A Visual History of Human Knowledge | Manuel Lima | TED Talks

譯者: Amy Jin 審譯者: Xiaoya Song

在過去的十年

Over the past 10 years,

I've been researching the way people organize and visualize information.

我一直在研究人們如何 組織資訊及將資訊視覺化

And I've noticed an interesting shift.

我發現一個有意思的轉變

For a long period of time,

長久以來

we believed in a natural ranking order in the world around us,

我們相信世界存在著 自然形成的生物分級與階級

also known as the great chain of being, or "Scala naturae" in Latin,

也就是所謂的「存在的鎖鍊」 拉丁文稱做 "Scala naturae"

a top-down structure that normally starts with God at the very top,

這是一個自上而下的分級結構 始於最頂端的「神」

followed by angels, noblemen,

接下來是天使、貴族

common people, animals, and so on.

平民、動物......等等

This idea was actually based on Aristotle's ontology,

這個觀點來自於亞里斯多德的本體論

which classified all things known to man in a set of opposing categories,

把人類所知的所有物種，分成相對的類別

like the ones you see behind me.

就像我身後的例子

But over time, interestingly enough,

但是，隨著時間過去，有趣的是

this concept adopted the branching schema of a tree

這個概念採用了樹狀的概念圖

in what became known as the Porphyrian tree,

這就是所謂的「波菲利之樹」

also considered to be the oldest tree of knowledge.

它也被認為是最古老的「知識樹」

The branching scheme of the tree was, in fact,

事實上，類似樹枝的分支結構

such a powerful metaphor for conveying information

是用來傳播資訊時強而有力的比喻

that it became, over time, an important communication tool

隨著時間改變，這樣的結構變成重要的溝通工具

to map a variety of systems of knowledge.

描繪了許多知識系統

We can see trees being used to map morality,

我們看到樹狀結構被用來描繪道德秩序

with the popular tree of virtues and tree of vices,

利用的就是神學裡常見的善惡樹

as you can see here, with these beautiful illustrations from medieval Europe.

你們可以看到，這就是源自中世紀時期 歐洲的美麗圖像

We can see trees being used to map consanguinity,

樹狀結構也被用在血緣關係的呈現

the various blood ties between people.

呈現不同人之間的血緣關係

We can also see trees being used to map genealogy,

樹狀結構還被用在繪製族譜

perhaps the most famous archetype of the tree diagram.

這可能是樹狀圖最早的原型

I think many of you in the audience have probably seen family trees.

我想在座的各位朋友可能看過家族的樹狀結構圖

Many of you probably even have your own family trees drawn in such a way.

甚至有些人就是用樹狀圖描繪家族關係

We can see trees even mapping systems of law,

我們還可以看到，樹狀結構被用來描繪法治系統

the various decrees and rulings of kings and rulers.

國王或統治者制定的各式各樣法令

And finally, of course, also a very popular scientific metaphor,

當然，科學界也常利用樹狀結構

we can see trees being used to map all species known to man.

樹狀結透被用來呈現人類所知的各類物種

And trees ultimately became such a powerful visual metaphor

因此，樹狀結構變成了視覺上強而有力的比喻

because in many ways, they really embody this human desire

某種程度上，樹狀結構將人類的欲望具體化

for order, for balance, for unity, for symmetry.

展現層級順序、平衡、統一性或對稱性

However, nowadays we are really facing new complex, intricate challenges

然而，現在我們面臨了更新、更複雜的挑戰

that cannot be understood by simply employing a simple tree diagram.

簡單的樹狀結構已經不敷使用

And a new metaphor is currently emerging,

新的象徵方式正在產生

and it's currently replacing the tree

而且逐漸取代樹狀結構

in visualizing various systems of knowledge.

將各種知識系統視覺化

It's really providing us with a new lens to understand the world around us.

並且提供我們了解世界的新視角

And this new metaphor is the metaphor of the network.

這個新的比喻方式，就是網絡式比喻

And we can see this shift from trees into networks

以往的樹狀結構表現已經逐漸轉向網絡結構

in many domains of knowledge.

擴及各種知識領域

We can see this shift in the way we try to understand the brain.

這個轉變類似於我們了解腦部的方式

While before, we used to think of the brain

以前，我們認為大腦是

as a modular, centralized organ,

模組化、集中化的器官

where a given area was responsible for a set of actions and behaviors,

每個區域負責管理特定的動作和行為

the more we know about the brain,

我們對大腦了解的越多

the more we think of it as a large music symphony,

越覺得這是一個大型的交響樂團

played by hundreds and thousands of instruments.

由數以百件的的樂器組成

This is a beautiful snapshot created by the Blue Brain Project,

這是一個美麗的圖像，由Blue Print Project製作 (由EPFL和 IBM支持的專案 旨在用超級電腦建構虛擬大腦)

where you can see 10,000 neurons and 30 million connections.

展現了1萬個神經元和所產生的3千萬個連結

And this is only mapping 10 percent of a mammalian neocortex.

而這僅僅描繪了哺乳動物大腦的 新皮質層的十分之一

We can also see this shift in the way we try to conceive of human knowledge.

在了解人類知識的領域上，也發生了一樣的轉變

These are some remarkable trees of knowledge, or trees of science,

這些樹狀圖是一位西班牙學者Ramon Llull

by Spanish scholar Ramon Llull.

製作的一些著名的知識樹，或著科學樹

And Llull was actually the precursor,

Ramon Llull是一位先驅

the very first one who created the metaphor of science as a tree,

他是首位將科學知識以樹狀比喻的人

a metaphor we use every single day, when we say,

我們每天都會使用這個比喻

"Biology is a branch of science,"

當我們說：生物學是科學的一 個分支

when we say,

或著說

"Genetics is a branch of science."

基因學是科學的一個分支，運用的就是這個意象

But perhaps the most beautiful of all trees of knowledge, at least for me,

對我來說，也許眾多知識樹中，最美麗的一個

was created for the French encyclopedia by Diderot and d'Alembert in 1751.

就是由Diderot和d'Alembert在 1751年為法國百科全書製作的

This was really the bastion of the French Enlightenment,

這真是一個法國啟蒙時代的精神堡壘

and this gorgeous illustration was featured as a table of contents

這個華麗的圖像被用做

for the encyclopedia.

百科全書的目錄

And it actually maps out all domains of knowledge

它也確實的以樹狀結構

as separate branches of a tree.

描繪出各知個識領域的分支

But knowledge is much more intricate than this.

實際上，知識領域比這個圖像還要複雜

These are two maps of Wikipedia showing the inter-linkage of articles --

這兩個取自維基百科的圖像 顯示了文章之間的內部連結

related to history on the left, and mathematics on the right.

左邊是和歷史有關的連結 右邊是和數學有關的連結

And I think by looking at these maps

我認為，藉由這兩張圖像

and other ones that have been created of Wikipedia --

以及其他由維基百科所製作的圖像

arguably one of the largest rhizomatic structures ever created by man --

可以說是人類所創造出的最複雜的結構

we can really understand how human knowledge is much more intricate

我們可以了解人類的知識是非常複雜的

and interdependent, just like a network.

而且是互相依賴的，就像網絡一樣

We can also see this interesting shift

同樣有意思的轉變

in the way we map social ties between people.

也發生在描繪人們的社會連結的方法上

This is the typical organization chart.

這是一個典型的組織結構圖

I'm assuming many of you have seen a similar chart as well,

我想在座各位應該都看過類似的圖表

in your own corporations, or others.

不管是在你們自己的公司或是其他公司看到過

It's a top-down structure

這是一個由上而下的結構

that normally starts with the CEO at the very top,

通常，從最頂端的執行長開始

and where you can drill down all the way to the individual workmen on the bottom.

往下一直延伸到最底部的各個工作人員

But humans sometimes are, well, actually, all humans are unique in their own way,

但是人們有時候會...其實，每個人都有獨特的地方

and sometimes you really don't play well under this really rigid structure.

有時候，在這樣嚴謹的架構下，你無法好好發揮

I think the Internet is really changing this paradigm quite a lot.

網路大幅的改變了這個結構

This is a fantastic map of online social collaboration

這是一個關於網路上社交協力合作的圖像

between Perl developers.

描繪Perl的設計者之間的關係

Perl is a famous programming language,

Perl是一個知名的程式語言

and here, you can see how different programmers

你們可以看到，不同的設計者之間

are actually exchanging files, and working together on a given project.

如何交換檔案，以及針對一項專案共同合作

And here, you can notice that this is a completely decentralized process --

由此，你們可以看到，這是一個完全分散化的過程

there's no leader in this organization,

在這個組織中並沒有領導人

it's a network.

而是一個「網絡」

We can also see this interesting shift when we look at terrorism.

這樣的轉變，也發生在恐怖主義的世界

One of the main challenges of understanding terrorism nowadays

現今，想要了解恐怖主義最困難的一點

is that we are dealing with decentralized, independent cells,

就是我們在對付完全分散化的獨立個體

where there's no leader leading the whole process.

並沒有一個領導人，領導整個過程

And here, you can actually see how visualization is being used.

這張圖你們可以看到視覺化的應用

The diagram that you see behind me

我身後的這張圖表

shows all the terrorists involved in the Madrid attack in 2004.

顯示了2004年，所有參與馬德里攻擊事件 的恐怖份子

And what they did here is, they actually segmented the network

這張圖所做的是，把網絡關係切割成不同的部分

into three different years,

並分成3個年份呈現

represented by the vertical layers that you see behind me.

藉由我身後這張圖上，直立的面相表示

And the blue lines tie together

用藍色的線條

the people that were present in that network year after year.

把網絡中所牽涉到的人連接在一起，年復一年

So even though there's no leader per se,

因此，即使沒有領導人

these people are probably the most influential ones in that organization,

這些人可能就是整個組織中，最有影響力的人

the ones that know more about the past,

他們熟悉過去

and the future plans and goals of this particular cell.

以及未來的計畫和目標

We can also see this shift from trees into networks

由樹狀結構到網絡結構，這樣的轉變

in the way we classify and organize species.

也被用來分類和組織生物物種

The image on the right is the only illustration

右邊的圖像，是唯一一張圖示

that Darwin included in "The Origin of Species,"

被達爾文收錄在《物種起源》之中

which Darwin called the "Tree of Life."

達爾文將其稱之為"生命樹"

There's actually a letter from Darwin to the publisher,

這張影像，其實是達爾文寫給出版商的一封信

expanding on the importance of this particular diagram.

詳述了這張圖表的重要性

It was critical for Darwin's theory of evolution.

這張圖對於達爾文的進化論十分重要

But recently, scientists discovered that overlaying this tree of life

但是，最近有些科學家發現

is a dense network of bacteria,

層層交疊的生命樹也是細菌世界的濃縮網絡

and these bacteria are actually tying together

實際上，這些細菌都相互連結在一起

species that were completely separated before,

然而，以前有些物種完全的被獨立出來

to what scientists are now calling not the tree of life,

現在，科學家們不再使用「生命樹」的稱呼

but the web of life, the network of life.

而改稱做生命網，意思是生命的網絡

And finally, we can really see this shift, again,

最後，當我們觀察地球上生態系統

when we look at ecosystems around our planet.

我們會再次發現這個有意思的轉變

No more do we have these simplified predator-versus-prey diagrams

這個簡單的「捕食者-獵物」的圖形將不再出現

we have all learned at school.

我們都曾在學校學過

This is a much more accurate depiction of an ecosystem.

這張圖是一個更加精確的生態系統圖

This is a diagram created by Professor David Lavigne,

是由David Lavigne教授所發明

mapping close to 100 species that interact with the codfish

描繪的將近100種生物和鱈魚的互動關係

off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada.

地點是在加拿大的紐芬蘭島的海岸

And I think here, we can really understand the intricate and interdependent nature

現在，我們真的了解到

地球上生態系統具有的複雜和相互依賴的本質

of most ecosystems that abound on our planet.

But even though recent, this metaphor of the network,

最近，這種網絡的比喻

is really already adopting various shapes and forms,

已經被採納為各種不同的形狀和形式

and it's almost becoming a growing visual taxonomy.

幾乎變成不斷增長的視覺分類學

It's almost becoming the syntax of a new language.

也幾乎變成一種新語言的語法

And this is one aspect that truly fascinates me.

這個面向深深的令我著迷

And these are actually 15 different typologies

這些是我長時間收集的

I've been collecting over time,

十五個不同的類型

and it really shows the immense visual diversity of this new metaphor.

這些新的比喻呈現了廣大的視覺差異

And here is an example.

舉個例子

On the very top band, you have radial convergence,

在最上面一層，是放射狀的聚合體

a visualization model that has become really popular over the last five years.

是最近五年來開始變得非常風行的視覺化模型

At the top left, the very first project is a gene network,

在上方最左邊，第一個專案是有關基因網絡

followed by a network of IP addresses -- machines, servers --

接著的是機器或伺服器的IP網址

followed by a network of Facebook friends.

接下來是臉書朋友群的網絡

You probably couldn't find more disparate topics,

你可能不會再找到更多迥異的主題

yet they are using the same metaphor, the same visual model,

但是他們用的都是一樣的比喻，一樣的視覺模型

to map the never-ending complexities of its own subject.

來描繪這些題材上永無止境的複雜性

And here are a few more examples of the many I've been collecting,

這裡還有一些我收集的例子

of this growing visual taxonomy of networks.

都是關於正在成長的視覺分類網絡

But networks are not just a scientific metaphor.

但是網絡並不只是一種科學意象

As designers, researchers, and scientists try to map a variety of complex systems,

正當設計者、研究者和科學家們 嘗試要描繪各種複雜的系統

they are in many ways influencing traditional art fields,

同時，他們也以不同的方式影響了傳統的藝術領域

like painting and sculpture,

例如繪畫和雕塑

and influencing many different artists.

也影響了許多不同的藝術家

And perhaps because networks have this huge aesthetical force to them --

也許，正因為網絡意象具備的了龐大的美感

they're immensely gorgeous --

而且是如此的燦爛

they are really becoming a cultural meme,

它變成了一種文化模因 (通過模仿等傳遞的文化基因)

and driving a new art movement, which I've called "networkism."

推動了新的藝術運動，我稱之為「網絡化主義」

And we can see this influence in this movement in a variety of ways.

網絡意象的影響力以部不同的方式 影響著網絡化主義

This is just one of many examples,

這是其中一個例子

where you can see this influence from science into art.

你可以看到這股影響力從科學延伸到藝術

The example on your left side is IP-mapping,

在你們左手邊的圖是IP網址配對圖

a computer-generated map of IP addresses; again -- servers, machines.

一個利用電腦產生的IP網址配對圖

And on your right side,

在你們右手邊的圖

you have "Transient Structures and Unstable Networks" by Sharon Molloy,

是由Sharon Molloy所製作的 「暫時性結構和不穩定網絡」

using oil and enamel on canvas.

採用油彩和瓷漆繪製

And here are a few more paintings by Sharon Molloy,

這裡還有一些Sharon Molloly所畫的

some gorgeous, intricate paintings.

燦爛、複雜精密的繪畫

And here's another example of that interesting cross-pollination

這裡還有其他的例子，是關於科學和藝術之間

between science and art.

有意思的跨領域交互影響作用

On your left side, you have "Operation Smile."

在你們的左方，是「機器的微笑」

It is a computer-generated map of a social network.

是運用電腦產生的社會網絡圖示

And on your right side, you have "Field 4," by Emma McNally,

在你們的右手邊，是Emma McNally 製作的「領域四」

using only graphite on paper.

只用石墨畫在紙上

Emma McNally is one of the main leaders of this movement,

Emma McNally 是這股風潮的主要領導者之一

and she creates these striking, imaginary landscapes,

她創造了這些顯著突出的視覺效果

where you can really notice the influence from traditional network visualization.

你可以注意到傳統網絡視覺圖像帶來的影響

But networkism doesn't happen only in two dimensions.

但是網絡主義並不只是發生在二維面向

This is perhaps one of my favorite projects

這張圖是關於這股新潮流的作品

of this new movement.

也是我最喜歡的案例之一

And I think the title really says it all -- it's called:

作品名稱完全反映它的主旨

"Galaxies Forming Along Filaments,

名叫「細絲上的星雲」

Like Droplets Along the Strands of a Spider's Web."

看起來像是掛在蜘蛛網上的水滴

And I just find this particular project to be immensely powerful.

我發現這個作品具有無比魄力

It was created by Tomás Saraceno,

這是由Tomás Saraceno所製作

and he occupies these large spaces,

他在這個空間裡複製了廣大的宇宙

creates these massive installations using only elastic ropes.

只用了彈性繩製作的這個龐大的裝置藝術

As you actually navigate that space and bounce along those elastic ropes,

你可以親身穿梭這些宇宙空間之中 並且在彈性繩之間來回移動

the entire network kind of shifts, almost like a real organic network would.

整個網絡空間好似會移動 彷彿是個活生生的有機網絡

And here's yet another example

這裡還有其他的例子

of networkism taken to a whole different level.

網絡主義擴展到另一個領域

This was created by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota

由日本藝術家鹽田千春所創作

in a piece called "In Silence."

作品名稱是「静谧」

And Chiharu, like Tomás Saraceno, fills these rooms with this dense network,

和Tomás Saraceno一樣 鹽田用稠密的網絡布置整個房間

this dense web of elastic ropes and black wool and thread,

採用彈性繩、黑色毛線組成這個密集的網絡

sometimes including objects, as you can see here,

你們可以看到，她有時候也置入一些物品

sometimes even including people, in many of her installations.

有時候，在她的藝術裝置中也納入了「人」

But networks are also not just a new trend,

但是「網絡」不只是一個新趨勢

and it's too easy for us to dismiss it as such.

我們容易認為這就是「網絡」的意義

Networks really embody notions of decentralization,

實際上，「網絡」體現了分權化的概念

of interconnectedness, of interdependence.

互相聯繫和互相依賴的概念

And this new way of thinking is critical

這樣的新思維非常的重要

for us to solve many of the complex problems we are facing nowadays,

幫助我們解決現今面臨的許多複雜問題

from decoding the human brain,

從解析人類大腦

to understanding the vast universe out there.

到了解浩瀚的宇宙

On your left side, you have a snapshot of a neural network of a mouse --

在你的左手邊，是老鼠的神經網路的快照

very similar to our own at this particular scale.

某種程度上，和人類的大腦非常相似

And on your right side, you have the Millennium Simulation.

在你的右手邊的圖像，來自千禧年模擬計畫

It was the largest and most realistic simulation

是目前為止，關於宇宙結構的成長

of the growth of cosmic structure.

最大規模的模擬計畫

It was able to recreate the history of 20 million galaxies

它重新建構了過去2千萬年的銀河成長歷史

in approximately 25 terabytes of output.

相當於25萬億位元組的輸出訊號

And coincidentally or not,

也許是巧合

I just find this particular comparison

我發現，對比

between the smallest scale of knowledge -- the brain --

最小規模的知識--人類大腦

and the largest scale of knowledge -- the universe itself --

和最大規模的知識--宇宙

to be really quite striking and fascinating.

會發現有相當驚人、新奇的結果

Because as Bruce Mau once said,

因為Bruce Mau(知名平面設計師)曾說過

"When everything is connected to everything else,

「當世界上所有的事物都互相連結在一起」

for better or for worse, everything matters."

「無論好的與壞的，都同等重要」

Thank you so much.

謝謝

(Applause)

(掌聲)