Hands Free Faucets
Based on McLuhan's Laws of Media (1988):
Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
Retrieves/Rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
The hands-free faucet appears to be a good use of technology in regards to conservation of water, by limiting the continuous running of water as in traditional turn-on faucets The hands-free faucet is a good idea in regards to technology and the conservation of water not seen in former continuous flow systems. The problem with this is regulation of temperature, like not enough hot water-which can interfere with the reduction of bacteria’s. According to Hardie (2011), the elimination of contact with normal bacteria is the crux of the hygiene hypothesis, which proves such inventions eliminate the normal transfer of bacteria’s needed to keep the immune system strong. Instead, the hands-free systems were shown to build harmful bacteria within and transfer it to human hands (Hardie, 2011). The hands free system may itself become obsolete in areas such as hospitals, where a bacterium is a constant concern. Unless of course the designers of such technology can introduce a bacteria eliminating flow, possibly a treated water (?) Whatever the case, such technologies will continue to be created and obsolesced, according to the McLuhan’s Law of Media- where each new technology sets the stage for its own replacement.
References: Hardie, J. (2011). Are our clean operations harming us? The hygiene hypothesis provides some answers. Oral Healthgroup Online. Retrieved from http://www.oralhealthgroup.com/news/are-our-clean-operatories-harming-us/1000570863/
McLuhan, M., & McLuhan, E. (1988). Laws of media: The new science. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press.
Diane, hope out of town was trip to the beach and family fun; son looks happy!
ReplyDeleteConsider a reduction in bacteria with hands-free using an anti-bacterial soap mixed with the water delivered at the same time. Why have a soap dispenser plus H2O? Would need warning signs to not drink it or get it in your eyes. Aerospace uses non-potable water for waste in aircraft. NEVER drink the water in an aircraft bathroom; I do not even use it to wash hands..sanicoms are best and H20 in aircraft quite nasty.....trade secret.
David
David,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! Even if there were a sign stating not to drink the tap water in a treated system, some would. Probably the reason it hasn't been done.
Diane
I have also heard not to drink the coffee on airplanes, true or false?
ReplyDeleteDiane, you had an interesting proposal to reverse to a foot pump (in your graphic), this would definitely keep our hands off the faucet and provide more water flow, flushing pipes. David your mixture is also a great suggestion. As we are learning technologies reversing is wide open and popularity along with cost and human ingenuity will drive us forward.
CJ and Diane,
ReplyDeleteAircraft tend to have two H2O systems, yet neither is routinely inspected by Health Organizations. User be ware of poor oversight. Be choice is bottle water and get your coffee in the terminal prior. Consumers tend to salivate over technology but not really consider the value and inherent benefits; most of the public technology is predicated upon low or maintenance free systems that remove the human oversight when this is what is needed. Yet we inhale it at every turn.....David