Are Video Calls the Best We Can Do in the Age of the Metaverse? | Josephine Eyre | TED

翻译人员: Yip Yan Yeung 校对人员: Grace Man

We all have questions that keep us up at night.

我们都有一些 让自己彻夜难眠的问题。

Here are two of mine.

我的是这两个。

The first is: What makes us human?

第一个：我们为什么是人类呢？

In a world where human beings and technology

在这个世界上，人类和科技

are increasingly converging

逐渐融合，

and where with the power of virtual reality

通过虚拟现实，

we can embody anything we want,

我们可以长成任何样子，

what is it that continues to keep us human?

那是什么让我们还是人类呢？

Now there's loads of different answers to this,

答案众说纷纭，

but the social anthropologist in me

但是我内心的社会人类学家

hangs on to the human power of forethought.

倾向于人类“深谋远虑”的能力。

That's our ability to predict and prepare for what might happen.

也就是我们预测、 为各种可能性做好准备的能力。

Of all the things that make us uniquely human,

让我们成为人类这一独特物种的 所有因素之中，

forethought has got to be one of the most interesting

深谋远虑绝对是最有趣的一个，

because it enables us to imagine and create our futures.

因为它让我们可以 畅想未来、创造未来。

It gives us the ability to be deeply creative.

它让我们可以有天马行空的想象。

My next question is: Are we living in reality?

我的下一个问题是： 我们生活在现实中吗？

I'm not channeling my inner Morpheus here.

我不是在“妖言惑众”，催眠各位。

This is honestly something I think about a lot.

这真的是我一直在想的问题。

I think about how we’re moving towards, or perhaps have always been,

我在思考我们该如何向着， 也有可能我们一直

living in multiple levels of existence.

有多重的生存形式。

After all, simulations aside,

毕竟如果不谈仿真，

reality is really just the stories we tell ourselves

“现实”真的只是我们 自己告诉自己的故事，

about what we think we see around us

表达着我们周围的所见所想，

and may be influenced by other people’s stories.

也许还会受到别人故事的影响。

And so every story that you have ever heard or ever will,

你曾听过，或者 未来将要听到的每个故事，

including the one I'm about to tell you now,

包括我现在要告诉你的这一个，

will influence your version of reality.

都会改变你心目中 那一版“现实”。

When I was five years old,

在我五岁时，

I was obsessed with "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll.

我沉迷于刘易斯·卡罗尔 （Lewis Carroll）的作品

《爱丽丝梦游仙境》。

I loved how impossible it was, and yet real at the same time.

我喜爱它的不可思议， 但又让我身临其境。

Back then, this was my virtual reality.

当时，它就是我的虚拟现实。

And there's an exchange in the book between Alice and the White Queen,

书中有一段爱丽丝和白皇后的对话，

where the queen is saying that if you try hard enough,

白皇后说如果你足够努力，

you can believe in anything,

你就能相信任何事物，

whether it's possible or not.

无论可能与否。

So now, even though I consider myself a pretty pragmatic person,

所以如今，虽然我觉得自己 是个相当务实的人，

I too try to believe in six impossible things before breakfast.

我也会在早餐前， 试着去相信六件不可能的事。

And with the power of virtual reality, VR, I can often make them a reality.

通过虚拟现实，即 VR， 我总能把它们变为现实。

But as you get older, your imagination takes a bit of a knock

但是随着你长大， 你的想象力会受挫，

and you lose that childlike wonder.

会失去充满童真的奇思妙想。

There's bills to pay and kids to keep alive

得付账单，得养娃，

and work to be done.

得干活。

And then there's the monotony of boardrooms

枯燥乏味的开会、演示、

and PowerPoint presentations

and video calls.

视频会议。

Hmm.

嗯……

Now, I've been lucky to work remotely for a lot of my career,

我有幸可以远程完成很多份工作，

and it is amazing for so many different reasons.

有许多方面都让这种体验很不错。

Without all of the technology we have today,

如果没有我们现在拥有的这些科技，

remote work would be impossible.

我们是不可能远程工作的。

But our overreliance on video calls

但是我们对视频会议的过度依赖

is hurting our ability to be creative as a team.

正在破坏我们团队的创造力。

And this is a big problem

这是个大问题，

because creativity isn't just for artists and musicians.

因为创造力并不 专属于艺术家和音乐家。

It's what drives innovation in our workplaces.

创造力引领着我们工作中的创新。

And without it, we can't solve the many problems we face as humanity.

如果没有创造力，我们就 无法解决人类面临的诸多问题。

Now you may have been told to turn your camera on during video calls

开视频会议的时候， 可能会有人让你把摄像头打开，

so that people can more easily connect with you.

这样人们可以更容易和你交流。

This makes a lot of sense on the surface level

乍一看确实很有道理，

because nobody likes speaking to a blank screen.

因为没有人喜欢 对着空白屏幕说话。

But research done by Carnegie Mellon University

但是根据卡耐基梅隆大学的研究，

has found that turning our cameras on during video calls

在视频会议上打开摄像头

impacts our ability to do creative teamwork.

可以增强我们进行 创造性团队合作的能力。

Now if you're anything like me on a video call,

如果你在开视频会议的时候 和我一样，

your attention is very divided.

你就得一心两用。

You're trying to look at people's facial expressions,

你得看着别人的表情，

usually, which you can't quite make out.

但通常你也看不太出来。

You're trying to listen to what people are saying,

你得听人家在说些什么，

but you're also looking at yourself

但是你还得看着你自己，

and making sure you've got no food on your face.

不要让吃的粘在你的脸上。

And it just doesn't feel like a very natural way to communicate.

感觉不是一种很自然的交流方式。

And it's not.

确实不是。

For millennia, our human ancestors,

千百年以来，我们的先祖，

who have evolved to be creative just in order to survive,

为了生存逐渐具备创意，

have done so in 3D environments.

这在 3D 的环境里也是一样的。

That's just how our brains are wired.

我们的大脑就是这么设置的。

It's only been relatively recently

也只有到相对最近的时期，

that we've been distracted by these glowing 2D screens.

我们才被这些发亮的 2D 屏幕扰乱心神。

And these screens are designed to display things.

这些屏幕就是用来显示东西的。

It's called display technology for a reason.

称之为“显示技术”是有道理的。

We were never meant to communicate through them.

我们本不该通过它们来交流。

So if video calls are confusing

既然视频会议让人稀里糊涂，

and they hurt our creativity,

还会影响我们的创造力，

then why are we still using them?

那我们为什么还在用它呢？

And when I asked this question, the answer I get is usually the same.

每当我问出这个问题， 得到的答案总是一样的。

People say it's the best we have

人们说，它已经是最优选了，

or it's the closest thing we can get to real life.

或者说它是最接近 我们真实生活的东西。

So this got me thinking.

这引发了我的思考。

Are video calls really the best we can do with all of the technology of today?

如今各种科技摆在我们眼前， 我们就只能开视频会议吗？

And what's so good about real life anyway?

现实生活有什么好的？

What if, rather than trying to recreate reality,

如果我们不是要重建现实，

we aimed for something better?

而是要创建一些更好的东西呢？

Now there's already a multibillion-dollar industry devoted to just this,

现在已经有了一个几十亿美元 规模的行业致力于这个目标，

instantly transporting you somewhere else

把你瞬间传去别处，

and enabling you to be present and creative

让你可以与世界各地的人 齐聚一堂，一起创作。

with people from around the world.

And that is the games industry.

这个行业就是游戏行业。

Many games are laying the foundation for the metaverse,

很多游戏都在为元宇宙打基础，

and we've heard quite a lot about this metaverse recently.

我们最近总是会听到元宇宙的消息。

I like to think of it as an evolved 3D and experiential version of the internet.

我会把它看作 互联网的进化 3D 体验版。

To give you an example.

举个例子。

Brands currently have websites and social media pages.

现在的品牌都有官网和 社交媒体网页。

In the metaverse, these brands may also have

在元宇宙里，品牌也可以有

experiential immersive spaces

沉浸式体验的空间，

that you can visit and engage directly with whatever they're selling.

你可以直接访问或者体验 它们正在出售的商品。

So the metaverse is providing these new social creative spaces.

元宇宙提供了新式社交创新空间。

So if you find yourself worrying

如果你在担心

that your child is playing too much Minecraft

你的孩子玩了太久 《我的世界》、

or Roblox or Fortnite,

《罗布乐思》（Roblox） 或者《堡垒之夜》，

you can remind yourself that these are not just games.

你该提醒一下自己， 这些都不仅仅是游戏。

They're hanging out with their friends.

他们可以和朋友们出去玩。

They’re practicing important life skills like empathy and teamwork.

他们在锻炼重要的人生技能， 比如同理心和团队合作。

And they’re often creating and innovating in these spaces,

他们在这些空间里 也时常创造、创新，

far more, dare I say, than you or I are on our fourth video call of the day.

我敢说比你我开了今天第四场 视频会议创造的要多得多。

Virtual reality, whilst it's not synonymous with the metaverse,

虚拟现实虽然无法等同于元宇宙，

is one of the most powerful technologies we can use to access these spaces.

但是它会是我们进入这些空间 最有用的技术之一。

And I believe with the power of VR,

我相信通过 VR，

the metaverse will reignite workplace creativity

元宇宙可以重燃工作上的创造力，

and inspire us to achieve the impossible.

激励我们达成不可能的目标。

But let's take a step back here.

但是退后一步。

The three key features of virtual reality

虚拟现实的三个重要特色

can be said to be immersion, interaction and imagination.

是沉浸（immersion）、交互 （interaction）和想象（imagination）。

I like to call them the “three magic I’s.”

我称之为“神奇三 I ”。

And the cool thing about the three magic I's

神奇三 I 的神奇之处在于

is that they're also three key drivers,

它们也是三个关键驱动力，

I believe, of creative collaboration as well.

我相信它们驱动着创意合作。

So let's look at these in a bit more detail.

我们来仔细看一看。

The first is immersion.

第一，沉浸。

Immersion by this definition

此语境下的“沉浸”

is when your senses are isolated from your physical environment

意味着你的感官 与物理环境分隔开来，

and put into an entirely different virtual environment.

投入一个截然不同的虚拟环境。

And technology is coming on so much

科技进步飞快，

that we won't just be able to see, hear and feel things in VR,

我们不仅能在 VR 中 看到、听到、感受到，

but we'll be able to taste and smell them too.

还能尝到、闻到。

The “internet of senses” is here,

“互联感官”已经到来，

and it's completely revolutionizing how we interact with each other

彻底革新了我们在虚拟环境里 与他人互动的方式。

in virtual environments.

Immersion gives us copresence.

沉浸带来了“共现”。

That's that feeling of really being there with others.

这是种真实与他人共处一室的感觉。

And our brains don't know the difference

一旦“共现”了， 我们的大脑便无法分辨

between virtual reality and reality reality

虚拟现实和真实现实的区别，

when it comes to copresence,

so we can be together psychologically, even when we're apart.

所以即使物理上我们天各一方， 我们仍能在心理上紧密相连。

And this enables social creativity to thrive.

这就能让社交创造力蓬勃生长。

The second magic I is interaction.

第二个神奇 I 是交互。

And interaction is where you can manipulate things within your environment

交互指的是你可以操控环境里 在现实中不存在的物件。

that isn't really there.

So when we design physical products,

在设计实体物件的时候，

we imagine them in 3D,

我们会想象它们 3D 的样子，

we produce them in 3D.

会把它们制造成 3D 的实体。

And yet traditionally, we've visualized them on 2D screens.

但是我们通常会 把它们展现在 2D 屏幕上。

By using VR instead,

如果我们用了 VR，

we can do this in real time in 3D

就能实时进行 3D 操作，

whilst being able to cocreate, discuss

与此同时还能与团队 共同创作、讨论、

and manipulate these designs with our teams.

调整这些设计。

The third magic I is imagination, and this is a biggie for me.

第三个神奇 I 是想象， 对我来说很重要。

VR gives us the ability to do anything and be anywhere,

VR 让我们能够 为所欲为、上天入地，

regardless of whether it exists in reality or not.

无论在真实世界中是否存在。

Maybe you want to speak to someone in a different language

也许你想和一个说着外语的人交谈，

and have that instantly translated above the avatar's head.

虚拟形象的头顶会即刻显示翻译。

Perhaps you want to take your brainstorm on top of Kilimanjaro

也许你想在乞力马扎罗山顶 进行头脑风暴，

or write your notes in dust on the Moon.

或者在月球表面用月尘记笔记。

And yet, with all of the amazing possibilities afforded to us by VR,

但是，即使 VR 为我们提供了 如此多神奇的可能性，

lots of our virtual environments still mirror our physical environments.

很多虚拟环境依旧 映射着我们的物理环境。

And there's a psychological reason for this.

这是有心理原因的。

A concept called “structured imagination”

这个概念称为“结构化想象”，

means that we tend to rely on existing paradigms when we create things.

意思是在创造新事物的时候， 我们很容易会基于已有的规则。

In fact, let's try something quickly.

我们来快速试一下。

I want you right now to imagine an animal that doesn't exist

我想请你们现在 想象一个不存在的动物，

and be as creative as you can be.

尽可能大开脑洞。

Got something?

想到了吗？

So even though I told you to be as creative as you can be,

就算我让你们尽可能大开脑洞，

structured imagination tells me that most people will have imagined

结构化想象告诉我， 很多人会想象出

an animal with eyes of some form and legs of some form,

一种动物，有着某种形态的眼睛， 某种形态的腿，

perhaps not dissimilar to Leggy McEyeface over here.

也许和图上这个 多腿大眼怪相差无几。

Maybe that's just me.

也有可能只有我是这样。

But we do the same things when we think about our workplaces.

但是想一想我们的工作， 也会出现同样的情况。

We think of an office as a building with a roof and chairs and desks.

想到办公室，我们会默认是 一栋楼，有屋顶，有桌椅。

But we don't need a roof in the metaverse

但是在元宇宙里， 我们不需要屋顶，

because there's no precipitation.

因为根本不会下雨。

We don't need chairs with legs because the floor isn't really there.

我们不需要有腿的椅子， 因为根本没有地面。

In fact, we don't need chairs at all.

其实我们连椅子都不需要。

Do you think that's air you're breathing right now?

你觉得你现在呼吸的是空气吗？

And the problem with recreating things like traditional boardrooms

再现某些东西，比如传统的会议室， 会导致一个问题，

is that we know that stark corporate spaces

我们都知道冰冷的办公空间

aren't conducive to creative collaboration.

不会促进创意合作。

So what else do we know about creative collaboration?

关于创意合作， 我们还了解一些什么呢？

Thankfully, we know quite a lot.

还好，我们了解很多。

We know that retreats,

我们知道休息一下，

breaking away from the day-to-day,

打破枯燥日常，

can help induce creative thinking.

可以促进创造性思维。

We know that some time alone for reflection

我们知道独自一人 自省一会儿，

can help the team be more creative when they come back together.

会让团队集结在一起时更有创意。

We can speak to color psychologists

和色彩心理学家聊一聊，

who will tell you that gray is not a great color

他们会告诉你， 如果你想刺激创造力，

if you're trying to encourage creativity.

灰色可不是一个好选择。

We know that nature,

我们知道自然界、

the unexpected

意料之外的事，

and even messiness can help induce divergent thinking.

甚至是邋里邋遢， 都有助于促进发散思维。

So as we build our metaverse workplaces, we can be inspired by our imaginations

在我们打造元宇宙职场时， 我们可以受到想象力的启发，

but guided by all of this fantastic research

但是由曾经各种 优秀的研究成果引导。

that's been done before.

Lots of people ask me how far we are away from a true metaverse,

很多人问我， 我们离真正的元宇宙还有多远，

and I don’t really have an answer for that.

但是我真的无法回答。

Or I do, but we’d be here all day.

我可以回答， 但是我们得说上一整天。

But I will say two things.

但我在这里只说两点。

The first thing is that using immersive technology

第一，使用沉浸式技术

is not the future of workplace communication.

不会是工作交流的未来。

It's the present.

而是工作交流的现在。

Organizations, large and small,

大大小小的机构组织

are already providing VR headsets to their employees

已经在为员工提供 VR 头显，

the same way that they would traditionally just provide a laptop,

就如同传统的提供工作电脑，

to help their teams feel closer together,

让团队感觉更紧密，

to encourage trust and to grow relationships.

培养信任，增进感情。

Secondly, and importantly,

第二，也是很重要的一点，

the impact that the metaverse will have on various areas of our lives

元宇宙为我们生活的方方面面 带来的影响

will be profound.

会很深远。

And as with anything created by humans,

人类创造的任何事物，

there's a potential for it to be incredibly positive

可以大有裨益，

or devastatingly negative.

也可以毁天灭地。

Just as social media, in the previous iteration of the internet,

就比如社交媒体， 上一代互联网，

gave a voice to the voiceless and created jobs that didn’t exist before,

给予无法发声的人发声的权利， 创造以前没有的岗位，

it also laid the foundation for dangerous monopolies

与此同时， 为危险的垄断现象埋下了祸根，

and for misinformation campaigns that have destabilized entire democracies.

为误导大众的活动埋下了祸根， 让整个民主体制动荡不安。

So ...

因此……

We have an incredible opportunity in front of us,

我们眼前有一个千载难逢的机会，

an opportunity to completely reimagine work and how we collaborate.

一个完全重构工作 和合作方式的机会。

But we must use our human power of forethought

但是我们必须利用我们 作为人类深谋远虑的能力，

to create the kind of future we want to see.

打造我们想看到的未来。

We must become conscious and deliberate creators of our own destinies.

我们必须成为自己命运的 头脑清醒、深思熟虑的创造者。

“Alice in Wonderland” symbolized curiosity,

《爱丽丝梦游仙境》 代表着好奇心、

imagination and experiencing the impossible.

想象力、亲历不可能之事。

VR allows us to do the same.

VR 让我们也可以做到这些事。

So here's my ask of every leader today.

我想号召现在的各位领导。

Let's put on our VR headsets and follow that white rabbit.

戴上 VR 头显， 跟着白兔先生吧。

Let's chase our curiosity to impossible places in the metaverse

随着好奇心， 前往元宇宙里的不可思议之境，

where anything can happen --

一切皆有可能，

and where we can solve humanity's biggest problems together.

在那里，我们可以一起 解决人类面临的大问题。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）