As if reinventing the way we work and communicate wasn’t enough, Microsoft Guru Bill Gates wants brand new toilets, too! While that may sound silly on the surface, there’s a very real reason why he’s funding this philanthropic project.
We may take toilets for granted here, but in countries like India, simple accommodations like clean sanitation are few and far between. This has real ramifications worldwide. 1.5 million children die each year from contaminated water and food because there just isn’t a toilet around.
How does the Microsoft inventor come into the equation? Bill and Melinda Gates set up a foundation to reinvent the toilet. It’s a worldwide bathroom makeover, of sorts. The challenge from the Gates Foundation was this: Come up with a toilet that will sanitize the waste, use minimal water or electricity while doing it, and even make a usable byproduct like electricity or charcoal.
The recent “Reinvent the Toilet” fair in New Delhi showcased many creative ideas from scientists around the world. It’s amazing to think that something as simple as a toilet could help reverse sickness, loss of life and missed work in developing nations.
It’s also amazing to think that in short order you could be using a Bill Gates toilet while communicating on a Bill Gates device connected to some Bill Gates software. The new bathroom has come a long way!
