《中英對照讀新聞》'Robo-sommelier' offers wine tips 機器人酒侍提供葡萄酒訣竅

◎鄭寺音

A wine-tasting robot has been developed by researchers in Japan. The so-called robot-sommelier can "taste" and identify types of wine, and also has the ability to discern and analyse foods.

日本研究人員研發出品酒機器人。這種所謂的機器人酒侍，能「品嚐」與辨識酒的種類，也有分辨與分析食物的能力。

The 0.6m-tall robot, developed by NEC System Technologies and Mie University, uses infrared light to identify different tastes.

這種0.6公尺高的機器人，由NEC系統科技與三重大學研發，使用紅外線來辨識不同味道。

The green and white robot was initially developed to taste and identify foods, analysing the different kinds and quantities of ingredients within them. But now its tasting technology has moved into the world of wine, and the robot is capable of distinguishing several different types of grapes.

這種綠白色機器人一開始是研發來品嚐與辨識食物，分析食物成分的種類與數量。但現在，這種機器人的品嚐技術已經擴展到葡萄酒世界，可以分辨數種不同種類的葡萄。

The tasting robot analyses wines and foods through a sensor on its arm. By using its built-in voice function, the robot can convey exactly what it has found out.

品酒機器人透過手臂上的感應器，分析酒與食物。運用其內建的聲音功能，機器人可確切傳達它發現的東西。

The robot could also be personalised to alert a customer to the wines they prefer, and to recommend to new varieties that they might like to try.

這種機器人也可以個人化，告知顧客他們較喜歡的酒，並建議他們可能會想嘗試的新款。

However, the researchers accept that the tasting power of the robot is limited. The global wine market boasts thousands of wines, but the prototype robot can distinguish between just a few dozen varieties.

但研究人員承認，機器人的品嚐能力有限，全球葡萄酒市場誇稱有數千種葡萄酒，但這種原型機器人只能分辨幾十種。

新聞辭典

sommelier︰名詞，酒侍。

boast︰動詞，誇口；以有…自豪。例句：Our school library boasts quite a few rare books.（我們學校圖書館號稱藏有好些珍本書。）

distinguish︰動詞，區別；辨別。例句：It is certainly important to distinguish between right and wrong.（明辨是非當然要緊。）