Daijiworld Media Network - Shanghai (SHP)

Shanghai, Oct 18: A lot of people are in the habit of carrying their mobile phones and magazines when answering nature's call. However, this makes them spend more time than usual inside the toilet. Now, this will be no longer possible for people using public toilets in Shanghai. As soon as a person spends more than 15 minutes inside, municipal staff will be alerted to check on them.

In a document released by the city government, over 150 public toilets have been installed with infrared sensors to capture the amount of time a person spends inside the bathroom cubicle.

The sensors are equipped to monitor the air quality and the water level usage according to the time spent inside.

The new smart toilets are part of China's efforts to use artificial intelligence (AI) into day-to-day life.

The idea has received mixed reactions, one of the Shangai residents said, "This could be embarrassing for me. Since I was a little kid I'm used to spending upto half an hour in the toilet, this would mean a toilet worker checking on me twice, this makes me nervous."

Meanwhile, others believed it was a good step towards innovation.