Call it a first world problem, but working or playing on a computer during cold and chilly weather is a hassle. While you can cover your body with rags and blankets, covering your hands with gloves adds unbearable hurdles, especially when you have to do those mouse clicks. A couple of self-confessed Danish geeks have come up with a characteristically geeky solution, as they present Envavo Heatbuff, a device that will keep your hands nice and toasty while you aim for those head-shots in Counter Strike.
The Heatbuff is a small heater sitting just above your keyboard using infrared short waves. The waves keep your hands and fingers at a bearable temperature without heating the unit or the keyboard. The infrared heater keeps the temperature at a nice range of 20° and 30° C (68° and 86° F) while not heating up its own frame, which means you can keep working at a comfortable temperature without the risk of burning your hands if you happen to brush against the unit.
The Envavo Heatbuff can be angled at any position making the heating intensity adjustable as per your comfort. The device can be plugged straight into a power outlet, and the creators claim that it is fairly energy-efficient as it can run between 2 and 300 watts. They also say that the device operates very discretely, and is easy to pack up and move if the need arises.
The creators narrate how the idea came to them when they felt chilly while playing a game of Counter-Strike, but the Heatbuff can work for any computer-bound workers which, besides gaming, includes office workers, artists, programmers, etc. It can be particularly useful for people with poor blood circulation or conditions like arthritis.
Envavo Heatbuff is up for crowdfunding on Kickstarter, where it has already raised over double its goal of DKK75,000 (US$11,000), with 20 days still left on the campaign. You can pledges for your own device at DKK499 (US$72), with bigger bundles available as well.
