Wash and Dry
A study recently published in a British computer magazine suggests that computer keyboards are a breeding ground for germs and, in some cases; they are less sanitary than toilet seats. At first, I thought this might be British phenomena, especially since I am pretty sure that I have changed my computer keyboard more than my toilet seat. After all, if a small portion of the toilet seat does not function properly it still serves its main purpose. Anyone who has tried to write an essay on a keyboard where three or four letters do not work knows what I mean, after an hour of cutting and pasting the malfunctioning letters you smash the keyboard, drive up to the store, and buy a new one for ten bucks.
Of course, in a multi-task oriented society it is not altogether surprising that the computer keyboard is the recipient of bits of food and dirt that accumulate on the hands of the operator. On occasion, I have hit the Q key and a colony of bugs has scattered out. I am pretty sure I have a wasp colony under the F5 key, because I never use it. The entire time I have been typing this piece; I have been eating a sticky donut and drinking coffee. The coffee stains down the front of my shirt indicate that more than a few drops of coffee have made the trip to the keyboard and the frosting from the donuts has made the O key look solid. It nw appears as if ne f the keys has brken and I will have to g t the stre and by a new keybard.
There is another reason that computer keyboards are filled with germs, some people still do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Amazingly, in an age where washing your hands on a regular basis will prevent many illnesses, there are still a bunch of people out there who have not figured out how to use a soap dispenser.
The article suggests that computer owners clean out their keyboards on a regular basis by turning off the computer and turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it. I tried this method and was surprised to find seventeen pens, $4.26 in loose change, 2690 Guinness beer caps, Jimmy Hoffa, Amelia Earhart and the lost city of Atlantis. After shaking a little harder a Japanese soldier who was still fighting World War II fell out and stabbed me with a bayonet, luckily, it was only a flesh wound but my keyboard is now covered with blood, which means I have to replace it again!
The other germ receptacle involved in computing is the mouse. The newest version of the mouse does not have that little ball which filled with crud and stopped working. The decline of mechanical mice in favor of the optical version has had some unintended consequences, the positive one being that there are fewer dents in the wall where mice would be thrown after they stopped working. The negative consequence is that mice are not being replaced as often and thus are covered with bacteria.
Over the summer break I would suggest that everyone take the time to clean their keyboards and their mice and get in the habit of washing your hands frequently. While you are at it change your toilet seat.
Of course, in a multi-task oriented society it is not altogether surprising that the computer keyboard is the recipient of bits of food and dirt that accumulate on the hands of the operator. On occasion, I have hit the Q key and a colony of bugs has scattered out. I am pretty sure I have a wasp colony under the F5 key, because I never use it. The entire time I have been typing this piece; I have been eating a sticky donut and drinking coffee. The coffee stains down the front of my shirt indicate that more than a few drops of coffee have made the trip to the keyboard and the frosting from the donuts has made the O key look solid. It nw appears as if ne f the keys has brken and I will have to g t the stre and by a new keybard.
There is another reason that computer keyboards are filled with germs, some people still do not wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Amazingly, in an age where washing your hands on a regular basis will prevent many illnesses, there are still a bunch of people out there who have not figured out how to use a soap dispenser.
The article suggests that computer owners clean out their keyboards on a regular basis by turning off the computer and turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it. I tried this method and was surprised to find seventeen pens, $4.26 in loose change, 2690 Guinness beer caps, Jimmy Hoffa, Amelia Earhart and the lost city of Atlantis. After shaking a little harder a Japanese soldier who was still fighting World War II fell out and stabbed me with a bayonet, luckily, it was only a flesh wound but my keyboard is now covered with blood, which means I have to replace it again!
The other germ receptacle involved in computing is the mouse. The newest version of the mouse does not have that little ball which filled with crud and stopped working. The decline of mechanical mice in favor of the optical version has had some unintended consequences, the positive one being that there are fewer dents in the wall where mice would be thrown after they stopped working. The negative consequence is that mice are not being replaced as often and thus are covered with bacteria.
Over the summer break I would suggest that everyone take the time to clean their keyboards and their mice and get in the habit of washing your hands frequently. While you are at it change your toilet seat.
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