KEY POINTS
- Japan is launching smart toilets that use sensors and AI to analyze waste for key health indicators
- The system, similar to a barcode scanner, measures stool properties and sends the data to a smartphone app
- The app provides personalized health insights and lifestyle advice
- The new “Neorest” models with this feature are priced from around $3,330
ISLAMABAD: In a world where your smartwatch can track your sleep and your phone counts every step, Japan is now turning your toilet into a personal health companion. Yes, you read that right. The future of preventive healthcare might just begin with a flush.
Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto Ltd. has unveiled a next-generation smart toilet that goes far beyond seat warming and automatic lids.
Launching this August, the new “Neorest” models are equipped with a stool scanning system powered by sensors and AI, capable of analyzing everything from hydration levels to glucose and pH in real time.
The company is set to release a new home-use toilet with a built-in scanner that analyzes the most intimate of data: your stool.
Operating on a principle similar to a barcode scanner, a light shines onto waste as it falls, measuring its amount, hardness, and other key elements.
This isn’t just about curiosity; it’s about empowerment. The data is automatically sent to a dedicated smartphone app, giving users the power to monitor their bowel movements with unprecedented detail.
The app classifies stool into seven shapes and hardness types—from “banana-shaped” to “liquid”—and three colour categories.
It also records quantity and frequency, compiling all this information into a digital diary. Users can then track trends over time and receive personalized lifestyle advice based on their digestive health.
While the thought of a toilet analyzing your waste may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie, it’s a natural evolution for a company that has long championed comfort and hygiene.
Since releasing its first “Washlet” bidet seat in 1980, Toto has consistently refined its products. This latest innovation is a direct response to a growing number of health-conscious consumers.
According to a Toto survey, while a majority of people check their stool condition, only a tiny fraction record the information digitally—a gap these new toilets aim to close.
This new “stool scan” function will be included in Toto’s top-of-the-line “Neorest” models, with a price tag starting around $3,330.
While these smart toilets are a significant investment, they signal a major shift toward preventive healthcare through the subtle habits of daily life.
World expensive toilets
Earlier in 2018, Toto released its newest, shiniest toilet: the Neorest NX. With a price-tag of $6,000, it is thought to be the world’s most expensive toilet (barring those encrusted with diamonds, or made from gold). For comparison, the standard Washlet goes for $2,500.
And while its price tag may seem absurd, the Neorest NX is already on back order. Hand-sculpted into a futuristic form and then fired in a kiln, this toilet is created like a work of art rather than a bathroom fixture.
And from the Tornado Flush to the Washlet bidet, it incorporates every piece of technology TOTO has to offer.
