A one minute TEDx Talk for the digital age | Woody Roseland | TEDxMileHigh

TEDx Talks

13 Sept 201701:21

Summary

TLDRIn this humorous TED talk transcript, the speaker, Victor Borges, addresses the audience with a candid confession: he's more concerned with the internet's opinion of his talk than the audience's. He emphasizes the importance of online visibility and sharing, as that's where the real impact lies. With a nod to the shortened attention spans of the digital age, he humorously admits he hasn't watched a full 18-minute TED talk in years, pledging to keep his own talk under a minute. The script concludes with a quick joke about the cost of balloons, attributing it to 'inflation,' which elicits laughter and applause from the audience.

Takeaways

🎤 The speaker doesn't care about the immediate audience's opinion but is more concerned with the internet's reception of the talk.
😂 The speaker humorously acknowledges the importance of the internet in spreading and sharing content.
👀 The speaker suggests that most people are focusing on the wrong audience by addressing the live crowd rather than the online viewers.
📉 The speaker points out the decline in attention spans since 2009, implying that longer talks may not be as effective.
🚫 The speaker admits they haven't watched a long TED talk in years, indicating a preference for shorter content.
⏱️ The speaker emphasizes brevity, stating that TED talks should be kept short and to the point.
⏰ The speaker is attempting to deliver their talk in under a minute, highlighting the value of concise communication.
🎭 The speaker uses humor effectively to engage the audience and make a point about the cost of balloons being due to 'inflation'.
📈 The speaker implies that understanding and catering to the online audience is crucial for the success and reach of a talk.
📱 The speaker suggests that the way to reach a wider audience is through digital platforms like Facebook, where people are constantly scrolling.
📉 The speaker's reference to 'killed' attention spans is a commentary on the modern trend of short-form content consumption.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main concern regarding the audience's opinion of his talk?
-The speaker is more concerned about what the internet thinks of his talk, as they are the ones who can get it seen and shared.
Why does the speaker believe that most people get it wrong when giving a TED talk?
-The speaker thinks most people focus on talking to the physical audience in the room, rather than the broader online audience who are scrolling through social media.
What does the speaker imply about the current state of people's attention spans?
-The speaker humorously suggests that people's attention spans have significantly decreased, to the point where they are practically non-existent.
How long has it been since the speaker last watched an 18-minute TED talk?
-The speaker states that it has been years since he last watched an 18-minute TED talk.
What is the speaker's approach to keeping his TED talk engaging?
-The speaker chooses to keep his talk short and quick, aiming to deliver it in under a minute.
What does the speaker imply about the importance of humor in his talk?
-The speaker uses humor as a way to engage the audience and keep their attention, as evidenced by his joke about the cost of balloons.
What is the punchline of the speaker's final joke?
-The punchline of the joke is 'Inflation,' which is a play on words referring to the cost of balloons and the economic term for the rise in the price of goods.
What is the significance of the audience's laughter in the script?
-The laughter signifies the audience's engagement and enjoyment of the speaker's humor and presentation style.
What is the role of the internet in spreading the speaker's message, according to the script?
-The internet plays a crucial role in amplifying the speaker's message by allowing it to be seen and shared by a wider audience beyond the physical event.
Why does the speaker mention the year 2009 in his talk?
-The speaker references 2009 to highlight the change in attention spans over time, suggesting that they were longer back then and have since diminished.
What is the main takeaway from the speaker's approach to public speaking?
-The main takeaway is the importance of adapting to the audience's preferences and the medium of delivery, emphasizing brevity and humor to engage a modern, internet-savvy audience.
How does the speaker's approach to the TED talk format challenge traditional norms?
-The speaker challenges traditional norms by opting for a very short talk and focusing on the online audience's preferences, rather than adhering to the conventional longer format and in-person engagement.

Outlines

00:00

😄 Speaker's Disregard for Live Audience Opinion

The speaker, Victor Borges, humorously dismisses the importance of the live audience's opinion on his talk, emphasizing that he is more concerned with the internet's reception. He points out the role of online sharing in the visibility of talks and suggests that many people focus too much on in-person reactions rather than online engagement. The speaker also reflects on the decline of attention spans since 2009, noting that he hasn't watched a full 18-minute TED talk in years, and promises to keep his talk brief, aiming to finish in under a minute.

😉 The Importance of Online Engagement Over Live Reactions

The speaker, David DeRuwe, highlights the significance of online viewership and sharing for the success of a talk, rather than the immediate feedback from a live audience. He acknowledges the shift in attention spans and the preference for shorter content, using humor to critique the traditional length of TED talks. David also shares a joke about the cost of balloons being due to 'inflation,' which is a pun on both economic inflation and the literal inflation of balloons, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Audience

The term 'audience' refers to the individuals who are present or watching a performance, lecture, or in this case, a talk. In the video's context, the speaker humorously dismisses the importance of the physical audience's opinion, emphasizing instead the reach and influence of the internet audience. The audience's laughter and applause are indicators of engagement and approval, which are crucial for the speaker's message to be shared and viewed widely online.

💡Internet

The 'internet' is a global system of interconnected computer networks that provides a platform for various forms of communication and information sharing. The speaker highlights the internet as the primary medium through which his talk will be seen and shared, indicating the shift from traditional, in-person communication to digital, online interaction. This is significant as it reflects the modern reality where online visibility often determines the success and impact of a message.

💡Attention Span

An 'attention span' is the duration for which a person can maintain focus on a task or stimulus without becoming distracted. The speaker humorously remarks that attention spans have been 'killed,' suggesting that in the digital age, people's ability to focus for extended periods has diminished. This is relevant to the video's theme as it underscores the need for concise and engaging content to capture and retain the viewer's interest.

💡TED Talk

A 'TED Talk' is a presentation delivered at a TED or TEDx conference, known for its focus on 'Ideas Worth Spreading.' These talks are often lengthy and in-depth. The speaker pokes fun at the traditional length of TED Talks, stating that he will deliver his in under a minute, which is a commentary on the changing expectations of content consumption in the modern era where brevity is valued.

💡Scrolling

'Scrolling' refers to the action of moving through content, typically on a digital device like a smartphone or computer. The speaker mentions 'random person scrolling Facebook,' which illustrates the idea that online content is often discovered incidentally as users scroll through their social media feeds. This behavior is pivotal to how the speaker's talk might gain traction online.

💡Click

A 'click' in the context of the internet refers to the action of selecting something on a computer screen by pressing a mouse button. The speaker thanks the audience for the 'click,' which is a metaphor for the initial engagement with online content. It signifies the first step in the process of content consumption and sharing, which is essential for the speaker's talk to gain visibility.

💡Inflation

In economics, 'inflation' is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and subsequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling. The joke about balloons being expensive due to 'inflation' is a clever play on words, using the economic term to humorously explain the high cost of balloons, which actually inflate with air or gas.

💡Laughter

'Laughter' is the natural response and expression of amusement or pleasure. Throughout the script, laughter is used as an indicator of the audience's enjoyment and engagement with the speaker's humor. It serves as a form of non-verbal communication that validates the speaker's approach and the effectiveness of his message delivery.

💡Applause

Applause is the act of clapping hands together to express approval or admiration. In the script, applause follows the final joke, indicating the audience's positive reception of the talk. It is a form of feedback that shows the speaker's success in entertaining and connecting with the audience.

💡Joke

A 'joke' is a form of entertainment, typically a story with a punchline at the end, designed to provoke laughter. The speaker uses a joke to lighten the mood and engage the audience, demonstrating the power of humor in communication. The joke about balloons and inflation serves as a memorable and entertaining way to conclude the talk.

💡Brevity

'Brevity' is the quality of being brief, short, or concise. The speaker emphasizes the importance of brevity by delivering his talk in under a minute, which aligns with the modern preference for shorter content that can be easily consumed in a digital environment. This concept is central to the speaker's message about adapting to the current landscape of information dissemination.

Highlights

The speaker doesn't care about the audience's opinion but rather what the internet thinks of his talk.

The internet is the key to getting the talk seen and shared.

Most people get it wrong by talking to the live audience instead of the random person scrolling on Facebook.

The speaker thanks the audience for clicking on his talk.

In 2009, people had something called 'attention spans' which are now considered gone.

The speaker admits he hasn't watched an 18-minute TED talk in years.

The advice given is to keep TED talks quick.

The speaker is doing his talk in under a minute.

At 44 seconds into the talk, there's still time for one final joke.

The final joke is about why balloons are so expensive: 'Inflation'.

The joke is delivered by Woody Roseland and is met with laughter and applause.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of internet visibility for talks to be impactful.

The audience's laughter indicates a humorous and engaging speaking style.

The speaker's disregard for the audience's opinion in favor of internet reach is a bold statement.

The mention of 'attention spans' being dead reflects a commentary on modern attention spans.

The speaker's decision to do his talk in under a minute is a challenge to traditional TED talk formats.

The joke about balloons and inflation is a clever play on words and a humorous way to end the talk.

The applause at the end signifies the audience's appreciation for the talk.