咕咕愛囉唆

機器人服務生ROBOTS THAT SERVE

餐飲業最佳外場?!

Restaurants are finding that robots make great waiters and waitresses

曾經，機器人只存在於科幻小說中。

一九六○年代，「傑森一家」這個未來太空時代的動畫家庭有一個能夠做家務的機器女傭。

二○一四年的電影《大英雄天團》中，機器人「杯麵」能即時診斷並治療疾病。

在現今真實生活裡，機器人則在製造業暨家戶情境中受到使用；例如汽車業員工、機器寵物玩具、吸塵器等。

在醫學領域裡，機器人病患能夠藉著假裝患有各種疾病，協助醫生與護士進行相關訓練。

現在，機器人又在餐飲服務業界找到另一片天。

全球新冠疫情及其衍生而來的經濟危機已經造成餐廳從業人員短缺的現象。

因為餐廳沒有足夠人手，因此剩下的員工就必須承擔更多工作。

儘管如此，顧客還是面臨更長的等待時間、更少的菜餚選擇以及更高的餐點價格。

有些創業家因而伸出援手——機器援手，為餐飲業界引入機器人服務生。

這種機器人雖不完全是依照傑森一家的機器女傭蘿西打造而成，不過也是相當聰明而且還非常可愛。

Robots used to be found only in science fiction. In the 1960s, the animated space-age family the Jetsons had a robotic maid who could do household chores. In the 2014 movie Big Hero 6, the robot Baymax could diagnose and heal illnesses instantly.

In real life robots function in many manufacturing and household situations. (Think workers in the automobile industry, robot toy pets and vacuum cleaners.)

In the field of medicine, robot patients help train doctors and nurses by pretending they have a variety of health conditions. Now robots are finding a home in the food service industry.

The global pandemic and resulting economic crisis have created a lack of

restaurant workers. Since restaurants don't have enough workers, the remaining staff must work harder.

Regardless, customers face longer wait times, fewer menu choices and higher prices. Some entrepreneurs are lending a hand - a robotic hand - in the form of server robots. These robots are not exactly modeled after Rosey, the Jetsons' robotic household servant, but they are pretty clever (and very cute).

manufacturing （n.）製造業

The manufacturing industry has been declining for the past five years.走下坡

Josiah works in the field of manufacturing.

manufacture （v.）製造；生產

The Jameson Company manufactures parts for steam engines.

vacuum cleaner （n.）吸塵器

The new  vacuum cleaners are so much more efficient than the old kind. 新的比舊的效率高得多

We bought a handheld vacuum cleaner because it is easier to use on the stairs. 手持式吸塵器 吸樓梯比較容易

vacuum（v.）吸塵

Nora said she had to vacuum and dust before her parents arrived for a visit.

（n.）＋makes a great ＋（n.）

science fiction

animated

diagnose（v.） /diagnosis （n.）

spam bots

I’m getting a lot of emails from spam bots.

economic （adj.）經濟的

There has been no economic growth in Europe for the past two years.

There is some indication that an economic recovery could be starting to take place soon. 經濟復甦

In the past year’s economic climate, people stopped spending and tried to save as much as they could. 盡可能多多儲蓄

regardless  （adv.）不管怎樣；無論如何

Most guests can’t attend the wedding that weekend. Regardless, Don and Janice are going to get married then.

Regardless of age, everyone must get tested for the virus before they can fly. 病毒檢測

Sharonis going to a colleague in London next year, regardless of what her parents say.

to find a home ＋（place）

this means that they have found a place that they can be used well.

Though all throughout junior high Abby felt like an outsider, in high school she found a home in the chess club.

staff member / to be on staff

to lend a hand

not exactly

=not at all

robots are impersonal 

you can’t build rapport with them

rapport 密切關係；友好；和諧一致