Anageingsocietyisoneinwhichthepopulationofpeopleovertheageof60isincreasing.Thisisasocialproblem.Canwesolveitwiththehelpofrobots?
Researchersareplacingroboticdogsinthehomesoflonelyoldpeopletodeterminewhethertheycanimprovethequalityoflifeforhumans.AlanBeckanexpertinhumananimalrelationshipandNancyEdwardsaprofessorofnursingareleadingtheanimalassistedstudyconcerningtheinfluenceofroboticdogsonoldpeople’sdepressionphysicalactivityandleftsatisfaction.”Noonewillarguethatanolderpersonisbetteroffbeingmoreactivechallengedorstimulated(刺激)”Edwardspointsout.”Theproblemishowwepromote(促进)thatespeciallyforthosewithoutfriendsorhelp.Aroboticdogcouldbeasolution.”
InthestudytherobotcalledAIBOisplacedforsixweeksinthehousesofsomeoldpeoplewholivealone.BeforeplacingAIBOinthehomeresearcherswillcollectbaselinedataforsixweeks.TheseoldpeoplewillkeepadiarytonotetheirfeelingsandactivitybeforeandafterAIBO.Thentheresearcherswillreviewthedatatodetermineifithasinspiredanychangesinthelifeofitsowner.
”Italktohimallthetimeandherespondstomyvoice”saysaseventyyearoldlady”WhenI’mwatchingTVhe’llstayinmyarmsuntilhewantsdown.Hehasamindofhisown.”
TheAIBOsrespondtocertainorders.Theresearcherssaytheyhavesomeadvantagesoverlivedogsespeciallyforoldpeople.Oftentheelderlyaredisabledandcannotcareforananimalbywalkingitorplayingwithit.Aroboticdogremovesexerciseandfeedingconcerns.
”Atthebeginningitwasbelievedthatnoonewouldrelatetotheroboticdogbecauseitwasmetalandnotfurry.”Becksays.”Butit’samazinghowquicklywehavegivenupthatbelief.”
”Hopefullydowntheroadtheseroboticpetscouldbecomeamorevaluablehealthhelper.Theywillrecordtheirmasters’bloodpressureoxygenlevels.Orheartrhythms.AIBOsmayevenonedayhavegamesthatcanhelpstimulateolderpeople’sminds.”
57.Whichofthefollowingcanbethebesttitle?
A.DogsandtheOld
B.MedicalExaminationandtheOld
C.RobotsServingtheOld
D.DogsNeedn’tFeeding
58.ThepurposeofBeckandEdwards’studyisto.