Even though my company specializes in automating things that people used to do, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed when I found out Japan Airlines no longer offers massages in their First Class Lounge. Instead, they have replaced the people with massage chairs.
I fly through Japan several times a year – and I had come to look forward to the quick massage between flights. I’d rush from the plane to the club to make sure that I got on the list (and would feel slighted if there wasn’t enough buffer time between flights to accommodate this indulgence). So, I was somewhat skeptical about the switch to massage chairs.
The reason was history – I bought my first massage chair in the mid-1990s ... and it was not very good. Things have come a long way.
Here is a picture of me overcoming my reservations about technology (yet again).
It presses, stretches, rolls … and (most importantly) works. I was relaxed, refreshed, and tempted to press the button to do it again.
Sure, I didn’t understand the remote. But, I didn’t understand the massage attendant either.
On a related note, the club has robot toilets as well. What I mean is that a “washlet” guidance and targeting system automatically cleans the mess you made. Disconcerting the first time you use it … but, I want one.
Imagine the testing and QA process to get that right. Glad all we have to do is engineer trading systems to make and keep money.
