I agree -- these things suck. I have spent time trying to fool the sensor. It brings up the bigger issue of what makes good technology vs. what is not a good use of technology. A lot of technology I simply hate, like digital pictures (intended for some aesthetic use). We have to be selective about technology -- a lot of it simply sucks.
But in the big scheme, artificial general intelligence does NOT suck like a stupid see-ing eye toilet. On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 4:00 AM, Mike Tintner <tint...@blueyonder.co.uk>wrote: > I write this month to condemn the inventor of the electronic “seeing eye” > toilet. Yes, that’s right, I’m talking toilets here, doo-doo-stuff, some of > which I hopefully won’t step in myself over the next few paragraphs. I know > there must be more substantive and less objectionable topics to bring before > you, but I have a sense that many of you join me in spirit if not common > experience and so I devote this month’s *Outlook* to another trivial > snippet emphasizing our joint humanity and sense of loss due to the recent > disappearance of the hand flusher. > > I don’t know where it is located exactly, but there’s an electronic eye in > the plumbing of public toilets these days that can sense when you get up and > down (or is it down and up) and are finally finished with your “business,” > if you get my drift. My doctor says a proctology exam is a necessary evil > but cameras in toilets? Never having seen myself from this particular angle, > it is particularly embarrassing to turn over the assignment to a camera and > in effect say, “Snap away – see anything that doesn’t look right?” I figure > if there’s an eye there, then there could also be a little voice that says, > “Have a seat,” which of course I do, usually with much haste and a sense > that I’d better get on with it before I attract a crowd. > > It’s after the dirty deed is complete, however, that the real intrigue > begins. Does it flush or doesn’t it? Only the computer chip knows for sure. > Sometimes, though, after the paperwork has been filed, pants pulled up and > an attempted getaway initiated – nothing happens. No flush. Well, what is > one to do in such circumstances? You can’t just leave it there, you know. > Sometimes when the toilet’s plugged and there’s no plunger like in European > bathrooms, you can get out of there quick with conscience in tact, but only, > of course, after checking to see that there’s no one else in the restroom > who might be able to testify against you in court for being a non-flusher. > With electronic eye toilets, however, the conscience is never clear and so > you wave your hand in front of the camera, hoping to convince it by the > breaking of light waves that someone really has used the toilet and that > somehow it just forgot, or maybe the deposit was so minuscule that it just > didn’t merit a flush. Hello in there! Having failed to trick it, however, > the next step is to look for that little button in the back that you > supposedly push in an emergency – sort of like a “break glass in case of > fire” toilet equivalent. But think of all the billions of germs! At least > with an old handle you could kick it with your shoe, hold up your arms like > a doctor scrubbing for surgery and make an exit looking like you’re > auditioning for a part on *ER*. Finally I suppose you head for the door, > all the while listening for the flush, the flush, that beautiful sound of > the flush. I could have done it myself, you know, with a lot less hassle. > Which is why I support a retreat to the old days, (not the backyard > outhouse), but the good old-fashioned hand flusher. One push, and presto – > you’re good to go! > > > > > http://www.pimco.com/LeftNav/Featured+Market+Commentary/IO/2010/Gross+Privates+Eye+August.htm > *agi* | Archives <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> > <https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/> | > Modify<https://www.listbox.com/member/?&;>Your Subscription > <http://www.listbox.com/> > ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=8660244-6e7fb59c Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
