The ultimate invasion of privacy

[Doctor Q]

Article: ‘Smart toilet’ monitors for signs of disease

Professor Sanjiv Gambhir, a cancer researcher at Stanford University, has developed a smart toilet that can analyze your "output," checking for a variety of medical issues, and upload the results to a cloud server. Not only does it do chemical tests, but it uses video to watch and analyze the process, and it recognizes who you are by photographing the part of you that it's looking at. The article says "You might call it the polar opposite of facial recognition."

The system is said to ensure that all information sent to the cloud is "de-identified," but I'd take that claim with a grain of salt, since it wouldn't be much use unless the health care team that is checking the data knows your identity and can match it to the cloud information.

I guess there are valid cases for the use of such a medical device, and I'm generally in favor of medical advances, but it brings personal monitoring to a whole new level. And people who hack into your cloud data may be in for an unpleasant surprise!

 

[millerj123]

That's cringe-worthy.

 

[Longkeg]

Didn’t Rick and Marty do an episode on this? Such a device would definitely turn me into a “shy pooper.”

 

[Doctor Q]

Didn’t Rick and Marty do an episode on this? Such a device would definitely turn me into a “shy pooper.”

Yes, in Season 4, Episode 2 (“The Old Man and the Seat"), which is excerpted and analyzed here.

 

[CooperBox]

As it's a 'smart toilet', can we assume that after the man-of-the-house has used it, that it then puts it's seat down for the lady-of-the-house........?

 

[Erehy Dobon]

I'm okay with this concept. Colon cancer is more common once you're past fifty. Early diagnosis is key to having a higher chance of recovery.

Once a year, my clinic sends me a colorectal stool sample kit. It's easy, quick and painless to do (hell, the envelope is also postage prepaid) but it's only one sample per year. I'd rather have a sample sent monthly or weekly automatically rather than wait a full year for the next kit.

Similarly, this is what Apple Watch does with AFib (atrial fibrillation). It is analyzing your heartbeat on a frequent basis rather than wait for your annual physical that monitors your heartbeat for two minutes or whatever.

Hell, if my toothbrush could detect oral cancer or my bathroom mirror/iPhone's FaceTime camera detect glaucoma, I'd be all for that too.

Some people can't see the forest for the trees though. Their loss.

 

[Clix Pix]

I actually looked at the link to check the date to be sure this wasn't an April Fool's Day joke, and nope, it's not! Interesting concept and I understand the logic behind it and the scientific curiosity and the urge to find new and seemingly less invasive ways of getting specific medical information about someone in order to quickly implement appropriate treatment if it were indicated, but..... Ewwwww!!!!

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Article: ‘Smart toilet’ monitors for signs of disease

Professor Sanjiv Gambhir, a cancer researcher at Stanford University, has developed a smart toilet that can analyze your "output," checking for a variety of medical issues, and upload the results to a cloud server. Not only does it do chemical tests, but it uses video to watch and analyze the process, and it recognizes who you are by photographing the part of you that it's looking at. The article says "You might call it the polar opposite of facial recognition."

The system is said to ensure that all information sent to the cloud is "de-identified," but I'd take that claim with a grain of salt, since it wouldn't be much use unless the health care team that is checking the data knows your identity and can match it to the cloud information.

I guess there are valid cases for the use of such a medical device, and I'm generally in favor of medical advances, but it brings personal monitoring to a whole new level. And people who hack into your cloud data may be in for an unpleasant surprise!

Other than the unpleasant nature of the things being recorded, is it any different than any other part of your body being recorded? Privacy concerns are valid of course, but any digital medical record should be afforded the same protections.

 

[Doctor Q]

I'm okay with this concept. Colon cancer is more common once you're past fifty. Early diagnosis is key to having a higher chance of recovery.

You're not alone. The article says that when they did a survey, 37% said they were somewhat comfortable with the idea, and 15% said they were very comfortable with the idea. That's a little over half.

 

[Tech198]

lol @ measure the "output"

Dare i say i don't think i'd wanna know the reasons for uploading to a cloud service

my own bodily functions are my own.

Refringers, Smart devices i can understand, but there are somethings are are not meant to oversee the digital age.

I feel like we are all huge pool of sharks waiting to be eaten when the info gets out...

We never learn from them..

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Recording/monitoring output is probably one of the oldest forms of health monitoring/medical research. It probably long-predates civilization as we define it; likely pre-dates leeching and bloodletting by millennia. Yes, it's distasteful, but if you're in a hospital or nursing home, you can bet the "quality" of your output is being noted.

There's also a fair percentage of the public that already routinely monitors and assesses their own output and that of family members (well, at least of those family members who are still in diapers). Those with deeper pockets are probably ripe for the purchase of several high-priced commodes and a monthly subscription (is there anything that doesn't require a subscription these days).

So... outside of normal medical privacy concerns, nothing too odd about it. Does it really matter what kind of health/medical data is being anonymized before it's used in medical studies? Strip out the patient's name, address, etc., replace them with one or more random numbers, encrypt it in transit... it shouldn't be a big deal as long as what they claim is being done to protect anonymity is actually being done. The main thing is that it be anonymized for everyone but doctor and patient (and the long list of parties to whom you grant access when you sign your doctor's "privacy" agreement).

 

[compwiz1202]

Didn’t Rick and Marty do an episode on this? Such a device would definitely turn me into a “shy pooper.”

They supposedly had butt recognition software in the movie Grease too

 

[millerj123]

Monitoring your output makes sense for a variety of reasons. Anyone working outdoors should be checking the color of their urine to ensure they aren't dehydrated, etc. Finding out how well your body is processing food, along with knowing what isn't working correctly can give early insight into early detection of problems. I don't know if I'd buy this without it sending my personal data out, and I still don't trust the IOT folks for security.

 

[MisterSavage]

I'm okay with this concept. Colon cancer is more common once you're past fifty. Early diagnosis is key to having a higher chance of recovery.

Once a year, my clinic sends me a colorectal stool sample kit.

Colon cancer is deadly. There's many people that won't do the kit, much less a colonoscopy. I say every little bit helps.

 

[Doctor Q]

Unless this gadget is more secure than many or most IOT devices, it's a possible entry point into your home network.

Perhaps they could make a version that connects to your phone with Bluetooth once it verifies you are the correct "customer." That way it doesn't need its own Internet connection, you'll have possession of the data, and you can choose which health providers to share it with by other means.

If it's going to be useful, people have to be confident it can help them without unnecessary risks.

 

[AidenShaw]

The ultimate invasion of privacy

Have you ever had a colonoscopy? I'd rather have a camera in the toilet taking pictures of my butt.