Well done machine

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Well done machine in a former telephone booth right next to the bus stop

The well-done machine praises its visitors for good deeds. It is a converted telephone booth in the village of Mettau in Switzerland and, according to the development team, already recognizes small successes. Since autumn 2020, the well-done machine has been aimed, on the one hand, at locals, on the other hand, the community has received increased visits from tourists, including from abroad. Around 150 people visited this machine in its first quarter - according to its initiators , it is the first of its kind in the world.

location

Mettau is located in the Swiss canton of Aargau , in the northeast of the Fricktal region . It is one of five villages in the municipality of Mettauertal.

The well-done machine is in the Mettau district on the main road that leads through the valley. Centrally located, it is surrounded by the former post office, a café, the bus stop and the St. Remigius Church, built in the 18th century, and the route of the Flösserweg hiking trail also passes it.

story

Even if the old telephone booth is officially called the well-done machine , it is unofficially also called the shoulder tapping machine . This goes back to the mayor of the village, Peter Weber, who used to like to praise with the words: "Now you can stand under the shoulder tapping machine for half an hour." Inspired by the saying, the Mettauertal municipal council discussed whether such a machine could be implemented.

“We are all quick to respond to criticism. When praising, on the other hand, we often exercise restraint. "

- Oliver Kalt, councilor and member of the development team : Neue Fricktaler Zeitung

In the planning phase, the costs were calculated at CHF 42,000 . Of these, 14,000 were CHF through crowdfunding 14'000 CHF through culture support, and by Swisslos and 6,000 CHF by companies sponsoring financed. The local council also contributed to the costs. In total, over 50 companies and private individuals took part in the fundraising campaign. Shortly before Christmas 2019, the crowdfunding for the conversion of the telephone booth was successfully completed. This group financing raised over CHF 20,000.

Beat Wormstetter is considered to be the inventor of the well-done machine. After the concept was drawn up, the search for sponsors and the choice of location followed. For this purpose, the community acquired the only remaining telephone booth in the valley from Swisscom . The ideas were developed with a specialist in digital marketing . The cladding with foil should serve as an information board and advertising platform. The implementation took place together with the Flösserweg Association . When equipping the cabin, care had to be taken to ensure that it was protected against vandalism . The work was carried out by local companies. This included the specially programmed software, the power and internet connection and finally the final assembly. The inside and outside walls of the telephone booth received new decorations with full wrapping.

Work started in February 2020, and functional tests were carried out in August 2020. The inauguration took place on September 7, 2020. Regional newspapers and TV channels accompanied the opening.

"[...] Every person who reports a good deed enriches us."

- Peter Weber at the opening ceremony : Neue Fricktaler Zeitung

sequence

Interior view with screen and map of the area

After entering the cell, the visitor can select from a list on a screen why he would like to be praised. The list is divided into the areas of family, work, public and traffic. The reasons mentioned include, for example, observing the parking time or the speed limit, as well as statements such as "I helped someone get to the doctor.", "I was thinking about the wedding day." or simply "I'm the best friend and sister." You can also enter your own event.

The website of the well-done machine further explains that the machine is now taking a photo of the visitor. You will then be asked to enter your name and email address to which a voucher will be sent.

Then the machine gives applause and a hymn of praise is played by showing the visitor a short film on the screen. In 2019, it was planned that one of five actor scenes would be shown in random alternation. In 2020 children gave a loud applause on the screen, accompanied by party music, or a group of people clapped, blows soap bubbles, streamers and throws kissing hands.

Coupons

The machine offers sponsors the opportunity to present themselves. The main sponsors of the project include the Jurapark Aargau , the lottery company Swisslos and the Neue Aargauer Bank .

If the visitor provides an email address, the machine sends a voucher. Every visitor to the well-done machine can register once a month and receive a voucher. The value of the vouchers is between one and seven francs. The vouchers bring discounts at participating local companies. The alternately issued vouchers are, for example, for the nearby café, the butcher or discounted foot care. Experience shows that visitors make additional expenses in the companies.

There is also tourist information about the region. The walls in the inside of the cabin are covered with a comprehensive map. Leisure addresses are marked separately and can be accessed via QR codes .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Joël Weber: The “Well-Done Machine” financed by donations. In: nau.ch. Nau media AG, September 22, 2020, accessed on August 22, 2021 .
  2. ↑ a b c d Thomas Wehrli: Mettauertal - Aargau municipality launches Switzerland's first shoulder tapping machine. In: aargauerzeitung.ch. Aargauer Zeitung - CH Regionalmedien AG, August 22, 2020, accessed on August 17, 2021 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h You did well. In: nfz.ch. Neue Fricktaler Zeitung, August 23, 2020, accessed on August 17, 2021 .
  4. ↑ a b c Daniel Benz: I praise that! Switzerland's first shoulder tapping machine is in Aargau. In: observer.ch. Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz AG, December 17, 2020, accessed on August 22, 2021 .
  5. ↑ a b c SWR: For a pat on the back in the phone booth. In: swr.de. Südwestrundfunk, September 9, 2020, accessed on August 16, 2021 .
  6. ↑ a b Peter Weber, Florian Wunderlin: Annual report of the community of residents 2019 . Ed .: Municipality of Mettauertal. Monuments publications, Mettau 2019, p. 15.16 ( mettauertal.ch [PDF]).
  7. ↑ a b c Patrick Seibert: Free praise: the old telephone booth is becoming a “well-done machine”. In: swr3.de. Südwestrundfunk Corporation under public law, September 8, 2020, accessed on August 16, 2021 .
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g The telephone booth with the “Well-made machine”. In: travelagenciesfinder.com. TravelAgenciesFinder, accessed August 18, 2021 .
  9. ↑ a b c d e Bernadette Zaniolo: Praise more. In: nfz.ch. Neue Fricktaler Zeitung, September 10, 2020, accessed on August 22, 2021 .
  10. ↑ a b c Well done machine. In: wemakeit.com. htsg wemakeit AG, 2019, accessed on August 22, 2021 .
  11. ↑ a b Mettauertal telephone booth. In: telefonkabine-mettauertal.ch. Flösserweg Association, Mettauertal telephone booth project, accessed on August 22, 2021 .
  12. ↑ Yvonne Greiner: The "well-done machine". In: jimdofree.com. taeterwerkstatts website !, September 16, 2020, accessed on August 22, 2021 .

Coordinates: 47 ° 34 '  N , 8 ° 8'  E ; CH1903:  651 781  /  268,357