Review of the TEDxMoosach Conference in Moosach, Munich.

Following the main spirit of ideas worth spreading, on December 18th, 2017 the first TEDxMoosach took place.


TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

After some initial difficulties the event started in an enthusiastic atmosphere and provided several really interesting presentations.

=============

The „Haptics of Decision Making“, presented by Sarah Hemmer.

She outlined the cognitive process behind decision making and how important also haptics is in this process.

When people make a choice between multiple items, they usually evaluate each item one after the other repeatedly.

The effect of the order and number of evaluating items on one’s choices is essential to understanding the decision-making process.

Previous studies have shown that when people choose a favorable item from two items, they tend to choose the item that they evaluated last.

This tendency has been observed regardless of sensory modalities.

In average we make 35.000 decisions every day, some belong to system 1 „automated“ decisions, others into system 2 „conscious“ decisions. So there is a lot of time to use and to learn how to make better decisions.

The process of identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values, preferences and beliefs of the decision-maker is very complex and also some external influences with psychological roots take place like haptical influences.

A business card made of heavy, luxury paper seems to belong to a more important contact than a cheaper one. Self printed BC is the worst case scenario.

– judging: heavy = important

– Sitting in a comfortable, soft chair makes another impression of the surrounding environment than sitting in a hard chair.

– The influence of drinking hot or cold.

All of these insights are not really new, but very interesting to hear it again, to remember and to process.

==============

Another very interesting presentation came from Max Haeberlein.

„Why Quantum Computing connects to Artificial Intelligence“.

In this pitch the basics of quantum computing, recent developments and a short outlook about the capabilities of this technology were presented and how QC will be THE accelerator for real AI. Not just the sophisticated statistical models we nowadays call AI.

==============

One contraversery presentation came from Grigorii Gerdzhikov about „Blind Obedience vs. True Loyalty“ on example of the military.

The ideal picture that he tried to frame, that military depends on true leadership and the trust to the commanding officer, is of course logical and right.

I wish during my military time the slogan „Bürger in Uniform“ (citizen in uniform) would have been something that the commanding chain had followed – but instead the opposite was and when I talk to others in service, still is in progress: group dynamics, collective punishment and fear.

Military does not need ability to think for oneself, else we would have more insubordinations and a better world.

==============

Cool pitch from Aleksandar Bauranov about „Taking charge of the Driverless Car Revolution“.

To hear another insights concerning automated drive, away from mainstream industry and politically motivated bigmouths, was very refreshing.

Again to be reminded that we mostly have a carcentric approach, everyone who saw an American city from above knows what I mean, is good and makes one rethinking. Seeing the solid line of cars in a jam every morning, stop&go, just one driver in and rarely additional passengers…

„We“ have messed up our mobility concept and the speaker is right, we need a restart. A total reboot of this concept and automated driving has huge potential, if we do it right.

Also some presented numbers were not that common, like that in urban environments 20% is parking space.

Space where our mobile knight’s armor just rots for 90% of it’s time.

So what is the essence of this pitch? How to proceed? The title names it: Taking charge of the driverless car revolution. By removing the negative ways out of possible scenarios. Stopping to predict the future, but building the future we want.

==============

Visual Entrepreneurship presented by Matthias Rüby

on most examples from Siemens.

http://www.matthiasrueby.de

==============

Pancho Daskalov, the TEDxMoosach Organizer presented in his pitch „HUMAN“ the idea of ontological designing, how what we design, designs us back.

What is Ontological Design? – YouTube Video

Are We the Designers or the Designed? with Jason Silva – Video

==============

In total the event was very successful and I hope after adjusting some details, tech problems, nervous speakers 😉 loud environment…

the TEDx in Moosach will have many follow ups.

Open discussions and insights to recent developments are very important on the way to shape the future of technology and bringing the human up-to-date with these developments that might seem like man made evolution through technology.