USB hand Warmers

by Emily Price | More from this Blogger

15 Nov 2006 04:17 PM

Those of you in cooler climates may get a kick out of these USB hand warming gloves. The gloves look like your typical gloves, but plug into your USB port to warm your hands in minutes. The gloves use the power from the USB on your computer to produce heat. When you want to use them you simply put them on your hands, plug them into your computer, and prepare to get warm.

When I first saw these I thought it was pretty neat invention. The USB port on your computer can more definitely be used as a power source, so a hand warmer is a pretty fantastic idea.

The more I think about it however, the more slightly peculiar it is. In what situation would it be so cold you would need a hand warmer, but you would also want to use your computer? My office gets pretty cold at times, but never so cold that I feel like a hand warming device would be necessary. Having a device that plugs only into your computers USB port also limits you to using it, only when you are using your computer.

A USB hand warmer lends itself to the invention of tons of other random USB powered devices. I actually think a USB powered fan would be a fabulous idea. I've gone outside on many a hot day with my laptop to do some writing, and would have loved the opportunity to cool off, a little bit at least, with a USB powered fan. I can picture myself on hot afternoons at the park!

What could be next? A USB powered food warmer? Cook your lunch with your laptop. How many of you would use USB powered hand warmers? Where would you use them/ What other USB powered devices can you think of?

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Emily is a freelance writer and video editor in Raleigh NC.

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Sheri Fresonke Harper (4092) 15 Nov 2006 08:11 PM

Wow, those USB gloves sound neat. But anytime my hands have been cold, I've been someplace where my PC wasn't really welcome -- think top of a ski resort. It could be a useful gift for an elderly person, though.

Emily Price (4736) 17 Nov 2006 01:31 AM

There is a lady at my office who always wears gloves while she is at work. She thinks our air-conditioning is too cold. I showed these to her yesterday and she was pretty excited!

jimp0967 (5) 23 Jan 2007 09:29 PM

The USB port provides 5 volts at a current of 500mA (1/2 an Amp). That's a grand total of 2 1/2 watts. Any heat produced by this device would have to be minscule. If your hands feel warmer, well of course, you're wearing gloves! I for one would rather rub my hands together every so often rather than be seen in this ridiculous rig.

InCogNEATO (5) 07 May 2009 10:07 AM

I have the USB fingerless gloves and they do not work good at all. Jim is correct about part of his statement. The 5v USB is not really good for gloves... BUT.... I have the infrared heat radiant value rays USB HEATED MOUSE, Mouse Pad, and Mouse Hand Warmer blanket and they ALL WORK WONDERS! The value-added infrared heat is concentrated and generates wonderful infrared radiant heat!!! And, it's therapeutic for aching hands, poor circulation, etc. I have arthritis so this is VERY important to me. Although the fingerless gloves don't work very well, the other USB devices work wonderful!