TED演讲:五感设计(1)（在线收听）

In an age of global strife and climate change, I'm here to answer the all important question: Why is sex so damn good?

在一个全球冲突和气候变化的时代，我在此回答这个十分重要的问题：为什么性爱这么好？

If you're laughing, you know what I mean.

如果你在笑，说明你知道我的意思。

Now, before we get to that answer, let me tell you about Chris Hosmer.

好，我们得到这个问题的答案之前，我给你们讲一下Chris Hosmer的故事。

Chris is a great friend of mine from my university days, but secretly, I hate him.

Chris是我上大学时的好朋友，但我却暗地里恨他。

Here's why. Back in university, we had a quick project to design some solar-powered clocks. Here's my clock.

原因是上大学时，我们有一个短期专案要设计一些太阳能供电的时钟。

It uses something called the dwarf sunflower, which grows to about 12 inches in height.

这是我当时设计的时钟，使用是一种叫矮向日葵的东西，它长了大约12英寸那么高。

Now, as you know, sunflowers track the sun during the course of the day.

而你们知道的，向日葵在一天中跟踪太阳。

So in the morning, you see which direction the sunflower is facing, and you mark it on the blank area in the base.

因此，早上你看到向日葵正朝向哪个方向，就在底座上的空白区域做个记号。

At noon, you mark the changed position of the sunflower, and in the evening again, and that's your clock.

中午，你记上向日葵变化的位置，晚上也一样，那就是当时设计的时钟。

Now, I know my clock doesn't tell you the exact time, but it does give you a general idea using a flower.

现在，我知道我的时钟不能准确地报时，但它确实给你一个使用花卉的完整灵感。

So, in my completely unbiased, subjective opinion, it's brilliant.

所以，以我完全公正、主观的意见，我设计的时钟是绝妙的。

However, here's Chris's clock. It's five magnifying glasses with a shot glass under each one.

然而，这是Chris设计的时钟，用的是五个放大镜，每一个放大镜下边有一个小玻璃杯。

In each shot glass is a different scented oil.

每一个小玻璃杯里盛的是一种不同香味的油。

In the morning, the sunlight will shine down on the first magnifying glass, focusing a beam of light on the shot glass underneath.

早晨阳光从第一个放大镜照下来，光束聚焦到下面的小玻璃杯上。

This will warm up the scented oil inside, and a particular smell will be emitted.

能把里面带香味的油晒热，散发出一股香味。

A couple of hours later, the sun will shine on the next magnifying glass, and a different smell will be emitted.

一两个小时后太阳就照在下一个放大镜上，发出另一股香味。

So during the course of the day, five different smells are dispersed throughout that environment.

这样一天里五种不同的香味弥漫在周围的环境里。

Anyone living in that house can tell the time just by the smell. You can see why I hate Chris.

住在那房子里的任何一个人仅仅根据闻到的香味就能知道时间。你可以明白我为什么恨Chris了。

I thought my idea was pretty good, but his idea is genius,

我觉得我的主意够不错了，但他的点子实在是天才，

and at the time, I knew his idea was better than mine, but I just couldn't explain why.

在当时我知道他的点子比我的好，但我就是解释不清为什么。