Definition: TED conference

(Technology, Entertainment and Design conference) Annual events sponsored by TED Conferences, LLC that cover a variety of topics. The first TED gatherings, held in Silicon Valley in 1984, were geared to technology, but subsequent conferences embraced numerous topics and also moved to Long Beach, California and later Vancouver, British Columbia. Commonly called TED Talks, events are also held worldwide (TEDGlobal), and topics are opened up to anything that may have a positive influence on humanity. Speakers are given 18 minutes to present ideas and many celebrities have given talks.

Since 2006, TED videos have been free of charge online, and thousands are available on the TED website as well as YouTube.

TED Offshoots
TED events cover global issues, whereas TEDx are smaller TED conferences organized on a regional level that deal with local conditions and problems.

TED-ED is a YouTube channel with animations for children, and TEDMED is an annual conference that addresses medicine and health. TEDWoman is a three-day conference that covers issues that concern women and reproductive health.