Abstract: A reception supporting method is executed by a computer. The reception supporting method includes determining a responder who responds to a customer when the customer is detected, acquiring time taken until responding to the customer by the responder, selecting a first scenario from among a plurality of scenarios to each of which conversation time is individually set, the first conversation time set to the first scenario being no longer than the time, and instructing a human interface device to execute a conversation with the customer, the conversation being based on the first scenario.

Abstract: A method executed by a computer. The method includes, acquiring a first image of a customer, acquiring a second image of a responder who responds to the customer, identifying the customer based on the first image, acquiring customer information corresponding to the customer, identifying the responder based on the second image, determining a reading authority of the responder, and instructing a terminal of the responder to display information, the information being selected from the customer information in accordance with the reading authority.

Abstract: A light-modulating liquid-crystal element comprising two substrates which each have an electrode layer and at least one of which is transparent, and a light-modulating layer supported between these substrates, wherein the light-modulating layer comprises a nematic liquid-crystal material and a transparent solid substance, and the nematic liquid-crystal material comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (I), and/or a compound represented by the following general formula (II), and a compound represented by the general formula (III), the nematic liquid-crystal material being dispersed as independent microdroplets in the transparent solid substance, the microdroplets having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 50 ?m.

Abstract: A light-modulating liquid-crystal element comprising two substrates which each has an electrode layer and at least either of which is transparent and a light-modulating layer supported between these substrates, wherein the light-modulating layer comprises a nematic liquid-crystal material and a transparent solid substance, and the nematic liquid-crystal material comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (I) and/or a compound represented by the following general formula (II) and further contains a compound represented by the following general formula (III), the nematic liquid-crystal material being dispersed as independent fine droplets in the transparent solid substance, the fine droplets having an average particle diameter of 0.1-50 ?m. (I) (III) (II) (In the formulae, R1 to R3 each independently represents C1-10 alkyl, etc.; A1 and A2 each independently represents trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; and X1 and X2 each independently represents cyano, C1-10 alkyl, etc.