Computer keyboards can be a breeding ground for germs, especially in professional settings when they are shared by co-workers.
Think about it--people cough and sneeze into their hands, then touch the keyboard, and then you touch it...yuk! Or how about in hospital settings, where doctors, nurses and other staff are constantly interacting with germs and then entering information into shared computers? The keyboards are like giant Petri dishes!
A company called Vioguard is gearing up to introduce the first self-disinfecting computer keyboard. It works like this: when the user pushes a button or walks away from the computer, the keyboard automatically withdraws into a compartment, where it is flooded with UV light that reportedly eliminates 99.99% of contamination.
Just think how effective this could be at preventing the spread of disease in hospitals. Genius!
The company expects to begin production in June 2009.
Sneeze photo credit: Evah Smit
Germ-Free PC Peripherals
Vioguard to Offer Self-Sanitizing Keyboards for Germophobes
Trend Themes
1. Self-sanitizing Keyboards - The development of self-disinfecting computer keyboards that use UV light to eliminate 99.99% of contamination presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the hygiene industry.
2. Germ-free Peripherals - The demand for germ-free computer peripherals, such as keyboards, in professional settings and shared environments is a growing trend that offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the technology industry.
3. Hygienic Solutions - The need for hygienic solutions in hospitals and other healthcare settings opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for companies specializing in medical equipment and infection control.
Industry Implications
1. Hygiene Industry - The introduction of self-sanitizing keyboards creates an opportunity for the hygiene industry to provide innovative products that prioritize cleanliness and prevent the spread of germs.
2. Technology Industry - The demand for germ-free peripherals in professional settings presents a potential for the technology industry to develop advanced computer accessories that prioritize hygiene and user health.
3. Medical Equipment Industry - The need for hygienic solutions in hospitals and healthcare facilities offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the medical equipment industry to create specialized devices that enhance infection control measures.