Banana chips

Modern washing machines can now be controlled through a smartphone app, making laundry more convenient.

Japanese firm Science, however, has taken washing convenience to a whole new level with its one-of-a-kind machine that really relaxes its users.

Science’s “human washer of the future” that awed visitors to the Osaka Expo, where it was displayed in October, is not a robot that can do laundry, though. Instead of dirty clothes, it washes humans.

The machine “not only washes your body but also your soul, while also monitoring users’ heartbeats and other vital signs,” Science spokesperson Sachiko Maekura told Agence France-Presse.

Users of the pod-like human washing machine lie down in the capsule, which fills with warm water; then, ultrasonic waves and high-pressure jets with tiny bubbles dislodge bodily dirt from the skin, according to AFP.

Embedded sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) monitor the user’s heart rate, adjust the water temperature and pressure, and display calming videos or project nature scenes onto the pod’s interior for a personalized, stress-free experience.

Like Japan, South Korea also has a strong technological industry that comes up with a variety of novel electronic products. Semiconductor giant SK hynix, for one, announced its latest offering of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips.

While HBMs are for powering AI systems, SK hynix’s new version of the chips cater to a totally new market. In fact, the HBM Chips are now selling in local 7-Eleven convenience stores this week.

The new product is literally a snack — Honey Banana Mat — with 385 calories per bag. Mat is a Korean word for “flavor.”