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The Urinal Algorithm

Applying Rigorous Science to Life's Most Awkward Decisions

A humorous but scientifically rigorous web application that helps users determine the optimal urinal to use in a public restroom. The humour comes from applying serious academic research to a mundane social situation.

Features

  • Interactive Urinal Configuration: Adjust the number of urinals (2-20) and toggle privacy dividers
  • Real-time Scoring Algorithm: Four weighted factors based on genuine academic research:
    • Proximity to Occupied Urinals (40%) — Based on Middlemist et al. (1976)
    • Edge Position Preference (25%) — Based on Kranakis & Krizanc (2010)
    • Social Responsibility (20%) — Based on cooperative game theory
    • Buffer Zone Compliance (15%) — Based on ICUP protocol and Hall's proxemics
  • Visual Feedback: Colour-coded urinals showing comfort scores
  • Educational Content: Collapsible panel with full academic citations and explanations
  • Easter Eggs: Special messages for specific configurations

The Science

While the application is presented humorously, all research cited is genuine:

  • Middlemist, R.D., Knowles, E.S., & Matter, C.F. (1976): Demonstrated that adjacent urinal usage increases micturition onset delay by 75%
  • Kranakis, E. & Krizanc, D. (2010): Mathematical proof that end positions provide 50% longer expected privacy time
  • Hall, E.T. (1966): Proxemics research on personal space zones
  • Hutchings, K. & Kehinde, O. (2024): Recent research on paruresis (shy bladder syndrome)

Tech Stack

  • React 18
  • Vite
  • Tailwind CSS
  • Client-side only (no backend required)

Getting Started

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 16+ and npm

Installation

npm install

Development

npm run dev

Open http://localhost:5173 in your browser.

Build

npm run build

Preview Production Build

npm run preview

Deployment

This application is designed for easy deployment on Vercel:

  1. Push to a Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket)
  2. Import the repository in Vercel
  3. Vercel will automatically detect the Vite framework and deploy

Alternatively, use the Vercel CLI:

npm i -g vercel
vercel

Language

All text uses Australian English spelling (e.g., "behaviour" not "behavior", "optimisation" not "optimization").

Example Scenarios

  1. 5 urinals, none occupied → Recommends position 1 or 5 (score: 100)
  2. 5 urinals, position 3 occupied → Recommends position 1 or 5 (score: ~90)
  3. 5 urinals, positions 1 and 5 occupied → Recommends position 3 (score: ~75)
  4. 5 urinals, positions 1, 3, 5 occupied → "WAIT" advisory (protocol violation)
  5. 3 urinals, position 2 occupied → Easter egg: Middlemist study configuration

Disclaimer

For entertainment purposes only. Not responsible for bathroom-related social incidents.

All research cited is genuine. The absurdity lies not in the science, but in applying it to urinal selection.

Licence

MIT