Urinals part V

Michael Darnell keeps track of poor choice architecture at the site Bad Designs. While previous urinal posts (read parts I, II, III, and IV) have highlighted some of the better designed commodes, Darnell has highlighted two confusing ones. First, is a mop sink in a Santa Barbara men’s room that looks like the urinals you might find in elementary school bathrooms.

Continue reading the post here.

Urinals part IV

From Germany comes the “Piss Screen — An interactive experience – not to be mistaken for the Wii”

This almost unbelievable, almost ridiculous video game urinal is no joke. And its origins are serious too. It’s developers teamed up with Frankfurt Taxi Services to try and persuade drunks to take taxis home. The challenge, they say, was to grab drunks’ attentions. “Well, where do most people go when they’re drunk? (Apart from the bar, that is. Or maybe a kebab.)” they ask? “They go to the toilet,” where they are met by a Gran Turismo-like video game where your urine controls your car. The game starts when you, well, begin.

The overall design of the driving game was similar in style to that of Need for Speed, requiring relatively quick reactions. Obviously the more drunk you are, the slower your response, reinforcing the effects of alcohol to the gamer. The game ultimately culminates in a shocking crash-sequence, leaving the viewer with little doubt as to the repercussions of driving while drunk.

Visit the web site, with videos about the product and how it was made.

(Hat tip: Andrew Webber)

Urinals part III

When we last discussed urinals, we closed by raising the possible existence of a urinal inspired by the beautiful game. An intrepid reporter from Bonn snaps these two photos at a stadium in Bonn, Germany.

Another urinal story from Germany:

At a pub in Zurich I encountered a urinal with an ad for a local urologist’s office. It consisted of a target, rather high up on the back wall of the unit, and a challenge to hit it. Presumably those who could not suffered from poor prostate health. Of course I took aim and hit the target, whereupon its musical chip played “Ole, ole ole ole.” I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself.

Urinals part II

Since blogging about fly etchings on the Amsterdam airport urinals, reports of similar “nudging” porcelain fixtures have trickled in. To find out more about other similar urinals (and to see some photos) click here. If you know of others, let us know.

The Amsterdam urinals

The recent piece “Easy Does it” about choice architecture in the New Republic by Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler opened with the example of bathroom urinals. Bathroom urinals in the Amsterdam airport, more specifically.

As all women who have ever shared a toilet with a man can attest, men can be especially spacey when it comes to their, er, aim. In the privacy of a home, that may be a mere annoyance. But, in a busy airport restroom used by throngs of travelers each day, the unpleasant effects of bad aim can add up rather quickly. Enter an ingenious economist who worked for Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam. His idea was to etch an image of a black house fly onto the bowls of the airport’s urinals, just to the left of the drain. The result: Spillage declined 80 percent. It turns out that, if you give men a target, they can’t help but aim at it.

Some have wondered what exactly these famous behavior-shaping urinals look like. By popular demand, here they are. Two of them. A wide shot and a close-up. (If you’re at work, use some discretion when viewing these.)