ABSTRACT
A modern public restroom can be a touch-free tour de force. There’s no need to touch a lever to flush the toilet, turn a faucet handle, push the plunger on a soap dispenser, or press a button to start the hand dryer. In cases where touching a device could be hazardous, enable touch-free operation. While touch-free gadgets are convenient and might be considered a luxury, the safety-related benefit of touch-free operation is better hygiene. Given the number of bacteria that can reside on common touch surfaces, touch-free tech can help reduce the spread of germs. Designers can employ numerous ways to actuate touch-free devices. Some touch-free products use passive infrared to detect motion, actuating when they detect the presence of a warm object or the departure of one. Despite its many potential benefits, touch-free tech is not a safety slam dunk. Use errors and product malfunctions can still occur and can interfere with the availability and effectiveness of touch-free features.
