ABOUT THE SPEAKER
George Whitesides - Chemist
In his legendary career in chemistry, George Whitesides has been a pioneer in microfabrication and nanoscale self-assembly. Now, he's fabbing a diagnostic lab on a chip.

Why you should listen

Someday Harvard chemistry professor George Whitesides will take the time to look back on the 950 scientific articles he's coauthored, the dozen companies he's co-founded or the 50-plus patents on which he's named. (He works in four main areas: biochemistry, materials science, catalysis and physical organic chemistry.) In the meantime, he's trying to invent a future where medical diagnosis can be done by anyone for little or no cost. He's co-founded a nonprofit called Diagnostics for All that aims to provide dirt-cheap diagnostic devices, to provide healthcare in a world where cost is everything.

Among his solutions is a low-cost "lab-on-a-chip," made of paper and carpet tape. The paper wicks bodily fluids -- urine, for example -- and turns color to provide diagnostic information, such as how much glucose or protein is present. His goal is to distribute these simple paper diagnostic systems to developing countries, where people with basic training can administer tests and send results to distant doctors via cameraphone.

More profile about the speaker
George Whitesides | Speaker | TED.com
TED2010

George Whitesides: Toward a science of simplicity

走向简单的本质

Filmed:
691,339 views

简单:见到即被理解。但是,它确切地是指什么?在这个幽默而又富含哲理的演讲中,George Whitesides找到了一个答案。
- Chemist
In his legendary career in chemistry, George Whitesides has been a pioneer in microfabrication and nanoscale self-assembly. Now, he's fabbing a diagnostic lab on a chip. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:18
Most of the talks会谈
0
3000
2000
大多数的演讲
00:20
that you've heard听说 in the last several一些 fabulous极好 days
1
5000
3000
你在前几天那些美妙的日子听到的
00:23
have been from people who have the characteristic特性
2
8000
2000
都是来自一些很有特点的人
00:25
that they have thought about something,
3
10000
2000
就是他们都已经思考过一些事
00:27
they are experts专家, they know what's going on.
4
12000
3000
他们都是这方面的专家,他们知道这个领域的现状
00:31
All of you know about the topic话题
5
16000
2000
你们都知道
00:33
that I'm supposed应该 to talk about.
6
18000
2000
今天我要谈的这个话题
00:35
That is, you know what simplicity简单 is,
7
20000
2000
的确,你知道简洁是什么
00:37
you know what complexity复杂 is.
8
22000
2000
你也知道复杂是什么
00:39
The trouble麻烦 is, I don't.
9
24000
2000
问题是,我不知道
00:41
And what I'm going to do is share分享 with you
10
26000
2000
我接下来要做的就是和你们交流一下
00:43
my ignorance无知 on this subject学科.
11
28000
2000
我对这个话题不清楚的地方
00:46
I want you to read this,
12
31000
2000
我希望你来读这些
00:48
because we're going to come back to it in a moment时刻.
13
33000
3000
因为我们过一会将重新回到这个问题上来
00:53
The quote引用 is from
14
38000
2000
这段引文来自
00:55
the fabled传说 Potter制陶工人 Stewart斯图尔特
15
40000
2000
传说中的Potter Stewart
00:59
opinion意见 on pornography色情.
16
44000
3000
关于色情文学的观点
01:02
And let me just read it,
17
47000
2000
我来读一下
01:04
the important重要 details细节 here:
18
49000
2000
重要的细节
01:06
"Shorthand速记 description描述, ['hardcore“铁杆 pornography'色情'];
19
51000
3000
简化的描述,赤裸裸的色情
01:09
and perhaps也许 I could never succeed成功 in intelligibly易理解地 defining确定 it.
20
54000
3000
可能我从来都不能给它下一个容易理解的定义。
01:12
But I know it when I see it."
21
57000
2000
但是我一看见这句话我就明白它的意思
01:14
I'm going to come back to that in a moment时刻.
22
59000
3000
我们一会就会重新回到这里
01:17
So, what is simplicity简单?
23
62000
2000
那,什么事简洁?
01:19
It's good to start开始 with some examples例子.
24
64000
2000
举一些例子作为开头可能会好一些。
01:22
A coffee咖啡 cup杯子 -- we don't think about coffee咖啡 cups,
25
67000
3000
一个咖啡杯。我们不去想它们
01:25
but it's much more interesting有趣 than one might威力 think --
26
70000
2000
但是这可能比去想更有意义。
01:27
a coffee咖啡 cup杯子 is a device设备,
27
72000
3000
咖啡杯是个物件,是的
01:30
which哪一个 has a container容器 and a handle处理.
28
75000
3000
它是一个容器,是的,还带一个把手,没错。
01:33
The handle处理 enables使 you to hold保持 it
29
78000
3000
把手可以使你拿起它
01:36
when the container容器 is filled填充 with hot liquid液体.
30
81000
3000
当咖啡杯里装满热的液体时,嗯~
01:39
Why is that important重要?
31
84000
2000
为什么这很重要?
01:41
Well, it enables使 you to drink coffee咖啡.
32
86000
2000
因为,这能让你喝咖啡。
01:43
But also, by the way, the coffee咖啡 is hot,
33
88000
2000
但是,提醒一下,咖啡是热的,
01:45
the liquid液体 is sterile无菌;
34
90000
2000
液体是无菌的。
01:47
you're not likely容易 to get cholera霍乱 that way.
35
92000
2000
这样你就不大可能会感染霍乱。
01:49
So the coffee咖啡 cup杯子, or the cup杯子 with a handle处理,
36
94000
3000
所以咖啡杯,或者是一个有把手的杯子
01:52
is one of the tools工具 used by society社会
37
97000
3000
是被人类社会应用的一种工具
01:55
to maintain保持 public上市 health健康.
38
100000
2000
来维护公众健康
01:57
Scissors剪刀 are your clothes衣服,
39
102000
2000
剪刀成就你的衣服。
01:59
glasses眼镜 enable启用 you to see things
40
104000
2000
眼镜让你看清东西
02:01
and keep you from being存在 eaten吃过 by cheetahs猎豹
41
106000
2000
防止你被猎豹吃掉
02:03
or run down by automobiles汽车,
42
108000
2000
或者被汽车撞到
02:05
and books图书 are, after all, your education教育.
43
110000
3000
最后,书籍,是你们的教育。
02:08
But there's another另一个 class of simple简单 things,
44
113000
2000
但是还有另外一类简单的东西
02:10
which哪一个 are also very important重要.
45
115000
2000
它们也很重要
02:12
Simple简单 in function功能,
46
117000
2000
在功能上很简单
02:14
but not at all simple简单 in how they're constructed.
47
119000
3000
但是它们的构造上上却一点都不简单。
02:17
And the two here are just examples例子.
48
122000
3000
这里有两个例子
02:20
One is the cellphone手机, which哪一个 we use every一切 day.
49
125000
3000
一个是手机,我们每天都用
02:23
And it rests休息 on a complexity复杂,
50
128000
2000
它依赖于一个复杂系统
02:25
which哪一个 has some characteristics特点
51
130000
2000
有一些特性
02:27
very different不同 from those that my friend朋友
52
132000
2000
与我朋友Benoit Mandelbrot
02:29
Benoit伯努瓦 Mandelbrot曼德尔布罗 discussed讨论,
53
134000
2000
说的非常的不同
02:31
but are very interesting有趣.
54
136000
2000
但是非常有趣
02:33
And the other, of course课程, is a birth分娩 control控制 pill,
55
138000
3000
另一个例子,当然,是避孕药
02:36
which哪一个, in a very simple简单 way,
56
141000
2000
一个非常简单的方式
02:38
fundamentally从根本上 changed the structure结构体 of society社会
57
143000
2000
它却从根本上改变了社会的结构
02:40
by changing改变 the role角色 of women妇女 in it
58
145000
3000
通过改变女人在社会中的角色
02:43
by providing提供 to them
59
148000
2000
通过给她们提供
02:45
the opportunity机会 to make reproductive生殖 choices选择.
60
150000
2000
选择是否怀孕生子
02:50
So, there are two ways方法 of thinking思维 about this word, I think.
61
155000
3000
我认为有两种方式来看待这个词
02:53
And here I've corrupted损坏
62
158000
2000
而且我在这里曲解
02:55
the Potter制陶工人 Stewart斯图尔特 quotation行情
63
160000
3000
Potter Stewart的引言
02:58
by saying that we can think about something --
64
163000
2000
通过举例说我们可以想一些事情
03:00
which哪一个 spans跨度 all the way from scissors剪刀
65
165000
2000
一些从剪刀跨度
03:02
to the cell细胞 phone电话,
66
167000
2000
到手机的各种方式
03:04
Internet互联网 and birth分娩 control控制 pills --
67
169000
2000
从网络到避孕药
03:06
by saying that they're simple简单,
68
171000
3000
通过谈他们是简单的
03:09
the functions功能 are simple简单,
69
174000
2000
功能是简单的
03:11
and we recognize认识 what that simplicity简单 is
70
176000
2000
然后我们认识到什么事简洁
03:13
when we see it.
71
178000
2000
当我们看到的时候
03:15
Or there may可能 be another另一个 way of doing it,
72
180000
3000
又或,可能有另一种方式来解释
03:19
which哪一个 is to think about the problem问题 in terms条款 of what --
73
184000
3000
即根据什么来考虑这个问题
03:22
if you associate关联 with moral道德 philosophers哲学家 --
74
187000
3000
如果你与思想哲学家交往
03:25
is called the teapot茶壶 problem问题.
75
190000
3000
被称作茶壶问题
03:29
The teapot茶壶 problem问题 I'll pose提出 this way.
76
194000
3000
茶壶问题,我来解释一下
03:32
Suppose假设 you see a teapot茶壶,
77
197000
2000
假设你看见一个茶壶
03:34
and the teapot茶壶 is
78
199000
3000
并且这个茶壶
03:37
filled填充 with hot water.
79
202000
2000
装满了热水
03:39
And you then ask the question:
80
204000
2000
然后你问了个问题
03:41
Why is the water hot?
81
206000
2000
为什么水是热的?
03:43
And that's a simple简单 question.
82
208000
2000
这是个简单的问题
03:45
It's like, what is simplicity简单?
83
210000
2000
就像:什么事简洁?
03:47
One answer回答 would be:
84
212000
2000
其中一个答案可能是
03:49
because the kinetic动能 energy能源 of the water molecules分子 is high
85
214000
2000
因为水分子的动能很高
03:51
and they bounce弹跳 against反对 things rapidly急速 --
86
216000
2000
使得他们之间迅速碰撞
03:53
that's a kind of physical物理 science科学 argument论据.
87
218000
3000
这是个物理学要讨论的问题
03:56
A second第二 argument论据 would be:
88
221000
2000
第二个答案可能是
03:58
because it was sitting坐在 on a stove火炉 with the flame火焰 on --
89
223000
3000
因为它仍然在点着火的火炉上
04:01
that's an historical历史的 argument论据.
90
226000
2000
那是个时间上的论点
04:03
A third第三 is that I wanted hot water
91
228000
2000
第三个解释是,我想要热水
04:05
for tea --
92
230000
2000
来泡茶
04:07
that's an intentional故意的 argument论据.
93
232000
2000
那是个内在意识的问题
04:09
And, since以来 this is coming未来 from a moral道德 philosopher哲学家,
94
234000
2000
然而,来自道德哲学家的答案
04:11
the fourth第四 would be that it's part部分 of God's plan计划 for the universe宇宙.
95
236000
3000
即第四可能是,那是上帝对宇宙计划的一部分
04:14
All of these are possibilities可能性.
96
239000
2000
所有的这些答案都是可能的
04:16
The point is that you get into trouble麻烦
97
241000
3000
问题是,你陷入了麻烦
04:19
when you ask a single question
98
244000
2000
当你问一个问题
04:21
with a single box for an answer回答,
99
246000
2000
只能有一个答案
04:23
in which哪一个 that single question actually其实 is many许多 questions问题
100
248000
3000
然而这一个问题实际上是许多的问题
04:26
with quite相当 different不同 meanings含义,
101
251000
2000
这些问题有不同的含义
04:28
but with the same相同 words.
102
253000
3000
却能用相同的文字描述
04:31
Asking, "What is simplicity简单?" I think falls下降 in that category类别.
103
256000
3000
问题,什么事简洁?我认为应归于类别范畴
04:35
What is the state of science科学?
104
260000
2000
什么是科学的国度?
04:37
And, interestingly有趣, complexity复杂
105
262000
2000
完整,复杂
04:39
is very highly高度 evolved进化.
106
264000
2000
是高端的进化
04:41
We have a lot of interesting有趣 information信息
107
266000
2000
我们有很多关于复杂是什么的
04:43
about what complexity复杂 is.
108
268000
2000
有趣信息
04:45
Simplicity简单, for reasons原因
109
270000
2000
简洁,由于
04:47
that are a little bit obscure朦胧,
110
272000
2000
它有些模糊
04:49
is almost几乎 not pursued追求的,
111
274000
2000
所以几乎不能达到
04:51
at least最小 in the academic学术的 world世界.
112
276000
2000
至少在学术界很难实现
04:53
We academics学者 -- I am an academic学术的 --
113
278000
2000
我们的一些学者--我也是学者
04:55
we love complexity复杂.
114
280000
2000
我们喜欢复杂
04:57
You can write papers文件 about complexity复杂,
115
282000
2000
我们可以写关于复杂的论文
04:59
and the nice不错 thing about complexity复杂 is
116
284000
2000
关于复杂有趣的是
05:01
it's fundamentally从根本上 intractable棘手 in many许多 ways方法,
117
286000
2000
在许多方面它从根本上难以把握
05:03
so you're not responsible主管 for outcomes结果. (Laughter笑声)
118
288000
3000
因此,你不必为结果负责
05:06
Simplicity简单 -- all of you really would like
119
291000
3000
简洁---你们大家喜欢的
05:09
your Waring华林 Blender搅拌机 in the morning早上
120
294000
2000
早上你的搅拌机
05:11
to make whatever随你 a Waring华林 Blender搅拌机 does,
121
296000
2000
来做搅拌机该做的
05:13
but not explode爆炸 or play Beethoven贝多芬.
122
298000
3000
但绝不是爆炸或者演奏贝多芬曲目
05:16
You're not interested有兴趣 in the limits范围 of these things.
123
301000
3000
你对这些东西的局限性不感兴趣
05:19
So what one is interested有兴趣 in
124
304000
2000
你感兴趣的是
05:21
has a lot to do with the rewards奖励 of the system系统.
125
306000
3000
这个系统的许多好处
05:24
And there's a lot of rewards奖励 in thinking思维
126
309000
2000
去思考一下
05:26
about complexity复杂 and emergence紧急情况,
127
311000
2000
复杂和紧急情况将会有很多好处
05:28
not so much in thinking思维 about simplicity简单.
128
313000
3000
而去想简单就没有那么什么好处
05:31
One of the things I want to do
129
316000
2000
其中我想做的一件事是
05:33
is to help you with a very important重要 task任务 --
130
318000
3000
是帮助你完成一项重要的工作
05:36
which哪一个 you may可能 not know that you have very often经常 --
131
321000
3000
这项工作你可能没有意识到呢经常做
05:39
which哪一个 is to understand理解
132
324000
2000
那就是理解
05:41
how to sit next下一个 to a physicist物理学家 at a dinner晚餐 party派对
133
326000
3000
在晚宴中怎样坐在物理学家旁边
05:44
and have a conversation会话. (Laughter笑声)
134
329000
2000
怎样和他交谈
05:46
And the words that I would like you to focus焦点 on
135
331000
3000
我想让你把焦点集中在这两个词上
05:49
are complexity复杂 and emergence紧急情况,
136
334000
2000
复杂 和紧急
05:51
because these will enable启用 you to start开始 the conversation会话
137
336000
3000
因为它们会让你开始一段对话
05:54
and then daydream梦话 about other things.
138
339000
2000
然后幻想其它事情
05:56
(Laughter笑声)
139
341000
3000
(笑)
05:59
All right, what is complexity复杂 in this view视图 of things,
140
344000
3000
好了,观察下这件事什么是复杂的?
06:02
and what is emergence紧急情况?
141
347000
2000
什么是紧急的?
06:04
We have, actually其实, a pretty漂亮 good working加工 definition定义 of complexity复杂.
142
349000
3000
事实上我们已经有了一个很好的关于复杂的定义
06:07
It is a system系统, like traffic交通,
143
352000
2000
它是一个系统,就像交通
06:09
which哪一个 has components组件.
144
354000
2000
有很多的组成部分
06:11
The components组件 interact相互作用 with one another另一个.
145
356000
2000
这些部分整合在一起形成一个整体
06:13
These are cars汽车 and drivers司机. They dissipate消散 energy能源.
146
358000
3000
有汽车和司机。他们消耗能量
06:16
It turns out that, whenever每当 you have that system系统,
147
361000
2000
结果是,无论何时,你拥有那个系统
06:18
weird奇怪的 stuff东东 happens发生,
148
363000
2000
奇怪的事情都会发生
06:20
and you in Los洛杉矶 Angeles洛杉矶
149
365000
2000
可能身处洛杉矶的你
06:22
probably大概 know this better than anyone任何人.
150
367000
3000
知道这个比任何一个都好
06:25
Here's这里的 another另一个 example,
151
370000
2000
这里还有个例子
06:27
which哪一个 I put up because
152
372000
2000
我举这个例子是因为
06:29
it's an example of really important重要 current当前 science科学.
153
374000
3000
这是个现代科学中一个真实而重要的例子
06:32
You can't possibly或者 read that. It's not intended that you read it,
154
377000
3000
你不可能读过。你不会想去读。
06:35
but that's a tiny part部分
155
380000
2000
但是这只是发生在体内
06:37
of the chemical化学 reactions反应 going on
156
382000
2000
每个细胞中的化学反应的
06:39
in each of your cells细胞 at any given特定 moment时刻.
157
384000
3000
一小部分
06:42
And it's like the traffic交通 that you see.
158
387000
3000
这就像你看到的交通
06:45
The amazing惊人 thing about the cell细胞 is that
159
390000
2000
关于细胞让人不可思议的是
06:47
it actually其实 does maintain保持 a fairly相当 stable稳定
160
392000
2000
它确确实实与其它细胞保持
06:49
working加工 relationship关系 with other cells细胞,
161
394000
3000
稳定的工作协同关系
06:52
but we don't know why.
162
397000
2000
但是我们不知道原因
06:54
Anyone任何人 who tells告诉 you that we understand理解 life,
163
399000
2000
任何告诉你我们理解生命人
06:56
walk步行 away.
164
401000
2000
请走开
06:59
And let me reduce减少 this to the simplest简单 level水平.
165
404000
3000
接着,让我把这件事降到最简单的水平
07:02
We've我们已经 heard听说 from Bill法案 Gates盖茨 recently最近.
166
407000
2000
我们曾经收到Bill Gates 的来信
07:04
All of us, to some extent程度, study研究
167
409000
2000
我们所有的人,在某种程度上,
07:06
this thing called a Bill法案 Gates盖茨.
168
411000
2000
学习Bill Gates
07:08
Terrific了不起. You learn学习 everything you can about that.
169
413000
2000
非常好!你学习到了你能学到的东西
07:10
And then there's another另一个 kind of thing that you might威力 study研究,
170
415000
3000
然后又有一些其它方面的东西你可以学
07:13
and you study研究 that hard.
171
418000
2000
你努力的学习
07:15
That's a Bono波诺, this is a Bono波诺.
172
420000
2000
那是Bono,这是Bono
07:17
But then, if you know everything you can know about those two things,
173
422000
3000
但是然后,假如你了解了你可以了解的关于这两样东西的所有细节
07:20
and you put them together一起,
174
425000
2000
又把他们总结在一起
07:22
what can you say about this combination组合?
175
427000
2000
那么,你能对这种结合说些什么呢?
07:24
The answer回答 is, not a lot.
176
429000
2000
答案是:并不多!
07:26
And that's complexity复杂.
177
431000
2000
那就是复杂
07:28
Now, imagine想像 building建造 that up to a city, or to a society社会,
178
433000
3000
现在,想象一下一个城市一个社会的建立
07:31
and you've got, obviously明显, an interesting有趣 problem问题.
179
436000
3000
很明显,你发现了一个有趣的问题
07:34
All right, so let me give you an example
180
439000
3000
好的,现在让我给你们举个
07:37
of simplicity简单
181
442000
2000
简单的例子
07:39
of a particular特定 kind.
182
444000
2000
详细说明
07:41
And I want to introduce介绍 a word
183
446000
2000
然后我想介绍一个词
07:43
that I think is very useful有用,
184
448000
2000
我想这个词很有用
07:45
which哪一个 is stacking堆叠.
185
450000
2000
就是堆积
07:47
And I'm going to use stacking堆叠 for a kind of simplicity简单
186
452000
3000
我要简单的堆叠一下
07:50
that has the characteristic特性
187
455000
2000
这是很典型的
07:52
that it is so simple简单
188
457000
2000
它简单
07:54
and so reliable可靠
189
459000
2000
又可行
07:56
that I can build建立 things with it.
190
461000
2000
我可以用它来组合东西
07:58
Or I'm going to use simple简单 to mean
191
463000
2000
或者说我要用简单的东西来实现
08:00
reliable可靠, predictable可预测, repeatable重复.
192
465000
3000
可靠性,可预言性和可重复性
08:05
And I'm going to use as an example the Internet互联网,
193
470000
2000
我想用一个例子,互联网
08:07
because it's a particularly尤其 good example
194
472000
2000
因为它是个特别好的关于
08:09
of stacked堆叠 simplicity简单.
195
474000
3000
堆积简单的例子
08:12
We call it a complex复杂 system系统, which哪一个 it is,
196
477000
2000
我们就称之为复杂系统
08:14
but it's also something else其他.
197
479000
3000
但是也意味着其它
08:17
The Internet互联网 starts启动 with mathematics数学,
198
482000
3000
互联网起始于数学
08:20
it starts启动 with binary二进制.
199
485000
2000
起始于二进制法则
08:22
And if you look at the list名单 of things on the bottom底部,
200
487000
3000
如果你看下底部的菜单
08:25
we are familiar with the Arabic阿拉伯 numbers数字
201
490000
2000
有我们熟知的阿拉伯数字
08:27
one to 10 and so on.
202
492000
2000
1到10等
08:29
In binary二进制, one is 0001,
203
494000
3000
在二进制中,1用001表示
08:32
seven is 0111.
204
497000
3000
7用0111表示
08:35
The question is: Why is binary二进制
205
500000
2000
问题是:为什么二进制
08:37
simpler简单 than Arabic阿拉伯?
206
502000
2000
比阿拉伯数字简单?
08:39
And the answer回答 is, simply只是,
207
504000
2000
答案是,简单
08:41
that if I hold保持 up three fingers手指, you can count计数 that easily容易,
208
506000
3000
如果你举起三个手指,你可以很容易的数清
08:44
but if I hold保持 up this,
209
509000
2000
但是如果你举起这个
08:46
it's sort分类 of hard to say that I just did seven.
210
511000
2000
就很难这是7
08:48
The virtue美德 of binary二进制 is that it's the simplest简单 possible可能 way
211
513000
3000
它的优点是这可能是表示数字
08:51
of representing代表 numbers数字.
212
516000
2000
最简单的方式
08:53
Anything else其他 is more complicated复杂.
213
518000
2000
其它都是复杂的
08:55
You can catch抓住 errors错误 with it,
214
520000
2000
你可能会犯错
08:57
it's unambiguous明确的 in its reading,
215
522000
2000
在读取时很模糊
08:59
there are lots of good things about binary二进制.
216
524000
2000
关于二进制还有很多好的方面
09:01
So it is very, very simple简单
217
526000
2000
因此它非常非常简单
09:03
once一旦 you learn学习 how to read it.
218
528000
2000
只要你知道怎么去读
09:05
Now, if you like to represent代表
219
530000
2000
现在如果你想表示
09:07
this zero and one of binary二进制,
220
532000
2000
一下二进制的和1
09:09
you need a device设备.
221
534000
2000
你需要一个工具
09:11
And think of things in your life
222
536000
2000
想象一下你生活中
09:13
that are binary二进制,
223
538000
2000
是用二进制表示的东西
09:15
one of them is light switches开关.
224
540000
2000
其中一个是电灯开关
09:17
They can be on and off. That's binary二进制.
225
542000
2000
它们可以是开或关,这是二元的
09:19
Now wall switches开关, we all know, fail失败.
226
544000
3000
我们都知道,墙体开关,会失败
09:23
But our friends朋友 who are condensed冷凝 matter physicists物理学家
227
548000
2000
但是我们的高分子物理学家朋友们
09:25
managed管理 to come up, some 50 years年份 ago,
228
550000
3000
可以做到,在50多年前
09:28
with a very nice不错 device设备, shown显示 under that bell jar,
229
553000
3000
用一种很好的设备,就是钟罩
09:31
which哪一个 is a transistor晶体管.
230
556000
2000
它是一种晶体管
09:33
A transistor晶体管 is nothing more than a wall switch开关.
231
558000
2000
晶体管于墙体开关没有区别
09:35
It turns things on and off,
232
560000
2000
它也是开或关
09:37
but it does so without moving移动 parts部分
233
562000
2000
但是,它做到这一点不用动任何一部分
09:39
and it doesn't fail失败, basically基本上, for a very long period of time.
234
564000
3000
基本上,可以保持很长一段时间,不会失效
09:42
So the second第二 layer of simplicity简单
235
567000
3000
因此,第二简单的
09:45
was the transistor晶体管 in the Internet互联网.
236
570000
3000
是晶体管和互联网
09:48
So, since以来 the transistor晶体管 is so simple简单,
237
573000
3000
因此,既然晶体管如此简单
09:51
you can put lots of them together一起.
238
576000
2000
你可以将大量的晶体管组合在一起
09:53
And you put lots of them together一起 and you come with
239
578000
2000
组合在一起后,你可以组成
09:55
something called integrated集成 circuits电路.
240
580000
2000
完整的集成电路
09:57
And a current当前 integrated集成 circuit电路
241
582000
2000
集成电路
09:59
might威力 have in each one of these chips芯片
242
584000
2000
可能存在于这些芯片之中
10:01
something like a billion十亿 transistors晶体管,
243
586000
2000
像是十亿个晶体管
10:03
all of which哪一个 have to work perfectly完美 every一切 time.
244
588000
3000
它们每次都必须以完美的状态工作
10:06
So that's the next下一个 layer of simplicity简单,
245
591000
3000
这是另一个层次的简洁
10:09
and, in fact事实, integrated集成 circuits电路
246
594000
2000
并且,实际上,集成电路
10:11
are really simple简单 in the sense that they,
247
596000
2000
确实是简单的
10:13
in general一般, work really well.
248
598000
2000
就它们总体上运转的很好来说
10:15
With integrated集成 circuits电路, you can build建立 cellphones手机.
249
600000
3000
用集成电路,你可以制造出手机
10:18
You all are accustomed惯常的 to having your cellphones手机 work
250
603000
3000
你们早已习惯于手机
10:21
the large majority多数 of the time.
251
606000
2000
在大部分时间都能正常工作
10:23
In Boston波士顿 ... Boston波士顿 is a little bit like Namibia纳米比亚
252
608000
2000
在波士顿,波士顿与纳米比亚有些相似
10:25
in its cell细胞 phone电话 coverage覆盖, (Laughter笑声)
253
610000
2000
在她们的手机信号覆盖方面
10:27
so that we're not accustomed惯常的 to that all the time,
254
612000
2000
所以我们还并不总是那么适应
10:29
but some of the time.
255
614000
3000
只是一段时间
10:32
But, in fact事实, if you have cell细胞 phones手机,
256
617000
2000
但是,实际上,如果你有手机
10:34
you can now go to this nice不错 lady淑女
257
619000
2000
你现在可以看这位美女
10:36
who's谁是 somewhere某处 like Namibia纳米比亚,
258
621000
2000
她像是个纳米比亚人
10:38
and who is extremely非常 happy快乐 with the fact事实
259
623000
2000
并且她非常激动
10:40
that although虽然 she does not have
260
625000
2000
尽管她没有
10:42
an master's硕士 degree in
261
627000
2000
一个麻省理工
10:44
electrical电动 engineering工程 from MITMIT,
262
629000
2000
电子工程硕士学位
10:46
she's nonetheless尽管如此, able能够 to hack her cell细胞 phone电话
263
631000
2000
但她还是能够修改她的手机
10:48
to get power功率 in some funny滑稽 way.
264
633000
3000
使它能以某种滑稽的方式充电
10:51
And from that comes the Internet互联网.
265
636000
2000
放下手机,我们来看看因特网
10:53
And this is a map地图 of bitflowsbitflows across横过 the continent大陆.
266
638000
3000
这是一幅大洲之间数据流量的图
10:56
The two blobs斑点 that are light in the middle中间 there
267
641000
3000
图中非常亮的两块区域
10:59
are the United联合的 States状态 and Europe欧洲.
268
644000
2000
分别是美国和欧洲
11:01
And then back to simplicity简单 again.
269
646000
3000
然后,我们回到有关简单的讨论
11:04
So here we have what I think is one of the great ideas思路,
270
649000
3000
我们现在有Google
11:07
which哪一个 is Google谷歌.
271
652000
2000
我认为那是最伟大的点子之一
11:09
Which哪一个, in this simple简单 portal门户
272
654000
2000
在它简洁的页面中
11:11
makes品牌 the claim要求
273
656000
2000
Google称
11:13
that it makes品牌 accessible无障碍
274
658000
2000
可以使用户访问
11:15
all of the world's世界 information信息.
275
660000
2000
全世界的信息
11:17
But the point is that
276
662000
2000
然而,要点是
11:19
that extraordinary非凡 simple简单 idea理念
277
664000
3000
这个非凡的简单创意
11:22
rests休息 on layers of simplicity简单
278
667000
3000
是基于若干简单的底层
11:25
each compounded复合 into a complexity复杂
279
670000
2000
而每层叠加起来就成为了一个复杂的东西
11:27
that is itself本身 simple简单,
280
672000
2000
但就其可靠程度而言
11:29
in the sense that it is completely全然 reliable可靠.
281
674000
3000
它自身也确实是简单的
11:33
All right, let me then finish off
282
678000
2000
好了,让我来总结一下
11:35
with four general一般 statements声明,
283
680000
3000
总共有四个陈述
11:39
an example and two aphorisms格言.
284
684000
3000
一个例子和两条格言
11:42
The characteristics特点, which哪一个 I think
285
687000
2000
我想到了一些特征
11:44
are useful有用 to think about for simple简单 things:
286
689000
3000
它们有助于我们思考简洁的事物
11:47
First, they are predictable可预测.
287
692000
3000
首先,它们是可预测的
11:51
Their behavior行为 is predictable可预测.
288
696000
2000
它们的行为是可以预测的
11:53
Now, one of the nice不错 characteristics特点
289
698000
2000
这样,简洁的事物
11:55
of simple简单 things
290
700000
2000
具有的一个很好的特征就是
11:57
is you know what it's going to do, in general一般.
291
702000
2000
你通常知道它会去做什么
11:59
So simplicity简单 and predictability预测
292
704000
2000
所以说,简洁和可预测
12:01
are characteristics特点 of simple简单 things.
293
706000
3000
是简单事物的特点
12:04
The second第二 is, and this is a real真实 world世界 statement声明,
294
709000
3000
第二点,是源于实际的一点
12:07
they're cheap低廉.
295
712000
2000
它们要便宜
12:09
If you have things that are cheap低廉 enough足够,
296
714000
2000
如果你手中的东西足够廉价
12:11
people will find uses使用 for them,
297
716000
2000
人们就会去寻找它们的用途
12:13
even if they seem似乎 very primitive原始.
298
718000
2000
即使它看起来相当原始
12:15
So, for example, stones石头.
299
720000
2000
比如石头
12:17
You can build建立 cathedrals教堂 out of stones石头,
300
722000
3000
你可以用石头建成教堂
12:20
you just have to know what it does.
301
725000
2000
你只需要知道它用来做什么
12:22
You carve雕刻 them in blocks and then you
302
727000
2000
你将石头削成砖,然后你
12:24
pile them on top最佳 of one another另一个,
303
729000
2000
将它们一个一个垒起来
12:26
and they support支持 weight重量.
304
731000
2000
然后它们就能承重
12:28
So there has to be function功能, the function功能 has to be predictable可预测
305
733000
3000
所以说,它们要有一定的功能,功能要可以想得到
12:31
and the cost成本 has to be low.
306
736000
2000
此外开销也必须低廉
12:33
What that means手段 is
307
738000
2000
这就意味着
12:35
that you have to have a high performance性能
308
740000
2000
必须要有良好的性能
12:37
or value for cost成本.
309
742000
3000
或者价值成本
12:41
And then I would propose提出
310
746000
2000
然后,我会提出
12:43
as this last component零件
311
748000
2000
最后一个要素
12:45
that they serve服务, or have the potential潜在 to serve服务,
312
750000
3000
即它们能作为,或者有潜力成为
12:48
as building建造 blocks.
313
753000
2000
构成的要素
12:50
That is, you can stack them.
314
755000
2000
那就是说,你可以堆砌它们
12:52
And stack can mean this way, or it can mean this way,
315
757000
3000
所说的堆砌可以是这样的,也可以是那样的
12:55
or it can mean in some arbitrary随意 n-dimensionaln维 space空间.
316
760000
3000
再或者意味着任意的n维空间
12:58
But if you have something that has a function功能,
317
763000
2000
但是如果你有些具有某种功能的东西
13:00
and it's really cheap低廉,
318
765000
2000
而且它非常便宜
13:02
people will find new ways方法 of putting it together一起
319
767000
2000
人们就会找到新的方法将它们组合
13:04
to make new things.
320
769000
2000
来制作出新的事物
13:06
Cheap低廉, functional实用, reliable可靠 things
321
771000
3000
廉价、有一定功能并且可靠的东西
13:09
unleash发挥 the creativity创造力 of people
322
774000
2000
解放了人们的创造力
13:11
who then build建立 stuff东东 that you could not imagine想像.
323
776000
3000
那些人之后制作出你想象不到的事物
13:14
There's no way of predicting预测 the Internet互联网
324
779000
3000
若是基于第一个晶体管
13:17
based基于 on the first transistor晶体管.
325
782000
2000
肯定将没有办法预测因特网
13:19
It just is not possible可能.
326
784000
2000
它就是不可能
13:21
So these are the components组件.
327
786000
3000
以上就是这些要素
13:24
Now, the example
328
789000
2000
现在我想展示的
13:26
is something that I want to give you
329
791000
2000
这个例子是
13:28
from the work that we ourselves我们自己 do.
330
793000
3000
来源于我们进行的工作
13:31
We are very interested有兴趣 in
331
796000
3000
我们致力于
13:34
delivering交付 health健康 care关心 in the developing发展 world世界,
332
799000
3000
对第三世界提供医疗援助
13:37
and one of the things that we wish希望 to do in this particular特定 business商业
333
802000
3000
并且我们在这件事情上想完成的
13:40
is to find a way of doing medical diagnosis诊断
334
805000
3000
是尽可能找到
13:43
at as close to zero cost成本
335
808000
2000
一种几乎是零费用的
13:45
as we can manage管理.
336
810000
2000
医疗诊断方法
13:47
So, how does one do that?
337
812000
2000
嗯,一个人怎么才能做到这些?
13:49
This is a world世界 in which哪一个 there's no electricity电力,
338
814000
2000
第三世界没有电力
13:51
there's no money, there's no medical competence权限.
339
816000
3000
那里没有资金,没有医疗能力
13:54
And I don't want to spend your time in going through通过 the details细节,
340
819000
3000
我不想用过程的细节浪费大家的时间
13:57
but in the lower降低 right-hand右手 corner,
341
822000
2000
但在右下角
13:59
you see an example of the kind of thing that we have.
342
824000
3000
你们可以看到我们现有的方案
14:02
It's a little paper chip芯片.
343
827000
2000
那是一个很小的纸芯片
14:04
It has a few少数 things printed印刷的 on it
344
829000
2000
上面印了一些东西
14:06
using运用 the same相同 technology技术
345
831000
2000
印刷技术与
14:08
that you use for making制造 comic滑稽 books图书,
346
833000
2000
印制漫画书的相同
14:10
which哪一个 was the inspiration灵感 for this particular特定 idea理念.
347
835000
3000
正是这项技术为我们提供了灵感
14:13
And you put a drop下降, in this case案件, of urine尿 at the bottom底部.
348
838000
3000
你滴一滴液体,对于这个纸芯片来说要滴上尿液
14:16
It wicks灯芯 its way up into these little branches分支机构.
349
841000
3000
它被吸上去,进入这些小分支
14:19
You know, no power功率 required需要.
350
844000
2000
你要知道,不需要其它能量
14:21
It turns colors颜色. In this particular特定 case案件,
351
846000
2000
它会变色。在这个特定情况下
14:23
you're reading kidney function功能.
352
848000
3000
正在看的是肾功能读数
14:26
And, since以来 the health健康 care关心 worker工人
353
851000
3000
另外,由于这个地方的
14:29
of much of this part部分 of the world世界
354
854000
2000
医疗工作者
14:31
is an 18 year-old with an AK-AK-47,
355
856000
3000
通常是18岁左右,手拿AK-47
14:34
who happens发生 to be out of work and is willing愿意
356
859000
2000
碰巧没有工作,并且愿意
14:36
to go around and do this sort分类 of thing,
357
861000
2000
四处转转然后做这类事情
14:38
he can take a picture图片 of it with his cellphone手机,
358
863000
2000
他可以用自己的手机拍张照片
14:40
send发送 the picture图片 back to where there is a doctor医生,
359
865000
2000
而后将照片送回有医生的地方
14:42
and the doctor医生 can look at it.
360
867000
2000
这样医生就能看到结果
14:44
So what you've doneDONE is to take a technology技术,
361
869000
3000
所以说,你所做的就是,用一种
14:47
which哪一个 is available可得到 everywhere到处,
362
872000
2000
在任何地方都能用上的技术
14:49
make a device设备, which哪一个 is extremely非常 cheap低廉,
363
874000
3000
做出一种极为廉价的装置
14:52
and make it in such这样 a fashion时尚
364
877000
2000
并且做成这种样子
14:54
that it is very, very reliable可靠.
365
879000
2000
使它非常非常可靠
14:56
If we can pull this off,
366
881000
2000
如果我们能成功做到这些
14:58
if we can build建立 more function功能,
367
883000
2000
如果我们可以加入更多功能
15:00
it will be stackable可堆叠.
368
885000
2000
它将会是可以堆叠的
15:02
That is to say, if we can make the basic基本 technology技术
369
887000
3000
那就是说,如果我们可以使一两样东西中
15:05
of one or two things work,
370
890000
2000
基本的技术生效
15:07
it will be applicable适用 to a very, very
371
892000
2000
那它将可以适用于
15:09
large variety品种 of human人的 conditions条件,
372
894000
2000
各种不同的个人条件下
15:11
and hence于是, extendable扩展 in both
373
896000
2000
因此,也就具有延伸的潜力
15:13
vertical垂直 and horizontal directions方向.
374
898000
3000
无论是在水平、纵深方向
15:16
Part部分 of my interest利益 in this, I have to say,
375
901000
2000
不得不说,我的兴趣一部分
15:18
is that I would like to -- how do I put this politely礼貌? --
376
903000
3000
是我希望,或者说的客气一点
15:21
change更改 the way, or maybe eviscerate剔骨,
377
906000
2000
改变,或者去除美国医疗体制
15:23
the capital首都 structure结构体 of the U.S. health健康 care关心 system系统,
378
908000
3000
中资本就够的本质部分
15:26
which哪一个 I think is fundamentally从根本上 broken破碎.
379
911000
3000
我认为那是从根本上坏掉的
15:29
So, let me close --
380
914000
2000
让我以--
15:31
(Applause掌声)
381
916000
3000
(掌声)
15:34
Let me close with my two aphorisms格言.
382
919000
2000
让我以这两句警语作为结束
15:36
One of them is from Mr先生. Einstein爱因斯坦,
383
921000
2000
其中一条来自爱因斯坦
15:38
and he says, "Everything should be made制作
384
923000
2000
他说,“所有的事物都要做到
15:40
as simple简单 as possible可能, but not simpler简单."
385
925000
3000
尽量简洁但又不过分简单。”
15:43
And I think that's a very good way of thinking思维 about the problem问题.
386
928000
3000
我认为那是思考这个问题非常好的方式
15:46
If you take too much out
387
931000
2000
如果你从简单的东西里
15:48
of something that's simple简单, you lose失去 function功能.
388
933000
2000
去除太多,你就失去了它的功能
15:50
You have to have low cost成本,
389
935000
2000
你必须要做到低开销
15:52
but you also have to have a function功能.
390
937000
2000
但是你还需要功能
15:54
So you can't make it too simple简单.
391
939000
2000
所以说你不可以做得过于简单
15:56
And the second第二 is a design设计 issue问题,
392
941000
2000
第二条是设计的事情
15:58
and it's not directly relevant相应, but it's a nice不错 statement声明.
393
943000
3000
它并不是那么相关,但它却是很好的叙述
16:01
This is by de Saint-Exupery圣埃克苏佩里.
394
946000
3000
这是de Saint-Exupery说的
16:04
And he says, "You know you've achieved实现 perfection完美 in design设计,
395
949000
3000
他说道:“你知道你的设计达到完美
16:07
not when you have nothing more to add,
396
952000
3000
不是因为你没有什么可以加上去,
16:10
but when you have nothing more to take away."
397
955000
2000
而是当你当你不能再去除些什么的时候。”
16:12
And that certainly当然 is going in the right direction方向.
398
957000
3000
这句话的方向当然是对的
16:16
So, what I think one can begin开始 to do
399
961000
3000
这是一个人可以用到并以之为开始的
16:19
with this kind of
400
964000
3000
就我所想,
16:22
cut at the word simplicity简单,
401
967000
2000
以简洁为目的
16:24
which哪一个 doesn't cover Brancusi布朗库西,
402
969000
2000
的精简
16:26
it doesn't answer回答 the question of
403
971000
2000
这解释不了为什么说
16:28
why Mondrian蒙德里安 is better or worse更差
404
973000
3000
蒙德里安的画比梵高的好还是坏
16:31
or simpler简单 or less simpler简单 than Van面包车 Gogh梵高,
405
976000
2000
或者是比梵高的画简单还是复杂
16:33
and certainly当然 doesn't address地址 the question
406
978000
2000
而且也没有解释
16:35
of whether是否 Mozart莫扎特 is simpler简单 than Bach过独身生活.
407
980000
3000
莫扎特的音乐是不是比巴赫的简单
16:38
But it does make a point --
408
983000
2000
但它确实明确了一点
16:40
which哪一个 is one which哪一个, in a sense,
409
985000
2000
就是,在某种意义上
16:42
differentiates分化带来 the real真实 world世界 of people who make things,
410
987000
3000
区分开制造的人
16:45
and the world世界 of people who think about things,
411
990000
3000
和考虑这些东西的人
16:48
which哪一个 is, there is an intellectual知识分子 merit值得
412
993000
3000
这意味着,提出
16:51
to asking: How do we make things
413
996000
2000
“如何才能制造出
16:53
as simple简单 as we can,
414
998000
2000
尽可能简单
16:55
as cheap低廉 as we can, as functional实用 as we can
415
1000000
3000
尽可能廉价,尽量能发挥机能
16:58
and as freely自如 interconnectable互连 as we can?
416
1003000
3000
并能尽可能自由联系的东西”有了科学意义
17:01
If we make that kind of simplicity简单 in our technology技术
417
1006000
3000
如果我们在技术中加入这种简洁
17:04
and then give it to you guys,
418
1009000
2000
然后将其传给你们
17:06
you can go off and do all kinds of fabulous极好 things with it.
419
1011000
3000
你们离开之后就可以利用它做各种精彩纷呈的东西
17:09
Thank you very much.
420
1014000
2000
非常感谢
17:11
(Applause掌声)
421
1016000
9000
(掌声)
17:20
Chris克里斯 Anderson安德森: Quick question.
422
1025000
2000
Chris Anderson: 问几个问题
17:22
So can you picture图片
423
1027000
3000
你能想象一下
17:25
that a science科学 of simplicity简单
424
1030000
2000
有关简单的科学
17:27
might威力 get to the point where
425
1032000
2000
可以切中要害,不管
17:29
you could look out at various各个 systems系统 --
426
1034000
2000
你查看的是什么样系统,
17:31
say a financial金融 system系统 or a legal法律 system系统, health健康 system系统 -- and say,
427
1036000
3000
比如说,财政系统或者法律系统、医疗系统,再比如说
17:34
"That has got to the point of danger危险
428
1039000
2000
若是这些系统到了危险的境地
17:36
or dysfunctionality功能失调 for the following以下 reasons原因,
429
1041000
2000
或者因为某些原因无法工作
17:38
and this is how we might威力 simplify简化 it"?
430
1043000
2000
这是我们应该简化的方法么?
17:40
George乔治 WhitesidesWhitesides的: Yes, I think you could. Because if you look
431
1045000
2000
George Whitesides:是的,我想你可以,因为如果你
17:42
at the components组件 from which哪一个 the system系统 is made制作
432
1047000
2000
查看系统的组成部分
17:44
and examine检查 their fragility脆弱性, or their stability稳定性,
433
1049000
3000
并且检查它们的脆弱度,或者是它们的牢固度
17:47
you can probably大概 build建立 a kind of risk风险 assessment评定 based基于 on that basis基础.
434
1052000
3000
你没准可以在那些基础之上建立起一种风险评估方式
17:50
CACA: Have you started开始 to do that?
435
1055000
2000
CA:你开始做这些了么?
17:52
I mean, with the health健康 system系统, you got a sort分类 of
436
1057000
2000
我的意思是,对于医疗系统,你有一种
17:54
radical激进 solution on the cost成本 side,
437
1059000
2000
在财政方面的根本方法
17:56
but in terms条款 of the system系统 itself本身?
438
1061000
2000
但是对于这个系统自身呢?
17:58
GWGW: Well, no.
439
1063000
2000
GW:厄,没有
18:00
How do I put that simply只是? No.
440
1065000
2000
我怎么去把它变得简单,不可能
18:02
CACA: That was a simple简单, powerful强大 answer回答. GWGW: Yes.
441
1067000
3000
CA:这是个简单、有力的回答。 GW:是的
18:05
CACA: So, in terms条款 of
442
1070000
2000
CA:那么,对于
18:07
that diagnostic诊断 technology技术 that you've got,
443
1072000
2000
你所掌握的诊断技术而言
18:09
where is that, and when do you see that
444
1074000
2000
什么时候,并且你认为什么时候
18:11
maybe getting得到 rolled热轧 out to scale规模.
445
1076000
2000
这种诊断方式会规模壮大
18:13
GWGW: That's coming未来 out soon不久. I mean, the systems系统 work,
446
1078000
3000
GW:那即将出现,我的意思是,那个系统开始工作
18:16
and we have to find out how to manufacture制造 them and do things of this kind,
447
1081000
2000
并且我们必须找出怎么去制造出它们,并做这一类的事情
18:18
but the basic基本 technology技术 works作品.
448
1083000
2000
但是最基本的技术起了作用
18:20
CACA: You've got a company公司 set up to ...
449
1085000
2000
CA:你已经建立了一家公司来--
18:22
GWGW: A foundation基础, a foundation基础. Not-for-profit不以营利为目的.
450
1087000
3000
GW:是一个基金会,基金会,非盈利的
18:25
CACA: All right. Well, thank you so much for your talk. Thank you. (Applause掌声)
451
1090000
3000
CA:好的,非常感谢您的演讲,谢谢
Translated by zhao weichen
Reviewed by Zhu Jie

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
George Whitesides - Chemist
In his legendary career in chemistry, George Whitesides has been a pioneer in microfabrication and nanoscale self-assembly. Now, he's fabbing a diagnostic lab on a chip.

Why you should listen

Someday Harvard chemistry professor George Whitesides will take the time to look back on the 950 scientific articles he's coauthored, the dozen companies he's co-founded or the 50-plus patents on which he's named. (He works in four main areas: biochemistry, materials science, catalysis and physical organic chemistry.) In the meantime, he's trying to invent a future where medical diagnosis can be done by anyone for little or no cost. He's co-founded a nonprofit called Diagnostics for All that aims to provide dirt-cheap diagnostic devices, to provide healthcare in a world where cost is everything.

Among his solutions is a low-cost "lab-on-a-chip," made of paper and carpet tape. The paper wicks bodily fluids -- urine, for example -- and turns color to provide diagnostic information, such as how much glucose or protein is present. His goal is to distribute these simple paper diagnostic systems to developing countries, where people with basic training can administer tests and send results to distant doctors via cameraphone.

More profile about the speaker
George Whitesides | Speaker | TED.com

THE ORIGINAL VIDEO ON TED.COM