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Microsoft's iLoo Project A Hoax

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the taken-in dept.

minesweeper writes "It appears that the 'iLoo,' a portable toilet with Internet access designed by Microsoft, was actually just a hoax issued by its MSN division in the United Kingdom. In addition to receiving press here on Slashdot, the fake release was also covered by The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, and Reuters. See a diagram of the iLoo here."

9 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Hrmmm.... by sdiver · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So what are the chances MicroSoft thought this was a legit idea upon releasing the concept, only to backpedal and say it was a "joke" a few days later? Seems like and odd joke to me...

    1. Re:Hrmmm.... by Lust · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Faked corporate press releases draw immediate attention (hence the /. article) but in the long-run only make publishers hesitant to post your legitimate stories. I suspect that upper management might be getting (or giving) an earful for this incident.

  2. Not a totally bad idea. by Deathlizard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Although having a Portable PC in a Porta-potty doesn't make much sense, it seems like a somewhat good idea in a permament environment.

    I mean realistically your going to be sitting down anyway and since your basicially a captive audience you might as well read up on the news or sports while your there. It's better than reading the writing on the wall.

    Of course a paper would be just as good, but something like this built into a wall would be more up to date. It doesn't really need to be interactive either. just run headlines, Sport Scores and Stock Market tickers.

    --
    In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
    1. Re:Not a totally bad idea. by EvilTwinSkippy · · Score: 4, Insightful
      I just keep thinking of the study where computer keyboards were found to be dirtier than toilet seats...

      I mean, do you REALLY want to be handling a keyboard that was handled by the guy in front of you, who was ALSO in the process of cleaning feces off of his bottom. Hint, the sink and soap are NOT in the stall.

      --
      "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
      --Dr.W.Edwards Deming
    2. Re:Not a totally bad idea. by GutBomb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      hmm. i don't think people have that much of a habit of touching their own excreted solids and fluids. it reminds me of an old joke. a guy from colorado, a guy from nebraska, and a guy from utah are all in a bathroom peeing. the guy from wyoming finishes and goes to the sink. "In wyoming they teach us to wash our hands with warm water when we're done peeing." he then waits for the others at the doorway. The guy from nebraska finishes next, walks to the sink, and says "In nebraska they teach us to wash our hands with warm water and soap!" he washes then waits at the door. Finally the guy from colorado finishes and simply walks out without washing. He says to the other men "In colorado they teach us not to pee on our hands"

      Unless you think people are shitting and peeing on their hands (YUCK) why be worried about using the touch screen and keyboard?

  3. Absolutely not a hoax, just a major screwup! by Brian_Ellenberger · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Here is the Google Cache for the iLoo.

    How can your own company hoax itself?!?! This wasn't just some Onion article or fake email everyone sent out. It was a bloody press release! And it was NOT an April Fools Trick as it dates May 2nd.

    Gee everybody was fooled into believing the iLoo was real because Microsoft issues a press release saying it was building the darn thing. Really pulled one over on us...

    MAYBE the truth is that Microsoft recieved so much bad press over it that they decided to pull the iLoo and pretend it was a joke. If that is the case, aren't there regulations against such things?

    Brian
  4. Do we all believe it actually is a hoax ? by tmark · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It *could* be just P.R. damage control designed to counter how silly MS was looking. The CNN article I read indicated that the legitimacy of the toilet was attested to by several other MS staffers.

  5. Re:lawsuit possibility by Icculus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't mean to sound too harsh, but why does someone always have to be sued when something unexpected or strange happens?

  6. conspiracy theories... by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Maybe this iLoo was created with the genuine intention of building such a product. But when it started to get press, the MSFT brass realised it was a 'stinky' idea. Why would MSFT UK just release something outrageous like this as a hoax? I think they didn't want to fess up and admit that they had a terrible idea so they just said it was a hoax.