First day of Techonomy WAS a mind guerrilla. Some of my favorite moments:
Eric Schmidt: A problem we'll have to deal with 10+ years out, is teenagers changing their names in order to deny their online past. (aka known as how to defeat Google memory.)
Eric Schmidt: "That's why God invented the off button." Eric says he can stay off the grid for up to 90 min. Big laugh from all who listen while tweeting and texting.
David Christian: The history prof you wished you'd had is talking about Big History. If you take the billions out of it, the universe began 13 years ago, the Earth was formed 5 years ago, human civilization began 3 weeks ago and the first space launch was 1 second ago. Much of the Earth's big history is about bacteria (single celled bacteria).
David Christian: "Creativity, innovation & collective learning is what distinguishes humans from other species."
David Christian: Most psychologists study misery. A small segment studies happiness. Can humans use collective learning and technology to solve our Malthusian crisis and create more happiness?
While David Christian refers to Antonio Gramsci's "pessimism of the intellect vs optimism of the will", Intel's video about their top 10 ISEF winners exhibit optimism on both fronts. All 10 winners are in attendance dressed in white jackets. So inspiring. I love these kids.
One of the bennies of only 10% women participants at the Techonomy conference is there's no restroom line at the break! They also served Dove ice cream bars as a snack. Excellent choice.
Stewart Brand: "This doesn't look like a treehugging crowd." and "New definition of fusion = synthetic solar."
Stewart Brand & Kevin Kelly: "The lucky poor people of the world will get technology when it finally works."
Brian Arthur, Santa Fe Institute: "If you're not confused, you don't understand anything," culled from a film about the Irish revolution.
Brian Arthur: The physical economy has a mirror or underground digital economy: a self configuring neural layer like a jellyfish's. "This neural layer of the digital economy is a second form of intelligence and the biggest change in economic history."
Jim Breyer: Where will the next $trillion companies be in 2020? The US economy is not improving. While Google and Apple may be able to reinvent themselves, more market value/higher market caps will be created in China, India, Brazil and Russia. By 2020, Accel will only have 10% of its partners in Palo Alto.
Back at the lobby bar with Kirby and Noemi (Spanish for Naomi and not to be confused with bad French for no friends), for a relaxing Malbec after my Vulcan mind meld. Noemi tells me she uses Chivas Regal as a cologne--it's very popular at Superbowl and other football parties. I suggest that if she wants to meet men who own racehorses rather than just watch football, she should dab on a bit of Knob Creek. Hilarity ensues. Kirby giving Noemi a hug below after he smells her Chivas Regal cologne.
Back to the salt mines, oh I mean a delightful cocktail party and another superb meal with Dean Kamen providing the fireside chat.
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