This week I want to introduce you to the “internet of things” (IoT) and a particular tool that allows lay people like you and me to be masters of the IoT universe: IFTTT.
What is IFTTT
From Wikipedia: IFTTT is a web-based service that allows users to create chains of simple conditional statements, called “recipes”, which are triggered based on changes to other web services such as Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and Craigslist. IFTTT is an abbreviation of “If This Then That” (pronounced like “gift” without the “g”).
Examples of IFTTT Use For You
When you change your Facebook profile pic, automatically update your Twitter profile pic.
Track Fitbit sleep logs in a Google spreadsheet.
Save everyone’s photos with your wedding Instagram #hashtag to a Dropbox folder. (Getting married? Want everyone to “gram it”? Don’t want to spend time finding the photos? This is it!)
Unmute my phone when I get home.
Mute my Android device when I get to the office & turn on vibrate.
Examples of IFTTT Use For Your Business
Save any photo by anyone posted on Instagram that has a specific #hashtag (Great when you are running a hashtag contest)
IF the New York Times publishes an article with “climate change” in the title THEN automatically tweet that article to my twitter account.
IF congress schedules a vote on a bill THEN email me (Great to make sure that you know when a particular vote is up).
What do you think? Do you use IFTTT? What is your favorite recipe?
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If you’re not familiar with it, IFTTT (If This, Then That) is a free utility that automates tedious online tasks. For example, updating Google spreadsheets with retweets, updating profile pictures across networks, or uploading Instagram pictures to DropBox. Basically, it’s a digital personal assistant who takes care of repetitive tasks, based on simple if/then rules.
“Why do all the heavy lifting online when, naturally, there’s a technology that can do it for you? “If This Then That” is a website that automates online activities, like a personal secretary that works exclusively on the web.”
“Slim by Chocolate!” the headlines blared. A team of German researchers had found that people on a low-carb diet lost weight 10 percent faster if they ate a chocolate bar every day.
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