This weekend I set up our new Nest thermostats in our house.
They are all on our network which means we can control them with any browser or mobile device.
I set up a schedule and now they are doing their thing.
The thing about the Nest is that it is a fun and important device. It’s important because it controls the heat and air conditioning system in our house.
It’s fun because I can easily control it with a few gestures and I can get interesting data about our usage. I never thought I would say that about a thermostat but it really is fun.
I think consumer products that really stand apart carry this blend of fun + importance. The iPhone, Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr, Jelly, to name a few, all possess this rare combination.
Pay attention to the products that delight you every day. It isn’t easy to provide fun and importance in one experience. But when it happens it can take your breath away.