How your pictures can help reclaim lost history | Chance Coughenour

Translator: Carolina Casado Parras

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: BO buffet

Why do people deliberately destroy cultural heritage?

為什麼人們會蓄意破壞文化遺產？

By doing so,

他們是否認為，

do they believe they're erasing our history?

這麼做就能抹滅我們的歷史？

Our cultural memory?

抹滅我們的文化記憶？

It's true that we are losing cultural heritage to erosion

的確，造成我們失去 文化遺產的原因包括侵蝕

and natural disasters,

以及天災，

but this is something that is simply difficult to avoid.

但這些原因是很難避免的。

I'm here to show you today how we can use pictures --

我今天在這裡要呈現給各位看的， 是我們如何能用照──

your pictures --

你們的照片──

to reclaim the history that is being lost

透過創新科技、

using innovative technology

以及志願者的努力，

and the effort of volunteers.

來試圖恢復失去的歷史。

In the early 20th century,

在二十世紀初，

archaeologists discovered hundreds of statues and artifacts

考古學家在北伊拉克的 哈特拉古城發現了

at the ancient city of Hatra,

數以百計的雕像

in northern Iraq.

及工藝品。

Statues like this one were found in fragments,

像這樣的雕像，被找到時都已破損，

some of them missing their heads or arms,

有些少了頭或是手臂，

yet the clothing that they are wearing

但它們的穿著

and their pose

以及它們的姿勢，

can still tell us their story.

仍然能將它們的故事告訴我們。

For example,

比如，

we believe that by wearing a knee-length tunic

我們相信，穿著長達膝蓋的 短袖束腰外衣，

and open bare feet,

且赤腳的裝扮，

this was representative of a priest.

代表的是祭師。

However, with a closer look at this particular piece,

然而，如果更仔細地看這片碎片，

we can see that this tunic being worn was elaborately decorated,

我們能看到，它穿的這件 短袖束腰外衣有被精心裝飾過，

which has led many researchers to believe

這點讓許多研究者相信，

this was actually a statue of a king performing his religious functions.

這雕像其實是個國王， 在履行其宗教相關的職責。

When the Mosul Cultural Museum opened in 1952 in northern Iraq,

當北伊拉克的摩蘇爾 文化博物館於 1952 年開張，

this statue, as well as others,

這座雕像，以及其他雕像，

were placed there to preserve them for future generations.

保存進了該博物館中， 為了下一代。

Following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003,

在 2003 年美國攻打伊拉克之後，

a few statues and artifacts were relocated to Baghdad,

少部份的雕像及工藝品 被重新安置到巴格達，

but this statue remained.

但這座雕像還留著。

Then in February of last year, a video was released,

去年二月，一支影片被釋出，

and it instantly went viral.

且馬上被瘋傳。

Maybe some of you remember seeing it.

也許在座有些人還記得看過它。

Here's a short clip.

這裡是一小段影片。

(Video) (Singing in Arabic)

（影片）（阿拉伯語歌聲）

(Singing ends)

（歌聲結束）

Not a very pleasant sight, right?

不是很令人愉快的景象，對吧？

Did you notice anything familiar in the video?

在影片中，你們是否有 注意到什麼熟悉的東西？

There it is.

就是它。

There is that very statue,

就是這座雕像，

as it was toppled over,

它被人推倒，

breaking into pieces.

摔成碎片。

When Matthew Vincent and I saw this video,

當馬修文森和我看到這支影片，

we were shocked.

我們十分震驚。

Since we are archaeologists using innovative technology

因為我們是使用創新技術

for digital preservation,

來做數位保存的考古學家，

an idea sprung to mind.

我們想到了一個點子。

Maybe we can crowdsource the images that were taken of these artifacts

也許我們可以針對這些工藝品 被摧毀之前拍下的影片

before they were destroyed,

做群眾外包，

to create digital reconstructions.

來創造數位重建。

If we can do that,

如果我們能那麼做，

maybe we can put them into a virtual museum

也許就能把它們放到虛擬博物館中，

to tell that story.

來訴說那故事。

And so two weeks after we saw this video,

於是，在我們看到 那支影片的兩週後，

we started the project called Project Mosul.

我們開始了一個專案， 稱為摩蘇爾計畫。

Remember the pictures of the statue I showed you before?

還記得我先前展示的雕像照片嗎？

This is actually the crowdsourced reconstruction of it

這其實是它在被摧毀之前的

群眾外包重建成果。

before it was destroyed.

Now, many of you may be wondering,

很多人可能會想知道，

how exactly does this work?

這是怎麼做到的？

Well, the key to this technology is called photogrammetry,

這項技術的關鍵，叫做攝影測量法，

and it was invented here, in Germany.

它是在這裡，在德國被發明出來的。

It is the technology that allows us to use two-dimensional images

正是這項技術，讓我們 可以用同一件物品

taken of the same object from different angles

從不同角度拍攝的二維圖像，

to create a 3D model.

來建立一個三維模型。

I know you may be thinking this sounds like magic -- but it's not.

我知道你們可能會心想， 這聽起來像魔術，但並不是。

Let me show you how it works.

讓我來展示一下怎麼做。

Here are two crowdsourced images of the same statue.

這是同一座雕像的 兩張群眾外包影像。

What the computer can do

電腦能夠做的是，

is it can detect similar features between the photographs --

偵測兩張照片間的相似特徵──

similar features of the object.

這件物品的相似特徵。

Then, by using multiple photos,

然後，使用多張照片，

in this case, it can begin to reconstruct the object in 3D.

在這個例子中，就能開始 進行這個物件的三維重建。

In this case,

在這個例子中，

you have the position of the cameras when each image was taken,

每張影像在拍攝時的照相機位置

shown in blue.

用藍色來標示。

Now, this is a partial reconstruction, I admit,

我承認，這是部份重建，

but why would I say partial?

但我為什麼會說是部份？

Well, simply because the statue was positioned against a wall.

很簡單，因為該雕像是靠牆擺放的。

We don't have photographs taken of it from the back.

我們沒有它背後的照片。

If I wanted to complete a full digital reconstruction of this statue,

如果我想要完成這座雕像的 完整數位重建，

I would need a proper camera,

我會需要一台適當的照相機、

tripods, proper lighting,

三腳架、適當的燈光，

but we simply can't do that with crowdsourced images.

但用群眾外包影像時， 就無法這麼做。

Think about it:

想想看：

How many of you, when you visit a museum,

在座有多少人， 在造訪一間博物館時，

take photographs of all parts of the statue,

會去拍一座雕像的每個部份，

even the back side of it?

甚至它的背面？

Well, maybe if some of you find Michelangelo's David interesting,

嗯，也許有些人會覺得 米開朗基羅的大衛像蠻有趣的，

I guess --

我猜是吧……

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But the thing is,

但重點是，

if we can find more images of this object,

如果我們能找到 越多這個物品的影像，

we can improve the 3D model.

我們就能改善它的三維模型。

When we started the project,

當我們開始這個專案時，

we started it with the Mosul Museum in mind.

我們心中想的是摩蘇爾博物館，

We figured we may get a few images,

心想也許能得到幾張影像，

some people interested,

讓幾個人感興趣，

make one or two virtual reconstructions,

完成一、兩個虛擬重建，

but we had no idea that we had sparked something that would grow so quickly.

我們完全沒料到我們 點燃了某種快速燃燒的火花。

Before we knew it,

在我們知道之前，

we realized it was obvious:

我們了解到，很顯然：

we could apply this same idea to lost heritage anywhere.

我們能把這個點子應用到 任何地方的失落遺產。

And so, we decided to change the name of the project to Rekrei.

所以，我們決定把專案 改名為 Rekrei（重建）。

Then, in the summer of last year,

接著，去年夏天，

"The Economist" magazine's media lab reached out to us.

「經濟人」雜誌的 媒體實驗室來找我們。

They asked us,

他們問我們：

"Hey, would you like us to build a virtual museum

「嘿，你們要不要我們 建立一座虛擬博物館，

to put the reconstructions back inside,

把重建的文物放回到裡面，

to tell the story?"

讓它們來說故事？」

Can you imagine us saying no?

你們覺得我們會拒絕嗎？

Of course not.

當然不能。

We said yes!

我們說好！

We were so excited.

我們好興奮。

This was exactly the initial dream of that project.

這正是這個專案最初的夢想。

And so now,

所以，現在，

any of you can experience RecoVR Mosul on your phone,

每個人都可以用手機 來體驗「重建摩蘇爾虛擬實境」，

using Google Cardboard

也可以用 Google Cardboard 3D虛擬實境裝置，

or a tablet or even YouTube 360.

平板電腦、甚至 YouTube 360。

Here is a screenshot from the virtual museum.

這是虛擬博物館的一張截圖，

And there it is ...

它就在這裡……

the partial reconstruction of the statue,

那座雕像的部份重建，

as well as the Lion of Mosul,

還有摩蘇爾之獅，

the first reconstruction completed by our project.

它是我們的專案 第一個完成的重建作品。

Although the video doesn't explicitly show the Lion of Mosul being destroyed,

雖然那支影片並沒有明確顯示 摩蘇爾之獅被摧毀，

we have many other examples of large artifacts being destroyed

但有許多例子都是 大型工藝品被摧毀，

that were simply too large to have been stolen.

只因為它們太大，無法被偷走。

For example,

比如，

the Gate of Nimrud in northern Iraq.

北伊拉克的尼姆魯德門，

This is a digital reconstruction from before,

這是用它以前的樣子 進行的數位重建，

and this is actually during the destruction.

這是它實際被摧毀的樣子。

Or the Lion of Al-Lāt, in Palmyra, Syria:

或是敘利亞帕邁拉的 阿拉伯獅子神像：

before ...

摧毀之前……

and after.

及摧毀之後。

Although virtual reconstructions are primarily the main focus

雖然虛擬重建 是我們專案的主要重心，

of our project,

some people have been asking the question:

有些人一直在問這個問題：

Can we print them in 3D?

我們能用 3D 列印 把它們印出來嗎？

We believe 3D printing doesn't offer a straightforward solution

我們認為，3D 列印 並非失落遺產的

to lost heritage.

直接解決方案。

Once an object is destroyed,

一旦一件物品被摧毀，

it's gone.

它就不在了。

But 3D printing does offer an addition to tell that story.

但 3D 列印的確能夠幫助 說出其背後的故事。

For example, I can show you here ...

比如，我可以給各位看……

There is the statue from Hatra

這是哈特拉的雕像，

and the Lion of Mosul.

以及摩蘇爾之獅。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Thank you.

謝謝。

Now, if you look closely,

如果你靠近看，

you'll notice that there are some parts that have been printed in color,

你會注意到有些部份是用彩色列印，

and some parts that are in white or gray.

有些部份則是白色或灰色。

This part was added simply to hold the statues up.

加上這部份的目的 只是要保持雕像的完好。

This works the same way if you visit a museum,

當你參觀博物館時，它們也同樣

and a statue is found in fragments;

這樣處理找到時已是碎片的雕像；

it's put together for the people to see it.

雕像會被重組起來給人們觀賞。

This makes sense, right?

這樣是合理的，對吧？

However, we're much more interested

然而，我們更感興趣的是，

in what virtual reality has to offer for lost heritage.

虛擬實境能為失落遺產提供什麼。

Here is an example of one of the tower tombs

這裡有個例子，這是在帕邁拉

that was destroyed in Palmyra.

被摧毀的兩座墓塔之一。

Using Sketchfab's online viewer,

用 3D 模型網站 Sketchfab 的 網上看圖軟體，

we can show that we have reconstructed three parts of the exterior of the tomb,

可以看見我們已經重建了 這座墓外部的三個部份，

but we also have photos of the inside,

但我們也有內部的照片，

so we're beginning to create a reconstruction of the wall

所以我們開始在對牆壁以及天花板

and the ceiling.

進行重建。

Archaeologists worked there for many, many years,

考古學家在那裡努力了 非常非常多年，

so we also have architectural drawing plans of this lost heritage.

所以我們也有 這項遺產的建築平面圖。

Unfortunately, we are not only losing cultural heritage to areas of conflict

不幸的是，我們不只是在 有衝突和戰爭的地區才會失去

and at war --

文化遺產，

we're also losing it to natural disasters.

天災也是原因之一。

This is a 3D model of Durbar Square in Kathmandu,

這是加德滿都王宮廣場的三維模型，

before the earthquake that occurred last April ...

在去年四月地震之前它是這樣子的，

and this is after.

這是地震後的狀況。

You may be thinking,

你也許會想，

you didn't create these 3D models with only tourist photographs,

你並不只是用遊客的照片 來建立這些三維模型，

and that's true.

的確沒錯。

But what this represents

但這代表的意義是，

is the ability for large, public organizations and private industry

大型政府組織以及私人產業能夠

to come together for initiatives like ours.

協力進行像我們這樣的方案。

And so one of the major challenges of our project, really,

我們的專案要面對的主要挑戰之一，

is to find photographs that were taken before something happens, right?

是要找到在物品被摧毀 之前的照片，對吧？

Well, the internet is basically a database with millions of images, right?

而網路基本上就是個 有百萬張影像的資料庫，對吧？

Exactly.

沒錯。

So we have begun to develop a tool

於是，我們開始開發一種工具，

that allows us to extract images from websites like Flickr,

讓我們能從如 Flickr 等網站，依據地理標籤

based on their geotags,

取得影像，

to complete reconstructions.

再用它們來完成重建。

Because we're not only losing cultural heritage to natural disasters and in war,

因為我們不只在天災 和戰爭中失去文化遺產，

but we're also losing it to something else.

還有其他造成遺產失落的原因。

Any idea, just looking at these two pictures?

只看這兩張照片，能猜出來嗎？

Maybe it's a little difficult to remember,

也許有點難記得，

but only a few weeks ago,

這例子在幾週之前才剛發生，

this was the example of human destruction by human stupidity.

因為人類的愚昧而造成損毀。

Because a tourist in Lisbon wanted to climb onto this statue

因為里斯本的一名遊客 想要爬上這座雕像，

and take a selfie with it --

來跟它自拍。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

and pulled it down with him.

結果拉著雕像一起摔倒。

So we're already finding photographs

所以我們已經在尋找照片

to complete a digital reconstruction of this.

來完成這個雕像的數位重建。

We need to remember

我們必須要記住，

that the destruction of cultural heritage isn't a recent phenomenon.

文化遺產的損毀並非 近期才有的現象。

In the 16th century,

在十六世紀，

European priests and explorers burned thousands of Maya books in the Americas,

歐洲祭師和探險家在美洲 燒毀了數以千計的馬雅書籍，

of which we only have a handful left.

只有少數還存留下來。

Fast-forward to 2001,

快轉到 2001 年，

when the Taliban blew up the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan.

塔利班炸毀了阿富汗的巴米揚大佛。

You see,

你們要知道，

cultural heritage is about our shared global history.

文化遺產是我們共有的全球歷史。

It helps us connect with our ancestors and their stories,

它協助我們與祖先 及祖先的故事做連結，

but we're losing pieces of it every day to natural disasters

但每天，我們都在失去 它的一小部份，因為天災、

and in areas of conflict.

還有地區衝突。

Of course, the loss of human life is the most heartbreaking loss ...

當然，人命的損失是最讓人心碎的。

but cultural heritage offers us a way to preserve the memory of the people

但文化遺產讓我們能 保有對這些人的記憶，

for future generations.

讓後世也能認識他們。

We need your help to reclaim the history that is being lost.

我們需要你們的協助， 來恢復失落的歷史

Will you join us?

你們願意加入我們嗎？

(Applause)

（掌聲）