Save over 40% when you secure your tickets today to TNW Conference 💥 Prices will increase on November 22 →

This article was published on April 12, 2017

This smart toilet paper monitor tells you when you need a new roll


This smart toilet paper monitor tells you when you need a new roll

The future of consumer toilet accessories has never looked brighter.

YouTuber Sollae Insider has built a high-tech toilet paper solution that will essentially remind you anytime you need a new roll. Developed to help office caretakers easily keep track of bathrooms in need of a fresh roll, the quirky device monitors in real-time how much paper you got left in the holder.

Take a peek at the smart paper monitor in action in the video below:

To build the gadget, the resourceful inventor used a PHPoC Blue programmable IoT board as well as an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, which he attached to the toilet paper holder. The monitor then measures the distance from the sensor to the surface of the paper roll to calculate if you need a new roll.

The 💜 of EU tech

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

What’s particularly nifty is that the device can also connect to the internet, which means you can track your toilet paper needs online. While Sollae Insider designed the tool for office spaces and large buildings, you can easily implement the solution in your own home.

In case you want to put together your own smart toilet paper monitor, you can find detailed step-by-step instructions on this page. It takes about two days to build one – not a bad deal for something that could save you from a lifetime of shame.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with