If This, Then That is a new web service that allows users to define ‘triggers’ in their day-to-day web activity which, when they occur, lead to automated actions. Among many other triggers, a stock hitting a certain price, a blog post being published, a Facebook wall post or photo upload, a certain kind of Craigslist listing appearing, or even the temperature rising above a different level can lead to an automatic Tweet, text message, phone call, or what have you. The service currently supports “22 different services and an array of triggers that you can manipulate to gain your attention.”
For example, you can set up a task that tweets on your behalf when you upload a new photo to Facebook. Simple, right? You can monitor RSS feeds for updates, or watch for tweets from friends of yours that contain specific keywords and get a notice by e-mail, with polls taking place every 15 minutes. It’s not quite Pubsubhubbub, but it’s not bad either.
Stepping outside the world of social notifications, you can watch the real world – getting a text if the temperature outside drops below 45 degrees, or even getting a phone call if a watched stock ticker goes above or below a number you have selected. It’s a lot of fun to consider the possibilities, when the many options are laid out.
If This, Then That is currently in closed beta, though invites have reportedly been easy to come by for those who have requested them.
(IFTTT via MeFi, Louis Gray)
