11 Odd and Intriguing Smart Home Technologies

Smart toilet

Japenese toilet

A smart toilet made by a Japenese company. (Image credit: Lixil)

Someone had to try it. Japanese company LIXIL sells a line of smart toilets. The toilets feature automatic lids, sound modules and deodorizers to drown out any unpleasantries and soft lights in the bowl for reasons best left unexplored. The toilets also feature bidets and connect to an Android app, but beware: Security company Trustwave warned in August 2013 that the app is vulnerable to hacking, highlighting the security concerns that all smart tech developers must address. An attacker can cause the toilet to repeatedly flush, raising the water usage and therefore utility cost to its owner," Trustwave warned. "Attackers could cause the unit to unexpectedly open/close the lid, activate bidet or air-dry functions, causing discomfort or distress to user.

Stephanie Pappas
Live Science Contributor

Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior. She was previously a senior writer for Live Science but is now a freelancer based in Denver, Colorado, and regularly contributes to Scientific American and The Monitor, the monthly magazine of the American Psychological Association. Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz.