what is ted ?

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks that are 18 minutes or less. TED began in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment, and design converged. Today, the conference covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in individual communities around the world.

What is a TEDx event?

Imagine a day filled with brilliant speakers, thought-provoking video, and mind-blowing conversation that unleash new ideas, inspire, and inform. TEDx events are local gatherings where live TED-like talks and videos previously recorded at TED conferences are shared. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently in each of the individual communities they are organized in. The content and design of each TEDx event is unique and developed independently, but all of them have features in common.

OUR MISSION IS TO SPREAD IDEAS

TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We passionately believe that the power of ideas can change attitudes, lives—and ultimately—the world.

On TED.com, we're building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers, and a community of curious souls that engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long. In fact, everything associated with TED—from its conferences to TED Talks, to the projects sparked by the TED Prize, to the global TEDx community or TED-Ed lesson series—is driven by a single question: how can we best spread great ideas?

TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. Its sole purpose is to make great ideas accessible, and spark conversation.