Smart Toilet Bursts Into Flames While In Use

December 1st, 2023 7:15 AM

Toilets in Asia are on a whole new level than the ones here in the United States. The toilets on the other side of the world have many options like heated seats, self-sanitizing, not to mention having the ability to play music and spray air freshener. Even though their porcelain thrones are much more advanced, these futuristic poop collectors can have some dangerous side effects.

According to a report, a Chinese man was put in the position of having to save his own ass…literally…after the smart toilet he was perched on burst into flames.

After the unnamed man took his seat of honor, he began to take care of business. Suddenly a smell he was NOT familiar with filled the air, no not that smell. There was a “smell of smoke.” When there is smoke there is usually fire!

From there, “plumes of white smoke” started rising up from the toilet bowl. Then, just as the guy jolted up from the seat, the toilet “burst into flames.” The cause of the toilet fire is believed to be a short circuit, and not some spicy Szechuan that didn’t agree with the guy.

Smart toilet malfunctions and ignites on fire while being used

Check out a small clip of the toilet fire that was shared on TikTok below.

@top.creation
♬ Main Titles - Charlie Clouser

Look at that blazing inferno! What’s even more surprising is that this was likely a technical issue and not just the result of Taco Bell bringing back their Volcano menu. James had a similar experience the last time it happened but a quick flush remedied his situation. No real fire and no fire department call had to be made.

In addition to the video above you can see pictures of the aftermath here.

The toilet now looks like the Darth Vader mask that Kylo Ren kept in Star Wars.

Vintage Gadgets: Outdated Tech That Still Sparks Joy

Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services. This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.

Physical Media

Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can’t get anywhere else.

Pagers!

In the ’90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it’s even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.

Outdated but not obsolete.

With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.

For some people, “new” technology doesn’t always mean “better.” On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.

A Physical Calculator
You probably haven’t seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, “Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone’s built-in scientific calculator.” It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.

Kanizphoto/ Getty Images
Watches That Only Tell The Time
Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there’s a catch – they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a “a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio.” They also pointed out that smartwatches aren’t allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.

popovaphoto/ Getty Images
CD Player, MP3 Player, and Vinyl Albums
If you’ve put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the ’90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, “I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, ‘CDs’ and they followed up with, ‘What’s that?'” But also: not everything is available on streaming services. That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the ’80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers. Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn’t have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.

IngaNielsen/ Getty Images
"I Love Wires"
You have people who can’t stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there’s that Reddit user who’s all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is “not obsolete or outdated.” According to them, it’s superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, “Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.

Diana Sand/ Getty Images
A Regular Doorbell
A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone’s at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you’re not home. Someone mentioned they’d be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, “I don’t want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system… I’ll just stick with the traditional kind.”

eurobanks/ Getty Images
Physical Buttons
A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it’s a safer choice. They explained, “It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents.”

Supersmario/ Getty Images