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Avatar Robot Cafe. Couldn’t just
send me to a normal tearoom, could he? All the staff here are robots. (robot
speaking) They take the orders and serve the drinks. Those tall robots keep
circling me, like sharks. This is quite menacing as well. But there’s more to
these plastic waiters than meets the eye. Hello, what’s your name? My name is
Massa. Massa, where are you in the world? My house. Is that in Tokyo? Yes,
Tokyo, yes. (Japanese) Well, I am disabled and I am bed bound.
I always wanted to work but I have struggled to get a job. At this cafe, even
if you are disabled or can’t leave your home, you can still work. I’ve never
seen anything like this before. I’ll be honest, when I first walked in I
thought, we get it Japan, you love robots, they do everything, but this is
really cool. Is technology replacing human interaction or is it improving it?
And this really feels like it’s improving it. Hello, my name is Massa, nice to
meet you.
Massa, who is piloting the avatar that served Alice, lives a few miles outside
Tokyo. (Japanese) One iced coffee, one hot coffee and a green tea. Thank you
very much. He’s one of 10 people working here with severe physical
disabilities. (Japanese) Is the order ready for table six? He has a
debilitating muscular disease but he can control the robot waiters using
sophisticated eye tracking technology. (Japanese) I hope you had a great time
today.
And the arrival of 5G is set to offer Massa even more freedom. In the future
he’ll be able to send an avatar robot to almost any location, indoor or out. Hi
Massa, it’s Alice. Konnichiwa How do you think working at the cafe has changed
your life? Before I worked in the cafe, I was worried about working in society
because I was bed bound. But when I served the customers and saw that I could
bring them joy it gave me huge confidence.
For disabled people like me, technology brings hope. I have a huge amount of
hope. Hope for the future.
This is life altering, this means that Massa can actually be part of what’s
going on out here. ‘Cause otherwise, I mean, he’s in bed for most of the time.
So it actually just gives him a chance to plug in. Like he can actually be part
of the conversation and be part of busy Tokyo.
413 Words
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Useful Expressions
take (someone’s) order 注文を取る
They take the orders and serve the drinks.
circle 旋回する/～を囲む
Those tall robots keep circling me, like sharks
menacing 威嚇的な
as well おまけに/でもある
This is quite menacing as well.
disabled 身体障害のある
bed-bound 寝たきりの
Well, I am disabled and I am bed-bound.
struggle 悪戦苦闘する
I always wanted to work but I have struggled to get a job.
even if たとえ～だとしても
At this cafe, even if you are disabled or can’t leave your home, you can still work.
have never done 一度も～したことがない
I’ve never seen anything like this before.
honest 正直な
I’ll be honest, when I first walked in I thought, we get it Japan, you love robots, they do everything, but this is really cool.
replace ～に取って代わる
human interaction 人との交流
improve 改善する
Is technology replacing human interaction or is it improving it?
pilot 操縦する *a pilot ~ a driver
Massa, who is piloting the avatar that served Alice, lives a few miles outside Tokyo.
severe 重度の
physical 身体の
disability 障害
physical disability 身体障害
He’s one of 10 people working here with severe physical disabilities.
debilitating 衰弱させる
disease 病気
debilitating muscular disease 筋肉を弱らせる（衰弱させる）病気
sophisticated 複雑な/高度な
eye-tracking 視線の動きを追うこと
He has a debilitating muscular disease but he can control the robot waiters using sophisticated eye-tracking technology.
be worried about ～を心配する
Before I worked in the cafe, I was worried about working in society because I was bed-bound.
confidence 自信
But when I served the customers and saw that I could bring them joy it gave me huge confidence.
a huge amount of …. 多くの量の～/大量の～
I have a huge amount of hope. Hope for the future.
life-altering 人生を変える
be part of …. ～の一部である
This is life-altering, this means that Massa can actually be part of what’s going on out here.
otherwise さもなければ
‘Cause otherwise, I mean, he’s in bed for most of the time.
plug in ～にたずさわる/～にかかわる
So it actually just gives him a chance to plug in.
conversation 会話
Like he can actually be part of the conversation and be part of busy Tokyo.
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