Transparent public restroom not for those with performance anxiety
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 26th 2009 9:22PM
posted May 26th 2009 9:22PM
As if you didn't have enough to do in the water closet, visitors to this restroom in Lausanne, Switzerland, have one added step: they must actually press the "voir" button to get a little privacy in this otherwise transparent structure. The walls are constructed with liquid crystal glass that becomes see through under electric tension -- which can be triggered via motion sensor, in case all motion ceases for a period of time (napping is not allowed) or if there is too much activity (partying is definitely not allowed). What do you think: Is this a stylish and innovative alternative to the ugly plastic porta-john? Or a disaster waiting to happen? Video after the break.
YES! But how big do you think the discs would have to be to render the whole thing see through?
That would depend upon how much buhdonkudonk is hitting the toilet. There could be an alternate circuit if someone is standing to pee, and there could be a microphone to pick up the rapture of air biscuits.
They have something like this in the elevator at the Washington Monument so you can see the engraved stones on the inside. It was actually probably the neatest part of the new tour. The first time I went was as a kid when the steps were open. That tour was really really cool.
I always wanted them to put these windows in a car. It would be great for a big SUV where you could park in the city, kick back and watch a movie or use the vehicle like an office. If you had a westfella or vdub camper with a stove or etc you could really use it like an APT when cruising city to city. I like the idea of pushing the button and having total privicy in my car for sleeping, drinking beverages, blazing up, etc.
I always wanted to do this in my vehicle but have the windows go completely opaque when I leave the vehicle. Louisiana summers are brutal when your car has black interior.
Louisiana Summers? Isn't that Suzanne's sister, the porn star?
Most camper vans have these revolutionary new devices known as "curtains".
in other words, when there's no electric people can see you take a dump.
Other way around, when there is no electric charge the panel is opaque, when you put a charge through the panel it becomes transparent.
Of all places, the Wonderworks in Sevierville, TN has a bathroom like this on its exhibit route. I was a little to freaked out to let my GF use it.
Your girlfriend needs your permission for stuff like that?
Well its much better then NYC where is no toilets at all.
I think its a nice design and going to be a great thing.
Sure takes the guesswork out of determining if the crapper is occupied.
I saw this in a sitcom, can't remember which, the main character forgot to make the window NOT see through
Was it called "Rodney" (which stars Rodney Carrington).
"in case all motion ceases for a period of time"
So it can actually tell when you've finished your turd?
Autonomous random path robot will take care of that. Sleep away future bums...
I have a feeling if this were in NYC, the windows would be mostly milky white, even after it turned transparent. It would look like an M-80 went off in a can of condensed milk.
How 'bout some more beans, Mr. Taggart?
What would happen if there was a power surge?
Oh, I can see you! :O
What if you thought that pressing the button was not making it translucent, but a one way window into the toilet.
dun dun dun....
They have these in the changerooms at Aeropostale. It's weird the first time going into them because you think the employees and passers by can see you nekid. But it really does work.
I know! I HATE those change rooms!
If you look closely from the inside, you can actually see outside.
Hey, I live in Lausanne !!
The same system exist in clothes shop. (excuse my french)
This might seem like a very slick way of getting rid of unwanted material, but the problems will begin in case of a power failure. Maybe not at night of course, when nobody can see you anyway, but they're trying to fix something that ain't broke.
The windows are only transparent when there ís electricity on it. If there is no power you can't see through it either. Tadaa, problem solved.
Some restaurant in Soho NY has bathroom doors like this...old.
any limits to human being's intellectually undemanding fall to unlimited stupidity? not enough perverts and exhibitionists around yet?
No shagging in there then.
@ May 26th 2009 10:46PM
"Why would one need a toilet with windows?"
Its Good for Social Networking! LIVE!
Windows and Toilet are synonymous .
I guess fanboy would not want an iPop in the toilet wouldn't you?
I hope a google camera drives by and catches someone taking a #2.
Hmm, maybe if we just didn't worry about people seeing us naked (or seeing people naked), we wouldn't need to worry about people misusing restrooms. Haha, okay, even if I was a nudist, I still probably would want privacy when I was trying to push out a stubborn one. :-P
I'll burn some books to clean up the shelve space!
Is that button pronounced "voyeur"?
I wonder at what pace would a Swiss monkey-spanker have to maintain to prevent being revealed in such a loo?
I wonder at what pace a Swiss monkey-spanker have to maintain to prevent being revealed in such a loo?
It gave me an interesting idea for the artists out there... Create a see through toilet with the use of mirrors so that it is nearly invisible when looked upon in a certain direction.
Rig this sucker with a Microsoft Surface interface on the interiors to ensure cleanliness.
"Sir, you missed the bowl."
"No I didn't."
"Sir, would you like to see the video evidence we just put up on YouTube?"
Excellent, I needed another reason to avoid street toilets because due to terabyte storage I had room for one more reason on my list.
I will definitely never use this restroom.
I don't live in Switzerland.