Lausanne

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  • Transparent public restroom not for those with performance anxiety

    by 
    Joseph L. Flatley
    Joseph L. Flatley
    05.26.2009

    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.

  • Robots star in Swiss play about a nerd

    by 
    Laura June Dziuban
    Laura June Dziuban
    04.23.2009

    We're not the biggest theatre-goers around here (though we've been known to take in the odd Phantom of the Opera performance), but this is one play we would jump at the chance to see. Called -- quite fittingly -- Robots, the musical stars three autonomous robots developed by Bluebotics, a company which specializes in service bots. The story revolves around a lonely human man who lives in isolation with just his robots, and what happens when a woman threatens to visit him in the not too distant future. Yeah, like we haven't heard this one a million times. The play opens on May 1st at the Barnabe Theatre in Servion, Switzerland, and will run until May 17th.