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We word workers and code warriors needs a rest sometimes. Of course, our computer masters won't actually let us leave our workstations, so we need ways of resting parts of our key-weary bodies while we continue to fight the "digital revolution" (now, if we could only remember what that revolution is about). Kensington Microware, always ready to hawk a new computer accessory, has created a line of wrist pads and mice pillows to keep us propped up at our desks longer, longer, longer. I kid the Kensingtons. Their Sports Contour line of mouse and keyboard pads do offer some help in the ongoing fight against repetitive stress injury. The Contour pads come in various lengths, widths, colors, and materials. The keyboard pads go in front of your keyboard and help support your wrists and keep your arms straight as they go from the rests on your chair to the keyboard. The mouse wrist pads work the same way.
My favorite in the line is the Gel Wrist Pad. It's filled with a thick gel that conforms to the shape of whatever part of your hands rest on it. It's a downright sensual experience (sorta like playing with bread dough). The gel is covered by a smooth lycra fabric that's cool and soothing against you skin. The pad is on a heavy honey-combed rubber base that doesn't slide and won't mar your desktop. I had trouble with the mouse wrist pad. For some reason, my mouse didn't take kindly to the lycra fabric. It makes the mouse ball not roll properly. I thought it might be the mouse on my PC, so I moved it over to my Mac. Same thing. There are also Contour pads that the keyboard sits on (the Platform Wrist Pad), a notebook pad (which acts as both a work platform and a wrist support), and an Extended Platform pad that integrates the keyboard platform, the keyboard rest, the mouse wrist rest and the mouse pad. The Contour line of wrist pads is part of Kensington's Sports line of computer accessories. So, I guess "sports" goes along with all those Net surfing metaphors and the idea that the Net is supposed to be fun, exciting, and interactive. Kensington also has a "Wetsuit" line of portable carrying cases (for CD-ROMS, PDAs, etc.). This must be some cruel attempt to take our minds off the fact that we're all getting fatter sitting in a chair all day, our skin is taking on a Warholesque pallor, and we now wince whenever we see the light of day. Oops, my overseer's about to crack the whip, I better stop this blasphemy and up my keystrokes per minute. - Gareth Branwyn [12/19/97] Check out other Street Tech reviews of ergonomically-minded products: |
