Simplicity. Apple knew it could sell electronics if they got the interface correct and made them easy to use. Now some former Apple employees are taking that mentality to a device most of us don’t give a thought about: the lowly thermostat. The inventors, Matt Rogers and Tony Fadell, did think much about them either until they found out they control 50% of the monthly energy bill. And so Nest was born. From the screen shot below, you can see there are several smart features such as a self-programming ability that learns from the temperature changes you make and adjusts accordingly. If you get up a 5:30 and crank up the heat, Nest will remember and eventually do it for you. It also senses when nobody is home and adjusts the temperature with Auto-Away mode. You can also program and adjust the temperature through your smartphone or on the computer. The video below shows how simple, intuitive, and chic this standard device can be.
The device is also like Apple in another way: it is pricey ($249). For a thermostat. But, the inventors claim, after two years of use, Nest will recoup its original costs and then continue to provide savings through energy bill savings for years to come. Whether or not it will catch on or people will want to fork over $250 is a question that will answer itself in time. Either way, though, inventions like this have me thinking that we are moving the right direction with green and clean technology.
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