In Finland you now need to send a text message on your mobile phone to open a roadside public toilet:
Finland's Road Administration has started locking its isolated roadside toilets - and unlocking them via SMS. In response to incidents of arson and thefts, the transport authority came up with the novel solution which increased security, without reducing access for the public. [...]
The toilets have been secured, and a sign outside explains that the user just sends the word "open" (in Finish) to a short code and the door will be unlocked remotely. The company managing the service will keep a short term record of all users phone numbers, simply so that if the toilet is then damaged by criminals, they can be traced by the police.
Link: Use SMS to Unlock Public Toilets in Finland (Cellular News, via BoingBoing).
Previously: The Future: Mobile Phones Required for Parking?
What a great way to block the use of roadside toilets to anyone without the means to afford a cell phone.
Posted by: Eli | Thursday, February 07, 2008 at 08:29 AM