World﹕Robot Priest

【明報專訊】A Japanese company has assigned a new role to SoftBank's humanoid robot Pepper — a Buddhist priest for hire at funerals. The robot has not been hired to conduct a funeral.

The robot was on display at a funeral industry fair in Tokyo. Pepper's new code will let it chant sutras in a computerised voice while tapping a drum, providing a cheaper alternative to a human priest in funerals.

With the average cost of a funeral in Japan reaching in excess of HKD200,000, and the service of a human priest costing about HKD17,000, Nissei Eco, a plastic moulding company, is looking to undercut the market with Pepper available for just HKD3,500 per funeral. A Buddhist priest came to the expo to see if Pepper could "impart the 'heart' aspect to a machine because I believe that the 'heart' is the foundation of religion."

With Japan's population ageing and shrinking, many Buddhist priests receive less and less financial support from their communities, prompting some to find part-time work outside their temple duties. It is suggested that Pepper could step in when a human isn't available.

(Sources: Ming Pao, The Guardian)

■Photo Story

A 'robot priest' wearing a Buddhist robe can chant sutras like a human priest in a funeral.

■English highway﹕ in excess of

in excess of something

＝ more than a particular amount

e.g. You should not spend in excess of your income.

■Quiz

Answer the following questions.

(Answers on next text)

1. Is the following sentence true or false?

Hiring a human priest is cheaper than a robot priest in funerals.

True / False

2. What will Pepper do in a funeral?

____________________________________

3. Find in paragraph 4 a word that is similar in meaning to "becoming smaller".

_______________________

4. Which of the following is/are NOT true about priests at Japanese funerals?

a. Some Buddhist priests are doing part-time work outside temples.

b. There is not enough financial support for Buddhist priests.

c. Pepper has a lot of experiene in conducting funerals.

d. None of the above.

■Glossary

chant (v) 吟誦

sutra (n) 佛經

impart (v) 傳達

step in (phr v) 代替

[Smarties' Power English 第189期]