When Geoffrey Hoffer saw his first high-tech toilet over ten years ago, he didn't know what it was.
"The toilet opened and I jumped back," he said, recalling his surprise.
But after using it once, he knew he wanted one.
"It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen."
Electronic toilets with push-button control panels, built-in bidets, seat warmers and even music or the sound of a babbling brook to accompany your "business" have long been popular across much of Asia. Now, the technology -- in a stripped-down form -- is growing in popularity in washrooms stateside.
They're called washlets, and they're basically bidets that install on top of a standard toilet. With a touch from a remote control, consumers can customize water pressure and settings for men and women.
Bennett Friedman, owner of the AF showroom for bath and kitchen architectural products in New York, says these upgraded bidets are in most bathrooms in Asia and now are catching on with a broad swath of the population in America.
"They've spread out to include more moderate income users as well," he told CBS News' Hena Daniels. "I think as the value and importance grows in their lives, people are beginning to embrace the concept."
American manufacturer Kohler says its washlets have seen yearly double-digit growth since 2011.
Japanese toilet maker Toto is also experiencing growing sales in the U.S. Toto's prices start at $350 but can go up to $7,000 depending on additional features, including feet warmers, a dryer and the ability to play music.
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source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-look-under-the-lid-at-the-high-tech-toilet-trend/
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