Livening Up the Loo

By Jeninne Lee-St. John

Want a guy's attention in the restroom? Just appeal to his masculinity. New Mexico in February installed motion-sensitive talking deodorizers in 500 urinals across the state that tell men not to drive if they've had too much to drink. "Hey, big guy," a female voice coos. "Your future is in your hand." Other marketers are making use of an Australian firm's heat-activated urinal billboards that reveal ads as disappearing ink is warmed up. These technologies join a stream of bathroom innovation.

Conversation Starters

Amid protests of sexism last fall, mouth-shaped pissoirs in a public restroom in Vienna, Austria, were removed and then sold on eBay. Dutch company Bathroom Mania! mass-produces a $915 version, at left.

Target Practice

A Midwestern mom invented the PottyShield, a $19.99 plastic device that converts home toilets into urinals for use during potty training, because--as the company's tagline says--boys are messy.

Nature's Call

San Francisco artist Clark Sorensen said, "standing over a urinal many times a day" inspired his line of utilitarian porcelain flowers and seashells that sell for up to $9,500 a pop.