Photo: @shao1555
tech

McDonald’s restroom sink in Japan that washes your smartphone has people feeling the future

10 Comments
By grape Japan

Usually when McDonald's makes waves on the Japanese side of Twitter, it's due to exciting seasonal releases like savory rice or Mobile Suit Gundam burgers, but this time it's a restroom that has people talking.

Sho Sawada (@shao1555) recently shared a video taken in the restroom of a McDonald's they visited (as dangerous as that sounds, don't worry, it's clean!), because they were so taken aback by a system implemented at the sink. When Sawada went to wash their hands, they noticed an unusual thing slot right next to it, and upon reading instructions, was surprised by its purpose--

--to wash your phone!

"At McDonald's nowadays, not only do they have a place to wash your hands but one to wash your smartphone as well..."

Screen-Shot-2022-10-30-at-12.44.14.png

Just as Sawada's video shows, some McDonald's in Japan have installed sink systems that come with a slot that "washes" your smartphone. It's a system called WOSH developed by Japanese company WOTA.

WOSH is a sustainable hand-washing stand that along with a reusable water based sink, uses a hydrological cycle system and deep ultraviolet lights to disinfect your smartphone. WOTA says that in just 30 seconds, WOTA offers 99.9% sterilization of your phone--which means you can wash your phone when you wash your hands.

Considering how much we touch our smartphones, the amount of tables we set them on (such as a McDonald's where hundreds of people dine everyday), and put them to our face, it's definitely an appreciated setup that can help out with hygiene. While WOSH can be installed anywhere, many were surprised to see something so "futuristic" in a McDonald's restroom, leaving impressed comments about the new tech:

"What the heck, I've never seen this before! Just looking at it makes me want to put my phone in it."

"Sterilizing smartphones...wow, it's not like I actually clean mine at home so this is a good idea."

"Am I the only one who gets excited watching the smartphone going in and coming out?"

"This makes me realize just how much I touch my phone."

Read more stories from grape Japan.

-- Student’s reaction to seeing a Game Boy Color for the first time has Japanese gamers reeling

-- Personal trainer parakeet joins in whenever her owner plays Fit Boxing

-- Super squeezy giant pandas as rice balls are Japan’s new cutest plushie

© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

10 Comments
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That is a good idea. Like door handles, phone screens are filthy. Give them a clean.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

This 'article' is littered with errors.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

On the photo it says ‘Hand wash only’. So maybe there’s another display saying ‘Thank you for giving your old smartphone into recycling.’ lol

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

If more people wash their hands just to use the gadget that alone would prove it useful to prevent health problems.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

More misuse of "feeling"....

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

People who dont regularly wipe their smartphones are gross

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Chabbawanga

People who dont regularly wipe their smartphones are gross

I do but why. You don't share phones. Cleaning your office and home keyboards and mouse is more important. The levels of contamination are like toilet levels.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I like germs. They're good for you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wipe mine down daily with an alcohol swab.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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