Japanese toilets operate via smartphone technology
by Can Tran (Guest contributor/Digital Journalist)
Using the toilet has been made faster and easier through the introduction of a high-tech model to be applied in conjunction with a smartphone operating the Android OS.
The latest in Japanese technology may have made everyday tasks a little TOO convenient. One of the natural functions or “great emergencies” is having to do a number two. For those that have access to working toilets, there is a simple push of the lever on the side. The waste gets sent into the septic tank. That’s simply all there is to it.
If you have a smartphone that utilizes the Google Android OS and have and almost $4,600 to spare, you can purchase one of the latest SATIS model toilets from the Inax company. This toilet is very high-tech as you operate it via a smartphone, provided you have the Android OS installed.
Through your smartphone, you can make the seat go up and down and flush the toilet. In this respect, it saves you a few seconds of having to do things manually.
However, there are other features to this special toilet. It tracks water consumption, electricity consumption, and so forth. Also, this toilet has built-in speakers to use in conjunction with the streaming music function of the app. While you are doing your usual business, you can listen to whatever you want.
Another feature is being able to record every minute of you using the toilet. It gets stored on the “Toilet Diary” feature of the smartphone application. Asides from being a high-tech toilet, it is combined with the unique Android app.
This special toilet will be available in February 2012.
This article originally appeared on Digital Journal [Link]
Citizen journalists, media capture earthquake aftermath in Japan
By Chris Hogg
Japan has been hit by the most powerful earthquake since it started keeping records, and a massive tsunami warning has been issued across the Pacific. Videos show widespread flooding, including ships, cars and buildings being washed away.
Japan was hit by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake Friday, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to issue a widespread warning watch for tsunamis.
According to a report in the LA Times, seismologist Susan Hough of the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena said the quake “is going to be among the top 10 earthquakes recorded since we have had seismographs. It’s bigger than any known historic earthquake in Japan, and bigger than expectations for that area.”
The BBC reports a state of emergency has been declared in a nuclear power plant in Japan, but no radiation leaks have been reported. According to reports, hundreds of people are dead after the 8.9-magnitude quake hit about 400 km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo at 2:46 p.m. local time.
Video captured by local media and citizen journalists is now making its way online, showing massive damage. While places like Hawaii brace for impact, the damage within Japan is widespread.
Here are some videos showing the devastation in Japan:
Map of areas affected in and around Japan (courtesy Storyful):
View Japan Earthquake – March 11 in a larger map