ホーキング博士のユーモア

インテルがホーキング博士のコミュニケーションシステムを刷新したことは日本でもニュースになりました。インテルは英語でプレスリリースを出していますが、日本のサイトでは日本語版は出していませんでした。このシステムは日本語バージョンがないからでしょうか。

ホーキング博士の意思伝達システムは「オープンソース」：四肢麻痺の患者に応用できる仕組み
インテルはホーキング博士のために、効率的に意思伝達ができる新しいシステムを開発した。オープンソースのソフトを利用しているので、同様の障害を持つ多くの人に応用が可能だ。
TEXT BY KATIE COLLINS
PHOTO BY INTEL
TRANSLATION BY MAYUMI HIRAI/GALILEO
WIRED NEWS (UK)

Intel Provides Researchers with Open Access to New Platform to Address 3 Million People Afflicted with Motor Neuron Diseases, Quadriplegia

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Replacing Professor Hawking's decades-old communications system, he can better communicate, has increased ease of use for his daily routine, empowered with continued independence.
By January 2015, Intel will provide customizable solution to researchers and technologists.
The Intel-created advanced communications platform can be adapted for 3 million people afflicted with motor neuron diseases and quadriplegia.

LONDON, Dec. 2, 2014 - Today Intel demonstrated for the first time with Professor Stephen Hawking a new Intel-created communications platform to replace his decades-old system, dramatically improving his ability to communicate with the world. The customizable platform will be available to research and technology communities by January of next year.

By studying the acute needs of Hawking, and the very specific relationship between this man and his machine, Intel has delivered a tailored solution - called ACAT (Assistive Context Aware Toolkit) - that results in improved communication for Hawking with the world. It has the potential to become the backbone of a modern, customizable system other researchers and technologists can use to benefit those who have motor neuron diseases (MND) and quadriplegia.

Hawking has an MND related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), a condition that has progressed over the years. He is almost entirely paralyzed and communicates through technology.

"Medicine has not been able to cure me, so I rely on technology to help me communicate and live," said Hawking. "Intel has been supporting me for almost 20 years, allowing me to do what I love every day. The development of this system has the potential to improve the lives of disabled people around the world and is leading the way in terms of human interaction and the ability to overcome communication boundaries that once stood in the way."

これに合わせて英国版Wiredではホーキング博士をカバーストーリーにしていたんですね。映画も公開されていますし、バッチリのタイミングです。インタビューでも彼のユーモアは健在だったようで、車椅子で科学者なので００７の悪役がぴったりじゃないかと語っていたことはたくさんのメディアでも取り上げられていました。

Stephen Hawking Wants to Be a James Bond Villain
Renowned scientists jokes that his wheelchair and digital voice would make him perfect fit for the part
By Jon Blistein | December 2, 2014
Renowned scientist and author Stephen Hawking has made numerous TV and movie cameos and was recently the subject of the critically acclaimed biopic, The Theory of Everything. But the theoretical physicist has big ambitions for his future in film: "My ideal role would be a baddie in a James Bond film," Hawking joked during an interview with Wired's U.K. edition. "I think the wheelchair and the computer voice would fit the part."

インテルのシステムについて語っていた時も、脳波によるシステムはうまくいかなかったようで、I have not had much success with brain-computer interfaces. My carers say it’s because I have no brainwaves.と冗談を言っていました。

Intel has created a writing program for me using predictive text which allows me to write faster. The program is activated by a small sensor on my glasses. I'm writing these answers using it. Intel is going to open source it, to make it available to other disabled people. Intel has also tried facial recognition, though the range of messages that can be conveyed is limited. I have not had much success with brain-computer interfaces. My carers say it’s because I have no brainwaves.

今回ブログで取り上げたのは、本屋で最近になって知ったこともありますが、インテルの開発についてのレポートがウエブサイトでも読めるようになったからです。英語学習者として嬉しいことに記者による朗読バージョンもあります。



Exclusive: Giving Stephen Hawking a voice
2 December 2014
JOAO MEDEIROS
Science Editor
This exclusive article was taken from the January 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.

あとは日本のWiredが記事を訳してくれるのを待つだけですね。一足先に読んでしまって、後から英語でもう読んじゃったけど、という嫌な奴になるのも手かもしれませんが（笑）