Residents and visitors to Finland will soon find a new use for their mobile phones–open public restroom doors.
In an effort to try and deter vandalism of public restrooms, the Finnish Road Administration in January implemented a new system at public restrooms along Highway 1 in Paimio and Salo near Turku. This new system will require those interested in using the restroom to text the word “open” (in Finnish) to a number posted on the door.
The call is directed to a modem, which will sound a buzzer and open the door.
Hopefully it also checks to see if the restroom is empty as well.
The mobile number of the person sending the text will be saved (not permanently), which hopefully will be enough to deter all but the most hardened restroom vandals.
I wonder if this will increase the number of people that will urinate on the public restroom itself because of trouble trying to hold it in while trying to text?
[Via Engadget]
Filed under: random stuff, tech, travel | Tagged: bathroom, restroom, sms, tech, travel
