2015年ESL之商务英语 04 Automating Production（在线收听）

Automating Production 

Lauren: Wow, that was an impressive demonstration of how robots can be used in production. I think that we need robots like those to automate some of the functions in our factories. 

Yves: I admit the demonstration was eye-opening, but I don’t think the technology is there yet to allow us to replace people with robots. 

Lauren: No, not for many of the functions, but we could have them do some of the more routine and hazardous tasks. 

Yves: You mean have them work alongside our current workers? I’m not sure how our workers would take it. Wouldn’t the robots get in the way? 

Lauren: Not with their sophisticated sensors, which allow them to avoid other people or machines. 

Yves: I don’t know. Introducing automation would be tricky. 

Lauren: What’s important is that they’ll increase production and reduce accidents. The demonstration showed how easy it is to program one of those robots, even when fine calibration is required. 

Yves: I’m thinking of the people in the factories. Wouldn’t we have a riot on our hands if we tried to replace people with robots? 

Lauren: It’s the wave of the future. 

Yves: So you wouldn’t object to a robot replacing you? 

Lauren: Me? They’ll never replace me with a robot. I’m indispensable. 

Yves: Just like the typewriter? 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse