Present Shock -- When Everything Happend Now: Douglas Rushkoff at TEDxNYED

Summary

The speaker reflects on the evolution of TED talks and digital technology. Originally, TED talks were unprepared and focused on live, human connection, but have since become more polished and distribution-driven. The speaker reminisces about the early internet's asynchronous nature, where thoughtful communication flourished. They critique how modern technology has shifted from participation to consumption and argue for reclaiming a 'read-write' world where people engage as creators, not just consumers. They advocate for peer-to-peer learning, especially with coding, and emphasize the importance of real-life connections alongside digital interactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 TED's original rules emphasized live, unprepared talks to foster authentic connections between the speaker and the audience.
• 🤔 The evolution of TED has shifted towards polished, rehearsed presentations, often involving attempts to go viral with videos and PowerPoint slides.
• 🕰️ The early internet allowed people to reclaim time and engage thoughtfully through asynchronous communication, which was lost in today's always-on culture.
• 📶 Early online spaces enabled more reflective and intelligent conversations, where people had time to craft thoughtful responses.
• 💡 The digital world should have remained a space for live, real-time interaction, but it became more about consumption than participation.
• 🛠️ Technology has shifted from tools of creation and empowerment to mechanisms of constant engagement and consumption.
• 🎓 Modern education is disrupted by technology, favoring passive content consumption over participatory, peer-to-peer learning.
• 🌐 The internet should facilitate a culture of learning, where people share knowledge as peers, not just download content for personal advancement.
• 🔧 Coding is best taught online, and it represents more than just engineering – it's a liberal art, helping people think critically about digital platforms.
• 📱 The goal of digital culture should be to balance real-world interactions with online tools, using both to enhance human connection and creativity.

Q & A

What were the original rules for TED talks as learned from Richard Saul Wurman?

The original rules for TED talks, as learned from Richard Saul Wurman in 1993 or 1994, were that speakers were not allowed to prepare, and they could not sell anything from the stage. They had 11 minutes to get up and share their ideas with the audience.

How does the speaker contrast TED talks from the past with the current format?

The speaker notes that TED talks have shifted from spontaneous, unprepared presentations to more polished, practiced talks, often focused on selling ideas or products. There is now a bias towards distributing these talks via video, with the hope that they will go viral.

What does the speaker say about the live connection between people in a real space?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of live connections between people in real spaces, which Richard Saul Wurman recognized as valuable and unique in the digital age. This connection is now being overshadowed by the focus on digital distribution.

How does the speaker view the evolution of the internet in relation to its original promise?

The speaker believes that the internet was originally seen as a tool to reclaim personal time and avoid the constraints of traditional work. However, over time, it has become an 'always-on' technology that keeps people constantly connected and responding, losing the asynchronous advantage it once provided.

What is the speaker’s critique of the current use of social media platforms like Facebook?

The speaker criticizes social media platforms for creating a consumer-based relationship with technology. People, like 'Johnny,' might believe platforms like Facebook are there to help them make friends, but in reality, the platforms are designed to monetize users' social interactions and data.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'read-only' vs. 'read-write' files to the world?

The speaker reflects on their first experience with saving files on a computer and how it changed their perspective on the world. They realized that many systems (like law, money, and society) are treated as 'read-only'—fixed and unchangeable—when they could be 'read-write,' meaning open to change and interaction.

What does the speaker mean by the 'read-write universe'?

The 'read-write universe' refers to the idea that the world is not fixed and can be modified or programmed, just like files on a computer. It is a metaphor for viewing systems, structures, and society as things that can be changed or reprogrammed by people.

How does the speaker see the role of technology in education?

The speaker argues that while the internet could be a tool for participatory and peer-to-peer learning, it is often used to reinforce traditional, top-down education models. Online learning platforms frequently emphasize downloading pre-recorded lectures from famous professors rather than fostering interactive, real-time learning environments.

What are the three types of education the speaker believes coding should inspire?

The speaker believes coding should inspire three types of education: 1) Coding as engineering, teaching the technical skill of programming, 2) Coding as a liberal art, teaching critical thinking about digital environments, and 3) Programming as culture, which involves understanding the cultural and societal implications of digital technology.

What does the speaker suggest is being lost in digital education?

The speaker suggests that the live interaction and engagement between teachers and students are being lost in digital education. Professors are increasingly relying on scripted performances and losing the ability to respond to their audience in real time, reducing the richness of the learning experience.