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Claytronics is a form of programmable matter, a collection of sub-millimeter computers essentially.
电子粘土是一种可编程物质，本质上是一组亚毫米计算机。
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.
这些微小的可编程计算机叫做catoms：电子粘土原子。正如宇宙中任何物质的基本成分是原子一样，catom是电子粘土的基本单位。将足够量的catom放在一起，输入一个命令，它们就会自动组合成你想要的物体。想象一下，每一小块铅都是一粒catom（一粒电子粘土的原子）。它们可以四处移动的微电脑，它们互相联络，改变颜色，然后齐心协力共创神奇。
One of the challenges of claytronics is keeping these mini computers attach to one another.
电子粘土的挑战之一在于如何使这些微电脑们互相保持联系。
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.
所有的机器人都是利用静电力结合成为一整体。当你拿起气球抹在头发上或者羊毛上时，就会发生同样的静电现象。接下来的挑战就是找出正确的程序。
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.
可以从另一角度来看电子粘土的编程问题：如何获得我称之为合奏的行为，如何促使个体之间合作，共同执行一个宏大的工程。
If Professor Goldstein can pull it off, the results will be amazing.
如果戈尔茨坦教授能够完成这项工作的话，结果将会令人震惊。
The objects made out of claytronics will be able to form lots of different shapes.
由电子粘土制成的物体将会形态各异。
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.
这样的微型电脑越多，制作出来的物体就越大。这就是为什么你的家具有双重用途，还能供你选择。有了电子粘土，你卧室墙上的艺术品就可以根据你的心情随意更换。你的手机也能变成掌上电脑，在你用完后又会变回手机。但是它最卓越的应用程序可能是电子粘土怎样革新通讯。
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