Look How Far We've Come!

Technology's great isn't it? Computers, mobile phones, the Internet, digital TV, you name it. Technology has, in most cases, made life safer, faster, cleaner and generally a bit more bearable.








It's not only in electronics though. Materials is another area that has seen progress over recent years. You only have to watch an episode of Top Gear when Jeremy Clarkson tests super cars made of various composites and space-age materials that can withstand gigantic forces, despite weighing as much as a bag of peanuts. It's just an example of how human ingenuity meets engineering progress.

Today I happened to stumble upon another example of human intrigue combined with technological sophistication. Whilst engineering graduates are wasting their time developing a Skoda Fabia that can run on potpourri or a TV set that is powered by sand so it can be used in some remote African shanty town, some crazy engineers in Canada have developed something we can all use.

It's a toilet seat. Nothing spectacular about that, you've probably already got one at home, but this is no ordinary toilet seat. In fact, this particular seat is made of hand-layed carbon fibre. The advantage? It can withstand 550,000 psi of pressure.
Where a toilet seat would encounter that sort of pressure is a mystery to me, but it's nice to know that if I did decide I wanted to 'pig-out' for a few years, there is a toilet seat that will suit my needs.

Isn't progress brilliant?!