Motion detection

One of the small interesting details of how things work in Iceland is how lighting is in many places controlled with motion sensors. The first time I stumbled into a public restroom and had the lights automatically switch on for me left me a bit confused, making me wonder that "ok, so who's that watching now?"

The usage of these isn't only limited to toilets, since The Museum of Photography was also equipped with these. There was nobody in when I visited for the first time. It was quite a fascinating afternoon moment to enter the museum floor, lit only by the fading sunlight from the few windows. After a few eerie seconds of listening the soft purr of the ventilation system and looking into the dim but not dark museum the lighting kicked in. I felt a little sad, since the little filtered sunlight made the place look incredibly beautiful and atmospheric. Maybe the level of interaction with the automation will eventually reach a point where I can tell the lights to stay off if I'd like it better that way, but as of now, I didn't have that option.

After the initial befuddlement it became obvious that this is a smart way of conserving energy, and in the toilets the lack of a light switch is one step closer to the perfectly hygienic relief experience, for those concerned. Still, the urge to test how well these things actually work and how far can I sneak in undetected may become uncontrollable at some point. So should the unlikely happen and one of you readers ever bump into me in a Háskóli Íslands toilet or other applicable enviroment and find me crawling on the floor like I was stalking a prey, don't worry. I've probably neither dropped my contacts (as I don't use any) or finally went completely bonkers (hopefully). I'll just be observing the limitations of technology.