Here are eight things you may not know about TED, compiled from information on the official ted.com and tedxdayton.com websites.
1. TED Talks have an 18-minute time limit. The idea is to force speakers to get straight to the point and keep the length short enough for viewers to stay interested in the topic, according to ted.com.
2. TED is not about pseudoscience. TED guidelines state that all science and health information presented must be supported by peer-reviewed research. Ideas worth spreading do not mean scientifically unsupported snake oils, miracle cures, or psychic healing.
3. Despite the lack of pseudoscience, TED is unbiased. The talks that get posted to the website are the ones that will contribute to productive conversation or scientific debate.
4. TED Talks are available for free, all over the world. TED devotes a great deal of time and money to bring these talks to those who lack broadband access.
5. A great deal of work goes into TED’s “ideas worth spreading.” It can take up to a full day to edit a single 18-minute TED Talk. Most of the talks are edited with a very light touch, generally removing excessive “ums” or “uhs.”
6. TED has no official bans on topics. While TED has covered a great deal of topics, there are topics that have not been covered. If a topic interests you that TED has not covered, you can suggest a speaker to TED.
7. TED isn’t rich. In fact TED is nonprofit, all of the money made goes back into the organization, much of the money supports independent TEDx events and goes into offering TED Talks free worldwide.
8. Not just anyone can attend a TED conference. The audience, like the speakers, is carefully selected so that it’s a diverse group of individuals who can support TED’s mission.
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