Beatnic - just wondering » TED

How would a butterfly inspire your next design?

Nic Price — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:17:52 +0000

That’s the question currently on the homepage of Ask Nature, a new web-based resource which catalogues the many ways we can learn from nature when we’re trying to solve problems. The project is run by the Biomimicry Institute.

The site was announced this morning at TED Global in Oxford.

Here’s an excerpt:

Anchors of bull kelp protect it from torque by being flexible.

“Kelp’s survival depends on flexibility and extensibility. Each alga can grow up to 20 to 45 m (22 to 49 yd) long and consists of a holdfast, stipe, float, and fronds. The holdfast uses a flexible network of root-like haptera or anchors to attach the kelp to the ocean floor. By being flexible, the haptera allow the kelp’s base to rotate slightly, thus providing some protection from the high torque created by waves.” (Biomimicry Guild unpublished report) [read Bull Kelp article]

Hot from the online edit suite… you can also watch Gordon Brown’s speech at TED Global. The comments make interesting reading.

Stopped smoking? Have a “TED break”

Nic Price — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:22:04 +0000

If you’ve quit smoking and you’re wondering what to do with your extra 30 minutes at work every day, why not spend 18 of them watching one of the many great talks on TED (technology, entertainment, design).

This week TED clocked up 50 million viewings.

Jill Bolte Taylor’s talk (below) is the most watched.

I found it fairly mind-blowing, if you’ll pardon the pun.

Musical inspiration

Nic Price — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:01:11 +0000

TED Talk: Tod Machover & Dan Ellsey: Releasing the music in your head

Via Joe Lazarus via Scobleizer on Twitter.

Why design?

Nic Price — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:36:45 +0000

Philippe Starck does his turn at TED.

Don’t look up, it’s a trap.

[Via Richard Sambrook]