A Japanese utility company uses “smile detection” software made by Omron to scan their employees faces every day for smiles, and then motivates better smiling for below par grins. (It sounds like the same technology Sony uses in its new DSC cameras introduced last year. The camera waits until the subject is smiling to take the shot, and with its “Happy Faces” feature, can also edit non-smiling faces into big grins).

To motivate bigger smiles, the utility company’s "smile police" send out instant messages (IMs) saying "You still look too serious” or "Lift up your mouth corners.” And employees receive daily printouts of their smiles to inspire them throughout the day. How funny is that?! And imagine how customer service could be transformed if companies used electronic smile monitoring to understand and act upon what makes customers smile (and not smile).

Listen to the whole story on NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me news show quiz. It will make YOU smile!