Computer Mouse Breakthroughs & Warm Breaking News

Help Reduce the Onset of Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CTD) & Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) by using a ValueRays Warm Mouse, Warm Mouse Pad inside a Mouse Hand Warmer blanket. The infrared heat rays produced by the USB infrared heaters is insulated inside the blanket pouch creating a therapeutic mouse hand environment.

Is Your Computer Killing You Softly?
Rieva Lesonsky

Being an entrepreneur means working, if not quite 24/7, darn close most days. I spend a good part of my day (and night) on my computers, writing, researching, reading, and Tweeting. As a result, I have occasional wrist pain and an almost constant neck ache.

Brian Bentow, founder and owner of Computer Athlete Media, based in Newport Beach, Calif., and author of The Computer Athlete's Handbook: Your Guide to a Healthier, Happier Techy Lifestyle says that I -- along with millions of other Americans -- am suffering needlessly. Bentow preaches his mission "to help people live happier and healthier techy lifestyles" via his Web site Computer Athlete Central. Intrigued by his message, I contacted Bentow to talk to him about how we can all feel better and be more productive.

Rieva Lesonsky: As technology advances and gets more portable, we entrepreneurs tend to rely on it more and more. We're using computers for many more hours. How big a problem is this?

Brian Bentow: The problem -- that people are suffering from cumulative trauma disorders, serious health issues, and other side effects from their techy lifestyles -- is enormous and pervasive. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 60 percent of people who use a computer for work experience some physical discomfort. This problem also destroys lives and careers, decreases productivity, increases workers compensation costs, and is going to get worse unless we take steps to prevent it.

Lesonsky: Any estimate on the dollar amount of health injuries directly related to computer usage?

Bentow: OSHA reports that the direct costs of repetitive strain injuries (RSI) in the U.S. are between $15 and $20 billion annually.

Lesonsky: What does it cost companies in lost productivity?

Bentow: Any way you look at it, the cost is significant to enormous. An unhappy employee who is in pain is less likely to work hard for your company. In the worst case, you can lose any one of your top employees due to a computer-related injury, on a temporary or permanent basis. It can literally push a company from viability over the edge to a black hole.

Lesonsky: What are most common computer-related injuries? How do most people get hurt?

Bentow: The most common computer-related injuries are carpal tunnel, tenosynovitis (trigger finger), wrist pain, tennis elbow, thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS), and computer back. People get these injuries by slouching, overusing their hands and fingers, stress, and by not keeping their body in neutral positions while using the computer.

Lesonsky: Brian, you say “put your body in a neutral position." Can you explain what this means?

Bentow: In general, the neutral position for a joint is the most natural position for that joint. It also requires the least amount of effort and is typically the midpoint in the range of that joint. For your wrists the neutral position is straight, in line, and roughly parallel to the floor. For your elbows and knees, it is at a 90-degree angle. When all your individual body parts (head, shoulders, knees, hands, wrists, forearms, back, hips, etc.) are in a neutral position, then you have reached the goal of having your body in a neutral position.

Lesonsky: Let's talk about a "cure." What can we do to alleviate these injuries?

Bentow: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In more extreme cases, there could be permanent nerve damage. Treatment depends on the type and severity of your injury. [This can range from] rest, physical therapy, massage, and time to medical intervention.

It is much simpler and less expensive to avoid and prevent injury than it is to treat it once you, or one of your employees, are injured. One of my favorite tips is to use your larger appendages to do more of the work. For example, use a foot pedal to push "Shift" and "Control" with your feet [rather than on the keyboard] which increases blood flow and offloads some work [from your hands] to your legs. You can also push "Shift" and "Control" with your middle and index fingers instead of using your pinky. Also, make sure you buy the right equipment and learn to use it properly.

Lesonsky: What can I do to help my employees in their workspace or cubicles?

Bentow: There is a lot you can do to help your employees compute in comfort. For example, you can provide adjustable height desks, monitor stands, adjustable keyboard trays, adjustable split keyboards, and a vertical computer mouse. All of this can be done on a reasonable budget. You can also provide ergonomic training seminars, ergonomist evaluations, and software to monitor how users spend their time on their computers.

Lesonsky: Chairs are so crucial to ergonomic comfort. What do you recommend?

Bentow: You need a comfortable chair with lumbar support that you can sit in for 5+ hours at a time. Also, because armrests tend to create more problems than they solve -- they can get in the way of keeping your elbows at a neutral 90 degree angle and often support bad habits like using your mouse and keyboard on a surface that is too high -- buy a chair that allows you to remove them. I use a Raynor Executive Leather Chair with lumbar support with no armrests.

Lesonsky: What about laptops? They seem to inevitably cause pain. What's the best way to use a laptop?

Bentow: The healthiest way to use a laptop is in combination with an external mouse and keyboard so that you can keep your shoulders, wrists, arms, elbows, and neck at neutral positions while you work. The most common way to do this is to attach an adjustable keyboard and mouse tray to your desk. Then you can place your laptop on a stand or simply a stack of books to get it to the right height for your neck.

If you are on a tight budget or [traveling], put your laptop on a stack of books, place your keyboard on your lap and your mouse on top of a stack of books on a chair next to you so that it is at the right height. When I travel for business, I bring my external vertical mouse and split Kinesis Freestyle keyboard, which easily fit in my carry-on luggage.

Lesonsky: Lots of products claim they're ergonomic. How do you know they really are and it's not just marketing hype?

Bentow: For keyboards make sure they allow you to keep your wrists, elbows, and shoulders in neutral positions. [You'll want one] with low key pressure and a smooth keystroke. Adjustable split keyboards like the Kinesis Freestyle or the Goldtouch Go! help keep your body in a neutral position.

Check the specs to compare the key pressure of different keyboards. Finally, try different keyboards [to determine] whether they have a smooth stroke. Look for a mouse that fits in your hand and hopefully doesn't require you to twist your arm.

Lesonsky: What bad habits should we stop practicing?

One of the worst things to do is take anti-inflammatories or pain medication when you're in pain from using the computer. Taking medication may let you work past your normal pain threshold but that can lead to serious injury or even permanent nerve damage.

Other common bad habits to avoid: slouching, excessive switching between applications, twisting your wrists in order to press two keys at the same time like Shift A, sitting on your leg, and lying in bed with your laptop.

Lesonsky: What must we do to stay healthier and more productive?

Bentow: Let's face it -- our lives are incredibly stressful. We have monetary concerns, deadlines, relationship problems, nonstop news, and are constantly bombarded with an almost infinite amount of information. It is not uncommon for our brains to get overstimulated and our bodies to atrophy, so we must learn to eat healthfully, stay hydrated, and manage our stress.

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Of Mice and Men (and Women, and Children…)
by Edward Trumbo from etwriter
Filed under: Ergonomics, computers, design
Tags: computers, design, Ergonomics, mouse

I wrote previously about my difficulties with the computer mouse, and I’m pleased to report I’ve made some progress in relieving the strain on my wrist and index finger. I disabled the mouse wheel — the temptation to use it while scrolling was just too strong, and I believe it was the main source of my finger stress. In my main applications, I’ve disabled as many toolbars as reasonably possible, opting to use keyboard shortcuts instead.

Given an opportunity I would use the keyboard exclusively, but the design of most websites would make this impractical. Additionally, there are some applications where some kind of pointing device is necessary. As long as I must supplement the keyboard with a device capable of interacting with the graphical world, I want to be sure the device I’m using won’t damage or cripple me, while still providing all the speed and convenience of a mouse.

I’ve used the three mainstream mouse alternatives — the trackball, the touchpad and the TouchPoint “eraser-head” — and find none of them an adequate replacement. Either they lack speed, sufficient fine control or they become too difficult to scroll while holding down a button. Sometimes for the sake of convenience I’ll use these if they’re already embedded in my laptops, such as the touchpad in my HP Pavillion or the TouchPoint in my Fujitsu Lifebook, but for anything elaborate I resort to an external mouse.

This past week, I discovered alternatives that make me wonder why these haven’t become more mainstream. There are two styles of traditional mice designed to operate vertically, as opposed to the forearm/wrist-twisting horizontal mouse:

– the Evoluent Vertical Ergonomic Mouse
– the 3M Renaissance Vertical Mouse

Right now, I’m leaning toward the 3M model — its joystick grip and thumb-accessible buttons interest me. I plan to order one and I’ll post a review here soon.

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Trend of Using Promotional Computer Accessories for Your Business
Posted by JP-GADGET

Computer accessories have become the multi-functional assets these days. You can not only add functionality to your computer but also use these computer accessories for the promotion of your business. Yes, the computer accessories have actually helped the business owners in the efficient promotion of their products and services.

The very first computer accessory used for the promotional purposes was the Mouse Mats. Demand for these Mouse Mats quickly took off and has remained high ever since. They have large print areas, typically 200 x 240mm, so good use of graphics can produce great imaging. The original Hard Top Mouse Mat was capable of being printed in four-color process so as to suit almost all the marketing purposes - from a soft and subtle to high impact. The Mouse Mats are available in a wide range of forms including liquid-filled to your own color scheme, textile-covered , inexpensive soft and flexible, lenticular, bespoke- shaped, tough plastic and many more. They are also produced with integral wrist rests and calculators. Since then, the computer mouse has also undergone great amount of advancements. The other computer accessory used for the promotional purposes is the flash drive. The flash drive can actually be used as a gift item which can be presented to your customers. This flash drive would contain all the detailed information about the products and services your business firm offers, which would be helpful in attracting the clients. Initially, the memory sizes available for the flash drives were 32 an 64mb, but as time passed they were being produced with larger-sized capacities and demand for these larger ones meant they became less and less expensive as more and more were produced - as with numerous other products.

USB’s are the other computer accessories which have been used for the promotional purposes. You can easily buy these USB’s and gift them to your clients who would find them to be extremely beneficial.

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Regardless of the struggle, the computer mouse is here to stay. We'll all ride out the storm and become better as a result of our journey!

Logitech Sees Q1 Operating Loss
By Reuters

Logitech, the world's largest computer mouse maker, disappointed markets by posting a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss as the global economic downturn dampened consumers' appetite for its products. The company painted a gloomy outlook for the first quarter, but Chief Executive Gerald Quindlen told Reuters this could be the turning point in the year for Logitech.


"Although we expect Q1 to be the low point in operating results there are signs that demand is stabilizing," Gerald Quindlen told Reuters in an interview. The fourth-quarter net loss of $35 million fell well short of analysts' forecasts and compared with a year-earlier profit of $60.3 million. "The historic (sales) growth levels of 15 percent are certainly not a thing of the past," Quindlen said, adding that it was "just a question of time" before Logitech returned to a profit margin of 32 to 34 percent.

Consumers are reining in spending as their savings portfolios tumble in value and many worry about their jobs. Retailers are also reluctant to build up stock in the face of sluggish demand as the economic crisis bites. "Logitech's results are very disappointing," Sal. Oppenheim analyst Nicolas von Stackelberg said, adding the worst was probably yet to come. Logitech sees first-quarter sales of $300 million to $320 million and an operating loss of $40 million to $50 million. The first quarter is traditionally the group's weakest period.

Fourth-quarter sales fell 32 percent to $408 million as a stronger dollar weighed, but Logitech said its market share was largely stable, and in some product categories it had even managed to grow. "It seems that Logitech had to, and will, clean out old inventory with high discounts," said Helvea analyst Tomas Hilfing. "As we had assumed, retailers seem to be keeping low inventory levels currently." Logitech said it will reduce shipments of its products and push promotional activities to help lower stock levels at shops.

Quindlen said further job cuts were unlikely after the group said in January it was cutting 15 percent of its salaried workforce -- or around 500 jobs. Analysts had expected Logitech to post a net loss of $3 million, according to the average estimate in a Reuters poll of 11 analysts.

(Additional reporting by Andrew Thompson in Zurich and Jennifer Robin Raj in Bangalore; Writing by Katie Reid; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)

USB ergonomic warm mouse rants, values, news & views

USB Ergonomic Warm Mouse from IGMproducts.com
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Heated Mouse - Free Shipping + No Sales Tax

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All ValueRays® heated computer devices will be carried by these online stores:

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ValueRays.com

Plus, as a stimulus for shoppers, ValueRays® is offering FREE USA Shipping and NO Sales Tax for purchases made at the websites listed above.

Each of the ValueRays® products serve a purpose when used separately. When used together, they create a very warm environment for a person who has cold hands when using the computer. ValueRays® heated mouse, warm mouse pad, warm keyboard pad and mouse hand warmer blanket can be purchased separately or in a variety of 2, 3 and 4 piece sets.

To learn more about ValueRays® heated computer gadgets visit any of the website listed above or by clicking the link below. To contact us, please write to: Webmaster(at)ValueRays.com.

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Exercises to Keep Your Mouse From Biting You
By Jonathan Huie
If you use your computer a lot and you are of that certain age, you recognize when your mouse is beginning to bite you. It may be your mouse hand cramping, your lower or upper arm muscles, your shoulder, or perhaps the opposite shoulder knotting in sympathy. Don't wait until you are suffering, try these hints to avoid "mouse shoulder" and its cousins.

1. Take a break every hour, if only for a minute. Many short breaks are more effective than a single longer one.

2. Stretch your arm tendons. Extend your arms straight out to your sides, forming a cross with your body and arms. Start with your palms facing the floor. Pull your hands up and back, tightening your arm tendons. Repeat 10 times slowly. Now, pull your hands up and back, and twist your arms clockwise and counter clockwise - remain in the cross position while twisting your arms like wringing out a wet towel. Do NOT do anything that hurts - even a little.

3. Perform the same towel-wringing motion with your arms extended overhead, then in front, finally extended straight down.

4. Take a short walk. Exaggerate swinging your arms as you walk.

5. Get two light weights - perhaps five pounds each. Raise the weights with your arms extended to your sides, then with your arms extended to the front. Raise the weights over your head. Finally, lower the weights behind your shoulders and raise them back to overhead.

Even if you only take a minute's break, and even if you only do the first of these exercises, do it every hour.

Jonathan Lockwood Huie is an author of self-awareness books. He has been dubbed "The Philosopher of Happiness" by those closest to him, in recognition of his on-going commitment to seeing Joy in all of life.

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Using Your USB Port to Heat or Cool Yourself while Working at Your Computer
by Susan300 from Associated Content

With new computers rolling off the assembly line with 6 or 8 USB ports standard these days, (and some with as many as a dozen!), you must be wondering what to fill up all those ports with, right? Wonder no longer. Now you can offset the high energy cost associated with heating and cooling your workspace by using these nifty USB-powered gadget to heat or cool yourself.

Everything on this list is completely powered by plugging into a USB port...

USB Heat Slippers Dual ~
Finally! A way to keep my toes worm while they're dangling under my computer desk. These dual heat slippers by Thanko are even individually powered, just in case one foot is naturally warmer than the other. (Haven't we all had that happen!)

The USB Heat Slippers Dual works with both Windows-based machines and MACs, and even has an optional adapter to turn a regular house hold outlet into a USB port, in case you really have used up all those extra ports on your computer.

The slippers are washable, and the heating insert can even be removed and placed into a regular pair of shoes. Very handy for the office. Use your slippers in 'stealth mode' so that your co-workers don't get jealous.

Each USB powered slipper can reach a temperature of up to 50 degrees. Stave off the creeping winter chill with a pair of these ingenious foot warmers. Just don't forget that your feet are attached to your computer when you get up and start to walk away.

USB-powered Seat Warmers ~
Because sometimes it's not your feet that are cold. Put this warming pad onto your chair seat turn up the heat to your butt! Varying temperature control allows you to customize the heat on your seat.

USB-powered Seat Cooler ~
Of course, sometimes your butt is already too hot, right? For those moments, you'll enjoy this companion product, the USB-powered seat cooler! This slim and comfortable seat cushion adds a bit more padding underneath, while funneling cool air right where you need it most.

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3D connexion SpacePilot 3D Mouse from bhphotovideo.com
priced under $400.00

3d input immersion softmouse

Global Geo Supplies Acquires SoftMouse® Product Line from Immersion Corporation

Global Geo Supplies, Littleton, Colorado announced its recent acquisition of the SoftMouse® product line from Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR). The acquisition positions Global Geo Supplies as the largest volume provider of 3D computer mouse products worldwide.

The SoftMouse® 3D computer input devices are principally used to create three dimensional computer models based on two dimensional imagery taken via satellite, aerial camera, and radar.

CFO Services, LLC, Denver, Colorado (CFOServicesNow.com), owned and managed by Kira Riedel, is providing pre- and post-transaction advisory services to Global GEO Supplies.

Guillermo Gallo, Co-Owner of Global GEO Supplies comments regarding the acquisition, "We believe that market demand for this product will increase hand in hand with the demand of vector mapping products generated by the GIS (Geographic Information Systems), street/car navigation, and web mapping industries. Such vector products are mainly produced by human operators in stereoscopic workstations, of which a 3D control device like the SoftMouse is a required component. Global Geo Supplies is excited to continue the technical development of the 3D mouse and related products to provide the market with the highest quality products possible. We are confident that our customers will continue to find new applications for these products and we want to innovate with them.”

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Bringing technology into the classroom
from Daily Heral Tribune

All hands are raised in Fraser Sewall’s math class. Kids clamour to answer the problem – 40 minus 10. A student is picked and the remaining 15 students collectively sigh. She touches the screen and counts back 10 squares.

Problem solved. The correct answer receives a cheer from the class. Next question and the hands are up once again. “Everyone is willing to volunteer, that’s for sure,” said Sewall. “You don’t have someone in the back who doesn’t want to try.”

Today the Grade 2 students at Clairmont Community school are learning to subtract by 10. For Sewall, using a Smartboard, or an interactive whiteboard, makes his lessons engaging and exciting. “Anything that draws their attention is positive,” said Sewall. “If you look at what kids are doing, so much of it is on a big screen TV at home. They seem to be able to relate to it.”

A Smartboard is simply an electronic touch-controlled whiteboard hooked up to a projector and computer. The projector puts the computer’s desktop image onto the whiteboard and acts as a monitor. Users can write on the whiteboard with a special marker, or use a finger to control computer applications by pointing, clicking and dragging, much like a computer mouse. The price tag of a Smartboard ranges from $4,500 to $5,000, including installation.

“As a teacher, it brings in a lot more possibilities in the classroom, being able to access the Internet as well as all the resources it comes with,” said Sewall. Alberta Education wants to ensure all classrooms in the province are equipped with technologies that promote innovative teaching and learning. The Innovative Classroom Technology – a three-year initiative – puts $18.5 million per year into the school jurisdictions.

When Clairmont Community school opened in January, all the classrooms in the K-6 school were equipped with a Smartboard and a projector. “Everybody is engaged,” said Sewall. “The students that may otherwise not be paying attention seem to be drawn into it.” Carrie Sutton, a Grade 6 teacher at St. Patrick Catholic school, can’t quite put her finger on it.

In all her 12 years of teaching, engaging students has never been an issue. Her quiet, authoritative approach to teaching commands her classroom. Since adding a Smartboard to her room, her passion for the profession has increased and her students are more captivated. “I am a little bit more alive,” said Sutton. “I am kind of a quiet. The kids are more excited about it (and) so am I.”

Sutton said the large screen with options for video, pictures and audio draws her students in time after time. “It has allowed me to bring in a lot of visual and digital media into my lectures and my teaching,” said Sutton. “You know how pictures are worth a thousand words.” And if students are drawn in, that means better understanding. “I have three science units that are now Smartboard-ready,” she said. “I have two that aren’t. I am finding, overall, their final test marks on the final exams for the Smartboard lessons are 20 per cent higher, which is huge.”

Sutton was intrigued with Smartboards after taking an introductory session at last year’s Mighty Peace Teachers’ Convention. Her classroom is the only one in St. Patrick which has a Smartboard installed. “I was excited,” she laughed. “I really wanted one in my room. I have always been keen about technology. I don’t know what I would do if I had to let it go.” Like her students, Sutton is mesmerized by the bells and whistles the board offers. Even when she is not giving a lesson, she will use the screen to show the time or a map of the world.

“Students are used to colours and pictures and video,” she said. “Being able to bring all of those things into your lessons just makes them come alive.” There is a downside to all this new technology. Her workload hasn’t decreased one bit. “I am spending more time because I am looking for images, for video and for interactive things,” she said. “Then once you have developed it, it’s there until they change the curriculum.” Chris Ruhl has used a Smartboard for two years in his Grade 4 classes at Alexander Forbes school.

"As a profession, we’re trying to get away from doing the pen and paper,” he explained. “Everything is more inquiry based.”Ruhl uses the Smartboard for most of his lessons. He said every subject from music to science could be used on the interactive whiteboard.

“In kindergarten, teachers can use it for counting and manipulating shapes,” he said. “You can put up a piece of text on the board and there’s a highlighting feature to show the kids for comprehension.” Ruhl said the possibilities are endless as Smartboards gain steam across the province and more and more teachers post ideas and suggestions to online forums and webpages. “It makes the lessons a lot more interactive with the students,” said Ruhl. “They are excited to get the chance to come up and do things on the Smartboard. They are not just sitting and looking at things on an overhead or something written on the board.”

Ruhl is the Smartboard guru at Alexander Forbes. He has helped his colleagues find a comfort zone from which to utilize the board. “Some teachers were hesitant who had never used a Smartboard,” said Ruhl. “We have a Tech Star Award where somebody does something and we highlight it to the rest of the staff.” There is a problem of falling into the trap of using the interactive whiteboard as a glorified overhead. But Ruhl says the technology is needed in the classroom. In my opinion, this is a video-game culture,” said Ruhl, 34, “Kids’ brains are tuned to watching the bright colours, seeing the movement and it is a way of introducing a teaching method in a way they are familiar with.”

Sutton agreed and said today’s students need to be more tech savvy. And this should start in the classroom. “Right now my kids are preparing Powerpoint presentations on issues they care about in the community and in the world,” she said. “I am hoping they are learning to be presenters and be excited about using technology. If you see something all through school, when you get out to your job you won’t be scared.”

Cold mouse hands are warm using infrared heat by ValueRays®

It's not surprising to learn the value of infrared heating has finally found the computer industry. Or, should we state, ValueRays® found infrared heat for the USA computer industry? For centuries the healing effects of infrared heat has been througout the world. Now, with the USA based USB infrared heat company, ValueRays®, USA computer users with cold hands can enjoy the soothing effects of infrared heat while using the computer.

IGMproducts.com announced today the addition of ValueRays® infrared heat computer accessories to their website. The ValueRays® infrared heated ergonomic computer accessories make the perfect ergonomic workstation for people suffering with poor circulation and cold handes. This includes people with arthritis, Raynaud's, diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and a host of other hand conditions with cold hands symptoms.

ValueRays® ergonomic computer accessories provide infrared heat therapy using infrared heaters in the comfort of your home or office. If your hand pain diagnosis results in cold computer hands and numb cold fingers, cost-effective and energy-efficient infrared heat therapy using your computer provides warmth and relief.

IGMproducts.com has infrared heated computer accessories to help those who suffer with arthritis hand pain to use the computer with improved comfort and relief.

"Infrared heat is a deep penetrating source of heat therapy for computer users who have arthritis in their hands," said Anna Miller, IGMproducts.com owner. "I have arthritis in my hands, and only 20-30 minutes of infrared heat therapy daily makes a big difference in reduced hand pain and increased amount of time I can use the computer."

Infrared heat can make a difference for computer users with hand pain associated with arthritis and other conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud's Phenomenon, diabetes and poor circulation. The relaxing heat helps get blood circulating to the affected areas.

Not everyone has poor circulation or cold hand pain when using the computer, but for people who do, IGMproducts.com provides a high-quality, low-priced infrared heated mouse, heated mouse pad, heated keyboard pad and mouse hand warmer blanket.

IGMproducts.com is the premiere online store for ValueRays® USB Infrared Heat Ergonomic Computer Accessories. The ValueRays® brand includes the following USB items:

ValueRays® Warm Mouse
ValueRays® Warm Mouse Pad
ValueRays® Warm Keyboard Pad
ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer®

If you or someone you know suffer from hand pain when using the computer, infrared heat computer accessories are an ideal source of soothing heat to relax sore muscles, relieve tension and stress, and provide a deep penetrating source of heat to aching hands, fingers, wrists and arms.

Using USB heat is cost-effective and energy-efficient. The computer supplies therapeutic heat energy for the mouse hand and keyboard hands. The ValueRays® USB plug & play products require no additional software to install. Just place the USB connector in an USB port to start a home-based heat therapy treatment while you are using the computer. Within a few minutes warmth is delivered to the surface of the mouse pad and to the computer mouse. Use the two heated items inside the Mouse Hand Warmer® blanket pouch and insulated infrared heat creates the perfect mouse hand environment.

IGMproducts.com offers Free USA Shipping & No Sales Tax for its online shoppers.

April is Occupational Therapy Month. If you know someone recovering from a hand injury, suggest infrared heat ergonomic work aids to assist the rehabilitation process. See the IGMproducts.com ValueRays® advertisement in April's Conference issue of OT Practice Magazine.

If you have severe hand pain symptoms, severe cold computer hands and numb cold fingers, please consult a doctor to discuss cold hand causes for a proper hand pain diagnosis. Do not rely solely on Internet research to define the causes of cold hands and hand pain.

For more information about ValueRays® USB Infrared Heat Ergonomic Computer Accessories, please visit http://igmproducts.com/

For additional online resources, visit authorized ValueRays® dealers at http://warm-mouse-heated-keyboard.com/.

Just In Time - AOTA Annual Conference: ValueRays® Warm Mouse Photo Gallery

ValueRays® Warm Mouse
$24.95 - Occupational Therapy Month Special Price!
Great Gift Idea - Free Shipping & No Sales Tax
No Warm Mouse Coupon Needed!

April is Occupational Therapy Month! And, just in time for the AOTA's Annual Conference in Houston, we are posting a photo gallery of the new ValueRays® Warm Mouse designed with a carbon fiber heating element to help people with cold hands use the computer with greater ease. The ValueRays® Warm Mouse is great for people with athritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and poor circulation.

If you have cold hands or know someone who has cold hands, visit IGMproducts.com to see all the USB Infrared Heat Ergonomic Computer Workstation items available to help people with cold hands use the computer.

The ValueRays® Warm Mouse comes prepackaged in a colorful red box with instructions. Here's more details about the heated mouse pictured on this page. It has a Carbon fibre heating element, Warms the hand with a comfortable 99-104 degrees Farhenheit temperature, Uses a low voltage (5V) and is safe for people and the computer, On/Off Switch conveniently located on the USB cord, Turn Heated Warm Mouse off when not in use, 800 DPI scrolling Heated Warm Mouse, Optical Heated Warm Mouse, Requires no drivers or software, Easy plug & play installation.

ValueRays® Warm Mouse comes pre-packaged in a colorful red box ready for gift-giving. Wondering what to get the geek in your house for a gift this year? Computer users sitting still working at the computer get cold from lack of exercise. A ValueRays® Warm Mouse will help keep your inactive geek warm!



The ValueRays® Warm Mouse is an optical mouse with FCC Standards for home or office use. It's safe for people and the computer.

A handy On/Off Switch is located on the USB cord of the ValueRays® Warm Mouse.

800 DPI scrolling wheel is located on the ValueRays® Warm Mouse.

Make sure your warm mouse is made by ValueRays®. The Best Price and Highest Quality Warm Mouse on the market!

ValueRays® Warm Mouse is sold at authorized online retailers.
$24.95

Great Gift Idea - Free Shipping & No Sales Tax
No Warm Mouse Coupon Needed!

ValueRays® USB Warm Mouse is an ergonomic USB infrared heated computer mouse designed using a carbon fiber infrared heating element to generate deep healing infrared heat to relax the hand muscles, soothe painful joints, reduce stress and tension of the hand, reduce hand pain and numbness, and create a warm mouse hand. A warm mouse review and reasons to use a warm computer mouse are available in the Learning Center.

Warm Messages Received on this Cool Mouse

Want to send your office-mate a warm message? Try it using this cool mouse with a built in fan. Fan mouse technology keeps the warm mouse hand cool and dry. It operates using a small built in fan with light air through tiny holes on the mouse casing.

If you don't need a cooling mouse, but have cold mouse hand problems, see the warming mouse with built in infrared heaters. It delivers soothing deep penetrating infrared heat to your aching mouse hand muscles. Availalble online.

Many of these unusual mice are difficult to find in the USA. Shopping online is the best source for these innovative products. For more information, visit the Warm Mouse Heated Keyboard website. Or see the list of merchants on the right side bar.......>

Here's what others are saying about this very cool mouse....

The LED Message Mouse with fan
from Coolest Gadgets
Mice being created with fans are nothing new. They’re nice to keep your hand cool when your office gets a little too warm. After all, computers can produce a bit of heat and the more that are running in one room, the warmer it’s going to get. However, leave it to Japan to take it about three steps further. You have to love their flare for taking an average product and giving it an LED twist.

Each mouse has LED lights on the inside and you can program the mouse to display a personalized message. If you’re wanting to change that message while you’re away from the computer, it even has a handy little remote control. Of course, you’ll have to keep your messages a little short, the max amount of characters is 12. These are being retailed in Japan for about $21 and might be a bit difficult to get a hold of outside of Japan.

Optical Mouse flaunts fans, remote and LEDs for a difference
from gizmowatch.com
Gadgets with added facilities are most embraced, but often the process to deliver better and unique, gadgets are stuffed with all sorts of useless facilities. Which side of utility would this USB mouse with integrated LEDs and fan to cool your palm fall, may be stiff to decide, but being the only mouse flaunting its own remote, this definitely has a better stance in utility. The mouse offers standard 800pdi optical tracking, but to its novelty, with the remote to input messages of up to 12 characters it enjoys the basic diversity of sorts. If you are one of those busy souls who spend hours at the PC, the best feature of the mouse that you’ll cherish would be the fans over the LEDs that’ll keep blowing out air to keep your busy hand sweat-free, all for about $21 in Japan.

We’re not entirely certain quite who this particular mouse will appeal to, but we suspect it may appeal to someone, somewhere for some reason but, for us at least, the idea of integrating an animated LED display and palm cooling strikes us as just a little OTT.

LED Message Display USB Mouse with Integrated Hand Cooling & Remote
from nexus404
Known as the LED Message Mouse (very inventive) the device is, as you’d expect, a wholly rudimentary device in offering a bog standard 800pdi optical tracking but, to its credit (or not) it’s the first mouse we’ve come across to date that comes bundled with its own remote - which is used to input your message (up to 12 characters). Having input your message, you can then sit back and watch as it’s animated before you whilst rotating, fading in and out and, well, you get the picture.

On and above the integrated LED display, you can also factor in the mouse’s comfort fans that blow air through a series of holes framing the circular LED display window, thus ensuring that your palm stays sweat free as you hold the mouse in an attempt to cover the bright animated display on account of it giving you a migraine. Very thoughtful.

The supremely tacky LED Message Mouse retails in Japan for the equivalent of around $21.

The LED Message Mouse with fan
from TikTech.com
Mice being created with fans are nothing new. They’re nice to keep your hand cool when your office gets a little too warm. After all, computers can produce a bit of heat and the more that are running in one room, the warmer it’s going to get. However, leave it to Japan to take it about three steps further. You have to love their flare for taking an average product and giving it an LED twist.

Each mouse has LED lights on the inside and you can program the mouse to display a personalized message. If you’re wanting to change that message while you’re away from the computer, it even has a handy little remote control. Of course, you’ll have to keep your messages a little short, the max amount of characters is 12. These are being retailed in Japan for about $21 and might be a bit difficult to get a hold of outside of Japan.

Infrared heat therapy using a warm mouse, heated mouse pad and other USB infared heated computer gadgets!

ValueRays® USB Heated Computer Accessories
Warm Mouse, Heated Mouse Pad, Heated Computer Keyboard Pad, Mouse Hand Warmer®

The experts in delivering USB Heat -- for people who have cold hands when using the computer.

There are a number of medical conditions responding well to the therapeutic approach of using infrared heat as a source of healing and soothing comfort for arthritis, Raynaud's and poor circulatory conditions causing cold hands and a cold mouse hand when using a computer. We gathered some helpful home therapy ideas for today's Warm Mouse blog post.

First, carpal tunnel syndrome has been around for a long time and sorry to admit, it's here to stay. Every family probably has one person with the condition caused from repetitive work or using the computer. The article below with the video illustrates some simple hand stretches to help relieve the pain associated with carpal tunnel.

Second, cold hands and cold extremities associated with Raynaud's disease are brought on from a drop in temperature when it gets cold outside and during a stressful event or mental tension. The second article posted below lists the different kinds of stress with its symptoms. Cold hands are a symptom of Acute Stress. Did you know that?

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Defeat Symptons of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Simple Hand Stretches - Video

Posted by Jack Devore

If you’re on the computer a lot (or play Rock Band till your fingers bleed), then you may often feel those dreaded hand-cramps that essentially make your appendages next to useless until they’ve rested awhile. An abundance of repetitive tasks can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which is no fun. Sometimes people wear strange braces on their hands or invest in odd-looking mouse-pads as a way to alleviate the pain. A better idea is to engage in simple hand stretches on a daily basis, an act that only takes 30-seconds. I’ve been trying the following techniques for about a week and I can honestly say it works wonders.

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The Different Kinds of Stress

By artdesignlover
bukisa.com

The Many Faces of Stress

Stress affects each individual differently, according to the cause and its effects. Therefore, there are different kinds of stress as recognized by clinical and research studies. It is important for an individual to recognize the cause of stress in order to know how to deal with it, and hopefully reduce stress levels. Moreover, each type of stress have different approaches to treatment.

Basically, there are three known types of stress: acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress. However, a fourth kind – psychological stress – is also becoming more prevalent and is considered as a legitimate type of stress.

Acute Stress

This is the most common form of stress, which results from the pressures one is subjected to in their everyday life. In small doses of acute stress, it can actually be beneficial to an individual. Think of athletes that are about to compete in an event. They experience acute stress, which triggers the production of adrenaline and giving them a burst of energy needed to perform their best.

The symptoms for this type of stress are easily recognizable and mostly affects a person only in a short term. Common symptoms include back or neck pain, muscular tensions, headache, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, cold hands or feet.

Episodic Acute Stress

As mentioned above, acute stress is quite common to most people. However, there are a few others who experience it more often than others. These people are the ones who are so focused on achieving organization and yet always fail when it comes to performance. Therefore, it is not surprising that they often become irritable, if not with themselves then their initial environment. This also explains why they find the workplace quite a stressful environment.

Other forms of episodic acute stress are those people who keep worrying. They have become so pessimistic about the environment that they always project something wrong would happen. Hence, they end up feeling awful, tense, or anxious without having clear reasons for feeling that way.

Chronic Stress

This is the type of stress that wears one out. Plus, it builds up over time and can produce long-term effects on a person, whether emotionally or physically. Most forms of chronic stress are caused by trauma that they find difficult to let go and so it continues to disrupt their everyday lives.

One problem with chronic stress is that people often believe that it is something that is innate to them and that they cannot get rid of. Thus, it makes treating this condition difficult because it is often ignored by the person affected by it. It can, however, be treated through stress management procedures and behavioral treatment.

Psychological Stress

Stress has its own set of complexity. With the different types stated above, psychological stress concerns more of a person's ability to respond to a given situation. To be specific, the loss of that ability. During dangerous situations, your body produces hormones known as adrenaline and cortisol that prompts the body to make a response.

Compare this to charging a battery that produces high voltage that must be discharged. In the case of a person suffering from psychological stress, the body fails to discharge that burst of energy that is produced. The continued raise in your heart rate and the production of adrenaline could result to fatal problems in your heart.

There are several reasons as to how one acquires psychological stress but it can include trauma suffered from an emotionally disturbing event in the past or other emotional anxiety. The problem with people suffering from psychological stress is that they tend to induce more stress in their lives by subjecting themselves to stressful situations. Today, several groups hold counseling to help those who suffer from this condition and regain control over their life.

Mouse hands: Heated topic for warm seekers

ValueRays® Warm Mouse shown above heats and delivers a steady flow of warmth. The ValueRays® Warm Mouse uses infrared heat to soothe aching muscles, tension and stress. Infrared heat penetrates deep through skin's layers. It's therapeutic and a healing heat.

My mouse hand aches again. I'm spending too much time using the computer, and I can feel it in my right hand. My husband said I should switch hands and try to use the mouse as a lefty! I think instead, I will plug in and turn on my heated, warm mouse.

I use two computer mice.

One is a wireless Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 (Metallic Grey) and the second one is a ValueRays® Warm Mouse (Grey & Black). They both fit perfectly inside the Mouse Hand Warmer® blanket pouch to create a warm mouse hand environment.

ValueRays® Warm Mouse

Here's more details about the Microsoft large ergonomic mouse:

Microsoft® Natural® Wireless Laser Mouse 6000

from Cheap Online Shopping

The Most Comfortable Mouse from Microsoft
The Microsoft® Natural® Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 combines unprecedented comfort with the performance of High Definition Laser Technology. The innovative, ergonomic design uses soft-touch materials and maintains the hand in its relaxed and natural position,delivering hours of productive, strain-free computing — even promoting better posture! This stylish, 5-button wireless mouse also offers a Tilt Wheel for smooth 4-way scrolling, Instant Viewer to display all open windows at the touch of a button, and a Magnifier that makes it easy to enlarge and edit screen details.

Product Features

• High-definition laser technology offers precision 4-way scrolling
• Click the scroll wheel button to activate the handy, built-in Instant Viewer
• The Magnifier enlarges text and digital imagery to fine-tune detailed tasks
• Battery life indicator glows red when the mouse battery is running low
• Mouse offers unmatched ergonomic design that conforms to your hand
  

Product Description
When you place your hand on the Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 for the first time, you’ll wonder how you’ve ever managed without it. Offering an unmatched package of ergonomic design, accuracy, style, and advanced features, this mouse is designed to conform to your hand in its most relaxed position. This breakthrough design with a tilted, elevated hand position is designed to reduce pressure the carpal tunnel and wrist, and it will give you the comfort and performance that you deserve.

Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 (Metallic Grey) Reviews
Interestingly, I am in a very similar position to the earlier reviewer, but I have had somewhat different results, after my first day of owning this mouse. I too am something of a gadget guy, and I also have the Wireless Desktop 6000 from Microsoft (the first lighter gray color version however). While I like the keyboard from this desktop set just fine, over time I began to dislike the mouse that came with it for the following reasons:
- I used to use a Mouserug mouse pad and I found, strangely, that the laser mouse didn’t track at all smoothly on this surface.
- The finish on the sides of the mouse began to look dirty and develop a very rough surface where my skin touched it after a short while.
- It wasn’t ideal from a hand position perspective; I would somtimes develop pain at the base of my thumb after using it for a long time.

So, I had hopes that this mouse would solve these problems. Here’s what I’ve found so far:
- The tracking seems identical to the Wireless Laser Mouse 6000, that is, very good indeed on any surface except the Mouserug, where it still stinks. So, no change there.

- The side surfaces of the mouse are very different. The original 6000 laser mouse had a surface with a sort of “grippy” paint. This new mouse has thick rubbery plastic (clear on the left over the MS logo and black on the right) on the sides where you touch it that seems much more rugged than the old mouse. I suppose only time will tell how it stands up under repeated use but I’m guessing it will be much better.

- The hand position seems much better. It does take getting used to for sure. But I find that when I just let my hand relax and use the mouse as intended that it is extremely comfortable. Just be sure to follow the diagram included in the box and don’t try to force your hand into a position you’d use with a “regular” mouse because then you’ll have hand pain guaranteed.

The areas where my experience was different than the other reviewer are:
- My Wireless Desktop 6000 came with version 3.0A of the receiver and I found that it works just fine with this mouse. I did not need to use the receiver included with the mouse. (I’m using Windows XP, for the record.)

- The base of this mouse is indeed smaller than others but I haven’t experienced the tipping and scraping at all. It seems to me you’d have to push like heck on the side of the mouse for that to happen.

- The scroll wheel does indeed feel set a little farther back, but I haven’t found this to be a problem.

I have pretty big hands and I find that this mouse fits me well. But my wife has small hands and she was totally unable to use this mouse. So, if you’ve got medium to large hands you’re probably OK, but if you have small hands I wouldn’t recommend this at all.

Here’s an update after a few months of use: I still like the mouse very much — it’s the most comfortable mouse I’ve ever used and I never get any hand pain anymore. So that’s a huge plus. But the clear plastic surface on the left side of the mouse started to turn yellowish after a few weeks of use and now the surface is starting to disintegrate. (Why can’t Microsoft come up with a comfortable surface that’s durable too?) But to tell you the truth, the ergonomics of this mouse are so good that I plan to buy another one.

from amazon

Amazon.com Product Description
When you place your hand on the Microsoft 69K-00001 Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000for the first time, you'll wonder how you've ever managed without it. Offering an unmatched package of ergonomic design, accuracy, style, and advanced features, this mouse is designed to conform to your hand in its most relaxed position. This breakthrough design with a tilted, elevated hand position is designed to reduce pressure the carpal tunnel and wrist, and it will give you the comfort and performance that you deserve.

The Natural Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 is ergonomically designed to conform to your hand in its most relaxed position and is loaded with advanced features.

The battery-life indicator warns you when the battery is running low.

Smooth 4-Way Scrolling
Featuring high-definition laser technology, the Microsoft 69K-00001 offers laser precision as you scroll through your files. Smoother tracking means less strain on your hands and wrists, and higher responsiveness means you'll quickly notice an increase in your productivity. The mouse also offers four-way scrolling, adding even greater efficiency and comfort to your work. The entire scroll wheel tilts from side-to-side and reacts to how quickly you roll the wheel for smooth, accurate maneuverability. For example, imagine yourself working with a super-wide spreadsheet loaded with data. With the Laser Mouse 6000 you can tilt the wheel from side-to-side to scroll right and left without having to click-and-drag the application's tiny scroll bar or arrows. And if your desktop is cluttered with too many items to find what you're looking for, don't fret. This mouse has a built-in Instant Viewer -- just click the scroll wheel button to display your open windows, then point and click to select.

The Magnifier
If you work with loads of digital imagery, you'll love the mouse's magnification feature. With this feature, it appears that you have a magnifying glass pressed against the screen. With a simple press-and-hold motion, the Magnifier enlarges the area of your screen that fits inside the lens. You can easily adjust both the size of the lens and the level of magnification. So when it's time to touch-up photos or fine-tune detailed tasks, the Magnifier will quickly become your best friend. (The magnifier works with most programs, but it is not compatible with Direct 3D API in full-screen mode, media players, OpenGL, or Layered Windows. Also, if you're using Mac OS X, the Magnifier enlarges text and images on the entire screen.)

Battery Life
This mouse also features advanced Microsoft technologies that help prolong the life of your batteries, which means that you can spend more time working and less time running back and forth to the store. The 69K-00001 automatically enters standby mode when it's inactive for a set length of time, which minimizes unnecessary battery drain. In addition, the light in the mouse's optical sensor illuminates only as brightly as necessary to provide optimal tracking power. And although it is inevitable that your mouse will eventually run out of juice, the Laser Mouse 6000 comes equipped with a battery life indicator that warns you when the battery is running low.

As the name implies, this mouse is completely wireless, which means you'll never have to hassle with cords again. Loaded with five customizable buttons, you'll have quick access to the media, programs, and files you use most often right at your fingertips. The mouse's ergonomic design features soft rubber material and a shape that feels as natural as a handshake. With a sophisticated form, the Laser Mouse 6000 has a cutting-edge look that will complement today's latest technology. So if you work with a computer that runs Windows XP/2000, has an available USB port, and 45 MB of free hard disk space, the Microsoft 69K-00001 could be the mouse you've always wanted.

From the Manufacturer

Overview:

The Most Comfortable Mouse from Microsoft
The Microsoft® Natural® Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 combines unprecedented comfort with the performance of High Definition Laser Technology. The innovative, ergonomic design uses soft-touch materials and maintains the hand in its relaxed and natural position, delivering hours of productive, strain-free computing — even promoting better posture! This stylish, 5-button wireless mouse also offers a Tilt Wheel for smooth 4-way scrolling, Instant Viewer to display all open windows at the touch of a button, and a Magnifier that makes it easy to enlarge and edit screen details.

Mickey Mouse wears gloves to keep his mouse hands warm

Look at those hands! The famous mouse hands of Disney's Mickey Mouse. We know how Mickey keeps his mouse hands warm. We should all be as lucky to have snug gloves on our hands all the time. We aren't. Our bare hands are exposed to the air and temperatures. Sometimes the air is warm and sometimes it is cold. When we go outside in the cold, we wear gloves or mittens. When we are indoors, well, that's a different situation altogether.

Sitting inside the house or office with cold hands is annoying. Not only do the hands get cold, the fingertips get numb. Sometimes the hands get cold enough to cause pain. There are medical conditions with cold hand symptoms. If you have cold hands constantly, seek the medical advice of an expert. Do not rely on information received solely from the Internet.

When you hands are cold, there are things you can do to get them warm. If your hands are cold when using the computer, there are USB heated computer accessories to keep your hands warm. If your mouse hand gets cold when using the computer mouse, try using an USB infrared heat warming mouse.

The warm mouse made by ValueRays® is the best. It has the following features and benefits: Carbon fibre heating element, Warms the hand with a comfortable 99-104 degrees Farhenheit temperature, Uses a low voltage (5V) and is safe for people and the computer, On/Off Switch conveniently located on the USB cord, Turn Heated Warm Mouse off when not in use, 800 DPI scrolling Heated Warm Mouse, Optical Heated Warm Mouse, Requires no drivers or software, Easy plug & play installation.

When used inside a ValueRays® Mouse Hand Warmer heated blanket, both the top and palm of your mouse hand is kept warm. There's also a ValueRays® USB Heated Mouse Pad. It too, works on the same premise as the warm mouse and heated blanket. The heated mouse pad creates a soothing warm surface for the computer mouse operations. The mouse hand and fingers rest on a warm smooth surface.

Let's not overlook the computer keyboard hands. If your keyboard hands are cold, use an USB heated computer keyboard pad. The heated pad is placed in front of the keyboard and plugs into a USB port. The pad is soft and supports the hands, wrists and arms. It provides a steady flow of warmth and ergonomic support for using the keyboard.

If you would like more information about ValueRays® USB Heated Ergonomic Computer Accessories and Work Aids, please visit their site or any of their authorized online retailers. For more details about the healing effects of Infrared Heat, visit the Learning Center at IGMproducts.com.

Infrared heat USB mouse pad for warm surfing

Just plug the USB Warm Mouse Pad into the computer and warm infrared heat is delivered to the mousepad's surface. No more cold mouse hand sitting ontop of a cold mouse pad surface.

from InfraredMat

What is Far Infrared (FIR)?
FIR infrared ray energy is a part of the natural light spectrum of sunlight, minus the skin damaging UV, which is why NASA spacecraft have utilized this heat. In Asia and Europe it has already revolutionized health and beauty products.

Far Infrared ray is a form of light energy form the sun. It falls within the same family of Infrared Rays in the light spectrum, but due to its longer wavelengths the human eye, cannot see FIR. The energy is ESSENTIAL & BENEFICIAL for all human beings.

FIR has the ability to penetrate, refract, radiate & reflect. The human body can absorb FIR because of its deep penetrating ability. When FIR penetrates through the skin to the subcutaneous tissues, it transforms from light energy into heat energy. The thermal effect within the deep layers of tissues cause blood vessels in capillaries to dilate, promoting better blood circulation, and the heat produced helps to get rid of body toxins and metabolic wastes through sweating.

What are the benefits of a FIR?
If there was a way to increase bodily energy, lose weight, decrease stress, detoxify the body, improve circulation and purify the skin while elevating the immune system to fight off everything from the common cold, asthma, bronchitis (and other respiratory conditions) to serious life quality threatening illnesses, what would it be worth?

What if all a person had to do to receive such benefits was relax and lay down for 15 to 30 minutes a day, three or four times a week, listening to music- now what would that be worth?


Hundreds of years ago, people discovered and turned to heat therapy as a source of natural healing for many illnesses and discomforts. FIR heat is simply and naturally rising to the top of health regime requirements.

Activated by heat, the FIR material emits FIR energy that is absorbed by human cells, causing a physical phenomenon called "RESONANCE". Thus, the cellular activities are instantly invigorated, resulting in better blood circulation and an overall improved metabolism.

FIR heat therapy can aid in weight loss by speeding metabolic processes of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in a substantial caloric loss in a heat session.

It also increases heart rate and blood circulation, both crucial to maintaining one's health. The heart rate increases as more blood flow is diverted from the inner organs towards the extremities of the skin without heightening blood pressure.

In a case of injury, heat stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, bringing oxygen to joints and extremities, relaxation of stiff muscles, speeding the healing of sprains and strains. The increased blood flow helps aching and injured muscles recover faster because of the stronger blood flow and the quicker metabolic and toxic waste productions purged from the body through the skin during perspiration. The skin is known in Chinese medicine as the third kidney because it is believed to be responsible for eliminating up to 30% of body waste.

FIR Heat Therapy allows increased blood circulation to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, thus promoting healthy tone, texture and mild cleansing of the skin.

What the Researchers say about FIR
Infrared energy is not only safe, but also highly beneficial for our bodies. Far Infrared lamps are actively used for medical treatments by Doctors, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists for: arthritis, joint pain, stiff muscles, injuries to tendons and ligaments to promote a faster self-body healing effect.

Infrared heat is "RADIANT" heat. Radiant heat is simply a form of energy that heats objects directly through a process called conversions without heaving to heat the air in between

Radiant heat is also called Infrared Energy (IR). The infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum cannot be seen, but can be perceived as heat. Our atmosphere has a "window" in it that allows IR rays in the 7-14 micron range to safely reach the earth's surface. When warmed, the earth radiated infrared rays in the 7-14 micron band with its peak output at 10 microns.

According to Dr. Tsu-Tsair Oliver Chi, in his summation on the mechanism of actions of infrared devices turned to the human body. Tissues needing a boost in their output selectively absorb these rays. The internal production of the infrared energy that normally occurs within our tissues is associated with a variety of healing responses and may require a boost to a maximal level to insure the fullest healing response possible in a tissue, which is being repaired. After boosting a tissue's level to its maximum, the remaining rays pass onward harmlessly. This phenomenon is called "RESONANT ABSORPTION."

Warm Merchant Links:

IGM Products

Warm Mouse Heated Keyboard

ValueRays®

Infrared Heat

Mouse Hand Warmer®

Amazon.com

eBay.com

Etsy.com

Made in USA Forever

Heart Warming Product - Special Needs Computer Mouse | Foot Pedal and Mouse

from kidsdesk

If you have a special needs child or teach special education, check out this innovative foot pedal & mouse combination. This foot pedal and mouse enables students to type and perform other mouse functions with their feet. It was designed specifically for students with special needs. It can be utilized for computer learning activities and using literacy software. When you are able take advantage of classroom technology and provide tools like the foot pedal and mouse for students with special needs, you are helping make learning a little bit easier. We continue to look for products that are innovative and can improve learning environments.

Some of the features included in the foot and pedal mouse for students include:

* Foot pedal performs left / right / double click functions just as on a conventional mouse
* Connectivity via USB port
* Foot mouse moves cursor
* Five buttons A, B, C, D and E (red and yellow) can be programmed as keyboard shortcuts
* Horizontal roller allows the user to use their feet to scroll through windows or web pages

One school district we contacted indicated that they have strict technology standards for special needs students and they are looking at different ways to improve learning environments and give students the latest in classroom technology. It has been reported that students do notice the change and seem to be taking to these innovative solutions. This is good news and we are proud to offer products that will improve the quality of education for these students. If you are interested in learning more about this and other products featured, please visit KidsDesk.net. Have a great weekend!

Mouse Potato Vs. Couch Potato

Potato Mouse
Photo by Patricia Denis, Artist.

Too Much Time Watching TV? You may be a Couch Potato
Posted by thanhlt

Some unusual words describe how a person spends his or her time. For example, someone who likes to spend a lot of time sitting or lying down while watching television is sometimes called a couch potato. A couch is a piece of furniture that people sit on while watching television.

Robert Armstrong, an artist from California, developed the term couch potato in nineteen-seventy-six. Several years later, he listed the term as a trademark with the United States government. Mister Armstrong also helped write a funny book about life as a full-time television watcher. It is called the “Official Couch Potato Handbook.”

Couch potatoes enjoy watching television just as mouse potatoes enjoy working on computers. A computer mouse is the device that moves the pointer, or cursor, on a computer screen. The description of mouse potato became popular in nineteen-ninety-three. American writer Alice Kahn is said to have invented the term to describe young people who spend a lot of time using computers.

Too much time inside the house using a computer or watching television can cause someone to get cabin fever. A cabin is a simple house usually built far away from the city. People go to a cabin to relax and enjoy quiet time.

Cabin fever is not really a disease. However, people can experience boredom and restlessness if they spend too much time inside their homes. This is especially true during the winter when it is too cold or snowy to do things outside. Often children get cabin fever if they cannot go outside to play. So do their parents. This happens when there is so much snow that schools and even offices and stores are closed.

Some people enjoy spending a lot of time in their homes to make them nice places to live. This is called nesting or cocooning. Birds build nests out of sticks to hold their eggs and baby birds. Some insects build cocoons around themselves for protection while they grow and change. Nests and cocoons provide security for wildlife. So people like the idea of nests and cocoons, too.

The terms cocooning and nesting became popular more than twenty years ago. They describe people buying their first homes and filling them with many things. These people then had children.

Now these children are grown and have left the nest. They are in college. Or they are married and starting families of their own far away. Now these parents are living alone without children in their empty nest. They have become empty nesters.

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If you or someone you know is a Mouse Potato, visit the Mouse Potato Blog.

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Heated Computer Keyboard Pad for Ergonomic Support

A Heated Computer Keyboard Pad is a good partner for the Heated Mouse. They both provide infrared "deep healing" heat to your mouse hand and keyboard hands. See links below for online resources.

Everything is about comfort these days. With the amount of time we sit in front of a compute screen, it's about time we do something good for ourselves. There's enough said about the computer-related hand injuries like carpal tunnel, repetitive strain and cumulative stress, but what about creating some "real" comfort for our computer keyboard area?

The keyboard hands, wrists and fingers do more than type. Actually, the keyboard arms do a lot of elbow-perching on the desk top when we sit and read the screen. Elbows get tired and sore from the desk's hard surface. This can be remedied by using a warm keyboard pad in front of the computer keyboard.

The warm pad plugs into the USB port and provides a steady flow of low-heat. Wrist, hands, arms and fingers rest on the soft, sponge covered pad at the perfect height in front of the keyboard. The only part of the ergonomic equation not getting much attention these days is the computer keyboard. Sure, there are many ergonomic keyboards with strange shapes and designs, but the cost of them prohibit a test drive for most of us. We purchase a new computer, and a standard keyboard is included. We get used to using a standard keyboard and stick with it until something new comes along.

If wrists and hands remain on the desk top or on the keyboard itself, it can become quite uncomfortable to type. The desk and the keyboard surfaces are cold. It doesn't take very long for the wrists and hands to feel the chill. It can actually make your entire body feel cold. Cold hands when using the computer are uncomfortable and unproductive.

A value-added item to provide warmth and support is a pheated computer keyboard wrist pad. One of the warm keyboard pad designs can be put into the microwave to heat. The warmth lasts about 15 minutes. Although novel, the practicality of this style of heated keyboard pad is not practical for most.

An USB (universal serial bus) connected keyboard pad seems to be the best solution for adding warmth and ergonomic support while keyboarding. A heated keyboard pad connects to the computer and draws a low voltage of electricity providing warmth to the pad's surface. The keyboard pad consists of a cloth cover and a soft sponge-like interior. The arms and wrists rest on the pad at just the right height over the keyboard. The surface of the pad delivers a steady flow of heat. Hands never touch the keyboard or the desk's surface.

The remarkable component of the USB heated keyboard pad is its healing qualities. The heating element is made of a carbon fiber which produces infrared heat. Infrared heat has been used for many years as a source of healing. The most familiar and natural source of infrared heat is the sun. A heated keyboard pad using a carbon fiber delivers infrared heat without the harmful UV rays of the sun.

Research shows 20-30 minutes of infrared heat treatment daily can improve blood circulation through the blood vessels and reduce symptoms related to RSI (repetitive stress injury). People who suffer from poor circulation, arthritis, diabetes and Raynaud's welcome warmth throughout the year to deal with cold, painful joints and muscle tension. By using an infrared heated computer keyboard pad, arms, wrists and hands are ergonomically supported in front of the keyboard, and they are kept warm. Plus, the soft pad is a comfortable resting place for arms and elbows.

Heated computer products are somewhat new to the computer accessories market. A warm mouse, heated mouse pad and warm, heated keyboard pad are just the beginning of heated ergonomic computer work aids available today. With the continued use of the computer, and the advancements of technology, we'll probably see many more heated computer gadgets invented. USB heated computer products are an economical and energy-efficient way to provide warmth and ergonomic support while using the computer.

Source:

SHOP -- http://IGMproducts.com

SHOP -- http://Warm-Mouse-Heated-Keyboard.com

BLOG -- http://www.HeatedComputerKeyboard.info