The math and magic of origami | Robert Lang

www.ted.com Robert Lang is a pioneer of the newest kind of origami -- using math and engineering principles to fold mind-blowingly intricate designs that are beautiful and, sometimes, very useful.

[@jabsjetz3332]

This man is a genius. He left his job at NASA to study the maths of origami. He even found out that ANYTHING can be created with origami.

[@qwemlhjsi4386]

Jabsjetz yea

[@Jophish126]

It's not really as astounding a result as you might imagine. The proof ignores any sense of efficiency and relies on a few very simplistic primitives and triangulation.

[@mlbbnublord9035]

Jabsjetz i

[@alveolate]

tbf, it's a fairly new field of maths. give it some time and it will probably develop into solutions for string theory.

[@aeroairplane7447]

100 like

[@MadDeuceJuice]

The reason the audience is laughing is: a) Rob is a funny dude. b) Sometimes you laugh because you find something overwhelming.

[@Regina-is8om]

I was asking myself what's funny and everyone laughs, thanks MadDeuce. In fact, I agree

[@aliceallen8151]

Pseudobulbar affect, like Joker

[@DKong1026]

Eh I thought it was kinda weird and dumb that they were laughing at a lot of stuff that I doubt Robert intended to be funny.

[@crustyoldfart]

There must be many reasons why people laugh I suppose. My experience has been that [ as is shown so often in the movie ] people laugh when they do not understand what is being said, and feel they must react - so a laugh is often a default strategy to avoid seeming to be stupid.

[@SakamotoSan28]

I just watched his WIRED video and he hasn't aged at all in 11 years.

[@solidkingcobra]

he folded his own genes to prevent aging.

[@lucywatkinson9092]

Well your not wrong....

[@risaa_cc]

100th like! 💯👍

[@pignk]

O.o I saw the wired vid too. legit 8 months ago too.... lol

[@ChadKakashi]

Is you blind?

[@robertolangada1078]

ORIGAMI MEMES This was in 2008, the man was ahead of his time.

[@dragoncurveenthusiast]

I think it might have been another reference to the earlier talk on biology and evolution. The word meme was made up by Richard Dawkins in the late 70s. I guess most of the people who use the word don't know they are citing Richard Dawkins.

[@Max_Le_Groom]

Godly based before it was cool

[@janetshaffer423]

He is discovering God's marvelous and astounding thought process!

[@arunjanarthanan6380]

what would you say about this T.Sundara 'Row'! 1893 - stadt-annaburg.de/cms/uploads/media/tsundararowsgeo00rowrich.pdf ? :)

[@peterwolf3760]

I found this amazing, and uplifting. I teach origami to my 6th grade math students (and we also work at solving the Rubik's cube). I can't help but hope that a few of them will pull together the concepts of both art forms to become tomorrow's innovators, not just consumers.

[@nicks3087]

This is going to be a great video to show to my math class. Those kids struggled through folding a paper crane... maybe this will give them some hope, or at least some perspective. After all, "it's simple!"

[@origamisteam1825]

one of the best origami masters of the 21st century.

[@igorsvacic217]

ahhhhh hard to say. He is good, and he "weights" a lot mostly because of treemaker and his book origami design secrets. Considering his folds, models, wouldnt put him so high. Shuki Kato, Kamiya Satoshi, Eric Joisel, there are so many great folders, Robert doesent stand out of other 30 greatest by nothing. Like Eric Joisel stood out for example

[@limon6544]

President of the 21st Origami, would fit.

[@maxonmendel5757]

@@igorsvacic217 what does weights mean

[@InstinctYOU]

The advantages of simple origami are twofold.

[@rohitseshadri6166]

InstinctYOU Il

[@alveolate]

*manifold

[@bentuinstra4441]

Hahaha. I laughed so hard at this comment!

[@fivethree0]

I saw what you did there 😀

[@ashishmeshram5057]

lol

[@papasitoman]

I've seen dozens of TEDTALKS and this one is a new favourite! Really amazing possibilities!

[@blanketbronx8594]

@therussiankid hi

[@makismakiavelis5718]

Wonder if someday he discovers a way to fold space-time, so we can travel unfathomable distances in an instant without moving.

[@jeffj2495]

That is a good insight. I also wonder about the potential for this methodology to be applied to other problems.

[@TheJonathankang]

What you said is actually self-contradictory, the process of folding space-time involves moving, hence you can't travel unfathomable distance without moving.

[@higuys8154]

we might eventually live in a universe thats folded like a black forest cuckoo clock

[@jianweilee8046]

@@TheJonathankang unless space-time is already folded.

[@jessicathompson8260]

Thank you for this...spicy comment 😎

[@origamiguy6410]

This is absolutely an epic explanation of origami and how it works and how people use it.

[@blablamanpivot]

Guys Why are you wondering why there’s people laughing He made jokes during his presentation I’d be sad for him if nobody laughed I myself, besides the fact that I was hypnotized by what he was saying, laughed a few times during the presentation

[@girlofcreativity7667]

Me too!! The way he explained about how origami has changed was very interesting and useful!! I, myself, am so inspired to use these techniques and ideas to make my own origami creations!!

[@katief7047]

Totally agree they were mainly laughing when he make jokes I just felt bad when you could hear random laughing in the background when he was showing each piece of origami...he was showing Intricate, really difficult art pieces to create and there wasn’t anything funny about it so idk why would you laugh at that lol

[@zekay99]

@@katief7047 sometimes people laugh when they are surprised and or amazed ...

[@higuys8154]

i think it also has to do with how origami is commonly known as a very light subject and its described so solemnly by him. i guess it could sound like scientifically describing a childs scirbble

[@eriostaples3652]

haha

[@ZeacorZeppelin]

This had the single best ad the best commercial for a phone of its time. I was enthralled excited and full of anticipation when it said the last line at the end welcome to the fourth screen it was amazing

[@AllPaperArt]

Excelente palestra!!!. Aprendi muito.

[@kocaksaid]

And yes he is right, in 2017 there is origami engineering, they are inventing multidicipliner tools with huge range, medicine to space. It is saving our lives now.

[@lylestavast7652]

applies in the are of compliant mechanisms...

[@SarahStephanieLandry]

As a lifelong nerd, this includes two of my all time favourite things: origami and space! Thank you!!!

[@geraldmartin8195]

It's redundant to say that the man is brilliant. And he certainly knew his audience better than they knew themselves. He also shone a bright light on my humble creative endeavors.

[@shirleysmith3409]

This is absolutely wonderful! Thank you!!

[@jdstmporter]

That was incredibly inspiring. I'm definitely going to seek out the literature on the underlying mathematics.

[@sticraft41]

great video, and great presentation. The funny thing is that this video came out in 2008, while the aformentioned James Webb telescope is still being prepared in 2019. The amount of work that it requires though is unbelievable

[@GustavoLima-to5hi]

Excelente palestra!

[@phyrr2]

Origami is the one art that has to be understood from both ends at the same time and built towards finishing in the middle. The folding itself is just a result of the final product. In addition, the restrictive nature is the biggest benefit and allows one to keep focus within the restrictions.

[@SasieSpice]

wow i learned something new today. i am just learning how to do origami, and found this searching for origami tutorial videos. i had *no* idea that it was used to help design satellites and airbags and even medical devices. its just so kewl thanks for the video!

[@rilian8711]

Absolutely amazing! I had a luck to correspond with him regarding the origami algorithm. Dr. Lang helped me to generalize it.

[@millions2nette]

VERYvery interesting! Just genius...and ultra artistic as well. Wow!

[@angelaem205]

Impressive to say the least. I have been doing only for a few years now, I still feel I am a beginner at it. Maybe the fact that I am really bad in understanding mathematics would explain why I have hard time at it. Mr Lang is a true master, a visionary and he leads the way, hopefully to a better world where origami and science work together to save humanity's future...✨👌🙇🏻‍♀️💎

[@tartaglia.]

I have only been doing origami for 3 days, and I also feel like a beginner lmaooo

[@angelaem205]

@@tartaglia. Welcome to the wonderful and magic world of origami. The more you fold the best you are going to feel and the more you are going to love it. Good luck👍🏻

[@StephenRansom47]

I am sure that someone is looking into this ... But, 4d printing and its application to moving forms .... This come to mind. Fluid in a folded form. Heaters built into the fibers of the paper. The dynamics of both cooperating to created an animate origami bug.

[@ruthlewis6678]

The laughter come from absolute delight.

[@nelitary3369]

Amazing way of teaching origami by Robert Lang = )

[@quincest1]

Amazing!!! Turtle, insects, guitarist and so on.... I've folded organ and the other simple thing. But I can't fold like that. Really Creative. His TED talk was a lot of fun :D

[@cataluscore8727]

This talk is awesome!

[@itsfikree]

Very great talk ❤

[@konohaboyz5484]

Hey Jo! Im really interessed in how you create a model from nothing. Do you use a program tô create the underlining blueprint? I mean the crease patterns when you unfold the model after finished

[@JoachimderZweite]

Amazing! "Oh world of wonders."

[@sasajugovic5618]

Awesome video

[@christendumb]

10:51 This guy approves!!

[@Scottybeammeup2]

Where is his website or where can I find the tree maker program software? Tks

[@justcarcrazy]

I gots to get me some of that! Why don't they teach us this in university?

[@duvereandh]

This is my fave on youtube, completely inspirational for me. he is my mathematics hero (R.L).

[@danielcox7060]

look up Robert's book on origami if your interested in learning more!

[@chino_jap0nes]

Which one is that?

[@haidertirhi9463]

origami design secrets

[@thaile6149]

10:03 wait am I the only one that saw Benjamine Zander in the audience?!?!

[@peterkim7414]

I saw him tooo

[@nnnnnn496]

Who he?

[@baptistic]

He loved that origami organist

[@ZakirStudio]

Great and impressive

[@traceyrogers4117]

It's not the first time math has been applied to an art and the result being the art opened and become more profound and inspired.

[@maximillhunter7635]

@14:02 origami saving lives.

[@gihanlive]

I find this very intersting to be a hobby, and I'm gonna try it :)

[@RollerCoasterBug]

Love it! Gives me inspiration.

[@enounce]

just think how may TED videos we can watch now :)

[@oathkeeper27]

Does anyone know where I can find a video tutorial for how to fold one of those dang crease patterns (made with Treemaker 5)???? I have one right here and I have NO idea what to do with it. Help?

[@naimulhaq9626]

I am so very impressed, I need the stent.

[@sonyand1341]

すごいなぁ・・・日本人でもこういう発想できる人は少ないと思う

[@gonzapra1]

I never thought a ted talk would be worth it

[@kjh0121ind]

Beautiful

[@svenkamog2232]

This man's books helped me through a very difficult time. Thanks Robert...

[@black_jack_meghav]

sir please tell where can i learn this in detail ? what books?

[@danno1111]

amazing...

[@acutelilmint8035]

The fact they can conceptualize this on a flat abstract way is insane. If it was me I just crumple and figure things out eventually and then unravel it and that’s my pattern haha. Insane.

[@thereasonimbroke]

the amount of people mad about the laughing in the background is sad, he obviously had sarcastic and funny remarks in his presentation to catch the audiences attention.

[@DKong1026]

Why is anyone defending the audience here?

[@elboberto7]

this was put on on my birthday!

[@MarcoMorelos]

i had to add this to my faves. it was something i never knew and it showed me what origami is...math. its crazy. just awsome *****

[@Pixxie99999]

สวยงามและซับซ้อน

[@HABHDAY]

Can this apply to recycling newspaper or cardboard for shipping aboard?or other paper products in order to reduce cost. Now I must follow this rabbit into the hole and see where it leads

[@impalapez]

GENIUS!!!!

[@UmarsOrigami]

Great man👍👍👍👍

[@HKragh]

mind blowing...

[@Claycat4]

Amazing!

[@aarti2309]

Speechless

[@leppy111]

Very cool ,I;, going to Chapters to get his book

[@rochet75]

at 16:00 the video just beging and its the best video in the world

[@vincenthubschmann6512]

10:04 on the right...THATS BENJAMIN ZANDER who did the best ted talk of all times “the transformative power of classical music”

[@douaa_89]

This Robert J Lang is a genius

[@stuffisgd]

very creative

[@ozzymario]

Have you ever been on a stand up comedy show, or any show that make people laugh, or a tv program??..well, they usually hire people to laugh, let say 5 or 6 of them, and they sat them evenly distributively, and there is not just a stupid laugh, it must be natural sound, and that laughter is contagious and so people goes on an laugh together, and the show sounds great because a lot of people is having fun...well some one here fuck up big time, and gave the laughing guys the wrong direction, and end up laughing here in a mathematical origami art speech.

[@PirateOfTheNorth]

Amazing

[@shantanu3964]

Where can we learn more about this? I mean the methods, mathematical models, etc. To create your own designs?

[@Denise11Schultz]

Shantanu Awale, A place to start would be the film “Between the Folds”. It is an introduction to computational origami and includes Lang and other top artists and scientists in the field. There are many delights and resources in the film, I’m sure it would help you.

[@instantfries]

I understand the baseline of the whole presentation and concept. But what I don't understand is why are people laughing about it.

[@SJDio66]

I think it is also funny when repeatly sais that we can dead poeple do our work.

[@violet33itzal]

He is funny to nerds. I laughed too

[@jackworthington5205]

Because the origami sculptures are downright astounding, they don't look real

[@compfox]

I laughed at surprise, that I have learned something totaly new.

[@ratholin]

Ok that was neat as heck.

[@aravindshandilya4650]

wow. His ending comment was really deep

[@motivational.ai_hindi]

Awesome

[@IconMatthew1]

pretty darn cool

[@trevorguy63]

yeah its awesome...i get goosebumps..... its like it explains humanity itself, and how we developed to how we are now...

[@MadeInAmerica007]

Thanks Ms. Mathis

[@qwemlhjsi4386]

Barbie Johnson Wut

[@black_jack_meghav]

damn mindblowimg

[@TogrutaJedi]

Even though I know this is only a concidence, I never thought I would ever see Robert Lang standing in front of a clone trooper helmet.

[@sportkatze123]

Origami is a very creative method to use mathematics.

[@lylestavast7652]

i used to have an origami busines but it.... folded. ;) j/k

[@nomanm.5884]

@Mike P ayyy

[@user-gi8pm4be2f]

折り紙の　究極✨✨

[@xxx1x47x41x3]

Why didn't I find this out earlier!!

[@janetshaffer423]

So coooool!

[@zoemochary4799]

what's your website?

[@austingray4776]

Has any he used the tree maker program I wonder how it will work out

[@Artaxerxes.]

AUSTIN GRAY Yes, he has used it to make the diablo version of the tarantula as mentioned in the website. I've downloaded it and the circle packing kinda rocks.... a very useful software .

[@noe153]

robert im you bigest fan

[@Enlan86]

Circle packing = Sacred geometry = Patters for ALL life and existence.

[@TheAlcamus]

That's why I love origami somehow...

[@MrZerRap]

10:04 THAT'S BENJAMIN ZANDER IN THE BACK OMGGG

[@gentil8838]

Ik

[@reyrecks]

i think there could be a TED talk about the commercial itself......the origami was cool too

[@ray1on1da1piano]

The most frustrating thing in the world is to try to fold something, get to like the last step, and then discover that your paper is too thick. Satoshi's ancient dragon and one of Lang's bird from CP. XPP

[@fredbloggs6080]

Raymond Zheng - One thing Robert neglects to mention is that there was a good deal of complex origami before he developed his mathematical system of design, in which the creators did not consciously use mathematics or his Tree Maker program, and in fact some of the best creators in the world still do not consciously use mathematics in designing their models, Satoshi being foremost among them.

[@poontingkwok1459]

Legendary

[@user-gi3ro9rm9k]

I didn't know Robert was on TED

[@ianlulu]

and now the James Webb Telescope has been launched... crazy

[@TheJonathankang]

Incredible and brilliant.