In the service area of the expressway in Moriya City, Ibaraki Prefecture, a demonstration experiment of a new service has begun in which "Avatar", a person's alter ego, guides traffic information instead of the staff at the counter.
This demonstration experiment started on the 14th in the Moriya service area of the Joban Expressway down line on the East Nippon Expressway in an attempt to reduce human-to-human contact as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus.
In the service area, the staff at the counter usually guides you with information such as traffic and sightseeing, but in the experiment, the "avatar" displayed on the monitor at the counter will guide you.
"Avatar" is the alter ego of a staff member in a remote location, and visitors can talk through the monitor.
In addition to reflecting the facial expressions of the staff and waving their hands, it is also possible to display a map on the monitor to provide detailed information on traffic conditions and highway tolls.
Sachiko Segawa, team leader of the East Nippon Expressway Dorapura Innovation Lab, said, "In the future, if there are not enough staff, we would like to consider providing support from other service areas or responding from home. I want you to enjoy the conversation with your avatar. "