Different ways of knowing | Daniel Tammet

www.ted.com Daniel Tammet has linguistic, numerical and visual synesthesia -- meaning that his perception of words, numbers and colors are woven together into a new way of perceiving and understanding the world. The author of "Born on a Blue Day," Tammet shares his art and his passion for languages in this glimpse into his beautiful mind.
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. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/translate.

[@obewise]

I watched a documentary about Daniel years ago and I can say this about him. Though his math and language skills truly are remarkable, his most remarkable accomplishment, in my opinion, is how he has learned to overcome his aversion to human interaction. It used to be that he barely looked at you while speaking and certainly would never have stood in front of a group to lecture. He was born with his abilities to do math and learn languages...that required little to no effort on his part. However, he has put tremendous effort into being able to relate to others as any ordinary person can to the point that you would never know that he used to struggle with it. Working with gifts that we were born with is easy. Overcoming stumbling blocks that we were born with and turning them into strengths...that is the true accomplishment. Good Job, Daniel.

[@teesha123]

except he wasn't exactly born with it but acquired it from a young age, but much the same and I agree....still, i feel like this speech was about synthesia, which is a shame as there are many people who experience the world that way and FAR FAR fewer savants. It would have been better to hear that side of the story - in my opinion, though i tis clear he is kinda over talking about it. Which makes sense too.

[@remikvalheim3431]

Basically his one of his savant skills were to not be autistic

[@show_me_your_kitties]

He had a series of seizures that gave him these abilities, it happened when he was 4. he was not born this way. Incredible human being.

[@DuzBee]

obewise Cool story Bro, needs more words.

[@MichaelJeffrey]

Awesome point

[@putinkhuylo]

Daniel has such a lucid, coherent manner of relating his experiences and insights. No skipping around, no pregnant pauses...pleasant delivery. He has matured beautifully.

[@1schwererziehbar1]

the way he speaks is perfect in voice, tone and rythm.

[@linaburon5672]

not humain

[@Dylan-it5vi]

Computer man

[@linaburon5672]

@@Dylan-it5vi That I dont know ?

[@Dylan-it5vi]

@@linaburon5672 not hamain

[@gianfranco_maldetto_92]

He can't even speak properly... Dafυκ!

[@show_me_your_kitties]

You can hear in his accent that this man speaks many languages.

[@shardfilterbox]

Yup. This guy just speaks language, lol.

[@kinglangren]

I hear a combination of mainly English and part Austrian dialect.

[@readysteadyread]

I hear a speech impediment!

[@aeoliaptolemaios588]

He learned iceland language in a week

[@ProMace]

@@readysteadyread Your comment exposes a more serious impediment.

[@systemrecords9708]

This guys is a true inspiration, not only is he incredibly smart, he's also well spoken and a genuinely good person. Just a jewel of a human being.

[@lyndont]

"I hope that I've given you the desire to learn to see the world with new eyes." Inspiring.. In a world that needs much reflection..

[@RrockCj]

*I wonder if anybody could adopt an ACCENT of a language in a week. How incredible would that be! Imagine a man didn`t speak your language, and in a week he walks up to you and speaks to you like he was born in your country.*

[@ElusvOptmst1]

His voice is so soothing, almost hypnotic. Daniel Tammet is a unique treasure for mankind. He is truly blessed.

[@baileytodtenbier1367]

His book "Born on a Blue Day" is very, very good!

[@annacollins6910]

Bailey Todtenbier I agree. I just finished it and now watching Brain Man. Extraordinary !

[@robertstein7211]

I read it twice in 2 days..the most informative book I have ever read..I am 84 and now want to read more of his books..

[@mdj864]

Agree, excellent book. I am in awe of Daniel Tammet

[@JaysMacro]

Truly an extraordinary man, its amazing to have insight into a brain like that.

[@scholli99]

You know he is a lier? He is just doing mental Training And no he is Not Good in Maths he is just Good ik calculating

[@Ignatiusussy]

i reported the other comment for child abuse xd

[@sylviewheeler6237]

Daniel ,I’ve followed the things you’ve done for a long time now , listened to your French , (I’m French) seen you with your pi record , seen you speak Icelandic , and so many many many other incredible things! You have always always been an inspiration for me !

[@kinura8]

With his incredible gift, he has always been a man of incredible humility and shows respect for everyone.

[@John_Notmylastname]

This man is what we should be calling a celebrity. This gentleman should be held up by society and protected. He is a genuine diamond in the sea. I saw a doc on him and one of the people studying him said that he is one of about 50 alive in the world today and of those he is just about the only one that can communicate and interact with people without severe hindrances. You’re a hero in my eyes David.

[@danielschafer3296]

No way you called him David

[@Spectator9672]

David? Ain't no way you just wrote out this whole heartwarming incredible speech and then called him the wrong name LMAO

[@ProMace]

This is absolutely fascinating. It's mind-blowing and ironic how impairments can sometimes expose the true potential of the human mind.

[@hellopleychess3190]

maybe you have impairments

[@pn5721]

3:07 "I believe that our personal perceptions are at the heart of how we acquire knowledge. Aesthetic judgments, marvel, and abstract reasoning guide and shape the process by which we all come to know what we know. "

[@TooshanSrivastava]

Doesn't he say, "Aesthetic judgements rather than abstract reasoning..."? asking to clarify :)

[@verandotdotcom]

i googled (youtubed) the name after watching a documentory "The Boy with incredible brain" about Daniel Tammet. Sceptically i decided to check if the person in question actually exists. how amazed was I to see his TED speach... the one I had already SEEN!!!! now what does that say about MY brain? ; ) because of the tone of the voice, I didn't even register a word of this the first time! but because I knew the backstory "populised" to "people like me" - the TED talk now had an ABSOLUTELY different meaning to me ; ) perception indeed! thanks so much!

[@BernadetteHubbart]

I loved it, suddenly arithmetic makes sense. I think it depends how you best understand things. I can read a sentence a million times and it makes no sense, but turn it into a picture and I never forget. Brilliant TED talk. Words have shapes, so do sentences, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The words are like ingredients in a cake, they don't retain their integrity when you make a sentence with them. They turn into something new, either delicious cake or a nauseating flop.

[@mikepreston-engel8869]

I also am a synesthete. It's more common than it's made out to be. There are several types. I have some of each. It's not a disorder, it's an "extra ability". I am often asked how I manage to live with synesthesia. Although I'm aware of it to a degree, I have very little to compare it to, as I grew up thinking everyone else was the same as I was.

[@nijario6839]

As a person with colorblindness it also shocked me to know that people sees the world in a different way

[@hellopleychess3190]

ok

[@quatrx4getmentquatrx4getme65]

I just learned about this guy a hour ago and then I see this Ted talk filmed in my city 10 years ago…crazy

[@annaf3915]

I think the poet just chose the word "hare" over "rabbit" because "rabbit" is such a happy word, likely to evoke an image of a cheerfully jumping Easter bunny. On another note, I'm a synesthete myself but it doesn't make me any smarter, actually I suck at math. I'll look at the number 75 and think, ah, yellow and green. Doesn't help me at all. I'll take the wrong subway line because on the map I saw "line 3" written in green and I'll take line 5, because 5 is green to me ;-)

[@Obamaisterrorist]

that's what he was explaining.

[@DontPronounceThis]

Anna Banana you are a liar

[@singernick1974]

I think the poet chose the word “hare” because don’t dig burrows and live in long grass. They are solitary unlike rabbits and give you the idea of “wild”.

[@annaf3915]

@@DontPronounceThis What? ...Why?

[@LabRat6619]

I can't see how his world isn't extremely overwhelming with emotions being in everything

[@PARASNIP]

This is just him explaining his way of knowing. I think in some way we all know in this way, he is just naturally tuned in to it. He doesn't have to remember anything, and I dont think he is suggesting a curriculum change, this is just a very deep look in to how things feel , and when we read something moving we all have feelings, just his are linked in a different way that allows him to remember better because he does have AS after all. i dont have AS, but I get what hes trying to share here.

[@tiagombg]

I relate with the last example, I often think images instead of words. And he is right when he associates the sad or happy or even the intensity of the word, I believe it's more in tune with nature.

[@DroneCompilations]

Reminds me of a joke my dad used to tell me... A bald guy got rabbits tattooed on his head and from afar they looked like hares!

[@show_me_your_kitties]

That's a great dad joke!

[@gooacnt707]

Why do I find that funny 😆

[@Rctdcttecededtef]

@@gooacnt707its clever

[@johnkristian]

wow, he's a great public speaker as well

[@Vex_J]

Thank you Daniel Tammet for not performing the numbers for those people that think autistics are only interesting in their freakiness or savant abilities.

[@samdyche9726]

Happy Birthday Mr. Tammet!! I’m amazed at your overwhelming capacity!

[@russocomedy]

Daniel Tammet's art is interpretation on an infinite scale. When we describe a thing, object, color or theory to another, how much accuracy are we able to convey in so many words? What about music? How would different musical compositions change the way we interpret the same scene? I'd like to ask Daniel in what ways another person understands the picture we hold in our minds? The comment on personal bias might be one of the answers, along with others. Wonderful, Thankyou Dan and TED Talks.

[@dravarian26]

I love how the entire audience thinks its happy. Just shows how optimistic the people that listen to these are

[@xerathotp]

Nah its more like because you link it to the word hugging i guess

[@ChastityBTheEntrepreneur]

Loved it!! It's so interesting that scientist come up with these weird names for people when they aren't able to easily categorize them and put them in with everyone else. I think Daniel is perfectly normal in his own way, as is everyone else. I learned a lot from watching this. And as a poet Myself, imagery and feeling and emotion are all tied in together, so I definitely understand his viewpoint on that, from MY perspective of course. The kind of imagery that transcends beyond what you really need an explanation for. Love it!!! I'm also a deeply intuitive person by the way, so it's nice to see others who are that way as well, in their own unique way.

[@teresalaceternalove6049]

Chastity B. The Entrepreneur SOMEBODY SUGGESTING I AM THIS WHAT YOU WRITE ?

[@ChastityBTheEntrepreneur]

Teresa LACETERNALOVE​ what do you mean? Elaborate

[@jefferyford5309]

So much of our experience of life is more about perception that actual (whatever that may or may not be) reality. I loved your TED Talk and your differences really do make you special and will help many to learn more about life than they likely ever would have. My TED Talk titled, “An Autistic Genius Discusses How Differences Make Us Special.”was all about how our differences make us special and your differences made you a celebrity and really cool. Stay you!!!

[@alexkije]

This is great. He has great perception. Thanks for sharing.

[@joseguerero7502]

He is the definition of classical beautiful mind.

[@XanderBBo]

The way he explained how to multiply numbers is exactly how my mind calculates things and has done since I was about 5.

[@ltyrell405]

He is an excellent, engaging speaker with a well modulated and pleasant-toned voice.

[@PinprickSociety]

Thank you for the talk! Very interesting, and I look forward to more.

[@NickyNustar]

Thank you very much for that. That was like one of THE most interesting things I've yet seen in a over two decades of using the internet. As a sufferer from schizophrenia, I know all too well the difficulties of 'alternate perception'. You are a very intelligent, erudite, and well spoken young man. I think synaestheists must be like the world is perpetually tripping, and as one who became schizophrenic in part due to too much LSD, I can safely say the utter strength of mind you must carry when your view of reality is 'utterly alternate' to ''normal mundane consciousness'... And to exhibit rationality, reason, common sense, lucidity, and calm reflection, when your life is like that permanently, well, I can only wish you luck... And commend you for such an interesting symposium. (I used the word symposium because I'm hoping it would invoke in thee grander and more beautiful perceptions than 'speech', which sounds like a fart through the mouth).

[@StudioStar]

Nicky Nustar ...Im synesthetic and it's not like tripping at all, fortunately. It's just the mind attaching certain characteristics from one domain of the senses to another. Sound has color and shapes, for instance... which might sound like tripping, but isn't as wild in any sense. :)

[@jasonmero2245]

Nicky Nustar I can only speak for myself (autistic, savant, synesthesia) but I experience a kind of (usually not pleasant) trippyness when I'm forced to explain my thought prócess to a NT'er (neuro-typical=non-autistic). I find my brain and way of thinking and perceiving the world to be 'normal' and I can't begin to comprehend how a NT-brain perceives and interacts with the world. That doesn't make interacting impossible though, it merely requires a bit of adaptation on both sides and a lot of acceptance. To accept the fact that some things we can never understand and that there's no need to understand. And acceptance of the fact that a lack of understanding something does not make it any less valid. Though I feel that many struggle with the last part which has caused me no small amount of suffering. I'm rambling, please forgive me. I was intrigued by your writing: open, honest and eloquent. I wished to express my gratitude for I was touched deeply, or as a NT'er might say: You have made my day, thank you!

[@nihonbunka]

"The hare limped trembling through the frozen grass" also reminds me of hare lip which is also a vulnerability, like the limping hare, and lips sometimes tremble, when we are vulnerable.

[@tomcoon9038]

I look at it similarly yet different. A rabbit or bunny is thought of as joyful and exuberant as in children's stories. You would never see boldness in a hare. It is always (for me) thought of as weak and vulnerable. That's what the words conjure in my mind.

[@safibn1]

A very creative approach to something that must have been impossible to explain otherwise. A very interesting and good talk.

[@dieaffektevonbasti4537]

Why is my mind so mangled on the inside, i don't see anything in my mind by reading text or numbers like he's saying, that gives him a feeling of satisfaction. The're just words for me, abstract symbols who can't be interpreted as a part of myself, my biology, this universe. which is all around me. all around us, this feels like a separated part of myself . The only thing i really feel and i can turn to is my own 5 senses, emotions and feelings i can only see by listening to words, melodies and for the most part music. It is glorious. Philosophers say that everything in our universe fits together perfectly, we are all matter and energy of this reality, no matter if animals, nature, cells or atoms. I don't see the connection, the possible conclusion is that i have a blocking mental mind, that means that everything around me is blocked in my own mind, or that i'm seeing things other people can't see, maybe i'm just seeing different things what other can't see, even him. But why and How. I seem to carry a lot of other senses around me. nothing else Visionen bringen einen ins MIT oder in die Klapse.

[@MrSafer]

my guy im just sitting here 20 minutes after the talk ended counting on my fingers trying to figure out what 64 times 75 is.

[@fiercefunky]

Daniel Tammet is the most fascinating person on the planet. I wish we heard from him more often.

[@vanman757]

Such a lovely guy too... When he's on The Late Show with, David Letterman it really comes across about his kind nature... Amazing

[@darrylprojectile]

i am reminded of my childhood and the pictures and emotions i applied to words..id forgotten!

[@Substant_]

Holy crap, he sounds like Ali G.

[@djangounchanged7672]

this guy is such a phony. anyone can memorize facts like he does. just search Ben Pridmore and Akira Haraguchi

[@Rockysbeats]

dingo atemybaby fuck you

[@eg769]

It's actually Ali-A bro.

[@eg769]

How you gonna tell me? Dudes got 5.3 million subscribers. i seen some of his vids. His voice is very similar.

[@simonbanks5012]

Weird conversational link: Ali G's psycho-pathologist cousin does an interview on The Boy With The Incredible Brain Documentary (documentary about Daniel Tammet).

[@blueberridaze6117]

So cool

[@savnnha]

I read his book and it was so inspiring!

[@loreedavis5988]

Fascinating speaker. Beautiful mind. Brilliant man.

[@carlinlemon5884]

If Seth Green sounded like Ali G.... and was a mathematical genius. This man is truly impressive.

[@ShredCo]

The guy is cool.

[@CharlieRosek]

As weird as it may sound, I got so excited when I saw this talk was about synesthesia. I'm a synesthete and a bit of a knowledge junkie when it comes to personal experiences and other research in the field. Thanks, TED, for sharing this with us!

[@Philosophy520]

Moments of genius. Wish I had such moments all the time. People are to blame, to whom I vibrate to.

[@sweetness583]

Thinking of numbers as shapes and colors seems even harder than the regular way. I don't know why thinking of them like that is easier for him.

[@vince7735]

The "regular way" is by visualization

[@johntorgerson343]

Synaesthesia is involuntary. It's not some kind of mnemonic he uses, it's just how he perceives numbers and words naturally.

[@Dy1oco]

8:00 sounded like people said happy to me...

[@raulox17]

To known that people like him exist makes me feel emocional, its like a good feeling. I'm sorry for my english

[@ShawnRoggow]

Great video, I loved the section on spacial math, getting a 'feeling' for a good rough estimate.

[@kckaryn2350]

I wonder if this also is how Tesla and others saw the world. It also makes me curious about the men who went to South America so they could legally use psychotropic drugs and reference their experiences while taking them; it was almost as if they had been given a primer that was similar to Daniel's as he explained seeing and feeling and knowing colors and words and numbers.

[@CraigMansfield]

KC ~ Karyn I believe that Dr Tesla was indeed a savant. He had near death experiences when he was young, and illness. Along with autism, scientists think that causes a person to achieve incredible abilities. And they don't come more incredible than Dr Tesla. He could imagine machines, then make them without writing anything down. He was incredible.

[@CraigMansfield]

He also had bad side effects from his brilliant brain, aside from not sleeping much, he had strange reactions to hair, and fruit, and bizarre idiosyncrasies. I think these also point to him being a savant.

[@haggler40]

I would love to see his mathematical talent go into creating artificial intelligence, developing virtual reality model of his shape with an Oculus Rift, or making extremely complex programs. Just a thought I had while watching this. This is truly incredible and eye opening!

[@andYz00m]

Great idea! He would be a wonderful asset to the design of better AI.

[@jazzzzzCat]

Being good at numbers or having a god-like memory is not the same as being good at understanding logic, computer science, statistics, abstract math or complex algorithms - though i'm sure it most probably would be helpful.

[@jazzzzzCat]

Actually, it's quite naive to even think so...

[@PerryCuda]

He's a fraud. Read Foer's book "Moonwalking with Einstein"

[@HardwareAddiction]

this guy is my hero

[@MiyahSundermeyer]

I love how he sees numbers in symbols or codes.

[@koliiveiira]

I bet he decorated the entire script.

[@Whooooooops]

I have always seen numbers in colours and i've always wondered why. At first i thought everyone saw it but then i asked people and they didn't see it. Although numbers is the only thing that has colours for me.

[@lo0ksik]

+imzul you see same colors as him in the same numbers?

[@Whooooooops]

+Looksik here no, although i can't remember what his colours was everyone has different colours, för example, i see the number 3 as a sort of mixture between yellow and green and if i see a red 3 written somewhere it just feels wrong :P

[@mrwolfism]

+imzul i see sounds and and since i was a kid the playstation buttons were always triangle=blue,7 circle:red,8 square:pink 4 x:baby blue 1

[@lo0ksik]

serif v another question, you seen them in your minds eye or like an imagination? or like an real open eyes object?

[@mrwolfism]

Looksik here sounds i see in my minds eye dancing around and they change to the beat and different colours for higher or lower sounds

[@grahamteague7446]

That is exactly what I have been wondering since I first saw a documentary on him.

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

I think I'll watch that again now, 'cos that's how brilliant it was! :D

[@Jay-on2ws]

Hey sounds like Ali G, if Ali G went to school..

[@austinh7080]

It's actually funny you say this because one of the people who studied Daniel Tammet is Sasha Baron Cohen's cousin; Simon Baron Cohen. Also, Daniel and Tammet bof frum fukeen london bruv

[@Jay-on2ws]

haha wow what are the odds. Interesting story!

[@BossySwan]

Danny T

[@Bodragon]

(7:50) - Almost the whole audience said "hnugginn"" was a "happy" word and Daniel just continued as if they had said "sad". Lost some respect for Danny there. I mean they all said "happy" He didn't even appear perturbed that they guessed wrong and just ploughed on, kind of ignoring the audience. Well, not just ignoring the audience, but continuing his lecture as if they had all actually, had said: "sad". I played along as I was watching the video and I said "happy". Sounds like a happy word to me.

[@Hekamiah112]

Human perspectives are different. He may see number 3 as blue and 4 as green and for others it can be the opposite. It's also the matter of your individual emotional experience which are connected to certain words. To me it sounded sad as he explained that words are connected to emotions. To some cultures it may sound very different. Me as a Scandinavian am used to the similar linguistic expressions around here.

[@yougayan]

"The Sound, the Visual, and the Quality" of a thing (anything) are related. If one is known, the other two can be derived, if the mind can go that deep. This is a fundamental concept in some deep Buddhist philosophies.

[@furkancekic4987]

I believe that he is on the right way. Better perception, better creatures...

[@mikoajmikoaj6356]

Why no one ask him to resolve secret of " Prime numbers " ?! . If he see numbers in different way than we , this could be a key to resolve this.

[@stephenrodgers981]

This is literally me when I smoke weed xD lol

[@tyrokiller]

Nice talk, glad I watched it all the way through.

[@fredflintstone8998]

Fascinating... I quickly saw the answer to the maths question and am struggling to explain it without looking back at the question... and now I've looked and my answer is based on 75 being three quarters of 100 which was immediately obvious... ... and my head hurts this morning... but I am something of a poet and I see the beauty in certain word constructions but certainly couldn't explain that either... I am hopeless at anything mechanical and tidying up but pretty good at communicating with people. I like the way this man has overcome his fear (if that's the right word) of people but wonder how people interpret the word genius. Aren't many of us geniuses in our own ways...

[@shockz18]

WEST SIDE STAINS MASSIVE!!!

[@conditionzeromaniac]

Set the speed in 1.25, its MUCH better :)

[@justinreynolds3118]

+conditionzeromaniac life saver!!

[@conditionzeromaniac]

+Justin Reynolds Im glad my tip helped you :)

[@muzakifuz]

Haha, yeah its better

[@JoHawke]

Thanks for the tip!

[@conditionzeromaniac]

Jo Hawke Np :)

[@bakanagohan]

As one with Aspergers as far as I know, this is fascinating to no end. It's interesting when conversing with people, it's almost as they don't understand the language I'm speaking. I'm painfully meticulous, analytical, and articulate as well as hard pressed to not be blunt in any kind of debate or disagreement, be it friendly or otherwise. This shuns people away, to a degree inadvertently, which is no huge concern as it is to degree intentional. I care for people but prefer to avoid them mostly.

[@peakimages]

Fabulous!

[@kfan86]

If he taught you nothing than you must know the answers already!

[@jeffrey8770]

+Kevin Fan Sorta lol

[@HazemElsawy]

why this guy hasn't done anything remarkable uptil now

[@jazzzzzCat]

What do you mean by remarkable?

[@TheSirToady]

Progress in knowledge occurs in steps not leaps

[@bigpapykane]

Thanks, I had been suffering from insomnia for a while, but I will be OK now! I'm ready for bed time!!!

[@2.7petabytes]

Humans can be so amazing and inspiring

[@GravityKinG9]

Stephen Hawking can speak and walk again?

[@LyonizosdEuclide]

GravityKinG9 projection of his own foetus in 3d and avanced times

[@KeyboardKramer]

This is Stephan Merchant.

[@brodyharris7631]

anyone else experience ASMR while watching this video?

[@rebeccawilson3]

This is my dream guy!! He's incredible in his own unique way, I think!! :) Kudos!

[@xmobile.]

Not quite your dream...He's not into women.

[@joelw1082]

Til the very end - like a good symphony

[@thegreatmooselxlragelxl8202]

very intelligent man, the only thing I could understand was his jokes, and it gave me a headache..

[@AzVidsPro]

yeah he knows 11 languages i know 12 English French Kreol VB JavaScript HTML c c# C++ F# Boo XML BOOYA!!!

[@ramirog155]

can you speak them i know 20

[@AzVidsPro]

hats the bullet i was waiting for

[@xsorryaboutthat9357]

The Tech Mate Ramiro Gonzalez did you learn any of them in a week? probably not, put your egos away you fools. Life isn't a contest.

[@AzVidsPro]

Hey, I was just joking... cut it off. I dont want trouble.

[@TacoBurrit0]

Hey guys, be nice. He was making a joke and I feel that was quite well done XD

[@UHGTBKMF]

great talk, really makes you think

[@stephenmccollum1391]

Saw his Letterman interview. Fascinating man

[@kkallebb]

He certainly spares the viewer any false modesty.

[@strewf]

William S. He has Asperger's. He wouldn't know how to be falsely modest.

[@Miatpi]

strewf Hey, I've got Aspergers and I'm usually falsely modest.

[@strewf]

Miatpi No, you only think you are.

[@Miatpi]

strewf The only thing you know about me is that I've got Aspergers. Do you judge my social skills merlery on my diagnosis?

[@espark1089]

+Miatpi you cant be falsely modest and then say it outloud

[@liveLAUGHloveLINDSEY]

I literally didn't understand any reasoning behind a single thing he said. Why should we be able to picture a rabbit limping better than a cat? I just don't understand his visual concepts at all but that's what makes him a savant... can't expect the rest of us to understand

[@Rockysbeats]

rabbits are known for their big hind legs.

[@zanichbug]

He's not expecting you to picture the rabbit. He's merely explaining why HE does.

[@kingsteele6760]

What he is basically saying seems to be "think in pictures, not in words". Let me give you a weird example of a way you might be using your brain inefficiently : When you think something in your head you might hear yourself speaking in your head. But then if you're the one thinking it, why are you saying it in your head? You already know what it is you're going to think because you're deciding to do it. What I interpreted from this was that he has translated everything to a visual medium. We've survived as long as we have mainly due to our eyes, it is our main sense. Thinking in colours and imagery instead of words is probably more efficient.

[@ziggyfreud5357]

@@kingsteele6760 Enlightening point.

[@Fartcarcass11]

So correct me if im wrong. He obviously wanted to show how words and numbers or sentences maybe even symbols or insignia have a feel to them despite the literal meaning. He told us that all the of these can also be perceived in color or art or texture... Which brought us to a single sentence that he said at the end (this isn't exactly what he said but I'm sure it's the same message, it's lazy but I can't rewind I'm about to fall asleep lol)... He said, "life is very rich, vast, and deep, and it's often perceived otherwise"... I totally agree, even in my own life this is the case. I'll just blame the human condition so the realty of my shortcomings stings less bad hahaha. But what I really want to say is I loved his presentation but I feel we could have gotten to the point much sooner and accurately if we just look at how everyone worldwide celebrates life. We construct our homes in various styles, dress ourselves, our women, our men, the food we eat is extremely vast... He coulda pasted all these images side by side and been like "BAM, PERCEPTION OF LIFE FUCKERS"... And fed everyone a weed Brownie and as it kicked it he could turn on a fog machine, light a candle and mysteriously say "lifeeee is much moreee magicalllll than we often perceive it to Beee" *walks backwards into the fog"* *curtains close*

[@DeusEx_Machina]

its crazy how he interprets numbers as colors and textures. Cool

[@Rctdcttecededtef]

I mean...that is, right?

[@ok-kh9ct]

Sorry I can't resist the extreme irony: "and a mastewy of language"

[@lo0ksik]

+H237 69 Blaze It normal in parts of england to pronounce TH like F and R like W

[@ziquaftynny9285]

+H237 69 Blaze It It is an accent you ignorant fucks.

[@Mitsiditsi]

Stupid comment , it is just the way he speaks , he is an amazing man with an amazing mind

[@ok-kh9ct]

Mitsiditsi Chill out people, I wasn't trying to say he's stupid because of his accent, I just thought it was funny. Take a joke

[@espark1089]

+Mitsiditsi lol you need to relax

[@Daniel-rk2qz]

I wonder what he sees when he views notorious numbers like 13 and 666

[@MrKelso85]

A vagina ...

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

maybe he sees it as just a fucking number and entire nations of idiots.... yes im talking about america, take numerology too fucking far!

[@Bodragon]

666 is only a significant (not even "notorious") number to religious freaks. I have noticed, Daniel takes care to avoid these odious people. And as for 13, I really don't have a clue what you're on about. *_ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS TOO?_*

[@KiranKumarBokkesam]

Just kind of nailed it in the end.

[@granskare]

I hope the big professors will be able to learn much from this guy.

[@gabbar51ngh]

not a single savant took engineering. :/

[@freddykrueger5503]

+Saral Thakur Nikola Tesla did

[@gabbar51ngh]

***** he was just a dude. Who worked and studied hard. Da Vinci was savant

[@freddykrueger5503]

Nikola Tesla had visions in flashes of light and stuff. He had something else going on in his brain.

[@gabbar51ngh]

***** so did steve jobs. Turned out he was a scumbag while Steve Wozniak did 90% of the work.

[@freddykrueger5503]

Tesla was not awful, are you nuts. He's the only guy who stopped to help others even in his times of financial troubles.

[@avq5]

If only he could use his linguistic powers to stop pronouncing "th" as "v "

[@energyzerogaming779]

Daniel Tammet is the best

[@jeylful]

Such an incredibly brilliant man shares a bit of how he perceives the world...and someone comes up with this?