論文・翻訳コンテスト

日本語課題 → 英語訳　平岡彩

When you take time to think about it,　the fax machine is a child-friendly,　well-thought-out machine. The pictures you draw and letters you write on a piece of paper are directly delivered to someone else. The children’s entertaining characters and scribbles juvenile but full of personality, cannot be transmitted through email unless you scan their creation with a scanner and attach it to an email; a process that is much too troublesome. Furthermore, the receiving side can look at the work of art over and over on a piece of paper rather than over a screen. I renewed my appreciation for the principle of fax messaging that we take for granted: The piece of paper that we put in the machine is reproduced on the other side on another piece of paper. Also important is that the design on the paper is delivered in exactly the same size as the original creation. For example, if a child traces his/her hand on a piece of paper and sends it by the fax machine, the child on the other end can compare the size of his/her hand by placing it on top of the tracing. Such a natural and meaningful gesture cannot be done with other forms of media. That it is suitable for children means it is a convenient tool that has an affinity for adults as well.