WiebeTech's Mouse Jiggler USB stick prevents sleep

We've certainly seen crafty methods of keeping humans from dozing off when alertness matters most, but WiebeTech's latest actually does a number on your exhausted computer by refusing to let those power savings settings kick in. The admittedly clever Mouse Jiggler rocks a diminutive USB design, and once plugged into your Mac or PC, it takes over your motionless cursor and shakes it all across the screen, effectively denying the machine its heartfelt wish to fall asleep when idle. Of course, this may not do the average user a whole lot of good, but for those locked-down corporate workstations that frustrate IT heads on end by dozing off just before a download / installation is complete, here's your hero. Notably, the Mouse Jiggler comes in "Fast" and "Slow" flavors to suit your cursor-dementing needs, and each can be snapped up right now for $29.95.

[Via MetaFilter]

[Don @ Apr 16th 2007 10:58AM]

Or... you could simply turn off power-saving? This product = dumb.

[icepop4who @ Apr 16th 2007 10:59AM]

either i spit up $30 or i can turn off power savings option.

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 16th 2007 11:15AM]

-and no mere USB flash drive could store an application to do same?

Pffft.

NEXT!

[andrew harrison @ Apr 16th 2007 11:16AM]

there is definitely an app for mac that does this without the need for useless hardware, and i'd wager there's a windows equivalent.

[soccerkingpilot @ Apr 17th 2007 1:54AM]

here's a link to a windows app that mouse jiggles to prevent sleeping:
http://www.tucows.com/preview/328652

[ScreamingSkull @ Apr 16th 2007 11:19AM]

I can't turn off power saving and my system locks up via password at 15 minutes of inactivity... Though personally I can't see spending 30$ to keep my screensaver from popping up, but if I worked in our IT department, I could totally see getting one.

[RickDom @ Apr 16th 2007 11:19AM]

Presumably, this is for computers that are locked out so you can't changes those settings. Like a lot of CAD stations lock down after a certain amount of inactivity, but they also tend to have USB ports locked out. This thing really is stupid and useless, but some moron's going to buy one.

[Common Core 2 Duo!! @ Apr 16th 2007 11:31AM]

Yes

Or you could download this freeware:

http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/Jiggler.html

if you have a mac

[Alex` @ Apr 16th 2007 11:39AM]

couldn't you just write a bit of software to do exactly the same thing?

[Mike @ Apr 16th 2007 11:25AM]

@ScreamingSkull

You cant turn off power saving cause your IT department has your permissions set strictly, I'm sure they could do it for you. As for the IT guys, they can turn off power saving at will. This product is useless..

[John @ Apr 16th 2007 11:30AM]

Perhaps if this was a dollar I would plug it in the back of a friends machine and leave it for fun... other then that its junk?

[Raz @ Apr 16th 2007 11:43AM]

Interesting...

So Mr x buys one of these for pointless USD. Mr X sees Mr Y using his laptop, doesn't lock it, pops off to printer to pick up something. Mr X plugs in aforementioned USB device into Mr Y's laptop (presumably inconspicuous location).

Mr Y goes for lunch assuming pc will auto lock. Meanwhile Mr X can jump on as pc is still open.

Yeah I can see a really great use for this product.... Only positive uses indeed. There are definitely free things that can do this, but they take thought and effort. This just simplifies the whole process and puts the idea straight in their head without them having to come up with it. Nice.

[Rurik @ Apr 16th 2007 12:00PM]

WiebeTech is a forensics based company, and this tool was developed for computer forensics and incident response-type work. These are computers where it's vital to keep the computer unlocked, while incident responders note everything on the screen, and where changes should not be made to the computer (such as disabling power management or installing software).

Or, it could be used for corporate workstations where security privileges are so locked down that people cannot turn off power management. I routinely have to shake my mouse every 3 minutes.

[Mike @ Apr 16th 2007 12:31PM]

Finally, an educated posting!

Thanks.

[Dennis @ Apr 16th 2007 12:29PM]

hmmm... my university library is in high demand at the moment as its getting close to exams... and the computers there log automatically after 10 mins of inactivity so that others can log in. however that's nowhere near long enough to go down for a cigarette/coffee break especially if you work on the higher levels. so i could see this being very useful although we usually leave someone there who doesn't smoke to do that job

[yosh @ Apr 16th 2007 12:36PM]

this sucks, instead of saving power when the pc is idle it makes it use the same amount of power even if nobody is using it

[Liam @ Apr 16th 2007 12:56PM]

It's not THAT bad an idea. You guys are always so negative. What could be simpler than plugging in a USB stick, instead of changing the power settings... then having to change them back again. And as many here have rightly mentioned, it's not always possible on shared/public terminals.

You people need to use your brains instead of rubbishing the idea. Even if it appeals to as little as 1% of the entire market, that's a huge potential.

I wouldn't buy one. I'm sure I know at least one person who would. End of discussion.

[raffi @ Apr 16th 2007 1:07PM]

So is this like the bobbing bird from that Simpson's episode that the nuke plant melts down?

[Tom @ Apr 16th 2007 1:39PM]

You guys are missing the point. I work for a bunch of Nazis that lock my computer after 15 minutes of inactivity. A report is then sent to some jerk who sends me an e-mail asking what I've been doing for the past 15 minutes.

I'd love to have this, 15 minutes is just not long enough to take a proper poop, and wipe. Most of the time I don't have time to wipe....

[thecatt @ Apr 16th 2007 7:04PM]

I work in a similar corporate environment. I wrote a tiny VB.Net program that moves the mouse one pixel each direction (so as to offset itself) every 10 minutes. Never thought about other people wanting it too.

[ericwoodford @ Apr 16th 2007 2:39PM]

I know a co-worker who would like this gadget for when he falls asleep at this desk. Simply disconnect and no incriminating evidence left behind..

[Ceralor @ Apr 16th 2007 2:10PM]

I can see a lot of Second Life people getting this. Essentially, since SL boots you if there's no mouse movement, you can't go to those money-making chairs forever. So they plug one of these in and start making money instead!

However, I'd just buy $30 USD of L$ instead. That would last a while.

[thechihuahua @ Apr 16th 2007 5:09PM]

If you can find a way to make it move the mouse all the time, not just when it's not being moved by the user, you could have a very fun little trick to pull all those poeple you don't like, you know - your friends.

[krimson @ Apr 16th 2007 4:12PM]

this reminds me of a time when i used programs like jiggymouse to abuse systems like all advantage and cashfiesta...
the programs then smartened up and searched for such abusing programs and then would lock your account for using them.
so, not only is this a good product for IT servers and things like that (sometimes you WANT the power settings to stay in tact, but want to have it not kick you off for a certain amount of time)
a little pricey, but there are plenty of good uses for it.

[andrew @ Apr 16th 2007 3:51PM]

you can also just have the mouse set to click and not jiggle. also can set the times for clicking intervals also click left or right button on mouse.

and this software is only $10. and yes it works on usb no problem. for pc.

http://www.ajpowell.com/mouse_clicker.html

[Bazza @ Apr 16th 2007 5:13PM]

whats wrong with a simple software solution?

[Oli Paris @ Apr 16th 2007 7:28PM]

Funny - I have a company laptop that is logs out after 15 minutes for security reasons, so the other week I just wrote little VB6 prog that I also happend to name Jiggler! Works like a charm! Just moves your mouse a coule of "twips" every few minutes.

So basically this is like that Jiggler for mac thing posted above....but for PC!

Download it from my site - http://www.pariserve.co.uk/download

Cheers! Oli

[Au Yong @ Apr 17th 2007 1:28AM]

Or write a simple macro to move your cursor when inactive

[Ishai @ May 19th 2007 5:10AM]

To all the skeptics - I have an old laptop that keeps going into standby even when I disabled everything in power saving settings, and even though emule is in the background. This sounds like a perfecct solution.

[ryancnelson @ Apr 18th 2007 9:20PM]

I've needed something exactly like this in the past, when using someone elses computer for a presentation (so I didn't want it to sleep and turn off the projector screen while I spoke, and I didn't want to go messing around in their control panel).

I took off my wristwatch, put it on the table, and set the optical mouse on top of its face... the second hand sweeps by every minute and nudged the pointer just a bit. Worked like a charm.