TED2009
Evan Williams: The voices of Twitter users
伊凡．威廉斯回應「推特」使用者
Filmed:
Readability: 4.4
1,267,194 views
微型網誌「推特」留言簡短明瞭、即時推文回應的優點，吸引了不少熱愛生活速報的用戶。創辦人之一伊凡．威廉斯，揭露用戶使用推特的許多方式出人意表，這些應用方法也影響了推特未來發展的走向。
Evan Williams - Twitter co-founder
Evan Williams is the co-founder of Twitter, the addictive messaging service that connects the world 140 characters at a time. Full bio
Evan Williams is the co-founder of Twitter, the addictive messaging service that connects the world 140 characters at a time. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:18
Four years ago, on the TED stage,
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四年前，同樣在TED的講台上
00:21
I announced a company I was working with at the time
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我說我跟人合創了一間公司
00:24
called Odeo.
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那間公司叫Odeo
00:26
And because of that announcement,
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那次的演講
00:27
we got a big article in The New York Times,
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經《紐約時報》大幅報導後
00:29
which led to more press, which led to more attention,
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又吸引更多媒體，招來更多矚目
00:33
and me deciding to become CEO of that company --
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然後我決定出任Odeo的執行長
00:35
whereas I was just an adviser --
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其實我只是顧問
00:37
and raising a round of venture capital
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然後我開始募集資金
00:40
and ramping up hiring.
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四處招募人才
00:41
One of the guys I hired was an engineer named Jack Dorsey,
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工程師傑克．杜西就是那時雇用的員工
00:45
and a year later, when we were trying to decide which way to go with Odeo,
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一年後，我們開始思考Odeo未來發展
00:49
Jack presented an idea he'd been tinkering around with for a number of years
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傑克提出他長年一直想實現的構想
00:54
that was based around sending simple status updates to friends.
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基本上，就是即時更新現況給朋友們看
00:57
We were also playing with SMS at the time at Odeo,
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當時在Odeo我們也有做SMS簡訊服務
01:00
so we kind of put two and two together,
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所以我們把兩者稍作整合
01:01
and in early 2006 we launched Twitter as a side project at Odeo.
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2006年初在Odeo推出推特當副產品
01:06
Now, it's hard to justify doing a side project
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我們很難說當初的決定是否明智
01:09
at a startup, where focus is so critical,
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新創公司推出多項產品是有點冒險
01:11
but I had actually launched Blogger as a side project
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但我也曾推出Blogger軟體當副產品
01:14
to my previous company,
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在我之前創立的另家公司
01:15
thinking it was just a little thing we'd do on the side,
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所以我原本把推特當成小型副產品
01:17
and it ended up taking over not only the company,
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結果，推特不僅成為Odeo的事業重心
01:20
but my life for the next five or six years.
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也成為我接下來五六年的生活重心
01:22
So I learned to follow hunches
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我從這當中學會相信直覺
01:25
even though you can't necessarily justify them
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雖然我們往往無法判定直覺是否正確
01:27
or know where they're going to go.
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也無法預測將來發展
01:28
And that's kind of what's happened with Twitter, time after time.
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不過就像推特，時間會解答一切
01:31
So, for those of you unfamiliar,
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如果你不太清楚推特是什麼
01:33
Twitter is based around a very simple, seemingly trivial concept.
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推特的概念非常簡單，毫不足奇
01:37
You say what you're doing in 140 characters or less,
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140個字元內說你想說的話
01:40
and people who are interested in you get those updates.
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對你有興趣的人就會收到新訊息
01:43
If they're really interested,
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如果他們非常感興趣
01:45
they get the update as a text message on their cell phone.
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他們可以在手機上用簡訊接收新訊
01:48
So, for instance, I may Twitter right now
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比如說，我現在「推」一下
01:50
that I'm giving a talk at TED.
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說我正在TED演講
01:52
And in my case, when I hit send,
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當我按下送出
01:55
up to 60,000 people will receive that message in a matter of seconds.
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幾秒內有近6萬人會收到這則訊息
01:59
Now, the fundamental idea is that Twitter
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推特的核心概念
02:03
lets people share moments of their lives
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就是讓大家分享生活點滴
02:05
whenever they want,
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無論何時（生了！4500克，是男孩）
02:06
be they momentous occasions
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無論是意義非凡的事
02:09
or mundane ones.
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還是平凡瑣事（可惡手機掉馬桶裡了）
02:12
It is by sharing these moments as they're happening
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透過立即分享
02:15
that lets people feel more connected and in touch,
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讓大家有彼此關連和保持聯繫的感覺
02:19
despite distance, and in real time.
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這種沒有距離的實況速報
02:21
This is the primary use we saw of Twitter from the beginning,
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就是我們一開始對推特的設定
02:24
and what got us excited.
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也讓我們相當興奮
02:26
What we didn't anticipate was the many, many other uses
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出乎我們意料，這個簡單的系統
02:30
that would evolve from this very simple system.
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居然發展出這麼多的用途
02:33
One of the things we realized
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我們領悟的一件事是
02:35
was how important Twitter could be during real-time events.
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發生緊急事件時，推特非常重要
02:38
When the wildfires broke out in San Diego,
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2007年10月聖地牙哥大火
02:42
in October of 2007,
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災情爆發時
02:43
people turned to Twitter to report what was happening
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民眾湧入推特報導現場災情
02:46
and to find information from neighbors
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同時探尋鄰居們的狀況
02:48
about what was happening around them.
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試圖了解自己周遭發生的事
02:50
But it wasn't just individuals.
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不單只是個人而已
02:51
The L.A. Times actually turned to Twitter to dispense information as well,
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當時洛杉磯時報也靠推特散佈消息
02:54
and put a Twitter feed on the front page,
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把推特網址放在首頁（大火波及克利夫蘭國家公園）
02:56
and the L.A. Fire Department and Red Cross
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洛杉磯消防局和紅十字會
02:58
used it to dispense news and updates as well.
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也是靠推特散播消息
03:02
At this event, dozens of people here are Twittering
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這起事件中，許多人在推特發表訊息
03:05
and thousands of people around the world are following along
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而成千上萬的人跟進報導回應
03:07
because they want to know what it feels like to be here
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因為他們想知道在現場的人有何感受
03:09
and what's happening.
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以及了解災情最新狀況
03:11
Among the other interesting things that have cropped up
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推特也有一些有趣的現象
03:14
are many things from businesses,
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例如公司行號開始利用推特
03:16
from marketing and communications and predictable things,
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從行銷到大眾傳播事業等可想見的
03:19
to an insanely popular Korean-barbecue taco truck
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一家韓式煎餅餐車就靠推特莫名爆紅
03:22
that drives around L.A. and Twitters where it stops,
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餐車繞經全洛杉磯並在推特上宣傳停靠點
03:24
causing a line to form around the block.
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購買者大排長龍（我們在明尼蘇達大學主場）
03:29
Politicians have recently begun Twittering.
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政治人物最近也開始用推特
03:32
In fact, there are 47 members of Congress
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事實上，已有47名國會議員
03:34
who currently have Twitter accounts.
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最近有了推特帳號
03:36
And they're tweeting, in some cases,
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有時候他們在網路上「推」了個訊息
03:38
from behind closed-door sessions with the President.
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其實人正和歐巴馬總統閉門開會
03:41
In this case, this guy's not liking what he's hearing.
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通常這時他們對議題不感興趣
03:44
The President himself is our most popular Twitter user,
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總統自己就是最受歡迎的推特客
03:47
although his tweets have dropped off as of late,
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雖然他最近推特的次數有點下滑
03:51
while Senator McCain's have picked up.
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馬侃議員的倒是增加了
03:56
As have this guy's.
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也包括這個人（TED現任主席）
03:59
Twitter was originally designed as a broadcast medium:
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原本推特的設定是廣播訊息平台
04:03
you send one message and it goes out to everybody,
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你上傳一則訊息後大家都會收到
04:05
and you receive the messages you're interested in.
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你也會收到你感興趣的人寫的
04:07
One of the many ways that users shaped the evolution of Twitter
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用戶們推動推特演變的其中一種方式
04:11
was by inventing a way to reply to a specific person
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就是發明出特定方式回覆某個人
04:15
or a specific message.
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或回應某個訊息
04:17
So, this syntax, the "@username" that Shaquille O'Neal's using here
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所以像「俠客」．歐尼爾就用「＠帳號」
04:20
to reply to one of his fans,
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回覆某位球迷
04:22
was completely invented by users,
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這全是用戶們自己想出來的
04:24
and we didn't build it into the system until it already became popular
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這個功能本來沒有內建，受到歡迎後
04:27
and then we made it easier.
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我們才加上並讓它更容易使用
04:29
This is one of the many ways that users have shaped the system.
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這是客戶引導系統成形的一例
04:32
Another is via the API.
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還有一例是透過API應用程式介面
04:34
We built an application-programming interface,
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我們建置了一個API
04:35
which basically means that programmers can write software that interacts with Twitter.
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讓軟體工程師能寫出推特相容程式
04:40
We currently know about over 2,000 pieces of software
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目前我們知道超過2千種軟體程式
04:42
that can send Twitter updates --
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可以傳送推特訊息更新
04:44
interfaces for Mac, Windows, your iPhone, your BlackBerry --
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像是Mac電腦、Windows、iPone和黑莓機…
04:48
as well as things like
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也包括了
04:51
a device that lets an unborn baby Twitter when it kicks
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讓腹中寶寶踢腿時就「推」個訊息
04:53
or a plant Twitter when it needs water.
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或是植物該澆水時也來推一下
04:56
Probably the most important third-party development
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最重要的第三方發展成果
04:59
came from a little company in Virginia called Summize.
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來自維吉尼亞州一間小公司Summize
05:02
Summize built a Twitter search engine.
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Summize建構一個推特搜尋引擎
05:04
And they tapped into the fact
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他們善加利用了一項真理
05:06
that, if you have millions of people around the world
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就是當全世界有數百萬人
05:08
talking about what they're doing and what's around them,
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談論他們做的事和面臨的事
05:10
you have an incredible resource to find out about any topic or event
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就大有機會從話題或事件裡
05:15
while it's going on.
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即時找到想找的東西
05:17
This really changed how we perceived Twitter.
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這也讓我們重新看待推特
05:19
For instance, here's what people are saying about TED.
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例如這是推特上大家對TED的討論
05:23
This is another way that our mind was shifted,
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以上是我們思考模式的一項轉變
05:27
and Twitter wasn't what we thought it was.
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推特並非僅是當初設定的樣子
05:29
We liked this so much we actually bought the company
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我們很喜歡那個搜尋引擎乾脆把公司買下來
05:31
and are folding it into the main product.
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然後把搜尋引擎併到推特裡
05:34
This not only lets you view Twitters in different ways,
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搜尋引擎讓人對推特有了不同看法
05:37
but it introduces new use cases as well.
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也衍生許多新的使用方式
05:40
One of my favorites is what happened a few months ago
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其中一種是在幾個月前發生的，我很欣賞
05:42
when there was a gas shortage in Atlanta.
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那時亞特蘭大汽油短缺
05:45
Some users figured out
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一些推特客想出法子
05:47
that they would Twitter when they found gas --
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一旦他們發現汽油就推一下
05:50
where it was, and how much it cost --
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告知地點價錢（每公升18元，洛根威爾市）
05:52
and then appended the keyword "#atlgas"
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然後還貼上「#atlgas」當關鍵字
05:54
which let other people search for that and find gas themselves.
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這樣其他人搜尋時就可找到訊息
05:58
And this trend of people using this communication network
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這種利用社交聯絡網路
06:00
to help each other out
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互助助人的趨勢
06:02
goes far beyond the original idea of just keeping up with family and friends.
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遠超越原先僅連繫親友的設定
06:06
It's happened more and more lately,
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最近這種情況愈趨頻繁
06:09
whether it's raising money for homeless people
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不論是為遊民募款
06:11
or to dig wells in Africa
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或是為了在非洲鑿井
06:13
or for a family in crisis.
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或只是某個家庭有困難
06:15
People have raised tens of thousands of dollars over Twitter
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大家在幾天內就募集數萬資金
06:18
in a matter of days on several occasions.
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名目各有不同
06:22
It seems like when you give people easier ways to share information,
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似乎提供輕鬆容易的分享方式
06:28
more good things happen.
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就能有更多善事
06:30
I have no idea what will happen next with Twitter.
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我不知道推特接下來會走向何種發展
06:34
I've learned to follow the hunch,
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但我學會相信直覺
06:36
but never assume where it will go.
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而且不要預設未來發展的走向
06:40
Thanks.
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謝謝
06:42
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
06:48
Chris Anderson: We're not quite done yet.
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主持人：還沒結束（訂閱我的推特：請輸入FOLLOW EV）
06:49
So, look, if we could have this screen live.
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讓我們看看螢幕同步顯示
06:52
This is actually the most terrifying thing that any speaker can do
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這是所有講者最怕遇到的
06:54
after they've been to an event.
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演講完還得面對這些
06:56
It's totally intimidating.
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真的非常可怕
06:59
So, this would be the Twitter search screen.
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現在這是推特的搜尋頁面
07:02
So we're going to just type a couple of random words into Twitter.
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我們隨便打幾個字
07:06
For example: "Evan Williams."
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比如說伊凡．威廉斯
07:11
"Evan Williams, give people more good ways to share information and follow your hunch at TED."
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「給大家更多資訊並相信你的直覺@ #TED」
07:15
"Currently listening to Evan Williams." "Currently listening to Evan Williams." "Evan Williams --"
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「…正在聽伊凡．威廉斯演講」
07:18
Oh.
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噢
07:19
"Evan Williams is just dying on stage here at TED.
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「伊凡．威廉斯在台上撐不下去了…」
07:21
Worst talk ever!" (Laughter)
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「史上最爛演講」
07:24
Evan Williams: Nice. Thanks.
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哈那還真謝了
07:26
CA: Just kidding.
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開個玩笑別在意
07:28
But, literally in the eight minutes he was talking,
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就在伊凡演講的八分鐘內
07:31
there are about fifty tweets that already came on the talk.
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就有大概五十則推特訊息速報
07:33
So he'll see every aspect of the reaction:
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所以他能看到各方不同迴響
07:36
the fact that Barack Obama is the biggest Twitterer,
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包括歐巴馬總統是最有名的推特客
07:38
the fact that it came out of TED.
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以及推特從TED開始發跡…
07:40
I don't think there's any other way of getting instant feedback that way.
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我想沒有其他方式能這麼快收到回應
07:42
You have build something very fascinating,
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你做了一件非常了不起的事
07:45
and it looks like its best times are still ahead of it.
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看來推特未來會更讓人驚艷
07:47
So, thank you very much, Evan. EW: Thank you.
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非常謝謝你，伊凡
07:49
CA: That was very interesting.
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真是場有趣的演講
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Evan Williams - Twitter co-founderEvan Williams is the co-founder of Twitter, the addictive messaging service that connects the world 140 characters at a time.
Why you should listen
Evan Williams helps the world answer the question "What are you doing?" Twitter, the tiny, free world-changing app Williams helped launch, has become a vital connector of people and communities (as well as a fantastic way to keep up with Shaq and Demi Moore).
Before Williams worked on Twitter, he was part of a previous revolution in mass communication, Blogger, while working at Google. He left Google in 2004 to launch the podcasting service Odeo, and Twitter spun out from this in 2006 as a side project based on an idea of Jack Dorsey's.
Evan Williams | Speaker | TED.com