The big, buzzy TED Conference wraps today in Long Beach, after kicking off on Monday. The annual event, simulcast in Palm Springs, sold out a year in advance and drew more than 1,000 people (who qualified for attendance with memberships starting in the thousands of dollars). The big thinkers came for content thatβin addition to the conference's namesake categories technology, entertainment, and designβnow covers the categories of science, business, the arts, and global issues. Over four days, 50 speakers each took an 18-minute slot, and shorter presentations also included musical and comedy performances.
Here's a look at some of the smart ideas from the TED Conference home base for the fourth year, the Long Beach Performing Arts Center by the sea, and the TEDActive simulcast location at the Riviera Resort and Spa in the desert.