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Claytronics is a form of programmable matter, a collection of sub-millimeter computers essentially.
電子粘土是一種可編程物質，本質上是一組亞毫米計算機。
These tiny programmable computers are called catoms: claytronic atoms. Just like atoms are the building blocks of everything in the universe, catoms are the basic units of claytronics. Put enough of these catoms together, give them a command and they can assemble themselves into just about anything you want. Imagine that each one of these little pieces of lead which is a catom, a claytronic atom. So it's a computer that can move around; communicate with other computers; change its color, and then it works together with all the other units to perform some global effect.
這些微小的可編程計算機叫做catoms：電子粘土原子。正如宇宙中任何物質的基本成分是原子一樣，catom是電子粘土的基本單位。將足夠量的catom放在一起，輸入一個命令，它們就會自動組合成你想要的物體。想象一下，每一小塊鉛都是一粒catom（一粒電子粘土的原子）。它們可以四處移動的微電腦，它們互相聯絡，改變顏色，然后齊心協力共創神奇。
One of the challenges of claytronics is keeping these mini computers attach to one another.
電子粘土的挑戰之一在于如何使這些微電腦們互相保持聯系。
And all these robots are using electrostatic forces to hold the robots together. This is the same kind of thing that happens when you take a balloon then you rub it on your hair and you put it on the wool. Then there is the challenge of figuring out the right program.
所有的機器人都是利用靜電力結合成為一整體。當你拿起氣球抹在頭發上或者羊毛上時，就會發生同樣的靜電現象。接下來的挑戰就是找出正確的程序。
One of the ways to view the programming problem of claytronics is how we get what I call ensemble behavior, getting all of the individual units to cooperate together to perform a global task.
可以從另一角度來看電子粘土的編程問題：如何獲得我稱之為合奏的行為，如何促使個體之間合作，共同執行一個宏大的工程。
If Professor Goldstein can pull it off, the results will be amazing.
如果戈爾茨坦教授能夠完成這項工作的話，結果將會令人震驚。
The objects made out of claytronics will be able to form lots of different shapes.
由電子粘土制成的物體將會形態各異。
And the more of these mini computers there are, the larger the objects that can be manipulated. That's how your furniture will be able to do double duty, adapting to your needs. With claytronics, the art on your walls could be changed depending upon your mood. Your cell phone could turn into a laptop, and when your work is done, back into a phone. But its most extraordinary application is how claytronics might revolutionize communication.
這樣的微型電腦越多，制作出來的物體就越大。這就是為什么你的家具有雙重用途，還能供你選擇。有了電子粘土，你臥室墻上的藝術品就可以根據你的心情隨意更換。你的手機也能變成掌上電腦，在你用完后又會變回手機。但是它最卓越的應用程序可能是電子粘土怎樣革新通訊。
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