Racist Soap Dispenser?

[webbo3]

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/automatic-soap-dispenser-sparks-racism-outrage-after-footage-shows-it-doesnt-work-for-darkskinned-a3615096.html

[naomi24]

I don't know how these things work but I assume on some kind of sensor. Considering they're installed in a number of places I've visited, not least some international airports, it seems odd that this problem has only just surfaced. Hmmmm.... got my doubts about this one.

[anotheoldgit]

Blimey it isn't the 1st of April already, is it?

[cassa333]

Yes, of course it was done on purpose.

[dannyk13]

If all dispensers are made the same then it should work for any coloured skin.
https://www.hunker.com/13409512/how-automatic-dispensers-work

[ToraToraTora]

surely it's a motion sensor, not a colour sensor.

[gingejbee]

^^^motion sensors work by several different technologies eg IR detection, microwave, acoustic etc. Presumably, they're not using the best option in their equipment...

[chelle7272]

Seems an old story
https://mic.com/articles/124899/the-reason-this-racist-soap-dispenser-doesn-t-work-on-black-skin#.PErTVwzxo

All about light reflection apparently

[anotheoldgit]

dannyk13
/// If all dispensers are made the same then it should work for any coloured skin. ///

Wow! not quite PC Danny, that should be colour skin.

[dannyk13]

Suntan AOG.

[sp1814]

This story is a couple of weeks old. To characterise it a 'racist soap dispenser' trivialises the real story.

Soap dispensers are non-sentient objects, and therefore are unable to be racist.

The real story should concern about techie who developed the interface to the potentiometer, and adjusted it to the balance point based on their skin tone.

Because of this, anything darker doesn't trigger it.

It speaks to what can happen when there is a lack of diversity in tech - silly mistakes like this walk out of the testing environment and into the bright sunlight of ridicule.

[Mamyalynne]

Over paid designers at work.

[naomi24]

//The real story should concern about techie who developed the interface to the potentiometer//

That techie obviously didn't work on those installed at airports.

[douglas9401]

I guess this 'racist techie' forgot to take coal miners and the like into account when tweaking his knob.

Good grief man, get over yourself.

[Old_Geezer]

MS Windows need beta testers too. No reason why soap dispensers wouldn't.

[youngmafbog]

MS Window just needs testers.

[sp1814]

douglas9401

Who was your post directed to???

[Bazile]

Erm - you put the palm of your hand under the dispenser - not the back - so why doesn't it work for whoever ?
Afterall there isn't much difference between the colour of the palm of the hand between a white and black person

[dave50]

Some people go out looking for racism in anything, they are obsessed with it.

[Mamyalynne]

Bazile, the palm of his hand was presented to the dispenser.

A poor design is all it is.