Toilet wars

thomas · Oct 14, 2002, 04:00

High-tech royal flush: Japanese betting on 'smart toilets'

"Japan's toilet wars started in February, when Matsushita engineers here introduced a toilet seat equipped with electrodes that send a mild electric charge through the user's buttocks, yielding a digital measurement of body-fat ratio.

Unimpressed, engineers from a rival company, Inax, counterattacked in April with a toilet that glows in the dark and whirs up its lid after an infrared sensor detects a human being. When in use, the toilet plays any of six soundtracks, including chirping birds, rushing water, tinkling wind chimes or the strumming of a traditional Japanese harp."

=> http://www.iht.com/articles/73169.html

Twisted · Oct 14, 2002, 04:16

Any place i can order these? The glow in the dark feature rocks. Not sure if it's useful though.

thomas · Oct 14, 2002, 04:24

A glowing toilet seat is very useful, especially after a few beer. Facilitates the landing approach. As background music I'd suggest Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyrie" or Haendel's "Water Music".

Olivia · Oct 14, 2002, 07:12

hahaha! what is that???
unbelievable...!
i guess i'd feel embarassed to use the toilet...

Namashibori · Oct 14, 2002, 08:42

Originally posted by thomas
"When in use, the toilet plays any of six soundtracks, including chirping birds, rushing water, tinkling wind chimes or the strumming of a traditional Japanese harp."

Muahahahaahahahahaa!

Olivia · Oct 14, 2002, 11:23

even though it's hilarious, i can't believe how they can invest money on R&D on toilet seats while the country is going through a decade-recession... it's like that article from bbc that thomas posted in another thread - 'the golden recession'.

deborah gormley · Oct 14, 2002, 20:33

this is hilarious, lol

great stuff, I seen a program recently where 4 male children had requested a voice activated toilet seat be instalded as their Mother always shouted at the kids, and so it was fitted to the bathroom, and the kids just shouted "up" and the seat raised up on command, "Mum" was so pleased, hahaha

moyashi · Oct 15, 2002, 00:06

Toilets are serious business over here.

@ sounds "rushing water"
Why do women have to listen to a flushy sound when they use the toilet? My old company would see 2-3 flushes per lady ???

Another mystery!

deborah gormley · Oct 15, 2002, 06:34

2-3 flushes per lady ??? Another mystery.

lolol "a mystery that cant be revealed on the forum" lol

and here's another mystery, "why do men require a newspaper just to visit the toilet and then leave it there for the ladies to pick it up?" lolol hmmmm

moyashi · Oct 16, 2002, 01:51

Newspapers for me require to much space to read in a small room. So I read a book instead. ( Japanese toilets are split off from the bathtubs. )

On average men probably spend why more time in the can than women. Number 1 is quicker but number 2 requires reading time. Hmmm, why's that? Lol ...easier to concentrate? Or maybe it just takes more time to clean out the tube. This requirement for time probably is just that women don't wish to be caught, I've only caught my wife once or twice in 5 years, thereby quickness has progressed to a DNA level. Also, men use 2 different positions so the seating position is more of a novelty.

hmmm, does that help?

thomas · Oct 16, 2002, 06:17

Interesting thread. We also have a pile of manga in the bathroom.

deborah gormley · Oct 16, 2002, 06:45

lol, well explained moyashi

now I'll forgive the husband, after all its all about the novelty factor!! lol
@ ladies

quickness has progressed to a DNA level.

thats brilliant, I'v never heard of it being discribed as that, but your so right, its almost an art form lol

moyashi · Oct 16, 2002, 21:18

Do women read while on the thrown?

tosh · Oct 17, 2002, 12:55

Wagner? ....That's very good Thomas. Um..."noise cancellation technology". This should be incorporated into the toilets. The flatulently challenged (is that a word?) will be very thankful. In fact, noise cancellation technology should be part of the building code for every major city.

thomas · Oct 17, 2002, 19:28

Originally posted by tosh
In fact, noise cancellation technology should be part of the building code for every major city.

Couldn't agree more. Then again, it would be better to use Verdi instead of Wagner, lol.

moyashi · Oct 18, 2002, 01:18

Flight of the Valkeryies ;)

tosh · Oct 19, 2002, 04:45

....Either/or.....(warau).

moyashi · Oct 20, 2002, 01:48

hmmm, what was that scene ... I do believe the movie was "All the right stuff" the one about the astronauts. One was reading a mag and the other was like humming a tune ...

deborah gormley · Nov 4, 2002, 08:52

@ moashi

Do women read while on the thrown?

lol, I have never met a woman yet who has the time,lol, maybe single ladies without homes to keep or without children to run around after might have the time and the security of knowing she would not be disturbed,

I'v read it somewhere that in private houses in Japan they have an oblong shaped toilet, more hygenic but difficult for westeners to use? and that they have toilet slippers that are used when useing the toilet facility, are these both accurate? or just a story? HELP! lol

(now I feel silly) ;)

samuraitora · Nov 6, 2002, 22:02

see...I go away for a while and come back to you all with your heads in the toilet...LOL

deborah gormley · Nov 7, 2002, 08:40

@ samuritoria lolol, now thats what was missing "YOU!" welcome back

miki · Nov 7, 2002, 11:58

do you mean "squat toilet"???
there're quite a number of "squat toilets" in other asian countries, such as china, taiwan, asean countries..... some of my friends were quite shocked when we went taiwan few years way back... coz most of the toilets are squat toilets... that was a BIG culture shock for us.. ha!
not too sure about Japan though...
(haven't been there...)

Luxpyre · Nov 7, 2002, 12:07

Flight of the Valkaries. Very fitting. I would buy it just for the reactions of visitors here in the US! I could just imagine the wide eyes and gaping mouths of people coming out of the bathroom!

I read in the bathroom too. When you just can't put that book down, just take it with you!

I studied abroad in Israel a few years ago, and in a few places there were squat toilets that everyone refered to as "Turkish Toilettes". Are these similar (if anyone knows) or even the same as the Japanese version?

thomas · Nov 7, 2002, 17:29

Oh, they call them Turkish toilets, that's interesting. In Central Europe we call them Italian toilets, as they were/are widely used in Southern Europe. I couldn't find any difference between Italian/Japanese/Arabic squat toilets, to us "Westerners" they're all equally uncomfortable.

moyashi · Nov 7, 2002, 17:33

Hmmm, most places with the space offer both in Japan with the proper designations on the door. Western! ... Nothing for Japanese style.

The squatters are baisically floor level. Houses and some places tend to raise the floor about 10-15cm. oblong shape about 40-50cm long (NO, I haven't measured one yet!) with like a half bowel shape splash cover at the end you're supposed to face. ERrr, I think that's what it's for.

haha, I almost peed my pants trying to figure out which way to point and decided that 1.) there's a splash guard 2.) I needed something to grab to maintain my balance. I've heard though of the unfortunates who've actually sat on the cold porcelain. ugh

Oct 14, 2002, 04:00	#1
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Toilet wars High-tech royal flush: Japanese betting on 'smart toilets' "Japan's toilet wars started in February, when Matsushita engineers here introduced a toilet seat equipped with electrodes that send a mild electric charge through the user's buttocks, yielding a digital measurement of body-fat ratio. Unimpressed, engineers from a rival company, Inax, counterattacked in April with a toilet that glows in the dark and whirs up its lid after an infrared sensor detects a human being. When in use, the toilet plays any of six soundtracks, including chirping birds, rushing water, tinkling wind chimes or the strumming of a traditional Japanese harp." => http://www.iht.com/articles/73169.html __________________ Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head!

Oct 14, 2002, 08:42	#5
Namashibori Regular Member Join Date: Oct 4, 2002 Posts: 31	Originally posted by thomas *"When in use, the toilet plays any of six soundtracks, including chirping birds, rushing water, tinkling wind chimes or the strumming of a traditional Japanese harp."* Muahahahaahahahahaa!

Oct 14, 2002, 20:33	#7
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	this is hilarious, lol great stuff, I seen a program recently where 4 male children had requested a voice activated toilet seat be instalded as their Mother always shouted at the kids, and so it was fitted to the bathroom, and the kids just shouted "up" and the seat raised up on command, "Mum" was so pleased, hahaha __________________ Debs

Oct 15, 2002, 00:06	#8
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	Toilets are serious business over here. @ sounds "rushing water" Why do women have to listen to a flushy sound when they use the toilet? My old company would see 2-3 flushes per lady ??? Another mystery! __________________ crazy gonna crazy

Oct 16, 2002, 06:45	#12
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	lol, well explained moyashi now I'll forgive the husband, after all its all about the novelty factor!! lol @ ladies quickness has progressed to a DNA level. thats brilliant, I'v never heard of it being discribed as that, but your so right, its almost an art form lol

Oct 14, 2002, 04:16	#2
Twisted That man in the corner Join Date: Mar 15, 2002 Location: The Netherlands Age: 35 Posts: 1,456	Any place i can order these? The glow in the dark feature rocks. Not sure if it's useful though.

Oct 14, 2002, 04:24	#3
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	A glowing toilet seat is very useful, especially after a few beer. Facilitates the landing approach. As background music I'd suggest Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyrie" or Haendel's "Water Music".

Oct 14, 2002, 07:12	#4
Olivia Regular Member Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil Posts: 126	hahaha! what is that??? unbelievable...! i guess i'd feel embarassed to use the toilet...

Oct 14, 2002, 11:23	#6
Olivia Regular Member Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil Posts: 126	even though it's hilarious, i can't believe how they can invest money on R&D on toilet seats while the country is going through a decade-recession... it's like that article from bbc that thomas posted in another thread - 'the golden recession'.

Oct 15, 2002, 06:34	#9
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	2-3 flushes per lady ??? Another mystery. lolol "a mystery that cant be revealed on the forum" lol and here's another mystery, "why do men require a newspaper just to visit the toilet and then leave it there for the ladies to pick it up?" lolol hmmmm

Oct 16, 2002, 01:51	#10
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	Newspapers for me require to much space to read in a small room. So I read a book instead. ( Japanese toilets are split off from the bathtubs. ) On average men probably spend why more time in the can than women. Number 1 is quicker but number 2 requires reading time. Hmmm, why's that? Lol ...easier to concentrate? Or maybe it just takes more time to clean out the tube. This requirement for time probably is just that women don't wish to be caught, I've only caught my wife once or twice in 5 years, thereby quickness has progressed to a DNA level. Also, men use 2 different positions so the seating position is more of a novelty. hmmm, does that help?

Oct 16, 2002, 06:17	#11
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Interesting thread. We also have a pile of manga in the bathroom.

Oct 16, 2002, 21:18	#13
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	Do women read while on the thrown?

Oct 17, 2002, 12:55	#14
tosh Regular Member Join Date: Apr 25, 2002 Location: the other side of the world. Posts: 61	Wagner? ....That's very good Thomas. Um..."noise cancellation technology". This should be incorporated into the toilets. The flatulently challenged (is that a word?) will be very thankful. In fact, noise cancellation technology should be part of the building code for every major city.

Oct 17, 2002, 19:28	#15
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Originally posted by tosh In fact, noise cancellation technology should be part of the building code for every major city. Couldn't agree more. Then again, it would be better to use Verdi instead of Wagner, lol.

Oct 18, 2002, 01:18	#16
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	Flight of the Valkeryies ;)

Oct 19, 2002, 04:45	#17
tosh Regular Member Join Date: Apr 25, 2002 Location: the other side of the world. Posts: 61	....Either/or.....(warau).

Oct 20, 2002, 01:48	#18
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	hmmm, what was that scene ... I do believe the movie was "All the right stuff" the one about the astronauts. One was reading a mag and the other was like humming a tune ...

Nov 4, 2002, 08:52	#19
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	@ moashi Do women read while on the thrown? lol, I have never met a woman yet who has the time,lol, maybe single ladies without homes to keep or without children to run around after might have the time and the security of knowing she would not be disturbed, I'v read it somewhere that in private houses in Japan they have an oblong shaped toilet, more hygenic but difficult for westeners to use? and that they have toilet slippers that are used when useing the toilet facility, are these both accurate? or just a story? HELP! lol (now I feel silly) ;)

Nov 6, 2002, 22:02	#20
samuraitora Regular Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Detroit MI Age: 35 Posts: 782	see...I go away for a while and come back to you all with your heads in the toilet...LOL __________________ ja mata samuraitora (^_-)/

Nov 7, 2002, 08:40	#21
deborah gormley Regular Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2002 Location: Nr. Ireland. Age: 40 Posts: 829	@ samuritoria lolol, now thats what was missing "YOU!" welcome back

Nov 7, 2002, 11:58	#22
miki Regular Member Join Date: Oct 31, 2002 Location: Kuala Lumpur, M'sia Posts: 30	do you mean "squat toilet"??? there're quite a number of "squat toilets" in other asian countries, such as china, taiwan, asean countries..... some of my friends were quite shocked when we went taiwan few years way back... coz most of the toilets are squat toilets... that was a BIG culture shock for us.. ha! not too sure about Japan though... (haven't been there...)

Nov 7, 2002, 12:07	#23
Luxpyre Regular Member Join Date: Oct 22, 2002 Location: Oregon Age: 28 Posts: 46	Flight of the Valkaries. Very fitting. I would buy it just for the reactions of visitors here in the US! I could just imagine the wide eyes and gaping mouths of people coming out of the bathroom! I read in the bathroom too. When you just can't put that book down, just take it with you! I studied abroad in Israel a few years ago, and in a few places there were squat toilets that everyone refered to as "Turkish Toilettes". Are these similar (if anyone knows) or even the same as the Japanese version?

Nov 7, 2002, 17:29	#24
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	Oh, they call them Turkish toilets, that's interesting. In Central Europe we call them Italian toilets, as they were/are widely used in Southern Europe. I couldn't find any difference between Italian/Japanese/Arabic squat toilets, to us "Westerners" they're all equally uncomfortable.

Nov 7, 2002, 17:33	#25
moyashi Regular Member Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: SonyLand Age: 40 Posts: 1,566	Hmmm, most places with the space offer both in Japan with the proper designations on the door. Western! ... Nothing for Japanese style. The squatters are baisically floor level. Houses and some places tend to raise the floor about 10-15cm. oblong shape about 40-50cm long (NO, I haven't measured one yet!) with like a half bowel shape splash cover at the end you're supposed to face. ERrr, I think that's what it's for. haha, I almost peed my pants trying to figure out which way to point and decided that 1.) there's a splash guard 2.) I needed something to grab to maintain my balance. I've heard though of the unfortunates who've actually sat on the cold porcelain. ugh

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