Forty percent of the Japanese population will be retirement age by mid-century. The assist robots and ultra-tech gizmos that were hoped to lend a hand have all but been rejected by those they were intended to help.
Ruth Campbell of the University of Tokyo, a geriatric social worker, says the elderly”…want to be able to get around their house, take a bath, get to the toilet and that’s about it.” They aren’t interested in robots. “They see robots as overly-complicated” and impractical.
Japanese manufacturers have learned that these people want everyday products modified to their needs. Those with poor eyesight or hearing want larger print and clear audio. Sanyo quit production of their robot dog that monitored blood pressure and body temperature to focus on phones with oversized buttons and adjustable countertops.
Vocabulary :
lend a hand幫忙
---to help
---We can’t finish the work alone, I wonder if you could lend a hand.
all but
---almost幾乎
---When the students became unruly, the mayor all but called the riot squad.
geriatric老年人的,或指老人學的(比old意思更老)
---old
---The geriatric branch of medical care is the fastest growing.
modify 更改,修改
---to amend/ to revise
---Karl’s wheelchair was modified so he could enter the Special Olympics race.
monitor 監視
---to observe / to watch
---If we suspect a group, we’ll have the bank monitor their financial activity.
Countertop 工作台(此指在廚房裡用的)
---a working desk in the kitchen
---adjustable countertop 指可調整的工作台
---Kitchens in new homes are designed with higher countertops for taller people
overly-complicated 過於複雜
