Anomaly Zero marks the theoretical first detectable spark of a threat, pushing early warning systems closer to the true origin point of a disaster.

How Moving Detection to “Anomaly Zero” Could Save Millions of Lives and Billions in Damage

In 2023, MIT researchers achieved something that would have seemed impossible just years ago: they developed an AI system called Sybil that can predict lung cancer up to six years before human radiologists can see any signs of the disease on CT scans. The system analyzes the same medical images doctors examine but detects patterns invisible to the human eye, achieving 86-94% accuracy in predicting whether someone will develop lung cancer within a year.

There have been cases where Sybil flagged areas that radiologists didn’t identify as concerning until visible tumors appeared in those exact locations years later. This breakthrough represents a fundamental shift from reactive treatment to what could be called Anomaly Zero—detecting threats at their earliest possible moment, when intervention is still feasible and damage minimal.

The implications extend far beyond medicine. We’re living in an era where most of our systems—from healthcare to cybersecurity to climate monitoring—operate like emergency rooms: excellent at crisis response, but woefully inadequate at prevention.

The Mathematics of Early Intervention

Consider sepsis, which kills approximately 350,000 Americans annually. UC San Diego researchers developed an AI system called COMPOSER that reduced sepsis mortality by 17% simply by detecting the condition hours earlier than traditional methods. The first FDA-authorized AI tool for sepsis detection, called Sepsis ImmunoScore, can now identify high-risk patients before obvious clinical symptoms appear.

The pattern is universal: intervention effectiveness decreases exponentially as problems grow. A forest fire covering a few square feet requires a garden hose; the same fire at an acre demands aircraft and specialized crews. A cybersecurity breach detected within minutes costs thousands; the same breach discovered after months of data exfiltration costs millions.

Yet our current early warning systems consistently operate near the end of this timeline, not the beginning.

Understanding Anomaly Zero

Anomaly Zero represents the theoretical earliest point where a developing threat can be confirmed and addressed. Unlike the butterfly effect—where complex systems can only be understood retrospectively—Anomaly Zero focuses on actionable early detection.

Every major disaster begins with microscopic changes: a molecule shifts, electrical energy sparks, a neural pathway fires differently, or a pattern emerges in data. While we may never detect that precise first moment, emerging technologies are moving us dramatically closer to these origin points.

Think of threat development as a measurement along a thousand-mile timeline. Today’s early warning systems operate near mile 900, while Anomaly Zero sits at mile 1. The question isn’t whether we can reach mile 1—it’s how close we can realistically get while still maintaining actionable intelligence.

AI-powered early detection systems are transforming healthcare by spotting cancers and life-threatening conditions like sepsis earlier than ever through real-time pattern recognition and predictive modeling.

The AI-Powered Detection Revolution

Recent advances in AI-driven early detection span multiple domains. A multi-cancer early detection test using circulating tumor DNA analysis achieved 92% sensitivity and 95% specificity in identifying malignancies in asymptomatic individuals. Machine learning algorithms for sepsis detection have reduced mortality by up to 20% by identifying early deterioration patterns.
These systems share common characteristics:

• Pattern Recognition at Scale: AI can process millions of data points simultaneously, identifying subtle correlations invisible to human analysis
• Real-Time Processing: Modern algorithms operate continuously, monitoring for threats 24/7 without fatigue
• Predictive Modeling: Rather than simply detecting current problems, these systems forecast future risks

In sepsis care specifically, machine learning techniques such as random forest models and deep learning algorithms analyze electronic health record data to identify patterns that enable early detection. One breakthrough system, SERA, uses both structured clinical data and unstructured clinical notes to predict sepsis 12 hours before onset with 87% sensitivity and 87% specificity.

Beyond Healthcare: Universal Applications

The Anomaly Zero framework applies across critical sectors:

Cybersecurity: Advanced AI systems now use behavioral analysis to detect ransomware and data exfiltration attempts before they cause damage, with some achieving 63% reduction in successful attacks.

Infrastructure: Sensors embedded in bridges, buildings, and transportation systems can detect microscopic stress changes months before structural failures occur, potentially preventing catastrophic collapses.

Climate and Environment: Satellite imagery combined with AI can identify deforestation, pollution events, and ecosystem disruption at their source, enabling rapid intervention.

Financial Systems: Real-time transaction analysis can detect market manipulation, fraud, and systemic risks before they cascade into broader economic instability.

Public Safety: Pattern analysis of behavioral data can identify escalating situations while still manageable, though this raises important privacy considerations.

The Current Detection Gap

Most organizations remain trapped in reactive thinking. Healthcare systems excel at treating advanced diseases but struggle with prevention. Cybersecurity teams are masters of incident response but often miss early infiltration signals. Climate scientists can model global trends but struggle to prevent localized environmental disasters.

This isn’t due to lack of capability—it’s a fundamental misallocation of resources and attention. We invest heavily in sophisticated emergency response while underfunding early detection systems that could prevent emergencies altogether.

The Implementation Challenge

Moving toward Anomaly Zero detection faces several critical obstacles:

Technical Complexity: Building systems sensitive enough to detect earliest anomalies while avoiding false alarms requires sophisticated calibration and continuous learning capabilities.

Data Integration: Effective early detection requires synthesizing information from multiple sources in real-time—a challenge that current siloed systems struggle to address.

Privacy and Ethics: Enhanced monitoring capabilities raise legitimate concerns about surveillance overreach and the balance between security and freedom.

Economic Incentives: Prevention is invisible—successful early intervention means nothing dramatic happens, making it difficult to justify investments compared to visible emergency responses.

Organizational Resistance: Shifting from reactive to proactive approaches requires fundamental changes in institutional culture and resource allocation.

Anomaly Zero marks the shift from reacting to crises to detecting threats as faint patterns in data—where future leaders will either thrive or be disrupted

The Stakes Are Rising

The cost of reactive approaches is escalating rapidly. Environmental changes have intensified extreme weather events, with some areas experiencing 63% increases in major disasters. Cybersecurity breaches now cost organizations an average of $4.45 million per incident. Healthcare costs continue climbing as we treat advanced diseases that could have been prevented or detected earlier.

Meanwhile, the technological infrastructure necessary for Anomaly Zero detection is maturing rapidly. Advances in edge computing, sensor networks, and artificial intelligence are making real-time global monitoring not just possible but economically viable.

A Different Future

The Sybil lung cancer detection system demonstrates what becomes possible when we shift perspective from treating diseases to preventing them before they manifest. Instead of asking how to treat advanced cancer more effectively, researchers asked how to detect it before it becomes visible.

This represents the essence of Anomaly Zero thinking: reimagining the problem itself rather than optimizing solutions to the wrong problem.

Consider the implications if we applied this approach systematically:

• Preventing cyberattacks before hackers establish footholds
• Identifying infrastructure failures before they cause collapses
• Detecting environmental threats before they become irreversible
• Recognizing economic instabilities before they trigger crashes
• Stopping disease outbreaks before they spread

The Path Forward

The transition to Anomaly Zero detection won’t happen overnight, but early adopters will gain enormous competitive advantages. Organizations that invest now in predictive capabilities will operate in fundamentally different risk profiles than those that remain reactive.

Key priorities include:

• Developing sophisticated algorithms that distinguish meaningful signals from noise
• Creating rapid response mechanisms capable of acting on early warnings
• Establishing ethical frameworks that balance detection capabilities with privacy rights
• Incentivizing long-term prevention over short-term crisis management
• Building institutional cultures that value invisible successes

The Bottom Line

We stand at an inflection point. The digital infrastructure necessary for Anomaly Zero detection exists. The analytical capabilities are rapidly advancing. The economic case for prevention over reaction grows stronger daily.

The question isn’t whether this transformation will happen—it’s whether your organization will lead it or be disrupted by it.

MIT’s Sybil system proves that breakthrough solutions emerge when we stop accepting late-stage detection as inevitable and start pushing detection capabilities toward their theoretical limits. The future of risk management lies not in building better responses to full-blown crises, but in developing the capability to detect and address threats when they exist only as patterns in data.

In this nano-scale world of emerging problems, our greatest opportunities for impact await. The organizations and societies that master Anomaly Zero detection won’t just survive the coming decades of accelerating change—they’ll thrive in it.

3D pill printer finishing one precisely formulated polypill to replace all other pills you take in a day.

The Vision of Tomorrow’s Medicine

Back in 2012, I wrote about the idea of 3D pill printers, envisioning a future where medications could be customized to each individual and printed on demand. At the time, it felt like an inevitable leap for healthcare—a logical extension of 3D printing’s growing capabilities and the burgeoning field of personalized medicine. In that column, I predicted that by now, we would have entered an era of precision medicine, where constant monitoring of our bodies and adaptive, on-demand medications would be the norm. What I didn’t realize was just how long it would take for this vision to begin materializing and how many barriers—technological, regulatory, and societal—would stand in the way.

Fast-forward to today, and while we’ve made significant strides, the dream of a 3D-printed polypill tailored to our exact needs remains tantalizingly just out of reach. Imagine waking up, glancing at your health dashboard, and receiving a notification that your personalized medication—customized for your body’s real-time condition—is ready to print. It’s a world where your treatment adapts as you do, responding to spikes in stress, changes in inflammation, or shifts in glucose levels. This isn’t science fiction; it’s a vision grounded in technologies already being developed, from wearable health trackers to AI-driven diagnostics and advanced drug manufacturing techniques.

But as we inch closer to this revolution, we must grapple with three important questions:

• How much further do we have to go?
• What challenges remain, and
• How will they shape the future of healthcare?

Precision medicine has the potential to transform lives, but only if we can navigate the complexities of building a system that is both innovative and equitable. It’s time to revisit that 2012 vision with a fresh perspective, informed by over a decade of progress, and consider how we can bring the promise of 3D-printed precision medicine to life.

24/7 health monitor that talks to your pill printer.

The Building Blocks of a Precision Medicine Revolution

1. Continuous Monitoring

At the heart of this transformation lies the ability to continuously monitor a patient’s health, an area that has already seen significant breakthroughs. Advances in wearable technology have paved the way for devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers that measure everything from heart rate variability to blood oxygen levels. These devices are becoming more sophisticated by the day, integrating sensors that can analyze blood glucose, hormone fluctuations, or even sweat composition without the need for invasive procedures. For patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, implantable sensors take this a step further, offering round-the-clock monitoring with unparalleled accuracy.

The magic happens when this constant flow of data Is paired with artificial Intelligence. AI algorithms analyze these metrics in real-time, detecting subtle trends or anomalies that a human doctor might miss. For example, a sudden spike in inflammation markers could trigger an automatic adjustment in medication dosage, preventing complications before they escalate. This seamless integration of continuous monitoring and AI is not just about detecting illness; it’s about creating a proactive healthcare system that stays one step ahead of disease.

2. Polypills and 3D Printing

Complementing these monitoring systems is the emergence of polypills—a revolutionary concept in drug delivery. Polypills combine multiple medications into a single tablet, simplifying complex regimens and reducing the burden on patients managing multiple prescriptions. With 3D printing technology, the potential of polypills expands dramatically. Instead of mass-produced, one-size-fits-all formulations, 3D-printed polypills can be customized down to the molecular level. A single tablet can include precise doses of several drugs, and each layered for targeted release at different times throughout the day.

Beyond simplification, 3D printing also allows for the integration of supplements, like probiotics or vitamins, into the same pill. For patients with unique conditions or rare diseases, 3D printing offers a solution to the age-old problem of limited drug availability. These printers, connected to cloud-based systems, can synthesize the exact medication needed on-demand, and deliver it directly to the patient’s home.

3. AI and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Underpinning this revolution is the growing ecosystem of interconnected devices known as the Internet of Things (IoT). In this ecosystem, wearables, sensors, and 3D printers communicate seamlessly, creating a feedback loop between the patient, healthcare providers, and even digital health twins. These digital twins are virtual replicas of patients, capable of simulating physiological responses to various treatments. Before a polypill is printed, its effects can be tested on the digital twin to ensure safety and efficacy.

This interconnected network represents more than just convenience; it embodies a shift toward a truly patient-centric healthcare system. By connecting the dots between real-time monitoring, AI analytics, and on-demand drug manufacturing, the IoT is poised to transform not just how we treat illness but how we define wellness itself.

By only printing one pill a day means no bottles of pills laying around.

The Benefits of 24/7 Precision Medicine

The most striking promise of 24/7 precision medicine lies in its hyper-personalization. Traditional medications are often prescribed based on broad population averages, leaving significant room for error or inefficacy when applied to individuals with unique biological needs. Precision medicine, powered by real-time monitoring, takes an entirely different approach. By leveraging constant data streams from wearable sensors and AI-driven analytics, medications can be tailored to each individual’s exact condition and genetic makeup. Imagine a polypill dynamically adapting to fluctuations in a patient’s stress levels, inflammation markers, or blood sugar levels—an adaptive treatment designed to evolve with the patient’s ever-changing health metrics.

This level of personalization inevitably leads to improved patient outcomes. With drugs finely tuned to an individual’s needs, the likelihood of adverse side effects decreases dramatically. Gone are the days of trial-and-error prescribing, where patients endure unnecessary side effects or ineffective treatments. Additionally, the simplification of complex regimens into a single polypill ensures enhanced adherence. No more juggling multiple prescriptions or struggling to remember which pill to take and when. For patients managing chronic conditions, this can be life-changing, reducing both physical and emotional burdens.

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of 24/7 precision medicine is its potential to empower preventive care. Early detection becomes the new standard, as wearable devices and implantable sensors flag subtle changes in biomarkers long before symptoms appear. Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or even cancer can be identified and managed in their earliest stages, drastically improving survival rates and reducing healthcare costs. Beyond just treating diseases, precision medicine integrates behavioral nudges to promote healthier lifestyles. Notifications reminding patients to hydrate, take a short walk, or prioritize sleep are rooted in real-time data, helping individuals make proactive choices to maintain their well-being. This holistic approach marks a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive care, with the patient at the center of a continuously evolving ecosystem of health optimization.

Finding the optimal level of privacy for 3D printing polypills will be difficult.

The Challenges on the Road to Reality

While the potential of 24/7 precision medicine is staggering, the path to realizing it is fraught with data privacy and ethical concerns. At the heart of this new healthcare paradigm lies an unprecedented volume of personal health data—sensitive information collected from wearables, sensors, and interconnected devices. This raises a critical question: who owns this data? If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be dire, ranging from targeted hacking to the misuse of personal health information by insurers or employers. Ethical dilemmas abound, such as whether insurers should have the right to adjust premiums based on real-time health metrics or whether employers can mandate participation in continuous monitoring programs.

Regulatory and legal hurdles further complicate the adoption of precision medicine. The idea of dynamic, on-demand prescriptions is groundbreaking, but it presents a logistical nightmare for regulators tasked with ensuring patient safety. Every dose printed by a 3D printer must meet rigorous safety and efficacy standards, but how can this be guaranteed when treatments are being adjusted in real-time? The FDA and other regulatory bodies will need to rethink traditional approval processes, balancing innovation with oversight.

Even the technology itself poses significant challenges. The compatibility of multiple drugs within a single polypill remains a delicate issue, as some compounds may interact in ways that compromise their stability or effectiveness. Furthermore, creating universal standards for 3D printers and ensuring a consistent supply chain for the raw materials needed to manufacture custom medications is no small feat. Without these standards, the scalability of 3D-printed medications will remain limited.

Finally, there’s the issue of cost and accessibility. Precision medicine and 3D printing technology are likely to be expensive in their early stages, potentially limiting access to those who can afford it. This raises the specter of deepening healthcare inequality, where the wealthy benefit from cutting-edge advancements while marginalized populations are left behind. If precision medicine is to fulfill its promise, policymakers and innovators must address this imbalance, ensuring that its benefits are distributed equitably across all demographics.

The Dark Side of Always-On Medicine

The dream of always-on medicine, while promising, comes with significant risks that demand careful consideration. One of the most concerning aspects is the loss of autonomy that constant monitoring might bring. In a world where every heartbeat, hormone fluctuation, and calorie intake is tracked, individuals could feel trapped in a system that over-medicalizes daily life. Not every small deviation from a baseline is cause for alarm, but patients might find themselves overwhelmed with unnecessary interventions or nudges, leading to a perpetual sense of inadequacy or anxiety about their health. The psychological toll of being “optimized” every moment—always striving for a state of perfection dictated by algorithms—could create a culture of dependence and even erode the human experience of living freely.

The overreliance on technology is another pressing concern. What happens when the system fails? A device outage, a software glitch, or a malicious hack could disrupt the delicate ecosystem of precision medicine, leaving patients without their tailored medications or critical health data. More importantly, could this reliance diminish trust in human healthcare providers? If algorithms dictate treatments and override traditional medical intuition, we risk losing the irreplaceable human connection that underpins effective caregiving. Patients might begin to see doctors not as decision-makers but as implementers of machine-generated plans, potentially eroding the relationship of trust that has defined medicine for centuries.

Finally, pharmaceutical disruption presents a broader societal challenge. The advent of 3D-printed polypills could upend the traditional pharmaceutical industry, which relies on large-scale manufacturing and standardized dosing. While this disruption might bring innovation, it could also lead to fierce resistance from industry giants whose profits are threatened. The logistical backbone of drug distribution—pharmacies, supply chains, and even global drug manufacturers—would need to reinvent itself, a process fraught with risks, inefficiencies, and potential backlash. Policymakers will need to navigate these turbulent waters, balancing the promise of precision medicine with the stability of existing systems.

It’s important to note that several pharmaceutical companies are already studying this business model.

A Roadmap for Moving Forward

Several companies are at the forefront of developing 3D-printed pharmaceuticals, aiming to revolutionize personalized medicine:

• Aprecia Pharmaceuticals: In 2015, Aprecia introduced Spritam, the first FDA-approved 3D-printed drug designed to treat epilepsy. Utilizing their proprietary ZipDose® technology, Aprecia produces rapidly disintegrating formulations, enhancing patient adherence. The company continues to innovate in 3D printing for pharmaceuticals, exploring collaborations to expand its product offerings.
• FabRx: A UK-based enterprise, FabRx specializes in 3D printing personalized medications. Their Printlets® technology enables the creation of bespoke drug dosages and combinations tailored to individual patient needs. Notably, FabRx has developed personalized pills for children with rare metabolic disorders, optimizing treatments based on specific patient parameters.
• Merck Group: Global pharmaceutical leader Merck has ventured into 3D printing through collaborations aimed at developing and producing 3D-printed tablets. In partnership with AMCM, an EOS Group company, Merck focuses on creating tablets for clinical trials and eventual commercial manufacturing, exploring various 3D printing technologies to address challenges in solid-dose formulations.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK): GSK has engaged in research to integrate 3D printing into drug development, collaborating with companies like Stratasys to explore innovative drug delivery systems. Their efforts aim to leverage 3D printing for more efficient and personalized medication production.

These companies exemplify the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to harnessing 3D printing technologies, striving to make personalized medicine more accessible and effective for patients worldwide.

To unlock the full potential of 3D-printed precision medicine while addressing its pitfalls, we need an actionable roadmap grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration. Scientists and engineers must work hand-in-hand with ethicists and policymakers to ensure that innovation is pursued responsibly. For example, bioengineers developing sensors for health monitoring need to consult with ethicists about the psychological impact of always-on surveillance, while legal experts draft policies to protect patient data from misuse. The convergence of these disciplines can provide the checks and balances necessary for building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem.

Central to this effort is the establishment of robust regulation and oversight. The global community must come together to create frameworks that address the unique challenges posed by 3D-printed drugs. Standards for printer accuracy, drug formulation, and patient safety must be universally recognized to ensure trust in this technology. Equally important is the regulation of AI-driven healthcare ecosystems, ensuring transparency in decision-making algorithms and safeguarding against biases that could harm patients. Without these guardrails, the promise of precision medicine could be undermined by mistrust and misuse.

Perhaps the most critical piece of the roadmap is addressing equity in access. The risk of precision medicine becoming a luxury for the wealthy is real, and it could exacerbate existing healthcare disparities. To prevent this, governments and innovators must prioritize accessibility, exploring subsidized models, public-private partnerships, and open-source solutions for the underlying technologies. The ultimate goal should be to democratize precision medicine, ensuring that its benefits extend to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Say goodbye to all your cabinets filled with pills.

Final Thoughts – A Pill for Humanity’s Future

Returning to the scenario of waking up to a personalized polypill, it’s worth reflecting on what this vision truly means for humanity. On one hand, the possibilities are exhilarating: lives saved through early intervention, chronic diseases managed with ease, and a new standard of health that adapts to each individual’s needs. On the other hand, this revolution carries profound societal implications, reshaping our understanding of health, autonomy, and even what it means to be human.

The dual-edged nature of this transformation demands caution. While precision medicine has the potential to redefine healthcare for the better, it also risks creating new forms of inequality, dependence, and ethical dilemmas. As we stand at the brink of this new era, the question is not whether we should embrace these technologies but how we can ensure they serve the common good.

The call to action is clear: we must balance innovation with responsibility, championing a vision of precision medicine that uplifts humanity as a whole. By doing so, we can turn the dream of personalized healthcare into a reality that benefits everyone—not just the privileged few. The pill for humanity’s future is within our grasp; it’s up to us to determine its impact.

Over the past few years, I’ve spent countless hours driving through dozens of states on the east coast, west coast, southern states, and the Midwest. And none of these states have done a good job addressing the escalating need for more public bathrooms. Some states are cutting back on their rest stop locations due to budget cuts.

In their place, gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, fast food establishments, and coffee shops seem to pay little attention to a person’s non-consumptive needs. It’s not uncommon to stop at three or four places before finding a restroom that’s not “out of order.” Cleanliness is another matter, but most people would settle for something functional.

I never really paid much attention to issues of this type before, but the challenges seniors face are now hitting much closer to home!

And it also got me thinking about all the locations and circumstances where the lack of public bathrooms is a very real issue and how that might be resolved in the future.

Restrooms – A Public Good … and Right

Access to restrooms in a number of settings, not just along our major roads and interstates, is seen today as a basic human right and a public necessity, just like access to food, water, and shelter.

The issue is larger and even more timely in urban areas. That fact quickly became apparent during the pandemic, when many private dining facilities, including the coffee shops and fast-food restaurants that we all considered “public” with a wink and a nod, suddenly were closed to walk-in traffic.

And moving forward, many of those same, now re-opened establishments, including Starbucks, will no longer open their restrooms to the general public, including homeless people for whom those restrooms are not just a convenience but a necessity.
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Cities are Stepping Up

Providing restrooms for the public will once again be firmly in the province of public officials and the budgeting process. In the future, many localities and states will pass legislation expanding access to public restrooms, whether in public buildings and parks or in the form of standalone facilities or even futuristic versions of what we all know now as “porta-potties.”

A bill is pending in New York City to require the establishment of at least one new public restroom in each of the approximately 200 zip codes in that city. Portland was a pioneer in this area with its solar-powered, minimalist, easy-to-clean “Portland Loo,” a concept implemented in many other jurisdictions.

And what about reverting back to pay toilets? Creating a modest financial cost to help pay for upkeep and to help keep mischief makers from abusing a good thing seemed like a reasonable idea 50 years ago. But society ultimately pushed back on the idea of making people pay to access this public good – equating it to making someone pay to use a public drinking fountain.

A Matter of Public Benefit

For most Americans, access to restrooms in their hometown is not an issue. If they’re out and about, they know about “friendly” retail establishments they can pop into. Most people have the resources to purchase a bottle of water, a small coffee, or a fountain drink at private establishments to “buy” the right to use their bathroom … and avoid dirty looks from employees and patrons.

But even if the average person might be reluctant to see the need for public funding for restrooms, they should know that the alternative for too many people is public urination or defecation. That opens the door to a world of public health threats, including hepatitis A.

An analysis by the World Bank showed that the cost-benefit ratio of providing basic sanitation services in the urban areas of developed countries was 3.5. Yes, a $1.00 public expenditure on this infrastructure yielded $3.50 worth of public good in terms of reduced medical costs and increased productivity.

The Ick Factor

Admittedly, the first thought of most people who have experienced deplorable restrooms in public and other shared settings is how a city like New York will ensure each public restroom remains clean and functional.

One option is to have them serviced by city employees, but that can be expensive, and the facilities might effectively be out of reasonable commission for hours or days at a time as these unfortunate workers make their rounds.

Instead, in New York City and elsewhere, we’ll soon have city-wide access to self-cleaning public toilet booths or pods, a technology already being utilized in certain cities, especially in Europe.

Self-Cleaning Bathroom Booths

In contrast to the Portland Loo public restroom model, there are many ingenious, self-contained, self-cleaning bathroom pod designs with automated systems that clean and sanitize the space and the fixtures between each use.

New York City tried this approach for a handful of pay toilets more than a decade ago. The program at the time called for 20 of these self-cleaning toilet pods with a user fee of 25 cents per visit. Only 5 of the pods were ultimately installed, but all of them reportedly are still in use today.

The often unstated but widely shared concern regarding truly public restroom facilities is that they can be the site of criminal and nefarious activity – assaults, vandalism, drug use/commerce, and sexual encounters, for example. But many of the new designs, and even the previous generation, non-automated Portland Loo model, make this less likely than is commonly thought.

Yes, public automated toilet pods are in our future, whether in the heart of the city or off the interstate in the heartland of our country.

With some models under consideration, the floor may be wet after each cleaning, but users can be assured that the wetness is only due to disinfection!

Local Solutions First

As I’ve said in the past, the number of governmental bodies in the U.S. is reaching a staggering number – 90,000. During normal economic times, there is plenty of money to go around, but now every city, state, county, parish, township, and special taxing district is competing for the same tax dollars, and issues like a rapidly escalating bathroom crisis are simply not receiving the attention it deserves.

As you might have guessed, it will be up to us to solve the problem locally before anything happens on a larger scale. So please feel free to voice your opinion. Your future bladder needs will thank you later.