A shark-deterrent wetsuit (and it's not what you think) | Hamish Jolly

譯者: Neoh Yi Yuan 審譯者: NAN-KUN WU

Scientific breakthrough,

科學突破

the kind that can potentially save lives,

有機會拯救生命

can sometimes be lying right out in the open

它有時會徹底地敞開大門

for us to discover,

等待我們去探索

in the evolved, accumulated body

並逐步累積

of human anecdote, for example,

形成人類趣事軼聞的本身

or in the time-tested adaptations

或者我們可以藉由觀察周圍

that we observe in the natural world around us.

自然界的物競天擇來理解它

Science starts with observation,

科學始於觀察

but the trick is to identify the patterns and signatures

而觀察的訣竅在於

that we might otherwise dismiss

辨別那些我們過去曾視為神話或巧合

as myth or coincidence,

而忽略的圖案和標誌

isolate them, and test them with scientific rigor.

我們將隔離這些線索 運用嚴謹的科學方法加以驗證

And when we do, the results will often surprise.

並經常會得到意想不到的結果。

Western Australia has had a particular problem

過去三年間，在澳大利亞西部

with shark attacks over the last three years,

不時發生鯊魚襲擊事件

unfortunately and tragically culminating

不幸的是，

in five fatal shark attacks in a 10-month period

在短短的10個月中，共發生了五起

during that time.

鯊魚襲擊而致命的事件。

But Western Australia is not alone in this.

然而，澳大利亞西部並不是 唯一飽受鯊魚困擾的地區

The incident of shark engagements on humans

鯊魚襲擊人類的問題

is escalating worldwide.

在全世界不斷惡化

And so it's not surprising, perhaps,

或許這已不足為奇

that in July of this year,

就在今年七月

Shark Attack Mitigation Systems in collaboration

鯊魚攻擊緩解系統

與西澳大學海洋學會合作

with the University of Western Australia Oceans Institute

made an announcement which captured the attention

並發出通告

引起全球媒體和海洋使用者

of the worldwide media and of ocean users

worldwide,

廣泛關注

and that was around the development of technology

這則通告是有關一項正在發展的新技術

to mitigate or reduce the risk of shark attack

藉由鯊魚視覺的理論

based on the science of what sharks can see.

可減輕被鯊魚襲擊的風險

And I have for you today

今天，我將與大家分享

the story of that journey,

此項技術的研發歷程

but also the notion that science can be

以及闡述一個觀念，那就是

as powerful as a translator

科學在發明的過程中

as it can be for invention.

具有強大的影響力

當我們開始這項研究 是在三年前

When we began this process,

we were looking, it was about three years ago,

當我們開始這項研究 是在三年前

and we'd just had the first two fatal shark attacks

當時，在澳大利亞西部 首次發生兩起鯊魚襲擊致命事件

當時，在澳大利亞西部 首次發生兩起鯊魚襲擊致命事件

in Western Australia,

and by chance, in a previous role,

在偶然的機會下，由於之前的工作

I happened to be having dinner with Harry Butler.

我碰巧與哈利•巴特勒共進晚餐

Now Harry Butler, who most Australians would know is a famous naturalist,

如今，哈利•巴特勒已是 澳大利亞赫赫有名的博物學家

had spent a lot of time in the marine environment.

他大部分時間都在研究海洋環境

Harry Butler is a precursor, if you like,

如果你願意，也可以說 哈利•巴特勒是海洋領域的先驅

to the late Steve Irwin.

是史蒂夫•歐文的先輩

When I asked him about

what the solution to the problem might be,

當我問他 該如何解決鯊魚襲擊問題

當我問他 該如何解決鯊魚襲擊問題

the answer was quite surprising.

他的回答太出人意料了

He said, "Take a black wetsuit,

他說，“穿一件黑色泳衣

band it in yellow stripes like a bumblebee,

泳衣上印有黃色條紋，看起來就像大黃蜂

and you'll be mimicking the warning systems

那麼，你將偽裝成大部分海洋生物的

of most marine species."

警示系統

I didn't think about that much at the time,

那時我也沒多想

and it wasn't until the next three fatal shark attacks happened,

直到接下來發生三起鯊魚襲擊致命事件

and it caused me to think,

maybe there's some merit to this idea.

我不禁想 也許這個想法是有價值的

我不禁想 也許這個想法是有價值的

And I turned to the web

我打開網頁

to see if there might be some clues.

試圖尋找一些線索

And it turns out the web is awash

結果網路上充斥著

with this sort of evidence that supports

支持這種想法的證據

this sort of thinking.

So biologically, there are plenty of species

在生物界，有大量物種

that display banding or patterns, warning patterns,

身體上有條紋、圖案或警示圖案

to either be cryptical in the water

有的可以在水中隱身

or warn against being attacked,

有的可以預防襲擊

not the least of which is the pilot fish

其中一個具體的例子是舟鰤

which spends a big slab of its life

這種魚在生命裡的大部分時間

around the business end of a shark.

吸附在鯊魚的尾端

On the human side, Walter Starck, an oceanographer,

在人類方面，海洋學家沃爾特•斯塔克

has been painting his wetsuit since the 1970s,

自1970年代以來，一直在設計泳衣圖案

and anthropologically,

而在人類學上

Pacific island tribes painted themselves in bands

太平洋島嶼部落人在海蛇儀式上

in a sea snake ceremony

將身體上繪上條狀圖案

to ward off the shark god.

以避開鯊神

So what's going on here?

所以，發生什麼事？

Is this an idea lying wide out in the open

這就是所謂的 引發我們思考和探索的觀點嗎？

for us to consider and define?

這就是所謂的 引發我們思考和探索的觀點嗎？

We know that sharks use a range of sensors

眾所周知，鯊魚在水中活動時 會使用一系列感覺器官

when they engage, particularly for attack,

尤其是在發起攻擊時

but the sight sensor is the one that they use

但是牠們主要使用視覺感受器

to identify the target, and particularly

以確定攻擊目標的位置

in the last number of meters before the attack.

特別是在距離攻擊物件只有數米時

It makes sense to pay attention to the biological anecdote

從生物學角度研究問題，是在情理之中

because that's time-tested evolution

因為物競天擇論

over many millennia.

經歷數千年來的驗證

But isn't human anecdote also an evolution of sorts,

但是，人類的進化也屬於生物進化論範疇

the idea that there's a kernel of truth

這一觀點蘊含著真理的精髓

thought to be important,

至關重要

passed down from generation to generation,

人類經驗經過代代相傳

so that it actually ends up shaping human behavior?

是否這最終也左右著人類的行為？

I wanted to test this idea.

我想驗證這一觀點

I wanted to put some science

我想將傳聞式的證據 更加科學化

to this anecdotal evidence,

我想將傳聞式的證據 更加科學化

because if science could support this concept,

因為如果科學支持這一概念

then we might have at least part of the solution

至少我們很可能會找到鯊魚襲擊的 部分解決之道

to shark attack right under our very nose.

不能讓近在眼前的機會溜走

To do that, I needed some experts

為了實現這一點，我需要求助於一些專家

in shark vision and shark neurology,

這些專家最好諳熟於鯊魚視覺和神經系統

and a worldwide search, again,

並且需要開展一次世界性的研究

led to the University of W.A.

這又回到了西澳大學海洋研究所

on the doorstep here, with the Oceans Institute.

這又回到了西澳大學海洋研究所

And professor Nathan Hart and his team

南森•哈特教授和他的團隊

had just written a paper which tells us,

那時剛剛發表了一篇論文

confirms that predatory sharks see

證實了食肉鯊的視覺系統

in black and white, or grayscale.

為黑白模式，或者說灰階模式

So I called up Nathan,

於是我就打電話給南森

a little bit sheepishly, actually, about this idea

事實上，他對這個想法感到有些羞怯

that maybe we could use these patterns and shapes

也許我們可以利用這些圖案和形狀

to produce a wetsuit to try and mitigate the risk of shark attack,

設計出一套能降低 被鯊魚襲擊風險的潛水服

and fortunately, he thought that was a good idea.

幸運的是，他認為這個主意很棒

So what ensued is a collaborative bit of research

隨後我們的研究獲得了

supported by the West Australian State Government.

西澳洲政府的協助

And we did three key things.

我們一起完成了三項重要工作

The first is that we mapped the characteristics,

第一項，我們測定特性

the physical characteristics of the eyes

確定鯊魚眼睛的物理特性

of the three main predatory sharks,

研究物件為三種主要的食肉鯊

so the great white, tiger and bull shark.

即大白鯊、虎鯊和牛鯊

We did that genetically

我們進行了遺傳學

and we did that anatomically.

以及解剖學研究

The next thing we did was to understand,

第二項，採用複雜的電腦類比技術弄清

using complex computer modeling,

what that eye can see

鯊魚的眼睛能看到的事物

at different depths, distances,

包括在不同深度、距離

light conditions, and water clarity in the ocean.

光線狀況、透明度的海水中

And from there, we were able to pinpoint

通過以上研究，我們能夠確定

two key characteristics:

兩個關鍵特性：

what patterns and shapes would present the wearer

什麼樣圖案和形狀的泳衣能夠使穿著者

as hidden or hard to make out in the water, cryptic,

在水中隱身或者比較模糊，難以被鯊魚認出

and what patterns and shapes might provide

什麼樣的圖案和形狀可能會產生

the greatest contrast but provide the greatest

最大的對比度，但是可以極大地

breakup of profile

分裂人的外觀

so that that person wasn't confused for shark prey

這樣人就不會被誤當作鯊魚的獵物

or shark food.

或鯊魚的食物

The next thing we needed to do was to convert this

第三項，我們需要將這種想法

into wetsuits that people might actually wear,

體現在人可以穿著的泳衣中

and to that end, I invited Ray Smith,

為了達此目的，我邀請了雷•史密斯

a surfer, industrial designer, wetsuit designer,

他是一名衝浪運動員、工業設計師 和潛水服設計師

and in fact the guy that designed the original Quiksilver logo,

事實上，是他設計了最初的Quiksilver徽標

to come over and sit with the science team

很榮幸，他應邀加入科學團隊

and interpret that science

並將科技

into aesthetic wetsuits that people might actually wear.

引入供人穿著的漂亮的潛水服

And here's an example of one of the first drawings.

這裡便是其中一張最初的設計圖

So this is what I call a "don't eat me" wetsuit.

我稱其為“別吃我”潛水服

So this takes that banding idea,

這款潛水服沿襲了條紋圖案設計理念

takes that banding idea, it's highly visible,

這種理念可以使泳衣高度可視

provides a highly disruptive profile,

製造出一種極度分裂的視覺形象

and is intended to prevent the shark

這樣設計的目的是為了防止鯊魚

from considering that you would be ordinary food,

認為你可能是普通的食物

and potentially even create confusion for the shark.

甚至可能會攪亂鯊魚的視覺

And this one's configured to go with a surfboard.

這一款潛水服專門為衝浪運動而設計

You can see that dark, opaque panel on the front,

你可以看到前面深暗、不透明的色塊

and it's particularly better for the surface,

這樣的表面特別有效

where being backlit and providing a silhouette

因為背光而顯現出來的輪廓 會是一個大問題

is problematic.

因為背光而顯現出來的輪廓 會是一個大問題

Second iteration is the cryptic wetsuit,

接下來值得一提的保護色潛水服

or the one which attempts to hide the wearer

這種潛水服可以把潛水夫隱藏在 水層中

in the water column.

這種潛水服可以把潛水夫隱藏在 水層中

There are three panels on this suit,

潛水服上鑲有三色散光片

and in any given conditions,

無論在何種情形下

one or more of those panels

一片或更多的散光片

will match the reflective spectra of the water

具有與水層同樣的反射光譜

so as to disappear fully or partially,

這樣就會全部或部分隱藏

leaving the last panel or panels

而其餘的散光板

to create a disruptive profile in the water column.

則可以在水層中形成模糊的輪廓

And this one's particularly well-suited

而這一款專門為

to the dive configuration,

潛水者設計

so when you're deeper under the water.

非常適合在深水中穿著

So we knew that we had

說到這裡，大家便清楚

some really solid science here.

我們的潛水服建立在嚴謹的科學基礎之上

We knew, if you wanted to stand out,

我們清楚，如果想穿出與眾不同的感覺

you needed to look stripy,

需要採用條紋狀設計

and we knew if you wanted to be cryptic,

如果想要獲得安全隱蔽的保護

you needed to look like this.

你需要穿成這樣

But the acid test is always going to be,

但是，還要經得起嚴峻的考驗

how would sharks really behave

如果鯊魚看到這些圖案和條紋

in the context of these patterns and shapes.

牠們會作何反應

And testing to simulate a person in a wetsuit

讓模擬人穿著潛水服

in the water with a predatory shark

與食肉鯊一起

in a natural environment

在天然的水下環境中進行測試

is actually a lot harder than you might think.

比你想象的要難得多。

(Laughter)

（笑聲......）

So we have to bait the rig,

我們必須以裝備作為誘餌

because we need to get the statistical number

因為我們需要得到樣品的各項資料

of samples through to get the scientific evidence,

以此獲得科學證據

and by baiting the rig,

使用裝備做誘餌

we're obviously changing shark behavior.

顯然改變了鯊魚的行為

We can't put humans in the water.

我們不能把活人放入水中

We're ethically precluded from even using

從倫理上講，我們甚至排除把人形物體

humanoid shapes and baiting them up in the water.

放入水中做誘餌

But nevertheless, we started the testing process

儘管如此，我們還是於今年一月份

in January of this year,

著手進行測試

initially with tiger sharks

最初採用虎鯊做試驗 隨後是大白鯊

and subsequently with great white sharks.

最初採用虎鯊做試驗 隨後是大白鯊

The way we did that

我們的方法是

was to get a perforated drum which is full of bait,

將一個盛滿誘餌的帶孔鼓

wrap it in a neoprene skin,

包進氯丁橡膠皮內

and then run two stereo underwater cameras

並設置兩架水下立體攝影機

to watch how the shark actually engages with that rig.

以記錄鯊魚是如何撕咬試驗裝備的

And because we use stereo,

由於採用了立體攝像機

we can capture all the statistics on how big the shark is,

我們就能夠捕獲關於鯊魚的各項資料

what angle it comes in at, how quickly it leaves,

包含鯊魚以什麼角度攻擊、離開的速度等

and what its behavior is

這樣，鯊魚的行為

in an empirical rather than a subjective way.

就可以通過觀察而非主觀的方式判定

Because we needed to preserve the scientific method,

因為我們需要以科學方法為依據

we ran a control rig

試驗採用的控制裝備

which was a black neoprene rig

由黑色氯丁橡膠製成

just like a normal black wetsuit

就像平常的黑色潛水服

against the, what we call,

裝備採用的技術稱之為

SAMS technology rig.

SAMS技術

And the results were not just exciting,

最終的試驗結果不僅令人興奮 更是大大地鼓舞了我們

but very encouraging,

最終的試驗結果不僅令人興奮 更是大大地鼓舞了我們

and today I would like to just give you a snapshot

現在我將以快照的形式

of two of those engagements.

向大家展示兩次鯊魚襲擊時的剪影

So here we've got a four-meter tiger shark

這條身長四米的虎鯊

engaging the black control rig,

正在攻擊黑色控制裝備

which it had encountered about

它第一次發現裝備大約在

a minute and a half before.

一分半鐘之前

Now that exact same shark had engaged,

現在畫面中的鯊魚與前面提到的是同一條

or encountered this SAMS rig,

它首次發現這個

which is the Elude SAMS rig,

Elude SAMS裝備

about eight minutes before,

大約在八分鐘之前

and spent six minutes circling it, hunting for it,

這只鯊魚與裝備周旋了六分鐘

looking for what it could smell and sense but not see,

試圖搜尋、嗅出些什麼來 但是牠無法看到裝備

and this was the final engagement.

這是最後一次鯊魚糾纏裝備

Great white sharks are more confident than the tigers,

大白鯊比虎鯊顯得更自信

and here you see great white shark

這裡便是一條大白鯊

engaging a control rig,

正在糾纏控制裝備

so a black neoprene wetsuit,

黑色的氯丁橡膠潛水服

and going straight to the bottom,

垂直下降

coming up

又上來了

and engaging.

又一次撕咬

In contrast to the SAMS technology rig,

與採用SAMS技術的裝備相比

this is the banded one,

這套裝備採用條紋狀設計

where it's more tactile,

更易感知

it's more investigative,

更便於研究

it's more apprehensive,

也更易於理解

and shows a reluctance to come straight in and go.

看，鯊魚不情願靠近，轉身離去

(Applause)

（掌聲）

So, it's important for us that all the testing is done independently,

所有測試均獨立進行 這一點對我們來說尤為重要

and the University of W.A. is doing the testing.

負責測試的是西澳大學

It'll be an ongoing process.

這是一個持續不斷的過程

It's subject to peer review and subject to publication.

受到同行審查和出版物監督

It's so important that this concept

這個概念是有科學根據的 這點相當重要

is led with the science.

這個概念是有科學根據的 這點相當重要

From the perspective of Shark Attack Mitigation Systems,

在鯊魚攻擊緩解系統看來

we're a biotechnology licensing company,

我們是一家生物技術授權公司

so we don't make wetsuits ourselves.

因此我們本身並不生產潛水服

We'll license others to do that.

我們授權其它公司來做

But I thought you might be interested

也許你有興趣

in seeing what SAMS technology looks like

看到採用SAMS技術的潛水服

embedded in a wetsuit, and to that end,

會是什麼樣子，照那樣說來

for the first time, live, worldwide --

這是第一次在世人面前現場直播

(Laughter) —

（笑聲......）

I can show you what biological adaptation,

我可以向你展示生物適應

science and design looks like in real life.

科學和設計如何體現在現實生活中

So I can welcome Sam, the surfer,

下面有請山姆，他是一名衝浪運動員

from this side. Where are you, Sam?

從這邊上來了。山姆，你在哪？

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And Eduardo.

還有愛德華多。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Cheers, mate.

歡迎你，老兄

Cheers.

歡迎！

Thanks, gentlemen. (Applause)

感謝兩位。（掌聲）

So what have we done here?

我們做了些什麼？

Well, to my mind, rather than take a blank sheet

嗯，在我看來，我們不是拿一張白紙

and use science as a tool for invention,

而是用科學作為發明的工具

we've paid attention to the biological evidence,

我們留心於生物學證據

we've put importance to the

重視

human anecdotal evidence,

人類軼事證據

and we've used science as a tool

我們把科學用作

for translation,

解碼工具

translation of something that was already there

將已經存在的事物

into something that we can use for the benefit of mankind.

轉譯成可以造福人類的事物

And it strikes me that this idea of science

這使我突然發現

as a tool for translation rather than invention

將科學作為轉譯的工具 而非發明的工具的觀點

is one that we can apply much more widely than this

是我們能夠更廣泛應用的

in the pursuit of innovation.

而非一味追求創新

After all, did the Wright brothers

畢竟，萊特兄弟

discover manned flight,

創造了載人飛機

or did they observe the biological fact of flight

還是他們是靠觀察動物飛行而得到啟示

and translate that mechanically, replicate it

將原理轉譯並複製到機械當中

in a way that humans could use?

供世人使用的呢？

As for the humble wetsuit,

至於這微不足道的潛水服

who knows what oceanwear will look like

誰曉得在未來它會變成什麼樣子

in two years' time, in five years' time

比如說，兩年後、五年後

or in 50 years' time, but with this new thinking,

或者五十年以後……但是按照這種新思維

I'm guessing there's a fair chance

我猜，有相當大的可能

it won't be pure black.

未來的潛水服不會是純黑色

Thank you.

謝謝！

(Applause)

（掌聲）