Information sharing hygiene apparatus
A method and apparatus are disclosed which involve an improved way to coerce use of a soap dispenser (or other hygiene device). A soap dispenser according to at least one embodiment, includes a teaching or entertaining device that is fun and informative that is triggered when the soap dispenser is utilized. The soap dispenser may also be utilized as an advertising tool.
1. A soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser that provides information during use, comprising:
a dispensing device intended to be used by multiple different persons;
an identifier interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser, the identifier operable to identify an individual user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser; and
a communicator interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser, the communicator operable to communicate a large variety of educational information selected by the identified user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser.
2. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the educational information presented to the user is tracked.
3. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising memory associated with the information sharing device, the memory operable to store the information communicated to the user.
4. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a remote computer interfaced with the communicator, the remote computer operable to store the information communicated to the user.
5. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the remote computer communicates with the information sharing device over the Internet.
6. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the communicator allows the user to select the information from a plurality of web sites.
7. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises a plurality of packets including digital information.
8. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID).
9. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a voice recognition device or other biometric device.
10. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the information shared with the user is work related.
11. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the computer keeps records of hand washing frequency.
12. The soap dispenser or hand sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least some portion of the information is advertising information not necessarily chosen by the user.
13. A method for educating a user of a soap dispenser or hand sanitizer intended to be used by multiple persons, comprising:
providing a communicator operable to be interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer;
identifying an individual user of the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer using an identifier interfaced with the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer;
receiving an activation signal at the communicator when the soap dispenser or hand sanitizer is used; and
communicating from the communicator to the identified user after receipt of the activation signal a large variety of educational information selected by the user.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising tracking the educational information presented to the user.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the communicator is operable to interface with the Internet to communicate information to the user.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising updating the information communicated to the user by using a news reader program.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the identifier comprises a radio frequency identification device (RFID).
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the identifier comprises a voice recognition device or other biometric device.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein in addition to the educational information the information also comprises an advertising message.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the advertising message is targeted to the user.