Chinese Press Hails Automatic Toilet Paper Dispensers
Over
a year after its less-than-humble debut in Beijing, China's "internet
famous" automatic toilet paper dispensers are being hailed as the next
leap forward for Chinese technology. Following appearances at several
cities throughout the country this past season, the machines are now
receiving a major endorsement by numerous Chinese news outlets.
Kejixun (kejixun.com)
exclaimed that the face-scanning paper pushers "loudly extols the
triumphs of the modern era" that "will make the greatest possible
contribution towards the beautification of life for the country's
citizens." Not only that, but the machines will "promote the development
of urban civilization" in China by "helping one billion and four
hundred million people better use its natural resources."
Meanwhile, CCTime (cctime.com)
writes that toilet paper dispensers that can remember your face are
"the shot heard around the world" when it comes to technological
advancement.
And if that weren't enough, the China Business Observer (CBO,
money.china.com) demonstrated the superiority of this technology by
showing that even overseas tourists are impressed beyond words.
As described by the CBO,
unidentified "laowai" visiting the public restroom at Beijing's Olympic
Park are reported to have been experiencing "unyielding delight" and
"excitement and freshness" towards the machines described as "a truly
innovative piece of technological equipment."
Over the passage of time, everyone gradually realized the value and effect of the devices, understood its public convenience, and appreciated the saving recouped by the government and environment.
"Over
the passage of time, everyone gradually realized the value and effect
of the devices, understood its public convenience, and appreciated the
saving recouped by the government and environment," concluded the CBO.
And
while it is true the machines have become so "internet famous" that
tourists are seen taking photographs with it, it may not quite be the
"fond public reception" as described by Chinese media.
The devices were first introduced last March at Beijing's Temple of Heaven.
However, despite the cutting edge technology involved, automatic
dispensing machines were the park's way of deterring thieves that made
off with reams of free toilet paper, some estimated to be ten meters
long.
READ: Tiantan Park Cuts Down on Toilet Paper Thievery With Facial Recognition Technology
Because
the 5A tourist attraction was committed to its policy of providing free
toilet paper to its guests, the machines were introduced as a safeguard
against visitors who simply couldn't help themselves from taking free
toilet paper. Every visitor can now be allocated their own personal
60-70 centimeter supply of toilet paper by having their image recorded
by the dispenser, which will not dole out further quantities to the same
person for at least nine minutes.
The devices first caught the public's attention as a novelty, but it seems the honeymoon isn't over yet.
Fast
forward a year later, and automatic toilet paper dispensers are being
hailed as a boon to the Chinese public. A face-scanning device
introduced at a Shanghai tourist hotspot was reported in the news
accompanied by classic music, while a new all-glass bathroom at
Beijing's China Aviation Museum that sported the new machines was touted
as part of China's "toilet revolution."
As seen by media
reports, the rise of the machines and the oncoming revolution of China's
public restrooms are attributed as successes of policies made at the
19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China as well as the
Central Government's Work Economy Conference. But, for however much the
machines incorporate the facial recognition technology used in greater
frequencies at China's airports, train stations, and subway stations (in
the near future), the need for this technology at public restrooms is
simply because the country can't trust its citizens when it comes to
unlimited access to toilet paper.
If a machine that records
images in a public bathroom is indeed going to become China's next big
tech advancement, one reason is because there is now a vacancy left
open.
After a year of massive financial investment and
speculation for which it was named as one of the country's "four new
great inventions," China's skyrocketing bike-sharing industry has
reached the end of its apogee. Cities like Beijing have taken to secretly (and not-so-secretly) banishing its surplus of share bikes to massive holding piles or even turning them into public art.
Owing
to its indulgence for superstition, it seems that many Chinese are
reacting to advanced technology by calling it "black tech," a euphemism
for "magical machines." But, where toilet paper dispensers with facial
recognition tech are concerned, it seems that China is not willing to
flush away its future.
Images: China Money (money.china.com)
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