wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil (Will Martin) (02/05/90)
The following may appear to be unrelated to Telecom, but Trust Me; there is a Telecom tie-in further on down... Ah, the wonders of modern science... The following is on page 89 of the Jan '90 issue of Audio/Video International, a consumer-electronics trade journal: INFRARED REMOTE HIGHLIGHTS NEW, AUTOMATED TOILETS by Robert Angus Toilets normally aren't part of the professional interest of consumer electronics retailers. But then, two new models from Toto, Japan's largest manufacturer of such products, aren't your ordinary run-of-the-mill models. For a mere $1725, the Toto GX II (didn't know that toilets carry model numbers these days, did you?) can be yours, complete with infrared remote control and digital clock-timer built in. If you can manage without the timer, you may be interested in the GX I, a bargain at $992. The GX I and GX II are the latest in a fast-growing field of electronic toilets which includes Panasonic and Sanyo, among others. Panasonic recetly introduced its line in Germany and talks about making the equipment available in the United States in 1990. Actually, there are two types of electronic toilets available: the Toto, Sanyo, and Panasonic models, whose primary features are oriented toward user comfort and convenience, and a *diagnostic* model marketed as part of a complete house by Misawa Homes, Japan's leading manufacturer of modular housing. The Misawa model offers many of the same features as the others (heated seat, retractable douche adjustable for men and women, etc.) but performs some unique health tests such as urinalysis. The toilet is connected directly to the home phone line; if it finds any medical problem, it dials the family physician immediately and files a report. [See, I TOLD you there was a Telecom tie-in! :-) -WM] But let's go back to the top of the line, which this year is the GX II. Its features include automatic lifting of both seats by an infrared remote control or the touch of a button on the remote control panel, a heating coil in the padded seat which can be preset with the aid of the clock/timer, the retractable (and adjustable) douche/water jet cleaner (not only the focus of the stream, but also its strength and intensity are adjustable from a fine mist to a strong jet. The water temperature, of course, is controlled as well). When pressure is removed from the seat and the water jet has accomplished its task, a soothing (and drying) blast of warm air emanates from under the seat, and with it, a spray of disinfectant/deoderant. In order to keep children from watering the bathroom floor when playing with the remote control, there's a clear plastic shield which allows the water-squirting nozzle to do its thing harmlessly, in plain view. ***End of item*** My wife accuses me of having the seat wired in the batroom, because the phone tends to ring just when she sits down. Now I can do it for real! :-) I can just program it to call our own number instead of the doctor's... We were discussing the large cost difference between the GX I and GX II; it seems too much to just be a timer. Maybe the II is a two-seater? (The item does mention "both seats" -- don't know Japanese toilet design so maybe there are not two seats on top of each other there... :-) Also I find the idea of needing to control the toilet from far enough away to have to use a remote control to be intriguing, to say the least. There are some porn stars that might need that feature, maybe... Technology marches on... Regards, Will
William Degnan <wdegnan@f39.n382.z1.fidonet.org> (02/10/90)
In a message of <Feb 10 00:12> Will Martin writes:
WM>The toilet is connected directly to the home
WM>phone line; if it finds any medical problem, it dials the family
WM>physician immediately and files a report. [See, I TOLD you there was a
WM>Telecom tie-in! :-) -WM]
Yeah, but as they asked about ISDN, is it loop-start or ground-start?
Regards, Bill
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