Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world

http://www.ted.com Clay Shirky looks at "cognitive surplus" -- the shared, online work we do with our spare brain cycles. While we're busy editing Wikipedia, posting to Ushahidi (and yes, making LOLcats), we're building a better, more cooperative world.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

• Category

  Science & Technology

[alteritY9k]

I agree with the main point: the internet allows us to contribute content, not just consume, and is largely built on freely contributed content.

The other good point is that we should celebrate and support projects with ‘civic value’. For example, wikipedia, free and open source software, artists and musicians who freely distribute their works, and so forth.

The point of mentioning the daycare experiment is if we think of these things from an economic standpoint we will not see their value.

[IntuitiveLeap]

welcome to technological unemployment! welcome it!

[TheRoofDoctor1959]

I agree with the main point: the internet allows us to contribute content, not just consume, and is largely built on freely contributed content.

^ that statement is perfect!

[Kunal Lal]

The Indian Govt. introduced a small tax on the use of plastic bags in supermarkets. I wonder how the social contract works there and if anybody has done a study on how much plastic bag usage has changed since this was placed in effect. Could it be that usage has increased?

[Atlas Hive]

When I read this I totally heard it at the end of every sentence he said XD

[Brandon Aikin]

I dislike when people say, "right?" at the end of many of their sentences, for absolutely no reason. It's a really bad habit.

[milton1969able]

this is the 2nd talk i've seen by him in 20 mins  , i like the way he thinks

[alteritY9k]

In fact artists and musicians do distribute some of their work freely for publicity but no one Expects anyone to do anything for nothing, that's entirely beside the point.

The "cognitive surplus" is time we spend while NOT working.

[Azihayya .]

I fear it! Imagine the anarchy that automated check-out services would create!

[crazy1be]

If nobody gets paid, but everything is free, what is the harm?

[Meredith Beardmore]

but how do the musicians and artists make a living it is freely distributed? How does that place value on something they have created if people expect them to do it for nothing?

[John Abrams]

I would really love to see more civic projects promoted, celebrated, and made popular. Cases such as Ushahidi DO get this, but for people who are looking for it, not the "couch potatoes".