Dear Editor,

I recently attended a seminar out of obligation. I thought to myself that it was going to be a waste of time, but as it turned out, it was very arresting information as they were discussing the economic, scientific, and beneficial use of waste. I came to the conclusion that a lot of things that go to waste could benefit our economy greatly.

Science and technology have proven biblical predictions to be on point as, according to scriptures, knowledge shall increase. Yesterday’s seeming impossibilities are today’s realities and one wonders what await us tomorrow.

The rapidity at which scientific breakthroughs are ocurring is alarming. Take for example the simple evolution from pit to indoor toilets and now we have sewerage systems servicing whole neighbourhoods. Scientific research has now reached the point at which even human waste need not be waste anymore. Our toilets may very well become a source of economic gain for our family.

A scientific study at Stanford University has revealed that a disease-detecting “precision health” toilet can sense multiple signs of illness through automated urine and stool analysis. This smart toilet is really going to cause us to waste waste no more. As I understand it, smart toilets will be fitted with technology that can detect a range of disease markers in stool and urine, including those of some cancers, such as colorectal or urologic.

The device could be particularly appealing to individuals who are genetically predisposed to certain conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, prostate cancer, renal failure, and also to health-conscious people who want to stay on top of their health condition. Should this become standard operation going forward, consider the significant economic and health benefits that would come to individuals and governments because if our toilets become a disease-detecting device, it’s not rocket science to deduce that with early detection of health conditions and quick intervention the more likely it is to lessen symptoms and access early treatment options.

The study reveals that presently smart toilets and artificial intelligence can detect 10 biomarkers, ranging from white blood cell count to consistent blood contamination and certain levels of proteins.

To think that a toilet can also deploy urinalysis strips or dipstick tests to measure certain molecular features is excitingly taking science to another level.

So I was wondering what we could do in Jamaica to boost our economy since agriculture is not as buoyant as it should, sugar cane has lost its sweetness, and bauxite is almost non-existent. Well here is an area we could invest in, and every citizen could make voluntary and effortless contributions.

Ours is really going to be a brave new world. Little wonder Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, and astrologer Nostradamus didn’t see this one coming.

It’s early days, but perhaps Northern Caribbean University, University of Technology, Jamaica, and The University of the West Indies could begin to conduct feasibility studies and prepare to advise and assist the Government in the acquisition, production, and implementation of the above-mentioned technology, and maybe the Chinese could help us to link every house in Jamaica to a central sewer system that could help us harness the gold in human waste. We could then promote the project using an advertising jingle which says, “Let’s waste waste no more”.

Burnett Robinson

Blpprob@aol.com