The magic washing machine | Hans Rosling

www.ted.com What was the greatest invention of the industrial revolution? Hans Rosling makes the case for the washing machine. With newly designed graphics from Gapminder, Rosling shows us the magic that pops up when economic growth and electricity turn a boring wash day into an intellectual day of reading. TODAY: From 11:30am-1:30pm EDT, Hans Rosling will be answering questions in TED Conversations. Pop over!

[@MortenJacobsen8]

Yesterday Hans Rosling passed away, and I wanted to see this masterpiece of him again. It war a great joy. RIP

[@ccb1127]

Rest In Piece Hans Roling. You were interesting to listen to, smart and funny. RIP.

[@nabeelmalik8025]

Rest in peace Hans Rosling

[@gunnarkaestle]

He was a great communicator.

[@robert2754]

He is one of the most important video I have ever watched

[@Butter_Warrior99]

I remember watching his videos back in my freshman year of High School. This video hold a special place in my mind.

[@ez45]

I shed a tear when he said this. "This is the magic. You load the laundry, and what do you get out of the machine? You get books."

[@gracehou6736]

I am so grateful that I discovered this video while studying the UN e-waste course. I laughed and shed tears. His presentation was very touching and powerful!

[@user-hf4yj2ue8j]

This presentation impressed me much. It has combined popular knowledge and scientific knowledge. The structure of conveying the information has been very clear.

[@rd6203]

How is this the first time I have heard this person???? I love him!

[@somethingness]

"Now we can go to library." Excellent!

[@nindu6913]

hi

[@7roach]

RIP Hans Rosling. My fave presentation among so many great ones. Thank you for touching my life and mind, and making me a better educator and public health professional/researcher.

[@bregnsbo]

"Thank you industrialization. Thank you power station". I will miss Hans Rosling.

[@user-je4eh9ht1k]

I just watched this as part of my course and came to find it on youtube. So so sad to hear this wonderful man has passed.

[@RainbowSaysHi]

Same- It was in my geo workbook

[@hannu1245]

Damn I love Hans Rosling. His talks are so freaking awesome.

[@GregJoshuaW]

"Even the hardcore in the Green Movement use washing machine." LOL! And I just made that argument 2 days ago - I will live off the land, but I need electricity for a washing machine.

[@rosemarybishop5776]

Actually, there is a power free washing machine. I'm going to do more handwriting.

[@charlesrosa1481]

This man was an absolute genius.... Presenting data and making it beautiful and compelling.

[@ZabavaThePower]

Oh man it made me cry

[@eKoush]

enjoy capitalism

[@danm3779]

+Ekaterina Ilushkina Oh! me too. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[@uzairael8138]

Ekaterina Ilushkina Yes he is one of good person ....

[@damian_smith]

Me too. The passion in his voice...

[@enriquevillarreal54]

I thought it was just me

[@eagleeye1975]

What an amazing lesson in economics. Labor saving devices free up labor for other ventures! :)

[@DennisRay99]

Or other labor.😁

[@Youssef51]

Prof. Rosling is on a roll. Always worth watching.

[@isaacwn]

What Hans did, as always, is using great visual aid to explain a complicated topic.

[@jonathansturm4163]

It's not so much a complicated topic. We all I think understood it with Hans' assistance. It's just that _most_ experts like to cloak their "topic" in complication so that they can make pronouncements to the great unwashed who are expected to merely obey and not ask difficult questions.

[@pyro5050]

this was one of the best TED talks i have seen in recent time!

[@eliasblum753]

It reminds me of 'Song of the South' by the country band Alabama: "Daddy got a job with the TVA* He bought a washing machine and a Chevrolet" *Tennessee Valley Authority, which amongst other things generated hydro-electric power and electrified the South. A good example of the interaction between democracy ("Mr Roosevelt was gonna save us all"), industrial development, and the emergence of the affluent society.

[@AlgeKalipso]

He's got so much of this nordic vibe in him. :)

[@DJGelbart]

As usual, Hans Rosling delivers awesomeness.

[@molnes]

Rosling brings it on every single talk. The man is brilliant.

[@ZipeFingerboarder]

Just died today.. so sad. Rest in piece..

[@user-nj7rw5my9h]

I love the fact that 34 people liked this comment and nobody tried to correct you. Don't worry, he'll stay in a piece.

[@goldslg001]

RIP, Hans

[@touretteguy9920]

Great speech! What a man Hans Rosling

[@JinY-kd3el]

Thank you. We miss you very much.

[@daedra40]

Hans Rosling is indeed a prophetic speaker ; one of very unmeasurable values but perfectionary vision

[@PengXie-he9om]

utterly touched and thanks for showing us the inequality for energy consumption, a big question we have to answer in the process of pursuing sustainability

[@Jontman42]

Hans Rosling is the only person who's talks I really look forward to :)

[@mohammadmehdisaboori4357]

This is the best Ted talk I ever seen. 😍

[@EclecticSceptic]

I have great respect for Hans Rosling.

[@lost4soul]

This guy knows how to captivate the audience. Delightful to watch.

[@hakuro]

I love seeing "Hans Rosling" in my subscription box.

[@LCristinaCuratolo]

This moved me to tiers! His speech convinced me of his point beyond any doubt!

[@llothar68]

Indeed ... his talent will be missed ... RIP

[@ashamoosai]

LOVED THIS!

[@alfredomartinflores4861]

excellent!!

[@rm06c]

This is why I'm subscribed to TEDtalks. I could give less than a hoot about so many of the other speakers they seem to be presenting recently.

[@LEGASItv]

Hans is a superb presenter! "Even the hardcore in the green movement is still using washing machine"

[@lukasgill2329]

yeah RIP

[@Gecko17k]

Oh, I love Hans Rosling!

[@ManLikeMatts]

i love presentations by Hans Rosling...he always comes prepared with real data and always is concerned about the future....plus he's pretty entertaining :D

[@aidentan-diaz4828]

you just have to love Hans Rosling

[@Nill757]

Im an engineer, and Rosling might have been the finest presenter of tech innovation, as it impacts the world, I’ve ever heard. If I may: one more dimension needs a way into that excellent graphic on population, who uses energy energy, and std of living. As it stands, the graphic only shows what people *use*. Those airplanes, wash machines, power plants are *all* begin from the actions of the high energy consuming group on the right, including ie Rosling’s perceptive analysis, something to consider before chopping them down.

[@Bfavrestarr415]

This guy is so passionate...love it!

[@doodelay]

Hans has definitely become my favorite economist by far lol

[@Lasermannen]

doodelay He's not an economist. He's a medical doctor, statistician and a professor of Public Health at the renowned Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Economists are not scientists.

[@doodelay]

DoctorGlass "economists are not scientists" has nothing to do with anything I said but I stand corrected that he is not an economist

[@miguelcoronel6806]

DoctorGlass Of course economists are scientists.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@Lasermannen "He's not an economist. He's a medical doctor, statistician and..." ...he understands more about economics than economists...

[@bajabat496]

@@jonathansturm4163 well, if you're in Hans Rosling work go see max roser (ourworldindata) he's an economist and he's also fighting many misconceptions

[@ImRajja]

Best TED talk ever.

[@SCAREDBANANA]

Just awesome channel.

[@divadnehc]

I always know a Hans Rosling talk is gonna be good.

[@ethanx6788]

That was awesome!

[@riaknol]

RIP mr Hans Rosberg you are a BIG inspiration for me. Tx for your positivity

[@yp06407012]

@Mrmoc7 rest assured... every talk by Hans Rosling is a Gem....!! enjoy.

[@shadman1911]

Brilliant has allways!

[@TucoBenedicto]

I love this guy.

[@mistahtut]

This is so refreshing and awesome that it almost made me shed a tear

[@guyana001]

awesome stuff!

[@gulllars]

One point worth making that Hans didn't mention in this talk, is that what we above the "airline" should help facilitate for those below the "washline". Sure, 1 washing machine pr household is convenient for us, but the price of purchase takes them out of the range of those in the bracket with electricity but below the "washline", even though many of them can afford to run them. Large (20-50kg+? payload) communal washing machines for groups of households makes sense. It's the economics of scale.

[@swetshah92]

that statistics are so fascinating...we shall be grateful for having the access to so many electronic devices...

[@qttytn]

From the first few second I can tell this guy is going to be awesome.

[@thedaggonator]

we take so much for granted.

[@rahulfsd]

Hans Rosling returns! Yay !!

[@evageline01]

I love this guy!

[@Gnometower]

more Rosling!

[@Ernestopro1]

Nice guy, awesome talk.

[@VRossInMo]

When he talks about how even Grandmother came to watch the machine, I find it vaguely disturbing to hear the low laughter among the audience. Oh I understand it I guess... the source of humor they felt was because someone was so amazed by something the audience finds so ordinary. What bothers me is that they DO take such things for granted. Too many have no idea just how good they have it... and yet they think they gotta have the latest of every gadget, the newest iphone, etc that come along.

[@Panyc333]

Refreshing.

[@expendedAmmunition]

I love Hans Rosling

[@Butmunch666]

There are a lot of comments here but some seem to miss the point...the washing machine is not the point, it is just used as an example of the way using machines gives all of us and especially women in patriarchal societies more time to spend doing things they want.

[@qcontinuum514]

In order to have more time doing things they want, they need to stop focusing on Socialism and start focusing on Industrial Revolution in "poorer" countries. How is it that Africa has some of the most resources, yet is so "poor"? It is the corrupt Governments in those countries, who have a sick desire of controlling the people.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@trufiend138 The "First World" nations are stifling Africa with foreign aid that holds back economic development. When Hans demonstrates in another of his lectures the rather small number of African nations that have rocketed towards "First World" conditions, they were the ones receiving no foreign aid. Read Dambisa Moyo's book "Dead Aid" ISBN-10: 0374532125 /ISBN-13: 978-0374532123

[@emmanueloluga9770]

@@jonathansturm4163 Thank you so much for this comment. I usually engage with objectivists and this is a good point to take note of. Also don't forget he often unmentioned subversive mechanisms of influence first world countries use, especially china and USA

[@primrosed2338]

@@qcontinuum514 a legacy of colonialism blurred tribal borders, setting into a legacy of conflict, and then the colonializers ravaged the resources. Best example. King Leopold of II of Belgium and the Congo. I don't care if your comment was 4 years ago. It has memorialized your ignorance.

[@qcontinuum514]

@@primrosed2338 Stating government corrruption as a source of ill in the world is now considered ignorance? Going with your example of a fuedal system should have made you realize monarchy is the height of corruption and control over a population. In reference to your mention of colonizing, many tribes in various parts of the world are still engaged in colonization, only now it is done more swiftly with consumption (instant gratification) and control of world financial systems. Colonization and enslavement, be it physical, mental, or financial, did not start with the European exploration and conquest of remote lands. If that were the case, there would not have been the reality of lands conquered by the Sumerians, Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Egyptians, Hittites and Cushites, to name a few.

[@heltok]

my favourite TED speaker does it again

[@Ipoonthecasbah]

You gotta love ya' some Hans.

[@dylanlawless1]

Just Brilliant

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

This guy may just be my new hero.

[@feljesvp]

the best approach to use to their advantage the free time that technology offers

[@xIAiChanIx]

I'm eating this up. It's such great information. I want this guy to be my professor. o.o

[@libanlibanliban]

Hans is the Best!!!

[@daedra40]

HANS FOR LIFE

[@moonstruck336]

We need more of these reasonable people today !

[@jadelee2765]

I can't agree more!

[@SimplySalma]

God I love this guys!

[@claudiaschimmer1607]

Amen!

[@moisesespiritosanto2195]

Hi, I'm from São Paulo! Muito bom mesmo! Yeah!

[@LeonidasGGG]

Hans Rosling is tha man!

[@mlkynilla]

_so cool

[@patienceking]

very entertaining!

[@JamesYeang]

Amazing talk. You can feel his passion about this.

[@hosnahenainia]

I've just finished his book Factfullness .. What a beautiful mind!

[@bcassoret]

excellent

[@witzritz]

I like the way he talk

[@patriciaromero5497]

Genial❤

[@timidgothica]

beautiful, I have this mindset when others try to dictate the lives of people outside the 1st world.

[@thePlum]

I watched this video while living in Iceland, and I'm taking notes for a bit I am writing: "He talked about the poverty line, those who live on less then $2 a day, and opposite of the poverty line he coined the "airline" which is above $80 a day -- the airline is people who can afford to travel in the air machine, the travel machine at while whenever they want, to use all the different sorts of machines of luxury "toasters, tv's, etc, etc. He then designated the "Wash line" where they consume $40 dollars a day, and they have access to washing machines. He estimated around 2 billion humans live at or above this "Wash Line" -- these estimated are from the early 2010's, things change, but not often that quickly, so likely these numbers still add up. He question was then how do those 5 billion of us living below the wash line wash their clothes? By hand. Forget drying, how do they wash? "They want the Washing Machine" he stated. No doubt they do. He shows his grandmother 2 generations ago washing by hand as well, then she was freed from this by the washing machine. He went on to note how when he lectures to environmentally concerned students they lecture him back with why not everyone in the world can have cars and machining machines, to save the planet. "Even the hardcore in the Green movement use washing machine" he stated.

[@YusiShukur]

This dude is so cool.

[@Cratees]

I knew this was gonna be good

[@rippinsteo]

@Panpiper : Wow. An actual, intelligent, sane comment about climate change. I sincerely say, What a breath of fresh air! Thank you.

[@MiCKi914]

I am NEVER complaining about doing the laundry again! O: haha

[@ScienceEtConscience]

Nice man. Too bad he passed away. These kind of people should live forever, because they are the ones that make humanity progress...

[@cecosim]

Came to watch this again after the speech of Greta Thunberg in the UN. You see, it takes 50 years of experience not to make big claims and treat correct data wrongly. Thank you, Hans Rosling, for giving a more complete and elaborate perspective to World Change. RIP

[@IwanttoliveinParis]

I love my Whirlpool, old-school top loader. Word up.

[@oxlirotatos]

KZbin should really put a reasoning box for those who vote thumbs up or down for each video. I would really like to know why 42 people voted thumbs down for this video!

[@haiiithereee30]

this dude is a really good speaker wow

[@haiiithereee30]

oh man i just saw he died :( rest in peace

[@elchafa337]

All his talks are great. I like how he thinks.

[@TzunSu]

@drorjs Both fusion and fission are possible energy sources for the future, not long ago the first fusion experiment that actually yielded more energy then was put in was done. There are lots of problems to overcome though, so i dont expect the first production plant to be built before atleast 20 years goes by. Improved fission can last far longer then that.

[@joannjmaliyil]

He always has a different way of looking at things.

[@user-qr3ie8xg1v]

00:17 First experience of using a washing machine was a great moment for my mother 01:28 Technology and wealth disparity 02:38 Two billion people have access to washing machines. 03:48 Desire for washing machine persists across generations 04:52 Energy distribution is unequal globally. 05:59 Economic growth will drive energy use more than population growth. 06:57 Transitioning to green energy is crucial for the future. 08:01 Magic washing machine gave us time to read books