Parents and teachers alike are well aware that illness can spread through a school like wildfire – with many accepting it as an inevitable part of school life. Devlin Electronics believe that with greater focus on preventative solutions the disruption of pupil illness can be minimised. 

    Numerous studies highlight the potential health risks of computer keyboards, frequently said to be dirtier than the average toilet seat. These studies are focused on standard office use but Devlin believe the case for providing disinfectable keyboards within schools is even more compelling.

     “There are several issues surrounding the cleanliness of keyboards in schools that mean they have the potential to harbour even more bacteria than a standard office keyboard. The first issue is multiple users – school IT rooms see a constant flow of different classes come and go. This means that bacteria can very rapidly be transferred from one pupil to another. Another consideration is that although many adults are keenly aware of the importance of hand hygiene, children can be less concerned with making sure their hands are clean. Cleaning keyboards before and after use is essential” comments Martin Baker, Devlin Electronics Managing Director.

    The Devlin “CleanKey” range of computer peripherals provide washable infection control enhancements which do not conflict with standard operation. The keyboard is waterproof and fully submersible to make cleaning simple. Smooth easily wiped surfaces mean there is no place for bacteria to hide. The “CleanKey” keyboard benefits from a unique keyshape which removes the crevices found on a standard keyboard. These design features do not impair users’ ability to touch-type.

    The name “CleanKey” is derived from a patented feature on the keyboard. The clean key when pressed isolates the keyboard from the computer. This allows the keyboard to be cleaned rapidly at the point-of-use without disconnecting any cables. It is thought this feature will prove extremely popular within educational settings as it makes cleaning possible in just a few seconds with minimal disruption.

    Baker concluded “it really is common sense to address potential health issues, keyboards have been highlighted repeatedly as an area of high risk, especially in multi-user environments. CleanKey tackles this problem without compromising standard functionality – we believe it is the best solution on the market.”

For further information contact:
Email – james.royston@devlin.co.uk
Email – simon.etheridge@devlin.co.u

Devlin Electronics core business has been the design and manufacture of custom keyboards and the supply of innovative electromechanical components for over 30 years.The company operates in a wide range of markets and has been particularly successful supplying keyboards to retail banking, financial trading desk, newspaper, CCTV, industrial, health authority, mass-transit ticketing, public access kiosk, EPOS, in-vehicle computing and digital broadcasting. Through time, Devlin's flexibility and innovative keyboard solutions have seen significant growth in overseas markets, with a wide customer base across Europe, Australasia and the USA, as well as maintaining a strong domestic presence. Clients have included the likes of IBM, National Westminster, HBoS, Reuters, Siemens, NCR, Phillips and Wincor Nixdorf, Hewlett Packard and the UK Post Office.