Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is looking to make its restrooms outposts of the ‘internet of things,’ teaming up with a Japanese plumbing maker and a U.S. paper and dispenser company for the technology.
A demonstration ‘Public Restroom of the Future’ has been drawing a steady crowd at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The idea is to give maintenance and engineering staffs online access to whether there’s soap in the dispenser, paper towel available and whether the toilet is plugged.
The airport cites a JD Power study that found that in large airports, passengers who reported themselves ‘delighted’ (possibly on those little button panels that appear everywhere these days) spent up to 190% more in airport stores and restaurants than those who reported themselves disappointed. Probably enough extra to pay for the system.
