From a Scrappy Collective of Academics to a Media Giant Worth Millions
Based on the vast amount of TED Talks that have been shared online, it is likely that you are already familiar with this popular educational format. The videos from their many conferences have gone viral numerous times, and continue to do so even today. Some of the talks might be motivational and inspiring, while others may contain thought-provoking messages.TED - which stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design - is one of the most popular educational media outlets out there today, with millions of dollars in estimated revenue.
But TED's status as a media behemoth with hundreds of conferences per year around the world and a flashy streaming platform is a relatively new one. It hasn't always been this way for the scrappy media outlet bent on bringing positive change and proactive dialogue to the world. In fact, it is rare for a company with a mission as lofty and intellectual as Ted's to ever see the light of day, let alone skyrocket in popularity in the age of social media. But time and time again, TED has proven itself as a scrappy media company with a vision - one that knows how to grow and adapt with the shifting times.
The big event that TED is most known for is its annual TED conference, which draws in thousands of people from around the world. TED also produces a number of other media, including online lectures and short documentaries. It started out as something of a fringe collective of academics but now it's worth over $65 million.
TED helps to propagate ideas, solutions to global problems, and inspirational self-help talks by creating a massive media network that includes podcasts, books, videos, and a video streaming website. Additionally, TED provides grants, fellowships, and scholarships that enable unknown academics and public speakers to become icons of their industries overnight. All it takes is a shot at the TED Talk stage.
The third criterion is whether the talk is ?enlightening.? This means that it should make people think about things differently, perhaps sparking new ideas or prompting them to consider issues they hadn't before.
The second question we ask of TED Talk submissions is: does this talk offer the audience a clever solution to a given problem or the promise of a better future? If you have seen a TED Talk before, then you're already familiar with the format. The speaker often presents a unique issue, offers up data, examples, or sound logic in order to back it up, then offers a solution - preferably one that instills hope or inspires action in the audience.
This leads us to the final category that TED looks for in the talks that it accepts: inspiration. To further speak to this idea, Ted?s director, Chris Anderson told Business Insider, ?We have this tool for bridging that allows any two humans to see the world a bit differently. Call the tool what you want: reason, discussion, sharing of ideas. It?s actually an amazing thing that it can happen at all.? TED Talks must inspire audiences to act in some way - be it by positively changing their behaviors, treating people differently (better), or devoting their time or money to a cause.
It is both inspiring and encouraging to see a multi-million-dollar company putting this focus on. This is one of the things that makes TED such an influential and important part of the media landscape. The company's existence alone is enough to give hope to a world that, in some respects, seems to be getting bleaker by the day.
TED?s Very Own Streaming Platform
Previously, up until just a few years ago, if you wanted to watch a TED Talk, you had to search for one on YouTube. TED had its own YouTube channel, of course, but it still was a more difficult and time-consuming process than many TED fans had hoped for. This led the people at TED to begin working on their very own streaming platform.
This allowed TED to create more exclusive and platform-specific content without having to worry about the cumbersome requirements and monetization system of YouTube.
And today, we're going to be taking a look at the streaming site, TED.com, which is different from any other media site out there. We've known this for a while now, but what about their streaming site? Does it compare well with others? We'll find out today.
Design is Excellent, as You?d Expect
Upon landing on the TED home page, I notice that it is designed expertly. The ?D? in TED stands for Design, so it would be a huge disappointment if they neglected this aspect of their streaming site.Luckily, ted.com lives up to the highest standards of site design. The site is minimalist and easy to navigate- it is as intuitive as it is clean and easy on the eyes.
I love the way that TED's site design allows you to sign up and log in immediately, given a series of multiple-choice questions about the kind of content that you prefer. They ask what kinds of ideas are of interest to you, and from a list of tags, you select the ones that catch your attention. It's basically asking for your customized version of their three-pronged test.
TED knows what content to feature based on your individual interests. And, they do it all without you even knowing! The site updates itself automatically so that the content is tailored specifically for you. So, if you're looking for something to watch or read, TED has got you covered!
When you first arrive, you're offered recommended videos just for you. These recommendations, of course, change with your viewing habits - so the site learns your interests better, too, the more you watch. You'll find a section of the newest talks; followed by trending, editor's picks, TED-Ed animations, a collection of playlists, and finally talks separated by specific categories. The whole site is flawless and more intuitive than most.
If you're looking for something to watch or read, the TED site has a lot to offer. There are videos, blog posts, podcasts, books, and more on the site. You can browse through them all by clicking on the different tabs on the main menu bar on the site. If you want to get involved with TED or learn more about what they do, you can sign up for their newsletters or join their community.
Search the Attend tab on TED.com for events all around the world. Choose a speaker, organize an event, or apply to be a TED fellow in the Participate section of the site. TED is one of those sites that transcend the digital realm and allows you to get out of your house and get involved in issues that matter to you in the real world.
Suggestions for TED Moving Forward?
There are definitely ways to improve the TED website. For example, the design and user experience are top-notch, but the video streaming quality is seldom nearly as high-resolution as it should be. Some of the videos are borderline unwatchable, it's that bad. I urge TED to take care of this issue as soon as possible.
But, at the end of the day, TED is free to use. There's no subscription fee, no tiered memberships to worry about. Simply sign up and have full access to the site - worry free. This does mean that there are ads, though - but they're not too invasive as to severely hinder the experience of the site. If you love ideas, want to get inspired, and learn something new, TED is the site for you!
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