When I was traveling in Paris several years ago, I was attracted by the public toilet on the streets. It looks like a phone booth, but if you take a close look at it, you will find it’s really interesting. And I did tried it several times.
How to use it?
- You press a button (or, in some cases, insert a coin) to open the door, and when you step inside, a sensor in the floor causes the door to close and lock.
- You do your business, then open the door and exit.
- The door closes again, the toilet is automatically cleaned and disinfected by a motorized mechanism, and a green light signals that the lavatory is ready for the next user.
My experience
The first time I was using this toilet, I was a little bit confused because I can’t see the instructions on the door so I just paid my full attention to how other people are using it.
After watching 4 people’s behaviors, I am getting much more clear about the way to use. So when it comes to my turn, I do not need to read the instructions. I think it’s easier to watch others instead of reading the words.
Others’ experience
As I said, you should watch other people first, then you can be clear about it. There are quite a few people just go directly to it with no experience, so they are quite confused, they took nearly 1 minute to read the instructions. Even after that, they are still not quite confidence about the correct way. But after they used for one time, they got totally clear.
Difficulties
I think there are mainly 3 aspects that really confuse people including me.
- The instructions: there are so many words on it! Imagine you are also the first time to use it, and now it’s your turn, there are still some people waiting behind you, so can you patiently read those long instructions?Well, I think I can’t, especially for a foreigner, it’s hard to get all points in a very short time.This also makes you feel nervous because other people are watching you.
- The self-cleaning time:some people are quiet confused about the self-cleaning function because they don’t know the toilet need a time to do that, and in that time period, people are not allowed to be inside.So, I saw some people feel anxious and confused when the last people got out and the next people didn’t go inside after he or she.
- Waiting time: It always takes about 3–5minutes for one people to do a cycle and each time only one people can get inside. So the waiting period is really long, especially when a lot people want to use it, you will see a long line outside the toilet.
Time statistic
