Jay Silver: Hack a banana, make a keyboard!

Why can't two slices of pizza be used as a slide clicker? Why shouldn't you make music with ketchup? In this charming talk, inventor Jay Silver talks about the urge to play with the world around you. He shares some of his messiest inventions, and demos MaKey MaKey, a kit for hacking everyday objects.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

[ehcmier]

He discovered how inventors, experimenting scientists, and creative types do...what they do. It's great he sees how special it is.

[uuo]

So much passion. The world needs more projects like this.

[jakefarve]

It's not promoting a product. It's promoting an ideology and exposing the world to Silver's revolutionary thinking.

[ManahilAlMutlaq]

I just saw this Idea and thought the Intellectual connection to Engineering was: awesome!!

[PrajwalSuhasP]

The world needs more collaboration -- that's the only tool I believe, can make our world more connected, progressive, transparent and worthy to live.

[DaDrummer]

I got the makey makey a year ago, I haven't used it in a long time, but this inspired me to take it out and just do whatever comes to my mind and see what happens

[UmmSchooling]

That's even better...Let's do that too.

[SamuelFaict.Film.Productions]

That is the verry definition of modern art. Re-using objects that were designed for a sertain purpose in an other and interesting way.

[DivinityStripes]

Wow, this is creativity and thinking out of the box.

[suicune]

When they show stuff like this, I wish they would tell us where we can buy it!

[grannysvids]

I was always told to never play with my food!

[zooMZooMlikeATyphOOn]

WOW this invention is amazing. and i really like this jack guy. he invented this thing? its super sick

[OdinEnygma]

I can't stop watching this video! I really love seeing how he created this and just the creativity of Jay blows my mind. I think the world would be better if there was more people that could grasp, the idea that people can do things even if they can't explain and can only show you. I watch this video and I don't try to find what is wrong with it (probably because there isn't) I just watch. Fascinated, the technology and creativity of this video is a perfect marriage.

[DaDrummer]

It's 50 dollars, it's not that expensive if you're really interested. Beleive me, it's worth all your money

[cindym]

People, this is about getting kids to think creatively so they CAN come up with ideas like curing cancer!

[sadochrist]

This is why the line between insanity and genius is so blurred.

[senica]

its not really about the entertainment objects themselves, it's more to broaden people's minds, and also good things can come out of it like when he mentioned that kid with the cerebral palsy who cannot really use a real computer keyboard.

[lanceseidman]

I have 2 MM's. They're great, wish they'd come down a little on price but still great.

[WhispersOfWind]

2:05 Getting more curious by the minute. Interesting stuff.

[playmeo-group-games]

This is what I got, real quick…
- What we know often gets in the way of possibility;
- What could be more useful than feeling alive and having fun; and
- As Jay says, the world is our construction kit.
If you could roll Jay in with Seth Godin, we’d all be inspired, indeed, compelled to ‘make something' ... thanks Jay