76 Unit 10

Gadget box

RP6 (Remote Presence) is the UK's first robot doctor. It allows doctors anywhere in the world to communicate directly with patients in their hospital beds.The robot is controlled by the doctor using a joystick. It is fitted with a camera so that the doctor can examine the patient.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the robot doctor?

2 Look at the pictures of the Ultracane. Who do you think will use it? How do you think it works ?

3 Fill the gaps in the description of the Ultracane with information a-g. Add who when the information describes people. Add which for things.

a invented the cane

b calculates the position and size of the object

c are near the blind person

d have tried the cane

e helps blind people to avoid obstacles in their path

f cannot see well

g are for objects in front and overhead

Problem-solving

Put devices a-e in order of how useful they are to a blind person (1 = most useful, 5 = least useful). Then work in small groups, and compare your answers. Try to agree on the best order.

a a scanner which reads books and documents out loud

b a voice-operated computer

c a global positioning device which tells you where you are with an accuracy of ± 3 metres

d a fridge which reports when food is past its sell-by date

e software which allows your computer to read onscreen information out loud

Useful language

Disagreement

I don't really agree with you. \

I don't think you're quite right.

Agreement

That sounds like a good idea.

I think so too.

I Persuasion

Isn'tX more useful than Y?

Blind people or people______________________¹ often use a cane to feel their way when walking. The

Ultracane is a new type of cane______________________². It uses echo-location, like a bat, to detect objects

around the blind person. Some people call it the Batcane. The cane transmits ultrasound signals. These are

reflected by objects______________________³. Sensors on the cane receive the reflected signals which are

passed to a microprocessor______________________⁴.

There are four buttons on the handle of the cane - the two______________________⁵ are on the top, and the two

which are for objects on the left and right are on the back. These buttons vibrate when an object is detected. The larger the object, the larger the vibration.

People______________________⁶ say that with a little practice they can use these vibrations to make a mental

map of their surroundings as they walk. Because the cane uses vibrations, not noise, they can also use their ears for

additional information about their surroundings. The engineers______________________⁷ are now planning

new uses of echo-location to help the blind.

Medical technology 77