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What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxASUWest, where x=independently organized TED event. At our TEDxASUWest event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection about the future of video games.
The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
http://www.ted.com/tedx |
"The power of the greatest art is to shake us into revelation and rip us from our default mode of seeing." - Simon Schama
The theme of TEDx ASU West was chosen as a homage to my favorite art historian. When I was in graduate school I discovered him through his book "The Embarrassment of the Riches" which "explores the mysterious contradictions of the Dutch nation that invented itself from the ground up, attained an unprecedented level of affluence, and lived in constant dread of being corrupted by happiness. Drawing on a vast array of period documents and sumptuously reproduced art, Schama re-creates in precise detail a nation's mental state. He tells of bloody uprisings and beached whales, of the cult of hygiene and the plague of tobacco, of thrifty housewives and profligate tulip-speculators. He tells us how the Dutch celebrated themselves and how they were slandered by their enemies."
In short, Simon Schama brought 17th century Dutch art to life for me and made me feel close to the makers of art from all times.
And so through this event, I am now bringing to you the same joy that I discovered by making this connection so very long ago. - Theresa Devine, Assistant Professor ASU West
Click here to register.
This event is free and open to the public.
2011: Redefining Video Games
Welcome to the website for TEDx ASU West. This will be an annual event and our first theme will be:
It is clear that video games have become a huge part of our world and have a tremendous influence in our society.
Pioneers of the industry are redefining the medium. This event is showcasing the wide variety of thoughts, discussion and research from those pioneers.
According to the Entertainment Software Association:
America's entertainment software industry creates a wide array of computer and
video games to meet the demands and tastes of audiences as diverse as our
nation's population. Today's gamers include millions of Americans of all ages
and backgrounds. In fact, more than two-thirds of all American households
play games. This vast audience is fueling the growth of this multi-billion
dollar industry and bringing jobs to communities across the nation.
Below is a list of the top 10 entertainment software industry facts:
- U.S. computer and video game software sales generated $10.5 billion in 2009.
- Sixty-seven percent of American households play computer or video games.
- The average game player is 34 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.
- The average age of the most frequent game purchaser is 40 years old.
- Forty percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (33 percent) than boys age 17 or younger (20 percent).
- In 2010, 26 percent of Americans over the age of 50 play video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.
- Forty-two percent of heads of households play games on a wireless device, such as a cell phone or PDA, up from 20 percent in 2002.
- Eighty-two percent of all games sold in 2009 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for Everyone 10+. For more information on game ratings, please see www.esrb.org.
- Parents who have children under 18 with a gaming console in the home are present when games are purchased or rented 93 percent of the time.
- Sixty-four percent of parents believe games are a positive part of their children’s lives.
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