A washing machine for human beings, from 1970

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Water Use and Environmental Impact

  • Debate over whether the machine would use “hundreds of gallons” vs being like a water‑efficient dishwasher.
  • Some argue reusing a small volume of water would be unsanitary; others note dishwashers already do this safely.
  • Discussion shifts to what’s really “wasteful”:
    • One side: water itself is abundant; the main waste is energy for heating and treatment.
    • Others counter with local water stress, aquifer depletion, and infrastructure costs; abundance at global scale doesn’t help regions with shortages.
    • Several note household use is minor compared to agriculture, but still see moral value in conservation.

Hygiene, Ultrasound, and Safety

  • Ultrasonic cleaning is effective on hard objects; unclear benefit on skin.
  • Some recall being warned not to put hands in ultrasonic cleaners; others suspect it was mostly to prevent misuse.
  • Comments note ultrasound at certain intensities can irritate or harm tissue, but the actual parameters for this device are unknown.
  • Added UV/IR for “germ killing” is seen as overkill or even hazardous (especially UVC).

Use Cases: Convenience vs Accessibility

  • For able‑bodied people, many see it as a fun gimmick that takes longer than a normal shower and doesn’t wash hair.
  • Others think it could be valuable for people with limited mobility, restoring some independence.
  • Counterpoint: the 1970 form factor (tall pedestal, water up to the neck) looks risky and hard to access; later/healthcare versions seem more plausible.

Experience, Time, and Hair Washing

  • Several note that 15 minutes is longer than most showers, and the device omits hair washing, which is often the slowest part.
  • Hair‑care routines vary widely; commenters push back on gender stereotypes about hair‑washing time.

1970s Futurism and Design Culture

  • Many are charmed by the optimistic, “space‑age” 1970s vision of automated personal care.
  • Some argue we still push human‑machine boundaries, just in different domains (AI wearables, brain interfaces) rather than appliance futurism.

Gender, Models, and Pronoun Choice

  • Discussion about why the article used gender‑neutral pronouns for clearly female models.
  • One side: neutral pronouns keep focus on the machine; model gender is incidental.
  • Other side: omitting that they were women erases historical context about marketing, sexism, and “booth babe” culture.

Maintenance and Practicality

  • Concerns that such a device would be a nightmare to clean, similar to jetted tubs.
  • Question of whether people would trust or enjoy being “washed like a car,” though some admit it might feel great at first.

Related Ideas: Self‑Cleaning and Automated Sanitation

  • Tangent on why we don’t have self‑cleaning public bathrooms everywhere.
  • Some note self‑cleaning units do exist, but businesses often find human cleaners cheaper and see restrooms as cost centers, not investment targets.