Oh, I also call customers when I am needing more inspiration and ask them more questions about their product. Works as a double whammy, I get more in depth know

Oh, I also call customers when I am needing more inspiration and ask them more questions about their product. Works as a double whammy, I get more in depth knowledge of their field, and they get what is basically a more in depth status message. (I generally do not work with customers who cannot take hearing real status updates, ones who need lies and smoke I elect not to work with whenever possible, so I'm not sure this applies to everyone). When working on things not for a customer, I talk to people who would be its perspective user base. For instance, board game selection app, talk to boardgamegeek.com users. Configuration file generator module for iphone apps, I talk to people in the local iPhone developer's meetup, etc. Do not underrated human contact.