Despite still relying heavily on the fax machine, Japan is well known for its countless futuristic inventions, yet its latest output might just top it off with a new 'human washing machine' that beats showering in just about every way.
It might not be quite as flashy as a singing, self-cleaning toilet, but Japan's latest invention could just be one of the most convenient — especially if you can't stand taking a shower or a bath every day.
While that might seem like a ridiculous statement considering the relative ease at which most people hop in and out of the shower every single day, but you'd be surprised at who this so-called 'human washing machine' could benefit well beyond those that are simply feeling a bit lazy.
Revealed by shower head manufacturer Science Co., this could completely change the daily routines of everyone across the world if it catches on, or otherwise remain reserved to an oddity that makes you wonder how anyone ever thought it would be popular.
How does the 'human washing machine' work?
As reported by ExtremeTech, Science Co.'s 'human washing machine' looks almost like a spaceship pod where you step in, lie back, and enjoy hopefully the best full body wash that you'll ever experience — and it even dries you off too.
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It remains in the prototype stage at the moment, so it could end up changing dramatically as plans and processes develop, but one thing that probably won't go anywhere is the visual design as it holds a special place in the creator's heart.
Yasuaki Aoyama, the chairman of Science Co., was enraptured as a child when he observed the eerily similar looking 'Ultrasonic Bath' at the Japan World Exposition back in 1970.
This product, manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co. who would go on to become Panasonic, similarly featured an egg-shaped pod that fills up with hot water that washes the person inside, and it's taken a new form in Aoyama's new product, dubbed 'Mirai Ningen Sentakuki'.
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Once you step into the new human washing machine and lie down on the 'bed', the pod senses and measures your vitals to customize the experience based on how it reads that you're feeling.
You'll then be washed by jets dotted around the pod's interior, and dried off by hot air that leaves you (hopefully) feeling fresh upon your exit 15 minutes later.
Who will this invention benefit?
Science Co.'s futuristic product might seem relatively redundant considering how easy and efficient the process of showering already is for most people, yet the Mirai Ningen Sentakuki could provide a vital solution for anyone with a disability who finds washing themselves difficult.
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As the machine does everything for you once you're inside and lying down, it removes all of the otherwise challenging and potentially dangerous aspects of washing yourself, and even removes the stress of drying.
Both showers and baths are known hazards for elderly individuals in particular who find themselves prone to falls and slips, so this could be the perfect solution — although fitting it into your gran's bungalow might be easier said than done.
Furthermore, it might simply be a relaxing experience that many would welcome in lieu of a shower, as one comment on Reddit writes: "You had me at laying down in the shower for 15 minutes."
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It's something that you perhaps might start to see crop up in the bathrooms of the ultra rich – especially as we might start to move towards the era of robot butlers – so Science Co. could succeed where Sanyo Electric Co. failed half a century ago.