Friday 28 September 2012

Japanese Toilet Technology: the future?


Like when Bin Men refer to themselves as Refuse Collectors or media students call themselves freelancers, the Japanese toilet provides a top of the range function for a job which is pretty dull and thankless.

A rather thorough control panel, but what does it mean?
If you’ve had the pleasure to visit Japan you may have noticed their technology seems fair in advance to our own, similarly, you may have noticed that the toilets display a range of functions which could be deemed slightly pretentious.

We are all aware of what the standard procedure for a trip to the toilet in the UK entails and it’s pretty simple, but on exploring the delights that Japan has to offer, it seems rather prehistoric in comparison.

On encountering one of these technological marvels, after performing the ‘simple bit’ you are then left with a control panel of options, with each button displaying an undecipherable symbol.

With, your most sensitive areas at stake it may seem rather daunting which to press first; single square? Line of dots? Two lines of dots? Each symbol evoking a mass of confusion, you settle for one at random and are treated to a jet of water followed by a blow dry!

Nice? That technology maybe slightly shocking at first but at least it serves a purpose and it’s not too far from the common bidet; bar the fact a bidet doesn’t take you by surprise. Let’s move on to some more interesting technological advances in Japanese toilet tech.

The Otohime, or ‘Sound Princess’ is a technology that could only be pioneered by the Japanese. Ever been in a situation where, under no circumstances can passers by hear your toilet activity? Whether a poor diet or painful exit is to blame, Japanese ladies have to endure this rather embarrassing feat day in day out.

The Sound Princess: activated by movement or frantic waving
The Sound Princess provides a rather unconvincing flushing sound to mask the fact that you’re producing some of the most humiliating sounds the human body is capable of; saving water from extensive flushing and saving your integrity.

Moreover, in the words of George Orwell, ‘Big Brother is watching you’ and the next piece of technology we discovered could be deemed indecently ‘probing’. Through innocent eyes, the idea of a toilet examining your outgoings for blood pressure, body fat and sugar levels, and sending them straight to your doctor, is an in genius invention which will allow us all to live long a bountiful lives.

On the other hand, if the doctor can gain your information, then potentially the authorities can, and nothing could be worse then being arrested for a crime you didn’t poo!     

So next time you look down at that ever confusing control panel after devouring six trays of sushi and a pint of Saki, remember what may lurk beneath, and just stick with the bidet.

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Thursday 20 September 2012

Happy Camper? We Certainly Are!


The world has a lot to offer, beautiful scenery, culture, people, food and drink, the list goes on. In this day in age it has never been so easy to explore the many earthly delights on offer, but sometimes we are bound by money, travel and accommodation restrictions.

After attending Busfest this year, we discovered a brand new company which is breaking those boundaries: Leisure Hubs...




Leisure Hubs is a van customisation company which concentrates on producing high quality furniture and innovative technologies for your van interior, giving you the ability to take to the open road with all the conveniences of your home.

The interior
Van customisation isn’t a new concept, but more often then not, fully bespoke vans are made from low quality materials at home by passionate van owners; not by experienced professionals looking to originate unique style.

It looked to us like the Leisure Hubs furniture was made from very high quality materials, with a kitchen unit with working water, coffee machine, sink, storage and a bed but the feature which really impressed us and the many other bystanders was their integrated shower.

Integrated shower
We could see more than one use for the shower, not just great fro keeping yourselves clean while traveling the open road but also great for washing dogs after walks, surfboards and other equipment which could stain your interior on the travel home.

If you like the sound of this design concept and enjoy the idea of this compact, comfortable concept then be sure to keep and eye on the progression of Leisure Hubs who are launching their ‘No Compromise Camper’ on October 16th 2012 at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC.









Tuesday 4 September 2012

Treat Your Partner with a Romantic Bath


They say romance is dead. We say romance is only dead if you kill it: so why not try and keep your love life alive by adding a small gesture in the bathroom area…a romantic bath.

Nobody wants to be seduced while surrounded by limescale covered taps, dirty marks around the bath or last weeks pants lying on the floor. To create the perfect romantic setting it is crucial that the bathroom is not only free of grime but also free of clutter, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld: “Tub is love”, meaning, if you’re cleaning the bath before your other half is coming round, you must be in love with them.


Not too hot and not too cold is the key ingredient. Nothing could be more of a mood killer then getting in a bath which makes you sweaty and uncomfortable or a freezing cold bath which gives you pneumonia. Make sure you don’t run the water too early and risk it getting cold: you don’t want to be standing in awkward silence desperately trying to get the water to optimum temperature.


So far we’ve covered the basics: clean, check, bath run, check. Now it’s time to add the romance. If you have an understanding of what aromas that tantalise your other half’s senses then add a concoction of bath salts and oils to suit there needs, by this we mean lavender and plant oils to relax; if the only aroma you know your partner enjoys is the smell of sizzling bacon please don’t feel the need to add it to your romance potion, think therapeutic. Also, add bubbles, bath beads, even the age old formula of rose petals to make your bath a visual delight.

It is not just the inside of the bath which needs decorating, try adding scented candles around the bath and switch off the lights for a truly romantic vibe. You could also add a bath pillow inside the bath to make it more comfortable, you can get a bath pillow for under £5 from a decent retailer: a small price to pay for such a nice gesture.

Sound good so far? Why not try adding a bit of music? Of course, the sounds of Motorhead is not an appropriate choice when sinking into a deep warm bath, but a bit of easy listening can go a long way, and you will have your partner in heaven until their fingers turn to prunes.

End on a high. Don’t leave your partner wondering aimlessly around the house naked trying to find a clean towel; make sure there are towels and a bathrobe waiting for them afterwards.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our brief guide: there is much more you can do to personalise your partners romantic experience, add alcohol, massage etc, just customise it to their tastes and put some thought into it and let romance blossom!    

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