Novelty or necessity
Voice-controlled toilets, intelligent cleaning robots, urinal video screens: are these cleaning and hygiene upgrades simply gimmicks, or does technology have a practical role in the cleaning sector, asks Essity’s Stuart Hands?
January 2019 saw the launch of the highest-tech toilet to date from Japanese manufacturer Kohler.
The latest model, unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, featured surround-sound speakers and personalised cleansing and drying functions. The Kohler Numi 2.0 also offered automatic deodorisation, a heated seat, ambient mood lighting, voice control and hands-free opening and closing of the lid.
Another innovation launched at this year’s CES was a vacuum cleaner with an object and environmental recognition system. The Deebot Ozmo 960 from Ecovacs incorporates AI technology which enables it to actually recognise certain obstacles on the floor and distinguish them from each other.
These are just two of the technological breakthroughs that have increasingly been incorporated into the world of cleaning and hygiene over the past few years. The revolution began fairly gently with the introduction of devices such as automatic taps, sensor-operated flushes and touch-free dispensers in our washrooms.
Then came more bizarre additions to our loos. For example, a shopping centre in China now features augmented reality-
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powered digital screens in the ladies washrooms which allow women to virtually try on make-up. The screens act as intelligent mirrors that enable female visitors to see how a particular lipstick, blusher, eyeliner or eyeshadow would look on them.
Meanwhile, some bars and clubs are installing video screens in the men’s urinals where washroom users can play virtual football, drive a car or operate a tank while using the loo.
And outside the washroom there has been an increasing demand for robot vacuums and automatic scrubber dryers that will clean the floor as they glide around the home, institution or commercial space.
However, are these high-tech features really necessary? Or are they simply gimmicks, designed to create a talking point and impress today’s Instagram generation?
Certainly, creating a talking point has been one of the consequences of introducing technology into the cleaning and hygiene arena. The modern-day habit of uploading, sharing and tweeting about our more unusual experiences has created an easy in way for commercial entities to generate free publicity: they merely have to introduce some
twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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