News

Kohler's new smart bidet cleans your chocolate starfish via voice commands

Look, Ma: no hands. new PureWash E930 Bidet Seat was announced at CES 2024, and this smart seat comes with many features. The coolest ones have to be the  functions that are turned on or off via through Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It's a similar concept to the , and the . These commands are paired with a motion-activated lid that can open and close automatically. There's also a Quiet-Close function that prevents the lid from slamming. You can also set customisable presets and preferences via the Kohler Konnect app on a mobile phone, making trips to the bathroom more fun (and hygienic). A handheld remote is included, allowing for two programmable user presets. The bidet wand gets cleaned automatically with UV light, while the bowl gets misted before use (apparently, the misting makes for effective rinsing when flushed). There's also an automatic deodorisation function and a  mode. The latter adjusts the rear spray mode to the highest pressure for users who enjoy a targeted blast, and a separate grants a gentler, safer wash. Both the water temperature and pressure are adjustable, with Kohler noting that the water is "continuously heated for consistent comfort".  The PureWash E930 even has LED lighting that illuminates the bowl, so it can serve as a nightlight if you need to pop in for a mid-sleep live-firing exercise. The PureWash E930 Bidet Seat starts from US$2,149 and is available to order today. That's not all Kohler is showcasing at their CES booth this year, however. There is a new lineup of bathroom ventilation Atmo Fans, with some models including smart fans and lighting. The basic models come with adjustable fan speeds and dimmable lights, but the smart models allow for the fans to measure and detect humidity and temperature in the bathroom, spinning up when those metrics reach a certain level.  There's even a model that can change the colour temperature of the light to match the human circadian rhythm, via lighting controls in the Kohler Konnect app. The models with smart fans and lights can be scheduled to turn on, so bathrooms can be ventilated occasionally, even when you're away from home. The Atmo Fans start from US$266 and will be available in Q1 2024. Completing the whole smart bathroom concept is Kohler's updated Anthem shower controller lineup with the new . As an integrated shower system controlled with a digital interface, the Anthem+ system can be connected to a maximum of 12 water outlets, allowing for control and customisation over rainheads, shower sprays, showerheads and more.  Up to nine presets can be created with different settings for water, steam, sound and light, and there's a warm-up mode that purges cold water from the pipes while holding hot water for up to two minutes. This helps to conserve water if one doesn't get in immediately. The Anthem+ system also supports voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Presets can be customised via the Kohler Konnect app, which also allows for remotely turning the system on and off as well as monitoring shower durations and water usage. The Anthem+ Digital Control and System starts at US$2,800 and will be available from February 2024 onwards. For more CES coverage, check out our CES 2024 news round-up .