My office, like a lot of offices, has always suffered from a toilet-related problem.
You walk all the way to the toilets, only to find that the toilets are already busy.
You then waste time walking back to your cubicle, where more uncomfortable minutes pass, during which you are barely productive. Finally, you return to the toilets, only to find that they are still busy!
This 'bog-polling' can continue for half a day, putting you behind on your schedules and impacting your bowel.
All this has come to an end now that we have finally turned on Version 2.0 of the intranet-Based Toilet Reservation System (TRS).
The process is as simple as it is brilliant.
You check on the intranet if a toilet is currently available.
If it is, you reserve it.
The door to your reserved toilet then locks, and the "reserved" sign lights up. The door will not unlock for anyone but *you* and your electronic security tag.
If no toilet is available, then you can inform the TRS to email you, SMS you, or page you, when one does become available. (Paging doesn't yet work -- but should be online in a day or two!)
If any toilet is reserved but not in use for more than one hour, then you are asked to go online and confirm that you still intend to keep the booking, otherwise it is released.
You can now book ahead by up to six months and can even set a recurring booking for the same time each day.
Before you start worrying: User identity is fully protected -- you can't see who is hogging a cubicle, or who has blocked off a period of time.
Of course, user-identities are still recorded in the back-end system (pun intended...), as they are used for management reports on user productivity. (Personally, I think the data could also be used for assessing mental fitness and for identifying health patterns in the work force. But that level of abstraction is still philosophical at this stage.)
We developed all of this just for our own department's purposes. (We're a government department -- in case you couldn't guess already ;-) ) But I'm wondering if other offices will want us to install a TRS for their benefit too. The equipment involved is little more than a few lights, some electronic locks and an ASP.net intranet application. Potentially it could be opened up to the internet, of course, so you could book while en-route to the office.
In case you're wondering, version 1 of the TRS is system is still in place. It consists of little more than a blurry webcam above the urinals. It gives a fair indication of traffic levels while maintaining anonymity.
Well - i'm off to "download an attachment into the porcelain internet", if you catch my drift.
'KellyBurnett30' on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:31:15 GMT, writes:
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I have some text for your help documentation. Hope this makes it into the TRS v.2 help files. Here goes:
> HOW TO POOP AT WORK
>
>We've all been there but don't like to admit it. We've all kicked back In our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below.
>
> As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.
>
>CROP DUSTING
>
>When farting, you walk briskly around the office so the smell is not in
your area and everyone else gets a whiff but doesn't know where it came from.
>
> Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.
>
>FLY BY
>
>The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again.
>
> Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.
>
>ESCAPEE
>
>A fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a poop
in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment.
>
>If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it.
>
>No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.
>
>JAILBREAK
>
>When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This
is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen,
do not panic.
>
>Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare
everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.
>
>COURTESY FLUSH
>
>The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water.
>
>This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the
bathroom.
>
>This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.
>
>WALK OF SHAME
>
>Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just
Stunk up the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone
>
>Walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the
smell Does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.
>
>OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER
>
>A colleague who poops at work and is damn proud of it. You will often See an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or Magazine under his or her arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.
>
>THE POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F.N)
>
>A group of co-workers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes
off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of
Out Of The Closet Poopers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.
>
>SAFE HAVENS
>
>A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least Expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex.
>
>This Will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.
>
>TURD BURGLAR
>
>Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to Force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves.
>
> This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.
>
>CAMO-COUGH
>
>A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you Are
in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE.
>
>ASTAIRE
>
>A subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you Are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an Astaire, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper Can poop in peace.
>
>WATERMELON
>
>A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. ThisIs
also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion.
>
>See CAMO-COUGH.
>
'Mark Ayzenshtat' on Thu, 04 Mar 2004 01:24:21 GMT, writes:
A nice example of technology removing the, uh, strain from a real-world problem.
I make a few suggestions / feature requests on my blog: http://markwords.blogspot.com/