TEDxBeaconStreet
Ani Liu: Smelfies, and other experiments in synthetic biology
安妮·刘: 气味自拍和其他人工生物学实验
Filmed:
Readability: 4.9
938,374 views
如果你能够拍一个气味自拍？如果你能够有一个让植物在你亲吻的地方生长的唇膏？安妮·刘探索了科技和感知的交汇点。她的作品可以挤在科学、设计和艺术之间。在这个简短聪明的演讲中，她分享梦想、虚构和实验，并问：“当科学幻想变成科学现实会怎么样？”
Ani Liu - Designer, artist
Ani Liu explores the intersection between technology and sensory perception. Full bio
Ani Liu explores the intersection between technology and sensory perception. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
What if our plants
0
760
1975
如果我们的植物
00:14
could sense the toxicity
levels in the soil
levels in the soil
1
2760
2696
能够感觉到土壤中的毒性强弱，
00:17
and express that toxicity
through the color of its leaves?
through the color of its leaves?
2
5480
3040
并通过叶子的颜色来表示毒性强弱。
00:21
What if those plants could also
remove those toxins from the soil?
remove those toxins from the soil?
3
9680
3320
如果这些植物还能够把毒素从土壤中移除？
00:26
Instead, what if those plants
4
14560
2096
或者，如果那些植物
00:28
grew their own packaging,
5
16680
1856
生长自己的包装，
00:30
or were designed to only be harvested
6
18560
2576
或者只能被所有者的专利机器收割。
00:33
by their owners' own patented machines?
7
21160
2256
00:35
What happens when biological design
8
23440
1896
当生物设计是被大批量产品所驱使
00:37
is driven by the motivations
of mass-produced commodities?
of mass-produced commodities?
9
25360
3536
事情会是怎样？
00:40
What kind of world would that be?
10
28920
1600
那样的世界会是怎么样？
00:43
My name is Ani, and I'm a designer
and researcher at MIT Media Lab,
and researcher at MIT Media Lab,
11
31240
4016
我的名字是安妮，我是MIT媒体实验室
的一个设计师和研究人员，
的一个设计师和研究人员，
00:47
where I'm part of a relatively new
and unique group called Design Fiction,
and unique group called Design Fiction,
12
35280
4136
我是新成立的组织“虚构设计”的一员，
00:51
where we're wedged somewhere
between science fiction and science fact.
between science fiction and science fact.
13
39440
4096
我们挤在科幻和科学之间。
00:55
And at MIT, I am lucky enough
to rub shoulders with scientists
to rub shoulders with scientists
14
43560
4136
在MIT，我很幸运能够和在最先进领域
00:59
studying all kinds of cutting edge fields
15
47720
1976
像人工神经学、人工智能、人工生活
01:01
like synthetic neurobiology,
16
49720
2376
01:04
artificial intelligence, artificial life
17
52120
2016
等等等等领域研究的科学家比肩。
01:06
and everything in between.
18
54160
1736
01:07
And across campus,
there's truly brilliant scientists
there's truly brilliant scientists
19
55920
3816
校园里，有很多聪明的科学家
01:11
asking questions like,
"How can I make the world a better place?"
"How can I make the world a better place?"
20
59760
3496
问像“我们如何让世界变的更好？”这样的问题。
01:15
And part of what my group
likes to ask is, "What is better?"
likes to ask is, "What is better?"
21
63280
2896
我的团队喜欢问的，是“什么是更好？”
01:18
What is better for you, for me,
22
66200
2096
“更好”对于你，对于我，
01:20
for a white woman, a gay man,
23
68320
2136
对于一个白人女士，一个同性恋男人，
01:22
a veteran, a child with a prosthetic?
24
70480
2496
一个退役军人，一个有假体的孩子是什么？
01:25
Technology is never neutral.
25
73000
2056
科技永远都不是中性的。
01:27
It frames a reality
26
75080
1656
它搭建现实的框架，
01:28
and reflects a context.
27
76760
1776
反射社会背景。
01:30
Can you imagine what it would say
about the work-life balance at your office
about the work-life balance at your office
28
78560
3736
你能够想象如果这是
你工作第一天的常见问题，
你工作第一天的常见问题，
01:34
if these were standard issue
on the first day?
on the first day?
29
82320
2176
你在办公室的生活和工作的平衡会是怎样的吗？
01:36
(Laughter)
30
84520
1416
（笑声）
01:37
I believe it's the role
of artists and designers
of artists and designers
31
85960
2256
我相信是艺术家和设计师的责任，
01:40
to raise critical questions.
32
88240
2136
来提出批判性问题。
01:42
Art is how you can see
and feel the future,
and feel the future,
33
90400
2416
艺术是你能够看见和感受未来的方式，
01:44
and today is an exciting
time to be a designer,
time to be a designer,
34
92840
2456
现在成为一个设计师是很激动人心的，
01:47
for all the new tools becoming accessible.
35
95320
2136
因为新的工具变的容易获取。
01:49
For instance, synthetic biology
36
97480
1576
比如，人工生物学
01:51
seeks to write biology
as a design problem.
as a design problem.
37
99080
2896
把生物学变成一个设计学。
01:54
And through these developments,
38
102000
1536
通过这些发展，
01:55
my lab asks, what are the roles
and responsibilities
and responsibilities
39
103560
2936
我的实验室问：作为一个艺术家、
设计师、科学家或者商人
设计师、科学家或者商人
01:58
of an artist, designer,
scientist or businessman?
scientist or businessman?
40
106520
4336
的角色和责任？
02:02
What are the implications
41
110880
1536
人工生物学、基因工程的含义是什么？
02:04
of synthetic biology, genetic engineering,
42
112440
2736
02:07
and how are they shaping our notions
of what it means to be a human?
of what it means to be a human?
43
115200
4616
以及它们是如何改变
我们作为人类的概念？
我们作为人类的概念？
02:11
What are the implications of this
on society, on evolution
on society, on evolution
44
119840
3296
这对我们的社会、
进化论的影响是什么？
进化论的影响是什么？
02:15
and what are the stakes in this game?
45
123160
2576
这其中有哪些利害关系
02:17
My own speculative design research
at the current moment
at the current moment
46
125760
3216
我的现在的臆想设计实验
02:21
plays with synthetic biology,
47
129000
1416
和人工生物学有关，
02:22
but for more emotionally driven output.
48
130440
3016
但是更和情感的表达有关。
02:25
I'm obsessed with olfaction
as a design space,
as a design space,
49
133480
2776
我痴迷于对气味的设计，
02:28
and this project started with this idea
50
136280
2816
这个项目开始于一个主意：
02:31
of what if you could take
a smell selfie, a smelfie?
a smell selfie, a smelfie?
51
139120
3776
如果你能够有一个气味自拍？
02:34
(Laughter)
52
142920
1456
（笑声）
02:36
What if you could take
your own natural body odor
your own natural body odor
53
144400
2736
如果你能够提取你的自然体味
02:39
and send it to a lover?
54
147160
2056
并发给一个爱人？
02:41
Funny enough, I found that this
was a 19th century Austrian tradition,
was a 19th century Austrian tradition,
55
149240
3776
很好笑的是，我发现在19世纪
这是一个澳大利亚的传统，
这是一个澳大利亚的传统，
02:45
where couples in courtship
would keep a slice of apple
would keep a slice of apple
56
153040
2616
情侣在求爱期会在跳舞时
02:47
crammed under their armpit during dances,
57
155680
2576
把一片苹果放在他们的腋下，
02:50
and at the end of the evening,
58
158280
1536
在晚上快结束时，
02:51
the girl would give the guy
she most fancied her used fruit,
she most fancied her used fruit,
59
159840
3376
女孩会把用过的水果送给她最喜欢的男孩
02:55
and if the feeling was mutual,
60
163240
2176
如果感情是相互的，
02:57
he would wolf down that stinky apple.
61
165440
1936
他会吃掉那个有气味的苹果。
02:59
(Laughter)
62
167400
3120
（笑声）
03:03
Famously, Napoleon wrote
many love letters to Josephine,
many love letters to Josephine,
63
171680
3296
拿破仑给约瑟芬写了一份情书，
03:07
but perhaps amongst the most memorable
is this brief and urgent note:
is this brief and urgent note:
64
175000
4256
但是可能情书中最值得记住的
是这个简短迫切的话：
是这个简短迫切的话：
03:11
"Home in three days. Don't bathe."
65
179280
2216
“三天内到家。不要洗澡。”
03:13
(Laughter)
66
181520
2056
（笑声）
03:15
Both Napoleon and Josephine
adored violets.
adored violets.
67
183600
2160
拿破仑和约瑟芬都喜欢紫罗兰。
03:19
Josephine wore violet-scented perfume,
68
187320
2136
约瑟芬用紫罗兰味道的香水，
03:21
carried violets on their wedding day,
69
189480
1816
在婚礼当天戴紫罗兰花，
03:23
and Napoleon sent her a bouquet of violets
70
191320
2015
拿破仑每年在纪念日
03:25
every year on their anniversary.
71
193359
1537
都会送她一束紫罗兰。
03:26
When Josephine passed away,
72
194920
1576
当约瑟芬去世的时候，
03:28
he planted violets at her grave,
73
196520
1576
他在她的坟墓上种了紫罗兰，
03:30
and just before his exile,
74
198120
1816
在他被驱逐前，
他回到她的坟墓，
03:31
he went back to that tomb site,
75
199960
2136
03:34
picked some of those flowers,
entombed them in a locket
entombed them in a locket
76
202120
2656
捡起一些花朵，放在项链坠内
03:36
and wore them until the day he died.
77
204800
1736
并戴到他去世的那一天。
03:38
And I found this so moving,
78
206560
1536
我觉得这非常感人，
03:40
I thought, could I engineer that violet
to smell just like Josephine?
to smell just like Josephine?
79
208120
3896
我想，我能够改变那朵紫罗兰，
让它闻起来像约瑟芬吗？
让它闻起来像约瑟芬吗？
03:44
What if, for the rest of eternity,
80
212040
1656
如果，在未来，
03:45
when you went to visit her site,
81
213720
1576
你去拜访她的坟墓，
03:47
you could smell Josephine
just as Napoleon loved her?
just as Napoleon loved her?
82
215320
3256
你能够闻到约瑟芬，
就像拿破仑那样爱她吗？
就像拿破仑那样爱她吗？
03:50
Could we engineer new ways of mourning,
83
218600
2416
我们能够创造吊唁的新方式，
03:53
new rituals for remembering?
84
221040
2096
新的记忆的仪式吗？
03:55
After all, we've engineered
transgenic crops
transgenic crops
85
223160
2696
毕竟我们已经创造了转基因庄稼，
03:57
to be maximized for profit,
86
225880
2136
来最大化收益，
04:00
crops that stand up to transport,
87
228040
2136
能够承受住运输的庄稼，
04:02
crops that have a long shelf life,
88
230200
1936
有长保质期的庄稼，
04:04
crops that taste sugary sweet
but resist pests,
but resist pests,
89
232160
2456
吃起来很甜但是抵抗害虫的庄稼，
04:06
sometimes at the expense
of nutritional value.
of nutritional value.
90
234640
3416
有的时候以营养价值为代价。
04:10
Can we harness these same technologies
for an emotionally sensitive output?
for an emotionally sensitive output?
91
238080
4576
我们能够有同样的科技，
为了情感的表达吗？
为了情感的表达吗？
04:14
So currently in my lab,
92
242680
1296
所以现在在我的实验室里，
04:16
I'm researching questions like,
what makes a human smell like a human?
what makes a human smell like a human?
93
244000
3296
我在研究像 “什么让人类
闻起来像人类？”这样的问题。
闻起来像人类？”这样的问题。
04:19
And it turns out it's fairly complicated.
94
247320
2616
结果，这挺复杂的。
04:21
Factors such as your diet,
your medications, your lifestyle
your medications, your lifestyle
95
249960
3216
你的饮食，你的药物和
你的生活方式等等因素
你的生活方式等等因素
04:25
all factor into the way you smell.
96
253200
2016
都影响你的气味。
04:27
And I found that our sweat
is mostly odorless,
is mostly odorless,
97
255240
2536
我发现我们的汗绝大多数是无味的，
04:29
but it's our bacteria and microbiome
98
257800
2135
但是是我们的细菌和微生物
04:31
that's responsible for your smells,
your mood, your identity
your mood, your identity
99
259959
3737
产生了我们的气味、我们的心情、
04:35
and so much beyond.
100
263720
1616
我们的身份等等。
04:37
And there's all kinds
of molecules that you emit
of molecules that you emit
101
265360
2296
你释放出非常多种分子
04:39
but which we only perceive subconsciously.
102
267680
2280
被我们无意间接收。
04:43
So I've been cataloging and collecting
103
271120
2336
所以我一直在分类和收集
04:45
bacteria from different sites of my body.
104
273480
2176
我身体不同部分的细菌。
04:47
After talking to a scientist, we thought,
105
275680
1976
在与一个科学家的谈话后，我们想，
04:49
maybe the perfect concoction of Ani
106
277680
1696
安妮最好的混合体可能是
04:51
is like 10 percent collarbone,
30 percent underarm,
30 percent underarm,
107
279400
3976
10%的锁骨，30%的腋下，
04:55
40 percent bikini line and so forth,
108
283400
2296
40%比基尼线等等，
04:57
and occasionally
I let researchers from other labs
I let researchers from other labs
109
285720
3056
偶尔，我让其他实验室的研究人员
05:00
take a sniff of my samples.
110
288800
1656
闻闻我的样本。
05:02
And it's been interesting to hear
how smell of the body
how smell of the body
111
290480
3176
身体的气味是如何在身体外被接收的
05:05
is perceived outside
of the context of the body.
of the context of the body.
112
293680
2816
一直让我觉得有兴趣。
05:08
I've gotten feedback such as,
113
296520
1576
我听过反馈，
05:10
smells like flowers, like chicken,
114
298120
2456
像闻起来像花朵，像鸡，
05:12
like cornflakes,
115
300600
1216
像脆玉米片，
05:13
like beef carnitas.
116
301840
1456
像墨西哥玉米牛肉卷。
05:15
(Laughter)
117
303320
1896
（笑声）
05:17
At the same time, I cultivate
a set of carnivorous plants
a set of carnivorous plants
118
305240
3616
同时，我种植了一系列食肉植物，
05:20
for their ability to emit
fleshlike odors to attract prey,
fleshlike odors to attract prey,
119
308880
3656
因为他们能够释放
像动物一样的气味来吸引猎物，
像动物一样的气味来吸引猎物，
05:24
in an attempt to kind of create
this symbiotic relationship
this symbiotic relationship
120
312560
2816
创造这种共生的关系，
05:27
between my bacteria and this organism.
121
315400
2920
在我的细菌和这个生物之间。
05:31
And as it so happens,
I'm at MIT and I'm in a bar,
I'm at MIT and I'm in a bar,
122
319520
2656
当这发生的时候，
我在MIT，我在一个酒吧里，
我在MIT，我在一个酒吧里，
05:34
and I was talking to a scientist
123
322200
2296
我在和一个科学家说话，
05:36
who happens to be a chemist
and a plant scientist,
and a plant scientist,
124
324520
2376
他正好是一个化学家和植物学家，
05:38
and I was telling him about my project,
125
326920
1896
我在跟他说关于我的项目，
05:40
and he was like, "Well, this sounds
like botany for lonely women."
like botany for lonely women."
126
328840
3136
他回答：“好吧，这听起来
像是一个孤独的女人的园艺。”
像是一个孤独的女人的园艺。”
05:44
(Laughter)
127
332000
3016
（笑声）
05:47
Unperturbed, I said, "OK."
128
335040
2896
镇定地，我说：“好吧。”
05:49
I challenged him.
129
337960
1216
我挑战了他，
05:51
"Can we engineer a plant
that can love me back?"
that can love me back?"
130
339200
3296
“我们能改造一个植物，
让它回应我的爱吗？”
让它回应我的爱吗？”
05:54
And for some reason,
he was like, "Sure, why not?"
he was like, "Sure, why not?"
131
342520
3456
他回答：“当然，为什么不呢？”
05:58
So we started with,
can we get a plant to grow towards me
can we get a plant to grow towards me
132
346000
2936
所以我们以“能否让一个植物朝我生长”开始，
06:00
like I was the sun?
133
348960
1456
就好像我是太阳一样。
06:02
And so we're looking at mechanisms
in plants such as phototropism,
in plants such as phototropism,
134
350440
3936
所以我们查找植物的机制，比如趋光性，
06:06
which causes the plant
to grow towards the sun
to grow towards the sun
135
354400
2176
它让植物向太阳生长，
06:08
by producing hormones like auxin,
136
356600
1976
通过分泌像生长素一样的荷尔蒙，
06:10
which causes cell elongation
on the shady side.
on the shady side.
137
358600
2656
这能够引起在阴暗处的细胞生长。
06:13
And right now I'm creating
a set of lipsticks
a set of lipsticks
138
361280
2136
现在，我在创造一套唇膏，
06:15
that are infused with these chemicals
139
363440
1816
能够和这些化学成分融合，
06:17
that allow me to interact with a plant
on its own chemical signatures --
on its own chemical signatures --
140
365280
3656
使我和一株有自己独特
化学标志——唇膏的植物互动，
化学标志——唇膏的植物互动，
06:20
lipsticks that cause plants
to grow where I kiss it,
to grow where I kiss it,
141
368960
3416
能够使我亲吻的那部分植物生长，
06:24
plants that blossom
where I kiss the bloom.
where I kiss the bloom.
142
372400
2736
在我亲吻处开花。
06:27
And through these projects,
143
375160
2776
通过这些项目，
06:29
I'm asking questions like,
144
377960
1416
我问问题，像
06:31
how do we define nature?
145
379400
1696
“我们如何定义自然？”
06:33
How do we define nature
when we can reengineer its properties,
when we can reengineer its properties,
146
381120
3536
我们如何定义自然，
当我们可以重建它的特点？
当我们可以重建它的特点？
06:36
and when should we do it?
147
384680
1416
什么时候我们应该付诸行动？
06:38
Should we do it for profit, for utility?
148
386120
3696
我们应该以盈利还是效用为目的？
06:41
Can we do it for emotional ends?
149
389840
1696
我们能够为感情需求做什么吗？
06:43
Can biotechnology be used
to create work as moving as music?
to create work as moving as music?
150
391560
3576
生物科技能否被用来
创造动作或者音乐作品？
创造动作或者音乐作品？
06:47
What are the thresholds between science
151
395160
1896
科学和改变我们情绪的门槛在哪里？
06:49
and its ability to shape
our emotional landscape?
our emotional landscape?
152
397080
2840
06:52
It's a famous design mantra
that form follows function.
that form follows function.
153
400640
3776
形态和功能是设计最出名的颂歌。
06:56
Well, now, wedged somewhere
between science, design and art
between science, design and art
154
404440
4056
挤在科学、设计和艺术之间，
07:00
I get to ask,
155
408520
1216
我不得不问，
07:01
what if fiction informs fact?
156
409760
1456
如果虚幻启发现实，会怎样？
07:03
What kind of R&D lab would that look like
157
411240
2056
那样的研究与开发实验室会是什么样子？
07:05
and what kind of questions
would we ask together?
would we ask together?
158
413320
2616
我们应该一起问怎样的问题？
07:07
We often look to technology as the answer,
159
415960
2336
我们通常认为科技是答案，
07:10
but as an artist and designer,
160
418320
1536
但是作为一个艺术家和设计师，
07:11
I like to ask, but what is the question?
161
419880
2496
我喜欢问问题，但是问题是什么？
07:14
Thank you.
162
422400
1216
谢谢。
07:15
(Applause)
163
423640
3360
（鼓掌）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ani Liu - Designer, artistAni Liu explores the intersection between technology and sensory perception.
Why you should listen
Ani Liu is a transdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of art and science. Currently at MIT Media Lab, she creates research-based art that explores the social, cultural and ethical implications of emerging technologies. In the search to link scientific innovation with emotional tangibility, her work has spanned the scales of architectural installations, wearable prosthetics, augmented reality and synthetic biology.
Liu's work has been presented at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Asian Art Museum, MIT Museum, MIT Media Lab, Wiesner Gallery, Harvard University, Open Gallery, Powerhouse Alliance Conference, Buildings as Cities Inaugural Conference and TEDxBeaconStreet. Her work has been featured in several publications, including See Yourself X: Human Futures Expanded and Solid: Design Techniques.
In 2014-15, she led the research program in Sensory Mediation at the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, which explores how information visualization, augmented reality and other emerging technologies can be harnessed to extend the human sensorium to redefine spatial experience.
She taught as an Associate Instructor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she co-taught an advanced-level architectural studio called Architecture of Cultural Prosthetics: Tools for Communication and Expression in the Public Space with Krzysztof Wodiczko.
Liu has a BA from Dartmouth College and received a Masters of Architecture degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, earning a distinction for her thesis in wearable technologies, responsive environments and cultural prosthetics. She continually seeks to discover the unexpected, through playful experimentation, intuition and speculative storytelling.
Ani Liu | Speaker | TED.com