Sometimes smart technology intended to make life more convenient can turn into more of a nightmare scenario. That was one trail runner’s experience in Hong Kong recently when he found himself trapped inside a public toilet for 10 minutes.
According to The Standard, the automated smart toilet system was just installed about a month ago, and the man had to be rescued by someone who opened the door from the outside. Local politician Michael Tien Puk-sun told the newspaper that he found the incident concerning. Tien had heard that the restroom had no emergency contact information posted inside it and no other way to seek assistance.
“The runner used the most traditional method, knocking on the door and shouting to solve this intelligence problem,” he told the newspaper. “I have the impression that this public toilet may be smart, but the person who designed it is not smart at all.”
Today, in a Legislative Council meeting, Diane Wong Shuk-han, the undersecretary for environment and ecology, said that the smart toilet had “initiation problems” that have since been solved. She also said that the restroom has an electronic lock that can be opened and closed by waving at the sensor, as well as a manual door lock. However, the electronic lock cannot be accessed if the manual lock is in use.
According to Wong, the toilet also has an emergency door switch and after an inspection spurred by the incident, personnel confirmed that there was no issue with it. In response to the situation, instructions have been posted inside the toilet to help aid future bathroom patrons should they find themselves unable to exit the smart stall.
Even if there was a readily available means of egress that this poor runner just didn’t see or understand, we can all sympathize with the panic he likely felt, especially if the toilet was located in a less-trafficked trail area.
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Sales & Deals, Give A Gift, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
