3D printers. I never get tired of thinking about all the possible applications, like building a brand new coffee table,

　　　我對於思考3D印表機的應用樂此不疲　　　像是製造一個全新的咖啡桌

or building a brand new 3D printer, or finally getting that Strickland action figure everyone's been asking for.

　　　　　或製造一台全新的3D印表機　　　　　或終於得到大家夢寐以求的斯特里克蘭公仔

But all of these great products have one thing in common - rigidity.

但這些作品都有一個共通點：缺乏變動性

That means they're going to keep that shape once I print them, unless I take a flamethrower to them, or maybe a hacksaw.

　　　　那表示除非我使用噴火器或鋼鋸　　　　否則成品印出後的形狀是固定的

But the advent of something called 4D printing could turn all of that on its head!

但4D列印技術的出現可以徹底的改變這一切

That's right, it's one "D" better!

沒錯 就是多了一個D!

Actually, it's not just a catch phrase, 4D printing is really about using a 3D printer to print out

　　　　　　實際上這不只是宣傳口號　　　　　4D列印技術就是利用3D印表機

self-reconfiguring, programmable material. Now imagine this. You have a non-living object

　　　　印出可自我重組、可編程的材料 　　　　試著想像看看 一個無生命的物體

that can change its shape and behavior over time. It's kind of like a robot

　　　　能夠隨時間推移而改變形狀或性能 　　　這有點像是機器人

, but there are no microprocessors, no circuit boards, no motors - in fact to you it looks like a string of plastic.

　　　　但沒有微處理器、電路板或馬達 　　　　事實上看起來就像一條塑膠繩

But you toss it into a kiddie pool, and upon contact with water

但若把它丟進小泳池與水接觸之後

you now have a secret message spelled out in plastic cursive!

你就獲得一段由塑膠草寫出的秘密訊息

Skylar Tibbits, the man who really came up with this idea of 4D printing, has gone even further. He's created programmable sheet material.

想出4D列印技術的Skylar Tibbits甚至更進一步的創造出可編程的片狀材料

It's a sheet of plastic that, when submerged in water, can clench up into the shape of a cube.

當這些塑膠薄片浸入水中就會彎成一個正立方體

And a cube is just the beginning! More complex designs will mean

正立方體只是個開端 更複雜的設計可以

millions of more shapes - like self-folding origami! In the near future, imagine a smart

　　製造數以百萬的形狀 就像自動摺紙一般! 　　想像不久之後

grid of plumbing, with pipes that can actually expand and contract in response to water demand.

智慧型網狀管路系統能依水量需求擴張縮小

Or maybe even heal if there is a frozen segment that breaks open. Or imagine self assembling furniture.

　　　甚至可以修復因結凍而破裂的片段　　　　 或想像自我組裝的家俱

Print out a flat board and just add water, next thing you know it curls up into a rocking chair.

只要印出一片平板 加水之後就會捲成一張搖椅

Now, wrap your mind around how useful this would be in a really hostile environment

現在試想這技術在極惡劣環境中多有用

, like low Earth orbit, where building stuff comes at a high cost and a high risk.

像是在製造成本與風險皆很高的近地軌道

Now the prototypes we have seen so far have been pretty simple, but the promises are amazing!

目前我們的設計原型還相當簡單 但前途卻無可限量

Think about it on the really big scale. What about skyscrapers and bridges.

用巨大的規模來思考的話 像是摩天樓或是橋梁

If we could make them out of smart materials like smart beams and smart bricks,

若能用智慧棟樑或智慧磚塊等智慧型材料來建造

they could heal themselves after weather damage or prepare for something massive like an earthquake.

　　　　　　這些建築能自我修復　　　　　　　因氣候或地震等大型災害造成的損傷

Or we flip it. We go on to the very small scale and now we have micro particles moving around in our bodies

或是反向思考 微觀上可以創造在體內移動的微粒

, maintaining our health. You might be wondering, how much complexity

來維持健康 你或許在想

can build up out of stuff that changes its shape without computers or electromechanical motors.

不靠電腦或機電馬達來改變型態無法產生高複雜度

Lets think about proteins for a second. Proteins are pretty much what make any basic

那試想蛋白質吧 在細胞層次上

animal function possible on a cellular level. And a protein is really self-reconfiguring material.

　　　　　蛋白質維持任何生命基本功能　　　　 而實質上它就是可自我重組的物質

It's a polypeptide. It's a long chain of amino acids.

是由胺基酸組成的多肽鏈

So once again we're playing Copy Cat to mother nature. Now lets not get ahead of ourselves,

　　所以我們只是又一次的從大自然中學習 　　　但我們也別言之過早

I'm not actually suggesting that we're going to be printing out some sort of plastic replicant

我不是說現在能列印出某種蛋白質的複製品

that can gain self-awareness and yearn for more life. But maybe we will.

　　　　　並擁有自我意識或是創造新生 　　　　但是 說未來不可能呢

In fact, it's hard for us to predict right now. We're just seeing the very beginning of this technology,

　　　　　　　事實上現在很難預測 　　　　　　畢竟這技術目前還在初創階段

and the complexity could become truly amazing. So, how would you use 4D printing?

　　　　　而未來發展可能是很驚人的　　　　　 那麼 你會如何善用4D列印呢?

Let us know! Leave a comment below, we promise we're going to read every single one of them and

　　　　　　　與我們分享吧!　　　　　　　　 請在下面留言 我們保證會看完所有留言

while you're there why don't you like the video if you enjoyed it, and subscribe

　　　　　哦還有 如果喜歡這部影片 　　　　　何不幫忙按個讚並訂閱我們的頻道呢?

We got some great stuff coming up soon!

我們即將推出許多好東西喔!