Vishnupriya Pillai | Vishnupriya Pillai | TEDxOOBSchool

Key Concepts:

• Glitches: Imperfections, deviations from the norm, unique characteristics.
• Glitchion: A proposed "science of innovation" based on embracing imperfections.
• Authenticity: Being true to oneself, embracing one's unique personality.
• Normality: The established standard or expected behavior within a system.
• Innovation: Introducing something new; a new idea, method, or device.

1. Law Number One: What Glitches Sticks

• Main Point: Imperfections and "epic fails" are more memorable and impactful than perfectly crafted content.
• Examples:
  • A dog stealing the mic at a wedding.
  • A baby flower girl launching the flower basket at the groom.
  • A grandma dropkicking the TV while trying VR.
• Argument: Viral content often features unexpected glitches or imperfections. Perfection is forgettable, while glitches are etched into the brain.

2. Law Number Two: Authenticity Sparks Unexpected Reaction

• Main Point: Embracing one's unique personality and characteristics makes a bigger impact than trying to conform.
• Examples:
  • Mana and Anushka: Two friends who make pani puri in class and choreograph cheerleader routines for their principal.
• Argument: People with unusual characteristics are magnetic because they are authentic.
• Analogy: Like a puzzle piece, you can only connect with others if you have jagged corners.
• Quote: "Stop trying to hide your personality cuz it's quote unquote weird cuz like a puzzle piece you can only connect with others if you yourself have jagged corners"

3. Law Number Three: Every System Resists Change Until a Glitch Rewires Them

• Main Point: Systems and institutions resist change, but outliers and "glitches" are what drive progress.
• Argument: The world is changed by outliers who deviate from normality.
• Examples:
  • Beethoven: Composed masterpieces after becoming deaf.
  • Temple Grandin: Revolutionized animal welfare due to her neurodivergence.
• Perspective: These individuals were "glitches" in the system, but their unique perspectives led to innovation.

4. Personal Anecdote and Introduction to "Glitchion"

• Background: The speaker recounts being told in fifth grade that she spoke like a "possessed bouncing ball" and subsequently trained herself to speak like a statue.
• Turning Point: During a speaking competition, her "perfect self" cracked, and her hands flew, and her voice rose. Although she thought she had ruined everything, the audience applauded.
• Nickname: She received the nickname "glitch" because it looked like she was glitching from one side of the stage to the other.
• Realization: She realized that her hands, which she thought were a malfunction, were actually her greatest superpower.
• Introduction of "Glitchion": The speaker introduces the three laws of "glitchion," a "science of innovation for the age of imperfection," which proposes that the world evolves because of people's weirdness.

5. Conclusion

• Call to Action: The speaker encourages the audience to embrace their imperfections and unique qualities.
• Innovation: Instead of trying to upgrade to version 2.0, the world needs the "glitchy beta version" of themselves.
• Metaphor: You weren't meant to be frictionless; you were meant to be a little impossible, a little too loud, a little too expressive, a little too cute.
• Final Thought: In a world filled with copy-paste, you're not control plus C (copy); you're control plus delightfully imperfect.