functioned like the TED talk rooms. The TED talk was actually fun as it allowed the speaker to get creative and be able to gain the audience’s attention more easily through the use of technology. It was nerve wracking at first, but who would not be nervous with Kyle glaring you down……

Overall it was a great experience and TED talks are definitely the future of public speaking. Whether its through pictures, videos, or even your own props, the ability to attract attention should not be missed. As speakers, the number one goal is to draw an audience in. Once you have your audience at attention, then you can make your point. There is no easier way to do this then by a TED talk. I encourage anyone to watch one if you have not. You will be surprised by how effective and entertaing they can  be.