Germ-Free Keyboards

Studies have shown that the input devices we manhandle daily are crawling with bacteria (though, it should be pointed out, not as many as your average desktop or telephone). As a result, companies have come up with a variety of ways of dealing with these germy peripherals.

Seal Shield has introduced a new line of waterproof keyboards that can be easily cleaned, simply by scrubbing them with soap and water. This feature alone is nothing new, but the company goes a step further by making them dishwasher-safe. Seal Shield products (they also carry mice and USB drives) are being marketed to medical establishments -- where bacteria running amok is a life-threatening concern -- but there's no reason clean freaks at home can't use them.