[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so how did you get here today did you
so how did you get here today did you
so how did you get here today did you come on your own or did you come with
come on your own or did you come with
come on your own or did you come with someone else did you walk or did you
someone else did you walk or did you
someone else did you walk or did you drive when you think about how you got
drive when you think about how you got
drive when you think about how you got here today you might have looked at
here today you might have looked at
here today you might have looked at street signs or checked your sat-nav or
street signs or checked your sat-nav or
street signs or checked your sat-nav or you might know the area really well so
you might know the area really well so
you might know the area really well so you got here easily for most of us our
you got here easily for most of us our
you got here easily for most of us our world is largely defined by what we see
world is largely defined by what we see
world is largely defined by what we see we rely on our eyes to give us vital
we rely on our eyes to give us vital
we rely on our eyes to give us vital information street signs maps Sat Navs
information street signs maps Sat Navs
information street signs maps Sat Navs and when you go home tonight you’ll see
and when you go home tonight you’ll see
and when you go home tonight you’ll see the faces of your loved ones and all of
the faces of your loved ones and all of
the faces of your loved ones and all of those visual images will frame your
those visual images will frame your
those visual images will frame your world but for me no such luck why well I
world but for me no such luck why well I
world but for me no such luck why well I simply don’t see what you see
simply don’t see what you see
simply don’t see what you see I can’t navigate my world in pictures I
I can’t navigate my world in pictures I
I can’t navigate my world in pictures I can’t even go home tonight and see the
can’t even go home tonight and see the
can’t even go home tonight and see the faces of my loved ones well I can but
faces of my loved ones well I can but
faces of my loved ones well I can but the difference is I might not recognize
the difference is I might not recognize
the difference is I might not recognize them because I’m face blind I have a
them because I’m face blind I have a
them because I’m face blind I have a condition called prosopagnosia or face
condition called prosopagnosia or face
condition called prosopagnosia or face blindness and that means I often ignore
blindness and that means I often ignore
blindness and that means I often ignore friends and family and people I was just
friends and family and people I was just
friends and family and people I was just speaking to a few minutes ago and they
speaking to a few minutes ago and they
speaking to a few minutes ago and they all think I’m a stuck-up cow
all think I’m a stuck-up cow
all think I’m a stuck-up cow well of course I am but actually right
well of course I am but actually right
well of course I am but actually right now you could be sitting next to someone
now you could be sitting next to someone
now you could be sitting next to someone who also struggles to recognize faces
who also struggles to recognize faces
who also struggles to recognize faces even faces of people that they know
even faces of people that they know
even faces of people that they know really well and that’s because one in 50
really well and that’s because one in 50
really well and that’s because one in 50 of us has some form of prosopagnosia now
of us has some form of prosopagnosia now
of us has some form of prosopagnosia now the form that I’ve got means that I can
the form that I’ve got means that I can
the form that I’ve got means that I can recognize myself in the mirror but I
recognize myself in the mirror but I
recognize myself in the mirror but I can’t always recognize myself in a
can’t always recognize myself in a
can’t always recognize myself in a photograph because it’s the wrong way
photograph because it’s the wrong way
photograph because it’s the wrong way around I recognize my family most of
around I recognize my family most of
around I recognize my family most of them and some of my friends some of the
them and some of my friends some of the
them and some of my friends some of the time but if I’m out and about and I’m
time but if I’m out and about and I’m
time but if I’m out and about and I’m not expecting to see someone I know they
not expecting to see someone I know they
not expecting to see someone I know they can walk right past me and I don’t see
can walk right past me and I don’t see
can walk right past me and I don’t see them at all when I’m with someone I
them at all when I’m with someone I
them at all when I’m with someone I who they are when we’re together but if
who they are when we’re together but if
who they are when we’re together but if they leave the room and then come back
they leave the room and then come back
they leave the room and then come back in I may not know it’s them and if they
in I may not know it’s them and if they
in I may not know it’s them and if they change their appearance in any way like
change their appearance in any way like
change their appearance in any way like putting their hair up wearing glasses or
putting their hair up wearing glasses or
putting their hair up wearing glasses or sometimes if they even turn their face
sometimes if they even turn their face
sometimes if they even turn their face sideways onto me like this my brain
sideways onto me like this my brain
sideways onto me like this my brain screams stranger even though it’s
screams stranger even though it’s
screams stranger even though it’s obvious it must be the same person now
obvious it must be the same person now
obvious it must be the same person now face blindness or prosopagnosia is on a
face blindness or prosopagnosia is on a
face blindness or prosopagnosia is on a spectrum at one end you don’t recognize
spectrum at one end you don’t recognize
spectrum at one end you don’t recognize anyone at all and at the other end it’s
anyone at all and at the other end it’s
anyone at all and at the other end it’s tricky but you can get most people so
tricky but you can get most people so
tricky but you can get most people so this is me trying to identify you are
this is me trying to identify you are
this is me trying to identify you are you ready I have to stare at you just
you ready I have to stare at you just
you ready I have to stare at you just long enough to make you feel really
long enough to make you feel really
long enough to make you feel really uncomfortable like I’m being very rude
uncomfortable like I’m being very rude
uncomfortable like I’m being very rude or have simply gone insane so do you
or have simply gone insane so do you
or have simply gone insane so do you want to know what it might feel like to
want to know what it might feel like to
want to know what it might feel like to be face blind okay
be face blind okay
be face blind okay I’m going to show you it’s really easy
I’m going to show you it’s really easy
I’m going to show you it’s really easy all you have to do is to hang yourself
all you have to do is to hang yourself
all you have to do is to hang yourself upside down like this
let me explain the brain is processed to
let me explain the brain is processed to recognize faces the right way up so when
recognize faces the right way up so when
recognize faces the right way up so when we’re presented with a face that’s the
we’re presented with a face that’s the
we’re presented with a face that’s the wrong way round
wrong way round
wrong way round that’s upside-down we struggle to
that’s upside-down we struggle to
that’s upside-down we struggle to process it properly and in fact we may
process it properly and in fact we may
process it properly and in fact we may find it difficult to identify so here
find it difficult to identify so here
find it difficult to identify so here are some upside down faces for you now
are some upside down faces for you now
are some upside down faces for you now I’ve chosen some really famous faces so
I’ve chosen some really famous faces so
I’ve chosen some really famous faces so you should be able to work out who they
you should be able to work out who they
you should be able to work out who they are but it takes your brain a bit longer
are but it takes your brain a bit longer
are but it takes your brain a bit longer doesn’t it right let’s see them the
doesn’t it right let’s see them the
doesn’t it right let’s see them the right way up okay well I can recognize
right way up okay well I can recognize
right way up okay well I can recognize Beyonce but as for the others derp face
Beyonce but as for the others derp face
Beyonce but as for the others derp face blind so for me looking at faces every
blind so for me looking at faces every
blind so for me looking at faces every single day is a bit like you seeing a
single day is a bit like you seeing a
single day is a bit like you seeing a face upside down I know it’s a face I
face upside down I know it’s a face I
face upside down I know it’s a face I can see everything that you see but it
can see everything that you see but it
can see everything that you see but it just doesn’t mean anything to me at all
just doesn’t mean anything to me at all
just doesn’t mean anything to me at all all around me instead of me seeing faces
all around me instead of me seeing faces
all around me instead of me seeing faces that I recognise all around me are
that I recognise all around me are
that I recognise all around me are beautiful strangers now I’ve even run
beautiful strangers now I’ve even run
beautiful strangers now I’ve even run workshops where I’ve insisted that
workshops where I’ve insisted that
workshops where I’ve insisted that someone leave because I thought they
someone leave because I thought they
someone leave because I thought they were a Gatecrasher and they said to me
were a Gatecrasher and they said to me
were a Gatecrasher and they said to me Henry I’ve been here all morning but
Henry I’ve been here all morning but
Henry I’ve been here all morning but actually I’m in really good company Brad
actually I’m in really good company Brad
actually I’m in really good company Brad Pitt Duncan Bannatyne and Stevenson
Pitt Duncan Bannatyne and Stevenson
Pitt Duncan Bannatyne and Stevenson Stephen Fry they’re all face blind as
Stephen Fry they’re all face blind as
Stephen Fry they’re all face blind as well so what are the best jobs for
well so what are the best jobs for
well so what are the best jobs for somebody with prosopagnosia hermit
Shepard I’ve got it
Shepard I’ve got it celebrity because acting like a diva and
celebrity because acting like a diva and
celebrity because acting like a diva and ignoring everybody or calling everyone
ignoring everybody or calling everyone
ignoring everybody or calling everyone darling seems completely normal
darling seems completely normal
darling seems completely normal well actually my job is working very
well actually my job is working very
well actually my job is working very closely with people and it’s the best
closely with people and it’s the best
closely with people and it’s the best job in the world
job in the world
job in the world once I know who they are and why is it
once I know who they are and why is it
once I know who they are and why is it the best job in the world well in the
the best job in the world well in the
the best job in the world well in the same way that a blind person has
same way that a blind person has
same way that a blind person has developed their other senses I’ve
developed their other senses I’ve
developed their other senses I’ve developed my hearing and sensing skills
developed my hearing and sensing skills
developed my hearing and sensing skills to compensate not only do I listen very
to compensate not only do I listen very
to compensate not only do I listen very carefully to voice tones breathing and
carefully to voice tones breathing and
carefully to voice tones breathing and key words I also read the subtle changes
key words I also read the subtle changes
key words I also read the subtle changes in expression and body language when
in expression and body language when
in expression and body language when people’s emotions move from one state to
people’s emotions move from one state to
people’s emotions move from one state to the other and I can also tell when
the other and I can also tell when
the other and I can also tell when someone’s lying now a few years ago I
someone’s lying now a few years ago I
someone’s lying now a few years ago I was asked to sit in on an interview
was asked to sit in on an interview
was asked to sit in on an interview panel and we interviewed four candidates
panel and we interviewed four candidates
panel and we interviewed four candidates for a CEO role and I really preferred
for a CEO role and I really preferred
for a CEO role and I really preferred the more understated quieter individual
the more understated quieter individual
the more understated quieter individual but the rest of the panel wanted the
but the rest of the panel wanted the
but the rest of the panel wanted the more talkative sociable chap and he
more talkative sociable chap and he
more talkative sociable chap and he actually got the job much for my
actually got the job much for my
actually got the job much for my surprise I’m gonna call him Mike so then
surprise I’m gonna call him Mike so then
surprise I’m gonna call him Mike so then what happened was that I was asked to
what happened was that I was asked to
what happened was that I was asked to coach Mike as this new CEO and from the
coach Mike as this new CEO and from the
coach Mike as this new CEO and from the very first session I knew something was
very first session I knew something was
very first session I knew something was wrong my heart started racing my palms
wrong my heart started racing my palms
wrong my heart started racing my palms were sweaty and my gut felt really
were sweaty and my gut felt really
were sweaty and my gut felt really uncomfortable so I went to Mike’s boss
uncomfortable so I went to Mike’s boss
uncomfortable so I went to Mike’s boss and I said I can’t coach this man it’s
and I said I can’t coach this man it’s
and I said I can’t coach this man it’s like his body’s telling me one thing and
like his body’s telling me one thing and
like his body’s telling me one thing and his words are telling me something else
his words are telling me something else
his words are telling me something else did something dreadful happen and the
did something dreadful happen and the
did something dreadful happen and the boss said I can’t possibly tell you
boss said I can’t possibly tell you
boss said I can’t possibly tell you you’ll have to ask Mike so I went back
you’ll have to ask Mike so I went back
you’ll have to ask Mike so I went back to Mike for a second session and I said
to Mike for a second session and I said
to Mike for a second session and I said Mike did something dreadful happen
Mike did something dreadful happen
Mike did something dreadful happen recently
recently
recently and he said oh yeah and he said it in a
and he said oh yeah and he said it in a
and he said oh yeah and he said it in a really conversational way oh yeah my
really conversational way oh yeah my
really conversational way oh yeah my wife was really depressed and she was in
wife was really depressed and she was in
wife was really depressed and she was in and out of hospital and then she rang me
and out of hospital and then she rang me
and out of hospital and then she rang me one day at work and she was threatening
one day at work and she was threatening
one day at work and she was threatening to kill herself and I was so fed up with
to kill herself and I was so fed up with
to kill herself and I was so fed up with her I said go on then do it and she shot
her I said go on then do it and she shot
her I said go on then do it and she shot herself then and there on the telephone
herself then and there on the telephone
herself then and there on the telephone and he told me just like that
and he told me just like that
and he told me just like that like it was nothing so how did I know
like it was nothing so how did I know
like it was nothing so how did I know that something was wrong well in the
that something was wrong well in the
that something was wrong well in the same way that you take on board
same way that you take on board
same way that you take on board information you can respond to it in a
information you can respond to it in a
information you can respond to it in a different way for example let’s say
different way for example let’s say
different way for example let’s say somebody tells you something you just
somebody tells you something you just
somebody tells you something you just take it at face value but what you can
take it at face value but what you can
take it at face value but what you can do is notice the difference between body
do is notice the difference between body
do is notice the difference between body and words or face and body let me give
and words or face and body let me give
and words or face and body let me give you an example let’s imagine you know
you an example let’s imagine you know
you an example let’s imagine you know Johnny and johnny is a little boy and
Johnny and johnny is a little boy and
Johnny and johnny is a little boy and he’s really active and he moves around a
he’s really active and he moves around a
he’s really active and he moves around a lot when he’s very happy and he’s very
lot when he’s very happy and he’s very
lot when he’s very happy and he’s very comfortable and then you say Johnny did
comfortable and then you say Johnny did
comfortable and then you say Johnny did you tidy your room and he says yes and
you tidy your room and he says yes and
you tidy your room and he says yes and stops moving
stops moving
stops moving we know johnny is lying so what I do is
we know johnny is lying so what I do is
we know johnny is lying so what I do is I calibrate or measure the difference
I calibrate or measure the difference
I calibrate or measure the difference between what is normal and what changes
between what is normal and what changes
between what is normal and what changes so I recognise what’s normal comfortable
so I recognise what’s normal comfortable
so I recognise what’s normal comfortable and happy in a person and then I can
and happy in a person and then I can
and happy in a person and then I can notice any disconnect between body and
notice any disconnect between body and
notice any disconnect between body and words or face and body now let me tell
words or face and body now let me tell
words or face and body now let me tell you about a very different client
you about a very different client
you about a very different client charlie from the first moment I met
charlie from the first moment I met
charlie from the first moment I met charlie had a really positive vibe about
charlie had a really positive vibe about
charlie had a really positive vibe about him now I met charlie again at another
him now I met charlie again at another
him now I met charlie again at another interview panel for another CEO role and
interview panel for another CEO role and
interview panel for another CEO role and from the first interview I thought gosh
from the first interview I thought gosh
from the first interview I thought gosh he’s amazing we’ve got to have him but
he’s amazing we’ve got to have him but
he’s amazing we’ve got to have him but the rest of the panel were unconvinced
the rest of the panel were unconvinced
the rest of the panel were unconvinced they thought that he was rubbish
they thought that he was rubbish
they thought that he was rubbish because he’d left school at 14 he had no
because he’d left school at 14 he had no
because he’d left school at 14 he had no qualifications and he was a barrel boy
qualifications and he was a barrel boy
qualifications and he was a barrel boy made good and I thought he was fantastic
made good and I thought he was fantastic
made good and I thought he was fantastic and I fought for him to get a second
and I fought for him to get a second
and I fought for him to get a second interview and he did get a second
interview and he did get a second
interview and he did get a second interview and he finally got the job and
interview and he finally got the job and
interview and he finally got the job and within two years he turned that company
within two years he turned that company
within two years he turned that company around added 50 million to the turnover
around added 50 million to the turnover
around added 50 million to the turnover and doubled the profits and Charlie’s
and doubled the profits and Charlie’s
and doubled the profits and Charlie’s gone on to some really great things too
gone on to some really great things too
gone on to some really great things too often as human beings we judge a book by
often as human beings we judge a book by
often as human beings we judge a book by its cover we see someone who’s
its cover we see someone who’s
its cover we see someone who’s good-looking and we think that they must
good-looking and we think that they must
good-looking and we think that they must be clever or nice and we see someone who
be clever or nice and we see someone who
be clever or nice and we see someone who looks less than perfect as less valuable
looks less than perfect as less valuable
looks less than perfect as less valuable and less significant
and less significant
and less significant let me give you an example of why we
let me give you an example of why we
let me give you an example of why we should not judge a person on the way
should not judge a person on the way
should not judge a person on the way that they look in 2016 a media storm was
that they look in 2016 a media storm was
that they look in 2016 a media storm was unleashed when Jenny Beavan the costume
unleashed when Jenny Beavan the costume
unleashed when Jenny Beavan the costume designer for the latest Mad Max movie
designer for the latest Mad Max movie
designer for the latest Mad Max movie received her award take a look at this
received her award take a look at this
received her award take a look at this picture what most of the media picked up
picture what most of the media picked up
picture what most of the media picked up on and what most of the world saw was a
on and what most of the world saw was a
on and what most of the world saw was a bag lady on one side and a film star on
bag lady on one side and a film star on
bag lady on one side and a film star on the other what I see are two beautiful
the other what I see are two beautiful
the other what I see are two beautiful women apparently what most of the world
women apparently what most of the world
women apparently what most of the world saw was an Oscar winner who was
saw was an Oscar winner who was
saw was an Oscar winner who was completely inappropriately dressed so
completely inappropriately dressed so
completely inappropriately dressed so much of the time we’re bombarded with
much of the time we’re bombarded with
much of the time we’re bombarded with visual images and we take so much at
visual images and we take so much at
visual images and we take so much at face value but I can’t do that so I have
face value but I can’t do that so I have
face value but I can’t do that so I have to pay attention to what people say and
to pay attention to what people say and
to pay attention to what people say and how they say it how they walk how they
how they say it how they walk how they
how they say it how they walk how they move how they hold themselves so in
move how they hold themselves so in
move how they hold themselves so in future try ignoring the face and whether
future try ignoring the face and whether
future try ignoring the face and whether or not a person is perfectly turned out
or not a person is perfectly turned out
or not a person is perfectly turned out and instead focus your attention on
and instead focus your attention on
and instead focus your attention on everything else and see if that gives
everything else and see if that gives
everything else and see if that gives you a different impression of the
you a different impression of the
you a different impression of the individual take time to calibrate or
individual take time to calibrate or
individual take time to calibrate or measure what’s happy and normal and
measure what’s happy and normal and
measure what’s happy and normal and comfortable in the individual and then
comfortable in the individual and then
comfortable in the individual and then you’ll notice when things change then
you’ll notice when things change then
you’ll notice when things change then you’ll notice any disconnect between
you’ll notice any disconnect between
you’ll notice any disconnect between body and words or face and body so I’m
body and words or face and body so I’m
body and words or face and body so I’m face blind is it a positive is it a
face blind is it a positive is it a
face blind is it a positive is it a negative well we find it incredibly
negative well we find it incredibly
negative well we find it incredibly fulfilling when we’re able to help other
fulfilling when we’re able to help other
fulfilling when we’re able to help other people don’t we and actually being face
people don’t we and actually being face
people don’t we and actually being face blind has allowed me to do just that I
blind has allowed me to do just that I
blind has allowed me to do just that I get real happiness out of being able to
get real happiness out of being able to
get real happiness out of being able to raise people’s awareness of their own
raise people’s awareness of their own
raise people’s awareness of their own abilities and getting them to raise
abilities and getting them to raise
abilities and getting them to raise their awareness of how they relate to
their awareness of how they relate to
their awareness of how they relate to other people and so on balance and
other people and so on balance and
other people and so on balance and because I don’t know any different
because I don’t know any different
because I don’t know any different I’m glad I’m face blind oh and by the
I’m glad I’m face blind oh and by the
I’m glad I’m face blind oh and by the way if you’ve met me before please come
way if you’ve met me before please come
way if you’ve met me before please come up and say hello and please say your
up and say hello and please say your
up and say hello and please say your name and remember I’ll know if you’re
name and remember I’ll know if you’re
name and remember I’ll know if you’re lying
lying
lying thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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