Kohler is no stranger to bizarre innovations. Be it its $25,000 toilet that challenges conventional design or the $12,000 smart toilet that features LED lights, a speaker, and Alexa voice controls. However, this time around, the company has taken a step further. Kohler has entered the wellness game with its new sister company focusing on health, debuting the Dekoda, a $600 gadget that clips onto your toilet to monitor your waste like a personal health scout.
First reported by CNET, this reminds me of the Austin-based health startup Throne that launched a similar kind of camera, which clips onto the side of a toilet bowl. Similar in functionality, Kohler uses a camera and sensors to scan stool for clues about hydration, gut health, and even blood traces that could signal issues. Does it record your private parts? Kohler denies the possibility, stating, “Dekoda’s sensors see down into your toilet and nowhere else.” Whether you want to believe in this theory or not is totally up to you.
It may read like I am taking a dump on this idea, but there is no denying the fact that your stool contains tons of information about your diet and health. As per Kohler’s press release, “Data recorded flows to a companion iOS app (Android version coming soon) via machine learning, turning bathroom breaks into quick wellness reports,” something the likes of U-Scan did. To help Dekoda in this endeavor, the device comes with a rechargeable battery, a USB connection, and a fingerprint sensor to identify who’s using the toilet, the latter of which keeps things private, so nosy guests don’t get the scoop on your stats.
While I don’t appreciate the idea of seeing my poop every day or, for that matter, a camera peeping into my rear, I do admit that this might just be useful in tracking my gut health. One thing I really loathe about the whole idea is the cost. Beyond the upfront $600, you’ll need a subscription for full app access, individual or family plans. Huh! I would appreciate it if they just added a health faucet to it!
As expected, the internet is going crazy about the idea. I really like Engadget’s skeptical and snarky take that quips it’s “a pretty extreme and expensive way to figure out if you’re drinking enough water,” yet wondering “who doesn’t want to be proactive about pee?” As expected, The Verge readers are taking jibes at the idea too, with comments like, “What a shi**y idea. I have eyes and don’t need any other device to tell me I need more fiber in my diet.” Even the Guardian couldn’t refrain from penning a piece commenting, “if it’s even necessary or of any benefit to get Poop-tracking cameras installed.” Whatever the case, the fact of the matter is Kohler is serious about it, and has even made the Dekoda system available for preorder.
