It’s fair to say that we’re entering an age where our ‘phones will be able to control most things in our lives. Some ‘phones can already direct our car journeys, interact with our TVs and enable us to have live video calls with people the other side of the planet.
But how would you feel about your ‘phone totally controlling your home environment? Say, switching lights on and off? Or opening and closing curtains? How about a ‘phone that controls your toilet? Well before you start scoffing, such an app actually exists!
Is it all too good to be true?
In Japan (yes, it had to be them didn’t it?) they have created an app that controls a luxury toilet. The toilet is called “Satis” and retails for a mere £3,821. (Unless you’ve already laid out a deposit...) This pricey convenience is controlled by an Android app known as “My Satis”. So the plan is, you buy the loo, get it plumbed in, download the app and then wait until you need to ... ahem ... go.
Once you have “been” you then whip out your hand-held device. (Stop sniggering, you lot at the back...) Your app can do such amazing things as control the flush, operate the bidet spray, play appropriate music or even squirt a pleasant fragrance into the air. “This all sounds marvellous. Where do I get one?” I hear you cry. Well, just hold your horses and cross your legs for a second because there is a problem.
Things that go bump in the night
“Security experts” (whoever they may be) have already discovered that this luxury toilet is vulnerable to cyber criminals. As the app is controlled by Bluetooth and all of the devices’ PIN codes are the same (0000), anyone that downloads the app could control YOUR toilet.
You could be asleep next to your en-suite and be driven mad by endless freak flushing. You could be drying yourself off after a shower and be attacked by a freak bidet spray. Or even worse, you could be going about your “business” and find Coldplay suddenly appear on the sound system.
But seriously…
There is a serious point to be made here though. Is there? Hang on... Oh! Yes there is. As we march ever further towards mobile ‘phones controlling so many aspects of our lives, it seems clear that manufacturers need to be aware of security as much as any other industry that relies on apps, the internet or Bluetooth.
Otherwise this growth industry could find itself flushed away before it’s even had a chance to make a splash.
By the way, if you think this story has been too barmy to be true, have a look at this article from the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23575249 See? We’ve not gone completely potty...
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