[h3]Smile helmet forces a grin 
[/h3] Designer/artist Tim Simpson's Smile Helmet mechanically draws the corners of your mouth back into a grin. He created it for "people in jobs which demand an unusual amount of smiling, such as air-stewards, receptionists and politicians." A video of the device in action is available on Simpson's Web site. From the project page:
(//image/smilehelmet.jpg)
"A helmet for people in jobs which demand an unusual amount of smiling, such as air-stewards, receptionists and politicians. A sensor in the front of the helmet detects anybody within a 2 metre range, at which point the mouth is pulled into a broad grin by a small servo motor and some concealed fishing wire. The helmet addresses the facades of social interaction and explores our responses to affected expressions. It is modelled here by Brendan Walker."
   
			
			
			
				I once heard that when the Queen goes out in her car she wears smile clips and that by the door is a small device wearing a glove which waves at appropriate intervals. Can this be true?  
			
			
			
				The smile clips sound painful, but the automatic hand-waver seems like a wonderful idea.
			
			
			
				I suppose you get used to the clips after a while.
			
			
			
				Wouldn't transparent tape serve the same purpose with less pain?
			
			
			
				I doubt if it could be worn inside the mouth.  
			
			
			
				Has anyone tried?
			
			
			
				I'm sure they have, and I can think of several who SHOULD.