Ted (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global community dedicated to speading ideas through talks, seminars, a yearly conference, and an annual $100,000 prize given to three exceptional individuals in their fields.  Within their site, Ted.com, they host an archive of over 100 of their best presentations and performances by the “world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers.” Among the videos are some talks by well known speakers like Jeff Bezos on the next web innovation, an explanation by Jane Goodall on what separates us from apes, Bill Clinton on rebuilding Rwanda, Peter Gabriel on using video to fight injustice, and Bono’s call to action on Africa.  However, not all Ted.com’s videos are by famous speakers or of dry global subjects.  Some are just fascinating looks at technology.  One that stands out and has been getting a lot of attention is the demonstration of Photosynth by Blaise Aguera y Arcas.  Photosynth is a software tool being developed by Microsoft Live Labs that can be used to browse and organize large collections of photographs. Rather than laying the photographs in the usual album format or by collection, Photosynth organizes each into a 3D space by its perspective and viewpoint. The results are amazing and can only best be best shown, not described.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/129