Last year at TEDxSanAntonio our audience was treated to a new technology that allows paraplegics the ability to walk once again through bionic technology. Eythor Bender and his company, Berkeley Bionics, demonstrated this amazing achievement as Amanda Boxtell, an ardent athlete and paraplegic, walk across the stage of the Stieren Theater through the assistance of eLegs. Hardly a person in the audience kept their emotions in check as we witnessed hope for thousands who felt they may never walk again.
Sharing these new ideas seems to be the norm for TED and TEDx. At TEDGlobal 2011 Markus Fischer showed the audience a robotic bird that flies built on the patterns of seagulls. Yet another audience rose to their feet in applause at the sight of the robot flying effortlessly above their head. Seeing this seemingly unthinkable act happen right before their eyes most likely started the stimulation of new creations and innovations.
TEDxSanAntonio is looking for those new ideas this year to possibly speak at the 2011 event. Most TEDxSanAntonio speakers live and breathe their idea every day. In some cases, it has been a vocation that was ahead of its time and is just now becoming real for others. If you think you have a new idea worth sharing or know of someone who might, apply now using our Speaker Application Form. In case you aren’t sure what’s required we give you more information at The Speaker Experience, a handy eBook with lots of good information.
As Amanda wrote in an e-mail to a friend, quoted from Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked:
I’m through accepting limits
‘Cuz someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!
It’s time to try
Defying gravity…