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Title:

Blah Blah Blah: Why Words Won't Work

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Dan Roam, Bestselling author of "The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems with Pictures"
Description:
Since the industrial revolution, we've judged human intelligence by our ability to talk. And just look at where that belief has gotten us: from politics to energy, we're deeper in conceptual debt than ever. This session shows how combining our innate verbal and visual skills is the only way we're going to solve the big problems ahead.
Questions
Answered:
  1. Is measuring our verbal skills a legimate way to judge intelligence?
  2. Why is it that we have more talk delivered via more channels than ever -- but solutions seem harder to find?
  3. Can our ability to verbalize an idea mislead us into thinking we understand it better than we do?
  4. Why have society and education rejected visual approaches to problem solving?
  5. Is there a simple way to bring visual intelligence back into business and learning?
  6. Are pictures a better way to think than words?
  7. Is there a simple way to combine verbal and visual thinking in day-to-day life?
  8. What are the best examples of pictures that have helped solve global problems?
  9. What are the 3 things we can all do right now to improve our visual thinking abilities?
  10. Can we convince President Obama to start drawing again? (He used to...)
Level:
Beginner
Category:
Business / Entrepreneurial / Monetization, Economic Concerns, Education, Self-Help / Self-Improvement, User Experience
Type:
Solo
Event:
Interactive 2010
Dan Roam
on 17/8/09
I launched "The Back of the Napkin" at SXSW two years ago. It's since become an international bestseller and the #5 selling business book on Amazon. That's great, but now we need to push the visual problem-solving envelope further. We need to go after the verbally-centric 'powers that be' and show them why words are no longer enough.

Look at the economy: Blah Blah Blah... what happened and am I poor yet? Look at today's painful debate on health care: Blah Blah Blah... raise your hand if you're feeling healthier. Let's face it: words alone no longer work; Blah Blah Blah no longer cuts it.

In this session, we'll explore why words have become the center of our world and how much we've lost because of it. Second, we'll explore an entirely new way to think in words AND pictures that anyone can understand and that guarantees we'll see today's problems in a new light.

Join me and help stamp out Blah Blah Blah.
Dave Gray
on 17/8/09
Dan's book is a mega-hit and well worth the read, but for those who haven't seen him talk, you need to know: in-person he's even better. I've seen him speak and it's a magical experience. He's a captivating speaker with a lot to say -- and he says it tremendously well.

You'll walk away dazzled and much smarter for the experience.
Jessica Petersen
on 17/8/09
If you haven't read Dan's book, you really should. This will be a great one. Although I wish it was intermediate or advanced.
Wendy Smith
on 3/9/09
Dan spoke to my company last year and completely energized our creative team. His book is on every desk and continues to challenge us to think through all of our client presentations and communications.
Michael LoBue
on 3/9/09
Dan's book is extremely valuable to individuals, groups and organizations! We all need to improve our ability to easily and effectively communicate our ideas and Dan's work reveals the most promise for all of us!
Mark Schar
on 3/9/09
Dan has a simple yet powerful message. Web 2.0 is visual and Dan will show why that's a revolution in communication. Dan would be a great addition to SXSW.
Austin Kleon
on 4/9/09
Take one look at Dan's napkin sketches for health care reform, and you'll know why this is an essential panel: http://digitalroam.typepad.com/digital_roam/2009/08/american-health-care-on-4-napkins-now-all-together.html
iphone ringtone maker
on 13/11/09
I'd be super into learning from Kris. Dig it!
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Developed for SXSW by Lindsey Simon