Silver Seal antibacterial, washable mouse and keyboard

As far as "world's firsts" go this is a pretty minor one, yet we'd be neglect in our duties were we not to present you with the Silver Seal Antibacterial, Washable Keyboard and Mouse, which manufacturer Seal Shield claims to be the only set combining both of these hygienic features. Designed for use in hospitals and other germ-laden environments, the Silver Seal desktop features those same silver ion nanoparticles that have become all the rage among hypochondriacs these days, and is totally submersible (dishwashers, too!) to expedite regular cleanings. Hospital IT procurement specialists should start looking for the set next month, and although no MSRP is available yet, we'll wager that you're looking at diNovo-level pricing.

[blade417 @ Oct 19th 2007 9:44AM]

wow, i've already been putting my compaq keyboard in the dishwasher, it's been going strong for about 5 years now.

[Denver_80203 @ Oct 19th 2007 3:56PM]

Just make sure to turn off the heated drying cycle!

[ShatteredAxe @ Oct 19th 2007 9:46AM]

If its antibacterial, why do you need to wash it too?

[Peter @ Oct 19th 2007 10:09AM]

because some times there is "goop" on the keyboard.

[thepi @ Oct 19th 2007 10:00AM]

there is a difference between bacteria and dirt, something can be sanitary yet dirty

[vanboy @ Oct 19th 2007 9:53AM]

Well it is nice to have washable mouse but nothing special about washable keyboard.

[Cochell @ Oct 19th 2007 9:45PM]

GTFO --> engadget has to eat too @$$!

[Mr Yuk @ Oct 19th 2007 9:57AM]

What's up with http://www.warezcat.com/. They seem to be an exact copy of engadget without the ads (which by the way I'm fine with since I know they pay for your great work)

[jmac @ Oct 19th 2007 10:08AM]

Am I missing something or is it quite dumb to claim a washable keyboard and mouse? First, nearly every standard keyboard is washable if you let it dry before using it again. Second, any mouse is cleanable because you only need to wash it's outer shell, there is no need to dip the whole thing in water like a keyboard.

[LukeA @ Oct 19th 2007 10:35AM]

fap?

[Mort @ Oct 19th 2007 10:38AM]

Working in a hospital setting I am interested in seeing things like this.

This reduces the chances that anything will be transfered from one patient to the next if you can completely clean an object. If they can be tossed in our cleaning solution it will be even better (used for cleaning up "spills" and is powerful stuff).

This isn't aimed at the average user it is aimed at places where cleanliness is a must. I would rather be somewhere that the equipment is completely clean instead of just the outside shell.

[Andrew @ Oct 20th 2007 12:53AM]

I also work in a hospital, but This is nonsense. We need Laptops that can do this for our rolling carts, everyone hates the COWs (Computers on Wheels) that have real keyboards. Though our thin clients at the nurses stations have keyboards, but still. this is crap.

[Rainier @ Oct 19th 2007 10:52AM]

Not tonight, I have to wash my keyboard....

[Andrew Pollack @ Oct 19th 2007 11:02AM]

This is not only useless, but probably harmful.

1. This kind of "washing" is not suitable for hospital use, as it will have no effect at all on MSRA or other more common nosocomial infections. Thus, a hospital that wants to be able to have patient available keyboards in common areas for example, still would need to sleeve them in some kind of sterile covering.

2. There is no evidence that antibacterial embedding in substances or even in soaps is any better than just plain soap. See this peer reviewed article: http://tinyurl.com/254k2g

3. There is evidence that the proliferation of these necessarily weak antibacterial products increase resistance in the overall population of bacteria that surround us every day.

4. Exposure to dirt, allergens, and infections that our bodies are able to fight off actually improves and strengthens our healthy immune systems. Many studies have shown that children exposed to more pets, more outside dirt, pollens, common molds, and all the other normal dirty "stuff" out there are much more healthy, much less prone to allergy problems, and much less likely to develop future immune related problems. An underused immune system will find other things to keep it busy, like inflammatory diseases where the body attacks its own tissues.

[John B @ Oct 19th 2007 11:29AM]

But this great advertising!

"Yes, YOU TOO can deprive your immune system of the bacteria that it needs for practice to keep itself strong! Kill the germs while killing your immune system! Buy NOW!"

I completely agree. I have a major dislike over anti-bacterial this and "kills 99.9% of any living organism" that. Plus this sort of thing is nonsensical for home or even work If I'm the only one who touches the keyboard, they're MY germs that my body has most likely already learned to attack. And if it's a family PC, I'm still going to be exposed to the same germs/viruses that my family is carrying just from being in an enclosed environment with them!

So, I still don't see who this keyboard benefits except for the obsessive compulsive, and even then it's a psychological - not medical - benefit.

[Sir Loin @ Oct 19th 2007 11:23AM]

They need to develop an anti-Cheetos keyboard next, for all of the WoW kids.

*runs*

[suv4x4 @ Oct 19th 2007 11:52AM]

Does anyone know someone who got *ill* or *died* from the bacteria in his mouse or keyboard?

In fact, the most lethal mutation of viruses happen in antibacterial rich zones, such as hospitals. If you don't try to kill them, they're harmless.

[Magallanes @ Oct 19th 2007 12:00PM]

At least in Gattaca he did not need to wash the entire keyboard.

[Candja... @ Oct 19th 2007 12:21PM]

There are prices. Cheers!
http://www.sealshield.com/buy.htm

[PammyLZ @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:47AM]

Once a year, I dismantle my keyboard and clean the the plastic shell. I let it sit in some soapy water and I rinse it well off, then I blow-dry it dry. Still works after 3 years and smells like oranges!

[ac @ Oct 23rd 2007 4:00PM]

Washable KB and Mouse are not new, check out this Unotron,

http://www.unotron.com/US/Products.html#WashableWirelessKeyboard

They even have wireless models and card readers, and they are meeting NEMA4x and IP66 standard.

[JK @ Jan 21st 2008 2:37PM]

OK, I am not sure because I have never tried it with a keyboard, but I know that many electronics can get wet, as long as they are not "powered-up" when wet. So I will try this with an old keyboard first.

As far as the need for a washable keyboard and all of the responses about this being rediculous (in terms of bacteria, etc.), please consider the other possible needs for a washable keyboard! I AM A CHEMIST! I work in a laboratory (commonly referred to as a "wet lab"; as you can imagine, much of what we do is very wet). As well, we do use harmful, dangerous, and even extremely toxic chemicals, and you never know what you might be touching. A large majority of our data is recorded electronically, when possible, so we often have wet hands when we use our keyboards. We try to wear gloves when we can, but it is not possible to wear them all of the time. You should see the horrible keyboards we wind up with, even if we use covers!
No matter what -- bring it on! We need to wash, wash, wash! Plus if someone gets sick at work, a lot of people end up getting it, because we use the same keyboards, etc., all day long. I tried to clean off one of the keyboard covers one day and the stinch was horrible. Okay I'll quit with the rant and go try to wash one of my old QWERTY's.
--end note--
We all really want to clean our keyboards at work, not just me...even though my psychiatrist is treating me for OCD tendencies. I'm not so bad off that I can't use dangerous chemicals, but I felt a need to point this out because all of my comments here are true, honest, and reasonable. The people at work who make fun of my odd "OCD" habits are still very serious about the keyboard issue, even without my input. --Consider the possibilities--