Dovetailing neatly as it does with yesterday’s mention of machines that can read emotion, I couldn’t resist mentioning this story about Japanese railway staff having their smiles scanned and rated out of 100 every morning before work:
For those with a below-par grin, one of an array of smile-boosting messages will op up on the computer screen ranging from “you still look too serious” to “lift up your mouth corners”, according to the Mainichi Daily News.
[…]
Workers at Keihin Electric Express Railway will receive a print out of their daily smile which they will be expected to keep with then throughout the day to inspire them to smile at all times, the report added.
Nothing looks more awkward – or alarming – than a forced smile. [via SlashDot; image by cutglassdecanter]