Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics at Duke University, shares examples from his book Predictably Irrational illustrating why people fail to make logical decisions. Dan shows how the complexity of options will drive people away whether it is trying a couple more pills vs. hip replacement surgery or even checking a box to opt-out of organ donation. Also shown, is how presenting an inferior third choice can influence people to choose the similar, but better choice, which in one case translated to significantly higher subscription rates for The Economist. Take note, if you are going bar hopping, take a similar but uglier version of yourself with you.

Microsoft’s Dane Storrusten directs this short concept video imagining a future where technology is invisible to end users but allows the full benefits of gestural recognition, context awareness, and more. The video is one of two videos produced by INVIVIA. Also check out August de los Reye’s slightly less intricate concept video for the home environment.

In a well executed short, Jonathan Jarvis explains today’s credit crisis through excellent visuals and a poignant narrative. At a time when so many are learning for the first time how various aspects of the economy work, Jonathan’s video is a welcome surprise. Jonathan Jarvis is a Masters of Fine Arts Candidate at Art Center.

Honda presents an inspirational short film on the trials and errors experienced by those in the company.

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
- Thomas Edison

On a mission to put a pair of shoes on everyone’s feet, TOMS Shoes is giving away one pair of shoes for every pair purchased. Since December 1st 2008, TOMS has given over 115,000 pairs of shoes to children in need worldwide.

Richard A. Muller, physics professor at Berkeley, talks about the importance of educating everyone about physics. While he reaches about 1000 students a year, over the past few years he has been reaching thousands more through his class’s online web cast and popular book. Muller stresses the importance for policy makers to have an understanding of physics and his course teaches principals in an entertaining way that everyone can relate to.

Natalie Kuldell and Reshma Shetty from MIT speak about current efforts to enable everyday hobbyists to experiment and build their own organisms. Whether it is making bacteria smell like bananas, or engineering trees to grow into houses, they would like to enable people to embark on such efforts by mimicking the homebrew computer clubs of the 1980s. Once inspired, check out DIYbio.org to get started and join the growing community.

Evan Williams, founder of Blogger, ODEO, and most recently Twitter talks at TED about the amazing uses Twitter is seeing. With just 140 characters, but complete mobility, people are using the micro-publishing platform to broadcast their status, coordinate with others, and monitor any and every type of activity.

Team Commack, a 15 member team from Commack High School in New York places 2nd at the 2009 JETS/AbilityOne NEDC National Finals. The team developed the New Office Workspace (NOW) which was inspired by Jerina Porterfield. Jerina is a receptionist who is affected by Cerebral Palsy, and the NOW system is a modular universal design which can be adapted to the workplace environment to assist those affected by diseases like Cerebral Palsy. More pictures and information is available on the Commack School District website.

Ms Brown’s class, now among many others around the country are allowing students to stand up at their desks if students choose to. Ms. Brown, with the help of Sunway, a local ergonomic furniture maker, designed the desks (named AlphaBetter) two years ago and it has been spreading every since.

Chris Rogers, from the Tufts Center for Engineering Educational and Outreach speaks about the importance of teaching youth about Math, Science, and Engineering. Chris has pioneered many teaching program through the use of LEGOs and helped develop ROBOLAB, a LEGO teaching kit.  With many eaxmples and antidotes, Chris presents a compelling case for the importance and effectiveness of the teaching methods.

Good Magazine’s expose on Hippo Water Rollers shows how such a simple idea can have a profound impact on a community.

Cliff Nass, Professor of Communication at Stanford, speaks at the University of Washington. In this brilliant and entertaining lecture, Cliff shows how social theories which apply to human-to-human apply equally to human-to-computer interactions.

Charles Leadbeater speaks at TED in regards to the evolution of public innovations leading the way in new niche product development and commercialization.

Good Magazine highlights the group The Friends of High Line who are converting a former elevated track used by Freight Trains, into a 1.5 mile public park in NYC.

One of the most beautiful things about this whole story is it shows you that things that ought to be, can be; if you just have the will to pursue them.
-Edward Norton

Bjorn Lomborg, an economist attempts to prioritize the world’s largest problems such as global warming, AIDS, and hunger. With a flavor of Freakonomics, the topics discussed are not simple and but are eye opening when taken from the view of pure economics.

Innovation isn’t about just one form of work. It’s about every sort of business.
-Sir Ken Robinson