LED displays keep folks guessing at nightclub bathrooms

Interactive nightclubs aren't entirely unheard of, but we'll be sure to relieve ourselves just before prancing into any party scene with these displays on the lavatory doors. The small LED Matrix displays can be mounted on both male and female doors, and the image shown can be switched as folks enter and leave. Needless to say, such a setup caused quite a bit of hilariousness / confusion when caught on candid camera, so be sure and take a peek for yourself after the break.

[Via Halfmachine]

[Flashpoint @ Feb 17th 2008 4:30PM]

Tell those stupid cops from the MOONINITE BOMB SCARE that L.E.D does not equal I.E.D !


And if you want to signify a boy, I think he deserves one extra blue LED "down there"

[J. Evans Turner @ Feb 17th 2008 5:23PM]

It should be obvious. A bomb that is built with the purpose of exploding does not draw attention to itself so that it can be disposed of.

[Blackstar @ Feb 18th 2008 1:25AM]

I think the only things 'bombed' here are the club patrons. I'm sorry, but I fail to see the humor in switching the bathroom signs on drunk club-goers. The only real result is a bunch of slapped faces and urine on the floor from those who did not make it in time.

Maybe these people grew up switching the numbers on house addresses and this is somehow progress to them? Either way, this behavior should only amuse those under the age of 12.

Only real funny thing, would have been for one person to piss on the LCD control box. Now THAT would have been funny!

[Rodney Allan Rippley @ Feb 17th 2008 4:33PM]

This little prank is not funny. It's a form of terrorism.

[melloncollie @ Feb 17th 2008 6:23PM]

I hope you're kidding.

[ryan @ Feb 17th 2008 8:44PM]

preliminary indications point to "yes."

[matt @ Feb 17th 2008 4:37PM]

as a transperson, I find it offensive that society is forcing me to conform to one or the other.

[Josh L @ Feb 17th 2008 4:44PM]

Forcing you into which? If you're both, then use either.

[Chris @ Feb 17th 2008 4:50PM]

just piss in the alley like a normal person.

[monkfishbandana @ Feb 17th 2008 5:01PM]

@ matt

As a male non-transperson, I find it offensive that society is giving me the female option.

[Reader @ Feb 17th 2008 5:14PM]

Could do half your business in each... or maybe just go in between the two doors

[Carbonize @ Feb 17th 2008 5:31PM]

Well if your waterworks are male you could stand in the female toilets and see if you can't get it into the mens urinals from there.

[Gremlin @ Feb 17th 2008 4:42PM]

wtf... this isn't really that funny at all. obviously if you mix up the signs, people will not know where to go...

the standard displays for "boy" and "girl" seem to be very self-explanatory and i would love to see that sort of LED usage increase

[jonas @ Feb 17th 2008 4:53PM]

the whole purpose was to use the switching (it changed from time to time) and the following confusion as a way (an excuse) to start a conversation with a stranger.

[Intrepid @ Feb 17th 2008 7:16PM]

It was a stupid prank. I watched a 20 seconds of the video and closed the window...

[Matt @ Feb 17th 2008 4:48PM]

It's messing with my mind, man!

[Abuzar @ Feb 17th 2008 4:55PM]

Why the HELL do we need LED bathroom signs?

I think a stick figure for a man and a stick figure with a skirt for women works fine enough. Or, you know, the Words Men and Women would suffice.

[Joseph Singer @ Feb 17th 2008 5:16PM]

A skirt isn't necessarily all encompassing. Some guys like to wear kilts! :)

[Abuzar @ Feb 17th 2008 5:18PM]

Fine then don't use that in Scotland. There you can use simple words like Male and Female, or their local equivalents.

[Chris Macdonald @ Feb 17th 2008 5:37PM]

KILTS FTW

[BigD145 @ Feb 17th 2008 4:55PM]

They both have stalls. Use them.

[Austin @ Feb 17th 2008 4:57PM]

What's the LED symbol for "Adam West"?

No. No, that's what they'll be expecting.

[lisa @ Feb 17th 2008 5:54PM]

LMFAO adam west a moving led light of a man running of course!

[Vanessa Carpenter @ Feb 17th 2008 5:07PM]

An even more fun video can be seen here: http://ladiesmensroommixup.blip.tv/#638909
In this video, you can see all aspects of the user control - door buttons, a choice-wheel and touch-sensitive poles!

[Maurik @ Feb 17th 2008 5:12PM]

The night club I was at in Manchester on friday had a unisex bathroom. No need for this fancy-pants gender stuff!

[rento @ Feb 17th 2008 7:08PM]

Add London to that

[MitchSchaft @ Feb 17th 2008 5:35PM]

Sounds pretty boring over there in Europe.

[BowserUSC @ Feb 17th 2008 7:10PM]

Wow. That was incredibly dumb and a waste of my time.

[Papa G @ Feb 17th 2008 7:17PM]

I........dont.....get.....it!!!!!

The game is just toooo confusing! I would have to see it myself.

[Alijah @ Feb 17th 2008 7:35PM]

Slow news day?

[Allan @ Feb 17th 2008 7:42PM]

I think I'm missing the "hilariousness" part of this. Ya, they mixed up the signs for fun. Whoopty doo. I could also change the lines in the roads and the colors of traffic lights and create just as much confusion. At least that would be fun to watch.

[rv @ Feb 17th 2008 7:52PM]

That will be interesting to drunks...

[Shane @ Feb 17th 2008 8:10PM]

Wouldn't the urinals (or lack thereof) signify which room you were in? A feminine hygiene product dispenser might also be a clue...

[Mr EnVy @ Feb 17th 2008 9:01PM]

I like the electronic approach, but this gag has already been done. McGuires Irish Pub in Pensacola and Destin Florida have misleading signs. After 10 years, someone finally ruined the joke and complained.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/5298

[jakfoood @ Feb 17th 2008 10:33PM]

I don't get it? Are the signs clear enough or do they switch?
Because if they're not clear if it's for men/women then fuck led lights (not functional)

But if it's obvious, i dont really care

[Alex @ Feb 18th 2008 1:42AM]

I am considering suing Engadget for making me waste time reading this article and watching the video. That was sooo boring!

It would have been funnier if they had clearly distinct signs and they switched to the other gender when people were inside. Obviously the cameras would have to be inside to see their reaction. Actually, even that wouldn't be funny enough...

[zack l @ Feb 18th 2008 3:14AM]

Uh I'm from NEw YOrk where in really big clubs all the bathrooms "became" Unisex--a la Alley McBEal-- we're all adults, it worked out fine-- the only people who have problems with it are the tourists!

[Vanessa Carpenter @ Feb 18th 2008 3:30AM]

To explain a bit - the idea was to get people to 'talk' to each other - people in night clubs generally don't run up to each other and start conversations so this provided them with an excuse to chat up anyone, with the excuse of clarifying which sign was which. It challenged the social norms of blindly following signs. The fun and geeky part lies in the fact that it was all set up using a Wiring board and the Processing environment, and used user input (where they were and were not aware of their input given the below situations) to control the signs.

1)Automatic (door) wherein the signs would switch automatically every 7 times a person entered either of the restroom doors. In this scenario the interaction was indirect, people had no direct control over which restroom would display a particular gender.

2)Wheel wherein controls could be manipulated by moving an arrow. The arrow pointed to different icons representing different the six different icon states possible to be displayed on the restroom doors. In this scenario people had a tangible way to control precisely which icon they wanted on each door.

3)Poles whereby making a physical connection between two people would cause the signs to switch randomly. This interaction scenario was intended to test whether people would engage in physical contact to make to signs change.

[Blackstar @ Feb 18th 2008 12:55PM]

Ok Vanessa, maybe the reason people just don't 'go up and start conversations in night clubs' is because of the 110 decibel music blasting around sweaty intoxicated people jumping around.

I think the best dialog you can hope to get considering your experiment's subject location at bathroom entrances would be something like this...

Man - "Is this the mens room?"

Woman - "WHAT?!?"

Man - "I SAID IS THIS THE MEN'S ROOM!?"

Woman - "Uh, Tuesday I think!"

*thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump*

Why don't you try this experiment in a bookstore, or a Sears Auto Center™, or maybe a local Police Station and see how that goes. Ok? Thank you for playing.

[Sheerz @ Feb 27th 2008 9:26PM]

That is incredibly stupid... What a lame prank. But if this is at a night club, You'll be to stoned to notice the difference... XD

[Dave @ Apr 14th 2008 5:28PM]

some of you are just too serious!

[nuxx @ Apr 17th 2008 10:29AM]

The intellectual void displayed in the majority of these comment depresses me. I find the experiment to be a very bemusing social commentary intriguingly exposing and manipulating some very basic programmed behaviour.
Those people using the term "prank", "spoof" or "boring" - thus blatantly revealing their complete lack of comprehension for the purpose of shown art piece - should strongly reconsider their ability to evaluate artistic IT installations before wasting our time with their inane utterings.

Kind regards
nuxx