from human waste and is cheap to maintain.
Good luck, Bill.WINDOWS
Windows that change their tint automatically aren’t
new, but a team at the University of Texas has
developed glass that’s able to block the heat-
producing part of light. Thanks to a framework of
electr ical ly conductive nanocr ystals embedded in a
glassy material, near-infrared light can be blocked by
adding an electronic charge. Up to 90 per cent of
near-infrared light and 80 per cent of visible light
can be blocked. This could mean huge energ y
savings in buildings of the near future. ßMIRROR
Other than your phone, the one place you look
every morning is the bathroom mirror. Wouldn’t
it be nice for that mirror to have all your morning
aler ts from social media, news and email?
Samsung has shown off just this with its smart
mirrors. They’re touch-sensitive, and will display
everything you need in one hub while you’re
br ushing your teeth. They even contain cameras
so you can virtually try on clothes.
SHOWER
Water falling from a shower is so last century!
The future is Nebia. This shower head atom ises
water to create a cloud of smaller water droplets,
which is more immersive than a regular shower.
It saves 70 per cent on the amount of water
needed and is 13 times more thermally efficient.
TOILET
Toilets are not just for waste – they are wasteful
too. Bil l Gates is throwing megabucks at crack ing
the problem of finding a perfect toilet. The
solution should be one that saves water, increases
recycled drinking water supplies, creates energy
THE LOO
1986
A basic porcelain toilet
with a flush and perhaps
a frilly toilet seat cover
was all we could hope
for.2016
Now, in Japan at least,
your toilet can sing to you,
heat the seat, flush, open,
close and even wash you
automatically.2036
Toilets will be able to
harvest your waste for
water and power. They’ll
probably be comfier too,
which can’t be difficult
since we’re still stuck on
plastic seats right now.BATHROOM
LUKE EDWARDS IS A TECHNOLOGY AND GADGETS WRITER.Smart mirrors let you stay
up-to-date with the latest
news while getting ready in the
morning