In many toilets there is a device that allows for a full flash and a partial flash in order to save water. The design is that the larger pedal or lever is for a full flash and the smaller lever or pedal is for a partial flash.
Although this may save a little on education as people would intuitively understand that big button is for more water and small button is for less water I think it is a usability disaster.
If I would design it I would make the big button (easiest to use, default use) the half flash and the harder to use smaller button on the side for a full flash. The aim is to make people press on the half flash more often than on the full flash. For that it has to be more accessible.
I think that in reality people press on the full flash button most of the time because it is easier.
To make people do something you need to make it easier and more accessible making it an automatic decision.
A futuristic bath can be constructed as a set of interconnected cushions in a skeleton like outline that support the lying body comfortably without covering too much of its surface area. Under the cushion there will be a water collection container to drain the dirty water and soap. There will be no shower head but instead the walls of this futuristic bath will be covered with thousands of small spray heads that would spray warm mist (hot water drops pressured with warm air).
As one starts the bathing process he or she starts the machine and waits. The machine sprays cleaning / disinfecting material and soon after sprays some clean mist to wash it off. Then the person lays down on the skeleton support cushions that are suspended in the middle of the tab with comfortable springs that allow the person to adjust his or her position to the most comfortable form.
The mist starts warm according to the person preset and gets warmer or colder according to user control. Also the mist jets can create variable spray patterns for massaging and relaxation purposes with matching sounds and light effects.
Mist starts on command to include soap bubbles that gently cover the body and finally a stronger water only mist washes the soap and finishes the process.
The process can be as short as a few minutes and because it is mostly warm air with water drops it does not waste a lot of water.
There is an add-on device that can be placed on the head and it washes the hair in the same way or just massages your scalp if you have no hair to wash.
This is a theory that needs to be checked to see if this really makes sense…
The idea is to take a pile of small plastic balls and put them in the tab. Note that it is a good idea to make sure that they cannot fall into the drainage pipe as this may cause a real problem. They should be heavy enough to sink.
Then the tab can be filled with hot water as normal.
Due to the fact that the tab is partially filled with plastic balls less water are needed to fill it up so here comes the first advantage of this idea-saving water!
The second advantage will be felt (hopefully) after the person enters the tab. As one buries himself or herself into the plastic ball filled tab with hot water it should be a pleasing massaging sensation as one moves in the tab.
There is the issue of washing the plastic balls from the soap etc. and drying them properly after use or it will get nasty after a few days.
The balls may be totally separate or linked together in some way for easier handling.
When taking a bath it is frustrating to waste all the cold water that flow before the hot water arrive.
Some solutions are to collect the water in a bucket and use it for watering plats or other uses.
I have a more innovative idea.
When you want to take a bath just plug the drainage hole and let the bath start filling with the cold water… when the hot water come don’t add any cold water until the overall temperature is the way you like it (or a little hotter as it does get colder constantly) and then add cold water to create the hot-cold mix you like until the bath is full.
Shower may or may not waste less water depending on the time you spend in the shower and your shower head…
Some people just like to take baths…
