Heatbuff gamer hands heating system smashes Kickstarter goal

[CK_1985]

Slightly wacky idea, but why not! Although given the traditional gaming set-up of WASD on one side and mouse far away on the other, I can't help thinking two separate smaller heaters would be more effective?

[peterb]

There's a range of infrared wave lengths from long to short.

Indeed, all part of the electromagnetic spectrum from long wave radio waves with wavelengths measured in hundreds of metres all the way up to gamma radiation with wavelengths of fractions of nanometers.

Having said that and double checked the article i think they may have their wavelength / effects backwards as they claim their using shortwave IR that won't char your keyboard or mouse but unless I'm mistaken that's exactly what SWIR would do, a bit like a glowing household heater, whereas LWIR would be more likely to warm our 80% water bodies while not effecting plastics.

They have, but I was really drawing attention to the relatively meaningless pseudo tech speak so beloved by marketeers.

[Ttaskmaster]

However, I have developed my own system for keeping my hands warm, I call them 'gloves'.

Someone else has already done that.... and they even have USB-powered heating!!

Thing is, all you need do is keep your core warm and your hands will follow. Better to have a USB vest, or put a hot water bottle on your lap, than use an external heater focussed on your hands.
I speak from many years experience both gaming in a cold house and riding a motorcycle with my hands in blasting sub-zero winds.

[kompukare]

Surely if the average gaming PC draws at least 200W while gaming, a better approach would be to direct that heat somewhere?

Obviously heat rises and all cases are designed with intake at the bottom, but a tower case under a table with all the heat going out a chimney cleverly directed to where the user sits and has their mouse and keyboard hand could work. Needs ducts and holes in the table of course.

Anyway, from the photo of this it seems the are missing the mouse hand; shouldn't the lights be adjustable left/right plus be a bit higher as it looks like most the light are aimed at the keys not the hands.

[shaithis]

My brother has heart and circulatory issues, he would love this.

Gloves can make things clunky...

[Ozaron]

If this came in RGB and you coloured it light blue, would it double as a mosquito / fly killer like in tropical / industrial kitchens?

More on topic, at this price, I think I'll stick to the standard bar heater and wave my mouse hand in front of it in-between rounds...

[Rables]

I quite like having cold hands while gaming etc. - in fact I cant stand a sweaty control pad. Not being any sort of expert on IR waves, would anyone be concerned there might be potential dangers in heating skin tissue in this fashion. I suppose there would be higher levels of radiation coming from the computer!?!?!

[Ttaskmaster]

Obviously heat rises

Does it?
I thought it was only hot air that rose...

but a tower case under a table with all the heat going out a chimney cleverly directed to where the user sits and has their mouse and keyboard hand could work. Needs ducts and holes in the table of course.

Useless to me - Mine sits on the desk to my left hand side.
It's also not that warm, having had my hands over the exhausts quite often.

Gloves can make things clunky...

In all seriousness, the USB heated gloves are fingerless (well, fingertip-less), for this exact reason. Nice thin palms too, especially the leather ones.

[Xlucine]

I quite like having cold hands while gaming etc. - in fact I cant stand a sweaty control pad. Not being any sort of expert on IR waves, would anyone be concerned there might be potential dangers in heating skin tissue in this fashion. I suppose there would be higher levels of radiation coming from the computer!?!?!

IR radiation will not harm you, in the same way that IR radiation from lightbulbs will not harm you (unless you touch the hot glass). Dangerous radiation is on the other side of the visible spectrum, IR and microwaves are too low energy to do anything nasty to your chemicals

[peterb]

Surely if the average gaming PC draws at least 200W while gaming, a better approach would be to direct that heat somewhere?

Obviously heat rises and all cases are designed with intake at the bottom, but a tower case under a table with all the heat going out a chimney cleverly directed to where the user sits and has their mouse and keyboard hand could work. Needs ducts and holes in the table of course.

Anyway, from the photo of this it seems the are missing the mouse hand; shouldn't the lights be adjustable left/right plus be a bit higher as it looks like most the light are aimed at the keys not the hands.

Well, duct exhaust fan air up a plastic hose into the base of the keyboard, drill holes through under the key tops and have all that lovely warm air blowing up from under the keys! (Mouse might be harder, maybe the same thing with the mouse mat?)

[bledd]

Every winter I consider getting watercooling for my PC again, with a huge radiator that can sit under my feet