TEDxUniPittsburgh
May 8 Event Photos
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/21/2010 at 12:17 AMWe just posted photos from the May 8 TEDxUniPittsburgh event in our flickr group. If you have pictures as well, feel free to add them to the pool. Videos of the talks will be posted soon as well.
Special thanks to Stephen Dewhurst for being our official event photographer.
If TEDxUniPgh Was An RPG Character
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/10/2010 at 4:15 PMRole Playing Games (RPGs) usually assign statistics to the game’s characters. For those who filled out the original registration form you may remember there were fun BONUS questions to rate yourself in the following categories:
We removed all personal information and just kept the numbers.
The average TEDxUniPittsurgh registrant had the following stats:
STRENGTH: 6.06
DEXTERITY: 5.12
ARTISTIC SKILLS: 5.97
COMPUTING SKILLS: 5.26
INTELLIGENCE: 7.08
CHARISMA: 7.49
As you can see, we’re an intelligent and charismatic bunch with just slightly above-average dexterity.
Super Quick Recap
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - at 9:46 AMIf you were at our event on May 8th, please fill out TED’s feedback form to let them know what you thought: http://bit.ly/tedxfeedback
Also send your thoughts and experiences from the event to info@TEDxUniPittsburgh.com.
If you weren’t at the event, here’s a super-quick recap of the afternoon:
The theme of our TEDxUniPittsburgh event was EXPERIENCE.
The afternoon was divided into three sections:
- NEW Experiences
- DESIGNING Experiences
- HAVING Experience
It was held in the Randy Pausch Interdisciplinary Studio at CMU’s Entertainment Technology Center. We had over 100 guests in attendance.
To introduce NEW EXPERIENCES, the afternoon began with an interactive performance by Liz Chang, Dane Toney, and Michele de la Reza from Attack Theatre.
Our host, Michael Capristo, introduced roboticist Marek Michalowski. 
Marek gave a talk entitled The Dance of Social Interaction.
We then watched our first TED Talk video of the day, Derek Sivers, How To Start A Movement:
Continuing the New Experiences session, Jesse Schell spoke about education in The Future Is Beautiful.
Then we had a SURPRISE speaker, David Newell, better known as Mr. McFeely of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. He gave an inspiring talk about Fred Rogers and the New Experiences involved in that revolutionary educational program.
This concluded our New Experiences session. During a 30-minute discussion break many connections were made, ideas shared, and snacks consumed. To facilitate conversation, every guests’ name tag listed three things that they are passionate about (which we got when they filled out their ticket application). We also featured a few ETC project such as Mocotila and the Innovation Oakland kiosk project in our discussion area.
Andrew Hosmer kicked off our second session, DESIGNING Experiences, with Talking Through A Robot. He reflected on his experiences in designing a robot named Quasi.
Our second TED Talk video was Tom Wujec, Bulid A Tower, Build A Team.
The ETC students were represented well by The Yume Project. On stage were four of the five team members: Christine Barnes, Mike Honeck, Andy Ping Li, and David Teot. Their other team member, Yan Lin, was unavailable for the event. They presented the results of their semester’s work.
J.D. Whitewolf followed with the talk Designing Experiences: How The Brain Works (And What To Do About It!).
With the Designing Experiences session complete, we had another 30-minute discussion break. This time we asked guests to clear the room so we could prepare another surprise for them.
Our third and final session, HAVING Experience, began with that surprise. Underneath each seat was a Powerball Lottery ticket. So far, I am aware of $6 having been won from that surprise.
After the surprise we watched our final TED Talk video, Jane McGonigal, Gaming Can Make A Better World.
Our final speaker of the day was Daniel Szecket with his talk Jumping In: Choosing vs. Deciding.
Gregory Lehane | Mary Rawson | Tammy Ryan
To conclude the day, we had a one-act play called DINKS. The play was written by Tammy Ryan, directed by Marci Woodruff, and starred Mary Rawson and Gregory Lehane.
But wait, there was one more surprise…
Some lucky people in the audience had a golden ticket in their programs. They each won a book that was donated by O’Reilly books.
See what people have been saying after the event. #TEDxUniPgh
THANK YOU
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/08/2010 at 10:32 PMThanks to our speakers, performers, volunteers, organizers, and guests. The event was incredibly inspiring. It was a pleasure sharing the experience with all of you.
And good luck with your lottery tickets. If you win something please let us know. We want to celebrate with you. 
Check back soon for videos and pictures of the event. In the meantime, see what people are tweeting!
TEDxUniPittsburgh at the ETC
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - at 2:00 PMIt’s starting! Go watch the webcast! Or follow tweets!
Webcast
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/05/2010 at 11:49 AMIn order to share our talks with the rest of the world, we will be having a live webcast of the next TEDxUniPittsburgh event.
Go here on Saturday, May 8 at 1:30pm (EDT) to tune in. Our event begins promptly at 2:00pm (EDT).
Thanks TEDxCMU!
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/04/2010 at 2:31 AMOur official ticket registration has closed but to say thanks to TEDxCMU for helping us organize our event we’ve added a special bonus question to our waitlist form. The first ten people to answer the question correctly will receive a ticket to TEDxUniPittsburgh.
Good luck!
More speakers & performances!
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/02/2010 at 9:06 PMFirstly, congratulations to all who received a ticket to the next TEDxUniPittsburgh. Our ticket form is still live so you didn’t get a ticket you can join our waitlist.
Secondly, we are proud to announce not only Attack Theatre, but a one-act play by local playwright Tammy Ryan. Read more about it here.
Attack Theatre
Attack Theatre combines contemporary dance, live music and multimedia to create “wickedly entertaining stage productions ” (Pittsburgh City Paper). Attack Theatre has performed for the Avignon Festival, the 7th Next Wave Dance Festival/Japan, Indonesia Arts Festival, Monaco Danses Forum, the Spoleto Festival and the Broadway production of Squonk, and over two dozen operas and symphonies worldwide. Known for their “audacious athleticism,” (Dance Magazine), Attack Theatre was named one of “25 to Watch” in 2007 by Dance Magazine, “Best Dance of 2006” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), “Best Dance Company” (Pittsburgh City Paper, ’07, ’08, ‘09) and was the recipient of the prestigious National Dance Project Touring Award for 06-07. In addition to their extensive performing and touring, Attack Theatre also conducts residencies in contemporary dance, creative movement and aesthetic education in universities, primary and secondary schools, arts festivals and community centers. The company’s outreach programs focus on demystifying the artistic process and building community. www.attacktheatre.com
DINKS one-act play
Tammy Ryan playwright
Tammy Ryan’s plays have been produced across the country and developed at The New Harmony Project, Premiere Stages, Philadelphia Theater Company, City Theater, The Bonderman and the Lark. Honors include the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Creative Achievement Award, The Heinz Endowment’s Creative Heights Grant, and AATE’s Distinguished Play Award for THE MUSIC LESSON. Her play, LOST BOY FOUND IN WHOLE FOODS was presented at the National New Play Network’s 2009 National Showcase of Plays. Ryan is currently working on a commission for International Culture Lab in collaboration with Turkish playwright Zeynep Kacar, entitled SHE to be performed in New York and Istanbul in 2011. For more information go to www.tammyryan.net.
Mary Rawson actor
Mary Rawson is happy to be part of Tammy Ryan’s DINKS. Recently for Playhouse Rep she played Eloise in Amy Hartman’s Chicken Snake and Gramma Molly in Tammy Ryan’s FBI Girl. She has performed for Quantum Theatre, PICT, and City Theatre and done readings at The Public. But her all time favorite role is Cousin Mary on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Gregory Lehane actor
Marci Woodruff director
Ticket Registration is now closed
Posted by tedxunipittsburgh - 05/01/2010 at 1:16 PMThanks to all those who registered for TEDxUniPittsburgh. You will be receiving a confirmation email by the end of today with more information.
For those who missed our registration period we will be keeping our form live to add your name to our waitlist.
Join Our Networks
see or add event pictures on Flickr
info@TEDxUniPittsburgh.com