These Public Restrooms Are Keeping Clean By Scoring People On Their Use

One company is hoping to flush irresponsible use of public restrooms down the drain… by giving users scores.

Throne Labs, a Maryland startup, wants to revise the way people use public bathrooms by making them accountable for messing the facilities up. The ‘Throne’ can only be accessed via a QR code, and users will be prompted to rate the state of the toilet.

Before utilizing the Throne, users will rate the condition of the unit left by the previous occupant. This rating—called the ‘Throne Score’—will then be tallied to the individual’s account.

Weight sensors built into the stalls will alert you if you’ve overstayed your welcome on the throne.

These e-facilities are porta-potty-style bathrooms that can both be used as temporary or permanent fixtures. They could be especially useful for outdoor events, where cubicles are often so uncared for to the point of almost being unusable.

However, unlike public johns at concerts, this Throne is fully equipped with a toilet bowl, urinal, sink, and mirror.

The Throne is also solar-powered and can even be located via GPS on its dedicated app.

According to The Washingtonian, chief operations officer Jessica Heinzelman has stated that the disorderliness of restrooms is caused by a small group of people that ruin them for everyone else. By creating ID accounts, it holds people to a better standard and could potentially create a place where people eventually won’t need to be monitored. 

However, one major flaw is that the stalls will require a smartphone, and not everyone has one. Public restrooms are also a saving grace for the homeless, who may now be restricted from a basic right.

[via Futurism and The Washingtonian, cover image via Throne Labs]