I wonder why something like this can't be set up for Homeless people? Obviously not as fancy or streamlined. But something where they can crash for the night. You'd be able to pack quite a few of them in less space, and for someone who has nothing, I think they'd be ok, with sleeping in a pod type of environment. It's gotta be a lot better than sleeping out on the streets, especially in winter.

You know...that's really an excellent point.

Phigment: That would be an excellent use for these! However I can see the conspiracy nutballs spinning lies now... "He went into his tube for the night, and never came out! Now its empty!"

However, following the trend of the wrap-around HD screen shower, and the airport sleep pods... These things should be called sextubes... Because, well, you all know thats what they'd become..

I wonder if some Churches (or any other Religious or Humanitarian organization) can't do something like that? To overly simplify things, we already have.. well... flop houses. Why not split it up, horizontally, instead of vertically? Assuming an approximate height from floor to ceiling of 8 ft. Create a form of false floor, to put another level of sleeping cubes/pods on, that should give at least a bit of sitting up right height in each pod. (rough guess, i havn't measued myself from a$$hole to top of head when sitting on the floor). To be hygenic, no separate mattress, it's imbedded in the floor with some kind of rip-stop/water (urine/vomit) nylon coating. A cheap inflatable pillow, No blankets needed, if the temp is kept at least 70, plus thier own body heat would help keep the pod room warm. A small common area, for eating of food, since I think some shelters supply some sort of food. and all their belongs boxed up for the night (or shopping carts) put under key til they're ready to go in the morning. Makes me wish I had some *real* money, If i was a Warren Buffet, I'd do something like this for the homeless. of course with my luck, there's bound to be some kind of goofy zoneing law that states people can't sleep above another person with out a minium of 7 ft celing height separating them.

Ok, so I'm a dreamer.. let me dream. as Humans, we can't be ALL BAD....

You know what else is a really good idea, getting a job and having a place to Crap and Eat.

chucker.....your an idiot. are you under 18 and your parents pay for all your crap? grow up and get a clue. it's not that easy and some of these ppl on the streets did have jobs but lost them due to the economy and then lost their homes and so forth.

and yeah i agree something like these could/would be great for a homeless shelter. it would be a great place for them to get out of the cold at night and possibly, if allowed, use the address there as their permanent so that they can find work and eventually get back on their feet again.

Anyone remember the interstellar spaceship/ airplane from "The 5th Element" ? This SO looks like that. I wonder if they took this idea from there.

@Korben
That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw this.

Room service? and btw it's a great place to O.D.

There are a lot of problems making these for homeless people. While it looks good in theory you would be putting a lot of people into a small area. That would create a fire hazard and homeless advocates would protest against it.

I think it would be a great idea though!

Chucker, what would you suggest for people who are in areas where there are no units available to rent?

I think the main reason this isn't a feasible idea for homeless housing is because of the funding shelters recieve. This would definately be much more efficient for providing housing, but you have to bear in mind that most shelters also provide food and other services. With the increase in occupants they would have to cut their additional programs. Also bear in mind that these would have to suck to clean (and you have to admit homeless people smell.) If they don't have these cleaned properly then it could cause some serious health problems for it's occupants. So while this would be a good idea to use for homeless shelters, it will never happen because they don't have the money to install or support them, and probably never will.

Smell, cleaning, fire safety, and getting them to leave during the day (or after a predetermined duration) could all easily be accomplished by using a sprinkler system, with disinfectant in the water.

The bunks could be raised up about 2ft, and a cupboard for stuff can be below, giving obvious storage space, with lock control at the head of the bed.

Taking costs for utilities, you could charge a small fee to cover running costs and save money for more facilities and/or new locations.

I stayed in a full room ish version of one of these in France years ago. You slid a credit card through the door and the walls were all molded plastic with rounded corners for cleaning. Different thing but same concept.

As a note this is EXACTLY the 'coffin' hotel described in William Gibson's Neuromancer. For those non-sci-fi buffs it's the novel that coined the term "cyberspace"

Ok, I'm impressed. This is one of the few times, I've actually seen valid dialog relating to a post. And not just in critizing the writers take. But actually interacting (by the most part with intelligent comments). On a concept, of using a commercial idea, in definitly a NON-Commercial end.

Thanks guys, it's been a pleasure to actually read intelligent comments.

P.S. I do not work for Syfy

who's to say it's bad if these just become sex tubes? If it's all consenting adults, no one's claustrophobic, and they keep them clean then I see no problem.

I'd be afraid that I fall alseep in one of these and wake up to a bunch of aliens circled around me.

I actually wouldn't mind LIVING in one of these. I think if or population keeps increasing, this type of thing might be an answer to our problems. I understand that it would take a MAJOR cultural change, but think of having these for a tight-knit commune or co-op. It could bring luxeries and better life to a lower class. Think of it like a highly efficient retirement home for any ages. By buying items in bulk, the savings could pay for a chef if everybody has the same diet. You clean your own tube.. There are other concerns and issues that would need to be adressed, but I think it would be a great way to live in an overpopulated, expensive world.

I would love to stay in one of those, mostly for the privacy it allows. When ever I go on vacation with my extending family, I am stuck in the same bed as my cousin, Sydney, who feels the need to viciously kick me awake every morning. Doesn't help that she aims for the back of my person, furthering future back problems to a current problem. Yet, I also agree with the fellow who talking about actually living in one of these devices. The design eerily reminds me of the Sim Socities game I bought over two years ago, where in the tech punk socitiety, this was a form of apartments.

Just a quick note on the above mentioned idea for using this in retirement homes. I am pretty sure that will not happen... ever. Old people these days are very old, and as a consiquence have a hard time getting up. If you stick them in a tube, chances are they will die there without assistance. The way to get around that? turn it into a drawer, but then these beds will even more resemble something you would see in a mourge or futurama (drawers filled with old people.)

As for living in one of these, i guess that is your choice, personally i wouldn't as i like to move around, and even if this was built into an apartment, i don't think this would really go over to well with the ladies (it may have worked in the 5th element, but let's be serious here.) Also just to note on the over population thing, don't worry about that, most of the people in the world will have died by starvation before over crowding becomes a life threatening issue.

They've actually had "coffin hotels" in Japan for years. There are lockers available for storing your stuff, and vending machines for food and toiletries. If you're a business guy who stayed late at work, and missed the last train out to the suburbs, you might stay in one overnight (full sized hotel rooms can be very expensive in a big Japanese city). A similar basic idea appeared in the 1981 SF movie "Outland," with Sean Connery. Space miners on Jupiter's moon Io lived in cubicles that were essentially stacked cages, not big enough to stand in, equipped with entertainment systems.

Folk, I think that while it might be great for a setup like this to help the homeless, you are thinking like able, healthy people. What if you're missing a limb, especially an arm? Or sick, or drunk, or die? Not that I am a clean freak, but think in dingier terms. Who would do the inspections and refurbishments? Automated systems can't keep up with human abuse, and I'm not talking vandalism. As a convenience for us average yutzes, this is a fast-food alternative to a hotel, but to the REALLY hard up, who knows how long they'd stay functional. And what about the person who refuses to leave? The locker-key-at-the-headboard idea lacks the intimate knowledge of snatch and grab thieves; if you have to squidge out of the tube AFTER opening your locker, are you faster than the predator waiting to take your stuff? And they'd be there, OH yes. While this would be a quick alternative for real hotel space in a pinch, it will take serious cultural changes or difficult straits for people to WANT this idea.

I must agree with Phigment, everyone speaking of this real issue seriously, and not just criticizing is a wonderful thing. This is how a problem is solved.
Unfortunately, as noble of an idea as this is, I don't think it would work. Much for the reasons that are listed and for some that are not.

This is not a practical solution for homeless people and would more than likely create more problems that it would solve. 99% of the homeless people out there are mentally disturbed and/or junkies. The spend their time bouncing between prison and shelters because they have no whre else to go. These places would quickly become full of drugs, hookers and god only knows what else.
A more practical solution would just be to wipe them all out because they are worthless and unproductive members of society. Unfortunately, too many people think that's cruel and inhumane for some reason, so we're stuck with these people as a drain on society...what a pity.

Just to reiterate the already mentioned: one of the better threads I've read here... save for the last lunatic and myself.

I'm more or less behind the cultural shift slash commune idea. If that was working out for the rest of us, the homeless could take over our old apartments until they got steady jobs. And actually, as it would be more cost efficient to live in one of these commune-style capsule farms... there likely wouldn't be a homeless population for very long.

It would take awhile, but it's possible.