Why I Don’t Use A Smart Phone | Ann Makosinski | TEDxTeen

Summary

In this inspiring talk, Ann Makosinski, an 18-year-old inventor from Canada, shares her journey of creativity and innovation. Growing up without many toys and without a phone, Ann's parents encouraged her to be resourceful, fostering her love for making things. Ann discusses how her childhood experiences with scarcity led to inventions like the flashlight powered by the heat of a human hand and the eDrink mug, which converts heat into electricity. She emphasizes the importance of minimizing distractions, creating with less, and pursuing one's passions regardless of age or resources, encouraging others to start small but think big.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ann Makosinski, an 18-year-old from Vancouver Island, shares her experience of never having a phone until she went off to college, challenging the norm of youth and technology.
• 😀 Despite being considered unconventional, Ann finds that carrying a flip phone makes her 'cool' and allows her to stay more focused on her work and creativity.
• 😀 Ann's childhood was shaped by her parents' decision to give her few toys, which led her to develop a strong sense of creativity and problem-solving skills.
• 😀 The lack of conventional toys pushed Ann to make her own creations, using materials like a hot glue gun, and helped her embrace the importance of hands-on skills.
• 😀 Ann's parents, from Poland and the Philippines, encouraged her to think outside the box, which inspired her to be an inventor, even though she did not fit the typical 'cool kid' mold.
• 😀 Ann's interest in invention began with her first 'toys,' a box of transistors and electronic components, which sparked her passion for tinkering and making things.
• 😀 Ann emphasizes the value of not overloading kids with material possessions, believing that giving them fewer things encourages creativity and resourcefulness.
• 😀 While other teens may have been focused on fitting in, Ann was more interested in learning from people like Ravi Shankar, whose passion for culture and music deeply impacted her view on life.
• 😀 Ann's experience with poverty during visits to India and the Philippines helped her realize the global challenges people face, and inspired her to find ways to address these issues through invention.
• 😀 Ann's first significant invention, 'The Flashlight,' was created as a response to a friend's lack of electricity for studying, demonstrating her desire to solve real-world problems through technology.
• 😀 Ann encourages others to pursue their passions, regardless of their age, and believes that even a small amount of time spent working on ideas each day can lead to great things. She also advocates for minimizing distractions like phones to foster creativity.

Q & A

Why did Ann Makosinski refer to herself as a 'differentist' when she was younger?

Ann Makosinski referred to herself as a 'differentist' because she wanted to be different from others. She made up the term to describe her desire to stand out, even though she later dressed and talked like others. Her childhood was shaped by this desire for uniqueness, especially since she wasn't given many toys and had to find creative ways to entertain herself.

How did Ann's parents influence her creativity?

Ann's parents influenced her creativity by not giving her many toys. Instead, they provided her with a hot glue gun, which led her to make her own toys. This forced her to think creatively and solve problems with the resources she had, fostering her inventive mindset from a young age.

What was the significance of Ann's invention of the 'Flashlight' that runs on human heat?

Ann's invention of the 'Flashlight' that runs on human heat was significant because it addressed a real-world problem faced by her friend in the Philippines. Her friend couldn’t afford electricity, so Ann was inspired to create a solution. The invention not only gained her recognition but also demonstrated her ability to combine creativity with practical problem-solving.

What lesson did Ann learn from receiving a skateboard as a gift?

Ann learned that giving children the resources to create something on their own is more valuable than just handing them completed items. She felt that if she had been given just the wheels of a skateboard and had to work for the rest, she would have valued the experience more and would likely have been more invested in learning to skateboard.

How did Ann feel about not having a phone during her teenage years?

Ann felt content about not having a phone during her teenage years. She didn't experience 'FOMO' (Fear of Missing Out) because she was satisfied with her life and didn’t feel the need to keep up with the latest trends. Her lack of a phone limited her time socializing, but it also gave her more time to focus on her personal pursuits.

Why did Ann look up to Ravi Shankar?

Ann looked up to Ravi Shankar because of his passion for introducing Indian music and culture to the West. She admired how he dedicated his life to his work, sharing his love for music and culture with people who had never experienced it before. His passion and influence, particularly on the hippie movement, inspired her own journey in life.

What experience shaped Ann's understanding of poverty?

Ann's experience visiting family in India and the Philippines, where she witnessed extreme poverty for the first time, deeply impacted her. The stark contrast between her life in Canada and the poverty she saw in these countries made her more aware of global issues and sparked her desire to find ways to help improve such conditions.

How did Ann's involvement in the Science Fair help her develop?

Ann's involvement in the Science Fair provided her with an opportunity to pursue her interest in invention and problem-solving. It was through this platform that she began to focus on energy harvesting and gained confidence in her ability to create solutions for real-world problems, such as providing electricity to people who lacked it.

What is the eDrink, and how does it work?

The eDrink is a coffee mug that harnesses the excess heat from a hot drink to generate electricity. The heat generated while waiting for the drink to cool down is converted into energy, which can then be used to charge devices like phones or iPods. This invention highlights Ann's continued focus on sustainable energy solutions.

What message does Ann want to convey about creativity and the use of technology?

Ann wants to convey that creativity often flourishes when people have fewer distractions and less excess. She believes that when people are given less, they are forced to think more creatively and find solutions to problems. Ann also advocates for disconnecting from devices like phones to allow for more focus and productivity, emphasizing the importance of using time wisely to create and innovate.