Gadgets & Richness: Daily gadgets, computers, electronic news

from Gadgets Richness

Winter is coming, but no fret! Unlike all the previous years, this year you won’t have to struggle the cold in your hand while working in front of your computer — thanks to this new handy product called Mouse Hand Warmer. Created from a warm polymer fleece blanket material with a non-slip survice, Mouse Hand Warmer will keep your hand warm and comfortable. Simply slip a standard sized mouse pad inside the Mouse Hand Warmer and use your mouse inside the warmer. Neat, huh?

Mouse Hand Warmer is retailed for $14.95 - FREE SHIPPING & NO Sales Tax!

funponsel finds mouse hand warmer - fun finds for mom wants new mouse pad

From funponsel

Winter is coming, but no fret! Unlike all the previous years, this year you won’t have to struggle the cold in your hand while working in front of your computer — thanks to this new handy product called Mouse Hand Warmer. Created from a warm polymer fleece blanket material with a non-slip survice, Mouse Hand Warmer will keep your hand warm and comfortable. Simply slip a standard sized mouse pad inside the Mouse Hand Warmer and use your mouse inside the warmer. Neat, huh?

from Fun Finds for Mom

I’d like one of these wool felt squares as a mouse pad. So, we wrote to "Fun Finds for Mom" and suggested the Mouse Hand Warmer gray fleece mouse pad blanket! We think it's a match made in heaven.

Inventor's Spot: Serious fun for the inventor in all of us

Andrew Portela
Gadgets Blogger
InventorSpot.com

Do your hands get cold while using your mouse? Apparently it’s a big problem, a problem that was solved by IGM Products with the Mouse Hand Warmer. So if you ever find yourself in the artic and you have to use your computer outside, your hand can still be warm. In their words it’s the computer mouse companion.

The relatively simple design is a sleeve that acts as if your laying under a warm blanket on a cold winter night. Another great thing about this product is that it doesn’t use electricity, just straight up blanket power. It’s also easy to clean. Just hand wash and let it air dry.Pulled directly from their website at igmproducts.com :“The Mouse Hand Warmer is an energy and cost efficient way to keep your mouse hand warm during chilly weather or whenever you feel your mouse hand getting cold.”

Simply put, if your hand tends to get cold while using the mouse, get the Mouse Hand Warmer by IGM Products.

Cold Environments

from Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety


Why should we be concerned about working in the cold?

Working in cold environments can be not only hazardous to your health but also life threatening. It is critical that the body be able to preserve core body temperature steady at + 37°C (+ 98.6°F). This thermal balance must be maintained to preserve normal body functioning as well as provide energy for activity (or work!). The body's mechanisms for generating heat (its metabolism) has to meet the challenge presented by low temperature, wind and wetness - the three major challenges of cold environments.


How do we lose heat to the environment?

Radiation
Radiation is the loss of heat to the environment due to the temperature gradient. In this case, it is the difference between the temperature of the air and the temperature of the body (your body's core temperature is +37°C). Another factor important in radiant heat loss is the size of the surface area exposed to cold.

Conduction
Conduction is the loss of heat through direct contact with a cooler object. Heat loss is greatest if the body is in direct contact with cold water. The body can lose 25 to 30 times more heat when in contact with cold wet objects than in dry conditions or with dry clothing. Generally, conductive heat loss accounts for only about 2% of overall loss. However, with wet clothes the loss is increased 5 times.

Convection
Convection is the loss of heat from the body to the surrounding air as the air moves across the surface of the body. The rate of heat loss from the skin by contact with cold air depends on the air speed and the temperature difference between the skin and the surrounding air. At a given air temperature, heat loss increases with wind speed. However, the effect of wind speed does not increase at speeds above 64 km/h or 50 mph since the air is not in contact with the body long enough for more body heat to be transferred to the air.

Evaporation
Evaporation is the loss of heat due to the conversion of water from a liquid to a gas. In terms of human physiology, it is:

- Perspiration/Sweating - evaporation of water to remove excess heat
- "Insensible" Perspiration - body sweats to maintain humidity level of 70% next to skin. Particularly in a cold, dry environment, you can lose a great deal of moisture this way and not notice that you have been sweating.
- Respiration - air is heated as it enters the lungs and is exhaled with an extremely high moisture content

It is important to recognize the strong connection between fluid levels, fluid loss, and heat loss. As body moisture is lost through the various processes, the overall circulating volume is reduced which can lead to dehydration. This decrease in fluid level makes the body more susceptible to hypothermia and other cold injuries.


How do we produce and retain heat within the body?

In order to survive and stay active in the cold, the constant heat loss has to be counterbalanced by the production of an equal amount of heat. Heat is both required and produced at the cellular level as a result of complex metabolic processes that convert food - a primary source of energy - into glycogen. Glycogen is a substance (biochemical compound) that is the "fuel" for biochemical processes underlying all life functions, heat production included.

Factors important for heat production include:

- Food intake
- "Fuel" (glycogen) store
- Fluid balance
- Physical activity
- Shivering - a reflex reaction, which increases the body's heat production (up to 500%) when necessary. This reaction is limited to a few hours because of depletion of muscle glycogen and the onset of fatigue

Heat retention and tolerance to cold also depends on the body's structure, certain reflex and behavioral mechanisms that retain heat within the body as well as what you are wearing. They are:

- Size and shape of the body (surface to volume ratio)
- Layer of fat under the skin (Subcutaneous adipose tissue)
- Decreased the blood flow through the skin and outer parts of the body
- Insulation (layering and type of clothing)

How do we maintain thermal balance?

Cold challenges the body in three major ways (temperature, wind and wetness). Depending on the severity of cold conditions, heat loss can occur. The body maintains its heat balance by increasing production of the heat and activating heat retention mechanisms.

In the situation where more heat is lost than the combined heat production processes and heat retention mechanisms can generate, the core body temperature drops below +37°C. This decrease causes hypothermia which can impair normal muscular and mental functions.

What are some examples of jobs in which cold may be an occupational hazard?

Workers at risk of suffering due to the cold include:

- outdoor workers including:
- road builders, house builders and other construction workers,
- hydro and telecommunications linemen,
- police officers, fire fighters, emergency response workers, military personnel,
- transport workers, bus and truck drivers,
- fishers, hunters and trappers,
- divers,
- workers in refrigerated warehouses,
- meat packaging and meat storage workers, and
- outdoor recreation workers (and enthusiasts).

How does cold affect work performance?

Uncomfortably cold working conditions can lead to lower work efficiency and higher accident rates. Cold impairs the performance of complex mental tasks. Manual tasks are also impaired because the sensitivity and dexterity of fingers are reduced in the cold. At even lower temperatures, the cold affects the deeper muscles resulting in reduced muscular strength and stiffened joints. Mental alertness is reduced due to cold-related discomfort. For all these reasons accidents are more likely to occur in very cold working conditions.


Are there any factors that determine an individual's response to the cold?

Response in Men and Women
Studies have shown that response to cold in women can differ from that of men. While the core body temperature cools more slowly in women, women are not usually able to create as much metabolic heat through exercise or shivering. In addition, the rate of cooling of the extremities (feet, hands) is faster among women. As a result, women are generally at a greater risk of cold injury.

Predisposing Conditions
Susceptibility to cold injury varies from person to person. In general, people in good physical health are less susceptible to cold injury. While anyone working in a cold environment may be at risk, the following conditions may make the risk of cold injury greater:

- Age (infants less than one year, and older adults are more susceptible)
- Diseases of the blood circulation system
- Injuries resulting in blood loss or altered blood flow
- Previous cold injury
- Raynaud's Phenomenon
- Fatigue
- Consumption of alcohol or nicotine (smoking)
- Use of certain drugs or medication

Can you become acclimatized to cold?

Acclimatization is the term given to the development of resistance to, or tolerance for, an environmental change. Although people easily adapt to hot environments, they do not acclimatize well to cold. However, frequently-exposed body parts can develop some degree of tolerance to cold. This adaptability is noticeable among fishermen who are able to work with bare hands in extremely cold weather. The blood flow in their hands is maintained in conditions which would cause extreme discomfort and loss of dexterity in unacclimatized persons.

Cold Environments - Working in the Cold

from Canadian Center of Health and Safety

What factors modify our response to cold?

A cold environment challenges the worker in three ways: by air temperature, air movement (wind speed), and humidity (wetness). In order to work safely, these challenges have to be counterbalanced by proper insulation (layered protective clothing), by physical activity and by controlled exposure to cold (work/rest schedule).

Air Temperature: Air temperature is measured by an ordinary thermometer in degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F).

Wind Speed: Different types of commercially-available anemometers are used to measure wind speed or air movement. These are calibrated in meters per second (m/s), kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph). Air movement is usually measured in m/s while wind speed is usually measured in km/h or mph. The following is a suggested guide for estimating wind speed if accurate information is not available:

8 km/h (5 mph): light flag moves,
16 km/h (10 mph): light flag fully extended,
24 km/h (15 mph): raises newspaper sheet,
32 km/h (20 mph): causes blowing and drifting snow.
Humidity (wetness): Water conducts heat away from the body 25 x faster then dry air.

Physical Activity: The production of body heat by physical activity (metabolic rate) is difficult to measure. However, tables are available in literature showing metabolic rates for a variety of activities. Metabolic heat production is measured in kilo calories (kcal) per hour. One kilocalorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by 1°C.

Work/rest schedule: Check Table 2 in this document, the "work warm-up schedule," as developed by the Saskatchewan Department of Labour. This work schedule has been adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) as Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for cold stress.

Protective clothing: Check section on "What should I know about personal protective equipment (PPE) for working in the cold?"

For information on the general effects of working in the cold as well as how the body adapts to cold, please see "Cold Environments - General"

For information on the health effects and first aid for cold exposures, please see "Cold Environments - Health Effects and First Aid"


What is the wind-chill temperature?

At any temperature, you feel colder as the wind speed increases. The combined effect of cold air and wind speed is expressed as "equivalent chill temperature" (ECT) or simply "wind chill" temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. It is essentially the air temperature that would feel the same on exposed human flesh as the given combination of air temperature and wind speed. It can be used as a general guideline for deciding clothing requirements and the possible health effects of cold.

In some parts of Canada the term "wind chill factor" is used. This is a measurement of a heat loss rate caused by exposure to wind and it is expressed as the rate of energy loss per unit area of exposed skin per second (e.g., joules/[second-metre2] or watts/metre2, W/m2).

Are there regulated exposure limits for working in cold environments?

In Canada, there are no maximum exposure limits for cold working environments. The "work warm-up schedule" developed by the Saskatchewan Department of Labour has been adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) as Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for cold stress.

What can be done to help prevent the adverse effects of cold?

For continuous work in temperatures below the freezing point, heated warming shelters such as tents, cabins or rest rooms should be available. The work should be paced to avoid excessive sweating. If such work is necessary, proper rest periods in a warm area should be allowed and employees should change into dry clothes. New employees should be given enough time to get acclimatized to cold and protective clothing before assuming a full work load.

The risk of cold injury can be minimized by proper equipment design, safe work practices and appropriate clothing. The following is a summary of actions including some from recommendations from the ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists).

Equipment Design

For work below the freezing point, metal handles and bars should be covered by thermal insulating material. Also, machines and tools should be designed so that they can be operated without having to remove mittens or gloves.

Surveillance and Monitoring

Every workplace where the temperature may fall below 16°C should be equipped with a suitable thermometer to monitor any further temperature changes. For colder workplaces with temperatures below the freezing point, the temperature should be monitored at least every 4 hours. For indoor workplaces, whenever the rate of air movement exceeds 2 meters per second (5 miles per hour) it should be recorded every 4 hours. In outdoor workplaces with air temperature below the freezing point, both air temperature and wind speed should be recorded.

Emergency Procedures

Procedures for providing first aid and obtaining medical care should be clearly outlined. For each shift, at least one trained person should be assigned the responsibility of attending to emergencies.

Education

Workers and supervisors involved with work in cold environments should be informed about symptoms of adverse effect exposure to cold, proper clothing habits, safe work practices, physical fitness requirements for work in cold, and emergency procedures in case of cold injury. While working in cold, a buddy system should be used. Look out for one another and be alert for the symptoms of hypothermia.


What should I know about personal protective equipment (PPE) for working in the cold?

Clothing
Protective clothing is needed for work at or below 4°C. Clothing should be selected to suit the temperature, weather conditions (e.g., wind speed, rain), the level and duration of activity, and job design. These factors are important to consider so that you can regulate the amount of heat and perspiration you generate while working. If the work pace is too fast or if the type and amount of clothing are not properly selected, excessive sweating may occur. The clothing next to body will become wet and the insulation value of the clothing will decrease dramatically. This increases the risk for cold injuries.

Clothing should be worn in multiple layers which provide better protection than a single thick garment. The air between layers of clothing provides better insulation than the clothing itself. Having several layers also gives you the option to open or remove a layer before you get too warm and start sweating or to add a layer when you take a break. It also allows you to accommodate changing temperatures and weather conditions. Successive outer layers should be larger than the inner layer, otherwise the outermost layer will compress the inner layers and will decrease the insulation properties of the clothing.

The inner layer should provide insulation and be able to "wick" moisture away from the skin to help keep it dry. Thermal underwear made from polyesters or polypropylene is suitable for this purpose. "Fishnet" underwear made from polypropylene wicks perspiration away from the skin and is significantly thicker than regular underwear. It also keeps the second layer away from the skin. The open mesh pattern enables the moisture to evaporate and be captured on the next layer away from the skin. The second layer covers the "holes" in the fishnet underwear which contributes to the insulation properties of the clothing.

The additional layers of clothing should provide adequate insulation for the weather conditions under which the work being done. They should also be easy to open or remove before you get too warm to prevent excessive sweating during strenuous activity. Outer jackets should have the means for closing off and opening the waist, neck and wrists to help control how much heat is retained or given off. Some jackets have netted pockets and vents around the trunk and under the arm pits (with zippers or Velcro fasteners) for added ventilation possibilities.

For work in wet conditions, the outer layer of clothing should be waterproof. If the work area cannot be shielded against wind, an easily removable windbreak garment should be used. Under extremely cold conditions, heated protective clothing should be made available if the work cannot be done on a warmer day.

Almost 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head. A wool knit cap or a liner under a hard hat can reduce excessive heat loss.

Clothing should be kept clean since dirt fills air cells in fibres of clothing and destroys its insulating ability.

Clothing must be dry. Moisture should be kept off clothes by removing snow prior to entering heated shelters. While the worker is resting in a heated area, perspiration should be allowed to escape by opening the neck, waist, sleeves and ankle fasteners or by removing outerwear. If the rest area is warm enough it is preferable to take off the outer layer(s) so that the perspiration can evaporate from the clothing.

If fine manual dexterity is not required, gloves should be used below 4°C for light work and below -7°C for moderate work. For work below -17°C, mittens should be used.

Footwear
Felt-lined, rubber bottomed, leather-topped boots with removable felt insoles are best suited for heavy work in cold since leather is porous, allowing the boots to "breathe" and let perspiration evaporate. Leather boots can be "waterproofed" with some products that do not block the pores in the leather. However, if work involves standing in water or slush (e.g., fire fighting, farming), the waterproof boots must be worn. While these protect the feet from getting wet from cold water in the work environment, they also prevent the perspiration to escape. The insulating materials and socks will become wet more quickly than when wearing leather boots and increase the risk for frostbite.

Foot Comfort and Safety at Work has some general information how to select footwear. (Also, when trying on boots before purchase, wear the same type of sock that you would wear at work to ensure a proper fit.)

Socks
You may prefer to wear one pair of thick, bulky socks or two pairs - one inner sock of silk, nylon, or thin wool and a slightly larger, thick outer sock. Liner socks made from polypropylene will help keep feet dry and warmer by wicking sweat away from the skin. However, as the outer sock becomes damper, its insulation properties decrease. If work conditions permit, have extra socks available so you can dry your feet and change socks during the day. If two pairs of socks are worn, the outer sock should be a larger size so that the inner sock is not compressed.

Always wear the right thickness of socks for your boots. If they are too thick, the boots will be "tight," and the socks will loose much of their insulating properties when they are compressed inside the boot. The foot would also be "squeezed" which would slow the blood flow to the feet and increase the risk for cold injuries. If the socks are too thin, the boots will fit loosely and may lead to blisters.

Face and Eye Protection
In extremely cold conditions, where face protection is used, eye protection must be separated from the nose and mouth to prevent exhaled moisture from fogging and frosting eye shields or glasses. Select protective eye wear that is appropriate for the work you are doing, and for protection against ultraviolet light from the sun, glare from the snow, blowing snow/ice crystals, and high winds at cold temperatures.

What are some additional prevention tips?

To prevent excessive sweating while working, remove clothing in the following order:

- mittens or gloves (unless you need protection from snow or ice),
- headgear and scarf,
- then open the jacket at the waist and wrists, and
- remove layers of clothing.

As you cool down, follow the reverse order of the above steps.

Prevent contact of bare skin with cold surfaces (especially metallic) below -7°C as well as avoiding skin contact when handling evaporative liquids (gasoline, alcohol, cleaning fluids) below 4°C. Sitting or standing still for prolonged periods should also be avoided.

Balanced meals and adequate liquid intake are essential to maintain body heat and prevent dehydration. Eat properly and frequently. Working in the cold requires more energy than in warm weather because the body is working to keep the body warm. It requires more effort to work when wearing bulky clothing and winter boots especially when walking through snow.

Drink fluids often especially when doing strenuous work. For warming purposes, hot non-alcoholic beverages or soup are suggested. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee should be limited because it increases urine production and contributes to dehydration. Caffeine also increases the blood flow at the skin surface which can increase the loss of body heat.

Alcohol should not be consumed as it causes expansion of blood vessels in the skin (cutaneous vasodilation) and impairs the body's ability to regulate temperature (it affects shivering that can increase your body temperature) . These effects cause the body to lose heat and thus increase the risk of hypothermia.

In refrigerated rooms, the air speed should not exceed 1 meter per second. If workers are simultaneously exposed to vibration and/or toxic substances, reduced limits for cold exposure may be necessary.

If you work at the computer in a cold work environment, protect your mouse hand using a mouse hand warmer blanket.

Crawl under the covers with your favorite mouse

Photo Courtesy of DeviantArt.com

Computer Geeks Mousing

That cute little mouse we all love and adore is causing some painful cold fingers when the air is cool. We clutch the mouse for hours working at the computer and our fingers get numb from the cold. Our exposed mouse hand feels detatched from our body when it becomes this cold.

So, how do we keep the mouse hand covered? A mouse blanket sounds ideal! Crawl under the covers with your favorite little mouse!

Click here to enter Amazon.com.

Technology Owl says who uses a mouse hand warmer this winter

Warm Up Your Mouse Hand This Winter
It's certainly getting colder around the country; even here in Texas it has finally dropped into the mid to upper 70's and we can actually go outside without getting heatstroke. In some parts of the country where winter months get cold, winter is already ..... continue reading ....

Techie Diva podcast Mouse Hand Warmer the low tech way of keeping warm

Techie Diva is one of the coolest sites online! If you haven't surfed their site, you really need to click here. The Mouse Hand Warmer sound clip is available. It's so cool to hear the article originally posted by Coolest Gadgets.

Techie Diva is technology blog with an undeniable feminine twist. This doesn’t mean the opposite sex isn’t allowed, on the contrary, we love men who don’t mind partaking in our fun conversations which cover everything from emerging technology to the latest “it” gadget. Techie Diva got its start in January 2005, creating a tech haven for women of all ages who want to stay up to date with technology that matters to them. Sure we talk about fun gadgets, iPods, and cell phones until we’re blue in the face, but we also love writing about practical services or killer applications we spot online. Being the complex, intelligent women that we are, we’re not afraid to indulge in our guilty pleasures, and we certainly don’t mind getting our hands dirty. Having said that, Techie Diva merges the best of two worlds, technology and style. [Techiediva.com]

Gina Hughes is the Chief Editor and Founder of TechieDiva. She discovered her passion for technology Japan where she spent two years serving in the U.S. Marines. Her love for technology motivated her to explore a career in Web Design, and in the process developed a strong background in Online Marketing, Product Research and Graphic Design. Gina is also a Tech Advisor at Yahoo! Tech. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where she is a Web Designer, and writes about digital technology.

DotGizmo - The Best Gadget Blog Posts

The DotGizmo site is an rss/xml news reader containing our favorite feeds. All articles are the copyrighted material of the blogs that wrote them. DotGizmo has The Best Gadget Blog Posts. The Mouse Hand Warmer is a computer accessory gadget warm fleece blanket to cover your exposed mouse hand. When you mouse hand gets cold, slip it inside a warm blanket to keep it warm.

"It helps relieve the pain experienced when your mouse hand gets cold, " says Anna Miller, Mouse Hand Warmer creator. When your mouse hand is exposed for a long period of time in a chilly room it gets cold. We don't know if there's a medical term for the mouse hand condition, but we do have an energy-efficient solution.

Dalylife Oprah Winfrey Articles pick up on mouse hand warmer for cold computer mouse

The Mouse Hand Warmer is getting a lot of press lately. That's great! We'll be posting information about websites that talk about the dreaded "cold mouse hand" problem. Our goal is to find solutions to the pain in Geeksville! Cold mouse hand seems to be a real problem, not only in winter, but by those who work under a ceiling fan in an air-conditioned room, too.

The images above are from Opray Winfrey Articles and Daylife.com. There's more information about Daylife below.

About Daylife - What Is Daylife?
Judging by Daylife's website, you might think we're merely a great destination for a fresh take on breaking global news and information for our millions of visitors each month. What may be surprising is that daylife.com requires only a few hours of staff time per week to keep it lively and invigorating.

How? Our site (like others all over the Web) is powered by the Daylife Platform, which is our unique, intelligent content services platform. Our technology collects content from thousands of high-quality online sources, deeply analyzes and parses it, and creates a trove of data that can then be reused in an infinite number of ways by publishers of all sizes.

Solving Big Problems for Publishers of All Kinds
Daylife clients like the Washington Post, USA Today, Purina, TBS, SKY News, TreeHugger, and Kellogg's (among many others) work with our highly flexible, easy-to-use platform to complement their own editorial expertise by creating whole pages, sections, and destinations of fresh content, targeted promotions, and new categories of advertising inventory - all with little or no staffing. And, of course, all Daylife content integrates seamlessly and easily to match the look, feel, navigation, and URL structure of any publisher's site.

Our clients tell us they've reduced costs, increased revenues, and made remarkable improvements in SEO and organic traffic acquisition by using the Daylife Platform. And because the results are as beautiful as any coffee table magazine, publishers are proud to associate their brand with the output we make possible.

DeviantART: Where art meets application cold mouse hand survey results

Cold mouse hand was the topic of conversation on DeviantArt.com: Where art meets application. The site is very cool. I stumbled across it looking for cold mouse hand solutions. Seems like there's a real problem in Geeksville regarding the cold mouse hand condition. But, I already knew that!

There's lots of options to solve the problem. The heated mouse seems to be available, but the mouse is not ergonomic enough for long hours clutching a computer mouse. I tried the warming mouse and my hand was sore within a few hours. I don't have carpal tunnel, I truly suffer from overuse of a computer mouse in cool air conditions -- be it summer in AC or winter when temps drop. I suffer horribly with a cold mouse hand. And, now I see there are many others that do, too.

Does you hand get cold when you are using a mouse?
37% = 7 deviants said Yes, if it's cold where I am.
21% = 4 deviants said Sometimes.
16% = 3 deviants said No, never.
11% = 2 deviants said Yes, always.
11% = 2 deviants said Most of the time.
5% = 1 deviant said No, I don't use a mouse.

DeviantArt.com's forum asked:
=MagdalenaTR
just wondering if it's only my hands that get cold, or a lot of other people

My response:
~MouseHandWarmer
YES & HERE'S MY STORY.

I'm a bonified computer geek! I used to own an ecommerce site and spent long hours working with a computer mouse. I spent 12 years sitting at the computer working long hours in Photoshop clutching a mouse with a freezing cold hand & numb fingers.

I tried the USB "warming mouse" and it wasn't ergonomic enough for the amount of hours I worked, and it caused more pain. I tried the goofy looking, ugly USB connected mouse pad and it's really small made for a child's hand. Plus, the cord would get tangled on my desktop, and the thing heated up too high making it really uncomfortable.

In May, 2008, I sold my business and decided to focus on an energy efficient solution for the "cold mouse hand" problem. I wanted to make something techie looking that people of all ages would like to use at home or work. I wanted it to be large enough for any sized hand and with lots of hand movement inside the mouse hand warmer blanket.

I created a solution for myself and it worked really well, so I had them made and put up a website to see if there was an interest. Our first Press Release was sent this week. We put up a website to see if there was an interest. We've already received a ton of Press. Right now, we are looking for distributors.

Mouse Hand Warmer:
http://www.igmproducts.com/

Press Release:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/mousehandwarmer/mousepad/prweb1491104.htm

For years I thought I was the only person who suffered with a cold mouse hand. Then, my employees started to complain, and I knew there was a real problem out there in Geeksville.

Thanks for the post. It was very helpful. And, I'm going to blog about your post and survey on our blog at http://www.mousehandwarmer.net/.

Keep warm this winter!

--
Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad Blanket
Keep your mouse hand warm!

The New Push News Wire: Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad

Read about Science, Technology Internet News Headlines from Newswave.com on The New Push News Wire. Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad Computer Industry's Newest Gadget! Click Here for more details.

About The New Push News Wire: We connect businesses to the Internet
TheNewPush does the following 3 things:

1. We give decision-makers the background and resources needed to be more successful.
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Mouse Hand Warmer keeps your mitts cold

by Edwin in PC Gadgets

I’m pretty sure many of us do hold a cozy nine-to-five job at the office, and during the hot and sweltering summer days, we often retreat to the coolness of the office (at least for those living along the equator while others who do not get much sun all year round surely would not mind heading out to get a little extra tan) for its air conditioner. Unfortunately, sitting down at the same spot for hours on end while typing out document after document could result in extremely cold fingers. Instead of looking like a dork while wearing a pair of gloves that does not match your suit, why not settle for the Mouse Hand Warmer?


According to Anna Miller, creator of the Mouse Hand Warmer, she decided to come up with this remedy after spending a good dozen years sitting at a computer busting herself for hours on end with an extremely cold mouse hand at the end of the working day (which often extends late into the night as many of you can attest). Specially designed to solve the cold mouse hand problem, it comes in the form of a blanket and is manufactured by IGM so that the mass market will be able to keep productivity levels up without having to regularly rub hands together or keep them glued to a mug of hot chocolate so that enough warmth can be transferred over to the shivering mouse hand.

The Mouse Hand Warmer mouse pad is created in the US and does not require any electricity to run, which is indirectly good for the environment as well. Since there are no cords for you to connect to, this means there is no danger of getting all tangled up where your desktop is concerned. I guess its release could not come at a better time as winter is about to rear its cold face, so this alternative heating method would definitely come in handy for office drones worldwide.

Press Release

Cool Gadget News: Get your new gadget fix here!

Cool Gadgets News Blog

A list of cool gadgets in the news!

BlogVasion - There's something peculiar going on here

Posted by George S.

One more blog with a funny name you may be thinking. What does blogvasion mean anyway?

There is a belief among people who work in humor "industry" that certain words are inherently funny. Opinions vary widely regarding this idea and so does "the list" of funny words. Moreover, the list of funny words is not carved in stone. On the one hand the concept of inherently funny words depends on culture. Certain words with quite serious meaning in one language may sound absolutely funny from another language speaker's point of view.

On another hand, amusement experienced from certain words depends on the context in which they are used. Many comedians have their favorite lists of funny words and use them quite successfully. Well, the points noted above are not scientifically tested and thus there are several unanswered questions about inherently funny words.

But wait a minute! Have you ever noticed that infants burst into laughter when they hear certain (mmm funny?) words? Even those kids who do not yet understand the language laugh on certain words. Getting back to blogvasion. So, I was thinking what name to choose for this blog and started searching funny words. That is when I came across BoredAtUni.com - a website dedicated to bored students. They have a sweet section where anyone can submit a funny word.

A quick scan revealed blogvasion, which I really liked. The word was submitted by a user Snoozechao and according to him/her it means:

Blogvasion - When a fellow blogger overruns or attempts to overrun your blog with massive amounts of bs - submitted by Snoozechao

Though you can look at this word from a different perspective as well. With soooo many blogs today, we live in the age of blog invasion, hence blogvasion.

Finally, what BLOGVASION will be about? Trivia, funny things, technology, business, science - well almost everything will be discussed on BLOGVASION but the main focus will be on the Internet and the World Wide Web as a social phenomenon. Stay tuned and check BLOGVASION frequently.

Cold hands & a warm heart

There are all sorts of gadgets available to keep your cold hands warm. Aside from the obvious clothing accessories like gloves and special hand warming pockets, there's a ton of other items marketed to address the cold hand problem we face each winter. Just about every outdooor sport, i.e., golfing, fishing, hunting, etc. recommend specific hand warmers to use because an exposed hand, when cold, makes for a very lousy game.

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about the cold computer mouse hand. When computer geeks sit for a long period of time with an exposed mouse hand, it gets really cold. Don't know why it happens to some of us and not everyone, but nonetheless, it happens and it doens't feel good.

A cold mouse hand creates a painful workday. Especially, when there's a deadline to meet and your mouse hand is numb. Us (geeks) spend hours at end surfing, photoshopping, and performing detailed work online. When the mouse hand starts to hurt, there's nothing to stop the pain except to stop the work.

Mouse warmers come in all shapes and forms. There are fish, strawberries and modern gizmos to address the problem. There's no cure for cold mouse hand, there's only gadgets to help relieve the problem. There are warming mice, too. They are not as ergonomic as one might think, and can cause more pain than relief. As a matter of fact, the warm the inside of your hand and the top is still exposed.

There are hand warmers like the heart shown below, too. They pop and turn semi-solid and the warmth lasts a few hours. Not real practical, and can be costly.

Do your hands get cold? When? What do you use to keep them warm?

Diamond Flower Computer Mouse

from VieCouture

What’s the bling you might ask, well my dear, it’s actually a Diamond Flower Mouse. And it’s not like any other mouse, it’s probably the most expensive one ever coz it’s made from 18k of white gold with 59 pieces of gorgeous diamonds.

The tag for this piece of luxury is about $25K. Phew! Now I’m not so sure if posting this under “Cute Stuff” is the right thing Lol.. But anyways, enjoy the bling.

A New Super-Ergonomic Mouse!

By RattoNorvegese

Working with a computer mouse may result in physical discomfort. It is a form perspective that scientifica researcher, both fundamental and field research was instigated. This has resulted in the development of HandshoeMouse.

Etsy Survey: Does your mouse hand get cold?

MouseHandWarmer says:
My Etsy product is designed to keep your mouse hand warm. It can be seen at:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16363529

I'd like to hear from people who use a computer mouse. Does your mouse hand get cold? If so, when, and what do you do to keep it warm?

Look forward to reading your responses. Thanks in advance for sending your thoughts!
Posted at 1:16 am, October 19 2008 EST - Report this post

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Marishouse045 says:
That's a great idea. I might be in the market for one soon. I live in the high desert of California and it gets bitter cold here in the dead of winter. Not just at night, either.
Posted at 1:21 am, October 19 2008 EST - Report this post


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CustomDogBandanas says:
yeS! But do you have one for lap tops? Maybe one that will connect to it!
Posted at 1:23 am, October 19 2008 EST - Report this post

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GreenRootsPhoto says:
Hee hee, that's a great idea. My fingers are always cold. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is always complaining that his mouse hand gets hot - his fingers get sweaty where he touches his mouse, so he's always blowing on his fingers to dry them off.
Posted at 1:25 am, October 19 2008 EST - Report this post


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Marishouse045 says:
GreenRootsPhoto, you need one for him that has an ice pack on it.
Posted at 1:26 am, October 19 2008 EST - Report this post


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MouseHandWarmer says:
Cool! Thanks for the responses! I'll post them to the blog at MouseHandWarmer.net.

To Answer the Laptop question: The Mouse Hand Warmer is a blanket. It works for any type of computer. Here's the listing for you to see it:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16363529

It measures about 12x12" so, if your laptop is small, it might fit inside the Mouse Hand Warmer pouch.

Any other comments, please feel free to send them to me via email!

Thanks again, MouseHandWarmer



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For a .pdf version of this post, click here.

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Mouse Hand Warmer on Etsy.com

If you are looking for a unique gift this season for that hard-to-buy-fo computer geek, look no further. Here's the perfect gift for any computer user. It's called the Mouse Hand Warmer and it's available on Etsy.com.

The Mouse Hand Warmer is soft, warm blanket fleece that works as a mousepad or uses a standard sized mouse and any computer mouse. It keeps your exposed mouse hand covered with a warm cozy blanket.

Click here for more details & FREE SHIPPING!

Mousepad with Blanket Built-in

from UK i4U

So winter is coming and in many colder climates, the first snowfalls of the year are already on the ground. With that, it's time to start seeing lots of weird peripherals. Each year we see a plethora of gadgets designed to keep you warm.

Things like this mouse pad with a blanket built-in over the top of the mouse pad. The whole device seems weird to me. If it's so cold in your home or office that you need a mouse pad with a blanket, you really need to turn up the heat.

Or perhaps you are working for a Scrooge type boss who only allows you one piece of coal per day. In that case, what you really need is a new job. The mouse pad blanket thingy is about $14.50 and can be had with a cow or a strawberry on it.

Baseball Cap Designed USB Mouse

Cold mouse hand? Click Here.

from ZINKALO

Solutions come out with its baseball cap designed computer mouse which is especially for baseball fans. Measuring 3.5 x 2 x 2 inch, the mouse made of durable plastic, offers 800 dpi High resolution optical mouse and compatible with Windows XP/ME/2000/98 OS. Available in 17 Major League Baseball logo designs for approximate $25 each.

Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad Computer Industry’s Newest Gadget

IGMproducts.com introduces a new product to the computer accessories market just in time for chilly weather. The Mouse Hand Warmer -- not available in any stores and only available through the manufacturer is brand new, a novel idea and provides a solution for the cold mouse hand syndrome.

Desert Hot Springs, CA., October 17, 2008. Does your computer mouse hand get cold? Do you sit long hours working at the computer with an exposed mouse hand? Does the winter chill or air-conditioned room make your mouse hand cold and fingertips numb? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re not alone. There is a serious, cold mouse hand problem hitting the computer geek population, and IGMproducts.com has the cost-effective, energy-efficient solution.

"The Mouse Hand Warmer came about after spending over 12 years sitting at a computer working long, late hours with a very cold mouse hand," said Anna Miller, creator of the Mouse Hand Warmer.

The Mouse Hand Warmer was made to solve the cold mouse hand problem. Once the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket was developed and used, it proved to solve the problem, and IGM decided to manufacture and sell the item to the computer accessories market.

There’s no known medical term for the cold mouse hand condition. We asked Doctor Oz from the Oprah Winfrey Show by contacting him through Oprah.com. The Mouse Hand Warmer is an energy-efficient way to keep your mouse hand covered by a warm, fleece blanket. Just like crawling under the covers on a cold night, the Mouse Hand Warmer provides a warm, cozy blanket for your mouse hand. Simply slip your computer mouse and hand inside the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket with or without the use of a standard sized mouse pad, and your mouse hand is covered and kept warm as you work.

The Mouse Hand Warmer mouse pad is made in the USA and is the registered trademark and patented product of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. The Mouse Hand Warmer uses no electricity, and there are no cords to plug in or get tangled on your desktop. It is available just in time for cold weather and when the cost of energy for heating is of key importance. Work long hours, keep warm and keep your energy bills lower by using a blanket to cover your exposed mouse hand.

The Mouse Hand Warmer has a non slip surface and is constructed of hand-washable fabrics. It is compatible with optical or USB connected mice of all sizes and shapes. It measures about 12 x 12 inches and has plenty of room inside for freedom of computer mouse hand movement. The only place you can obtain one of the techie gray, black and white mouse blankets is through the manufacturer who is currently seeking distributors of the product. To learn more about this novel computer geek accessory, visit

http://www.IGMproducts.com.

We’ve tested the product, and it works! We’ve received positive feedback from computer users on Amazon.com, Etsy.com and eBay.com. Now, we’re ready to launch the product for resale. For more details, comments or to become a distributor of the Mouse Hand Warmer, please contact the manufacturer through their website at http://www.igmproducts.com/ or by email at Webmaster (at) IGMproducts.com.

About IGMproducts.com
IGMproducts.com is the ecommerce site of i-GlobalMall.com, Inc. (IGM). Anna Miller is the President of IGM and has been creating, computing and selling online since the early 90’s. She is considered an Internet Pioneer and Ecommerce Entrepreneur. IGM's former ecommerce sites have been named Best of the Web by People StyleWatch Magazine and a top online resource by About.com. For more information, please visit IGMproducts.com.

Computer mouse driven by sound

By Richard Seven, Electronic Devices / Consumer & Gadgets

Say "ahh" and the cursor zips toward the northeast corner of the computer screen. "Ooo" sends it shooting straight south. Want it to head southeast? Say "ohh." To make the cursor do a circle or figure 8, let vowel sounds bleed into one another, like eee into ahh into aww and so on. You can make it hurry or slow by regulating the volume of your voice. To open a link, make a soft clicking sound.

So goes the University of Washington's "Vocal Joystick" software, which uses sounds to help people with disabilities use their computers.

Its development has been a multidisciplinary task with faculty and students from several university departments - electrical engineering, linguistics, computer science, as well as the Information School - blending their expertise. It is just one of a series of UW-generated assistive-technology projects ranging from enabling the blind to use touch screens to developing an alternative to the point-and-click method of computer navigation.

Researchers have tested the joystick with spinal cord injury patients at the UW Medical Center and just finished another round of testing with 10 participants with varying levels of disabilities.

Susumu Harada, a computer science and engineering graduate student, administered the tests, putting each subject through 12 hours of training. He evaluated how they learned producing the correct vowel sounds, memorized the directional patterns and manipulated cursor speed.

Sometimes, moving the mouse by voice seemed frustrating, even a bit tiring. If the operator was out of sync with his own sounds as recorded by the software, the cursor might speed past a target in one direction and go so slowly in the other that the subject would have to take a break to catch his breath.

Some sounds came easily. Some seemed a bit unnatural and strained. But when a subject caught the rhythm, the task was easy and natural.

There are several options for people who need accommodations in using computers, but the UW software is distinguished on several levels. For one, it doesn't use standard voice-recognition technology. Instead, it detects basic sounds at about 100 times a second and harnesses them to generate fluid, adaptive cursor movement.

Vocal-joystick researchers maintain the system is easier to use because it allows users to exploit a large set of sounds for both continuous and discrete movement and to make visual adjustments on the fly. Kurt L. Johnson, a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the university, says he believes the software has great potential because it is easy to both learn and use.

"A lot of assistive software doesn't get used because it is too complicated," he says. "But I think they've created something intuitive here. We had some of our higher level of spinal cord patients test it, and one of them learned to use it in about 90 seconds." The Vocal Joystick requires only a microphone, a computer with a standard sound card and a user who can vocalize. The team behind the study, funded by the National Science Foundation, hopes to make a prototype available online this fall.

Vocal Joystick began in the electrical engineering department. Professor Jeff Bilmes and his students, especially Jon Malkin and Xiao Li, created the underlying sound-recognition engine. From there, computer science and engineering professor James Landay and Information School professor Jacob Wobbrock, along with Harada, developed creative ways to apply the technology.

Various offshoots of the Vocal Joystick technology, from playing a video game to operating a robotic arm, have been developed. Ultimately, researchers would one day like to apply this technology to a number of home devices, even electronic wheelchairs.

One of the other applications was "VoiceDraw," which allows hands-free computer drawing. Harada used it to "paint" a portrait of Mount Fuji by sounds alone, and he won second place in a national competition for workplace innovation and design.

Wobbrock, who has been mentoring Harada and is a former first-place winner of the national award, leads a group he calls AIM, which stands for accessibility, interaction and mobility. He is working on a software project that makes a mouse slow and become more accurate as a user tries to enter and click on a target (think how you decelerate when your car begins to take a tight curve).

Another of his projects seeks an alternative to mouse clicking by triggering functions when the device crosses a "goal line." You don't click the mouse; you just cross a threshold.

Before coming to the UW, Wobbrock did cutting-edge work in assistive technology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He says a parallel goal behind all these projects is to make technology work better for everyone, not just those with physical difficulties.

"Think of sidewalk curb cuts," he says. "They help people in wheelchairs, but they also help me pushing a stroller or a grocery cart or riding a 10-speed bicycle."

Cold Hands and Feet

A cold mouse hand can be the result of poor circulation. A cold mouse hand can also be caused from being exposed and held in the same position for a length of time. There's really no medical answer for a cold mouse hand. But there is a solution....

from Dr. Zoltan Rona (MD)

Q: In the winter my hands and feet are always cold. Is there anything I can do about this?

A: Ideally, find the cause of the problem before trying any natural remedies. Cold hands and feet could be the result of poor arterial circulation, medical conditions such as Raynaud’s disease (a hypersensitivity to cold temperature), low thyroid function, estrogen dominance, weak adrenals, mercury amalgam toxicity, low blood sugar episodes, the side effect of certain drugs (e.g. blood pressure pills), smoking cigarettes, inactivity, and stress.

Until you can determine the cause with the help of a natural health care practitioner, avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, pain killers, etc.) because it constricts blood vessels. Avoid both first- and second- hand cigarette smoke for the same reason. Dress more warmly, stop wearing tight-fitting clothing, and get more aerobic exercise. If you have the time, practice some form of stress control like biofeedback or meditation. Reflexology, massage therapy, shiatsu, physiotherapy, and different forms of chiropractic and acupuncture could all be helpful.

Some nutritional or herbal supplements can improve circulation and warm up your hands and feet regardless of the cause. The most impressive of these is cayenne pepper (capsicum), which can be taken both internally (two to three 500 mg capsules about 20 minutes before exposure to the cold) and applied topically (sprinkle about an eighth of a teaspoon into each shoe and/or glove).

Other supplements which have been documented to improve circulation and help cold hands and feet are:
• ginkgo biloba (50–500 mg daily)
• ginger root (500–3000 mg daily)
• panax ginseng (50–500 mg daily)
• niacin/vitamin B3 (100 mg or more daily). Niacin can produce a significant hot sensation, rash, and itching in some people. An alternative way of taking niacin without these side effects is to use flush-free niacin (inositol hexaniacinate), 500–3000 mg daily.

Fall Ritual - When is it "cold" enough??

Keep Your Hands Warm this Winter!

from gotsyzygy

I'm sure EVERYONE does it. Delaying turning on the furnace and putting those flannel sheets!! It's almost like by doing these things you are giving up on Summer, and let's face it.....

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE OVER!!!

So I watch the thermostat in the house and think about making comments about the "chill" in the air. This generally results in a variety of responses from Bill, none of which is: "Turn on the heat already!!" Luckily the thermostat is right by the computer, I can look over and see currently it's at 63 degrees. Honestly, it's not too bad since I have on cuddle duds (tops/bottoms), sweats (top and bottom) and slippers. Oh, I forgot the hot beverage, coffee at the moment. I also have a small desk lap, which is handy, as it's second function is a hand warmer when my fingers get too cold to type. You have to use caution, as it's gets really HOT!

This morning when I got up, it was at 59, so hey, it's progress!! I actually like sleeping in the cooler weather, so at least that doesn't me. Being cold during my waking hours isn't something I enjoy!!

I think Bill has some secret bet with the Weather Gods!! I'm not sure if he wins anything, but I know he's playing!! How long can I hold out before I have to turn the heat on? I wonder if he writes the date on a calendar every year? Somehow I wouldn't be surprised.

This year I've decided, I'm not going to say ANYTHING!!! Nope, I'll just put on more layers and pile on the dogs if need be. I'll even wear my coveralls in the house if that's what it takes. FREEZE BABY FREEZE!!!! I guess I'd better go and find Mad and Kruz's coats. Seeker is from up north where it's freezing already, so he's LOVING THIS!!

So, let me know....when do you turn on your furnace???

Chills, drafts and a cold mouse hand

It's that time of year again when the air gets chilled. If you sit and work at the computer using a computer mouse late at night after the sun goes down, then you probably have suffered from a cold mouse hand on occassion. It's a very noticeable problem. Your hand is exposed and in the same position for a long time using a computer mouse. Sometimes the mouse hand gets so cold your fingers get numb, right?

Don't laugh! Cold mouse hand is very annoying. What do you do when your mouse hand gets cold?

Mouse Hand Warmer Blog

A place to post thoughts about a cold mouse hand and things we do to keep our mouse hand warm. The Mouse Hand Warmer Blog was created to build awareness of an annoying "mouse hand" condition many computer users suffer from while working at their computer. We sit for hours with an exposed mouse hand in drafty rooms and late nigh drafts. It's time we had a place to post our thoughts and discuss remedies.

This blog is open for comments. Comments are moderated and will be posted when they are relevant to the article's topic. Let's build a very warm place to resolve a cool situation!

Welcome to the Mouse Hand Warmer Blog!

Dear Oprah & Doctor Oz.... help us solve the cold mouse hand problem!

Searching for an answer to define the "cold mouse hand" syndrome, Oprah and Doctor Oz were sent an online letter. We haven't heard back from them, and if/when we do, you'll read about it here.

Here's what we wrote:

Many people may not be aware of a condition called "Cold Mouse Hand." It affects computer users who work using a computer mouse. It's not carpal tunnel and shouldn't be confused with other mouse hand medical conditions. I believe the "cold mouse hand" problem is a fairly new discovery.

I started using a computer in the early 90's, and I owned and operated an ecommerce site for over 12 years. My work required me to sit in front of a computer using the mouse. A/C offices, fans, drafts and chilly weather would cause my mouse hand to get so cold my finger tips would become numb. The only relief to the cold mouse hand was to stop working, and that was not an option. I tried pulling a sweater over my mouse hand and wear fingerless gloves to keep it warm and that didn't work. I bought computer gadgets that promised to keep the mouse hand warm, and they were either non-ergonomic, caused pain, or were too small.

In February 2007, after suffering from a cold mouse hand for many years, I decided to obtain a provisional patent for a "Mouse House Hand Warmer" to address and fix the problem. But, I was still too busy operating my business to do anything with the patent.

In May 2008, I sold my ecommerce site and decided to research the cold mouse hand problem to focus on a solution. I was surprised to discover the problem was experienced by many people.

In June 2008, I made a Mouse Hand Warmer using blanket fabric, tested the prototype, and it worked. The Mouse Hand Warmer was born! I don't suffer anymore from a cold mouse hand.

If Doctor Oz finds the mouse hand syndrome, not carpal tunnel, but the "cold mouse hand" problem, an interesting, new topic, please ask him to shed some light on this mysterious computer geeks' situation. If you look for little inventions to address new problems, I will participate by sharing the problem and the solution with your audience. I hope you find this story and it's solution unique and worthy of a discussion topic.