Tags: digital faucets, Taps,
Remember those bronze taps with revolving knobs? It’s probably a thing of the past with the latest technology digitising the concept of taps.Until a couple of decades ago, bathroom was still a modest space with only the wealthiest of people being able to afford luxury at bath space. But today the purpose of a tap has become much more than just that. Today, a tap – no, call it a faucet — has turned into a status symbol. It’s no more a mere plumbing item. Now, nothing less than a Kohler, Moen or Grohe would do.Says Aloki Kumar, a 34-year-old homemaker, “The days when a plumber used to carry taps and fix them are gone. Now, while designing your home, bathroom accessories form an important part. A couple spends as much time searching for the right bath fittings, as they would do when looking for home furnishings. Although there are a number of fixtures available in the market these days, I prefer those that are less complicated.”Aloki, who is also a teacher and a décor maniac, confessed to have changed her bath fittings once every five years to keep up with the trend. “Designs are ever changing. And each design is a value addition to the previous one. Earlier my sink had two separate taps and my relatives used to get confused which one was hot and which cold. Now with the latest mixer taps that problem, at least, is solved,” she says.For Aloki choosing a faucet is simple. But you might find yourself spending the whole day choosing the right faucet if you are not sure what you want. Whether you want to go for just the basic, clean and contemporary, classic or sophisticated faucets, the available choice may confuse you. And then there are different parameters like colour, mount, and price. But companies like Moen make it a point to help a novice choose the right tap. A spokesperson from Moen, Utkarsh Batra says, “We found that many a times a customer doesn’t know where to start from. So we started an online faucet finder that lets a customer find the faucet that fits his budget and lifestyle.”And if you thought the sleek, uber stylish faucets are not tech savvy, you are mistaken. Adarsh Mohan, a spokesperson from Grohe, another company that manufacturers bath fittings, says, “We came up with a digitised range of bath fittings, named Grohe Ondus, to keep up with the ongoing digital revolution.” Bijoy Mohan, president, Grohe Asia, says, “What sparked off Grohe Ondus is the trend towards digital bathroom. Ondus, which is a revolutionary new range, has combined digital technology and design aesthetics based on sensual minimalism to deliver what is being called the iPod of the bathroom industry.” Mohan said the Ondus range starts from Rs 1 lakh onwards.Batra, from Moen says, "The times are changing and people's tastes are changing too. Earlier one tap was enough. Then people had two taps, one each for hot and cold water. Then two taps were merged to form a single faucet with two levers. But the double lever faucet, too, was not good enough since people had to waste much time adjusting the desired water temperature. Now, with ioDigital people can pre-set a temperature and enjoy an uninterrupted bath or wash. The temperature can also be adjusted through a water resistant remote control." He added that the ioDigital has been launched worldwide. In India, it has been test launched, with installations in select places for complete customisation. "We hope to launch it in the Indian markets by early next January. We are working on complete customisation of the temperature according to the Indian weather."Although the digitised faucet is the in thing right now, there are some who still prefer the good old tap. Kunal Seth, a bath fittings’ store manager based in New Delhi, says, “I keep bath fittings from all leading companies. But I also keep old bronze taps, since there are dedicated customers who still prefer buying those." He says for them old is gold, as they feel it is a lot less complicated.
