One of Tokyo’s largest shopping malls has introduced an android that can give tourists sightseeing information in 3 different languages.
The android resembles a young woman. It went into operation on Thursday at the information desk near the West Gate of the Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall on Tokyo Bay.
The robot can explain in English, Chinese, or Japanese about tourist sites selected by a visitor from a touch screen. The screen uses new technology that makes it appear to float in the air. The robot can also gesture and give access information to the tourist sites.
I – Word Understanding
Sightseeing – the activity of visiting places of interest in a particular location.
Android – (in science fiction) a robot with a human appearance.
II – Have Your Say
• Aqua City officials say this is the world’s first android guide to work around the clock at an information desk. What can you say about the android tour guide?
• Do you think that this android tour guide can increase the number of foreign visitors?
