ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Chieko Asakawa - Visionary inventor
Dr. Chieko Asakawa invents technology to make the visually impaired more independent.

Why you should listen

Dr. Chieko Asakawa is an IBM Fellow who has been instrumental in furthering accessibility research and development for the past three decades. Challenging thinking on visually impaired technology usage, she leads the development in advancing web accessibility including digital Braille and voice browsers.

The government of Japan awarded the 2013 Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon to Dr. Asakawa for her outstanding contributions to accessibility research, including the development of a voice browser for the visually impaired. Today, with Carnegie Mellon University, she is working on how accessibility technologies can play a key role in the real world to help create opportunities for more people to actively participate in the society.

More profile about the speaker
Chieko Asakawa | Speaker | TED.com
TED@IBM

Chieko Asakawa: How new technology helps blind people explore the world

淺川智惠子: 盲人科技,走訪人間

Filmed:
1,390,823 views

科技如何幫助我們改善生活品質?沒有了視覺,我們能夠如何行於人間?IBM發明家淺川智惠子在14歲雙眼失明,不斷尋找這些問題的答案。在一段魔法般的的演示視頻中她很自豪的向我們展示一些新穎的技術,幫助盲人更自由地探索世界。她說有了更便利的設計,對任何人都有益。
- Visionary inventor
Dr. Chieko Asakawa invents technology to make the visually impaired more independent. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:20
You might威力 think there are
many許多 things that I can't do
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或許你認為很多事我不能做,
00:23
because I cannot不能 see.
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因為我失去了雙眼.
00:26
That's largely大部分 true真正.
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這並非完全正確.
00:27
Actually其實, I just needed需要
to have a bit of help
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事實上只要一點幫忙
00:30
to come up to the stage階段.
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我就能走上台.
00:32
But there is also a lot that I can do.
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我能做的還有很多.
00:35
This is me rock climbing攀登
for the first time.
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這是我第一次攀岩.
00:39
Actually其實, I love sports體育
and I can play many許多 sports體育,
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事實上我喜歡運動,
還會很多種:
00:43
like swimming游泳的, skiing滑雪, skating溜冰,
scuba水肺 diving潛水, running賽跑 and so on.
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像游泳、滑雪、溜冰、
潛水和跑步等等.
00:49
But there is one limitation局限性:
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但這是有條件的:
00:52
somebody needs需求 to help me.
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需要有人協助我.
00:54
I want to be independent獨立.
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所以我想靠我自己.
00:57
I lost丟失 my sight視力 at the age年齡 of 14
in a swimming游泳的 pool accident事故.
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在我14歲時,
游泳意外使我雙眼失明.
01:02
I was an active活性, independent獨立 teenager青少年,
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那時的我是積極獨立的孩子,
01:05
and suddenly突然 I became成為 blind.
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突然間我看不見了.
01:08
The hardest最難 thing for me
was losing失去 my independence獨立.
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失去自主能力讓我苦不堪言.
01:13
Things that until直到 then seemed似乎 simple簡單
became成為 almost幾乎 impossible不可能 to do alone單獨.
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看似簡單的事情
到後來卻無法自己完成.
01:19
For example, one of my
challenges挑戰 was textbooks教科書.
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例如,其中一項挑戰是
閱讀教科書.
01:24
Back then, there were no
personal個人 computers電腦,
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當時沒有電腦,
01:26
no Internet互聯網, no smartphones智能手機.
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沒有網路,沒有智慧型手機.
01:29
So I had to ask one of my two brothers兄弟
to read me textbooks教科書,
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我必須請親人幫我
唸出教科書的內容.
01:34
and I had to create創建
my own擁有 books圖書 in Braille點字.
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然後自己用點字法一一標注.
01:38
Can you imagine想像?
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你能想像嗎?
01:40
Of course課程, my brothers兄弟
were not happy快樂 about it,
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他們當然很不情願,
01:43
and later後來, I noticed注意到 they were not there
whenever每當 I needed需要 them.
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到後來我發現我在需要他們時
他們卻"消失"了.
01:47
(Laughter笑聲)
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(笑聲)
01:48
I think they tried試著 to stay away from me.
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我覺得他們想離我遠一點,
01:52
I don't blame them.
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我不怪他們.
01:54
I really wanted to be freed釋放
from relying依托 on someone有人.
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我真的不想再依靠任何人.
01:59
That became成為 my strong強大 desire慾望
to ignite點燃 innovation革新.
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這讓我有強烈的慾望想要創新.
02:04
Jump ahead to the mid-中-1980s.
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往前回到80年代中期.
02:06
I got to know cutting-edge前沿 technologies技術
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當時我想要了解尖端科技
02:09
and I thought to myself,
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我自己就想
02:11
how come there is no computer電腦 technology技術
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怎麼沒有用電腦科技
02:15
to create創建 books圖書 in Braille點字?
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創造出的點字電子書?
02:18
These amazing驚人 technologies技術
must必須 be able能夠 to also help people
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這些驚人的技術
一定也能幫助
02:22
with limitations限制 like myself.
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像我一樣有缺陷的人.
02:25
That's the moment時刻
my innovation革新 journey旅程 began開始.
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從那時候開始
我決定要創新技術.
02:30
I started開始 developing發展
digital數字 book technologies技術,
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我著手研發電子書技術,
02:34
such這樣 as a digital數字 Braille點字 editor編輯,
digital數字 Braille點字 dictionary字典
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例如,點字電子編輯器,
點字電子詞典,
02:39
and a digital數字 Braille點字 library圖書館 network網絡.
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點字電子圖書網.
02:43
Today今天, every一切 student學生 who is visually視覺
impaired受損 can read textbooks教科書,
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現在視障的學生能夠閱讀教科書,
02:47
by using運用 personal個人 computers電腦
and mobile移動 devices設備,
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藉由電腦和行動裝置的使用,
02:51
in Braille點字 or in voice語音.
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透過點字, 或者聲音.
02:53
This may可能 not surprise you,
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這對你並不陌生,
02:56
since以來 everyone大家 now has digital數字 books圖書
in their tablets平板電腦 in 2015.
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2015年大家的電腦設備裡都有電子書了.
03:01
But Braille點字 went digital數字
many許多 years年份 before digital數字 books圖書,
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不過點字法好幾年前就數位化了,
03:07
already已經 in the late晚了 1980s,
almost幾乎 30 years年份 ago.
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出現於80年代後期,
大約30年前.
03:13
Strong強大 and specific具體 needs需求
of the blind people
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盲人的需求很強烈且獨特,
03:17
made製作 this opportunity機會 to create創建
digital數字 books圖書 way back then.
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使得過去才有機會創造電子書.
03:23
And this is actually其實 not
the first time this happened發生,
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事實上這已經不是第一次,
03:28
because history歷史 shows節目 us
accessibility無障礙 ignites點燃 innovation革新.
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因為從歷史來看便利即發明.
03:35
The telephone電話 was invented發明
while developing發展 a communication通訊 tool工具
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發展聽障溝通器材時電話誕生了.
03:39
for hearing聽力 impaired受損 people.
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03:41
Some keyboards鍵盤 were also invented發明
to help people with disabilities殘疾人.
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有些鍵盤也出現來幫助人的不便.
03:48
Now I'm going to give you
another另一個 example from my own擁有 life.
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我現在要告訴你我生活中另外個例子.
03:52
In the '90s, people around me
started開始 talking about the Internet互聯網
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90年代開始有人談論網路和網頁瀏覽.
03:56
and web捲筒紙 browsing瀏覽.
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03:58
I remember記得 the first time
I went on the web捲筒紙.
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我記得初次上網的時候,
04:02
I was astonished驚訝.
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我大吃一驚.
04:04
I could access訪問 newspapers報紙
at any time and every一切 day.
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我每天隨時可以閱讀報紙,
04:08
I could even search搜索
for any information信息 by myself.
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我甚至可以自己找資料,
04:13
I desperately拼命 wanted to help the blind
people have access訪問 to the Internet互聯網,
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我真想幫助盲人們,
讓他們能可以使用網路,
04:19
and I found發現 ways方法 to render給予 the web捲筒紙
into synthesized綜合 voice語音,
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後來我發現把網頁轉為合成語音的方法,
04:24
which哪一個 dramatically顯著 simplified
the user用戶 interface接口.
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也大幅簡化使用者的介面.
04:28
This led me to develop發展
the Home Page Reader讀者 in 1997,
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促使我在1997年創立了頁面閱讀器,
04:34
first in Japanese日本 and later後來,
translated翻譯 into 11 languages語言.
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起初只有日語,後來譯成11種語言.
04:39
When I developed發達 the Home Page Reader讀者,
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我在建立頁面閱讀器的時候,
04:42
I got many許多 comments註釋 from users用戶.
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收到許多使用者回應
04:45
One that I strongly非常 remember記得 said,
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有一個我記得很清楚說,
04:49
"For me, the Internet互聯網
is a small window窗口 to the world世界."
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『網路是我通往世界的一小扇窗. 』
04:55
It was a revolutionary革命的 moment時刻
for the blind.
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那真是盲人大變革時期.
04:59
The cyber網絡 world世界 became成為 accessible無障礙,
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網路世界垂手可得,
05:01
and this technology技術 that we created創建
for the blind has many許多 uses使用,
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我們創造給盲人的科技用途很廣,
05:06
way beyond what I imagined想像.
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超乎我的想像.
05:08
It can help drivers司機 listen to their emails電子郵件
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它能夠協助司機用耳聽讀電子郵件,
05:12
or it can help you listen
to a recipe食譜 while cooking烹飪.
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還協助你炒菜時用耳聽讀食譜,
05:18
Today今天, I am more independent獨立,
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如今我更獨立了,
05:20
but it is still not enough足夠.
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但這仍然不夠.
05:23
For example, when I approached接近
the stage階段 just now, I needed需要 assistance幫助.
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譬如我剛上台時需要協助.
05:30
My goal目標 is to come up here independently獨立地.
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我的目標是自己上來這裡.
05:34
And not just here.
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而且還不只是這裡.
05:35
My goal目標 is to be able能夠 to travel旅行
and do things that are simple簡單 to you.
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我的目標是能夠自己出遊,
做一些你覺得簡單的事.
05:42
OK, now let me show顯示 you
the latest最新 technologies技術.
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來吧!現在讓我介紹最新科技.
05:45
This is a smartphone手機 app應用
that we are working加工 on.
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這是我們研究中的智慧型手機app.
05:50
(Video視頻) Electronic電子 voice語音: 51 feet
to the door, and keep straight直行.
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(影音)電子音:
『約15公尺抵達門邊,繼續直行』
05:57
EVEV: Take the two doors to go out.
The door is on your right.
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電子音:『開門出去,門在你的右邊』
06:07
EVEV: Nick缺口 is approaching接近. Looks容貌 so happy快樂.
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電子音:
『尼克接近中,看起來很開心』
06:09
Chieko千惠子 Asakawa淺川: Hi你好, Nick缺口!
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淺川:『嗨,尼克!』
06:10
(Laughter笑聲)
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(笑聲)
06:11
CACA: Where are you going?
You look so happy快樂.
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淺川:『你要去哪?這麼開心』
06:14
Nick缺口: Oh -- well, my paper
just got accepted公認.
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尼克:『喔,我的報告剛受到認可』
06:16
CACA: That's great! Congratulations祝賀.
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淺川:『好棒哦!恭喜啊!』
06:17
Nick缺口: Thanks謝謝. Wait -- how'd你怎麼 you know
it was me, and that I look happy快樂?
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尼克:『謝啦!等下...
你怎麼知道我很開心?』
06:21
(Chieko千惠子 and Nick缺口 laugh)
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(淺川和尼克笑聲)
06:22
Man: Hi你好.
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路人:『嗨!』
06:24
(Laughter笑聲)
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(笑聲)
06:25
CACA: Oh ... hi.
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淺川:『喔...嗨!』
06:27
EVEV: He is not talking to you,
but on his phone電話.
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電子音:
『他不是跟你說話,是在講電話』
06:36
EVEV: Potato土豆 chips芯片.
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電子音:『洋芋片』
06:45
EVEV: Dark黑暗 chocolate巧克力 with almonds杏仁.
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電子音:『杏仁黑巧克力』
06:48
EVEV: You gained獲得 5 pounds英鎊 since以來 yesterday昨天;
take apple蘋果 instead代替 of chocolate巧克力.
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電子音:『自從昨天你胖了
1公斤,不要巧克力吃蘋果』
06:51
(Laughter笑聲)
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(笑聲)
06:54
EVEV: Approaching接近.
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電子音:『接近中』
07:00
EVEV: You arrived到達.
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電子音:『你到了』
07:02
CACA: Now ...
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淺川:『現在...』
07:04
(Applause掌聲)
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(掌聲)
07:08
Thank you.
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謝謝各位.
07:09
So now the app應用 navigates可前往[ me
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所以現在app給我指引,
07:12
by analyzing分析 beacon烽火 signals信號
and smartphone手機 sensors傳感器
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藉由分析無線信號及手機感測,
07:16
and permits許可證 me to move移動 around
indoor室內 and outdoor戶外 environments環境
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允許我在任何環境走動,
07:21
all by myself.
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這全都靠我自己.
07:23
But the computer電腦 vision視力 part部分
that showed顯示 who is approaching接近,
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但電腦視覺的部分:
說明誰在接近,
07:27
in which哪一個 mood心情 -- we are still
working加工 on that part部分.
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以及心情狀態...我們仍在研究中.
07:32
And recognizing認識 facial面部 expressions表達式
is very important重要 for me to be social社會.
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臉部表情辨識非常重要,
對我來說可以用來社交.
07:39
So now the fusions融合 of technologies技術
are ready準備 to help me
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所以各種科技已經準備好幫我
07:45
see the real真實 world世界.
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了解真實的世界.
07:47
We call this cognitive認知 assistance幫助.
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我們稱之為感知輔助.
07:51
It understands理解 our surrounding周圍 world世界
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它能了解我們周遭的環境,
07:55
and whispers耳語 to me in voice語音
or sends發送 a vibration振動 to my fingers手指.
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跟我小聲講話或振動我的手指.
08:02
Cognitive認知 assistance幫助 will augment增加
missing失踪 or weakened減弱 abilities能力 --
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感知輔助將彌補我們的缺陷--
08:08
in other words, our five senses感官.
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也就是我們的五種感覺.
08:11
This technology技術 is only in an early stage階段,
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這科技仍在初期開發階段,
08:14
but eventually終於, I'll be able能夠 to find
a classroom課堂 on campus校園,
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不過以後我能夠找到校園裡的教室,
08:19
enjoy請享用 window窗口 shopping購物
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盡情享受逛街的樂趣,
08:21
or find a nice不錯 restaurant餐廳
while walking步行 along沿 a street.
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走在街上可以發掘不錯的餐廳.
08:26
It will be amazing驚人 if I can find you
on the street before you notice注意 me.
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驚訝的是在你發現之前我先認出你.
08:31
It will become成為 my best最好 buddy夥伴, and yours你的.
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它會是你我最佳的夥伴.
08:36
So, this really is a great challenge挑戰.
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所以這真是一大挑戰.
08:40
It is a challenge挑戰
that needs需求 collaboration合作,
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是需要合作才能完成的挑戰,
08:44
which哪一個 is why we are creating創建
an open打開 community社區
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這就是為何我們建立開放式社群,
08:47
to accelerate加速 research研究 activities活動.
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來加快研究的腳步.
08:51
Just this morning早上, we announced公佈
the open-source開源 fundamental基本的 technologies技術
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今早我們剛開放你方才在影片中
所看到的基本技術的資源.
08:56
you just saw in the video視頻.
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今早我們剛開放你方才在影片中
所看到的基本技術的資源.
此項科技的尖端就在於真實世界.
08:58
The frontier邊境 is the real真實 world世界.
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09:01
The blind community社區 is exploring探索
this technical技術 frontier邊境
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盲人們是先驅者, 正探索著這項尖端科技的前沿.
09:06
and the pathfinder開創者.
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09:08
I hope希望 to work with you
to explore探索 the new era時代,
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我希望與你開拓新紀元,
09:12
and the next下一個 time that I'm on this stage階段,
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下次在這台上,
09:15
through通過 technology技術 and innovation革新,
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透過技術與創新,
09:17
I will be able能夠 to walk步行 up here
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我能夠自己走上來這裡,
09:19
all by myself.
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全靠我自己.
09:21
Thank you so much.
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感謝各位.
09:22
(Applause掌聲)
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(掌聲)
Translated by Ting-Chih Liang
Reviewed by Wilde Luo

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Chieko Asakawa - Visionary inventor
Dr. Chieko Asakawa invents technology to make the visually impaired more independent.

Why you should listen

Dr. Chieko Asakawa is an IBM Fellow who has been instrumental in furthering accessibility research and development for the past three decades. Challenging thinking on visually impaired technology usage, she leads the development in advancing web accessibility including digital Braille and voice browsers.

The government of Japan awarded the 2013 Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon to Dr. Asakawa for her outstanding contributions to accessibility research, including the development of a voice browser for the visually impaired. Today, with Carnegie Mellon University, she is working on how accessibility technologies can play a key role in the real world to help create opportunities for more people to actively participate in the society.

More profile about the speaker
Chieko Asakawa | Speaker | TED.com