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Technology

Coffin Hotels Opening Near You 229

Posted by Zonk from the perfect-for-the-shadowrunner-on-the-go dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Britain will soon see the launch of a chain of automated, short-term hotels for travelers and businesspeople." From the article: "Each soundproof cabin will contain a sofa that converts into a double bed, a pull down desk, closet space, adjustable mood lighting, a shower, wireless Internet, an iPod connection and a flat-screen TV. Check-in and check-out will be automated, but food and drinks will be available."
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Coffin Hotels Opening Near You More

Coffin Hotels Opening Near You

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  • Makes sense (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:34AM (#14377785)
    A lot of people in the business world are dead inside

  • iPod? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Teun ( 17872 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:36AM (#14377787)
    an iPod connection

    You insensitive clod!
    What about my Creative Zen?

    • Re:iPod? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by User 956 ( 568564 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:42AM (#14377801) Homepage
      "an iPod connection" - You insensitive clod! What about my Creative Zen?

      It's probably just a powered USB port. To most of the world, that is "an ipod connection."
      • I thought USB didn't charge an iPod, only Firewire did.
        • As shipped, my Nano can only be charged via USB.

        • I thought USB didn't charge an iPod, only Firewire did.

          It depends on the iPod. Mine (a 60GB iPod photo) can charge on either USB or FireWire. The oldest iPods can only charge on FireWire because they use a FireWire jack instead of a dock connector. My understanding of some of the newer iPods, OTOH, is that they can only charge on USB.

          The weird bit, though, is that the cigarette-lighter-to-USB adapter I already had for some other devices won't work to power my iPod. I had to buy a different one ma

  • that's huge! (Score:5, Informative)

    by User 956 ( 568564 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:38AM (#14377794) Homepage
    Each soundproof cabin will contain a sofa that converts into a double bed, a pull down desk, closet space, adjustable mood lighting, a shower, wireless Internet, an iPod connection and a flat-screen TV

    That's huge compared to what they have in Japan. In Japan, they have what are called capsule hotels" [links.net], which is basically like the sleeping tubes in the movie the 5th element.

    • Re:that's huge! (Score:5, Informative)

      by JanneM ( 7445 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:59AM (#14377848) Homepage
      That's huge compared to what they have in Japan. In Japan, they have what are called capsule hotels", which is basically like the sleeping tubes in the movie the 5th element.

      Yep. This sounds more like a scaled-down normal room. The capsule hotels in Tokyo and Osaka, for those who don't know, are situated around the major train stations and cater to drunk salarymen who missed the last train and need someplace to crash before work the next morning. As such, they're actually quite expensive (set to be cheaper than taking a taxi home), and often prohibit women guests altogether. If you're looking for somewhere to go with that special someone, there's lots of clean, cheerful "love hotels" dotted around every entertainment district (which, often, are actually cheaper, cleaner and more comfortable than a normal hotel if you're looking for a place to stay overnight).

      • Re:that's huge! (Score:3, Informative)

        by Bazman ( 4849 )
        Or if you are in Japan and want a nice traditional cheap hostel-style room, then find a 'ryokan' somewhere.

        • Re:that's huge! (Score:4, Interesting)

          by JanneM ( 7445 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @09:45AM (#14378075) Homepage
          Or if you are in Japan and want a nice traditional cheap hostel-style room, then find a 'ryokan' somewhere.

          I'd seriously like to know where you found an actual cheap ryokan.

          In my (limited) experience, a ryokan will be traditional and charming, but always somewhere from "quite a lot more expensive than the usual business hotel" to "you have got to be kidding, I could buy these square feet in Tokyo with that kind of money".

          That's not to say a ryokan isn't worth the stay; on the contrary. If you're vacationing in Japan, go for the ryokan over the boring hotel every time.

          But again, if you're adventurous, take one night or two at a love hotel; the experience really is worth it. My local favourite is "Chapel Christmas", where it's Christmas every day of the year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/75774506/ [flickr.com]

      • Re:that's huge! (Score:4, Informative)

        by cybernezumi ( 106079 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @09:38AM (#14378064) Homepage
        I've stayed at a couple capsules, they're surprisingly comfortable so long as you're under about 6 foot or so. I'm even a little put off by tight spaces and it really didn't bother me. I could also kinda sit up if I wanted to. Prices of the ones I stayed at were about half the price of regular business hotels (which these "coffin" hotels come closer to: a bed, a bath, a desk/fridge/tv and enough room to walk between them). The capsules I stayed at were getting kinda old, so my impression is that they are a bit of a left-over of the popped Bubble Economy. I see far more new business hotels. On love hotels, there are a few catches (overnight pricing begins around 10-11PM & no reentry). You'll also probably need a bit of Japanese skill at checkout ("No, I didn't drink any of the sake in the fridge, please let me out."). They are usually about the same price as business hotels on the low end but usually a lot more room (queen bed, big tub, etc). More interesting stuff on the in-room TV too... >;)
      • as long as you don't mind the bed still being warm when you check in

      • The reason, by the way, that all those salarymen have missed the last train (or so I'm told)...one never takes an earlier train than the last one, because it is important to appear to have been working as late as possible. The next-to-the-last train is usually pretty empty, whereas the last train is packed and some can't get on. I'm told it is not uncommon to sit in the Pachinko parlor until the last train is due.

        Different culture than the US, definitely.

    • Re:that's huge! (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Alcoholist ( 160427 )
      These mini hotel rooms remind me a lot of the cabins on a cruise ship. They pack a lot of stuff into those.
    • When I was a kid I thought of capsule motels at the mall as a place where men could take a nap while women shopped. After I later found out that the Japanese already have such hotels I am even more inclined to think they're a good idea. My only suggestion is to have them accessible from a door on the side rather than from a door on the end. Fat Americans don't want to shimmy into a small space. Be more like a bed on a train.
    • The article says 10 square meters. Maybe they modeled the size of their coffin on fat Americans.

  • I think I am going to have to change my name... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Mr. Flibble ( 12943 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:40AM (#14377796) Homepage
    To Case:

      The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

    "It's not like I'm using," Case heard someone say, as he shouldered his way through the crowd around the door of the Chat. "It's like my body's developed this massive drug deficiency." It was a Sprawl voice and a Sprawl joke. The Chatsubo was a bar for professional expatriates; you could drink there for a week and never hear two words in Japanese.

  • Ipod connection? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by broothal ( 186066 ) <christian@fabel.dk> on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:41AM (#14377798) Homepage Journal
    What's an Ipod connection? And what does it do? Say it's to enable people to fill up their mp3 player with new music, why isn't it just a USB port? If it's so you can hear your music, why isn't just a jack stick?

    This smells like some smart marketing suit yelling out requirements "we need this...and that!... and an Ipod connection!"

    • This smells like some smart marketing suit yelling out requirements "we need this...and that!... and an Ipod connection!"

      LOL. Yeah, it's either total marketing BS, or some vice president, ultimately in charge of the project, was reviewing the plans and said "yeah, ok, looks great. throw in an ipod connection, and you're done."

      And lo, it happened.

    • Re:Ipod connection? (Score:5, Funny)

      by kfg ( 145172 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:50AM (#14377830)
      . . .why isn't just a jack stick?

      Do you want to advertise a hotel room bookable for four hour slots as coming complete with a "Jack Stick"?

      KFG
    • What's an Ipod connection?

      Something CNN made up that isn't in the companies PR [yotel.com]

      • Re:Ipod connection? (Score:3, Informative)

        by cioxx ( 456323 )
        Did you read the whole thing or just scanned it?

        Techno Wall with desk, universal port (for your i-pod or PDA) and plenty of storage
        • Did you read the whole thing or just scanned it?

          I read it; several of the comments were asking why it was iPod specific. I was just pointing out that had morphed between the PR and the article.

      • Re:Ipod connection? (Score:5, Informative)

        by Kasis ( 918962 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @08:39AM (#14377930)
        From the link you posted:

                * Premium and Economy cabins
                * Techno Wall with desk, universal port (for your i-pod or PDA) and plenty of storage
                * Flat screen TV with surround sound speaker system
                * Free Internet - Wired and Wi-fi
                * Choice of hundreds of downloadable movies and CD's
                * Air conditioning
                * Double rotating beds
                * Ensuite bathrooms
                * Aircraft cabin mood lighting
                * Luxury bathroom fittings including monsoon rain shower
                * Luxury bedding
                * Bespoke Toiletries
                * Eat In grazing menu
                * Automated Check in / out
                * Web booking

        Sounds like a USB port.
        • universal port (for your i-pod or PDA) ... Sounds like a USB port.

          A USB port that connects to what? Either it's a USB power-only port, or it's just a regular AC outlet that's more conveniently positioned for devices than for appliances. I'm having trouble visualizing the hotel as a giant USB host.
    • It's not called a "jack stick" because that's Danish. In English, we call that an eighth inch audio connector.

      • Re:Ipod connection? (Score:3, Informative)

        by rich_r ( 655226 )
        I think you'll find that it's a 3.5mm stero jack plug...
        • I think you'll find that it's a 3.5mm stero jack plug...

          Around these parts it's a stereo phone jack plug.
        • think you'll find that it's a 3.5mm stero jack plug...

          Nope. It's a 1/8 inch plug.

          It's design is based on imperial units and not metric.

          It's miniaturized version of the Ma Bell 1/4" tip and ring plug that was used all throughout the world for telephone switches.

          Kinda like how drywall is usually exactly 1/4" no matter where you go, even in most metric countries.

      • Only in some back-woods country that hasn't caught up with the future--or in the USA. What's an "inch"?? Is it anything like a furlong? (snicker snicker)
      • In English, we call that an eighth inch audio connector.

        An 1/8" jack is what's on your old man's "HiFi" from the 60s or 70s. iPods, PDAs, portable CD players, and other portable audio devices typically use a 3.5mm jack for the headphones, which is much smaller.

        • Re:Ipod connection? (Score:3, Informative)

          by alc6379 ( 832389 )
          An 1/8" jack is what's on your old man's "HiFi" from the 60s or 70s. iPods, PDAs, portable CD players, and other portable audio devices typically use a 3.5mm jack for the headphones, which is much smaller.

          No.

          You're thinking a 1/4" jack. 3.5mm is 1/8", roughly.

    • "This smells like some smart marketing suit yelling out requirements "we need this...and that!... and an Ipod connection!""

      Congratulations, you've won the jackpot. Indeed, it's marketing. What else did you expect? Someone starting up a business with the intention of going bust? Those people are trying to sell a product, which, consequently, has to appeal to their market's tastes. iPods have proven to fit in that picture. So, indeed, it's smart marketing. Good work, I'd say.

      What do people have against bus
    • I assume its a pair of speakers you can hook your iPod up to in order to listen to it while in the room and maybe even charge it as well - I can't imagine it has anything to do with actually downloading music. Kind of a nice feature, actually - like hotels that come with CD players in the room.

  • Sound proof and bookable for 4 hour periods.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:42AM (#14377802)
    "Sound proof and bookable for 4 hour periods...."

                Sounds like the perfect resource for hookers and hitmen!

             
  • Am I the only one who could care less how weird and uncomfortable these things are so long as it's cool and futuristic looking? I am such a slave to my geekness.

  • Strange visitors (Score:3, Funny)

    by Dan! Dan! Dan! ( 826308 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:43AM (#14377807)
    I know a certain count from the Balkans that won't mind sleeping in this hotel.

  • Somethiing similar already exists (Score:5, Informative)

    by DrXym ( 126579 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:45AM (#14377814)
    EasyHotel runs a hotel in London where each room is essentially a box with a door. Windows, room service and the remote control which turns on the TV are extra. Prices vary from very cheap to much more than a conventional hotel room depending on when you book. It's a great idea assuming you don't plan to be in the room much and pick up a good rate, otherwise I'm not so sure. There are plenty of cheap chains like Travel Inn, TravelLodge, Ibis etc. who provide a full hotel service without the swingeing.

    The concept of a small room does appeal to me though. Assuming it was well designed and contains all the amenities, I'd have no problem with it. But the price must be substantially cheaper than a regular room to reflect the higher number of people they're cramming into the same space.

    • EasyHotel runs a hotel in London where each room is essentially a box with a door.

      That's every hotel in London.
      • That's every hotel in London.

        Not every hotel. There are some very decent chains and plenty of decent independents out a bit. Go at the right time of year and you'll even find decent offers in more upmarket places. I've never had to spend more than £100 a night and frequently spend a lot less for a decent place. but if you're foolish enough to rent a "tourist class" room around Picadilly Circus then you can expect to stay in a rathole. The same is true of Amsterdam, but even worse since the narrow bu

        • Do you realize/realise that you said 100 GBP? That is a ridiculous price for a hotel in these here United States.

          Every Holiday Inn Express (that I have ever stayed at) is roughly 40GBP and they come with a decent breakfast! 100GBP are Disney World prices.

          I wish they would show the inside of one of these, or at least a mockup.

          --Joey
    • Accor - who run the moderately priced Ibis chain - also have some very low cost hotels of a similar, if lower-tech, nature.
      However travellers with a wider than normal waistband should beware of the very narrow toilets.

      See: www.hotelformule1.com
    • Strange, cruise ships are sorta like that too...
  • Given the fact that in general, British public areas are usually filthy in terms of grime and litter, I don't think this is going to work.

    How do you know who slept in one of these "pods" before you, or what state you'll find one in ?

    Some of the B&B's I've stayed in here have been downright nasty, as well as some hotels and hostels.

    We can't even keep our hospitals clean.
    Also, everything gets vandalised here, even the windows on the trains have graffiti scratched onto them.

    I can imagine "parties" occuring in these pods, where 4 or 5 kids crowd into them, drink themselves into a coma and vomit all over the place - don't think it could happen ? - heh, try living here.

  • Makes sense. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Belseth ( 835595 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:52AM (#14377833)
    There really isn't a downside. Anyone who has traveled much knows you rarely spend much time in the room other than sleeping so large rooms are mostly wasted. If you are staying for more than a few days you pick up a traditional room. They are being put in airports for a reason. People don't stay more than a day or two around an airport and traditionally airport hotels are extremely expense. I'd absolutely go that route if I got stuck with an overnight layover. Beats dropping a couple of hundred for a place to crash.

  • Claustrophobic (Score:2, Insightful)

    by leguirerj ( 442771 )
    I don't like confined spaces.

  • In time for the Olympics? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by mustafap ( 452510 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @07:58AM (#14377846) Homepage
    Expect to see a lot of these places springing up by 2012. And dont expect them to be cheap.

    I'm living near london now but very happy that I will be in another country by 2012. London will be hell on earth. Good luck to the locals!
  • easyHotel [easyhotel.com] got these too. They've even shaped the rooms to Stelios' posture [easygroup.co.uk]! :-)
    • From the FAQ:

      Is there a laundrette or facilities for washing clothes? No
      Is there a telephone available in the room / hotel? No
      Can I store my bicycle within the hotel? No
      Can I buy alchohol at the hotel? No
      Is there a mini-bar in the room? No
      Is there a gym in the hotel? No
      Is there a swimming pool in the hotel? No

      This has David Spade written all over it.
  • Capsule - err, Coffin as its British translation seems to go - when the room is 10 square meters? Oh hey - I do live in an apartment of 1 living room, 2 bedrooms, and 3 capsules. Err, coffin sized bed rooms. And my room (shared) is a coffin size too? If that was a news of opening finally a real Japanese sized capsule hotel, it would score as geek news, but I don't see its geek newsworthness for the sake of it containing the word iPod.

  • A good idea for tourists, too. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by JakiChan ( 141719 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @08:15AM (#14377881)
    I think that this would hit a great niche for me in terms of non-business travel if they had one of these in London proper (or any other city I'd like to visit, London being a personal favorite). I *don't* need a really fluffy hotel room, but the last "quaint" place I stayed in was not that nice. So somewhere between "super-budget" and "luxury" I could see people going for a small room but with the right features. Something $100/night in London that didn't suck would probably go over very well.

  • Sheesh, 10 square metres? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by KozmoStevnNaut ( 630146 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @08:20AM (#14377893)
    "...business travelers crammed into 10-square-meter cabins."

    They make it seem like 10 square metres is very little. I live in a 1-room, 15 square metre apartment, and I have plenty of space for all my furniture. There's even enough room for a small kitchen in the corner.

    Sheesh... Lousy pampered business-men...

    *Grumble, grumble*
    • If you look like him [google.com] ten square meters is not a luxury, it's a necessity.
    • "...business travelers crammed into 10-square-meter cabins."

      They make it seem like 10 square metres is very little.

      I did the math, and it came out to about 110 square feet. That's not just little, it's tiny. I currently have about 6x that space at home, and that's getting to be a bit small now. I suppose it'd be OK for its intended purpose, but even 3x the space would be too small to live in (been there, done that).

    • 15 (m^2) = 161.458656 sq ft The hotel room I'm sitting in as I write this is 4.5x larger than your apartment. My apartment is about 8x larger. Just because you're comfortable living in a closet, doesn't mean the rest of the world is. Get over yourself.
    • Most likely they meant 10 m^2, not 10 meters square (100 m^2).

      The difference between the two is fairly large.

      (By the way, my *mattress* is around 2 m^2. If you genuinely live in 15 m^2, I pity you - humans should have more room to breathe than that.)

  • Missed Connections and Cancelled Flights (Score:5, Interesting)

    by DaRat ( 678130 ) * on Monday January 02, 2006 @08:39AM (#14377929)
    Having these hotels in hub airports would probably make them pretty popular with those who miss connections or have cancelled flights. This fall, I was going through Detroit, and they cancelled my connection with the next one in 8 hrs. Exhausted, and with a toddler in tow (who desperately needed a nap), I gladly plunked down $220 for 7 hrs in a Westin (most expensive nap ever). I would have loved to have had a $70 capsule hotel as an option.
    • Funny you should say that, because just last week (Tuesday, in fact) I was on my way back from my parents' house (Virginia to Iowa; leave a shitty state, arrive in a shittier state) and my connection in Detroit was cancelled due to weather. I found myself an "online-only" deal -- definitely worth the $6.95 for wireless access in the terminal. I wound up paying $89 at the Westin for a very nice room for the night. Plus, since I was travelling on Northwest (who doesn't in Detroit?) and my baggage was alrea

  • The lack of natural light (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02, 2006 @08:51AM (#14377951)
    Tfa mentions that the lack of natural light is perceived as a problem. Most of the time when you are in a hotel room, it's dark outside. What you get is the light from surrounding buildings. Sometimes the view out the window is seriously ugly.

    Natural light could be provided by a light pipe; a quick google shows that those are commercially available. A decent sized lcd monitor covered with sheers would give you the same effect as a window.

    I've travelled a lot and 90% of the time, the view out my hotel room window hasn't been that great. Most of the time I'm in the room with the curtains closed and the window doesn't matter anyway.

    The lack of natural light shouldn't be a big deal.

  • Price point for budget hotels is already $70 (Score:3, Informative)

    by cardpuncher ( 713057 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @09:45AM (#14378079)
    You can (usually) get a "normal" hotel in London from one of the budget chains for around the $70 mark (depending on area). The last time I checked "easyHotel" (http://www.easyhotel.com/ [easyhotel.com]), who pioneered the reduced-cost hotel concept, their prices were typically higher (up to $80 per night) than I could get in a number of conventional hotels that offered more space and a higher level of service. Accor (the French chain that operates Motel 6, Ibis, Novotel et al) already operates the Formule 1 brand (http://www.hotelformule1.com/ [hotelformule1.com]) which provides automated checkin and basic rooms from around $50 in (the environs of) London and don't vary their prices according to demand the way easyHotel do.

    The only thing that seems to distinguish the Yotel is "designer" styling - and it will be interesting to see how this stands up to the wear and tear of a small space with high occupancy levels...

    Still, if they manage to deliver a hotel which meets the three basic requirements of a hotel - cleanliness, a working shower and a room quiet enough to sleep in - they'll be doing better than the majority of establishments out there!

  • I would like to see flights with capsules.


    Since I'm over 2m tall, the seats are extremely uncomfortable.


    If I could opt for a coffin and an unfolded nap, I would almost certainly do so.


    Then weight distribution would be easy for the airlines.


    Of course there's safety issues, "someone please think of the children."

    • If I could opt for a coffin and an unfolded nap, I would almost certainly do so.

      Then weight distribution would be easy for the airlines.

      Of course there's safety issues, "someone please think of the children."

      There are possible safety issues with the fasten seatbelts sign too. Then again, these are mostly feelgood BS. There aren't many jetliner crashes that a seatbelt will save you from. And I like turbulence!
    • Yeah, I don't understand why nobody seems to sell capsule flights, particularly for long hauls. You could fit 6 capsules in the space of 8-9 seats on a 747, maybe even more. I'd pay 25% extra to get a capsule bed on a transatlantic flight.
      • I don't understand why nobody seems to sell capsule flights, particularly for long hauls.

        Lots of reasons it turns out:
        • Some people who lie down for a long time will have some difficulty standing up after. That would slow down deplaning, especially in an emergency.
        • For equivalent/maximal space usage, capsules would have to be stacked. Then you need a certain agility to access upper ones, which limits who can have which capsule.
        • Oh good, your capsule is the one previously occupied for 7 hours by someone with
    • And mandate that they be shipped luggage class? Sharing the last leg of a 28 hour flight from the company's newest outsourcing office in Derkderkistan with 3 screaming infants and 6 hyper children is not my idea of a good time. Especially if the company doesn't spring for business class for those flights due to the latest round of cost cutting. I'd take out my frustrations with a new TSA rule: If they can't do long division, they fly in cargo. Admittedly in the USA, that'd include a number of college age an

  • I see this as a positive thing... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Thumper_SVX ( 239525 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @10:15AM (#14378187) Homepage
    ... though the price is a little high for what you get.

    I recently took a motorcycling vacation through the UK, and honestly finding places to stay was a little tougher than it is in the US. Here you can be sure of finding a budget hotel easily and quickly. Most of the time, to find somewhere to stay in the UK you've got to be either (a) near a big city or (b) near a tourist trap. That becomes a problem because typically the hotels are more expensive in these areas.

    Had this sort of thing been available, then the two nights I spent in London out of my two weeks I probably would have stayed there. It seems like just the sort of thing I needed; small, convenient and the price is not too high. My experience of hotels in England seems typically much higher than I'm used to. While traveling (not for business) I'm usually more than happy with a $40 per night Red Roof Inn.

    Having said that, I did end up staying at a hostel in Cardiff that was a lot cheaper than this (and almost stayed at a hostel in Brighton except for finding a great deal on a hotel room down the street). If you don't mind the "communal living" stuff and can live with the odor of weed in the lounge then this is a great option, especially if you're touring on a motorbike or just generally trying to keep the budget low.

    Back on topic, I would definitely use hotels like this when traveling. Usually all I need is a single night, and I don't intend on spending a huge amount of time in the room itself. I find the wireless Internet and stuff a little useless though... if this is really a room just to sleep and then go do stuff then why do you need a reason to stick around the little room?? When I was touring, if I wanted to use the Internet I normally didn't use the Hotel Internet connection and instead found a nearby Internet cafe. More sociable, and usually pretty cheap. Plus, I got some good (and bad) tea and coffee out of it :)
  • As the cities become more and more crowded, dont be suprised if long term apartments start looking like this.

  • Cruise ship cabins (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Mal-2 ( 675116 ) on Monday January 02, 2006 @11:08AM (#14378446) Homepage Journal
    Has anyone else noticed these look a lot like prefabricated cruise ship cabins? They too run about 3 meters on a side and contain a functional, if spartan, bathroom. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if these are just a bunch of prefab cubes stuck in a building by crane, then plastered in. At least they don't automatically come with a roommate, like crew quarters...

    Mal-2

  • A shame so many are claustrophobic (Score:5, Interesting)

    by CFD339 ( 795926 ) <{andrewp} {at} {thenorth.com}> on Monday January 02, 2006 @11:58AM (#14378716) Homepage Journal
    I'd love to see airports, train stations, and maybe a few other places have short term rentable units even smaller.

    Imagine a space 9 feet long, 3 feet high, and 3 feet deep. At one end, a 2 foot wide by 2 foot deep table on which could be placed a carry on bag. An electrical outlet could be available for charging laptops and such. The other 7 feet in length (2.13 meters) would be a padded, easily cleanable surface. Set in the wall at the back would be two one time use cleaning rags, a one time use pillow, and a cheap sheet & blanket. Well filtered airflow with a CO and CO2 alarm built in would be a requirement of course.

    You put in a credit card, it snaps a picture of the unit and then it opens. You are agreeing to a contract that says:

    1. If its not clean, you have 1 minute to decide that and reject the unit.
    2. You agree to use it for $x/hour.
    3. You agree to a $50 fee if you do not leave it clean.

    Assuming it opens, and is clean, you take the first of the two cleaning rags and wipe it down. Toss the rag, and pull out the sheet and blanket, the one time pillow and you've got a bed. Plug in the laptop to charge, pull the door closed behind you and sleep. Both you and the laptop get a couple of hours rest and recharging.

    On leaving, you toss the sheets and pillow away, wipe down the bed with the other rag, take your stuff and leave. When you close the door another picture is taken of the "finished" state of the unit in case you've left a mess. A short cleaning cycle runs using fresh air, UV light, and who knows what else. The unit is ready for the next person.

    Given most of these places have enough height to them, you could easily stack two.

    In an airport, having them in the secure part of the terminal combined with good strong wall makes the security threat pretty minimal.

    There are many times in airports I'd have been willing to pay $30 or more for a few hours that way.
  • Now, if they could just do this for airplane seating. Every time I cram into one of those godawfully uncomfortable things, I think, for the 50 (?) cubic feet I'm getting, why can't I lie down in it? (Sort of like in The Fifth Element.) That'd be way more comfortable.
  • I've traveled quite a bit and slept in some pretty shitty places. In the end the only thing that's relevant about a hotel room is whether the bed and shower are clean enough (some nasty surprises I've had in expensive hotels: somebody else's pubic hair in the bed, small bloodstains on the towels, a 'used' toilet, 'dubious' stains on the sheets).

    I don't mind if the room is small, as long as my bag and I fit in to it and as long as it is clean. Hotels are mostly about providing a false sense of luxury at a lo
  • If you'd like to live in 10 square meters for six months, you can do it by joining the Navy and going on a deployment in an aircraft carrier...and you'll have two roommates.

    Oh, and you'll have to be an officer.

    rj

  • When I read the headline my first thought was that Britain had run out of room in their cemetaries and was solving the problem with large buildings in which to store occupied coffins. Obviously a bit misleading. The Japanese have a better, less morbid name: capsule hotels.
  • Already saw this on that rival web site - no digg!

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"What man has done, man can aspire to do." -- Jerry Pournelle, about space flight

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