Mouse Hand Warmer® Blog

Heated Mouse on CBS News - The Early Show & YouTube

2011-01-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

Heated Mouse on CBS News - The Early Show & YouTube

The Heated Mouse Featured In Tech Talk on The Early Show

2011-01-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

Hot Viral Video - HeatedMouse.com

2010-12-27T18:52:00.001-08:00

ValueRays® Heated Computer Mouse is Hot! Hot! Hot!

2009-08-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

ValueRays® Heated Computer Mouse
ValueRays® = Valuable Infrared Radiant Heat Rays

It's an awesome invention and a huge problem solver. The ValueRays® Warm Mouse actually heats and generates healthy infrared heat rays directly to a cold mouse hand. Not only does the mouse heat, but it delivers therapeutic relief to aching, sore mouse hand muscles, joints and tissue. The ValueRays® Heated Mouse is an USB hand warmer every computer user should own. It's a perfect gift idea for all ages.

Do you sit and surf late at night with a cold mouse hand? If so, visit the ValueRays® website and pick up one of these hot little USB gadgets. The USB heated mouse is ergonomically shaped, has an on/off switch on its cord, heats from 99-104 degrees F and provides a healthy, proactive mousing experience.

Let the computer work for you, not harm you. With increased computer use there's a higher risk of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD). Infrared heat can help reduce the chance of these mouse hand conditions.

See all the ValueRays® Products -- prices range from $19.95 to $29.95 at select websites.

Visit the ValueRays® Warm Mouse Giveaway Blog and enter a contest to win ValueRays® products.

ValueRays® Heated Mouse Pad Giveway at Blogmania!

2009-06-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

No need to rest your working mouse hand ontop of a cold chilly surface! This is the ValueRays® Heated Mouse Pad and it's being raffled free this week at Blogmania! Get in on the action! Join the competition. Easy instructions to win this gorgeous 4-port USB hub heated mouse pad FREE! The infrared heated warm mouse pad comes in a junior and senior size. The one in the photo is the large senior size with a roomy large mousing surface with a soft sponge wrist rest. The ValueRays® Heated Mouse Pad is multi-functional. It has a smooth black surface with infrared heat, a blue light trim to glow after dark and a 4-port USB hub for all your devices and gadgets. To read the entire product description, visit Warm Mouse, Heated Keyboard's website. They are giving the ValueRays® Heated Mouse Pad away through Blogomania's Giveaway!

Do You Suffer From Sweaty Hands?

2009-03-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

By Louise Forrest

If you find that you have sweaty hands that you could have a medical condition that you need to consult your doctor about. It is not often that the hands sweat compared to others areas of the body, but the hands do have six hundred sweat glands, so some sweating from time to time will take place.

One of the problems of having hands that are very sweaty is being reluctant to shake hands with other people due to the embarrassment caused. A person with very sweaty hands will also be afraid to handle anything fragile as they will be scared it could slip out of their hands. There is also the fact that the persons hand print will be all over the place too.

You see you just cannot apply some deodorant to your hands as you can with your armpits, simply because your hands are in constant use and during the day you will visit the toilet which means that your hands are also being washed.

Generally hands that are sweaty is caused by a person being nervous or anxious. Stress can also play a factor and if you have a very stressful job then this will not help matters. The main issue is that of a social issue and this can be very annoying.

When you visit your doctor it is quite likely that he or she will give you some medication to apply. These can be quite effective but as with all medications what works for one person will not always work for another. If after using any medication you are still seeing that you are having sweaty hands then the only real option left is that of surgery.

The word surgery may raise a lot of fear amongst people but the process is actually very simple and is generally quite quick too. The objective of the surgery is to essentially destroy the sweat glands in your hands, and it is quite common for people who have had such a surgery, that their hands are often quite dry and also warm too.

But with surgery being surgery there are risks associated and you should consult your doctor prior to taking such actions and to be fully aware of what other treatments are available. Some other treatments that you should be aware of include putting your hands in tap water and sending in an electrical charge. This is a private treatment and you may acquire multiple sessions before you see any actual gain so this could prove to be quite expensive.

There is also the possibility of having botox in your hands also, but the problem here is that over time the muscles in your hands can become very weak. As mentioned before the best thing to do is to consult your doctor and to be fully aware of all treatments and there implications.

Three Mouseketeers: Warming Mouse, Heated Mouse Pad, Mouse Hand Warmer Blanket

2009-03-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

The three mouse-keteers will keep your cold mouse hand cozy and warm. When used separately, the three infrared heated computer accessories serve a purpose, but when used together, they create the perfect mouse hand environment.

The Three Mouse-keteers are:

To learn more about the ValueRays® Infrared Heated Computer Accessories, visit the manufacturer's website at ValueRays®

For people who have cold hands when using the computer the Mouse Hand Warmer solves the problem. Cold computer hands make it difficult to use the computer mouse and the computer keyboard. And, from time-to-time, with cold hands, a person has to stop working to allow the frigid cold to leave. When poor blood circulation causes hands to become cold there's little to do except stop working, and most of the time that's not a option.

Using the computer with a cold mouse hand causes the fingers to become numb. Some attribute the cold mouse hand to sitting still too long in one position, others believe it's a medical condition causing cold hands. It's important to excercise the hands frequently to keep blood flowing, and for some people exercise is not enough. There are computer gadgets available to provide comfort, support, warmth and heat cost-effectively and energy-efficiently from the computer while you are using the computer.

A Mouse Hand Warmer is a fleece blanket designed to cover the computer mouse hand. It's like a blanket for the mouse hand. The Mouse Hand Warmer is a fleece pouch to hold a warm mouse and heated mouse pad. The Mouse Hand Warmer is available with or without electricity.

The USB Mouse Hand Warmer works like an electric blanket for the hand. Plug the USB cord into an USB port located on the computer and within a few minutes the blanket portion of the Mouse Hand Warmer is warm. The heat generated by the carbon fiber heating element inside the blanket is an infrared heat. Infrared heat penetrates deeply through the skin's layers to the muscle tissue. Infrared heat dialates blood vessels and helps improve blood circulation. To read more about the healing effects of infrared heat, visit http://www.valuerays.com/. The earth-friendly Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch uses no electricity. It is made exactly like the USB model, but without electricity.

Both the USB and non-USB Mouse Hand Warmers can be used with or without a mouse pad. The non-slip surface of the Mouse Hand Warmer's base can function as a mouse pad surface. However, when a mouse pad is used, any standard sized mouse pad fits perfectly inside the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch. A ValueRays heated mouse pad fits perfectly inside the Mouse Hand Warmer pouch, and the extra four USB ports on the ValueRays heated mouse pad make it ideal to use for other USB warm gadgets. Plus, the heat generated by the heated mouse pad is insulated inside the blanket pouch creating a soothing warm space for the mouse hand.

Using your favorite computer mouse inside the Mouse Hand Warmer is a must! Just about any size computer mouse fits inside the roomy 12" x 12" Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch. A ValueRays warm mouse is the perfect companion to use inside the Mouse Hand Warmer pouch because the heat generated by the warm mouse inside the blanket is insulated creating a perfectly warm mouse hand environment.

The best solution for a cold mouse hand is the combination of the three mouse hand warmer products: Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch, ValueRays warm mouse, and ValueRays heated mouse pad. There's no need to use the computer with a cold mouse hand ever again. These three items create the ultimate designer mouse house: Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch, ValueRays Warm Mouse and ValueRays Heated Mouse Pad.

If cold computer keyboard hands become a problem, cold keyboard hands respond nicely to warmth, too. The ValueRays heated computer keyboard pad is available online with the other infrared heated computer gadgets at http://www.igmproducts.com/. Enjoy free shipping and never pay sales tax when shopping at IGMproducts.com.

Press Release: Mouse Hand Warmer: Warm Mouse, Heated Mouse Pad Companion

Customise a mouse hand warmer as a promotional product

2009-03-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

When you are looking for something unique to customise for your company promotion, think of the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch. The Mouse Hand Warmer is a nice way to tell your employees you care about them, and at the same time show your commitment to energy-efficiency. The Mouse Hand Warmer is available in two formats. Click here to see more about the Mouse Hand Warmer special order process.

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Customised Promotion Products

by PREMIER PRINT AND PROMOTIONS

There are many products which can be customised for promotional purposes including, USBs, pens, diaries, calendars, highlighters, cotton shoppers, conference bags, balloons, coasters, mouse mats, clothing, hats, keyrings, stickers, scribble pads, golf balls, folders, mugs, rubbers and much, much more.

One of their popular yearly items is diaries. They come in various styles and designs. They can be provided blind embossed or foil blocked in gold or silver. Three main sizes are available: pocket (160x80mm), A5 desk (205x143mm) and Quarto (260x210mm). They can supply a huge range of colours and finishes with various fonts to suit. The diaries can be customised for your business and covers can also be pantone matched if you require. Inside pages can be white or cream and you can choose from week to view portrait or landscape, page per day or week to view with notes section. These pages can also have your logo added to them and be designed to compliment your business.

Your diaries can have personalised printed tip-in pages added to them which are specific to your company if you are looking for something really dynamic and different.

You can also arrange for diaries to be packed as you require in boxes and delivered anywhere in the world. They can then be given out at shows, posted to prospective customers and handed out to clients. Why not use them for giveaways at shows or at events where your company may be a sponsor? Small and large quantities can be catered for with price brackets to suit all budgets. Alternative embossed and foil blocked diary products are also offered with the opportunity to customise almost any aspect of the product, very clever stuff!

Premier Print and Promotions, a UK based company, can source products from around the world to meet any requirements and if they can’t source it, they’ll commission it to be created on your behalf, for a truly original and bespoke item.

Premier Print and Promotions only require a copy of your logo to mock up a visual of the proposed diary and if you don’t have logo or a high resolution file of it, they can redraw it for you or design you one from scratch. This means you can see a selection of options in various colours and shapes before settling on your chosen type, style and design of diary. Personalised quotes can be provided for a range of price breaks.

As a promotional merchandise company, Premier Print and Promotions offer an almost infinite number of products which can all be printed with your company details and/or logo. Then packed, shipped and delivered to your door.

ValueRays® Heated Mouse Hand Warmer Blanket

2009-03-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

News Flash..... Do you or someone you know suffer with cold hands when using the computer?

IGMproducts.com announced today they will feature a new product by ValueRays®. The ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch will be available soon through authorized online retailers.

The new ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer blanket will connect to the comuter using an USB plug. The hand warmer will deliver infrared heat to the mouse hand. It is similar to an electric blanket. You know how wonderful it feels to crawl under the covers on a cold winter's night! Just think of having continuous warmth delivered to your cold mouse hand!

The original, non-USB, Mouse Hand Warmer® blanket will continue to be sold as usual. It is earth-friendly, made in the USA and is ideal for the person who does not want to use a heated blanket.

For more information about the ValueRays® heated computer accessories visit IGMproducts.com. Want to be notified when the USB ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer arrives? Contact Us, and put "Contact Me - ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer" in the Subject Line.

Repetitive Strain Injury, Cumulative Trauma Disorder, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Infrared Heat Therapy

2009-03-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

Carpal Tunnel Illustrated

Don't laugh, there's a list of new, warm, USB infrared heated computer gadgets available to help prevent the onset of repetitive strain injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. So, instead of causing problems, the computer may actually be helping us! Have you ever heard of a Warm Mouse? or a Heated Mouse Pad? a Heated Keyboard Pad? or a Mouse Hand Warmer? These items provide healing heat to your cold computer hands. It's a proactive approach to the prevention of computer-related hand injury.

Many people suffer from hand and arm injuries due to overusing the computer mouse hand and keyboard hands. It's referred to as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD). The most common form of the condition is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve running from the arm to the hand gets squeezed near the wrist. The median nerve deals with the palm side of the thumb, most of the fingers and some muscles in the hand. The area called the "carpal tunnel" is a narrow area of ligament and bone at the base of the hand that holds the median nerve and some tendons. When the median nerve gets squeezed, it usually causes pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the hand, wrist and arm.

The onset of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is gradual. So, taking a proactive approach to this type of condition is the smart thing to do. There are things a person can do to help decrease the chance of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and possibly prevent it altogether.

The most obvious health tips include relaxing the hand's grip on objects like the computer mouse, exercising the hands and arms instead of sitting in the same position for long hours, creating a healthy ergonomic computer work area, sitting properly, holding the arms properly when using computer devices, and keeping the hands using the computer warm.

Keeping the hands warm has always been a challenge until now. There are USB computer mice, mouse pads and keyboard pads creating an energy-efficient and cost-effecive source of infrared heat for our cold computer hands. These items are made using a carbon fiber and they generate a deep penetrating infrared heat. Infrared heat is the same as the natural heat rays from the sun without the harmful UV sun rays. It penetrates deep through the skin's layers into the muscle tissue. And, along the way, the infrared heat dilates blood vessels, removes toxins from the blood cells and improves blood circulation.

Infrared therapy can help prevent the onset of hand injuries and improve hand injury conditions. Heat therapy has been safely used for thousands of years throughout the world and in all walks of life producing postive, measurable results. Studies indicate about 20-30 minutes of infrared heat therapy daily is helpful in preventing and helping hand injuries.

Whenever heat is an approved treatment, infrared heated computer products will help. The warm mouse relaxes the hand muscles and reduces tension and stress. The heated mouse pad creates a warm mouse hand surface for the wrist, fingers and thumb areas. The heated computer keyboard pad provides ergonomic support for the hands over the the keyboard. The warm heat provides a comfortable work pad for hands, wrists and arms.

Carpal Tunnel, and any of the other hand and arm related strain injuries are serious conditions. Being more aware of these conditions and creating an infrared heated, ergonomic, computer work area are the first steps in using the computer wisely.

Hand Arthritis - Finding A Treatment That Works For You

2009-03-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hand Arthritis causes pain for computer users. Computer users with arthritic hands and painful joints use a ValueRays Heated Mouse. The warm mouse provides infrared heat to penetrate deep through the skin's layers to the muscle tissue. A warm mouse improves blood circulation to the injured area and helps reduce cold hand pain.

from the Ultimate Success Blog

Hand arthritis is the most common form of arthritis that mainly affects the fingers. As in most forms of arthritis the joints become inflamed resulting in pain. Essentially, a joint is made up of two bones that are covered by cartilage and are conjoined together moving smoothly across each other. If this smooth surface becomes damaged or wears out over time, arthritis will result.

Hand arthritis is specifically painful and debilitating due to the fact that hands have nineteen bones and eight small bones that has several small joints. The more common forms of hand arthritis include osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Further causes of hand arthritis might include psoriasis, gout and infection.

Hand osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on the hand joints over time resulting in inflammation and pain. Normally it is a result of this wear and tear, however it can also be the result of a specific hand injury. Hand osteoarthritis arthritis generally develops either along the bottom of the thumb, the wrist, the end joint that is closest to the tip of the finger and the middle joint of the finger.

The most common symptoms of hand arthritis are pain, swelling and reduced movement resulting in diminished grip and pinch strength. The doctor or physician will also examine all other joints to help aid the diagnosis of hand arthritis. The doctor can also determine the severity of the hand arthritis by observing the clinical appearance of the hand. Further to this X-rays will be utilized to further identify the severity of hand arthritis by seeking potential bony outgrowths.

There are various treatments and forms of reducing the pain of hand arthritis. Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory medications will normally be the first treatment utilized for hand arthritis. Resting the hand is also crucial in terms of re-habilitating the area- a hand or wrist support may be required to aid this re-habilitation.

Physical therapy for hand arthritis has also proven to be very effective as a treatment option. There are specific exercises, which can help in loosening the stiffened joints caused by the hand arthritis. Steroids can also be injected locally into the affected area, however this is only a form of pain relief, and certainly not a long-term treatment option for hand arthritis.

Surgery is most certainly the last resort as a treatment option for hand arthritis. The doctor or physician will seriously evaluate the patient’s health, age, weight and risks of complications before recommending hand surgery as a viable treatment option for hand arthritis.

Conclusion

Hand arthritis can be an extremely debilitating condition, however with proper diagnosis by your doctor or physician the symptoms can be effectively managed and re-rehabilitation can take place. Like most forms of arthritis early diagnosis is the key to aiding recovery in hand arthritis.

Vote for Mouse Hand Warmer ... a simple click

2009-03-08T16:04:00.000-07:00

Just a simple click on the link below will take you to Start Up Nation. Vote for us there! Thank you!

Please click the above picture and vote for our start up company on Start Up Nation. Voting deadline is March 31, 2009. Thank you!

http://www.igmproducts.com/

We specialize in Ergonomic Heated Computer Aids.

Anti-Aging For the Hands - How to Have Lying Hands

2009-03-07T23:06:00.000-08:00

Take care of your hands. Keep your hands healthy and warm. Heated computer mouse, mouse pad and keyboard pad will help keep your hands looking and feeling great!

By Karla Buzzell

I have heard that the hands often give away a woman's age, even if she has a flawless face. I know that I have spent years caring for my face, but did not pay much attention to my hands. Now I am working overtime trying to get them back in shape and looking much younger than I really am.

What are these signs?

Age spots
Dry, rough skin
Cracked, sore or chapped hands
Wrinkles and loss of elasticity
Brittle, splitting, ridged, or cracked nails
Soft "paper thin", fragile, dull nails

Where does one start? Firstly, remember that the sun causes a great deal of the aging on your hands. We protect our faces with sunscreen, but do you put it on the tops of your hands? I bet if you are finally doing so, you did not do this for years. This is the main cause of age spots on your hands. Can anything be done to reverse this? Yes, you can use a good quality hand cream that is specifically made for this purpose, but you must be diligent and use it every day.Our hands loss moisture as we age. Hot water, cleaning products, detergents, sun, cold weather, cold water, household chores and yard work play havoc on our hands and nails. You must treat both your hands and nails, if you want to restore them to their full glory.

Start by protecting your hands from the elements mentioned earlier. A good pair of gloves goes a long way for this. In fact, you may need several pair. Gloves for housework, cold weather, and yard work can help to protect your hands from further harm.

Use hand cream specifically formulated for the conditions of your hands. There are good creams that treat dry, rough hands, chapped and cracked hands and hands that are wrinkled and have lost their elasticity. You may need more than one product, but it will be well worth it!

Your nails need to be carefully manicured, and treated for the aging signs they show. Each of us has different symptoms, but there are quality products available to reverse the aging of your nails and return them to their healthy state.

Remember, your hands did not get in their condition overnight and they will not recover that way either. Be patient and diligent and you too can have hands that are "lying hands."

Mouse Hand Warmer - Vote Online Start Up Nation

2009-03-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

Vote for Mouse Hand Warmer!

Google is an amazing place. We find all sorts of worthy things to do and read about everyday with every search we make. We stumbled across a website called Start Up Nation. It's another amazing place for women, working moms, to network and participate in challenging business activities. The Mouse Hand Warmer's page on Start Up Nation tells our story, what IGMproducts.com is all about and how we are making the best of our first six months in business.

To read more about our bio, comments and business information, please click here to visit the IGMproducts.com Start Up Nation home page.

If it wasnt' for the Mouse Hand Warmer invention last Fall, we'd still be sitting here trying to figure out what we want to do everyday. It's like serendipity. Everything just came together nicely and easily. We had an idea from personal experience and need, we communicated with people in the technology and medical fields, and we decided our future would include designing, producing and marketing computer aid products to help people stay warm while they are working at the computer using a mouse and keyboard.

Here's our story as shown on the IGMproducts.com Start Up Nation home page:

IGMproducts.com specializes in warm computer gadgets for people who suffer with cold hands when they are using the computer. I suffer with cold hands. So, after 15 years of operating an ecommerce business with cold hands, I decided to address the cold mouse hand problem and invented the one & only Mouse Hand Warmer® blanket pouch.

The Mouse Hand Warmer® is made in America, and it's energy efficient. It uses no electricity and is made of a warm, soft fleece fabric to cover and keep your computer mouse hand warm. The Mouse Hand Warmer® was introduced to the market in October 2008. Because the Mouse Hand Warmer® was a novel idea, it received much press and support from the Technology Industry.

Here's the link to the Press Page - http://igmproducts.com/info_pages.php/pages_id/6/press

A few months into the startup process we were approached by a writer who suggested I add multi-functionality to the Mouse Hand Warmer® by creating additional warming computer gadgets and making them available on the website. In January 2009, I launched "ValueRays®" heated computer gadgets. The ValueRays® products are currently being manufactured and will be made available online at IGMproducts.com by mid-March. Now, we promote the use of USB heated gadgets to use with the Mouse Hand Warmer® -- a heated computer mouse, a heated mouse pad and a heated keyboard wrist pad.

The heated mouse and heated mouse pad fit nicely inside the Mouse Hand Warmer® blanket, and it creates the perfect mouse hand environment. We call the Mouse Hand Warmer trio a Designer Mouse House!

In addition to selling products, we work closely with different non-profit groups who find our products useful. We fund raise for the American Cancer Society and network within the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). April is Occupational Therapy Month, and we are celebrating with AOTA to make OT known throughout the world.

We also maintain a good relationship with groups whose members suffer with cold hand symptoms: Raynaud's Association, Arthritis Association and Diabetes Association. We give free advertising to these groups and encourage our customers to join their public forums for help and support.

I found Start Up Nation while browsing Google, and I'm completing the application process with the thought of creating a partnership with you, and not necessarily to win a prize. Making the connection with you and becoming a part of your website is recognition enough.

Entering your site's competition near the end of the promotion is OK. We believe the information you are communicating on this site is valuable and helpful.

After many years in business, it's encouraging to know there's a place dedicated to the strong women who work hard to support the economy. My hat goes off to all women who own and operate a business. It's an honor to be a part of this group.

Anna Miller, President
i-GlobalMall.com, Inc.

ValueRays Heated Keyboard Wrist Hand Arm Pad

2009-02-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

Available soon, this heated wrist pad from ValueRays.com will do all sorts of good things for your cold hands, wrists and arms when using the keyboard. It is ergonomically designed with the perfect height for your wrists and hands. The USB connected heater is a steady warmth for tired and sore muscles. The heated wrist pad is designed with a carbon fiber and generates infrared heat. Infrared heat heals stress and tension in hands and fingers. Now, those of you who want to keep not only your mouse hand warm, can also keep your keyboard hand warm, too. The item will be made available online through IGMproducts.com. We'll post more information soon.

Ways to get those cold computer hands warm

2009-02-28T21:33:00.000-08:00

We specialize in healing Infrared Heated Computer Gadgets
ValueRays.com

from Therapy Gloves
Prolotex™ Full Finger Gloves

Millions of people are having to tolerate the discomfort and anguish caused by the frequent reoccurrence of cold hands. If you are one of these people then you need to read the following. It could change your future!

What’s Causing Your Cold Hands?
Even though, common cold hand symptoms can be caused by numerous kinds of health problems, restricted or obstructed blood flow to the hands is the determining factor.

Everything from regular stress to a hyper reactive condition like Raynaud’s Syndrome can be what’s causing your hands to be cold. So you need to take positive step towards improving your circulation right down to the molecular level of your finger tips.

Yes, that’s right! If you improve the micro-circulation in your hands then you can restore and rejuvenate the little tiny blood vessels and capillaries that are disappearing because of lack of blood flow. If you don’t take action to restore circulation then you can loose these minute but important ducts all together.

Of course, there’s lots of steps you can take to improve the vascular condition of your hands. And I’m sure you're aware of most of them; like changing your diet, exercising more and even practicing relaxation techniques. It’s also suggested you avoid caffeine (I’m afraid this is impossible for me) because it constricts blood vessels.

Help Improve Your Micro-circulation
Do you have cold hands? If so, this may be because of poor micro-circulation, especially if you are indoors and there's no reason for them to be cold. Healthy circulation at the molecular level is important in allowing maximum blood flow to reach your hands.

Prolotex™ far infrared therapy gloves offer you a safe, natural and cost effective way to help restore oxygen enriched blood flow right down to your finger tips. While you wear these incredibly soothing gloves, gentle far infrared rays penetrate deep within the skin and soft tissues of your hands and fingers. Helping to restore vital micro-circulation and deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients right down to your tiniest capillaries.

Are Your Cold Hands Causing You Major Grief & Embarrassment?
Guess what! You get stressed and your hands get cold. Sound strange? Maybe, but there is a scientific reason for this happening.

Cold hands can be a source of mental anguish as well as physical. In fact, it can become a extremely vicious cycle. Stressful circumstances can cause your hands to go cold. Let me explain…

We live in a stressful world. Everyday, our senses are challenged. Stressful situations stimulate our inherent fight or flight response. Also known as the sympathico-adrenal response, it triggers your sympathetic nervous system. This constant firing of sympathetics can predispose the body's muscles into a continuous state of contraction or increased tension. As the blood is shunted from the hands there is a reduced amount of nutrients and oxygen available to feed and rejuvenate the soft tissues in your hands. No wonder soreness develops!

So to help warm the hands, help prevent injury - wear Prolotex™ far infrared gloves as often as you like. The far infrared rays emitted and reflected from these nanotech gloves will help relieve the pain and regenerate the circulation in the restricted areas of your hands.

Cold Hands Restrict Circulation
Cold hands occur fast when blood vessels are constricted or obstructed. This is often due to increased connective tissue tension around the blood vessels, which restricts the passage of blood.

Poor circulation in the hands can be the result of many different occupations and ailments.

Here are just a few:

Coronary heart disease
Raynaud's disease
Fibromyalgia
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Frostbite
White finger
Repetitive stress syndrome
A side-effect of taking certain medication
Toxins
Stress

Mouse Hand Warmer Winner!

2009-02-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

from Everything Up Close

The winner of the Mouse Hand Warmer giveaway has been chosen using random.org! The winner of this giveaway will receive a Mouse Hand Warmer from IGMproducts.com. A big congratulations goes out to comment #154 - toohotforturtle.

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enter! Please remember to check back every week for more exciting reviews & giveaways!

Posted by ihchicky at 9:33 PM

Mouse Hand Warmer Earth Friendly

2009-02-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

IGMproducts.com's Mouse Hand Warmer is a green product. The Mouse Hand Warmer product is earth friendly and uses no electricity to keep your mouse hand warm. Unlike other USB computer accessories, the Mouse Hand Warmer insulates body heat under a warm, fleece blanket making the product energy-efficient at a time when energy is at a premium.

Keep your mouse hand covered in an air-conditioned office or when you sit under a ceiling fan. Lower your winter heating bill by staying warm while you work. Whether you work from home or at an office, the Mouse Hand Warmer computer mouse pad accessory will help reduce energy costs while keeping your hand covered by a warm blanket. If you suffer from a cold mouse hand, the Mouse Hand Warmer will provide a comfortable experiece for your mouse hand. The materials used include cotton and fleece and are hand washable and dryable.

The Mouse Hand Warmer looks attractive on your desk top with a modern techie design using neutral gray, black and white colors, and there are no wires or cords to get tangled on your desk because it is an energy-free hand warmer.

Cold hands need warmth for Raynaud's Syndrome

2009-02-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Raynaud's causes cold hands and extremeties. Blood vessels constrict and poor circulation becomes painful. Infrared heat is soothing. We specialize in Heated Computer Gadgets. They're not just for the winter!

Ayurvedic Medicine and Naturopathy for Raynaud's Syndrome
by FRANCIS ADAM

Stimulate your circulation. Raynaud's is often anxiety-related, explains Efrem Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac. "Anxiety leads to constriction in the body, including constriction of the blood vessels in the hands and feet."

To treat Raynaud's, Dr. Korngold often prescribes the herbs pseudoginseng root and sage root, and borneol crystals.

Apply pressure to relieve pain. In a study conducted in Germany, acupuncture helped 33 people with severe Raynaud's who received seven acupuncture treatments just as winter arrived.

If you prefer a self-care approach, try acupressure. Apply steady, penetrating finger pressure to each of the following points for 3 minutes.

Pericardium 6, located in the middle of your inner wrist, 2 1/2 finger-widths above the wrist crease (according to Dr. Korngold, this point is especially effective for Raynaud's that affects the hands)

Liver 3, situated on top of your foot in the webbing between your big toe and second toe (this point is beneficial for Raynaud's that affects the feet, Dr. Korngold says)

Ayurvedic Medicine

Rebalance your Vata. Practitioners of Ayurveda believe that Raynaud's is a Vata disorder, says Scott Gerson, M.D., founder of Ayurvedic Medicine of New York. The Vata dosha governs your circulatory system and regulates the constriction and dilation of your blood vessels.

To treat Raynaud's, Dr. Gerson prescribes a daily regimen of walking, hot baths, meditation, and whole-body massages with warm sesame oil (panchakarma). He also advocates a diet that emphasizes certain foods, such as cherries.

Naturopathy

Turn up the heat. Sitting in a sauna or a tolerably hot bath can help ease your Raynaud's symptoms by increasing your blood circulation, Dr. Mitchell says. While you're in the sauna or bath, massage your hands for a few minutes as an additional way to help promote blood circulation.

Medical Measures

If your Raynaud's causes such intolerable pain that you consult a doctor, you may receive a prescription for drugs called vasodilators, which can open your blood vessels. About two-thirds of people with Raynaud's who take vasodilators report improvement in their symptoms. Like most pharmaceuticals, however, vasodilators may produce side effects.

Red Flags

Many common medications, including over-the-counter decongestants, can constrict your blood vessels. So if you're taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it could aggravate your Raynaud's symptoms. If so, ask your doctor whether you could take a different drug that doesn't have this effect.

TD-College.com - The only on-line school for Technical Directors

2009-02-27T18:20:00.000-08:00

TD-College is the first and only school that truly prepares the student for the realm of CG-production by personally pairing him up with the artists behind movies like The Lord of The Rings, King Kong, The Matrix and many many more. TD-College's personalized mentor system puts each student 1-on-1 with artists from major studios like ILM, Dreamworks, Weta Digital, Disney, Pixar, Animal Logic, Tippett and Digital Domain. Mentors' credits include all blockbusters in recent memory.

TD-College is currently offering MEL, Python and Houdini courses and we have several advanced courses in development on the topics of Character Technical Direction, Effects, and Rendering, as well as RealFlow, RenderMan, Mathematics for TDs, C++, and Maya API development.

Spread the news about learning advanced VFX from VFX veterans, or if you are interested in authoring courses or mentoring passionate students, contact TD-College.com.

Visit the site for more information: http://www.td-college.com/

Design a Mouse Hand Warmer: Online Contest

2009-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

The Mouse Hand Warmer is a fleece blanket pouch used to hold a warm mouse and warm mouse pad. Together the three items create an ultimate mouse hand environment. Click here to read all about the Mouse Hand Warmer.

This contest is Create Your Own Mouse Hand Warmer!

The winner receives one of each item listed here:

Instructions to Enter the Contest:
Design your Mouse Hand Warmer and save the file in .jpg, .gif or .bmp format. Attach it to an email and send the image to Webmaster(at)IGMproducts.com. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. March 1, 2009. The winner will be selected based upon originality, creativity, use-ability, and artistic talent. Check back here after March 1st to see the winner.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Cold mouse hand? Computer mouse hand warmer FREE!

2009-02-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you visited Everything Up Close? You need to go there right now and enter a free giveaway for a Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch. Read on.....

The Mouse Hand Warmer is great because it can be used with any mouse you already have: corded or wireless. For corded mice, all you need to do is slip the cord through a small slight on the front edge of the blanket. For wireless mice, just slip it in the Mouse Hand Warmer and you are ready to go. Because the front of the blanket is made from a netted material, it won’t interfere with the optical connection from your mouse to your computer. In addition, the Mouse Hand Warmer is big enough to fit any sized mouse easily.

LINK: Everything Up Close

Mouse Hand Warmer Giveaway - Click Here to WIN!

2009-02-11T14:44:00.000-08:00

Click and enter to win a FREE Mouse Hand Warmer by IGMproducts.com. Everything Up Close is sponsoring a giveaway event. Here's what they said about the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket:

Do you find your hand always gets cold after being on the computer for an extended period of time? A company called IGM Products has come up with a solution to that very problem: The Mouse Hand Warmer! The Mouse Hand Warmer is essentially a blanket which is approximately the size of a mouse pad (~12” x 12”) that is made specifically for keeping your hand warm while on the computer. This “blanket” is made from warm polyester fleece, which is sure to keep your hand nice and toasty. The Mouse Hand Warmer is quite versatile and can be used with or without a mouse pad.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

PRweb News Room: Mouse Hand Warmer

2009-02-10T15:51:00.000-08:00

There's no doubt! The Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch creates the perfect mouse hand environment. We took a heated mouse pad and a heated mouse and placed it inside the mouse hand warmer blanket pouch. The soothing warmth and heat inside the blanket pouch is ideal. The warmth feels like crawling under the covers of an electric blanket on a cold winter's night. The Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch uses no electricity. It has no cords. The other two infrared heated computer devices by ValueRays are USB connected and fit perfectly inside the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket.

For more information about this trio of therapuetic warming computer products, visit IGMproducts.com.

Mouse blanket cozy hand warmer

2009-02-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

The Mouse Hand Warmer is new, and there’s nothing like it on the market. It’s under $20, and it’s the perfect gift idea for computer users. A new Geek Gadget just in time for chilly weather!

Keeps your mouse hand covered by a warm blanket. Constructed of a warm polyester fleece blanket material with a non-slip surface. Fits standard mouse pads. Hand wash and air dry.

Instructions: Slip a standard sized mouse pad inside the Mouse Hand Warmer. If using a wireless mouse, the net front provides a clear optical connection. When using an USB connected mouse, slip the cord through a small slit opening made in the center front net. Easy to keep clean by hand washing with a mild detergent and air drying.

The Mouse Hand Warmer is hand made in the USA. It’s energy-effecient and uses NO electricity. Heat is generated from your body and insulated inside a warm, cozy fleece blanket pouch.

The Mouse Hand Warmer is an inexpensive way to keep your mouse hand warm during chilly weather or whenever you feel your mouse hand getting cold. A drafty air-conditioned office makes for an uncomfortable exposed hand if you sit and work all day at the computer. During the winter, a draft or drop in temperature makes your mouse hand cold, too. Sometimes fingers get numb due to the cold air. Keep your mouse hand warm inside a cozy blanket.

The idea for a Mouse Hand Warmer came about after spending many years working long, late hours sitting at a computer. When your mouse hand gets cold there’s really nothing you can do to warm it except stop working or cover it with a warm blanket. That’s why the Mouse Hand Warmer was created.

No wires or cords to get tangled on your desk top. The Mouse Hand Warmer is a contemporary, modern, techie-looking desk accessory in neutral colors of gray fleece with black and white trim. The pouch measures about 12" x 12" with a wide front opening to get your hand into and out of the Mouse Hand Warmer with ease. Fits most mouse sizes, from a standard small mouse to a large ergonomically shaped mouse.

Mouse Hand Warmer is a registered trademark and patented product made in the USA by i-GlobalMall.com, Inc.

For more information, please contact the seller directly through Amazon.com by searching Mouse Hand Warmer.

Mouse Hand Warmer in PC Magazine

2009-02-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

PC Magazine Online recently highlighted the Mouse Hand Warmer in their slideshow of nifty gadgets to keep you warm!

Here's the details of the article on PCMag.com:

Cool Tech Gear for Keeping Warm
Survive the frigid winter temperatures with a pair of USB heating shoes, iPhone gloves, and more.

by Jennifer L. DeLeo

With the temperature dipping as low as 5 degrees here in New York City in the past week, we've witnessed folks walking a bit faster to work just to get indoors, wrapped up in scarves, bubble jackets, and trapper hats. The freezing cold isn't going away anytime soon, either. For 2009, the Farmers' Almanac is forecasting a "numbing winter, with below-average temperatures for at least two-thirds of the country." Oh, wonderful.

Since we can't make spring arrive any faster, we're just going to have to deal with the winter weather somehow. Luckily, technology can help. So bundle up and keep warm all winter with these handy tech accessories, including USB heating shoes, iPhone gloves, and a mouse hand warmer.

Here are some of the products featured in today's Cool Tech Gear for Keeping Warm slideshow:

DOTS iPhone Gloves
Now you can answer a phone call from your iPhone without taking off your gloves. The iPhone Gloves from DOTS contain two smooth "dots" on each hand so that you can operate your touch-screen smartphone easily through the gloves. Available in medium or large sizes, choose from Knit ($15) or Wool ($20).

Mouse Hand Warmer
It's hard to be productive at your computer when you've got cold hands. Your mouse hand will be warmer in no time with the Mouse Hand Warmer ($19.95): It's like a fleece blanket for your hand! All you do is slide a mouse pad through the pouch, put your hand inside, and you'll still be able to use your mouse while keeping your hand warm. When using a USB-powered mouse, there's a small slit in the pouch to slip the cord through. The Mouse Hand Warmer measures 12 by 12 inches and fits any size computer mouse.

Now check out the rest of the Cool Tech Gear for Keeping Warm slideshow, including USB Heating Shoes, Vornado TouchStone Vortex Heat 600, LimbGear Noggin Net, 12-Hour Heated Socks, Verseo Thermo Soles Rechargeable Heated Insoles, Martinson-Nicholls Toasty Toes Heated Footrest, Rossignol Hit Stretch Insulated Women's Ski Jacket, and Sanyo Eneloop Kairo Light Warmer.

Muscle Imbalance and Chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries

2009-02-08T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Mouse Hand Warmer
Heated Warm Mouse, Heated Warm Mouse Pad & Mouse Warmer Blanket

by: Jeff P. Anliker, LMT
e-healtharticles.com

Injuries can occur anywhere and at anytime, but the most prevalent place of occurrence is in the workplace. The reason for such a high rate of injury is that people spend 8-18 hours a day, 5-7 days a week performing unidirectional (one-way) movement patterns, causing an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system that results in the overuse and under use of certain muscle groups. If left unchecked, these injuries can be come chronic, resulting in pain and dysfunction that can last for years.

Usually, when one muscle group is overused, the opposing muscle group, acting as a stabilizer, becomes underused. When this imbalance establishes itself in the musculoskeletal system, the body does not function as designed. Instead of muscles working together to perform a specified function, they work against each other, causing the body to exert more energy to perform the same task that previously was perceived by the body as “simple”.

When muscles become too short and tight, they lose their strength as they are in a chronic semi-contracted state and cannot contract (shorten) efficiently due to being pre-fatigued and the fact that they are already in a state where they are too short for proper function. If a muscle is already in a shortened, semi-contracted state, it cannot contract, or shorten very far. And the farther a muscle can contract (shorten) and move, the greater the strength and endurance the muscle will have. Chronically tight, restrictive muscles just don’t function very well and they impinge structures around and beneath them such as nerves and blood vessels, causing disorders like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and many other associated Repetitive Strain injuries. Short muscles also pull bones out of alignment, which causes a joint imbalance, often resulting in severe pain and dysfunction.

The same goes for underused muscles. Underdeveloped muscles are weak due to lack of direct stimulation. Weak muscles are usually too long, unless they are in a state of spasm, which occurs as a protective response in order to keep from being overstretched. Weak underdeveloped muscles cannot act as efficient stabilizers when the opposing muscle(s) are called into action, which again causes a joint imbalance to develop, as weak muscles cannot stabilize bones in their proper position / alignment. Weather a muscle is short and tight or long and weak, the strength and length imbalance of the affected muscle(s) must be corrected for the body to function optimally without pain, dysfunction and reduced mobility of the involved muscles / joints.

Muscle imbalances are the cause of most biomechanical disorders in the body. From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, an existing muscle imbalance is at the root cause of the disorder in 90% of the cases. Too many modalities focus on the “band-aid principal”, allowing the muscle imbalance go on for years with a little bit of relief here and there. Now is the time to focus on the actual “cause(s)” of these disorders and eliminate them altogether. With the appropriate exercise and stretch routine, most musculoskeletal disorders can be eliminated quickly and effectively.

Correcting muscle imbalances is achieved through a process consisting of a number of stretches and exercises. Soft-tissue treatment and hot/cold therapy may be utilized to help expedite the rate of recovery if it is so desired. Usually the nature of performing both stretches and exercises within the same program can be quite effective at eliminating the existing condition without the addition of the soft tissue treatment and hydrotherapy. Word of caution; there is a treatment sequence to addressing muscle imbalances if the best results are to be achieved. If random stretches and exercises are performed, an individual may cause themselves more harm than good.

A general rule when addressing a chronic muscle imbalance is to execute the following program:

1. Heat Therapy*: Use heating-pad 5 Min. to warm the affected joint and surrounding muscles, preparing them for upcoming stretches and exercises. (Be sure that all sides of the joint and surrounding muscles are warmed-up.)

2. Soft-Tissue Treatment*: Soft tissue treatment utilizing Effleurage and Trigger Point Therapy to reduce muscle spasm and relax the tight, restrictive overused muscles can be very effective in correcting muscle imbalances. (Utilizing Transverse Friction Massage (TFM) on specifically weak, injured muscles and/or tendons to break down adhesions on the soft tissues can also be very effective in reducing overall pain and dysfunction.) Performing basic massage to the tight muscles is the easiest way to address the issue without getting too complex.)

3. Stretching Routine: Once the muscles are warmed up, stretching the tight, restrictive muscle group is key to increasing their length and reducing their impingement of surrounding tissues as well as reducing their effect on the misalignment of the joint. (Stretching the weak, underdeveloped muscles is not recommended as they are already too long and do not need to be lengthened further.)

4. Exercise Routine: Once the tight restrictive muscles have been lengthened from the stretches, it is time to exercise the opposing muscle group, the one that is weak and underdeveloped, in order to shorten and strengthen the muscles in order to reduce the tensile stresses imposed on them from the opposing tight muscle group. Exercising and strengthening the weak underdeveloped muscles not only forces the opposing muscle group to relax and lengthen further, but it also helps to maintain the length created in those muscles from the previous stretches. (Do not perform stretches after the exercises as this misaligns the joints and causes muscle rebounding. Always perform stretches first when addressing chronic muscle imbalances and then immediately follow with exercises.)

5. Contrast Bath*: Utilizing a contrast bath at the end of the complete routine can be helpful in reducing muscle spasm, remove toxins from the muscles and increase circulation and overall nutrient flow to the injury, helping to aid an increase the speed of recovery. Basic procedure is 3-minutes heat to 1-minute of cold. Repeat 3-times, finishing with cold.

*Optional Part of Treatment

This general treatment program for chronic repetitive strain injuries resulting from muscle imbalances is very effective and often eliminates all of the symptoms previously associated with the injury, quickly and effectively. Always consult a physician before beginning any type of exercise or treatment program.

Remember, Your Health is in Your Hands!

Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of training systems that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers, Musicians, Athletes and Medical Facilities around the world for rehabilitation and performance enhancement.

Warm gadget blips on mouse hand

2009-02-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

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. ... READ ABOUT IT HERE.

See the Mouse Hand Warmer here.

You wouldn’t like me when I'm angry

2009-02-07T18:39:00.000-08:00

Oh, Dusty... Sore muscles, hand pain, shoulder tension..... Keep your mouse hand warm. Get yourself a warm mouse from IGMproducts.com

By Dusty Plunkett
The Times-Journal

Recently I went to the doctor and was pretty ecstatic to find out that I didn’t have the Mad Cow Disease in my right shoulder muscles. I seem to be afflicted with something slightly less devastating. One suggested treatment involves me starting to use my computer mouse left-handed.

Being a fan of following the doctor’s orders to better my well being, I decided to take on this challenge. The good news is I am beginning to develop somewhat ambidextrous computer skills.

The bad news is the extra stress from trying to go lefty-loosey on the mouse has caused my left eye to twitch pretty consistently for the past 72 hours. However, this didn’t raise as much concern as when I was prescribed a 6-day packet of steroid pills. On the one hand I want to get better, but on the other hand I don’t want to be named in the Mitchell Report and have to testify before Congress.

I’m just saying that even if steroids are used in small legally prescribed doses to help cure what ails you, it’s just not something you want to take lightly. Having said that, anytime you can take a medication where the side effects include breaking the home run record and winning the Tour de France, it probably wouldn’t hurt to ask whether or not they are available in quick-release gel caps.

Sure there might also be shortness of breath, but that’s just from running around the bases so many times after you hit all of those home runs. So it may cause redness and irritation of the eyes? Well yeah, your eyes would be red and irritated too if you had all of that wind hitting you in the face as you were pedaling your bicycle like a mad man up the Pyrenees Mountains.

Other than those minor setbacks I really haven’t had any complications from the steroid packet.

I mean, there was that one morning when I woke up in the middle of the desert with my clothes ripped to shreds Incredible Hulk style. I’ve also had minor episodes of blacking out for a few minutes, but it’s really not that big of a deal once I get my wits about me and clean up all of the furniture that someone has tossed around my room. It’s just – I’m sorry, I feel a dizzy spell coming on. Can you give me just a minute?

Is anyone else warm in here? I’m just starting to sweat a little bit.

Heart rate increasing – temperature rising – rage – taking over –

Must –

finish –

column –

before someone –

gets hurt –

RRAAARRRRGGHHH.

Mouse hand warmer celebrates April 2009 Occupational Therapy Month

2009-02-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Solve painful, cold mouse hand problems with infrared healing heated computer devices. Join the American Occupational Therapy Association's April 2009 celebration. Occupational Therapy Month month is right around the corner.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 31, 2009 – Occupational Therapy intervention is one of the most promising, results-oriented job-savers a person can experience within a lifetime. A healthy, healing intervention saves jobs, restores hope, a worker's self-confidence and self-esteem. This story is about the loss of hand movement, and the positive results of an OT intervention.

Losing the function of a hand can be devastating, especially when the hand is needed to work at the computer all day. Finding a new job is not easy and almost impossible in today's economic situation. Rehabilitating an injury is a lot of work. Of the two choices, we choose rehabilitation. The alternative of not holding a job isn't an option.

The loss of the use of a person's computer mouse hand due to arthritis and poor circulation can make everyday computer tasks painful and dreadful. The pain from a sick computer mouse hand causes the hand to cramp, freeze and fingers become numb. Pills aren't always the solution and aren't an attractive idea. The only relief is not working, and it is not a suggested option.

Most occupational interventions rely upon ingenuity and creativity. For our computer mouse hand injury, we relied upon a mouse hand warmer blanket pouch to hold the computer mouse and mouse pad. The blanket is made of fleece and covers the computer user's hand completely creating a warm house for the mouse and mouse pad. We inserted inside the mouse hand warmer blanket pouch an USB heated mouse and USB heated mouse pad to generate heat inside the blanket pouch housing.

The USB heated devices are designed with a carbon fiber. Carbon fiber generates infrared heat. Infrared heat is healing. The sun is an example of the natural source of infrared heat. The Eastern Medical profession has been using the healing effects of infrared heat for thousands of centuries. The Western world is starting to catch on to the healing effects of infrared heat through infrared saunas and now occupational computer devices.

It is documented proof by therapists and physicians worldwide, 20-30 minutes per day of infrared heat has healing effects on an injury, in this case, of the hand. I conducted a 4 week study using a mouse hand warmer blanket, an infrared heated mouse and infrared heated mouse pad with a person who suffers with arthritis and poor circulation of the computer mouse hand. After three weeks of 30 minutes of daily use, the right hand is healed. There's no cold, cramp, pain or discomfort in the person's right mouse hand.

The use of the hand for computer related work is not going to fade or go away soon. As a matter of fact, the occupational related hand injuries will increase based on the continued widespread computer use activity. The first computer mouse turned 40 years old in 2008, and introducing the healing effects of infrared heated computer mouse and mouse pad is being made in 2009. We've come a long way, and we have a long road ahead.

For more information about the healing effects of infrared heated computer devices visit IGMproducts.com. To receive free samples of the products and to review the products for your OT needs, please visit IGMproducts.com and send an email using the Contact Us email function or write to Webmaster(at)IGMproducts.com

# # #

About IGMproducts.com: Mouse Hand Warmer is a fleece blanket for your mouse hand. Many computer users who sit and work at the computer for long hours suffer with an exposed, cold mouse hand. The Mouse Hand Warmer products available at IGMproducts.com solve the cold mouse hand problem using healing infrared heat. If you are a hand therapist or in the field of OT, please contact us today for free samples or our healing products.

FREE warmer for mouse hand at Grammy's

2009-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

Grammy Janet's Place is sponsoring a free giveaway of the Mouse Hand Warmer blanket pouch from IGMproducts.com. The hand warmer is like a mouse pad with a warm, cozy, cuddly fleece blanket cover for your mouse hand. See the picture above.

To enter the giveaway, visit Grammy's. Click Here for details.

Visit Grammy's

Visit IGMproducts

Grammy's current mouse hand warmer giveaway - enter NOW!

2009-01-28T08:01:00.000-08:00

As part of the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival, Grammy Janet's Place is sponsoring a free giveaway for a Mouse Hand Warmer mouse pad mouse blanket pictured above. To join the competition, visit Grammy Janet's Place and follow the instructions.

One Mouse Hand Warmer is being given away to someone in the USA. The Mouse Hand Warmer is from IGMproducts.com.

Click here to join the giveaway fun!

Warm your mouse hand this winter

2009-01-26T19:23:00.000-08:00

The colder it gets the quicker we think to turn up the heat. Well, nowadays, the cost of heating doesn't always outway the benefits. So, as an alternative, we sit and work in the cold. It gets so cold sometimes our mouse hand freezes with numbness. Not good. Not wise. We need relief.

As posted on i4U.com, the mouse hand warmer blanket is a cozy fleece cover for your exposed mouse hand. It's like crawling under the covers on a cold winter night. The mouse hand warmer blanket works alone or with your other favorite USB heated, warming computer gadgets.

Are you a nerd or a geek? If so, you may want to try on this hand blanket to keep snuggly warm this winter.

PC Magazine's cold mouse hand solution

2009-01-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

It's new this year, and it's getting a lot of great press. A computer gadget designed to insulate body heat under the covers! If you or someone you know has a cold mouse hand because it's exposed to chilly air or drafts, try a mouse warmer blanket from IGMproducts.com.

A mouse hand warmer constructed of fleece blanket fabric has a non slip bottom and is large enough to fit any size hand. The colors are high tech and look great on the desk top. The photo above was recently featured in PC Magazine.

For more detailed product information, Click Here.

Idióta kacatok blogs about keeping your cold mouse hand warmer

2009-01-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

from Idióta kacatok

OK. So, we can't speak the language on Idiota Kacatok, but we can certainly get the jest of what's being said. So, if you have a cold mouse hand and want to keep your mouse hand warm, slip your cold mouse hand inside the Mouse Hand Warmer -- a blanket designed to keep your mouse hand covered while you are computer mousing from IGMproducts.com!

For more details read the PRWEB Press Release.

Mouse Hand Warmer: Making Sure Your Fingers are not Lonesome Tonight!

2009-01-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

from Trends Update

Sitting hours together in front of your system for your job or for the heck of it can cause serious problems in the long term and if you do not get proper physical exercise, then it could complicate things. But apart from the health hazards, have you ever felt that your hands got too cold on that chilly night or in an office where you had no control over the AC settings? You can cover yourself up completely, but that still leaves your mouse hand open. Here is a new way to keep your mouse hand warm even when it is cold outside.

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. Designed by IGMproducts.com, the mouse hand warmer really keeps your fingers warm and makes sure that the pace of the work is not hampered along with the comfort factor. Mouse Hand Warmer can be used with all sizes and types of mouse and while the technology is patent-pending, it really is a simple and practical solution to cold hands.

It measures about 12 x 12 inches and has plenty of room inside for freedom of computer mouse hand movement. So if you work late night and if it really gets cold and lonesome for your fingers, then you know what you need to get to keep them warm and cozy!

UK Ecoen Ecommerce Computer Industry's Newest Gadget

2009-01-19T15:29:00.000-08:00

Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad Computer Industry's Newest Gadget - PR Web (press release)

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 today featured in PC Magazine.

Computer Geek Gadgets: The Nerd Cold-Hand Problem Fix

2009-01-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

from BOLT Disney Movie

It doesn't take long for the computer user's hand to get cold working in this chilly winter weather. And, according to Author Anna Miller, a person does not need to be a NASA Rocket Scientist or Disney Computer Artist to suffer with this cold hand phenomenon sweeping the computer nerd's world.

Products available online help remedy the cold computer mouse hand problem. There are USB connected geeky computer gadgets and there are earth friendly blankets which use no electricity. Most of the items are made in China with the exception of one item Made int the USA!

Click here to read the entire article on Ezine Articles.

Click here to see Hand Warmer Blanket.

Click here to visit Made in the USA Forever!

Made in USA Forever solves cold mouse hand problem

2009-01-14T15:53:00.001-08:00

If you haven't visited the Made in USA Forever website yet, it's time you do. The owner is committed to the American made products and offers a variety of goods from clothing to computer gadgets. And, the people at MadeInUSAForever.com are really nice to deal with online. Whether you're in the market for new toys or just want to browse, click here.

We should all become more Made in USA minded when we decide to purchase something new. Buying American made products helps our economy and keeps American's employed. Plus, the workmanship standards and fabrication quality is higher than some overseas manufactured items.

The next time you shop online check out the Made in USA Forever website. The prices are perfect and the customer service is ideal!

NEW PRODUCT MadeInUSAForever = Mouse Hand Warmer Blanket for Cold Computer Hand.

Zimbio about over worked mouse hand chronic cold hand

2009-01-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering how a computer hand can get over worked, click here. A chronic cold hand can be the sign of an over worked computer mouse hand. Does your mouse hand get cold? Surveys conducted on many online forums confirm a computer user's hand gets extremely cold quite often. Read about ways to relieve a cold mouse hand. Click here for more details.

1st Laptop Users keep mouse hand warm not cold

2009-01-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

Chronic Cold Hand Sign of Overworked Mouse Hand on 1st Laptop Blog states if you suffer from chronic cold hands, especially when using a computer mouse, you may want to try the Mouse Hand Warmer to help relieve the pain experienced by the cold. The earth friendly item is avaialble at Etsy, eBay, Amazon and through the manufacturer at http://www.IGMproducts.com. It's not sold in any stores, and if you are interested in reselling the Mouse Hand Warmer, please Click Here or write to the manufacturer directly at Webmaster(at)IGMproducts.com.

Mouse Hand Warmer in Delight Magazine

2009-01-06T13:35:00.000-08:00

If it's not cold enough for you this winter, then you love to be chilled! We think this is the coldest winter ever. But, to make life a little easier to handle, IGMproducts.com offers ways to keep warm. The Mouse Hand Warmer, featured in "Stuff that Delights Us" in the January issue of Delight Magazine, helps keep your mouse hand protected from wintery drafts and chills. Plus, use coupon code DELIGHT during check out for an extra 10% off your complete purchase. There's free shipping and no sales tax at IGMproducts.com. So, if you suffer with a cold mouse hand, suffering is over at a huge discount over department store prices!

Click Here. Go to page 13 on Delight Magazine.

ICONOCAST: Health, Science, and eMarketing Info for Cold Mouse Hand

2008-11-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

ICONOCAST: Health, Science, and eMarketing Info

It's that time of the year again when we sit and work at the computer with a freezing cold mouse hand. Iconocast has a couple of items for you to browse. The Mouse Hand Warmer keeps your mitts cold by Coolest Gadgets, and Mouse Hand Warmer Mouse Pad Computer Industry's Newwest Gadget by PRWeb.

Click here to view ICONOCAST.

Get your mouse hand warmer gadgets, gizmos and mojos working

2008-11-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

Sitting alone and working on those cold winter nights just got a little better according to Gadgets & Gizmos! The Mouse Hand Warmer is a blanket for your mouse hand. No more cold mouse hands! Click here to see the computer gadget computer hand blanket.

PRLOG free press release about the computer industry's latest gadget

2008-11-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

PRlog.com offers free press releases. In the computers section, the latest news about the computer industry gadgets can be found. If you want a warm fleece blanket to keep your mouse hand warm, try the latest new product by IGMproducts.com. It's appropriately called the Mouse Hand Warmer.

See the product here: IGMproducts.com.

fav.or.it - Your News, Your Views keeps your cold mitts warm

2008-11-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

from fav.or.it

There's news and views on fav.or.it about keeping warm this winter. I guess the hand warmer designed for computer users can be used any time of the year -- especially in an air-conditioned room.

Gadgets & Richness: Daily gadgets, computers, electronic news

2008-10-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

From funponsel

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

2008-10-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T19:04:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T23:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

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:

We give decision-makers the background and resources needed to be more successful.
We connect business to the Internet and help customers find you.
We combine the right technologies for you to receive the highest return on investment.

Mouse Hand Warmer keeps your mitts cold

2008-10-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

Cool Gadgets News Blog

A list of cool gadgets in the news!

BlogVasion - There's something peculiar going on here

2008-10-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-10-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

Mouse Hand Warmer on Etsy.com

2008-10-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-18T23:11:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-17T21:01:00.001-07:00

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

2008-10-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

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??

2008-10-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-04T19:09:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-10-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Computer mouse hand pain caused by the cold

2008-09-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Hand pain associated with cold weather is a bothersome ordeal when work needs to get done. The computer mouse hand pain is associated with several different factors. Many people suffer from carpal tunnel conditions and others suffer from a cold mouse hand. The mouse hand syndrome is yet to be clearly defined by the medical experts. Some people say an exposed mouse hand causes something termed as "mouse hand." Others say it's poor circulation and the position of the arm and hand causing the limb to get cold.

Personally, my mouse hand gets cold when I work long hours sometimes into late hours of the night during the winter. At times, when the air conditioning is blowing a draft in my office, my mouse hand gets extremely cold.

There's a solution! Just like crawling inside bed and under the covers to keep warm, a mouse hand blanket covers the mouse hand keeping it warm. The mouse hand blanket relieves the cold and body heat is generated inside.

We wear gloves to keep our hands warm, and we slip our mouse hand inside a warm fleece blanket to keep it warm as we work. To read more about this amazing discover, Click Here.

A novel idea addresses cold mouse hand syndrome

2008-09-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Never have a cold mouse hand again!

News & Views - New Product Reviews:

Just released, a warm, cozy blanket for your mouse hand in a practical, modern design. There's nothing goofy looking or impractical about it. The Mouse Hand Warmer available at IGMproducts.com solves winter woes of cold mouse hand. Available online at several ecommerce sites like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and IGMproducts.com with free shipping within the USA.

If you've ever sat and worked holding your computer mouse for many hours or into the midnight hours, you'll appreciate this little geek gadget. Click here for more details.

Office temperature - Does your hand get cold?

2008-09-14T14:35:00.000-07:00

A cool office temperature is good for the equipment and may not be as good for you. If your hand gets cold working at the computer, slip your cold hand inside a Mouse Hand Warmer.

By Tim Bryce

One of the touchiest subjects in any office is the room temperature. This has probably touched off more arguments in the office than just about anything else. It may seem like a small thing but people tend to be passionate about the temperature.When it comes to controlling the thermostat, women typically like to turn it up, while men turn it down.

There are pros and cons to keeping the office cool or warm. If it is cool, people tend to be more alert but it may also affect the joints (as anyone with arthritis can tell you). Interestingly, certain office equipment, such as computers, operate better under cooler temperatures. On the other hand, a warm room on a cold winter day is welcomed by just about everyone, but if it becomes too warm, especially on a summer day, it can put people to sleep particularly after lunch. It can also cause people to slowly become irritable, impatient and irrational which isn't exactly conducive for a cooperative work environment.

If you leave the temperature to the employees to control, you'll probably hear the thermostat click up and down like a pogo stick which inevitably drives heating and air conditioning bills sky high. If you're an office manager, you would be wise to put a lock on the thermostat and hide the key. Whatever you do, don't turn the temperature over to the employees by a show of hands. I've seen this done and believe it or not has led to a division in the employees and hurt morale. As manager, you are responsible for controlling the work environment which includes the temperature of the room as well as other things, such as noise and cleanliness.

As for me, I'm of the school of keeping it "cool" as I would rather keep the employees more alert during the work day. If you've got a problem with it, they've got this new thing out to keep you warm: sweaters.

Winters coming - keep your mouse hand warm

2008-09-12T22:19:00.000-07:00

It's said cold hands are caused by poor circulation. Not always true. Talk to the computer geek in your family and he/she will confess, an exposed mouse hand gets cold. Working long hours sitting at a computer can cause your mouse hand to get cold and your fingers numb. This is not a joke, it's the truth!

There are a variety of computer geek gadgets on the market promising to keep your mouse hand warm, and believe me, we have tried them all! There's a warm mouse that's not ergonomic. It just makes your mouse hand sore. There's a USB warming mouse pad that overheats and there's not enough room inside to move your mouse hand around freely.

Before you spend money on a Mouse Hand Warmer consider the best item we've found. It's a cozy, fleece insulating blanket for your mouse hand. No electricity. No wires or cords to get tangled on your desk. The Mouse Hand Warmer is sold on Amazon.com, Etsy.com and at IGMproducts.com.

See the photo above, and click here for more details.

Mouse Hand Warmer on Wikipedia

2008-09-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

from Wikipedia

A mouse hand warmer is a computer gadget used to keep the mouse hand covered and warm. It is constructed of warm, soft, polyester, fleece blanket material and used to cover the exposed mouse hand. It is a computer accessory and can be used by computer users of all ages.

Under normal conditions, the computer user's mouse hand is exposed to air, drafts in air-conditioned rooms, or winter chilled temperatures. After hours of exposure and working at the computer a person's mouse hand can get cold and the finger tips get numb. A mouse hand warmer covers the mouse hand and keeps it warm.

A mouse hand warmer is energy-efficient and uses no electricity. The fleece blanket fabric acts as an insulator. Using heat generated by the body, the mouse hand stays warm inside a mouse hand warmer. When a person's mouse hand gets cold, the only relief is to stop working, and most of the time that's not an option. Using a mouse hand warmer allows a person to continue working by relieving the cold hand.

A mouse hand warmer is unique in that it is designed specifically for the mouse hand. It looks like a pouch or case in which a standard sized mouse pad and a person's favorite mouse fits inside. The average size of a mouse hand warmer is about 12" x 12" and has a non-slip surface to prevent movement of the mouse pad while working. The front of a mouse hand warmer is designed to accommodate an optical connected mouse or an USB connected mouse. A person using a mouse hand warmer has plenty of room inside to use the mouse keeping one's hand covered and warm.

Mouse Hand Warmer - Listmania!

2008-09-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

from Amazon Listmania!

A Listmania! list by Mouse Hand Warmer "Computer Gadgets" (California). Share this with all your Computer Geek Friends!

The list author says:

"My mouse hand used to get really cold when I'd sit and work long hours at the computer. Now, I keep my mouse hand covered with a warm blanket. You can get the Mouse Hand Warmer on Amazon!"

1. Mouse Hand Warmer by Mouse Hand Warmer

The list author says:

"Uses NO ELECTRICITY. Keeps your mouse hand covered by a warm blanket. Constructed of a warm polyester fleece blanket material with a non-slip surface. Fits standard mouse pads and mouse. Hand wash and air dry."

Resolved Question - Have you ever used a MOUSE HAND WARMER?

2008-09-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

from Yahoo Answers by Dorothy

My mouse hand gets really cold, and I see there are lots of questions on Answers about a cold mouse hand. Has anyone tried using a Mouse Hand Warmer? It's not a warm mouse or warm pad. It's actually like a blanket for your mouse hand. Curious? I saw it on Amazon.com and at IGMproducts.com and there's been a lot of blogging about it. I think it would be good gadget to have on hand.

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
I haven't used that one, but I tried the "warming mouse" and it is bad. The mouse is not ergonomic and makes my hand really sore within an hour. There's another USB warming mouse warmer in the shape of a blue fish. It's bad, too. Like a piece of junk made in China.

I think the one you found at http://www.igmproducts.com is more practical, and the price is right with free shipping and no sales tax. That's a deal.

Check out the blogs listed below for more information about the product. Not sure I answered your question, but you may have found the answer to all the Yahoo Answers questions about a cold mouse hand. A blanket makes sense to me! Thanks!!!!

Source(s):
http://www.igmproducts.com/
http://www.mousehandwarmer.com/
http://www.handwarmer.org/
http://www.contemporaryloft.com/
http://www.i-globalmall.com/

Mouse Hand Warmer

2008-09-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

from Amazon Amapedia

The Mouse Hand Warmer is new, and there’s nothing like it on the market. It’s $19.95 price includes Free USA Domestic Ground Shipping & Sales Tax! It’s the perfect gift idea for computer users. A new Geek Gadget just in time for the holidays!

Keeps your mouse hand covered by a warm blanket. Constructed of a warm polyester fleece blanket material with a non-slip surface. Fits standard mouse pads. Hand wash and air dry.

Instructions: Slip a standard sized mouse pad inside the Mouse Hand Warmer. If using a wireless mouse, the net front provides a clear optical connection. When using an USB connected mouse, slip the cord through a small slit opening made in the center front net. Easy to keep clean by hand washing with a mild detergent and air drying.

The Mouse Hand Warmer is hand made in the USA. It’s energy-effecient and uses NO electricity. Heat is generated from your body and insulated inside a warm, cozy fleece blanket pouch.

The Mouse Hand Warmer is an inexpensive way to keep your mouse hand warm during chilly weather or whenever you feel your mouse hand getting cold. A drafty air-conditioned office makes for an uncomfortable exposed hand if you sit and work all day at the computer. During the winter, a draft or drop in temperature makes your mouse hand cold, too. Sometimes fingers get numb due to the cold air. Keep your mouse hand warm inside a cozy blanket.

The idea for a Mouse Hand Warmer came about after spending many years working long, late hours sitting at a computer. When your mouse hand gets cold there’s really nothing you can do to warm it except stop working or cover it with a warm blanket. That’s why the Mouse Hand Warmer was created.

No wires or cords to get tangled on your desk top. The Mouse Hand Warmer is a contemporary, modern, techie-looking desk accessory in neutral colors of gray fleece with black and white trim. The pouch measures about 12" x 12" with a wide front opening to get your hand into and out of the Mouse Hand Warmer with ease. Fits most mouse sizes, from a standard small mouse to a large ergonomically shaped mouse.

Mouse Hand Warmer is a registered trademark and patented product made in the USA by i-GlobalMall.com, Inc.

For more information, please contact the seller directly through Amazon.com by searching Mouse Hand Warmer. Thank you.

Let your heart warm your hands

2008-08-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

from ThinkGeek

Being cold isn't fun. Vampires know this. That's one of the reasons they drink blood - to keep warm. Well, to celebrate the joys of being a vampire and to help keep your hands warm this winter, we bring you the perfectly named Heart Hand Warmer. But unlike most hand warmers, this one you can use over and over again. And, you don't have to pop it in the microwave to heat up.

The magic with the heart hand warmer is in the metal disc you see inside it. All you do is click the disc back and forth a few times and you'll see the clearish gel inside become opaque. As the opaqueness spreads, so does the heat! It's a crazy chemical reaction which we like to call AWESOME! Seriously, the pretty red gel is a supersaturated solution. Bending the disc starts an exothermic crystallization of the gel (i.e. it goes opaque and gets hot). And when it loses its warmth, all you have to do is wrap it in a towel and throw it into boiling water for about 15-20 minutes and the Heart Hand Warmer resets itself. Once it cools off from its boiling bath, it is ready to be used again. A great, fun way to keep your fingers warm this winter. Got a chilly butt? Then slip it in your back pocket. Just be careful when you sit down.

Dimensions: approx 3.75" wide

Added Bonus: You can pop the heart hand warmer in the fridge for a few hours and use it as a cooling pack too!

Cold mouse hand rantings every perspective

2008-08-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

COLD HANDS
By LISA BEYER/JERUSALEM

For one man it was a giant leap. For the peace process, not quite a small step. Before his election as Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu had sworn he would never deign to meet Yasser Arafat, a man he considered little more than a terrorist. Last week, however, Netanyahu was finally nudged into a handshake with the Palestinian leader. It was an enormous psychological hurdle for the Israeli leader. His Palestinian partners, though, felt as if they were beginning a relationship from scratch.

Denials notwithstanding, Netanyahu had plainly been pressured into the summit. In his first three months in office he had assiduously shunned Arafat and frozen plans to expand Palestinian self-rule, as promised in previously signed accords. Then Israeli intelligence agencies began warning that as a result, Arafat was fast losing standing among his people and that instability, perhaps violence, might follow. Finally, Israel's dovish President, Ezer Weizman, threatened publicly that if Netanyahu would not meet Arafat, he would. Netanyahu agreed to a summit.

The summit produced no breakthroughs on the next steps of interim Palestinian self-rule: an Israeli redeployment in Hebron, the last major Palestinian city still under full occupation, plus further withdrawals in the West Bank. To Palestinian dismay, Netanyahu insisted on reopening the Hebron agreement already completed by the previous Labor government. And while Netanyahu said last week that he may eventually be prepared to start discussions on the final status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, those negotiations had already begun under Labor. Publicly, Arafat's aides praised last week's summit, but privately they expressed reservations. Said one: "We are not satisfied, and we are not hopeful."

________________

Cold hands, bright snow, dead batteries: challenges of cold-weather photography
by Find Articles

Snow may work white magic on the landscape, but it works black magic on photographs-and photographers. Few situations are as hard on you and your camera, or as tricky for your light meter.

The following tips can help you make photographing in snow easier and more effective, especially if you use a 35mm camera with adjustable settings.

Your equipment: avoid the big chill

If your camera depends on batteries for power, watch out. Cells are usually the first things to fail in the cold. Read your manual to learn what happens when your camera's batteries die. Some models quit altogether; other types with variable shutter speeds default to a single, fixed speed (usually 1/60 or 1/125 second).

If your camera switches to an unchangeable speed, you can still shoot if you can manually set the F-stop. To determine the correct exposure, use a handheld light meter or consult the printed guidelines that come with your film.

The best defense: keep batteries warm. Zip your camera inside your jacket between pictures. Or stow it in a camera bag. Tuck a hand warmer in the bag, too, being sure it doesn't touch the camera or acccssories. Check it often to make sure it isn't scorching your bag. Warmers, about $3 at sporting goods stores, can last several hours at a time.

And always carry spare batteries, stored in a warm, dry, inside pocket. Cut down condensation

Moisture can harm electronic and metal parts, especially if droplets freeze. Outdoors, try not to breathe on your camera; it causes condensation. Keep your camera in its case or bag when not in use; breathe away from it when shooting.

When you come in from the cold, you may see droplets forming on your gear. Beforeheading in, put all gear in your camera bag and close it up. The air inside will warm slowly, reducing or eliminating condensation. If you use your camera before it warms up, wipe off drops as they form. If getting into a car, stow gear in the unheated trunk.

Fend off frozen fingers

To set exposures and focus in cold weather, your fingers need to be both warm and nimble. Thin polypropylene gloves (about $8) or convertible wool mittens ($15, shown at middle right) afford a measure of both. Look for them in sporting goods stores and mountaineering .shops. You can try fingerless wool gloves ($9), though they don't offer as much protection. Don't let your camera go snow-blind Most light meters are averaging meters: they collect all the light in a scene, then give the proper exposure for the middle shades. In most situations, this means white comes out white, black looks black. But in a snow scene, the overabundance of white skews the averaee. Your camera doesn't let in enough light, and you end up with pictures of gray snow and dark faces. How you compensate for all that white depends on what kind of gear you use:

Automatic cameras. Some automatic cameras let you lock in an exposure. Move in close for a reading that measures your subject no snow lock that exposure in, then back up and shoot. For landscapes, lock in a reading on a relatively snowless part of the scene, then shoot.

If you can't manually override your camera's automatic settings, divide your film's ASA (ISO) number by four. Set your camera's ASA to that number. For ASA 400 film, for example, set your camera's meter to ASA 100. Note: If you decide to photograph a snowless situation on the same roll, remember to set the ASA back to 400.

Manual cameras. Take a close-up reading of your subject; that's your exposure.

If you can't lock in exposure or override the ASA (some cameras fix the ASA per a code on the film), include as little sunlit snow in your pictures as possible.

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Cold Hands?
by Nick Quarrier MHS PT OCS

Do you have cold hands much of the time? Especially before a performance? And even if the room is hot? If yes, you may be interested in this information.

Cold hands are a sign of an overactive autonomic nervous system. More specifically, the signs of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Our emotional and physiological self are controlled by the autonomic nervous system - a system that increases and decreases our heart rate, breathing rate, etc. One group of nerves "speeds" us up and one group of nerves "slows" us down. These groups are known as the sympathetic nerves and parasympathetic nerves. When the sympathetic nerves are fired (stimulated) the heart rate increases and blood is shunted from our hands, feet, and abdomen to our large muscle groups such as thighs and hips. Many muscles tense during this stimulation. This is a primitive reflex response which prepares us to flee from a threatening situation. (remember in high school biology the fight or flight response?) The parasympathetics, when stimulated, slows the heart rate down, causing rest, relaxation, and eventually sleep. During parasympathetic stimulation blood flows throughout the body and into the abdomenal organs (to help digestion, etc).

We live in a world that causes a domination of sympathetic nervous system stimulation. Every time we drive in an automobile, more than likely our sympathetics are fired and our muscles tense as we maneuver through a threatening environment. On the job stress stimulates the sympathetics, athletic performance stimulates the sympathetics, and musical performance stimulates the sympathetics. If you feel stressed out much of the time, more than likely your sympathetics are firing. This constant firing of sympathetics can bias the body's muscles into a continuous state of contraction or increased tension. This tension is easily noticed in a piano player practicing a difficult and demanding score and is evident by the shoulders elevating and being held rigidly. As the blood is shunted from the hands there is a reduced amount of nutrients and oxygen available to feed those muscles that are wroking so hard to play the notes! And thus there is no wonder why soreness in the hands and forearms may develop!

One important factor in preventing a music related injury or in recovering from an injury is to make sure the muscles doing all the work are well fed with nutrients and oxygen. The sympathetic nervous system must be controled. Yes, we need the sympathetics to excite us and assist in us in many of our activities. But we must not let them rule and dominate our bodies. How can we control them?

One of the most effective ways to reduce the sympathetic nervous system firing and to increase the parasympathetic nervous system (to relax us and circulate more blood to distal muscles) is to deep breath. We have always heard, "relax, calm down, take a few deep breaths!" This is sort of true but not totally. By deep breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) a greater quantity of oxygen enters our lungs. And as a greater quantity of oxygen is inhaled, the breathing rate naturally slows down. As the rate slows down carbon dioxide released in exhalation slows down and accumulates in the lungs and in our blood stream. (remember, oxygen is inhaled, carbon dioxide and oxygen is exhaled). Well, as carbon dioxide builds up in our blood a pH change occurs in the blood. As the pH changes the chemical nature of the blood stimulates the parasympathetics to fire! And the heart rate slows, blood flows back to the hands and feet, and relaxation occurs. It is that simple!!! But! It takes a minimum of 10 minutes of deep breathing to get the pH in the blood to change! That is why, "take a few deep breaths" doesn't work to relax us.

So to help warm the hands, reduce tension in the shoulders, help prevent injury, practice deep breathing throughout the day. Deep breath in the car on the way to work, while at the desk, preparing to perform, while watching TV, etc., etc......... It takes some practice, but is extremely rewarding!!!! and Warming!!

________________

Warmer Hands Naturally! Ten Easy Free Tips
from Sound Feelings

Ten easy free tips on how to increase hand warmth naturally, from Sound Feelings. We offer this free cold hands information as self-improvement remedies and secrets to help bad circulation, shallow breathing and stress. These symptoms are known factors of freezing cold hands. Instead of the typical coping techniques of mittens and gloves, unique solutions are suggested. These include physical therapy, nutritional supplements, relaxation and affirmations. Say goodbye to freezing hands! See also: poor circulation, cold hands therapies, cold hands treatments, cold fingers.

The following tips are intended for pianists but are applicable to anyone who has the problem of cold hands.

1 Keep Your Neck and Wrists Covered.

Primary blood vessels come close to the surface of the skin in the neck and wrists. If you keep these areas protected from the air, less heat will escape.

2 Avoid:

tight clothing, smoking, drafts, the wrong calcium supplements and margarine. Tight clothing restricts the blood flow into the extremities. Smoking, of course is known to clog arteries. Drafts affect people sensitive to cold much worse than others. Dolomite or “elemental calcium” can clog blood vessels. “Organic” calcium like bone meal or oyster shell does not do this. Margarine, contrary to popular belief, cannot be absorbed or digested easily into the body. As a result it tends to leave a residue in the arteries which can cause arteriosclerosis, resulting in poor circulation. Also, never eat “hydrogenated vegetable oil” which is the same thing as margarine!

3 Use Exercise or Physical Therapy.

Three exercise movements are helpful for cold hands. (A) While you are standing, rotate the shoulders forward, up and back in a circular motion for about 30 seconds. (B) Rotate the wrists in both directions for a total of 30 seconds. (C) Make a fist without digging the nails into your palm. (The final joint of your fingers is not bent.) Alternatively tense and relax the hands in this position for about 30 seconds.

4 Supplement Your Diet.

All of the following supplements are known to be helpful to improve circulation. Many of them complement one another because they work in different ways. You can find many of the items in health food stores: ginger, fennel, cayenne, potassium, niacin, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, lecithin, Ginkgo Biloba, apple cider vinegar, distilled water, lemon juice in hot distilled water. (Lemon juice in hot distilled water will have an amazing effect on cleansing your liver which is the “heat producer” for your body.) Also if you’re trying to avoid meat for whatever reason, this could be contributing to the problem! Some people just need to eat meat once in a while. Don’t be fanatical. Please allow about 30 days to see if any dietary changes have helped the situation. Also, most people develop a lining of old “mucoid plaque” in their intestines. People who have cold hands tend to have more of this layer than others. The supplements that you want to absorb through your small intestine cannot be absorbed very well if you have this layer of old material. You will see a direct connection in your hand warmth and the removal of old mucoid plaque in your intestines. Here’s what you can do about it.

5 Remove Fear.

The most extreme fear response is called the “fight or flight syndrome.” This is when our adrenal glands produce adrenaline and our physical reactions change. These physical symptoms include cold, sweaty or shaky hands, rapid heart beat, shallow breathing, disorientation, misperception of time, upset stomach, dry mouth, memory lapse and others. This response is named for our reaction to a predator at our cave door during our supposed prehistoric days, to fight or to flee the danger. The adrenaline is nature’s way of giving us the extra quickness of mind and body to make a life or death decision very fast. The down side is that this leaves the body somewhat worn out and tense. Some sensitive people have a tendency to live their whole life in a quasi-fear state so that they are always walking around feeling anxious. As a result, they are constantly experiencing subtle aspects of the fight or flight symptoms, even though they are not conscious of any impending danger. It almost becomes a habit or an addiction. This person’s personality is what one might call a “fear personality.” The solution is to gradually lessen or remove the fear. There are many methods of reducing fear, including psychotherapy, hypnosis, affirmations or plain old willpower.

6 Breathe Deeper.

People with cold hands tend to breathe shallow. Be aware of your breath and occasionally practice deep breathing. Eventually this will become automatic so that you won’t have to think about it. Consider this: the more deeply you breathe, the more oxygen you bring into your system. This oxygen is transferred from the lungs into the bloodstream and it is responsible for the transfer of heat throughout the body. The more oxygen you receive, the warmer you will be.

7 Practice Affirmations.

Affirmations are a way to actually reprogram your subconscious mind. Believe it or not, saying “I have warm hands” to yourself can have a profound effect, if you do it right. First of all, create the statement so that it makes sense to you. (“My hands are warm, Heat comes from my hands, I embrace life with abandon, etc.”) Affirmations only work when you engage your emotions. You must be in a joyful state and you must believe it. If you have doubt or you are negative, it won’t work. Some people repeatedly say or write affirmations in the morning, evening, or at various times throughout the day. Because affirmations are a tool to create a new reality, do not get discouraged while you are currently playing out your previously-created reality. Allow for an overlap of realities with patience.

8 Reduce Stress.

Many people have a healthy stress response. After the stressful event, they move on. But most of us tend to develop cumulative stress that builds and builds. This cumulative stress affects each person differently. Every illness in the world can be attributed to stress. Sometimes the tension is felt literally in the muscles of the body which has a sympathetic influence on the blood vessels. In other words, they constrict over time. With stress reduction techniques, the blood vessels can dilate back to their correct size. There are many different methods of stress reduction. Do some research and find one that seems suitable to your lifestyle.

9 See A Chiropractor.

Although it may sound wierd to most people, consider going to a chiropractor. Even if you don’t have back pain, your spine may be out of alignment, which can affect the proper functioning of your liver and other internal organs, because the spinal cord provides the neural nourishment to each organ. Your liver, among other things, is kind of like the”heat producer” for the body. Think of watering your plants with a hose and the hose becomes kinked and the water won’t come out. That is what could be happening with your liver and it is not working right, as if someone turned off the switch. A chiropractor can detect this and set it right in one visit.

10 In the Meantime, Do Whatever is Necessary.

Until the above suggestions provide a more permanent solution to cold hands, you still should do what it takes to keep your hands warm. This could include the obvious gloves and mittens to the less obvious warming creams, glove warmers and other devices. Also, before you need to play the piano try immersing your hands and forearms into the sink filled with warm water for one minute.

________________

Simple Method Found To Warm Cold Hands
from NY Times

A simple and inexpensive method of training the body to change the way it reacts to cold has proven highly successful in curing victims of a little-known disease that cuts circulation to the hands in cold weather, according to a researcher for the Army.

Using hot water and an ice chest, victims of ailment, Raynaud's disease, can train their body to prevent a routine reaction that leads to restricted circulation to hands and feet as the body saves energy to cope with cold, Dr. Murray Hamlet of the Army's Research Institute of Environmental Medicine said last week.

The curtailment of blood flow is harmless to most people because the circulation will resume after about 10 minutes, Dr. Hamlet said. But Raynaud's victims do not regain circulation to their fingers, causing a painful condition that increases the risk of frostbite and in severe cases can force amputation, he said.

Raynaud's is primarily caused by cold but also can be brought on by emotional stress and by frequent use of vibrating machinery, such as jackhammers and chain saws. For victims whose conditions are prompted by cold, the treatment has proven virtually foolproof in eliminating the problem, Dr. Hamlet said. Condition's Cause Unknown

When the body is exposed to cold, the nervous system constricts blood flow to hands and feet to retain heat. When the temperature of the extremities reaches dangerously low levels, the nervous system in effect throws a switch that dilates blood vessels and restores full circulation, Dr. Hamlet said.

But Raynaud's sufferers do not regain circulation because blood vessels leading to their hands do not dilate as they should. Researchers have been unable to determine what causes the condition, Dr. Hamlet said.

It is unclear how many people have Raynaud's, which occurs predominantly among women, affecting perhaps as many as 10 percent of them, Dr. Hamlet said. Many victims are not aware they have the disease because they think their body's response to the cold is normal, he said.

A procedure originally devised a decade ago by an Army doctor at an laboratory in Alaska to treat the disease has been refined by reasearchers at the Army laboratories here and now is being used more and more by civilian physicians, Dr. Hamlet said. Warm and Cold Water

Three to six times a day, every other day, Raynaud's sufferers undergo a treatment in which they first sit indoors with their hands submerged in warm water and then are put in a cold environment, exposed to the cold except for their hands, which are submerged in an ice chest filled with warm water.

After 50 rounds of treatment, all of the 150 test subjects at the laboratories here were able to venture into the cold without losing circulation to their hands, he said.

''We just retrain those blood vessels to dilate rather than restrict in response to cold,'' Dr. Hamlet said. ''It works extremely well.'' He said the treatment may not work, however, for victims of Raynaud's who developed the disease as a result of other illnesses, such as high blood pressure, arterial disease, drug abuse and trauma.

Dr. David Trentham, medical director of rheumatology at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital, said the success rate of the treatment had not been shown independently of the Army data but that it appeared to work well.

''It's a very innovative and interesting approach and there is an abundance of evidence to indicate why it should work,'' he said. ''It hasn't been confirmed but I think that is largely because it is so new.''

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Cold Hands and Feet
from Care First Library

Chronic cold hands and feet most often are caused by circulatory problems associated with medical conditions. Cold hands and feet can affect men and women of any age, but they are somewhat more common among older adults.

In an older person, cold hands and feet can indicate hardening of the arteries. In a younger person, the condition might mean vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. When hardening of the arteries is the cause, physical exertion may bring on cold hands and feet, and rest may relieve the problem.

The most frequent but often misunderstood condition associated with cold hands and feet is a syndrome called Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's is more common in women and may first appear between the ages of 20 and 50. Raynaud's may appear alone or be part of a more serious disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma or other types of vasculitis. About half of all people with Raynaud's have it alone, while others have Raynaud's as part of a more serious illness.

Raynaud's doesn't cause cold hands and feet, however; it is triggered by exposure to cold or stress. Exposure to cold causes blanching and pain in the extremities of individuals with with Raynaud’s.

People who suffer Raynaud's phenomenon are fine until they are exposed to very cold weather or place their hands or feet in cold water. Normally, your hands and feet will return to normal temperature within minutes after you leave the cold behind. But people with Raynaud's sometimes have cold hands and feet up to an hour after their exposure ends. They may experience cold, pain or a stinging sensation in their hands and feet. Their hands and feet may even appear abnormal after exposure to cold -- they look white, then blue, then red. This occurs in reaction to the blood vessels in the extremities becoming constricted (narrowed) and then taking awhile to dilate (widen).

What to Do
See your physician to rule out a serious condition, such as a major circulatory problem or a connective tissue disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma. People prone to cold hands and feet should be sure to wear warm gloves, socks and shoes in cold weather. They should also exercise care when exposing their hands to cold water by wearing special waterproof gloves. If you know you'll be going somewhere you'll be exposed to cold, wet weather, take an extra pair of gloves and warm shoes or boots in case the first pair gets wet.

Use Medicine Effectively
Medications can be used to treat cold hands and feet. Perhaps the most widely used medications are the class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Aspirin also improves blood circulation. Beta blockers, on the other hand, could worsen this problem.

Self-care Steps for Cold Hands and Feet
If you smoke, quit. Smoking can cause hardening of the arteries.

Use warm gloves, shoes and socks.

Limit your exposure to cold weather and cold water.

Eat a low-cholesterol diet.

Begin a graduated exercise regime with your physician's advice.

Voter Poll: Do you suffer from a cold mouse hand?

2008-08-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

We stumbled upon this data and thought it was appropriate for a blog post:

View Poll Results: Do you Suffer from Cold Mouse Hand Syndrome?

Yes. 35 or 63.64%

No. 12 or 21.82%

Undecided. 8 or 14.55%

Voters: 55. Poll is closed to voting.

Mouse Pads - Choosing the Best Pad for Your Computing Needs

2008-08-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Mouse Pads - Choosing the Best Pad for Your Computing Needs

By Ilse Hagen

A mouse pad is made out of foam rubber with a fabric or plastic top cover, which may be plain or decorated. Other pads feature more unconventional materials such as silicone rubber, glass, wood, stone, recycled rubber tires, leather, cork, aluminum and stainless steel. Other pads are made especially for gaming and are usually made with high-quality materials. Most pads feature a textured or adhesive bottom to keep it from slipping while in use.

The main purpose of a mouse pad is to provide an even, almost flat surface to make mouse movement more accurate. You can place it on a separate mouse tray, but any flat surface (such as the computer table) will do. There are different kinds of mouse pads, each with different purposes.

Kinds of mouse pads:

1. Textured type - This kind comes with a rough surface and is made of thick and long-lasting materials. This is most suitable for roller-type mice.

2. Shiny type - This pad comes with a smooth, glossy surface and is made for optical mice, which use LED light instead of roller balls for tracking. The shiny surface enhances the mouse’s optical light tracking.

3. Ergonomic type – This type comes with a wrist rest that relieves the user from strain from extensive mouse usage. It is designed to prevent hand strain and repetitive stress injury among heavy users.

Tips when buying mouse pads

1. Choose a pad that uses a non-slip material (such as rubber) for backing.

2. Regarding size, it is better to select a thicker pad so that it would be at equal level to your keyboard.

Learn About The Three Basic Types Of Computer Mouse

2008-08-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

The Hamburger USB Mouse for the meat lovers in your life!

Learn About The Three Basic Types Of Computer Mouse

By Bonnie Archer

1) Mechanical: This is a type of computer mouse that has a rubber or metal ball on its underside and it can roll in every direction. Sensors within the mouse, which are mechanical, detect the direction in which the ball is moving and moves the pointer on the screen in the same direction. A mouse pad should be used under the mouse to run on.

2) Optomechanical: This type is the same as the mechanical mouse except that it uses optical sensors to the motion of the ball. A mouse pad should be used under the mouse to run on.

3) Optical: This type uses a laser for detecting the mouse's movement. You don't need a
mouse pad but you can use one made for optical mice. Optical mice do not have any
mechanical moving parts. This type responds more quickly and precisely than the mechanical and optomechanical mice and now that they have been around awhile the price is pretty comparable.

How does a computer mouse hook up to the computer?

Serial mouse: these ones connect directly to an RS-232C serial port or a PS/2port. This is the simplest type of connection.

PS/2 mouse: connects to a PS/2 port.
USB mice

Cordless mouse: These are not physically connected to the computer. They rely on infrared or radio waves to communicate with the computer. Cordless are more expensive than both the serial and bus mouse. The nice thing is that there is no cord to constrain or get in your way.