What is TED?

I had a few interesting reactions to the TED talk "Don't Eat the
Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posada...

Some people were wondering if the Marshmallow Experiment
were some urban legend created for a feel good effect. Just to
clear the air, one such experiment was conducted in the 1960s
by Stanford University Psychology professors. The test subjects
were then tracked through the years to validate the initial results.
You can read more on that here.

I thus realized that I should give a proper introduction on TED.
You see, I feel privileged that I can easily access the TED talks.
It is not everyday that one gets the opportunity to listen to the
great minds of our time. My current life, though eventful in its
own way, does not merit an invitation to a TED Conference.
No problem! I am quite content with watching the talks in the
comforts of my home.

"TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three
broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping our future.
And in fact, the event is broader still, showcasing ideas that
matter in any discipline. The format is fast paced: 50+ talks
over the course of four days (to say nothing of the morning
and evening events)...

Attendance at TED is by invitation only, and the attendees --
CEOs, scientists, designers, intellectuals -- are as extraordinary
as the speakers, who in 2007 included former US Pres Bill
Clinton, author Isabel Allende, legendary biologist EO Wilson,
designer Phillipe Starck, and Virgin CEO Richard Branson;
in 2008, speakers included brain expert Jill Bolte Taylor,
physicist Stephen Hawking and undersea explorer Robert
Ballard. Indeed, TED's success is based on the extraordinary
effect of bringing together 1,000 of the world's most remarkable
people. The result? Unexpected connections. Extraordinary
insights. Powerful inspiration.

TED was first held in 1984, and featured early demos of the
Macintosh computer and the Sony compact disc.... No longer
just an annual event, TED now encompasses a sister conference,
TEDGlobal, held biannually in different cities around the world,
and a simulcast event, which allows even more people to enjoy
the TED Conference's content and connections."