Smart Faucet: Facial recognition on tap

The Smart Faucet identifies you, using facial-screening technology, then pours water at a preset pressure and temperature, catering to your preferences.

And that's not all. While you wash your hands, the integrated touchscreen on top shows a glimpse of your email and calendar, along with the outside temperature, while built-in LEDs illuminate the pouring water in colours, according to the water temperature.

The company responsible for identifying your need for a tricked-out tap is Brazilian design and engineering firm iHouse, which specialises in luxury technology for automated homes and boats.

During the last few years, iHouse products have included the Smarthydro, a bathtub with digital temperature controls, voice messages and an automatic foot step. It has also launched Smartcontrol, a system that controls lighting, air conditioning, window blinds and so on; and Smartgate, an automatic garage door that identifies cars by their licence plates.

More or less all the devices can be remotely controlled via the Internet from a computer or mobile phone. That includes the water temperature in the digitally controlled Smartshower.

For all Smart Faucet can do, it isn't clear whether it also can decide if the user looks thirsty and would like some fresh, cool water, or has hands or a face that needs washing.