Mousing with my gloves on

It's damn hard!

Published on November 29, 2004 By citahellion In Misc

I have a lovely little office. It's only 8x12, but it's a corner office with a window. Two bookshelves, a table, a desk, two chairs,and my collection of Dilbert plush dolls (the 6" variety) on top of my monitor, and it's quite a cozy nook.

Except that it's November, and our heating unit isn't working right.

My desk is right next to the window. My mouse is on the side of the desk that is right next to the window. The window is not a very efficient window and leaks cold air like a frozen politician. There IS an air vent above the window, but (a) it doesn't point straight down to the desk, and (

it's blowing plain old air, not hot air. So my mousing hand sits perhaps one foot away from this massive cold front, and my keyboard a scant foot farther along than that. Thus my poor little fingers become rather frigid over the course of a couple of hours at the desk.

Studies show that working in cold temperatures increases the likelihood of RSI or CTS, and that typing efficiency decreases with the temperature. I can certainly confirm that from my own experience.

I tried putting a glove on my mouse hand, but that rendered it essentially impossible to type, and very difficult to click and operate the scroll wheel adequately.

I'm thinking of building a little hut over my mousepad, a 'warming house' for it and my hand...

Comments

Lengirl

on Nov 29, 2004

I had a similar problem, I managed to get my printer inbetween my mouse and the window...slightly cramped but it'll do for keeping out the winter days.

I like the idea of a hut..something like a mouse igloo...??

You could try getting some of those gloves with foam pads on them, like the socks that babies use to stop slipping around...??

Good Luck

LeapingLizard

on Nov 29, 2004

Except that it's November, and our heating unit isn't working right

That was my guess when I read your title! Cleverly put...You need some Hot Hands!

chiprj

on Nov 30, 2004

I used to work in a truck based system that had to have the AC running regardless of the temp outside. We'd be bundled up in long underwear and field jackets with gloves and still be required to use tiny laptop computers. In Korea, I flew on an aircraft that was always cold. I'd bring fresh socks and t-shirts during the summer because I'd sweat in my flightsuit during preflight and then be even colder during the flight. I'd also wear my cold weather boots all year long because of how cold it got on the aircraft. So, I can definetly feel your pain.

I found the the nomex gloves used on aircraft and used in armored vehicles are light weight and warm but are still thin enough to allow you to use pens, pencils, keyboards and trackballs/mouses with only a little loss of manual dexterity once you get used to them. You can get them in green or black at almost any Army surplus store or online from US Cavalry for about $20 or so. AND, people will ask if you are a fighter jock if you wear them in public (no joke, I got that one more than once).

I'm thinking of building a little hut over my mousepad, a 'warming house' for it and my hand...

In Korea, the motorcycle delivery guys have these oversized things that go over the end of the handles. They can put their hands entirely into them and still have the freedom of movement to shift/brake but they are still small enough that they can help keep the hands warm and shielded from the cold air as they drive.

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