Feedback is our weekly column of bizarre stories, implausible advertising claims, confusing instructions and more
Ghost in the latrine
IS THE 鈥淚nternet of Things鈥� 鈥� the computerisation of our homes heralded by futurists 鈥� really such a good idea? What happens when essential household appliances are online and vulnerable to hackers? Imagine the consequences if someone could hack into your toilet.
This is not merely a theoretical vulnerability. The Japanese company Lixil has developed a called Satis that aims to be comfortable, stylish and water-saving, with features that include a lid that raises and lowers automatically without being touched, and a self-cleaning spray. Two versions are available in the US for just $4200 and $5800.
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Unfortunately, a security firm called Trustwave Holdings has found a bug in the toilet鈥檚 computerised control system. It is set up to allow control using an app, via Bluetooth 鈥� widely used for hands-free operation of phones 鈥� hard-wired with an access code of 0000. Trustwave says it told the manufacturer about the flaw, but never received a response, so it has now . If you happen to find yourself sitting on a toilet that flips its lid and sprays its bowl by itself, it鈥檚 not a poltergeist, it鈥檚 a prankster with an app.
Simon Horton wonders whether the missing hyphen in a London Underground sign offering 鈥淩eal time travel updates鈥� should be between 鈥渞eal鈥� and 鈥渢ime鈥� or between 鈥渢ime鈥� and 鈥渢ravel鈥�
Pedestrians look right
A COLLEAGUE shows us his photo of an instruction for pedestrians painted on the road at a crossing on the Holloway Road in north London. It says: 鈥淟ook right鈥�. Beside it is a large arrow, pointing left.
We鈥檙e reminded of the , used in psychology and neurology. This usually involves the names of colours, with each word printed either in the named colour or a different one. The task is to name the colour of the ink, not read the word. Incongruous pairs are harder to process and thus produce higher error rates, demonstrating interesting things about the mind of the person doing the test. Maybe Transport for London, which administers London鈥檚 roads, is doing a mass Stroop test on the citizens of Holloway. Do they obey the writing or the arrow? Their lives may depend on their choice.
A cup of tea and a lie down
READER Don Roworth was as puzzled as we were by a practice examination paper from CGP Books that asked for ways in which an experimenter could increase the rate of evaporation of water in a beaker, and offered as an answer 鈥渄ecrease the density of the water鈥� (3 August). John Owen-Jones was just one of many readers who pointed out that 鈥淚 usually reduce the density of water (and increase evaporation) by turning the 鈥榦n鈥� switch on my kettle.鈥�
Yes, John, this would have that effect 鈥� but decreasing the density is not responsible for increasing the rate of evaporation. It is the heating that does both.
Had this been a philosophy of science exam, it might have formed part of a discussion of causality but, as it stands, 鈥渂y really wanting a nice hot cup of tea鈥� would be an equally good answer 鈥� wouldn鈥檛 it?
You can鈥檛 be serious!
HERE is a puzzle concerning electromagnetic fields. James Smith directs us to with the comment 鈥淧ick any sentence from this web page for a good chuckle鈥�. By way of example, he offers: 鈥淐rystal Catalyst Technology has a unique composition and structure which allows it to absorb and then rebroadcast harmful electromagnetic radiations in a cleaner form.鈥�
There is much more to chuckle at in the site鈥檚 enumeration of its 鈥渉andcrafted emf protection devices鈥�, but James adds that he especially likes the testimonials from satisfied customers that are dotted around the site. Now here鈥檚 the puzzle: assuming that they are not entirely made up, we cannot work out for sure if these comments express genuine enthusiasm or if at least some are written with tongue in cheek.
James, again, offers an example: 鈥淭hank you for your product. I devised a test using my Kiniseology [sic] skills which work with food allergies and YES your product makes a difference! One is stronger with the product when touching the TV, mobile or computer!! Well done, guys! I have long thought of how we could counter this excess of EMFs.鈥�
Surely that鈥檚 tongue in cheek? We certainly hope so.
The universe is not enough
THE Yahoo Movies website recently from the new space movie Gravity. The text beneath it read: 鈥淭he clip shows Sandra Bullock鈥檚 astronaut thrown into space after an explosion on a space shuttle. Watch it above, unless you鈥檙e claustrophobic.鈥� Matt Ashmore, who noticed this, comments: 鈥淵our claustrophobia must be pretty insurmountable if you can鈥檛 stand to be in a space as small as, well, space.鈥�
A mouthful of marketing
FINALLY, vegetarian Tony Green was relieved to be informed that the triple-blade razor he bought at Superdrug in Ipswich, UK, was 鈥淪uitable for vegetarians and vegans鈥�.
Tony says: 鈥淎ll I have to do now is work out which part is supposed to be edible.鈥�