進化系マスク｜Evolutionary Mask｜2021/03/09

定例の打合せで新しいマスクギアを購入したという話を聞いた。通常の不織布のマスクの上につけるのだが、内臓マイクがついている。そのマイクがスマホの専用アプリに連動して自分の話す言葉が自動的に８ヶ国語に翻訳されて音声で流れる。しかも月々1000円で打合せの議事録を作ってくれるという。これはいい！と購入ボタンを押しかけたが、よく考えると言葉を翻訳して相手に伝わっても、その言語で返答されても理解できない。また打合せ記録は参加する全ての人がこのマスクをしていないと完成しない。まだ改良の余地がありそうだけれど面白い。しかし当面マスク生活が続きそうだから、ファッションマスク以外にこういった商品が出てくるのは楽しみだなぁ。（絵と文：サカキテツ朗）
I heard that one of the attendants bought a new mask gear at a regular meeting. He put it on a normal non-woven mask, and it had a built-in microphone. The microphone linked to the smartphone's dedicated app, and the words he spoke were automatically translated into eight languages and played by voice. Moreover, he said that it would make the meeting records for 1000 yen a month. This was good! I almost pressed the purchase button, and I thought about it again. Even if my words translated and conveyed them to the other party, I could not understand the reply in that language. Also, the meeting record would not be completed unless all the participants wore this mask. There seemed to be more improvement. However, it seems that my life as a mask will continue for the time being, so I'm looking forward to seeing such products other than fashion masks. -Text and illustration by Ted Sakaki