Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#141

Post by accountofme » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 1:36 AM UTC

goldenkey wrote: post #139

accountofme wrote: post #134

It is a nice idea. Personally I would have no use for this device, everyone poops. everyone gets constipated and everyone gets diahorrea (hopefully not at once). Everyone makes noise. Let us just all agree that shit happens and we can all collectively be embarrassed. Anyway a much harder but better privacy device would be one that can combat hidden cameras in bathrooms. Cheera

Just put a hidden camera in the speaker grill of this device.

I mean that a bathroom privacy device that might get better sales should actively combat hidden cameras rather than add one to the design....

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#142

Post by mythrwy » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 1:54 AM UTC

aquir wrote: post #3

I never understood why this is bothering anyone, it's part of life! A bit like those toilet sprays...stuff stinks that's it. For me this is a solution for a non-existing problem.

Those toilet sprays just stink and don't actually mask the oder, correct.

But there is another series of products, you drop a few drops in the toilet before pooping and it's remarkably effective at eliminating the after stink that wafts out smelling up the building.

First one (which I could never find again) was called "Whoopsie Poopsie" but there is also one called "Just A Drop Before You Go". Both were very effective and there are probably other brands that do the same thing.

https://prelamshop.com/en/

Passing along because I wish I'd known of these a long time ago they would have saved a lot of discomfort and embarrassment.

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#143

Post by stevenicr » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 2:05 AM UTC

Xeoncross wrote: post #98

Why not just buy a $30 white noise machine and leave it running all the time?

for an extra $16 from homedepot you get a motion activated plug that has selectable time-to-stay on.. so that would be a close match to this.

even a cheap radio and then one of those fm-transmitters to send whatever you wanted to it..

if I was gonna do the pi route like OP is experimenting with, I'd want a switch or some other control to bring up volume and to change the sounds perhaps.. go from waterfall to rainstorm to fishing plopping sounds whatever.. add your own sounds via usb dongle.

download new ones for microtransactions.. lots of directions perhaps.

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#144

Post by testmasterflex » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 2:22 AM UTC

withinrafael wrote: post #96

Neat idea but I'm not yet convinced this speaker masks any revelant bathroom sounds* and has no real added value over a water proof Bluetooth speaker (e.g. Fugoo). That's not to say the product is wrong/bad but the Kickstarter content just didn't convince me. (A video with actual demo from the outside would go a long way.) I was also confused by the product wanting to be an all in one device for setting the "date nig…

There is a lot more information about the product if you click on ”Read more about the campaign”.

Here is the demo video for example: https://youtu.be/yw4EubU5lQg

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#145

Post by exodust » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 2:26 AM UTC

Surely a radio that switches on for 5 minutes via motion sensor would be better? It's random music. Or just leave the radio on all the time and don't worry about the motion sensor.

I don't believe a recorded waterfall sound coming from small speaker will mask the explosive bass-heavy thunder downunder from the toilet bowl and resonated around the bathroom.

If anything, fix a few sound dampening tiles to the bathroom walls and ceiling.

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#146

Post by testmasterflex » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 2:28 AM UTC

booboofixer wrote: post #137

ugjka wrote: post #6

Why do you need motion detection, can't you just hook it up with the light switch?

Commenting here because related to your point and i couldn't find the answer in the kickstarter description. How long does the music play for? Does it keep stopping and you have to wave your arms around while on the can to get it to start again?

It has user selectable countdown timer. As well as night mode hours when it’s quiet. You set it to what you want.

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#147

Post by holler » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 4:30 AM UTC

This is really great!

A few years ago I worked for a small startup using a tiny live/work loft as an office in the heart of downtown San Diego.

We had the exact same issue you describe where 7 guys and 3 gals were all terrified to use the restroom because any little sound could be heard through the wall into the main space.

Because of that we started seeking out other places to deal with nature, which led to the phrase "I'm going to visit the Hilton".

Needless to say by the end of my time working there I knew the nearby Hilton & Marriott hotels in and out, including how to act like a guest to gain access to the better restrooms (although they surely caught on).

At the time I wondered whether a crowd-sourced bathroom finder app would be feasible and purchased the domain thronehunter.com, which I still own to this day!

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#148

Post by withinrafael » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 6:40 AM UTC

testmasterflex wrote: post #144

withinrafael wrote: post #96

Neat idea but I'm not yet convinced this speaker masks any revelant bathroom sounds* and has no real added value over a water proof Bluetooth speaker (e.g. Fugoo). That's not to say the product is wrong/bad but the Kickstarter content just didn't convince me. (A video with actual demo from the outside would go a long way.) I was also confused by the product wanting to be an all in one device for setting the "date nig…

There is a lot more information about the product if you click on ”Read more about the campaign”. Here is the demo video for example: https://youtu.be/yw4EubU5lQg

Yep, saw this. This video is frustrating (to me) because I want to love this box so much! It shows the unit doing everything but what it proports to do. That is, hide poop sounds. Instead, it demonstrates turning on, playing lounge music, showing the time, a light, and taking longer than expected to turn off when the user leaves.

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#149

Post by k_ » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 6:54 AM UTC

babyshake wrote: post #128

brimble wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having an "executive bathroom" is at least 20% of the benefit of WFH. Under-appreciated in discussions about this.

There's nothing like going to an office bathroom and seeing that all the stalls are full, or just slightly better that they are all full except for one that just seconds before has become vacant.

And the colleague that just came out of it looks at you with a big grin saying "Good luck!" (true story.. x_x)

Re: Show HN: Loodio – A Bathroom Privacy Device

#150

Post by testmasterflex » Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 11:26 AM UTC

withinrafael wrote: post #148

testmasterflex wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a lot more information about the product if you click on ”Read more about the campaign”. Here is the demo video for example: https://youtu.be/yw4EubU5lQg

Yep, saw this. This video is frustrating (to me) because I want to love this box so much! It shows the unit doing everything but what it proports to do. That is, hide poop sounds. Instead, it demonstrates turning on, playing lounge music, showing the time, a light, and taking longer than expected to turn off when the user leaves.

I know exactly what you mean. It was my main concern before going all in. "Is this really helpful or just kind of nice?" But it really does the job and we have an unusually bad bathroom here.

Your other point, regarding turning off more timely, is just a matter of development. (The timer is also user configurable currently). But I want to add more sensors to it like a proximity sensor and light sensor, that will assist it to know if user really left room so that music can turn off faster. It's still very early.

I don't think the kickstarter is going to be funded as it looks right now. I'm about to open a Shopify store instead and continue moving forward. It's a product where you kinda need to experience it before you realise it's really nice. I think word of mouth will be largest marketing channel.

You really should try one. It has saved our "asses" here. :)