If you work in icy storage warehouses or happen to do most of your computing in an igloo, you may want to know that Glacier Computer, a designer and distributor of rugged industrial computers, is out with a heated touch screen for its Everest line.
The warmth solves a challenge that arises when the computer is being transported back and forth between sub-zero environments and areas above freezing--in and out of a freezer, for example.
"This activity causes condensation and then a refreezing of that condensation, making the screen unusable by the operator," explains Dan Poisson, director of engineering for Glacier. "Development of a clear, touch-screen heater now allows for uninterrupted use as the operator travels between these locations."
The non-wimpy Everest is designed for use on forklifts, carts, pallet jacks, and yard jockeys. The computers come with a 10.4- or 12.1-inch color LCD, and have an Intel processor, integrated 802.11 wireless, and a solid-state hard drive that offers protection against shock, vibration, and temperature extremes commonly seen in warehouse, logistic, and manufacturing/shop floor environments.
Come to think of it, even those of us who don't work in harsh conditions might enjoy a slightly heated PC on those cold winter days--as long as the warmth's not coming from a burning battery.