Brief excerpts from a much longer conversation – Hackney elders’ memories of school.
The voices belong to: Brian, Leonie, Megan, Rick, Wadley.
Recorded 18 March 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK
Older people using digital inclusion to challenge isolation and loneliness in our community
Brief excerpts from a much longer conversation – Hackney elders’ memories of school.
The voices belong to: Brian, Leonie, Megan, Rick, Wadley.
Recorded 18 March 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK
Excerpts from a much longer conversation about retirement – with people who have done it and others who haven’t.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Brian, Cathy, Clarenton, Marylin, Nicholas, Rick.
Recorded 11 March 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK
TEDx video talks in the library – Thursdays in March
TEDx Hackney Libraries is a wonderful opportunity for local residents to get together to listen to experts talk about subjects that matter to us all. These events aren’t just about listening; the open discussion at each session encourages conversation about how these topics affect our everyday lives, inspire us to see things from a different perspective and could even spark change!
TEDx Hackney Libraries has returned with a series of Thursday evening events that we think everybody should go to. The next event (7 March) is especially interesting, as three of the four video talks are directly relevant to what we do at the Friday afternoon drop-in and the Monday afternoon podcast.
Of course, you could watch them now — but that would miss the point completely. The conversation after the talks is the most important part, and you can’t do that on your own.
We’re building an artificial intelligence-powered dystopia, one click at a time, says techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci. In an eye-opening talk, she details how the same algorithms companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon use to get you to click on ads are also used to organize your access to political and social information. And the machines aren’t even the real threat. What we need to understand is how the powerful might use AI to control us — and what we can do in response.
In the early days of digital culture, Jaron Lanier helped craft a vision for the internet as public commons where humanity could share its knowledge — but even then, this vision was haunted by the dark side of how it could turn out: with personal devices that control our lives, monitor our data and feed us stimuli. (Sound familiar?) In this visionary talk, Lanier reflects on a “globally tragic, astoundingly ridiculous mistake” companies like Google and Facebook made at the foundation of digital culture — and how we can undo it. “We cannot have a society in which, if two people wish to communicate, the only way that can happen is if it’s financed by a third person who wishes to manipulate them,” he says.
Amishi Jha studies how we pay attention: the process by which our brain decides what’s important out of the constant stream of information it receives. Both external distractions (like stress) and internal ones (like mind-wandering) diminish our attention’s power, Jha says — but some simple techniques can boost it. “Pay attention to your attention,” Jha says.
“When you talk to strangers, you’re making beautiful interruptions into the expected narrative of your daily life — and theirs,” says Kio Stark. In this delightful talk, Stark explores the overlooked benefits of pushing past our default discomfort when it comes to strangers and embracing those fleeting but profoundly beautiful moments of genuine connection.
Why we all have to talk more and hide less – friendships, commitment, belonging, resisting racism, respect – real stories and real values – an intergenerational meeting of minds.
The voices belong to: Brian, Chantel, Leonie, Rick, Vanessa, Wadley, Walter.
References
Recorded 25 February 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK
Guest Chantel bravely engages with a bunch of pre-digital citizens – rebooting Hello Hackney Grassroots Radio at the Dalston Curve Garden.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Brian, Chantel, Rick, Walter.
Media reference – Soon Gone (not Soon Over) – bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002sqv
Recorded 18 February 2019 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF, UK
Brian tells us about his early life: growing up in Romford, his first job, National Service in Egypt, St Martin’s School of Art.
This is an outtake from a longer group discussion. The background crackling sounds are from the Pineapple House log fire.
Recorded 19 November 2018 in the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, London E8 3DF
TEDx video talk in the library – Thursday 8 November, 6 to 8 pm
We take a proper look at what it means to grow older today and how we can make ageing more fulfilling.
In her talk Ashton Applewhite states ‘Let’s end ageism’, Paul Tasner explains ‘How I became an entrepreneur at 66’, Laura Cartensen argues that ‘Older people are happier’, and Susan Pinker suggests that ‘The secret to living longer may be our social life’.
Local initiative Hello Hackney has been introducing seniors to technology as well as providing a social hub. Rick Crust joins us to explain how it works. Sarah Douglas and Hector Dyer from Liminal Space will introduce their research-based project about ageing ‘Unclaimed’ in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust.
It’s not the passage of time that makes it so hard to get older. It’s ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves — and each other. Ashton Applewhite urges us to dismantle the dread and mobilize against the last socially acceptable prejudice. “Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a disease to be cured,” she says. “It is a natural, powerful, lifelong process that unites us all.”
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. Take it from Paul Tasner — after working continuously for other people for 40 years, he founded his own start-up at age 66, pairing his idea for a business with his experience and passion. And he’s not alone. As he shares in this short, funny and inspirational talk, seniors are increasingly indulging their entrepreneurial instincts — and seeing great success.
In the 20th century we added an unprecedented number of years to our lifespans, but is the quality of life as good? Surprisingly, yes! Psychologist Laura Carstensen shows research that demonstrates that as people get older they become happier, more content, and have a more positive outlook on the world.
The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America. Why? According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it’s not a sunny disposition or a low-fat, gluten-free diet that keeps the islanders healthy — it’s their emphasis on close personal relationships and face-to-face interactions. Learn more about super longevity as Pinker explains what it takes to live to 100 and beyond.
Hackney oldies look back on their lives in a conversation that begins and ends with Hackney Carnival.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Mark, Paula, Peter and Rick.
Recorded 11 September 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden, London E2 8EL
Hackney elders sharing how they keep themselves physically and mentally fit. Part 1 of a longer session.
The voices belong to: Andreas, Janette, Maralyn, Margaret, Paula, Peter and Sallie.
Recorded 28 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden. 34 minutes.
Hackney elders remembering their school days in London, Trinidad and Zimbabwe.
The voices belong to: Irene, Janette, Mark, Sallie.
Recorded 7 August 2018 in St Mary’s Secret Garden. 25 minutes.