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Web Worker Gear: PlayPoint Gloves

March 4th, 2008 (8:00am) Mike Gunderloy 2 Comments

ScreenshotHere’s a problem peculiar to the digital age: when you’re wearing gloves due to cold weather, it’s impossible to pick tunes on your iPod or dial numbers on your iPhone. That’s because those devices (and others with touch-sensitive capability) rely on detecting the electrical properties of your fingers, and the insulation in the gloves blocks them.

Fortunately, there’s a solution that doesn’t involve getting your hands cold in frozen weather: PlayPoint technology. This adds little electrically conductive patches to your index finger and thumb, so you can click and pinch all you want without taking the gloves off. Vendors of these gloves include Tavo and Marmot. Keep them in mind the next time you need a gift for the web worker who has everything.

Comments (2)

  • wow, good thinking. I could have used these the other day. The only downside to these gloves is that you might be inclined to play with the iPhone that much longer in the cold and your screen can freeze.

    Ari Newman9:06 PM on March 4, 2008 Reply

  • your screen can freeze

    Actuallly, the iPhone’s display performs better in the cold than any other device I have ever used. In even 0-10 F here in Chicago, it is bright and snappy. I have been amazed.

    Chris Woods — 7:23 AM on March 10, 2008 Reply

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