Design and Implementation of Self-adapting Toilets for Semi-public Environments: Reflections on transferring a home solution to semi-public places

Abstract

Older people and persons with disabilities may face significant challenges while using a toilet. While assistive toilets at home can be tailored explicitly before or during installation to meet the individual needs and wishes, this approach fails in semi-public settings (restrooms in, e.g. restaurants, event locations or community centres). In this case, the users and their needs are not known beforehand, and thus the toilet needs to be capable of adapting itself. Based on previous successful Research and Technical Development work on prototyping an Information and Communication Technology -enhanced toilet for home use, the transfer of this concept and the necessary conceptual extensions for the out-of-home setting are outlined and reflected. Current findings show the wide variety of user needs and preferences and the different levels of technological affinity. The new toilet prototype system thus can provide different ways of physical support during toilet use and different levels of interaction, from basic to advanced, from non-complex passive use for novice users to more advanced functions for more experienced users. For example, it can retrieve previously saved settings, estimate height and detect falls based on 3D technology. A field test of the final prototype is being prepared for late 2022 to assess actual benefits.