The cult of TED: Why everyone is obsessed

Rachel Botsman speaking at TEDx Sydney in 2010. Source: Supplied

Benjamin Bratton, Associate Professor of Visual Arts at UCSD introduces his TEDx talk, 'What's wrong with TED talks?' Courtesy TEDxTalks/YouTube

The TED circus has rolled into town with TEDx Sydney due to take place this Saturday under the sails of the Opera House. So be prepared for people to wax lyrical about ideas. Ideas to change the world, ideas to engage the community and ideas to inspire yourself.

TED (technology, entertainment and design) conferences have attracted heavyweights the likes of Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Richard Dawkins and Jane Goodall to tell everyone about their ideas.

So yeah, ideas. It is, after all, TEDs ethos Ideas worth spreading.

The global phenomenon that is TED now is fascinating precisely because its focus is something as cerebral and intangible as ideas. But thats exactly why TED has inspired an almost cult-like awe among its followers.

Clock onto the TED website and you can find intelligent talks on almost any topic ranging from neuroscience to bees. Best of all, you can learn about something interesting from the best in the field in less than 20 minutes instead of slaving away through a small-print academic textbook.

But its not supposed to be just about self-education. The more grandiose aspect of TEDs mission is that those very ideas will get people working on how to improve the world through science, technology and people. It even hands out three annual $100,000 prizes to people to actualise their ideas.

The audience at TEDx Sydney last year. Source: Supplied

So you can see why hordes of aspirational and well-meaning people globally have clung onto TED like its the second coming.

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The cult of TED: Why everyone is obsessed