Only in Japan: a smartphone-controlled toilet – Matthew Humphries

Only in Japan: a smartphone-controlled toilet
Written by: Matthew Humphries

If you’ve ever been to Japan you probably used one or more of their advanced toilets. I say advanced, as the toilets I use still have a manual seat and a single flush mechanisms operated with your hand. However, in Japan, you’re more likely to be presented with a control panel mounted next to the toilet and a number of the common tasks, e.g. lifting the seat, flushing, will be automated.

Japanese toilet company Lixil is taking things a step further though, and removing the need to ever touch the toilet or its controls other than when you want to sit down. How is that possible? Through the use of a smartphone.

As the video above shows, Lixil’s new Satis toilets include the ability to receive commands via Bluetooth. So you can download the accompanying app on to your phone and use it to lift the seat, flush the toilet, select music to play, or carry out some additional cleaning tasks after you’ve done your business. It’s even possible to maintain a toilet diary so you can keep track of your usage and how that impacts your water and electricity bills. Not much I am guessing.

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