This unit, we wrote and delivered our own TED talks in exploration of a paradigm shift, which is a change in a general trend in any aspect of life, culture, perspective, etc. Through this unit, I have learned not only valuable concise speaking skills, but also that TED talks are an extremely efficient way of communicating a big idea. Averaging about fifteen to twenty minutes per talk, it is a challenge to keep a talk short, yet to the point, requiring much skill in organization and speaking. I can speak now from personal experience– to cut down enough information for a seven-page essay to a concise, five-minute talk was a challenging process.
A bit of history: the annual TED conference was established in 1990, but talks were not available online for free viewing until 2006. While we discussed paradigm shifts in our talks, the availability of talks online also reflects paradigm shifts. It reflects the growth and success of Internet sharing and communication, as well as a growing popular interest in innovation and science and design. Since 2006, talks have been viewed a couple billion times online by a global audience, reflecting TED’s newfound importance as a development for rhetorical finesse and a communicator of ideas across the world.
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