And if you’re the type who sometimes eats dinner while you’re streaming some videos or surfing the Internet, then you know for a fact that your keyboard is filthy. Now for regular, healthy people like you and me, that might be okay. But if this keyboard is in a more sensitive environment, say a hospital or in some other medical setting, then it’s a huge no-no.

To answer the need for a truly clean and self-sanitizing keyboard is the Vioguard, which has now been approved by the FDA. The Vioguard has a proximity sensor that will eject the keyboard when there’s a human who will presumably type something close by. When it’s not in use, the keyboard will then be housed in a UV resistant receptacle where the keyboard will be exposed to a constant stream of UV light.

The Vioguard uses 80W when it’s sanitizing the keyboard actively, and 3W when it’s on standby. No word on pricing yet, but I have to say… Now this is neat.

[via MedGadget via Oh Gizmo!]

The new SteriPEN Freedom is charged up with USB power and relies on UV rays to purify water. It’s also a lot more compact than a Brita filter or filtration device, but then again it doesn’t actually filter contaminants. However, in under a minute, after you’ve stuck it into a glass of water, it will have killed off 99.9% of the nasty bacteria, viruses and protozoa hanging out in the water. This makes it quite convenient, especially if you’re stuck in the outdoors.

The Steripen sells for $120(USD) and it’s available right now.

[via PopGadget via DVice]

I learned this the hard way the first few times I happened to stop by the lounge or canteen where a lot of people who had just finished with their workouts were hanging out. Propped down on plush seats, off come the socks–and out spreads the stench.

To these people, I have one thing to say: Shuvee.

The Shuvee is the ultimate shoe sanitizing machine. It uses the same effective ultraviolet light technology that hospitals use to sanitize their gear. The UV light goes after bacteria that causes bad odor and itchiness to people who are unknowingly breeding these germs in their shoes.

Just turn the Shuvee on, plug your shoe in, and leave it for an hour. It has an integrated sensor which activates with weight. For your wider shoes, it actually expands to accommodate the added width.

The Shuvee is available from Taylor’s Gifts for $89.98.

[via Gadgets Matrix]

If you fear the cellphone not because of radiation or overage charges that could drive you into bankruptcy, but for the germs that are collected on the then you need the VIOlight. This thing is a UV light sanitizer for your mobile phone.

It’s powered by a UV light and produces ozone too. The light can kill all manner of germs like strep, e.coli, salmonella, and more in less than five minutes. Power comes from three AA batteries. I mock the need to sanitize your phone, but the UV tech is sound. It has been used in hospitals to kill germs for years.

Now if only it could do something about that cellphone bill…

Each pen has a built-in ultraviolet LED light, you can read messages that are invisible to the naked eye. It’s perfect for writing down personal information like your PIN number or passwords – assuming of course that nobody else has a black light lying around, and you can actually remember where the heck you wrote your note. Keep in mind that while the ink is “invisible”, it’s also permanent, so don’t be writing nasty bathroom stall limericks on the walls of your house unless you plan on living with them in perpetuity.

If you want to exchange secret notes with a friend, buy a couple and play a game to see if you can find all the hidden messages you leave for each other. Of course, running around with a UV light in hand, you might come across other evidence of foul play you didn’t intend to. Don’t mind that blood spatter – it’s nothing.

The Invisible Ink Spy Pen is available over at Perpetual Kid for $9.99 (USD).