5 Awesome TED Talks About the Internet

The Internet is a revolutionary technology, and the ability to find information and communicate with others around the globe is invaluable. The most exciting fact about the Internet, however, is that it is still in its early stages, and people will look back in 10 years and be shocked at how much has changed.

The exciting nature of the Internet makes it a popular subject for discussion at TED, and there are a number of great videos. Here are five of the best.

1) How the Internet will one day transform government

(http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_the_internet_will_one_day_transform_government.html)

The Internet has had an undeniable impact on society, but the Internet is still in its early stages, and there is tremendous room for growth in the future. In his talk, Clay Shirky posits how the Internet will begin to have a major role in how government is run. With online voting and better methods of outreach, people can expect the Internet to streamline their ability to participate in government.

2) How the Net aids dictatorships

(http://www.ted.com/talks/evgeny_morozov_is_the_internet_what_orwell_feared.html)

The Internet has had a net positive effect on the world, but there are some unfortunate aspects of the platform. In particular, the Internet makes it easier for dictators to retain their power. It is easy to filter Internet access, and its value as a propaganda tool makes it popular for dictators around the globe. Fortunately, the Internet also provides resources for those who can get around these filters, and it allows encrypted communication among rebel groups as well.

3) Wireless data from every light bulb

(http://www.ted.com/talks/harald_haas_wireless_data_from_every_light_bulb.html)

The Internet is generally considered to be composed of wires that stretch around the globe, but it does not have to rely on wires. Light is a great medium through which information can be sent, and miles of fiber optic cabling, which is wiring that uses light instead of electricity, are being installed every year. Harald Haas suggests a novel approach for sending information; by using imperceptible flickers in LED light bulbs, it is possible to transmit data wirelessly at a high rate of speed.

4) What we're learning from online education

(http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_koller_what_we_re_learning_from_online_education.html)

One of the most powerful features of the Internet is its ability to transmit information at low costs, and many are excited about the prospect of delivering educational content over the Internet. Many college students are taking online courses, and a perusal of video sharing sites will yield countless videos designed to educate. Online education, however, needs to be studied carefully, and Daphne Koller analyzes the early data about online education in this video.

5) Massive-Scale Online Collaboration

(http://www.ted.com/talks/luis_von_ahn_massive_scale_online_collaboration.html)

Businesses are using the Internet to collaborate, and many people are forming online projects and asking for help from others. Massive-scale collaboration, however, may enable people to help multiple projects at the same time. Using the CAPTCHA spam-filtering project as an example, Luis von Ahn explains how the Internet can allow these massive projects to flourish. In CAPTCHA, users not only help fight spam but also help interpret scanned books.

The Internet is undoubtedly one of the most important inventions of the 20th century, but there the Internet is still fairly young. As technology continues to improve, those who use the Internet can expect to see radical changes in how they interact with the platform. By watching videos from knowledgeable and thoughtful presenters, those who are interested can find out where the Internet is heading.

  Darcy Cannon

About the Guest Author:

Darcy Cannon is a web designer and guest author at Top Web Design Schools, where she contributed to the 10 Great TED Lectures About The Social Web roundup.