An ingenious new device could soon be unveiled in the push to reduce the Australian road toll … a fatigue-measuring public toilet!
As you might expect, it’s gadget-crazy Japan that’s leading the way in the tiredness-busting toilet tech department.
The Ebina Service Area in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture is already giving the futuristic loo a trial run. Visitors step into the stall and, before they take a seat, will notice a prominent digital display.
This can be used to control things like bidet and running water noises, as well as offering a special panel for ‘Fatigue Measurement’. Users can select to get instructions in a variety of languages including English, and a popup screen lets them know that it will take roughly 60 seconds to measure their degree of fatigue.
Hard as it is to believe, there are vibration sensors built into the toilet seat that analyse ‘pulse fluctuations’ which are then able to calculate an individual’s fatigue levels. Designers are at pains to point out that there are no cameras used in the measurement Page 8 process. The designers explain it this way.
“In a fatigued state, the tension of the sympathetic nervous system increases and the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system decreases, so this toilet measures the fluctuation in beats and analyses the autonomic nervous system.”
First, the screen asks drivers to choose their age bracket, and then asks whether they feel ‘not tired’, ‘somewhat tired’ or ‘tired’. Then it’s a matter of pressing the ‘start’ button, and trying to follow the instructions to relax while the measurement is taken.
After about a minute, a wealth of data is displayed which basically tells users whether they were right or wrong in their assessment of their tiredness levels.
And the screen eagerly reminds drivers that they should take a 10-20-minute break every two hours.
Genius! Or is it?
On the minus side, this seems like a very expensive alternative to simply using your common sense … and it might cause unnecessary queues to use the loo. But on the positive side, it’s not always easy to judge how tired your body really is and having a high-tech second opinion has to be a good thing.
Most importantly though, it just gets drivers thinking about the fatigue issue.
After a spicy curry and/or a big night on the red wine, I don’t think it would have time to measure my fatigue!
Too right
Some loo trips will blow the scanner to bits
On the up side, it is Japanese not Chinese. Which to me means it does have credibility.
Vandals and techies having a field day. Agree with Shane.
Next will give a full medical check up.
We should concentrate on building more loo’s and rest stops, not worrying about making more expensive ones.