Tech & Biz

TED 2009: Thursday Roundup

by Jordan Yerman | February 6, 2009 at 07:19 am

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At TED yesterday, Danish artist Olafur Eliasson mused on his recent waterfall project in New York City. Also, Ed Ulbrich of Digital Domain, who produced The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, discussed the face-mapping technology used to create a very old Brad Pitt. Fair enough, you and I are very unlikely to ever have to age Brad Pitt, but that technology also has applications in security and photography.

Also, Shai Agassi, of the Better Place electric car project, pitched his case for a grid-based electric-car system.

Joann Kuchera-Morin of UC Sanata Barbara took attendees for a virtual visit to the AlloSphere, an "immersive microscope" with which researchers can look at near-invisible objects in 3D.

On Thursday there was a mix of physical and computer artistry, film production techniques, and clean-energy invention on tap with a focus on looking beyond current models of innovation. The ideas abound at TED, and it can be a rather dizzying experience. Every time you turn around another luminary is discussing their vision for the future or the latest approach to solving a major world problem. Granted, it's all heady stuff, and much of it may not leave the walls of TED.

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O.Viera

at 12:06 on February 6th, 2009

New York City Waterfalls is an art installation by artist Olafur Eliasson, in collaboration with the Public Art Fund, consisting of four man-made waterfalls placed around New York City along the East River.[1][2] At $15.5 million, it is the most expensive public arts project since Christo and Jeanne-Claude's installation of The Gates in Central Park.[3][2] The waterfalls officially began flowing on June 26, 2008. They will run from 7 am to 10 pm (under illumination after sunset), until October 13, 2008

The falls have been a source of public controversy, with some linking the salination carried by the wind from the falls as the source of local greenery corrosion. However, this has not been scienfically confirmed. Others, view the falls as a magnificent work of Art.

O.Viera has contributed a photo to this story.

Pythiian1

at 10:30 on February 8th, 2009

I thought the waterfall art installations in the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge were interesting, although they received a mixed response. Botanists were concerned about the salty water sprays affecting plants and trees along the Brooklyn promenade.