This may be a first: A useful product intentionally designed by the government to be a consumer product.

I have mixed feelings about that. Sometimes folks in gov have a good idea at work and the gov gets the patent, just like many other employers do. I'm generally okay with the gov exploring ideas that directly impact the health, safety and defense of the country.

But developing commercial products? That's infringing a bit on the rpivate sphere, IMO. What do you think?