Chris Downey: Design with the blind in mind

[@queenmedusa1977]

A fantastic talk. Having a sensory loss or impairment gives you a different outlook on the world which Chris beautifully describes. It's great that he shared this with the world, especially the opening which I simply loved!

[@TheDoubleBee]

"There are really only two types of people - there are those with disabilities, and there are those who haven't quite found theirs yet." That is a profound quote. Loved the talk.

[@daultonm9650]

That is quite the claim...

[@Spirit292]

such a sweet soul..God bless you bro

[@VertigaDesignMEDIA]

This was really inspirational. A reminder of the fragility of life.

[@valeriegmz]

loved everything he said

[@Shatizify]

Really nice talk from an interesting perspective. I hope I never go blind, but if I do, I will have the same kind of attitude as him. I like his idea about the city too.

[@juliendillingham6257]

Don't get me wrong, but my feeling is that the first 9 minutes are kind of useless, but the last 2 minutes when he explains a city designed for blind people is really interesting and it would make life a lot easier. A lot of talk for putting everything into place, but the end result is great.

[@SaadSoCal]

He's just sharing his experiences. We as humans relate to things, and I did relate to him on my own level.

[@Urstupidumbass]

I wouldn't watch TED if it just blurted out a minute long bland information. I have news articles for that.

[@juliendillingham6257]

I entirely agree with both of you, the begining helps unerstand the end and without it, it would just probably sound like some crazy idea, everything has to be put in to context so that we can relate to it.

[@MrTravisHD]

This is really eye opening.

[@jkesil]

great talk. the true lesson here is to be brave and strong.

[@moistmegatron]

A different, and im opinion a better, perspective on the construction of a city. Excellent video

[@RunescapePKing]

This guy is awesome

[@luciachien-galvez3910]

I ADMIRE & RESPECT THIS GENTLEMAN ❤😎

[@SaadSoCal]

God Bless you, Chris!

[@AnonymousQube]

I feel like the title of this talk is a bit misleading, I would have liked to hear more practical design paradigms, and less generalized feel good-ery.

[@patrickdavis3915]

I agree but would still encourage anyone looking for more practical information to look the speaker up. His name is Chris Downy and he is a completely blind architect.

[@Tenuki2]

I find it a bit ironic to see at the end TED's clocks showing remaining time to this speaker. ;)

[@str3123]

Imho, one of the best ted talks ever...

[@Zergleon]

No comments ? great talk great man :)

[@UAintDeletingThis1]

No G+ accounts to comment

[@Zergleon]

***** Well you'd better make one than ;) but can only people with G+ start comments ?

[@williamn6133]

Great talk !

[@Queerbbby]

this is the best ted talk ive seen!

[@sujithmathew35]

Chris , man , that was insightful

[@suicune2001]

It is kind of weird when you go to the store and some random person says "Jesus loves you!" and stuff like that. I've had experiences similar to his where people will grab my arm and try to pull me around and while I understand they mean well, it is pretty freaky to suddenly be grabbed by a random stranger. People do tend to be nicer when you're visually impaired though.

[@ICreateThoughts]

Great Speech loved it!!!!

[@LeonidasGGG]

After decades, the best thing we still have to offer the blind is a white wooden kane... We should have done better than that by now.

[@LeonidasGGG]

If not that, at least some high-tech glasses... I mean, if google did it...

[@troyjohnson8248]

I didnt watch this yet i just saw a show about this man and he is fucking amazing!!! I cant say awesome enough!!! If you cant appreciate life and you still have excuses why you cant do something, you are just bullshitting yourself like i am...

[@troyjohnson8248]

It was 60 minute show BTW

[@Wallywestable]

Cool

[@garrett424242]

what we...... should be saying is......thank you .......

[@PatrickOdinPhelps]

Would a little magnetic strip down the sidewalk help guide blind people walk if they had a magnet on the bottom of their cane?

[@yuriboo9435]

What about the dirt? Isn't the dirt always glued to magnets? The lil dancing black sand. Hehe

[@xiuxiuyuan5453]

Universal design.

[@thomascameron2612]

Blindness doesn't stop you talking well apparently. Fantastic talk.

[@benjaminking320]

That was a wonderful talk. The only thing though is that in the next 10 years, bionic eyes will be available, putting an end to blindness (for those who can afford it - though I'm sure the UN will declare 'eyesight' a human right and people won't have to pay for it... hopefully). So Chris's experience as a blind man might only last for 15 years and blindness will soon be a thing of the past.

[@annbonacci5117]

You are assuming all blindness conditions can be corrected by a surgical solution.

[@benjaminking320]

Ann Bonacci I actually was going to add that to my comment but chose not to - I'm not very well informed on the different ways in which blindness occur. But yes, I totally agree.

[@shrunkensimon]

I actually disagree with his point about a city designed for blind people would be a good city. A city needs more than just logical and accessible transport.. what it really needs is high quality green space to counter pollution and stress. Also some places, green places in particular, are spatially difficult to navigate without sight.. which sucks for blind people but makes for really interesting spaces.

[@walterveneau3733]

One thing at a time. I take it you don't live in Boston.

[@idrisabdullah3492]

walter veneau As a bostonian, i can say that this city doesn't seem friendly to any handicaps, let alone being blind

[@shrunkensimon]

Idris: What is your experience of the park system/emerald necklace?

[@MrKazakhman]

It would be better if you add subtitles for your videos, would not it?)

[@MeleeTiger]

Who the f*ck dislikes things like this, WHO THE F*CK!?

[@ddddoris]

What was up with his neck?!?

[@pythor2]

I know I'm wrong for saying this. But the thought of a blind architect makes me laugh.

[@gspahr]

Architects aren't necessarily people who know how to draw (in fact I know many that suck at it... trust me, I've been through architecture school and met many people like that). You see, blind people are very spatial in the way they sense the world, which I'd say that is a great thing to have on your side when designing spaces... Which of course, it's what most architects do.

[@pythor2]

gspahr I like how you felt the need to show me how wrong I am when that became totally apparent in my first sentence.

[@gspahr]

Oh no, someone is wrong on the internet. And that someone said he is wrong on the internet... Why leave a comment at all then? As someone who belongs to the atheist/skeptic community, you should know better.

[@pythor2]

gspahr "Why leave a comment at all then?" Because it's all in good fun. Do you know how to have fun? And how do you know I belong to the atheist/skeptic community?

[@gspahr]

Are you familiar with the idiom "There's a time and place for everything"? I'm sorry, I didn't find your former comment neither entertaining nor witty, try harder next time... To be fair I will try harder to find it funny. And the answer to your second question is: through a quick skim of your comments available through your youtube profile.

[@frankiemagro3928]

What if you were able to have a horizontal escalator like they do in airports and you put in the address of your destination and it takes you there.

[@pamelalerendu4563]

Sd

[@Khantagious2011]

GOD Bless Continually in Jesus Will and Jesus Way and Jesus Name. Amen Thank You Lord Jesus Christ. #Epiphany

[@montazmeahii6029]

Great perspective but poor speech. He doesn't enunciate well. I had to read his lips and rewind to understand much of his language.

[@0flips0table0]

What? He's perfectly easy to understand.

[@montazmeahii6029]

You understand him well and I can accept that; I'm glad that you do. I don't understand him well and think he can improve his speech so that more people can understand his great message.

[@pamelalerendu4563]

Sd