The automatic flush no doubt seemed like a good idea at the time.
What no one seems to have thought of is that if the thing goes off prematurely, so to speak, there’s no way on God’s earth you can flush it again before you leave the cubicle.
Wave your arms, jump up and down, pray — nothing works, and whatever’s in there is the next person’s problem.
That’s the thing: more technology inevitably means more failed technology.
Take, for example, the amazing electronic in-room snack dispenser. Have you come across one of these? At first glance it’s just a plastic tray with little compartments holding packets of nuts, cookies, crisps, and so forth. It sits near the mini-bar, or on top of the fridge, in your hotel room.
You might pick up a couple of products to have a closer look. You might possibly put a couple of them back in the wrong compartment.
But then, a couple of days later, you might see the small (really small) printed notice saying:
If you remove any item from this display for longer than 20 seconds, it will automatically be charged to your room bill.
Say what? Automatically charged to your room bill?
At this point you notice that the thing is plugged in. And you wonder whether you put any of those products back in their original places quickly enough.
And what about the empty compartments? Were they meant to be empty? Or did the previous occupant swipe the contents? Are those going to end up on your room bill too?
Just in time, a voice of sanity: the room service waiter arrives with an ice bucket and a broad Jamaican smile. “Many guests have this problem. Better ask Reception to check your bill.”
So we do, and fortunately, we haven’t been charged for any snacks.
Not even the ones we actually ate.