Preface
Last year I come across a really cool product called automatic. I thought they did a great job at taking technology I have seen before and presented it in a way that not only helped me see the added value but it moved me to act. I sent this email out at work.

anyone else see automatic? I’m thinking about pre-ordering one… I think this shows how important UI/UX is. it’s a simple concept but the experience is what made me want to preorder

I received this response from one of my peers

Yeah its a great use case of integrating existing technology in to a good user experience… but wifi modules that hook up to your car and give you driving info and gales milage and engine codes and what not have been out for years…

I felt he had totally missed What I was trying to say and thus the UX rant was born. enjoy

The Rant
I know, that’s my point on how important a user experience is. I have seen this for a while but never been interested in using it until someone creates a great experience.

I think what it really comes down to is “just in time information”. the future of technology will be a trend of dilivering information in context. Information to make decisions in the moment. Thats the key ingredient for turning data, into knowledge, into insight.

And just so we are clear, this is not revolutionary but it is innovative; and for the first time, this technology, which I have seen many times, convinced me enough to take action. Why is that? what changed?

I have come to the conclusion that the thread woven through any successful product, regardless if it is innovative or revolutionary, is not the technology or the idea, but the ability to have your product resinate aesthetically with individuals. Aesthetics is so much more then merely visually pleasing but in a lack of ability to articulate it we narrow it to such. Sir Ken Robinson, an educator most widely known for his work in changing the education paradigm, talks about how the arts address what he calls the aesthetic experience. He clarifies,

An aesthetic experience is one in which your senses are operating at their peak. When you’re present in the current moment. When you are resonating with the excitement of this thing that you’re experiencing. When you are fully alive.