The feeling that you may have just boarded a Scientology cruise ship is not accidental. It’s rooted partly in Silicon Valley’s techno-Rapturist soil, and partly in Anderson’s own evangelical yearnings. Those invited to speak at TED are mailed an actual stone tablet engraved with “The TED Commandments.” (One is “Thou Shalt Not Sell From the Stage”.) June Cohen, who runs TED’s media operation, told an audience two years ago that her sister-in-law calls the TED Talk “a secular sermon”. The atheist Daniel Dennett suggested that TED could “replace” religion, observing that it “already, largely wittingly I think, adopted a lot of the key design features of good religions”, including giving away content.

Really fascinating article all about the phenomenon that is TED.

http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/review/flat_out_talking_at_club_ted_pi8xrho3fx79WCiGkv1VeO

3 ways the Global Service Jam changed my life Last weekend I took part in a service design jam in Sydney, one of many events taking place that weekend in 90 different cities all around the world as part of the Global Service Jam 2012 (GSJ12). Reflecting on the experience, I can already see 3 key ways that GSJ12 in Sydney has changed my life meaningfully for the better: 1. It helped me realise what matters most to me On Friday the global theme was announced that all Jammers across the world would be using as inspiration for the services they were to design. That theme was ‘Hidden Treasure’. Placed on the spot to think about a user-centric service that was worth designing I immediately thought about the problem of homelessness. I have been fascinated by the challenge of addressing homelessness my whole life but had never found a clear way to get more involved. The fact that it was such an easy decision to focus on homelessness showed me just how deeply held my belief is that this is a complex societal problem I care deeply about and want to work on. 2. It introduced me to new ways of thinking I signed up for GSJ12 because I have been interested in design thinking for some time but have not found a way to incorporate more learning about it or practicing of it into my life. Over the weekend we were mentored by a number of great facilitators. The were incredibly giving of their time and energy, and observing the way they operated opened my eyes to all sorts of new techniques and ways of thinking and acting. We created personas to brainstorm need states, we role played, and we mapped out the touch points in our core stakeholders’ days. I learned so much about what Dave Gray and others have usefully called Gamestorming and I have already started to incorporate some of that thinking into my daily work. 3. I met many wonderful people When you throw a bunch of strangers together and get them to collaborate on each others ideas over 48 hours, in that intense environment you learn lots about people very quickly. You also learn lots about yourself too. Working with Jakob, Ollie and Jarryd was amazing and I can’t wait to catch up with them all again soon. Ben’s interest in our project gave me confidence that I was working on something that mattered and his understanding of the subject area was a real help. Samuel, Christian, Jax, Alex and Michelle were all incredibly giving of their time, as were the totally amazing organisers. Meeting these and other people at the GSJ12 I already know has improved me as a human being and as a thinker and doer. Taking part in the GSJ12 is something I would recommend to anyone looking to challenge themselves. The experience helped me recognise and work on the things that matter most to me, learn all about service design through doing it, and meet and work with inspiring people. Can’t wait for next year!
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3 ways the Global Service Jam changed my life

Last weekend I took part in a service design jam in Sydney, one of many events taking place that weekend in 90 different cities all around the world as part of the Global Service Jam 2012 (GSJ12).

Reflecting on the experience, I can already see 3 key ways that GSJ12 in Sydney has changed my life meaningfully for the better:

1. It helped me realise what matters most to me

On Friday the global theme was announced that all Jammers across the world would be using as inspiration for the services they were to design. That theme was ‘Hidden Treasure’.

Placed on the spot to think about a user-centric service that was worth designing I immediately thought about the problem of homelessness. I have been fascinated by the challenge of addressing homelessness my whole life but had never found a clear way to get more involved.

The fact that it was such an easy decision to focus on homelessness showed me just how deeply held my belief is that this is a complex societal problem I care deeply about and want to work on.

2. It introduced me to new ways of thinking

I signed up for GSJ12 because I have been interested in design thinking for some time but have not found a way to incorporate more learning about it or practicing of it into my life.

Over the weekend we were mentored by a number of great facilitators. The were incredibly giving of their time and energy, and observing the way they operated opened my eyes to all sorts of new techniques and ways of thinking and acting.

We created personas to brainstorm need states, we role played, and we mapped out the touch points in our core stakeholders’ days. I learned so much about what Dave Gray and others have usefully called Gamestorming and I have already started to incorporate some of that thinking into my daily work.

3. I met many wonderful people

When you throw a bunch of strangers together and get them to collaborate on each others ideas over 48 hours, in that intense environment you learn lots about people very quickly. You also learn lots about yourself too.

Working with Jakob, Ollie and Jarryd was amazing and I can’t wait to catch up with them all again soon. Ben’s interest in our project gave me confidence that I was working on something that mattered and his understanding of the subject area was a real help.

Samuel, Christian, Jax, Alex and Michelle were all incredibly giving of their time, as were the totally amazing organisers. Meeting these and other people at the GSJ12 I already know has improved me as a human being and as a thinker and doer.

Taking part in the GSJ12 is something I would recommend to anyone looking to challenge themselves. The experience helped me recognise and work on the things that matter most to me, learn all about service design through doing it, and meet and work with inspiring people.

Can’t wait for next year!

Amazing set of New Year’s resolutions, as made by Woody Guthrie, 1942.

On current evidence exercise is clearly the best method for increasing useful everyday cognitive functioning.

This is the conclusion of a piece over on PsyBlog, Which Cognitive Enhancers Really Work: Brain Training, Drugs, Vitamins, Meditation or Exercise?

Ultimately, there is little conclusive scientific evidence to support the oft-claimed beneficial effects of brain training, drugs, vitamins or meditation on cognition.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re not worth doing.

What I take out of this is that exercise needs to be part of your daily routine.