Luis von Ahn: Massive-scale online collaboration

How great ideas can be so simple … After re-purposing CAPTCHA so each human-typed response helps digitize books, Luis von Ahn wondered how else to use small contributions by many on the Internet for greater good. At TEDxCMU, he shares how his ambitious new project, Duolingo, will help millions learn a new language while translating… Continue reading Luis von Ahn: Massive-scale online collaboration

Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward.

Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world

Kevin Slavin argues that we’re living in a world designed for — and increasingly controlled by — algorithms. In this riveting talk from TEDGlobal, he shows how these complex computer programs determine: espionage tactics, stock prices, movie scripts, and architecture. And he warns that we are writing code we can’t understand, with implications we can’t… Continue reading Kevin Slavin: How algorithms shape our world

A woman stands in front of the mirror …

A woman stands in front of the mirror, naked. She says to her husband: “I’m fat, wrinkled, and ugly. It’s so depressing. Please say something to make me feel better.” He replies: “Your eyesight is perfect!”