国外媒体:日本机器人能说会画 为老年人分忧

Japan robots chat, play -- and help find lost specs

Robots that can chat, find misplaced glasses, draw aeroplanes and play with your children are attracting thousands of visitors during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society.

Robots, such as the sound-sensitive Chapit, answer simple questions and even joke with people to help the solitary¹ fight loneliness and stay alert in old age.

"Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to," said Kazuya Kitamura, a representative of the expo organizer. "Communication robots accompany people and don't mind listening to the same stories over and over again."

While Chapit, a relatively² simple robot, managed to attract a corporate³ partner, many researchers, such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto, a professor at the University of Tokyo, struggle to attract sponsors for more expensive projects.

Matsumoto's "Personal Mobility⁴ Robot," equipped with four cameras and a sensor⁵ to recognize the user's centre of gravity, is designed to help elderly move around without pressing buttons, using joysticks or rotating wheels as in traditional wheelchairs.

The robot can also help find misplaced spectacles by identifying them with a sensor.

"We have developed a robot that can assist many people, but because of the high cost, we still haven't found a sponsor," said Matsumoto, who added that the cost of the machine, if mass-produced, would be comparable to that of a compact car.

"In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly⁶ project," he said.

Other robots, such as the award-winning "DiGRO" can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children.

The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures, keeping children company while parents work.

Japan has one of the world's fastest-ageing societies and the government predicts that by 2050 the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent.

在日本东京日前举办的一个博览会上，能与人交谈、帮人找眼镜、会画飞机以及能陪孩子玩耍的机器人吸引了成千上万的参观者。日本研发出的这些新型机器人主要是为了适应社会的需要。

其中像声控型机器人Chapit等（能与人交流的）机器人能回答简单提问，甚至会与人逗笑，可以给人解闷，让老年人保持活力。

博览会组织方代表葛屋北村说：“日本很多老年人都是一个人生活，没人说话。能与人交流的机器人可与人们做伴，同一个故事无论听多少遍也没关系。”

设计相对简单的机器人Chapit吸引了一位公司合伙人的注意，但包括东京大学教授松本清在内的很多研究人员则正在为高投入项目寻找赞助商。

松本清研发的“个人机动机器人”配有四个照相机和一个可识别使用者重心的传感器，这款机器人解决了传统轮椅的不便，老年人无需再通过按按钮、使用操纵杆或转动车轮来四处走动。

这款机器人还可以通过传感器来帮人们找到弄丢的眼镜。

松本清说：“我们已经研发了一款可以帮助很多人的机器人，但由于成本昂贵，还没有找到赞助商。”据他介绍，如果大批量生产，这款机器人的成本相当于一辆小汽车。

他说：“在目前的经济环境下，很少有公司愿意投资成本这么高的项目。”

曾获奖的DiGRO等机器人可以为没时间陪孩子的家长分忧。

这款机器人可以通过网络找到简单的图像，然后把它画下来，在家长出去上班的时候陪小孩玩。

日本是全球老龄化速度最快的国家之一。据日本政府预测，截至2050年，日本65岁以上的老年人占总人口的比例将达40%。

1 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

4 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

5 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。