Japanese Stores Test Robot Workers
2020-07-20
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1In August, a robot will begin placing food and drinks on store shelves in Japan.
2This is a test that the robot's maker hopes will help create a wave of automation in retail stores.
3Automation is the process of using robots or computers, instead of people, for some jobs.
4The manufacturer of the robot worker is a Tokyo-based company called Telexistence.
5Following the test, store operator FamilyMart says it plans to use such robots at 20 stores in and around Tokyo by 2022.
6One of FamilyMart's competitors is the retail chain Lawson.
7That company will be testing its first robot in September, according to Telexistence.
8At first, people will operate the robots from a distance.
9These operations will continue until the machines' artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to copy human-like movements.
10Jin Tomioka is the robot maker's chief executive.
11He noted how the technology lets people sense and experience places other than where they are.
12"It advances the scope and scale of human existence," he said.
13The idea, called telexistence, was first proposed around 40 years ago by the company's co-founder, University of Tokyo professor Susumu Tachi.
14Telexistence calls its robot the Model T, after the famous Ford Motor car.
15The Ford Model T began the era of mass car use around 100 years ago.
16The robot looks somewhat like an Australian animal -- a kangaroo.
17The unusual design is meant to help people feel at ease.
18Many people feel uneasy around robots that look too human.
19Robots are still a rare sight in public.
20They also struggle with simple jobs in unexpected settings.
21Solving that problem could help businesses in some countries, especially those in rapidly aging Japan, deal with fewer workers.
22Businesses hit by the coronavirus may also need to operate with fewer people.
23Since the coronavirus crisis began , hotels, restaurants and even oil companies have contacted Telexistence, Tomioka said.
24Niki Harada is an official at Japan's Restaurant Workers Union.
25"It's difficult to tell now what impact robots might have in restaurants - it could mean fewer people, but it could also create new jobs," Harada said.
26Although FamilyMart will still need people to control its robots, operators can be anywhere.
27The operators can also be people who would not normally work in stores, said Tomohiro Kano, a general manager.
28"There are about 1.6 million people in Japan, who for various reasons are not active in the workforce," he said.
29Takeo Kanade is an AI and robotics scientist at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States.
30Kanade joined Telexistence in February as an adviser.
31Future telexistence robots could be used in hospitals so doctors could perform operations from a distance, he said.
32However, he added, it might take another 20 years before robots can work in people's homes.
33"In order for robots to be really usable at home," he said, "we really have to be able to communicate."
34I'm John Russell.
1In August, a robot will begin placing food and drinks on store shelves in Japan. This is a test that the robot's maker hopes will help create a wave of automation in retail stores. Automation is the process of using robots or computers, instead of people, for some jobs. 2The manufacturer of the robot worker is a Tokyo-based company called Telexistence. 3Following the test, store operator FamilyMart says it plans to use such robots at 20 stores in and around Tokyo by 2022. 4One of FamilyMart's competitors is the retail chain Lawson. That company will be testing its first robot in September, according to Telexistence. 5At first, people will operate the robots from a distance. These operations will continue until the machines' artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to copy human-like movements. 6Jin Tomioka is the robot maker's chief executive. He noted how the technology lets people sense and experience places other than where they are. 7"It advances the scope and scale of human existence," he said. 8The idea, called telexistence, was first proposed around 40 years ago by the company's co-founder, University of Tokyo professor Susumu Tachi. 9Telexistence calls its robot the Model T, after the famous Ford Motor car. The Ford Model T began the era of mass car use around 100 years ago. 10The robot looks somewhat like an Australian animal -- a kangaroo. The unusual design is meant to help people feel at ease. Many people feel uneasy around robots that look too human. 11Escaping factories 12Robots are still a rare sight in public. They also struggle with simple jobs in unexpected settings. 13Solving that problem could help businesses in some countries, especially those in rapidly aging Japan, deal with fewer workers. Businesses hit by the coronavirus may also need to operate with fewer people. 14Since the coronavirus crisis began , hotels, restaurants and even oil companies have contacted Telexistence, Tomioka said. 15Niki Harada is an official at Japan's Restaurant Workers Union. "It's difficult to tell now what impact robots might have in restaurants - it could mean fewer people, but it could also create new jobs," Harada said. 16Although FamilyMart will still need people to control its robots, operators can be anywhere. The operators can also be people who would not normally work in stores, said Tomohiro Kano, a general manager. 17"There are about 1.6 million people in Japan, who for various reasons are not active in the workforce," he said. 18Takeo Kanade is an AI and robotics scientist at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. Kanade joined Telexistence in February as an adviser. 19Future telexistence robots could be used in hospitals so doctors could perform operations from a distance, he said. 20However, he added, it might take another 20 years before robots can work in people's homes. 21"In order for robots to be really usable at home," he said, "we really have to be able to communicate." 22I'm John Russell. 23Tim Kelly reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 24_____________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26shelf - n. a flat object which is connected to a wall, and on which other objects can be placed 27retail - n. the business of selling things directly to customers for their own use 28chain - n. a group of stores or businesses owned by the same company 29according - adv. as stated by or in 30artificial intelligence - n. the development of computers with the ability to do things that normally require human intelligence 31scope - n. the area that is included in or dealt with by something 32scale - n. the size or level of something especially in comparison to something else 33era - n. a long time or period of history 34rapidly - adj. very quickly 35impact - v. to have a strong effect on someone or something