Some of the latest advancements in robotics are pretty impressive.

最新研發的機械人裡 有部分實在非常優秀

Just look at Atlas, a humanoid robot, built for the US defense department.

來看看 Atlas, 為美國國防部研發的人形機械人

Atlas is remarkable because it's built to look and act like a person.

Atlas與眾不同的原因是 因為它是為了模仿人類外貌及行動而研發的

But sometimes, engineers get a little carried away.

但有時候 工程師會有點偏離了目標

They end up with a creation that drifts into a no-man's-land

結果做出了偏離人類本質的 ”作品“

Between something that's lifelike, and something that's actually alive.

介乎於逼真跟真實生物之間的東西

This void is commonly referred to as "The Uncanny Valley"

這個空隙通常被稱為 ”恐怖谷“

Journeying into the valley often elicits an emotional response

一旦進入了” 恐怖谷“ 就會引起觀看者的情緒反應

somewhere between uncomfortable and creeped out.

一種不舒服以及異樣的感覺

Japanese robotics professor, Masahiro Mori coined the phrase way back in 1970.

日本機械人科學大學教授森政弘 於1970年提出了“恐怖谷”這個概念

He noted a positive reaction toward a human-like robot

他提出了對人形機器人的正面感覺

can quickly turn to disgust.

可以迅速變成厭惡感

Mori thought this response was triggered by subtle imperfections

森政弘教授認為這種感覺是來自於

in the robots appearance.

機械人外貌上微妙的瑕疵

Another hypothesis has to do with our expectations

另外一個說法 來自於我們的預期中

of how people and robots are supposed to look and act.

對於人類跟機械人在外貌跟行動上應有的分別

Atlas for example, clearly looks like a robot.

以Atlas作為例子 明顯看起來是個機械人

You'd have no problem leaving him in your garage overnight.

你會覺得把它留在車庫裡一整夜是完全沒有問題的

Animation also provides us with some examples of the Uncanny Valley effect.

動畫也提供了我們一些 ”恐怖谷“效應的例子

Movies like The Polar Express and Beowolf

電影比如 《北極快車》以及《 魔戰王：貝奧武夫》

were widely panned, because their characters ventured into Uncanny territory.

就被廣泛批評 因為角色遊走於恐怖谷的邊緣

It's especially difficult for roboticists

這是特別困難的 對於機械人工程師

and animators to render lifelike hair eyes and skin-tone.

以及動畫家要模仿生動的頭髮，眼睛以及膚色

It's even harder when you introduce motion.

假如再加入動作 事情就變得更困難了

New technologies promise to bridge the gap between the lifelike and the living.

最新科技的目標是 填補逼真跟真實生物之間的空隙

But they're trying to hit a moving target.

但是他們這樣做 有如要命中一個活靶

The Uncanny Valley begins and ends in different places for different people.

因為恐怖谷的起緣跟終結是會隨著不同的人而改變

And besides, we like to think that humans can't be replicated.

同時 我們偏向於覺得人類是不能被複製的

For Scientific American's Instant Egghead I'm Larry Greenemeier.