IOGEAR's Personal Security Mouse Fingerprints Its Users

Fingerprint readers are not exactly a very new concept, as they've been around for quite a few years now. And since this technology has reached a certain level of maturity, manufacturers have begun incorporating such biometric authentication units in various complex devices, one of the best examples being IOGEAR's latest offering, namely the Personal Security Mouse, a peripheral that scans the user's fingerprint before allowing him/her to access certain functions of the computer.

Thus, the device has been fitted with a biometric sensor that boasts a 99% accuracy rate and opens the way for a large number of interesting features and functions. Thus, for example, the associated software can create an encrypted drive that protects the user's data and can be accessed only with his/her fingerprint. Moreover, the system can be used for logon protection, whether we're talking about the operating system or various websites, as well as for file and folder encryption.

However, IOGEAR's mouse doesn't just protect the user's data, it protects the user himself/herself, as it is coated with a Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Silver (Ag) nano-particle compound. The coating uses two mechanisms to deactivate enzymes and proteins to prevent a wide spectrum of bacteria, fungi and algae from surviving on the surface of the mouse, thus making sure that the user won't have to worry about any of the aforementioned problems, regardless of the environment he/she is working in.

Leaving aside these very interesting features, the mouse itself doesn't really offer that much. It incorporates an 800 dpi optical sensor and connects to a computer via an USB 2.0 cable. However, it won't occupy too much space on the user's desk, as it measures just 5 cm x 4 cm x 1.24 cm, at a weight of around 20 grams.

The Personal Security Mouse from IOGEAR has a MSRP of around 90 US dollars, which is a pretty high price for a mouse, although it's quite well-justified by the presence of the biometric authentication system.

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