I never thought toilets could be so interesting. They provide a rich example of thinking beyond traditional product concepts when pursuing innovation to unearth smarter systems innovations. A narrow view If this is the toilet, I thought, bring on the shower. On a work trip to Shanghai, P.R.C., my hotel room’s high-end bathroom included a combination electric toilet and bidet. Walking towards it, the seat cover rose, offering a heated toilet seat. After I selected water temperature, direction and pressure, integrated water and air jets washed and dried my derriere. I might have survived Girl Scouts had this toilet been available in its campground outhouse. Manufactured in Kyushu, Japan, Toto and its competitors have placed this high-end version of a necessity in 65% of Japanese homes, as of early 2008. The only other nation with high penetration is Korea, although judging by the…