Latest sign of the apocalypse: ad-spewing hand dryers

Ah, so now we know why other hand dryer manufacturers have not yet moved over to the high-speed Airblade / JetTowel model: they've been biding their time until we're totally accustomed to those interminable drying sessions, all the while planning to subject us to advertisements while we stand there helplessly with our hands dripping. Well played.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[scot @ Oct 16th 2006 4:33PM]

why do we live in such a capitalist country that companys are going to have ads in the bathroom? a place where some people go to just get away?

[matt @ Oct 16th 2006 4:40PM]

scot, that picture doesn't seem to be from our country...check out the outlet on the wall.

[darkbluesun @ Oct 16th 2006 6:28PM]

Eek, that's my country. Oh no!

[scot @ Oct 16th 2006 4:40PM]

o... my bad

[Dp462090 @ Oct 16th 2006 4:49PM]

This reminds me of a story I read about some building, where they had TV's built into the wall above the urinals.

[ryokeken @ Nov 5th 2006 2:46PM]

ESPN in Times' Square comes to mind

[Nick Gold @ Oct 16th 2006 10:23PM]

The place with the LCD TVs in the bathroom might be ESPNzone in Times Square. I know they have them. Kind of entertaining, honestly I'm surprised ads haven't worked themselves into 90% of our waking life. Soon enough...

[Jake Miller @ Oct 16th 2006 4:49PM]

This is wicked. This means the end of the world in my books.

[Chocolate Starfish @ Oct 16th 2006 4:49PM]

Seems like everywhere I go (pun intended) already has ads posted above the urinals. I think a paper ad in a case above the hand dryer would be a cheaper, equally effective marketing tool, and much less likely to be shorted out by wet, dripping hands over the top of it.

[Rand @ Oct 16th 2006 4:51PM]

Fools! This is merely a precursor to realizing their ultimate diabolical plan. $9.99 to dry your hands while watching a movie!

[josh @ Oct 16th 2006 4:52PM]

I think a single paper towel could solve the advertising problem. Or some water in what appears to be a speaker at the top.

[Jamie @ Oct 16th 2006 4:59PM]

Picture taken at Melbourne International Airport, guys. How do i know? I was standing in front of that dryer a couple f months ago, and it's the most annoying thing i've EVER seen.

[Clippy @ Oct 16th 2006 5:02PM]

hand dryer? i always thought those things were for drying babies' bottoms, a la "Mr. Mom" no wonder my hands are always so wet.....

[mudlouse @ Oct 16th 2006 5:08PM]

killing 2 birds with 1 stone, perhaps they could use a macbook to heat the air and show ads.

[Skpdogg @ Oct 16th 2006 5:19PM]

I've seen these at a bar in Lisle, IL just outside Chicago for a few years. Though it doesnt make noise it does have the speaker holes.

[thunderleg @ Oct 16th 2006 5:20PM]

Just wet some toilet paper and cover the offending screen. Also rub wet toilet paper over the speaker holes.

Problem solved.

[techlife @ Oct 16th 2006 5:21PM]

Damn...I knew I should have taken a photo...but in the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, their entire building has these machines. Weirdly they look like a company was trying to get a client, since there are no ads, only photos of the animals and accompanying text. In fact I thought like most of you, "oh crap" but they were nice.

Also the screens and surrounding hardware were much sleeker, brushed metal and high tech looking. I actually was happy as they charge admission to this museum so it's nice to see them enhancing the experience. As long as they keep it ad-free I think it's great.

[TVGenius @ Oct 16th 2006 5:49PM]

It seems like the speaker would have to be pretty loud to overcome the fan...

[Zeke @ Oct 16th 2006 5:59PM]

I haven't been to Engadget HD yet... Is that for TV's or Hand Dryers?

[degree @ Oct 16th 2006 6:04PM]

I still dig the Dyason ;)

[kyle @ Oct 16th 2006 6:12PM]

If I encounter one of these in a public restroom any time soon, I'm going to smash it.

[steve @ Oct 16th 2006 6:14PM]

its brilliant
those hand dryers take forever to get your hands dry
well if they bring it to the US id be fine with it
as long as it didnt make noise

[Artr @ Oct 17th 2006 12:12AM]

indeed... they have them at cinemas....

In Australia in alot of the bathrooms they have ads above the urinals and on the doors of toilets.. At least they give you something to look at while you're pissing.

[eLMafUDd @ Oct 16th 2006 6:32PM]

These are in Cinema bathrooms in Western Australia. It scares the shit outta you when it starts talking.

[boynamedsue @ Oct 16th 2006 6:36PM]

I will do the same thing i did to those gas station pump ad speakers. Destroy them. I had a couple of them sitting in my back seat. they would go off randomly in my back seat. never could figure out what triggered them, but it made me smile. I pay a gas station for gas, that does not give them liscence to impose audio advertisements on me.

Is that An LCD on that thing? or a backlit advertisement.

I could use me a free LCD that big.

[Dp462090 @ Oct 16th 2006 7:44PM]

The link says it's a LCD.

[Jon Graft @ Oct 16th 2006 7:17PM]

The guy who took the picture is in the reflection of the chrome tube...is he naked? Please oh please, tell me he is wearing a skin colored T-Shirt!

[avlxyz @ Oct 17th 2006 8:24AM]

yeah, my pasty body is a pale
beige...My phonecam just doesn't do my body justice! :P

[Raghu @ Oct 16th 2006 7:37PM]

Jon, same thought I had... the guy looks naked, with the lower half being just slightly blurred out

[Jrrhack @ Oct 16th 2006 8:32PM]

One day the toilet door will face you with digital avertisement, maybe even an interactive one while you do your stuff.
I hope it doesnt turn too amusing or the line will be longer and the people behind the counter fewer.

[c.Lake @ Oct 16th 2006 11:19PM]

Who ever came up with this idea -- should DIE!

[dave @ Oct 17th 2006 2:13AM]

That is why I carry a Sharpie.

[BrotherEstapol @ Oct 17th 2006 5:37AM]

Yep, they have them at Hoyts cinemas in Canberra(the Aussie Captial which contrary to popular belief, is not Sydney) as well...they are indeed freaky, though most of the time you can't hear what they are saying since the system is blasting air onto your hands anyway. :P

[Bob @ Oct 17th 2006 9:06AM]

We've had similar hand dryers in the UK for at least 3-4 years that I can remember (possibly longer).

Trust me, its better than the alternative of a bog troll who wants �1 for every time he squirts some soap on your hands and hands you a paper towel (which ironically makes less people wash their hands!).

[charlie @ Oct 17th 2006 10:53AM]

You know how about 3 out of 5 hand dryers have had the instructions scratched out and modified to say something to the effect of "wipe hands on pants". Could some smart person come up with a hack for these to show a video of a guy wiping his hands on pants?

[eLMafUDd @ Oct 17th 2006 6:36PM]

Yes, we have them at Hoyts cinemas in Western australia. It has an LCd and speakers. The machine itself it pretty shoddy, the video and audio is often distored and the video lags. The ones I have seen just have an Anti-smoking campaign message on.

God bless us, Talking hand dryers.