TED2007
John Maeda: Designing for simplicity
前田·約翰的簡單法則
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MIT媒體實驗室的前田約翰，擁有科技家的務實與藝術家的創意，聽聽他如何將複雜簡單化，回歸到事物基本面
John Maeda - Artist
John Maeda, the former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, is dedicated to linking design and technology. Through the software tools, web pages and books he creates, he spreads his philosophy of elegant simplicity. Full bio
John Maeda, the former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, is dedicated to linking design and technology. Through the software tools, web pages and books he creates, he spreads his philosophy of elegant simplicity. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:25
On simplicity. What a great way to start.
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簡單，多麼棒的開場！
00:30
First of all, I've been watching this trend
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首先，我一直都在關注這個趨勢
00:32
where we have these books like such and such "For Dummies."
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市面上不也有很多像是＂傻瓜也會...＂的這類書嗎？
00:35
Do you know these books, these such and such "For Dummies?"
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你知道這類書嗎？教你一學就上手的指南
00:37
My daughters pointed out that I'm very similar looking, so this is a bit of a problem.
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我女兒說我長得很像這書中的傻瓜，聽起來不太妙...
00:41
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
00:44
But I was looking online at Amazon.com for other books like this.
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我也在亞馬遜的網站上搜尋這樣的書
00:48
You know, there's also something called the "Complete Idiot's Guide?"
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你知道嗎？甚至還有＂白痴大全＂呢？
00:51
There's a sort of business model around being stupid in some sense.
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似乎有些商業模式本身就蠻愚蠢的
00:54
We like to have technology make us feel bad, for some strange reason.
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而不知什麼原因，我們也喜歡擁有讓自己感覺很糟的科技
00:57
But I really like that, so I wrote a book called "The Laws of Simplicity."
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我也喜歡，所以我寫了一本書叫做＂簡單的法則＂
01:01
I was in Milan last week, for the Italian launch.
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為了這本新書在義大利上市，上週我到米蘭
01:04
It's kind of a book about questions, questions about simplicity.
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這本書提了很多問題，都是關於簡單
01:08
Very few answers. I'm also wondering myself, what is simplicity?
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但是答案很少。我也常問自己，到底簡單是什麼？
01:11
Is it good? Is it bad? Is complexity better? I'm not sure.
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簡單是好事？是壞事？複雜點會不會更好？我不知道
01:15
After I wrote "The Laws of Simplicity,"
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但當我寫完這本＂簡單的法則＂時
01:17
I was very tired of simplicity, as you can imagine.
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不難想像，我對這二個字有多厭惓
01:20
And so in my life, I've discovered that
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同時，我也發現
01:22
vacation is the most important skill for any kind of over-achiever.
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好好渡個假對於工作狂來說絕對是最重要的技能
01:25
Because your companies will always take away your life,
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因為工作總是佔用你的生活
01:28
but they can never take away your vacation -- in theory.
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但絕無法奪走你的假期....理論上來說
01:31
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
01:32
So, I went to the Cape last summer to hide from simplicity,
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為了躲避＂簡單＂，去年夏天我跑去鱈魚角渡假
01:35
and I went to the Gap, because I only have black pants.
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得去GAP逛逛，因為我只有黑色褲子
01:37
So I went and bought khaki shorts or whatever,
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想買些卡其布的衣服短褲之類的
01:39
and unfortunately, their branding was all about "Keep It Simple."
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沒想到，GAP的品牌代表著"保持簡單"
01:43
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
01:45
I opened up a magazine, and Visa's branding was,
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我翻開雜誌，Visa 的品牌形象是
01:47
"Business Takes Simplicity."
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＂商業在於簡單＂
01:49
I develop photographs, and Kodak said, "Keep It Simple."
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連去洗相片時，柯達的廣告還是＂保持簡單＂
01:52
So, I felt kind of weird that simplicity was sort of following me around.
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奇怪，怎麼簡單這二個字到處都是
01:55
So, I turned on the TV, and I don't watch TV very much,
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打開電視，其實我不常看電視的
01:58
but you know this person? This is Paris Hilton, apparently.
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這個人Paris Hilton，顯然你們都知道她
02:02
And she has this show, "The Simple Life."
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她主持＂簡單生活＂這個節目
02:04
So I watched this. It's not very simple, a little bit confusing.
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我看了，嗯，內容不太簡單，好像還有點複雜
02:08
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
02:10
So, I looked for a different show to watch.
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所以我想看其他節目
02:12
So, I opened up this TV Guide thing,
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打開電視節目指南
02:14
and on the E! channel, this "Simple Life" show is very popular.
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啊，是E!頻道！看來＂簡單生活＂很紅呢
02:17
They'll play it over, and over, and over.
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所以E!頻道不斷重播
02:19
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
02:20
So it was traumatizing, actually.
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總之，真是種精神折磨
02:22
So, I wanted to escape again, so I went out to my car.
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所以我決定再度逃走，開了車
02:27
And Cape Cod, there are idyllic roads, and all of us can drive in this room.
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到了鱈魚角，那有田園詩般的美麗道路，所有人都能在這環境中享受開車樂趣
02:32
And when you drive, these signs are very important.
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當然，開車時交通標誌很重要的
02:34
It's a very simple sign, it says, "road" and "road approaching."
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簡單的標誌，只寫著＂道路＂及＂分叉路＂
02:38
So I'm mostly driving along, okay, and then I saw this sign.
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大部份時間我延著路一直開，都沒什麼問題，直到看到這個
02:42
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
02:44
So, I thought complexity was attacking me suddenly,
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我想複雜是不是突然間開始襲擊我？
02:46
so I thought, "Ah, simplicity. Very important."
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我又想：嗯！簡單...原來真的很重要
02:49
But then I thought, "Oh, simplicity. What would that be like on a beach?
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我又想：簡單，在海攤上又會是什麼樣呢
02:53
What if the sky was 41 percent gray? Wouldn't that be the perfect sky?"
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41%的灰色天空，會不會更美好呢？
02:57
I mean that simplicity sky.
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我是說簡單一點的天空
02:59
But in reality, the sky looked like this. It was a beautiful, complex sky.
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但事實上，天空是長這樣的，很美，也很複雜
03:04
You know, with the pinks and blues. We can't help but love complexity.
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你看，粉紅色和藍色混合著，怎麼可能不愛呢?
03:07
We're human beings: we love complex things.
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我們是人，人都愛複雜的東西
03:09
We love relationships -- very complex. So we love this kind of stuff.
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我們喜歡搞關係，搞複雜，我們就是熱愛這種複雜事物
03:12
I'm at this place called the Media Lab.
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這是＂媒體實驗室＂，我工作的地方
03:14
Maybe some of you guys have heard of this place.
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也許有些人聽過
03:16
It's designed by I. M. Pei, one of the premier modernist architects.
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貝聿銘設計的，一個頂尖的現代主義建築師
03:20
Modernism means white box, and it's a perfect white box.
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現代主義指的是這白色箱子，一個完美的白色箱子
03:24
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
03:26
And some of you guys are entrepreneurs, etc., whatever.
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你們之中，也許有些人是創業家，企業家之類的
03:29
Last month, I was at Google, and, boy, that cafeteria, man.
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上個月我在Google，天啊！那咖啡廳真棒！
03:34
You guys have things here in Silicon Valley like stock options.
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在矽谷，科技界有＂股票選擇權＂
03:37
See, in academia, we get titles, lots of titles.
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而在學術界，我們則有頭銜，很多很多的頭銜
03:41
Last year at TED, these were all my titles. I had a lot of titles.
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這是去年在TED論壇上，這些都是我的頭銜，多得數不完的頭銜
03:44
I have a default title as a father of a bunch of daughters.
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還有個不在枱面上的，一堆女兒的父親
03:47
This year at TED, I'm happy to report that I have new titles,
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今年同樣在這論壇上，我很高興告訴大家，我又有新的頭銜
03:50
in addition to my previous titles.
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除了已有的頭銜外
03:52
Another "Associate Director of Research."
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還有一個是研究室主任
03:54
And this also happened, so I have five daughters now.
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這個也是新加的，所以我有五個女兒囉
03:58
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
03:59
That's my baby Reina. (Applause) Thank you.
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我的女兒Reina，謝謝
04:01
And so, my life is much more complex because of the baby, actually,
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事實上我的生活因為她而變得更加複雜
04:04
but that's okay. We will still stay married, I think.
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但是沒關係，我們會繼續維持婚姻關係的，我想會的
04:08
But looking way back, when I was a child --
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不過，回想我小時候
04:10
you see, I grew up in a tofu factory in Seattle.
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我在西雅圖一個豆腐工廠長大
04:12
Many of you may not like tofu because you haven't had good tofu,
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你們很多人可能不喜歡豆腐，那是因為你們沒吃過真正好吃的豆腐
04:15
but tofu's a good food. It's a very simple kind of food.
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豆腐真的很棒，它是一種簡單的食物
04:17
It's very hard work to make tofu.
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但製作豆腐的過程卻非常辛苦
04:20
As a child, we used to wake up at 1 a.m. and work till 6 p.m., six days a week.
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小時候，我們通常從早上1點工作到晚上6點，一週工作六天
04:26
My father was kind of like Andy Grove, paranoid of the competition.
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我父親是像Andy Grove 一樣，不喜歡認輸
04:30
So often, seven days a week. Family business equals child labor.
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所以經常，一週工作七天，家族企業其實都是童工
04:35
We were a great model. So, I loved going to school.
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我們樹立一個良好典範。我也愛上學
04:39
School was great, and maybe going to school
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學校生活很棒，也許上學
04:41
helped me get to this Media Lab place, I'm not sure.
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才讓我有機會到媒體實驗室這樣的地方，我不知道
04:43
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
04:45
Thank you.
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謝謝
04:47
But the Media Lab is an interesting place, and it's important to me
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媒體實驗室是個有趣的地方，對我來說很重要
04:51
because as a student, I was a computer science undergrad,
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大學時，我主修資訊電腦
04:53
and I discovered design later on in my life.
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之後，才開始接觸設計
04:56
And there was this person, Muriel Cooper.
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這個人Muriel Cooper
04:58
Who knows Muriel Cooper? Muriel Cooper?
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有誰聽過她嗎？Muriel Cooper?
05:00
Wasn't she amazing? Muriel Cooper. She was wacky.
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她很令人驚訝吧，Muriel Cooper，也是個怪胎
05:03
And she was a TEDster, exactly, and she showed us,
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她還是個TED人，事實上，她告訴我們
05:07
she showed the world how to make the computer beautiful again.
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我們所有人，電腦也可以很美的
05:10
And she's very important in my life,
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同時，她也是我生命中很重要的人
05:12
because she's the one that told me to leave MIT and go to art school.
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因為就是她勸我離開MIT，去唸藝術學校的
05:15
It was the best advice I ever got. So I went to art school, because of her.
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這是我聽過最好的建議，我會去唸藝術學校，是因為她
05:19
She passed away in 1994,
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1994年她過世了
05:21
and I was hired back to MIT to try to fill her shoes, but it's so hard.
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之後，MIT聘請我回去接替她的位子，但這位子實在太難坐了
05:26
This amazing person, Muriel Cooper.
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就是這個了不起的人，Muriel Cooper
05:28
When I was in Japan -- I went to an art school in Japan --
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當我在日本時，我去那的一間藝術學校
05:31
I had a nice sort of situation, because somehow I was connected to Paul Rand.
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那是個很棒的經歷，因為和Paul Rand有點關係
05:36
Some of you guys know Paul Rand,
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你們有些人可能知道他
05:38
the greatest graphic designer -- I'm sorry -- out there.
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最棒的平面設計師，抱歉，我是說除了你們之外
05:40
The great graphic designer Paul Rand
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最棒的平面設計師Paul Rand
05:42
designed the IBM logo, the Westinghouse logo.
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IBM, 西屋的商標都是他的傑作
05:44
He basically said, "I've designed everything."
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基本上他說過＂我可以設計任何東西＂
05:47
And also Ikko Tanaka was a very important mentor in my life --
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Ikko Tanaka是我人生中一個很重要的導師
05:51
the Paul Rand of Japan. He designed most of the major icons of Japan,
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他被稱為日本的Paul Rand。日本企業有名的商標都出自他手
05:56
like Issey Miyake's brand and also Muji.
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像是三宅一生，還有無印良品
05:59
When you have mentors -- and yesterday,
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當你生命中出現導師，昨天
06:01
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talked about mentors,
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Kareen Abdul-Jabbar 談論到導師
06:03
these people in your life -- the problem with mentors is that they all die.
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這些人曾出現在你的生命中，問題是現在他們都不在了
06:07
This is a sad thing, but it's actually a happy thing in a way,
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這當然令人傷心，但某些方面也是好事
06:09
because you can remember them in their pure form.
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因為你總是記得他們最好的一面
06:12
I think that the mentors that we all meet sort of humanize us.
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他們總能在某方面教化我們
06:16
When you get older, and you're all freaked out, whatever,
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當你年歲漸長，當你不知所措時
06:18
the mentors calm us down.
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他們讓我們的心平靜下來
06:20
And I'm grateful for my mentors, and I'm sure all of you are too.
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我很感謝這些曾出現在我生命中的導師，我相信你們也是
06:25
Because the human thing is very hard when you're at MIT.
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因為＂人際關係＂在MIT裡是很難經營的
06:27
The T doesn't stand for "human," it stands for "technology."
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"T"代表的是＂科技＂，不是＂人＂
06:30
And because of that, I always wondered about this human thing.
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也因為如此，我總是對人有關的事物感到好奇
06:33
So, I've always been Googling this word, "human,"
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所以我在網路上Google ＂人＂
06:35
to find out how many hits I get.
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想知道我能找到多少答案
06:37
And in 2001, I had 26 million hits, and for "computer,"
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2001年我Google到2600萬筆，至於＂電腦＂
06:41
because computers are against humans a bit,
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電腦某種程度似乎和人類是相對的
06:43
I have 42 million hits. Let me do an Al Gore here.
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我Google 到4200萬筆。讓我當一下高爾吧！
06:46
So, if you sort of compare that, like this,
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如果做個比較，像這樣
06:48
you'll see that computer versus human --
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你會發現＂電腦＂對＂人類＂
06:51
I've been tracking this for the last year --
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過去一年來我一直在追踪這個數據
06:53
computer versus human over the last year has changed.
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＂電腦＂對＂人類＂的比例在過去一年中發生了變化
06:56
It used to be kind of two to one. Now, humans are catching up.
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以前大約是２比１吧！現在＂人類＂的數字增加了
06:59
Very good, us humans! We're catching up with the computers.
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太好了，我們人類，迎頭趕上電腦囉
07:02
In the simplicity realm, it's also interesting.
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在簡單的領域中，蠻有趣的
07:04
So if you compare complexities to simplicity,
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如果比較＂複雜＂對＂簡單＂
07:08
it's also catching up in a way, too.
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你會發現簡單也以同樣方式追上來
07:10
So, somehow humans and simplicity are intertwined, I think.
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因此，不知不覺中，人類和簡單是交織在一起的
07:16
I have a confession: I'm not a man of simplicity.
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我要坦白一件事，我並非一個簡單的人
07:19
I spent my entire early career making complex stuff.
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早期的職業生涯我都在做複雜的事
07:22
Lots of complex stuff.
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很多複雜的事
07:24
I wrote computer programs to make complex graphics like this.
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我寫的電腦程式形成這樣複雜的圖形
07:28
I had clients in Japan to make really complex stuff like this.
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日本有個客戶要我做出像這樣複雜的東西
07:31
And I've always felt bad about it, in a sense.
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對這一切，我常覺得很糟
07:34
So, I hid in a time dimension.
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所以我將這些藏在時間維度裡
07:36
I built things in a time-graphics dimension.
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創造了一些具有時間維度的圖形
07:39
I did this series of calendars for Shiseido.
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這是我為資生堂設計的日曆
07:42
This is a floral theme calendar in 1997,
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這是97年以花為主題的日曆
07:45
and this is a firework calendar. So, you launch the number into space,
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這是煙火日曆，你看數字在空中發射
07:50
because the Japanese believe that when you see fireworks,
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日本人相信當你看見煙火時
07:53
you're cooler for some reason.
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基於某些原因你會變得冷靜
07:55
This is why they have fireworks in the summer.
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也就是為什麼他們會在夏天放煙火
07:57
A very extreme culture.
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一個相當特別的文化
08:00
Lastly, this is a fall-based calendar,
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最後一個，以秋天為背景的日曆
08:02
because I have so many leaves in my yard.
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因為我的院子裡有太多的落葉
08:04
So this is the leaves in my yard, essentially.
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所以這些基本上都是我院子裡的落葉
08:06
And so I made a lot of these types of things.
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我也做了很多這類型的設計
08:10
I've been lucky to have been there before people made these kind of things,
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很幸運地，我有這些經驗
08:13
and so I made all this kind of stuff that messes with your eyes.
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只是這些令人眼花撩亂的東西
08:16
I feel kind of bad about that.
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讓我感覺不是很好
08:18
Tomorrow, Paola Antonelli is speaking. I love Paola.
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明天Paola Antonelli 要來演講，我可是她的粉絲
08:21
She has this show right now at MoMA,
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紐約現代藝術博物館正展出
08:23
where some of these early works are here on display at MoMA, on the walls.
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她早期的一些作品，就掛在牆上
08:27
If you're in New York, please go and see that.
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如果到了紐約，記得一定要去看看
08:29
But I've had a problem, because I make all this flying stuff
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我一直有個問題，我做了這些會飛的東西
08:33
and people say, "Oh, I know your work.
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人們看到會說：喔！我知道你的作品
08:36
You're the guy that makes eye candy."
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你是那個做＂視覺特效＂的傢伙
08:38
And when you're told this, you feel kind of weird.
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每當我聽到這些，總覺得怪怪的
08:40
"Eye candy" -- sort of pejorative, don't you think?
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＂視覺特效＂聽起來有點輕蔑耶，你不覺得嗎？
08:43
So, I say, "No, I make eye meat," instead.
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所以我總是回答＂不，我做的是視覺紅肉＂
08:45
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
08:46
And eye meat is something different, something more fibrous,
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視覺紅肉聽起來就不一樣囉，它有更多纖維
08:49
something more powerful, perhaps. But what could that be, eye meat?
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看起來也更為有力，或許吧，不然它還會是什麼樣呢？
08:53
I've been interested in computer programs all my life, actually.
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事實上，我一直對電腦程式很感興趣
08:57
Computer programs are essentially trees,
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電腦程式事實上就是樹狀圖
08:59
and when you make art with a computer program, there's kind of a problem.
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但當你用電腦程式創作藝術時，問題就來了
09:02
Whenever you make art with a computer program,
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因為當你這麼做時
09:04
you're always on the tree, and the paradox is that
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你總是離不開樹狀圖，而矛盾的是
09:07
for excellent art, you want to be off the tree.
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為了創造好的藝術，你一定得脫離這樹狀圖
09:11
So, this is sort of a complication I've found.
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這是我發現的一種＂複雜＂
09:14
So, to get off the tree, I began to use my old computers.
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為了擺脫這些樹狀圖，我開始用以前的舊電腦
09:18
I took these to Tokyo in 2001 to make computer objects.
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2001年時我把這些帶去東京製作電腦產品
09:22
This is a new way to type, on my old, color Classic.
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這是一種新的輸入方式，用我的舊電腦
09:26
You can't type very much on this.
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其實是無法輸入太多東西的
09:29
I also discovered that an IR mouse responds to CRT emissions
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我還發現一個紅外線滑鼠能感應CRT顯示器的射線
09:33
and starts to move by itself, so this is a self-drawing machine.
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而且它還能自己移動，活像個自動繪圖機
09:39
And also, one year, the G3 Bondi Blue thing --
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有一年，這個像iMac G3 bondi 藍色的東西
09:42
that caddy would come out, like, dangerous, like, "whack," like that.
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這小盒子會發出像＂危險＂或撞擊的聲音，像這樣
09:45
But I thought, "This is very interesting. What if I make like a car crash test?"
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我覺得這超有趣的，如果我也來做個汽車撞擊測試呢？
09:48
So I have a crash test.
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我真做了
09:50
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
09:51
And sort of measure the impact. Stuff like this are things I made,
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為了想測量影響程度，我還做了這東西
09:53
just to sort of understand what these things are.
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做這些就只是想了解而已
09:56
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
09:58
Shortly after this, 9/11 happened, and I was very depressed.
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不久後，911事爆發，這事讓我很難過
10:01
I was concerned with contemporary art
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我所在意的當代藝術
10:03
that was all about piss, and sort of really sad things,
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全是些雞毛蒜皮的小事，還有令人傷心的事
10:05
and so I wanted to think about something happy.
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所以我想找些快樂的事
10:07
So I focused on food as my area --
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像是吃的東西
10:09
these sort of clementine peel things.
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這些剥橘子之類的事
10:11
In Japan, it's a wonderful thing to remove the clementine peel
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在日本，剥橘子是件很棒的事
10:14
just in one piece. Who's done that before? One-piece clementine?
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剥成一整片，誰會這麼無聊呢？剥成一整片？
10:17
Oh, you guys are missing out, if you haven't done it yet.
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如果你還沒做過，那可錯失很多樂趣囉
10:19
It was very good, and I discovered I can make sculptures out of this,
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很好玩的，我發現我能雕塑成不同形狀
10:21
actually, in different forms.
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事實上，是完全不同的東西
10:23
If you dry them quick, you can make, like, elephants and steers and stuff,
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如果把它迅速乾燥後，你可以做成大象，方向盤等很多東西
10:26
and my wife didn't like these, because they mold, so I had to stop that.
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我太太不喜歡這些，因為它們會發霉，所以我得停止
10:29
So, I went back to the computer, and I bought five large fries,
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所以我回到電腦上，我買了5包薯條
10:33
and scanned them all. And I was looking for some kind of food theme,
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同時將它們掃描，想從中找到和食物相關的主題
10:38
and I wrote some software to automatically lay out french-fry images.
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我還寫了軟體讓它可以自動呈現薯條影像
10:43
And as a child, I'd hear that song, you know,
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小時候，我曾聽過一首歌，你知道的
10:45
"Oh, beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,"
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美哉此地，天高空廣，糧食如浪金黃
10:49
so I made this amber waves image.
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所以我想把＂糧食如浪金黃＂呈現出來
10:51
It's sort of a Midwest cornfield out of french fries.
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這是用薯條做的中西部的玉米田
10:54
And also, as a child, I was the fattest kid in class,
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小時候，我總是班上最胖的小孩
10:58
so I used to love Cheetos. Oh, I love Cheetos, yummy.
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因為我超愛＂奇多＂香脆棒的，天啊，真是美味！
11:01
So, I wanted to play with Cheetos in some way.
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所以我要以某種方式玩＂奇多＂
11:03
I wasn't sure where to go with this. I invented Cheeto paint.
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我不知道應該如何做，但我發明了＂奇多＂顏科
11:07
Cheeto paint is a very simple way to paint with Cheetos.
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用奇多顏料來畫奇多應該是再簡單不過了吧
11:09
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
11:11
I discovered that Cheetos are good, expressive material.
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我發現奇多是一種非常好的表現材料
11:14
And with these Cheetos, I began to think,
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看著這些我開始思考
11:16
"What can I make with these Cheetos?"
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我應該怎樣來使用這些奇多呢？
11:18
And so, I began to crinkle up potato chip flecks, and also pretzels.
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於是我開始讓薯片一片片排列，還有德國椒鹽蝴蝶脆餅，
11:23
I was looking for some kind of form,
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我想找某種形式
11:25
and in the end, I made 100 butter-fries. Do you get it?
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最後我做了100隻薯條蝴蝶，你看到了嗎？
11:28
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
11:30
And each butter-fry is composed of different pieces.
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而且每隻蝴蝶都是由不同碎片組成的
11:33
People ask me how they make the antenna.
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有人問我這觸角怎麼做的
11:36
Sometimes, they find a hair in the food. That's my hair.
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有時可能會在這些食物中發現頭髮；哈！那是我的頭髮
11:38
My hair's clean -- it's okay.
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別擔心，我的頭髮很乾淨的
11:40
I'm a tenured professor, which means, basically, I don't have to work anymore.
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我是一個終身教授，什麼意思呢？基本上，我可以不用工作了
11:43
It's a strange business model. I can come into work everyday
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很奇怪的商業模式，我每天進到辦公室
11:46
and staple five pieces of paper and just stare at it with my latte.
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把五張紙訂在一起，一邊盯著它，一邊享用我的拿鐵
11:49
End of story.
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一天就這樣過了
11:51
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
11:52
But I realized that life could be very boring,
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但我意識到這樣的生活可能會很無聊
11:54
so I've been thinking about life, and I notice that my camera --
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所以我一直思考著生活，突然注意到我的相機
11:56
my digital camera versus my car, a very strange thing.
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數位相機和我的車，我發現一件奇怪的事
12:01
The car is so big, the camera is so small,
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車子這麼大，相機這麼小
12:03
yet the manual for the camera is so much bigger than the car manual.
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不過相機手冊卻比車子的大的多
12:07
It doesn't make any sense.
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實在是不合理
12:09
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
12:11
So, I was in the Cape one time, and I typed the word "simplicity,"
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有次我在鱈魚角，輸入＂簡單＂這個字
12:14
and I discovered, in this weird, M. Night Shyamalan way,
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我發現，用奇怪的奈特沙馬蘭方式，
12:17
that I discovered [the] letters, M, I, T. You know the word?
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我發現字母「M-I-T」，你知道這個字吧？
12:20
In the words "simplicity" and "complexity," M, I, T occur in perfect sequence.
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在＂簡單＂及＂複雜＂這兩個字中，＂M-I-T"出現完美序列
12:24
It's a bit eerie, isn't it?
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很怪吧，是吧？
12:26
So, I thought, maybe I'll do this for the next twenty years or something.
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所以我想往後20年我會為這巧合做些什麼
12:29
And I wrote this book, "The Laws of Simplicity."
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所以我寫了這本書＂簡單的法則＂
12:31
It's a very short, simple book. There are ten laws and three keys.
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很短，很簡單的一本書，共有十個法則三個關鍵
12:36
The ten laws and three keys -- I won't go over them because that's why I have a book,
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關於這十個法則三個關鍵，我就不多說了，因為那是為什麼我寫這本書
12:39
and also that's why it's on the Web for free.
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同時也讓人免費在網路上閱讀
12:41
But the laws are kind of like sushi in a way: there are all kinds.
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但這些法則像壽司一樣，有各式各樣的
12:45
In Japan, they say that sushi is challenging.
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在日本，人們認為壽司是一種挑戰
12:47
You know the uni is the most challenging, so number ten is challenging.
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如同你所知的，數字一是最挑戰的，十也是
12:50
People hate number ten like they hate uni, actually.
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事實上，人們討厭數字十就像他們痛恨一是一樣的
12:53
The three keys are easy to eat, so this is anago, cooked already, so easy to eat.
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這三個關鍵很容易了解，這是星鰻，煮好的星鰻，可以吃了
12:57
So enjoy your sushi meal later, with the laws of simplicity.
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所以稍後再隨著簡單法則，享用你的壽司吧！
13:02
Because I want to simplify them for you.
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因為我想將它們再簡單化
13:04
Because that's what this is about. I have to simplify this thing.
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這是我想說的，再簡單化
13:06
So, if I simplify the laws of simplicity,
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所以，如果我簡化了簡單的法則
13:09
I have what's called the cookie versus laundry thing.
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而有了餅乾對衣服的理論
13:12
Anyone who has kids knows that if you offer a kid
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任何有孩子都人都知道，如果讓小孩選擇
13:14
a big cookie or a small cookie,
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一塊大的或一塊小的餅乾
13:16
which cookie are they going to take? The big cookie.
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他們會選那一個？當然是大塊的
13:19
You can say the small cookie has Godiva chocolate bits in it,
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即使你告訴他們，小塊餅乾裡有Godiva巧克力
13:22
but it doesn't work. They want the big cookie.
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沒用的，他們還是要大塊的
13:25
But if you offer kids two piles of laundry to fold,
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但如果你給小孩選擇二堆要摺的衣服
13:29
the small pile or the big pile, which will they choose?
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小堆的或大堆的，他們會選那一堆？
13:32
Strangely, not the big pile. So, I think it's as simple as this.
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奇怪，一定不是大堆的。我想理由再簡單不過
13:37
You know, when you want more, it's because you want to enjoy it.
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當你想要更多，那是因為你想要享受它
13:40
When you want less, it's because it's about work.
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當你不想要那麼多，那是因為和工作有關
13:43
And so, to boil it all down, simplicity is about living life
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所以，總結來說，簡單和生活有關
13:47
with more enjoyment and less pain.
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多一點享受，少一些痛苦
13:49
I think this is sort of simple more versus less.
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我覺得＂多對少＂本身就是一種簡單
13:51
Basically, it always depends.
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因為它總是依情況而定
13:55
This book I wrote because I want to figure out life.
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我之所以寫這本書是因為我想參透生活
13:57
I love life. I love being alive. I like to see things.
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我愛生活，我享受活著的感覺，我喜歡了解事情
13:59
And so life is a big question, I think, in simplicity,
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生活是人生大問題，我想問題就在於簡單
14:01
because you're trying to simplify your life.
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因為人總是想簡單過生活
14:04
And I just love to see the world. The world is an amazing place.
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像我只是喜歡看世界，世界是個了不起的地方
14:07
By being at TED, we see so many things at one time.
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在TED演講，我們可以同時看到這麼多事
14:10
And I can't help but enjoy looking at everything in the world.
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我無法抗拒去喜愛，去看著世上的一切
14:14
Like everything you see, every time you wake up.
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去喜歡所看見的每件事。每一次由睡夢中醒來
14:16
It's such a joy to sort of experience everything in the world.
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所有經歷都是一種喜悅
14:20
From everything from a weird hotel lobby,
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每件事，即使是在奇怪的飯店大廳
14:22
to Saran wrap placed over your window,
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到放在窗口的保鮮膜
14:25
to this moment where I had my road in front of my house paved dark black,
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這個時刻，我家前面的路是暗黑色的
14:29
and this white moth was sitting there dying in the sun.
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有一隻白蛾躺在那裡死在陽光下
14:32
And so, this whole thing has struck me as exciting to be here,
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所有事都像在這一樣讓我興奮
14:36
because life is finite.
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因為生命是有限的
14:38
This was given to me by the chairman of Shiseido.
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這是資生堂的董事長給我的
14:41
He's an expert in aging. This horizontal axis is how old you are --
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他是個研究老化專家，橫軸代表年紀
14:44
twelve years old, twenty-four years old, seventy-four, ninety-six years old --
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12歲、24歲、74歲、96歲
14:48
and this is some medical data. So, brain strength increases up to 60,
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而這是醫療數據，腦力在60歲時達到顛峰
14:54
and then after 60, it sort of goes down. Kind of depressing in a way.
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過了60歲，開始往下，逐漸衰退
14:58
Also, if you look at your physical strength.
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同樣地，來看看你的體力
15:00
You know, I have a lot of cocky freshmen at MIT, so I tell them,
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你知道的，在MIT有許多不知天高天厚的新生，我總是告訴他們
15:03
"Oh, your bodies are really getting stronger and stronger,
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現在你們很年輕，體力也愈來愈好
15:06
but in your late twenties and mid-thirties, cells, they die."
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但是到了20歲末30歲中，身體的細胞，會逐漸老化，死亡
15:09
OK. It gets them to work harder, sometimes.
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用這招激勵他們努力用功，還挺管用的，不過是有時候啦！
15:12
And if you have your vision, vision is interesting.
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但如果你有眼光，那很有趣
15:15
As you age from infant age, your vision gets better,
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年齡由零開始成長，眼光也會愈變愈好
15:19
and maybe in your late teens, early twenties, you're looking for a mate,
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也許在你青少年，20歲初時，你尋找另一半
15:22
and your vision goes after that.
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你的眼光從此走下坡
15:24
(Laughter)
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(笑聲)
15:28
Your social responsibility is very interesting.
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社會責任也很有意思
15:30
So, as you get older, you may, like, have kids, whatever.
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當你愈來愈年長，你可能會想要有小孩之類的
15:33
And then the kids graduate, and you have no responsibility any more --
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然後小孩長大，從學校畢業，你的責任也告一段落
15:37
that's very good, too.
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那是很棒的人生經歷
15:39
But if any of you people ask,
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你們之中任何一個人可能會問
15:41
"What actually goes up? Does anything go up?
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然後呢？有什麼是會隨著年齡增長的呢？
15:43
What's the positive part of this, you know?" I think wisdom always goes up.
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年齡漸長的好處又是什麼？我會說是智慧的累積
15:46
I love these eighty-year-old, ninety-year-old guys and women.
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我喜歡這些80歲，甚至90歲的老人
15:49
They have so many thoughts, and they have so much wisdom,
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他們有如此多的想法，如此多的智慧
15:51
and I think -- you know, this TED thing, I've come here.
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我覺得，你知道嗎？這些TED的活動，我曾經參加過
15:53
And this is the fourth time, and I come here for this wisdom, I think.
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這已經是第四次了，我想我是來這尋找智慧的
15:57
This whole TED effect, it sort of ups your wisdom, somehow.
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TED最大的影響，就某種程度而言，是提昇個人的智慧
16:01
And I'm so glad to be here, and I'm very grateful to be here, Chris.
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我很高興能在這裡，也很感謝有這機會，Chris
16:04
And this is an amazing experience for me as well.
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對我而言，這也是一個很棒的經驗
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
John Maeda - ArtistJohn Maeda, the former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, is dedicated to linking design and technology. Through the software tools, web pages and books he creates, he spreads his philosophy of elegant simplicity.
Why you should listen
When John Maeda became president of the legendary Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2008, he told the Wall Street Journal, "Everyone asks me, 'Are you bringing technology to RISD?' I tell them, no, I'm bringing RISD to technology."
In his fascinating career as a programmer and an artist, he's always been committed to blurring the lines between the two disciplines. As a student at MIT, studying computer programming, the legendary Muriel Cooper persuaded him to follow his parallel passion for fine art and design. And when computer-aided design began to explode in the mid-1990s, Maeda was in a perfect position at the MIT Media Lab to influence and shape the form, helping typographers and page designers explore the freedom of the web.
Maeda is leading the "STEAM" movement--adding an "A" for Art to the education acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)--and experiencing firsthand the transformation brought by social media. After leaving his post as RISD's president, Maeda is turning his attention to Silicon Valley, where is is working as a Design Partner for Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield and Byers. He is also consulting for eBay, where he is the chair of the Design Advisory Board.
John Maeda | Speaker | TED.com