Bathroom fixtures with built-in motion sensors seems to be a growing standard in the public restrooms I’ve been visiting lately. The toilet or urinal flushes when you are done, the faucet turns on when you put your hands on it, soap is dispensed, paper towels provided upon demand.
I don’t want to make any sort of argument about the adverse impact this is having on our society, but I have noted two problems:
First, the number of times I have found myself standing in front of my toilet at home, waiting patiently for it to flush itself seems to be growing. Not a good sign.
Second, whenever I’m in one of these restrooms, I find myself feeling like I’m auditioning for a part in Oliver Twist. I wander from device to device, palms outstretched as if I’m on the verge of saying “Please, sir, I want some more.” The fixtures have been very generous so far, But some day, when they add the tech needed talk to each other, that may not be the case. My plan is to hire a solicitor to bring with me to the bathroom should this happen. (“Listen here, Sink, my client has made a perfectly reasonable request for water.”)