SO much has IT permeated all facets of our lives that even a trip to the humble restroom could soon prove to be a demonstration of high-tech wizardry. One such toilet of tomorrow, now flushing at an ongoing exhibition in the Singapore Science Centre, can tell if you're running a fever, or if it's time to lay low on festive chocolates because your cholesterol levels are through the roof.

The Bio Stool is one of nearly a hundred displays currently on show at iFuture, an exhibition put together by the Singapore Science Centre and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

Wired with cutting-edge sensors, the Bio Stool can measure the weight, body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate of the user. It can even run a more thorough health check by analysing urine and stool samples.

The high-tech potty is far from making its commercial debut, as are many of the other exhibits on display. The objective, the organisers say, is to give visitors a sneak peek of what the future has to offer. More importantly, both the Singapore Science Centre and IDA are hoping to stir up IT interest among local students and sway them towards pursuing infocomm-related careers.

The inventions are scoured from companies and research centres across the world and some of them are making their very first public appearance here.

'For this exhibition, we've worked with leading science and technology institutions and universities to specially bring in unique and different exhibits, which we think would amaze and excite visitors about infocomm,' said Chew Tuan Chiong, chief executive of the Singapore Science Centre.

Other key displays include a smart kitchen incorporating touch-screen technologies and sensors capable of telling the user if he has the necessary ingredients in the fridge to prepare a selected dish. The system can even be linked to other appliances like dishwashers and microwave ovens.

Also making its local debut is Quasi, an animatronic robot created by students from Carnegie Mellon University. The robot can respond to questions, recognise speech patterns and even belt out a karaoke tune.

The iFuture show will run through to March 18 next year. For this month only, visitors can also attend a series of free workshops at the event on topics like creating 3D games and electronic music.

This article first appeared in BT on December 14, 2006