A royal flush at Google's loos

At Google, the most modern of firms, even the method of abluting is state of the art.

Employees at the company's office in Palo Alto, California, enjoy a convenience that is the envy of Silicon Valley: remote-controlled bidets.

Users of the 'robo-bidet', as the unit is known, can control a range of features - such as the direction, pulse, and temperature of the spray - from a small panel on the cubicle wall.

There is even the option to make the seat vibrate, for extra comfort. "You're not, like, rocking around in there, but it's kinda nice," said a veteran of one of the company's best kept secrets.

Sensors in the toilet bowl mean that the system is only activated when someone is sitting down - to prevent accidents, though pranksters have been known to fool the system by pressing down on the seat with their hands, leading to "ambush attempts" on unsuspecting passers by.

The system, understood to be made in Korea, is among a range of perks at the 'Googleplex - the company's sprawling campus on the fringe of San Francisco. Others include a continuous supply of free food from the all-day canteen, and access to the communal bicycles that litter the grounds.

"I think it aids productivity," one company employee said of the robo-bidet. "You come out of there ready to face work, clean as the day God made ya."

A spokeswoman for Google declined to comment.

Comments

[sher afzal]

as an inventor i have invented a number of products some still patent pending & some developed

as far as loos are concerned nothing is more troublesome or a modern day lazy man than lifting tiolet seat leaving a messy toilet seat - i have worked on this concept to introduce a system to over come this problem

although i wouldnt want to make this public butsince i have alot on my plate what do you think of a solar powered toilet lid that powersthe electro - magnetic seat via a magic eye.

all the user does is walk in & walkout the system even flushes after use as you walk away using cos effectie electro magnetic technology.

i would love to hear from other inventors of robotic concepts may be form a team to make modrn life more simple for disable person use products

[tom watson]

1. lift up the lid
2. lift up the seat
3. open your trousers
4. turn the handle a little bit to flush it
5. reverse steps 3, 2 then 1.

No need to include some magnets sucking electrical energy and a spring-loaded god knows what.
Inventions are meant to change the world or make tasks more efficient, not make people lazy.
Or failing that: if you have bad aim just suck up your pride and sit man! noone will see you anyway!

[T. Let]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilets_in_Japan

All the ideas mentioned exist already, in Japan at least.

[Neel]

This is the TOP bidet on the market.
Features include:
heated seat
heated water stream
enema wash
feminine wash
massage
warm air dryer
deodorizer