Home products company Kohler is launching a new Kohler Health division and its first product is a $599 camera for your toilet. The item, called Dekoda, is equipped with sensors that analyze any liquid or solid waste entering the toilet bowl with “validated machine learning algorithms.” The data, which can offer insights into hydration and gut health as well as detect the presence of blood, is then transmitted to Kohler Health’s iPhone app, although Android support is in the works. It comes with a magnetic charger and a wall remote that can optionally use Bluetooth fingerprint authorization so you don’t learn more about your guests than you’d like.
I have to salute the PR executive who came up with this gem: “By transforming the bathroom into a connected, data-informed health and wellness hub, Kohler Health empowers individuals to transform ordinary routines into proactive, personalized experiences.” Because who doesn’t want to be proactive when it comes to urine? The health data is great, no arguments here. But that seems like a pretty extreme and expensive way to figure out if you’re drinking enough water. Maybe I’m in the minority with my skepticism, because this isn’t the first example we’ve seen of toilet bowl technology for better health. Withings introduced a urine stream analysis tool a few years ago, which you can buy for just $500.
If you are passionate about tracking your biometric data, Dekoda products are expected to ship starting tomorrow. You’ll also need to sign up for a Kohler Health subscription on top of the cost of the product, and there are individual and family plan options.
