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Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick

Thu, Nov 11th 2004 3:36pm





Automating The Public Bathroom

from the touch-free dept

You may have noticed, lately, that public bathrooms are increasingly automated, thanks to infrared systems. I've been happy to see a number of public bathrooms lately even include automated paper towel dispensers. However, some people aren't so thrilled, as the infrared doesn't always work for them, requiring them to dance a little dance just to get the faucet to turn on properly. Then, of course, there's the opposite problem: the "premature evacuation" or the "inadvertent flushing." However, apparently the early versions of the technology were poorly designed, and the newer versions are better set up to avoid flushing too early in the process.

6 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Touchless Restroom

    identicon
    Beck, Nov 11th, 2004 @ 6:48pm

    I can still remember the excitement I felt upon experiencing my first touch-free public restroom. I was amazed that someone had finally come up with an intelligent design! I think it was at the Atlanta airport. No doors to open, the doorway had a couple of 90 degree turns. Auto-flush, auto-sinks, auto-towel-feed.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re: Touchless Restroom

    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, Nov 11th, 2004 @ 8:33pm

    Did a machine wipe your ass too. Sorry, I had to ask it ;-)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Touchless Restroom

    identicon
    dorpus, Nov 11th, 2004 @ 9:26pm

    There are parts of the world where they are big on bidets, which inject water up your ass. In North America, it is a foreign and disgusting concept -- we use better toilet paper instead.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Touchless Restroom

    identicon
    eeyore, Nov 12th, 2004 @ 4:48am

    How do you dry your ass after the bidet blows it's load in you? or do you just walk around with a wet ass all day?

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  

    Re: Touchless Restroom

    identicon
    Dylan Browne, Nov 12th, 2004 @ 7:41am

    Auto-flush is just the start. Have you seen the toilets they have in Japan? In 30 years, they have moved from the classic "squat and drop" to these high tech puppies that not only wash your butt with warm water, but then dry it with hot air! No need to wander around with a wet butt. These Toto toilets are far superior to anything I have seen in europe or the US. I think they start at around $5K, so its a bit steep for my home use, but for the office or a hotel I think they are a future must-have.

    And now they are coming to the US
    http://www.washlet.com/jasmin.asp

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Anonymous, Nov 12th, 2004 @ 12:52pm

    The auto-sinks are HORRIBLE.

    They take away your ability to select temperature. Want cold water, say, to put on paper towel and wipe your face if your not feeling well? Sorry, only warm (or sometimes distubingly hot) water availabled here. Need hot to really clean your hands? Sorry, only lukewarm here.

    Taking away choice is bad.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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