Between a score of 0-100, how would you grade the smiley face on the left?

In an attempt to improve customer service at its train stations, Japan has began implementing a computer system that would allow workers to check out their facial expression prior to interacting with the customers. It’s the smiling computer system which allows the workers to stare into a computer and smile. In seconds the computer responds with a score. A low score indicates that the smile isn’t wide enough and the worker is encourage to try again to get a bigger smile before going out to greet the customers. According to the AP, there are up to 250,000 riders who pass through the station every day, customer satisfaction is highly required so that the system keeps on humming along.

Using the application is total optional at this point. According to officials, it gives “it gives employees a chance to examine themselves before they go to work.” The software and computer system is being used at 15 of the 72 stations. No words yet on when this would be a required exercise that workers and employees would have to go through every day as part of their work process.

Japan has been known to do very strange things so it should come as no surprise that they would be engaging in this exercise. It is the country that brought us the Nintendo Wii and its quirky controllers that allow for interaction with the characters onscreen. So it’s no wonder that they want to use computer system to allow workers to be able to perform better in an envirnoment where everyone is rushing through the system.

I wonder if such a system would work in the New York City Subway system? The customer service score can’t be too high because I always hear people complaining about how terrible it is. If they were to implement this system to all the workers, including the train conductors, at least you would be able to appreciate them a little bit hopefully through their voices even if you have no idea what they’re announcing through the speakers.

Thinking through the last two sentences, this system would never work in the United States. Just thinking about setting it up, the City would already get 10 complaints and 20 lawsuits against it for prejudice and racial discrimination. Lawsuit would probably read, “City demands workers to be happy. Workers have right to be mad and bitchy all day!” I guess it’s their lives and they deserve to be angry all day long if that is what will make them “happy”.

Here are some additional smiley faces for you to make sure that you smile before leaving this page.

Tags: Japanese, smile, train, weird