This is a talk I gave at a ideas-sharing event at Roppongi hills in April 2011. The original talk was in Japanese, following the 5mins Pechakucha format (20secs x 15slides). I later added English titles to capture the basic discussion.

JH: It is not the title of his talk, but Kelly's point is that Technology IS a complex life form in its own right, and he defines technology essentially as organization and information, which is the same stuff as life. As such, it has been evolving since the origin of the Universe. We did not invent technology, we are though accelerating its evolution. We are doing this by creating more options for it to evolve, effectively evolving its ways of evolving.
Treating technology as having a life of its own is a powerful vision. It does not mean that all technology is used for good, or has a positive effect on other forms of life, but like children, a technology is never intrinsically bad. While I fail to see the argument for an inescapable point of singularity (Kelly does not either by the looks of it), I do see the need to embrace technology as part of the same stuff as everything else, the same stuff as us, as the ecological complex. If we cannot reconcile the two+ systems it is not likely to be technology that loses the chance to persist.... As technology becomes more diverse and advances, it becomes more like other living systems, so perhaps we are living through an era of apparent dichotomy, when the bigger long term picture is of a single pattern.

JH: First post for a long time on this blog, and it is another TED talk. This lecture really captures what has become my World view on the eco debate. Let me introduce a couple of the major themes:

The first point is that it is not just about one dimension, like CO2. Atmospheric carbon is a very important metric, but it is not the only one that counts. We could reduce our emissions in ways that would not necessarily reverse our predicament. According to research presented in this lecture there are 9 dimensions that define the boundaries of our action on the planet. Modeling the Earth's environmental systems and our impact on them is a quickly developing area of science. As this talk suggests, there is the foundation of the knowledge and science to allow us to formulate a new way. It must not be rigid science, but at the same time science has to be understood and respected. 

The second point is that it is a mindset change that is required. We need to think, not in terms of restricting damage within the old model. We need new ideas and approaches, to set up new systems that allow us to support 9bn people but while living within those 9 boundaries. So one side of this challenge is about creating new science, new technology and hence new systems with enough redundancy to be stable.
Although this represents a massive challenge, literally the biggest we have ever faced as a species, we can at least face up to it with a positive attitude.Yes, what a scary 40years ahead (if you watch the lecture you will see why 40yrs) but also, what an interesting time to live through and be part of.

I recall another TED video from marine biologist Jeremy Jackson, entitled "How we wrecked the ocean", who documented the terror that has been reaped on the oceans in the last 40years. Given what he had witnessed, and the trends he sees continuing, he could not help but be pessimistic. His closing comment, which I have thought about many times since, was that for him this was no longer about saving species, reducing C02 emissions etc etc. It was now much bigger than that. It is about the intellectual integrity and dignity of mankind as a species. Are we going to let this happen? Or are we going to step up to the challenge of finding a new way.

This I see as the rallying call for the other side of our challenge - the intellectual, emotional, psychological side. The right, positive, collaborative mindsets need to emerge, and like the science it cannot be too rigid or one dimensional, since systems like that are never robust. This parallel challenge, let's call is 'mindset innovation', will take just as much invention and creativity, and is every bit as necessary, since without it the new solutions will neither be found nor adopted.

I just revisited this talk after 6months or so, having first found it on Smart.fm, and I have to say it is just as brilliant the second time round.
These 19mins fundamentally shifted my attitude to educating my children, just as my wife and I have to start taking the issue pretty seriously. And it is wickedly funny too.
Sir Ken Robinson advocates a major rethink of the values that underpin education systems, and his case is urgent and compelling: "Picasso once said this: he said that all children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up. I believe this passionately: that we don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out if it. So why is this? " His point is not about painters, but creative thinking, and meaningful expression. Do we structure education to support the development of our children in this way? No! Robinson's assertion is this:
"Now our education system is predicated on the idea of academic ability. And there’s a reason. The whole system was invented – around the world, there were no public systems of education, really, before the 19th century. They all came into being to meet the needs of industrialism."
This system, specifically the bias placed on certain types of ability over others within that system, is not adequately serving us now, and it certainly will not in the future.
Check out the full video to see what he advocates as an alternative way of thinking.

Sir Ken Robinson's book: The Element

had coffee yesterday with Philip Harper, our second chat . He is the only foreigner ever to be accepted into the traditional art of sake brewing. he is running a brewery down north of Osaka.  We share cornish roots, and we went to the same university, albeit him a bit before me, so it is interesting to compare life paths, but have to say he has gone much deeper into traditional japanese culture than most of us ever manage, so he has an amazing story to tell. . he is a great guy and infectiously passionate about sake. i am trying to think up ways i can help him to revive this precious culture. His label is called "Tamagawa". I could start by drinking that - should not be too painful! Good sake is very easy to drink, and easy to match to food, more so than wine.
Japanese Shochu is pretty popular these days, but is anyone drinking sake?

Check his most recent book on Amazon: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide by Philip Harper: http://amzn.com/4770029985

Second BBC post of the day - been following this in the last couple of weeks after England surprisingly won their first two games, but then got knocked out by NZ in the semis. I am not such a fan of the one-day format, but there have been some exciting games in this tournament.... never anyone to talk to about Cricket around me here in Japan - anyone else followed this?

It was the japanese Grand Prix yesterday at Suzuka. Combination of fellow brit Button trying to close out the World Title, the fact that he is really into japan (no doubt thanks to his hot Jpese girlfriend Jessica Michibata) and the fact that i was down at the Suzuka circuit last year for work so got a feel for the scale of it, all meant i was fairly into it. I ended up following it on my mobile while shopping in Shinjuku while trying to keep the boys in control!