e00 Home Lutestyle Finance Fulure It’s service with a smile on Japanese trains Wes hard for commuters to feel positive about the daily grind to {and from work on public transport. But the Japanese think they have come up with a technological solution to keeping people happy. The Keihin Electric Express Ralvay has introduced “smile scar system in its busler stations in Tokyo. Over 500 employees wil face daily checks on the quality oftheir smile to make sure they look happy and welcoming to passengers. Japan is well known {or its attention to detail and customer service. ts common to see uniformed tain conductors bowing to travellers as they get ‘on and off the train. So perhaps monitoring employees’ smiles is ‘the next logical step, The ‘smile scan system has been developed by Japanese electronics company Omron, ‘The software works by analysing the |) movement of the ins and eyes when smiling, and other changes tothe face ke the appearance of wrinkles, Sefore stating work each day, employees sit in front of a laptop computer equipped with a webcam {and simply smile. The machine then gives score between 0 and 100 depending on ‘the quality of their expression. Feedback is alo provided on the screen with comment like "You sil look too serious or Your smile is getting better’ The employee also gets a print-out with {an image of their best smile to use as a reference during the rest of the working day. wee Although workers in some countries may see the tests as an Imposition, the railway company maintains that iti simply 2 ‘way to improve ther service to customers. Taichi Takahashi, «public relations employee atthe train company, says that it ives employees an opportunity to check how they came across before they have contact with the public. Users of the system seem to agree, ‘Using the “smile scan” system is expecially Useful for everyday customer interactions. It really helped me develop @ natural smile’ says Asami Takahashi, a 28-year-old employee, Would the smilescanner be a useful too! in improving your ‘commute to work? Or what other sour faced staff might benefit from a daily diagnos? Cab Fashion Since Po TI EST > The bosses ofthe railway company sound a bt ike ‘control freaks! You cant force people to be, or even look, happy. Zoltan, Budapest > Sounds fine by me ~ anything that makes my journey Ito work more bearable is welcome. Can't imagine it ‘working n Manhattan, though Richie, NYC > You have to congratulate the Japanese on their ingenuity, but it would never work in the UK. I reckon we have the grumpest workforce in Europe. You couldn't {get a worker on the Tube to smile even if you scanned them all day! Val, London > This a fun story but there's a serious side to it to. Wie are all monitored by cameras 247 and think its scary. Some bosses want to have cameras at people's workstations so they can watch what they do all day ico, Paris Glossary 5 dally grinds something th: ork, borin wrinkles: tin sour-faced: looking unfriendly ori a bad mi