Chris Downey: Design with the blind in mind

翻译人员: June He 校对人员: Yukun Chen

So, stepping down out of the bus,

嗯，我下了公交，

I headed back to the corner

走到街角，

to head west en route to a braille training session.

正准备往西走去上盲文培训班。

It was the winter of 2009,

－－那是2009年的冬天，

and I had been blind for about a year.

那时我已失明约一年－－

Things were going pretty well.

一切还挺顺利

Safely reaching the other side,

我安全地到了街的另一头。

I turned to the left,

我向左转，

pushed the auto-button for the audible pedestrian signal,

按了盲人过街的语音提示按钮，

and waited my turn.

等着过马路。

As it went off, I took off

當提示声响起，我走了出去

and safely got to the other side.

并且安全地过到马路另一边。

Stepping onto the sidewalk,

走上人行道，

I then heard the sound of a steel chair

我随后听见一把铁椅子

slide across the concrete sidewalk in front of me.

在我面前划过水泥人行道的声音。

I know there's a cafe on the corner,

我知道街角有个咖啡馆，

and they have chairs out in front,

他家店前摆着椅子，

so I just adjusted to the left

所以我就向左边避了避

to get closer to the street.

移到靠路那一边。

As I did, so slid the chair.

我正移着，那椅子也向这边移。

I just figured I'd made a mistake,

我估计我搞错了，

and went back to the right,

于是又重新走到右边，

and so slid the chair in perfect synchronicity.

接着那椅子（居然）跟我完全合拍地也向那边移去。

Now I was getting a little anxious.

这下我有点慌了。

I went back to the left,

我又向左挪了挪，

and so slid the chair,

椅子也向左挪了挪，

blocking my path of travel.

挡住了我的去路。

Now, I was officially freaking out.

这会儿我已经開始抓狂了，

So I yelled,

于是我喊道，

"Who the hell's out there? What's going on?"

“谁他妈在那儿？搞什么鬼？”

Just then, over my shout,

就在那时，高过我的喊声，

I heard something else, a familiar rattle.

我听到一阵熟悉的悉悉唆唆声。

It sounded familiar,

這声音听起来好熟，

and I quickly considered another possibility,

我灵机一动，想到了另一个可能性，

and I reached out with my left hand,

于是伸出我的左手，

as my fingers brushed against something fuzzy,

我的手指穿过毛茸茸的什么东西，

and I came across an ear,

接着是一只耳朵，

the ear of a dog, perhaps a golden retriever.

一只狗耳朵——可能是一只黃金猎犬。

Its leash had been tied to the chair

她的主人进去买咖啡的时候，

as her master went in for coffee,

把她的狗链拴到那个椅子上，

and she was just persistent in her efforts

它正努力不懈地試著来

to greet me, perhaps get a scratch behind the ear.

跟我打招呼，也许想要我挠挠它的耳根，

Who knows, maybe she was volunteering for service.

天知道，没准它正想帮我带路呢。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But that little story is really about

这个小故事在描述的是

the fears and misconceptions that come along

那种伴随着

with the idea of moving through the city

瞎眼闯都市而來的

without sight,

恐惧和误解，

seemingly oblivious to the environment

你对周围的环境似乎一无所知

and the people around you.

对周围的人亦然无知。

So let me step back and set the stage a little bit.

让我们还是稍稍倒带。

On St. Patrick's Day of 2008,

回到2008年的圣帕特里克节。

I reported to the hospital for surgery

我在医院登记开刀

to remove a brain tumor.

切除一颗脑瘤。

The surgery was successful.

手术很成功。

Two days later, my sight started to fail.

两天后，我的视力开始减退。

On the third day, it was gone.

第三天我就完全失明了。

Immediately, I was struck by an incredible sense

一瞬间，我被一阵难以言喻的

of fear, of confusion, of vulnerability,

恐惧、迷茫及无助所击倒，

like anybody would.

相信这事儿发生在谁身上谁都会这样。

But as I had time to stop and think,

然而当我慢慢停下来思考，

I actually started to realize

其实我逐渐意识到

I had a lot to be grateful for.

我依然拥有很多值得我去感恩的東西。

In particular, I thought about my dad,

尤其是我想起我的父亲，

who had passed away from complications

他逝世于

from brain surgery.

脑部手术的并发症。

He was 36. I was seven at the time.

享年36岁，而我当年才七岁。

So although I had every reason

所以说，即使我有理由

to be fearful of what was ahead,

对未来感到害怕，

and had no clue quite what was going to happen,

对未来感到迷茫，

I was alive.

至少我还活著。

My son still had his dad.

我儿子还有爸爸。

And besides, it's not like I was the first person

而且我又不是世界上第一个

ever to lose their sight.

失明的人。

I knew there had to be all sorts of systems

我知道這世上一定有各种系统

and techniques and training to have

和技术以及训练

to live a full and meaningful, active life

能让我即使失去了视力，

without sight.

也能过有意义且积极的生活。

So by the time I was discharged from the hospital

所以几天之后当我出院时，

a few days later, I left with a mission,

我给自己下了一个任务，

a mission to get out and get the best training

那就是一定要尽可能找到最好的训练

as quickly as I could and get on to rebuilding my life.

尽快重新建构我的人生。

Within six months, I had returned to work.

不到六个月，我就回到了原来的工作岗位。

My training had started.

我的恢复训练开始了。

I even started riding a tandem bike

我甚至开始和我之前的骑友一起

with my old cycling buddies,

骑双人自行车，

and was commuting to work on my own,

而且自己一个人步行穿街，

walking through town and taking the bus.

搭乘公交。

It was a lot of hard work.

那费了不少功夫。

But what I didn't anticipate

但我始料未及的是

through that rapid transition

经过那场突如其来的变故

was the incredible experience of the juxtaposition

我得以在很短的时间内

of my sighted experience up against my unsighted experience

比较失明前后

of the same places and the same people

对同样的地方、同样的人

within such a short period of time.

令人难以置信的（兴许截然不同的）体验

From that came a lot of insights,

由此让我增加了不少见解

or outsights, as I called them,

或者说是盲解。

things that I learned since losing my sight.

即失明后所学到的一些东西。

These outsights ranged from the trival

这些“盲解”从琐碎

to the profound,

到深奥，

from the mundane to the humorous.

从平乏到幽默（皆有）。

As an architect, that stark juxtaposition

作为一个建筑师，

of my sighted and unsighted experience

从我失明前后的

of the same places and the same cities

对同一个地方 对同一个城市

within such a short period of time

在如此短暂的时间内

has given me all sorts of wonderful outsights

截然不同的体验， 给了我很多

of the city itself.

关于城市本身，美妙的盲解。

Paramount amongst those

其中最重要的

was the realization that, actually,

是意识到，其实，

cities are fantastic places for the blind.

城市对盲人而言是个妙不可言的地方。

And then I was also surprised

其次 我也惊叹于

by the city's propensity for kindness and care

城市善良和爱护的本性

as opposed to indifference or worse.

而不是冷漠，甚至更糟。

And then I started to realize that

我进而意识到

it seemed like the blind seemed to have

好像盲人

a positive influence on the city itself.

对城市本身亦有积极的影响。

That was a little curious to me.

对我来说，这挺出奇的

Let me step back and take a look

让我们回过头来想想

at why the city is so good for the blind.

为什么城市对盲人来说是件这么好的事。

Inherent with the training for recovery from sight loss

在视力恢复训练这个过程中

is learning to rely on all your non-visual senses,

不可避免的是学会依靠除了视觉以外的其他所有感官，

things that you would otherwise maybe ignore.

——这些可能平时你都忽视的东西。

It's like a whole new world of sensory information

就仿佛一个全新的感知信息的世界

opens up to you.

向你敞开大门。

I was really struck by the symphony

我被这个城市中，我身边的各种细微的声响

of subtle sounds all around me in the city

所组成的交响乐所深深震撼

that you can hear and work with

借助听到的并学会利用这些声音

to understand where you are,

你方能明了你所处何方，

how you need to move, and where you need to go.

如何移步，向哪里走。

Similarly, just through the grip of the cane,

同理，仅仅是通过握住的一根盲杖，

you can feel contrasting textures in the floor below,

你能感受到脚下地面的不同纹理，

and over time you build a pattern of where you are

久而久之 你就能形成一个 “你在哪里，

and where you're headed.

你到哪里去的” 模式。

Similarly, just the sun warming one side of your face

就好像，当阳光温暖你的半边脸颊

or the wind at your neck

或者微风拂过你的脖颈

gives you clues about your alignment

你就能知道你的所处，

and your progression through a block

你穿过街巷的过程，

and your movement through time and space.

你于时空的移动，

But also, the sense of smell.

喔还有——嗅觉。

Some districts and cities have their own smell,

有些城市有些城区有他们自己的味道，

as do places and things around you,

就像你身边的地方和东西一样，

and if you're lucky, you can even follow your nose

而且，幸运的话，你甚至可以跟着你的鼻子

to that new bakery that you've been looking for.

去到那个你一直寻找的新开的面包店。

All this really surprised me,

这一切都让我惊奇，

because I started to realize that

因为我慢慢意识到

my unsighted experienced

我失明后的经历

was so far more multi-sensory

相比于之前有视力时

than my sighted experience ever was.

是多么充满（不同）感官的感受

What struck me also was how much the city

也让我震惊的是，我身边的城市

was changing around me.

有多大的变化。

When you're sighted,

当你能看见的时候，

everybody kind of sticks to themselves,

每个人都有点各自为阵，

you mind your own business.

不管别人的事儿。

Lose your sight, though,

然而，失明之后，

and it's a whole other story.

事情是大不同。

And I don't know who's watching who,

我是不知道谁在看谁，

but I have a suspicion that a lot of people are watching me.

但我怀疑很多人看着我。

And I'm not paranoid, but everywhere I go,

而我并不是个偏执狂， 但无论我去哪里，

I'm getting all sorts of advice:

我总接到各种建议：

Go here, move there, watch out for this.

来这边， 去那边， 小心这个。

A lot of the information is good.

很多信息都是好的。

Some of it's helpful. A lot of it's kind of reversed.

其中不乏有用的。 也不乏扭曲的。

You've got to figure out what they actually meant.

你得自己搞清楚他们到底什么意思。

Some of it's kind of wrong and not helpful.

其中有些并不那么对且帮不上忙。

But it's all good in the grand scheme of things.

但总体而言是很好的。

But one time I was in Oakland

有一次我在奥克兰

walking along Broadway, and came to a corner.

沿着百老汇街走着， 走到一个街角。

I was waiting for an audible pedestrian signal,

我正在等着过马路的信号音，

and as it went off, I was just about to step out into the street,

声音响起，我正准备过马路，

when all of a sudden, my right hand

突然，我的右手

was just gripped by this guy,

被人一把抓住，

and he yanked my arm and pulled me out into the crosswalk

他拽过着的胳膊，把我拉上斑马线

and was dragging me out across the street,

又拽着我过了马路，

speaking to me in Mandarin.

对着我狂讲中文。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

It's like, there was no escape from this man's death grip,

从这个人死死抓住的手中，简直没有逃脱的可能，

but he got me safely there.

但他把我安全带过了马路。

What could I do?

我能怎样呢？

But believe me, there are more polite ways

但是说真的，要帮忙

to offer assistance.

还真有更客气点的方式。

We don't know you're there,

我都还不知道你在旁边呢，

so it's kind of nice to say "Hello" first.

所以如果能开始先说句“你好”可能会比较好。

"Would you like some help?"

如“你需要帮忙么？”

But while in Oakland, I've really been struck by

但是在奥克兰，我真的被

how much the city of Oakland changed

自我失明之后，这座城市

as I lost my sight.

所经历的改变所震撼。

I liked it sighted. It was fine.

我当然喜欢能看到它时样子，那不错

It's a perfectly great city.

这是个非常好的城市。

But once I lost my sight

但是当我失明之后，

and was walking along Broadway,

当我走过百老汇，

I was blessed every block of the way.

在每个街区都能得到别人的祝福。

"Bless you, man."

“祝福你， 伙计”

"Go for it, brother."

“加油，老弟”

"God bless you."

“老天保佑你”

I didn't get that sighted.

我失明前可没得到过那么多祝福。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

And even without sight, I don't get that in San Francisco.

而且即使是失明之后，我在旧金山也没有得到那样的祝福。

And I know it bothers some of my blind friends,

而且我知道，这有时惹得我的一些盲人朋友很烦，

it's not just me.

不仅仅是我。

Often it's thought that

通常我们认为

that's an emotion that comes up out of pity.

那些祝福是出于怜悯。

I tend to think that it comes out of our shared humanity,

而我更倾向于觉得那是出于我们共同的人性，

out of our togetherness, and I think it's pretty cool.

出于一种大家在一起的感觉，而且我觉得这还挺酷的。

In fact, if I'm feeling down,

事实上，如果我心情不好，

I just go to Broadway in downtown Oakland,

我就去奥克兰市中心的百老汇，

I go for a walk, and I feel better like that,

我去散个步，立马就感觉好多了，

in no time at all.

简直就是立刻见效。

But also that it illustrates how

但这也正说明，

disability and blindness

残障和失明

sort of cuts across ethnic, social,

跨越了民族、社会阶层、

racial, economic lines.

人种、经济状况的界限

Disability is an equal-opportunity provider.

残疾简直是平权的提供者。

Everybody's welcome.

人人皆可有份。

In fact, I've heard it said in the disability community

其实，我听说残疾人这个群体间有句话说

that there are really only two types of people:

世上其实只有两种人：

There are those with disabilities,

一种有残疾的，

and there are those that haven't quite found theirs yet.

另一种是还没发现他们自身的残疾的。

It's a different way of thinking about it,

这是看问题的另一个角度，

but I think it's kind of beautiful,

但我觉得这还挺美的，

because it is certainly far more inclusive

因为这相比 “我们/他们”，

than the us-versus-them

或者“健全人/残疾人” 的说法

or the abled-versus-the-disabled,

显然要更包容，

and it's a lot more honest and respectful

而且也更加诚实，并尊重

of the fragility of life.

生命的脆弱。

So my final takeaway for you is

所以我最后希望你们记住是

that not only is the city good for the blind,

不仅仅是城市对盲人来说是好的，

but the city needs us.

城市也需要像我这样的盲人。

And I'm so sure of that that

而且我很确定

I want to propose to you today

我今天想要向大家倡议

that the blind be taken as the prototypical city dwellers

当我们构想一个美妙的新城时

when imagining new and wonderful cities,

让我们采用盲人作为城市居民的原型，

and not the people that are thought about

而不是当模型已经定型之后

after the mold has already been cast.

才想起的群体。

It's too late then.

那时就太迟了。

So if you design a city with the blind in mind,

所以如果你在设计一座城市的时候，请心中有盲人

you'll have a rich, walkable network of sidewalks

那你设计出来的，将是一座有着丰富的，充满可步行的便道的城市

with a dense array of options and choices

有给行人充分多样的选择

all available at the street level.

且都在地平面上。

If you design a city with the blind in mind,

如果你在设计一座城市的时候，心中有盲人，

sidewalks will be predictable and will be generous.

人行道将会是可预测的，慷慨的。

The space between buildings will be well-balanced

建筑之间的间隙将会是很好地平衡了

between people and cars.

人与车的需求。

In fact, cars, who needs them?

事实上， 车？ 谁还需要车啊？

If you're blind, you don't drive. (Laughter)

如果你失明了，你也开不了车 （笑声）

They don't like it when you drive. (Laughter)

别人可不愿看到你开车 （笑声）

If you design a city with the blind in mind,

如果你在设计一座城市的时候，心中有盲人

you design a city with a robust,

那你设计出来的城市将拥有健全的

accessible, well-connected mass transit system

无障碍的，四通八达的公共交通

that connects all parts of the city

联结城市的各个区域

and the region all around.

甚至整个大区

If you design a city with the blind in mind,

如果你在设计一座城市的时候, 心中有盲人

there'll be jobs, lots of jobs.

那城市将能够提供大量工作机会。

Blind people want to work too.

盲人也想工作。

They want to earn a living.

他们也想自力更生。

So, in designing a city for the blind,

所以，在设计一座予盲人方便的城市时，

I hope you start to realize

我希望你开始意识到

that it actually would be a more inclusive,

这座城市将会对所有人来说更加包容

a more equitable, a more just city for all.

更加公平， 更加公正。

And based on my prior sighted experience,

而且据我失明前的经验来看，

it sounds like a pretty cool city,

这样的城市听上去挺酷的，

whether you're blind, whether you have a disability,

——无论你失明与否， 无论你是否有残疾

or you haven't quite found yours yet.

或者说无论你是否已经发现了自身的残疾。

So thank you.

谢谢大家。

(Applause)

（鼓掌）