Friday 2 May 2008

Computer Bugs

On the news tonight Emilia was talking dirty. Dirty keyboards, that is. Apparently a study has found that in some offices the keyboards have more germs on them than the toilets.

I'm not sure why anyone should be so surprised about this - after all, most companies don't employ people to spray disinfectant and bleach all over their computer keyboards. And we aren't provided with sinks for washing our hands after using them.
The other interesting fact in the link above is that women have four times the number of germs on their keyboards as men. Where are they getting all these germs? If you know, please feel free NOT to tell us.

I'm a little disappointed that I've not managed to grow anything from mine. After all, being in a flat it would be useful to cultivate herbs, or cress. Though it might make typing a little difficult. They'd certainly be well fed, though, as I'm sure loads of food gets dropped between the keys.

You do have to be careful what you give your equipment to eat and drink, though.

A year or two ago I poured coffee on my keyboard at work. Not just a little bit, a whole cup of latte. For the first few minutes it worked okay, then I started getting strange letters coming up. I had to get a replacement. Which suggests that you should avoid caffeine.

Chocolate and sandwiches seem to be okay, however.

Looking at my rather grubby keyboard, I think maybe I'll give it a rinse. In the toilet...

18 comments:

Bee said...

FIRST!!

Bee said...

MAN! I'm on a first roll!

Bee said...

::blech!::
Imagine all the inherited germs!
:o{

Bee said...

I have my meeting today and I'm armed and dangerous because I'm gonna go in there guns blazing regarding my Vacation time! Those hairy bastards don't know what they're in for!!

Brian o vretanos said...

Go for it!

Bee said...

I WILL MAKE MICE OF MEN AND RATS OF WOMEN!!
Or maybe the other way around!

Brian o vretanos said...

Take no prisoners!

Brian o vretanos said...

Come back with your shield or on it!

Jean Knee said...

that very trivia question was on the radio this a.m.
small world aye

I told you coffee was evil. I did some kind of mouse clicking doo dad to see how caffeinated I am. i was way up there


women had more germs because of all the little kid runny noses they wipe

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

That's interesting about women. I suppose they don't wash their hands because they're too busy rushing around...

You never see it in an obituary, though, do you?

"Fred Skinflint, pioneer of Open Plan desksharing offices, died yesterday aged 45 after catching a flesh-eating disease from a keyboard."

I reckon all these germs are good for your immune system. Or, rather I hope so...

Dan said...

I'd rather take my chances with a keyboard then with a toilet.

Brian o vretanos said...

Dan:

Yes, I've found toilets somewhat lacking when it comes to using them as computer input devices, though with all the crap on the Internet someone's obviously managed ;-)

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

See, I would have guessed that more germs came from men. What with all their scratching and picking while we women are busy trying to be ladies.
Peters allergies are acting up really badly and he sneezed on my laptop keyboard the other day. Bleh!

Bee said...

Brian, why do you have a penguin on your sidebar??

Brian o vretanos said...

Tracy:

I'm sure you've already got Peter's germs, so it shouldn't matter ;-) I was surprised about the women thing too.

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

The penguin is Tux. The Linux penuin.

Brian o vretanos said...

I didn't realise, but Tux also stars in "Al Gore's Penguin Army"

I'm sure Jean Knee knew that, though.

Jean Knee said...

wowsa, I have not seen Al Gore's army thing. My two favorite parts 1. the poster of manbearpig in the background
2. the sound of crickets chirping at the movie

I am so stealing that for my blog if I can figure out to upload that thing, last time someone yelled at me