万花筒2008-01-02:Reuters Tech Week: Robots! 机器人大赏

Some of the weirdest¹, most memorable² technology this year came in the form of robots, and of course -- mostly from Japan

Some of the weirdest, most memorable technology this year came in the form of robots, and of course they came mostly from Japan. So we are dedicating our best of the Reuters' Technology Show 2007 to the Roboto. I'm Niel Sumerodi

Let's start with the Meiji University's face-Robot named Kansei. He frowns when he hears words like BOMB. He can express happiness, sadness, anger and surprise when given an English word. A software program that uses an on-line database of half a million words determines the most appropriate expression. For example, when Kansei hears the word "president", he associates it with other words like Bush, war and Iraq, and he scrunches³ his faces up in fear and disgust.

Now meet Geminoid, he actually is the offspring of Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro and has the professor's brains and obviously his looks. The professor crafted his android twin by molding a figure based on his own body even implanting his own hair. I don't find any particular difference in talking via Geminoid or by my own voice. Curiously⁴ when Geminoid is touched by someone, I have very similar feelings of being touched although it's not quite the same.

Over 50 sensors⁵ are in Geminoid's face alone, while motors and an air-compressor create the virtual reality of breathing. The idea is a Robot like Geminoid can eventually help care for Japan's growing elderly population.

But there's also a robot for Japanese youngen, Child Robot with bio-mimetic body or CB2 is a very big baby. He reacts via 197 sensors, eye cameras and a vocal⁶ cord that simulates toddler noises. Creators at Osaka University say CB2 will help them take baby steps towards understanding child development, with touch sensitivity and expressions matching actual reactions.

And from babies to the barnyard, the Yume Hiyoko or Dream Chick won't grow up to lay eggs or become dinner but chicken lovers can see it has advantages, no need to feed it or clean up after Yume Hiyoko. Japanese toy company Sega developed the dream chick as a go-anywhere virtual pet. Sega's line of Robotic pets also includes dogs and cats.

That's it for Reuter's Technology Show for 2007. Thank you (in Japanese) See you in 08.

1 weirdest   

怪诞的( weird的最高级 )； 神秘而可怕的； 超然的； 古怪的

参考例句：

• Think of the weirdest, craziest shit you'd like to see chicks do. 想想这最怪异，最疯狂的屁事。你会喜欢看这些鸡巴表演的。
• It's still the weirdest damn sound I ever heard out of a Jersey boy. 这是我所听过新泽西人最为怪异的音调了。

2 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

3 scrunches   

v.发出喀嚓声( scrunch的第三人称单数 )；蜷缩；压；挤压

参考例句：

4 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

5 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

6 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。