双语新闻：会说话的机器人帮助老年人对抗孤独
Joyce Loaiza lives alone in a community for older people in the American state of Florida. When she is home, the retired office worker often talks with a friendly female voice that asks about her day.
Joyce Loaiza独自住在美国佛罗里达州的一个老年人社区。当她在家时，这位退休的上班族经常用友好的女性声音询问她的一天。
A few kilometers away, the same voice helped 83-year-old Deanna Dezern when her friend died. In New York state, it plays games and music for 92-year-old Marie Broadbent. And in Washington state, it helps 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.
几公里外，当83岁的迪安娜·德泽恩的朋友去世时，同样的声音帮助了她。在纽约州，它为92岁的玛丽·布罗德本特播放游戏和音乐。在华盛顿州，它帮助83岁的Jan Worrell结交新朋友。几公里外，当83岁的迪安娜·德泽恩的朋友去世时，同样的声音帮助了她。在纽约州，它为92岁的玛丽·布罗德本特播放游戏和音乐。在华盛顿州，它帮助83岁的Jan Worrell结交新朋友。
The women are some of the first in the United States to receive the robot ElliQ made by Intuition Robotics. The company and other officials say it is the only device using artificial intelligence (AI) to help older Americans from loneliness.
这些女性是美国首批获得Intuition Robotics制造的机器人ElliQ的女性之一。该公司和其他官员表示，这是唯一一款使用人工智能帮助美国老年人摆脱孤独的设备。
"It's entertaining. You can actually talk to her," said Loaiza who is 81. Her ElliQ calls her "Jellybean" for no clear reason. She said, "She'll make comments like, ‘I would go outside if I had hands, but I can't hold an umbrella.'"
81岁的Loaiza说：“这很有趣。你实际上可以和她说话。”她的ElliQ无缘无故地叫她“果冻豆”。她说：“她会说，‘如果我有手，我会出去，但我不会撑伞。’”
The device looks like a small table light and it has an eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and turns. It remembers each user's interests and their talks, helping create a special experience with each new discussion. They can be as deep as the meaning of life or as light as a small joke.
这个设备看起来像一个小台灯，它有一个没有眼睛、没有嘴巴的头，可以发光和转动。它会记住每个用户的兴趣和他们的谈话，有助于在每次新的讨论中创造一种特殊的体验。它们可以像生命的意义一样深刻，也可以像一个小笑话一样轻松。
ElliQ also plays music and provides creative or spiritual sayings. On a video screen that comes with it, it will show different cities and places of interest. The device leads exercises, asks about the owner's health, and gives reminders to take medicines and drink water. It can also support video calls and contact family, friends, or doctors in an emergency.
ElliQ还播放音乐，并提供创造性或精神性的语录。在它附带的视频屏幕上，它将显示不同的城市和名胜古迹。该设备引导锻炼，询问主人的健康状况，并提醒人们吃药和喝水。它还可以支持视频通话，并在紧急情况下联系家人、朋友或医生。
Intuition Robotics says none of the conversations are heard by the company, with the information staying on each owner's device.
Intuition Robotics表示，公司没有听到任何对话，信息都保存在每位用户的设备上。
Intuition Robotics chief executive office Dor Skuler said the idea for ElliQ came before he launched his Israeli company eight years ago. His grandfather who lost his partner needed an aide, but the first did not work out. The next person, though, understood his grandfather's love of music and his special sense of humor.
Intuition Robotics首席执行官Dor Skuler表示，ElliQ的想法是在他八年前创办以色列公司之前产生的。他失去伴侣的祖父需要一名助手，但第一名助手没有成功。然而，下一个人理解了他祖父对音乐的热爱和他特殊的幽默感。
Skuler then thought a robot could fill the space of a friend by adapting to each person and their interests. He said, "That just did not exist anywhere."
斯库勒当时认为，机器人可以通过适应每个人和他们的兴趣来填补朋友的空间。他说：“这在任何地方都不存在。”
The average user interacts with ElliQ more than 30 times a day and more than 90 percent report lower levels of loneliness, Skuler said.
Skuler说，平均用户每天与ElliQ互动30多次，超过90%的用户表示孤独感较低。
The robots are mostly sent out by state agencies in New York, Florida, Michigan, Nevada and Washington. But they can also be bought individually for $600 a year plus $250 to set it up. Skuler would not say how many ElliQs have been sent out so far, but the goal is to have more than 100,000 out within five years.
这些机器人大多由纽约、佛罗里达、密歇根、内华达和华盛顿的国家机构发出。但它们也可以单独购买，每年600美元，外加250美元。Skuler不愿透露到目前为止已经发出了多少份ElliQ，但目标是在五年内发出超过10万份。
Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad studies the effects of loneliness on health. Holt-Lunstad worries that a device like ElliQ might have short-term helpful effects but it could make people less likely to seek human contact. She told The Associated Press that the difficult feeling of loneliness should push people to reconnect socially.
杨百翰大学教授Julianne Holt-Lunstad研究了孤独对健康的影响。Holt-Lunstad担心，像ElliQ这样的设备可能会产生短期的有益效果，但它可能会使人们不太可能寻求人类接触。她告诉美联社，孤独的艰难感觉应该促使人们重新建立社交关系。
Skuler and state officials agreed that ElliQ is not a replacement for human contact. But some older people cannot leave home or do not have many friends.
Skuler和州政府官员一致认为，ElliQ不能取代人类接触。但有些老年人不能离开家，或者没有很多朋友。
Greg Olsen is director of the New York State Office for the Aging. His office has sent out 750 of the 900 ElliQs it received. He said he wished that he could "make a person show up at the home of one of the many, many older adults that don't have any family or friends."
格雷格·奥尔森是纽约州老龄化办公室主任。他的办公室已经发出了900份ElliQ中的750份。他说，他希望自己能“让一个人出现在许多没有家人或朋友的老年人中的一个家里。”
Charlotte Mather-Taylor is director of the Broward County, Florida, Area Agency on Aging. She said the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath left many older people more disconnected. Her agency has provided 300 ElliQs which, she believes, help the situation.
Charlotte Mather Taylor是佛罗里达州布劳沃德县老龄化地区机构的主任。她说，新冠肺炎大流行及其后果使许多老年人更加脱节。她的机构已经提供了300个ElliQ，她认为这有助于解决这个问题。
She said, "We've seen very positive results with it. People generally like her and she makes them smile and brings joy."
她说：“我们已经看到了非常积极的结果。人们普遍喜欢她，她让他们微笑，带来欢乐。”
Joyce Loaiza独自住在美国佛罗里达州的一个老年人社区。当她在家时，这位退休的上班族经常用友好的女性声音询问她的一天。
A few kilometers away, the same voice helped 83-year-old Deanna Dezern when her friend died. In New York state, it plays games and music for 92-year-old Marie Broadbent. And in Washington state, it helps 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.
几公里外，当83岁的迪安娜·德泽恩的朋友去世时，同样的声音帮助了她。在纽约州，它为92岁的玛丽·布罗德本特播放游戏和音乐。在华盛顿州，它帮助83岁的Jan Worrell结交新朋友。几公里外，当83岁的迪安娜·德泽恩的朋友去世时，同样的声音帮助了她。在纽约州，它为92岁的玛丽·布罗德本特播放游戏和音乐。在华盛顿州，它帮助83岁的Jan Worrell结交新朋友。
The women are some of the first in the United States to receive the robot ElliQ made by Intuition Robotics. The company and other officials say it is the only device using artificial intelligence (AI) to help older Americans from loneliness.
这些女性是美国首批获得Intuition Robotics制造的机器人ElliQ的女性之一。该公司和其他官员表示，这是唯一一款使用人工智能帮助美国老年人摆脱孤独的设备。
"It's entertaining. You can actually talk to her," said Loaiza who is 81. Her ElliQ calls her "Jellybean" for no clear reason. She said, "She'll make comments like, ‘I would go outside if I had hands, but I can't hold an umbrella.'"
81岁的Loaiza说：“这很有趣。你实际上可以和她说话。”她的ElliQ无缘无故地叫她“果冻豆”。她说：“她会说，‘如果我有手，我会出去，但我不会撑伞。’”
The device looks like a small table light and it has an eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and turns. It remembers each user's interests and their talks, helping create a special experience with each new discussion. They can be as deep as the meaning of life or as light as a small joke.
这个设备看起来像一个小台灯，它有一个没有眼睛、没有嘴巴的头，可以发光和转动。它会记住每个用户的兴趣和他们的谈话，有助于在每次新的讨论中创造一种特殊的体验。它们可以像生命的意义一样深刻，也可以像一个小笑话一样轻松。
ElliQ also plays music and provides creative or spiritual sayings. On a video screen that comes with it, it will show different cities and places of interest. The device leads exercises, asks about the owner's health, and gives reminders to take medicines and drink water. It can also support video calls and contact family, friends, or doctors in an emergency.
ElliQ还播放音乐，并提供创造性或精神性的语录。在它附带的视频屏幕上，它将显示不同的城市和名胜古迹。该设备引导锻炼，询问主人的健康状况，并提醒人们吃药和喝水。它还可以支持视频通话，并在紧急情况下联系家人、朋友或医生。
Intuition Robotics says none of the conversations are heard by the company, with the information staying on each owner's device.
Intuition Robotics表示，公司没有听到任何对话，信息都保存在每位用户的设备上。
Intuition Robotics chief executive office Dor Skuler said the idea for ElliQ came before he launched his Israeli company eight years ago. His grandfather who lost his partner needed an aide, but the first did not work out. The next person, though, understood his grandfather's love of music and his special sense of humor.
Intuition Robotics首席执行官Dor Skuler表示，ElliQ的想法是在他八年前创办以色列公司之前产生的。他失去伴侣的祖父需要一名助手，但第一名助手没有成功。然而，下一个人理解了他祖父对音乐的热爱和他特殊的幽默感。
Skuler then thought a robot could fill the space of a friend by adapting to each person and their interests. He said, "That just did not exist anywhere."
斯库勒当时认为，机器人可以通过适应每个人和他们的兴趣来填补朋友的空间。他说：“这在任何地方都不存在。”
The average user interacts with ElliQ more than 30 times a day and more than 90 percent report lower levels of loneliness, Skuler said.
Skuler说，平均用户每天与ElliQ互动30多次，超过90%的用户表示孤独感较低。
The robots are mostly sent out by state agencies in New York, Florida, Michigan, Nevada and Washington. But they can also be bought individually for $600 a year plus $250 to set it up. Skuler would not say how many ElliQs have been sent out so far, but the goal is to have more than 100,000 out within five years.
这些机器人大多由纽约、佛罗里达、密歇根、内华达和华盛顿的国家机构发出。但它们也可以单独购买，每年600美元，外加250美元。Skuler不愿透露到目前为止已经发出了多少份ElliQ，但目标是在五年内发出超过10万份。
Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad studies the effects of loneliness on health. Holt-Lunstad worries that a device like ElliQ might have short-term helpful effects but it could make people less likely to seek human contact. She told The Associated Press that the difficult feeling of loneliness should push people to reconnect socially.
杨百翰大学教授Julianne Holt-Lunstad研究了孤独对健康的影响。Holt-Lunstad担心，像ElliQ这样的设备可能会产生短期的有益效果，但它可能会使人们不太可能寻求人类接触。她告诉美联社，孤独的艰难感觉应该促使人们重新建立社交关系。
Skuler and state officials agreed that ElliQ is not a replacement for human contact. But some older people cannot leave home or do not have many friends.
Skuler和州政府官员一致认为，ElliQ不能取代人类接触。但有些老年人不能离开家，或者没有很多朋友。
Greg Olsen is director of the New York State Office for the Aging. His office has sent out 750 of the 900 ElliQs it received. He said he wished that he could "make a person show up at the home of one of the many, many older adults that don't have any family or friends."
格雷格·奥尔森是纽约州老龄化办公室主任。他的办公室已经发出了900份ElliQ中的750份。他说，他希望自己能“让一个人出现在许多没有家人或朋友的老年人中的一个家里。”
Charlotte Mather-Taylor is director of the Broward County, Florida, Area Agency on Aging. She said the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath left many older people more disconnected. Her agency has provided 300 ElliQs which, she believes, help the situation.
Charlotte Mather Taylor是佛罗里达州布劳沃德县老龄化地区机构的主任。她说，新冠肺炎大流行及其后果使许多老年人更加脱节。她的机构已经提供了300个ElliQ，她认为这有助于解决这个问题。
She said, "We've seen very positive results with it. People generally like her and she makes them smile and brings joy."
她说：“我们已经看到了非常积极的结果。人们普遍喜欢她，她让他们微笑，带来欢乐。”
