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Computer ColumnMar 10, 2010 (Computer Column - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- So there you are at the office playing Solitaire. You know you should be working on those important documents to meet yet another deadline but your mind keeps wandering and wouldn't it be nice if you could just play a game or two. Of course it's just at that very moment when your supervisor happens to stroll by. Busted. You can avoid this if you install a StealthSwitch II available at ThinkGeek. Billed by its creator as "The World's First Desktop Cloaking Device," the StealthSwitch II is a small switch that's activated by your foot. With a simple click of the switch, you can configure the StealthSwitch II to perform a multitude of functions. In my opening Solitaire example for instance, stepping on the StealthSwitch II would instantly conceal the Solitaire game and display Microsoft Word or any other application of your choice complete with a working document so you can instantly begin entering data without so much as skipping a beat. I know it sounds like I'm encouraging you to goof off at work but the StealthSwitch II actually has some redeeming qualities. It can hide an application and not simply minimize it. Applications are made completely invisible. It can mute the sound, hide the taskbar, even hide all associated desktop icons with the simple click of the foot switch. This makes the StealthSwitch II ideal in areas where computer security and privacy are of importance. You can literally get confidential materials off the screen in a moment. So in this day and age of computer security, the StealthSwitch II offers a unique way to keep your data away from prying eyes. This certainly is a lot better than reaching over to turn off the screen or re-booting the computer when someone walks into your office. The included software gives you lots of configuration controls. For example, the control panel enables you to hide the current window, hide all open windows, or hide all open windows except certain specified windows which you've previously defined. You can configure StealthSwitch II to automatically run at startup time, or start in the system tray only. The latter lets you activate it only when you think you may need it. In addition, a password protection scheme insures that only you can restore access to the cloaked applications as well as the configuration control panel. Other features include the ability to actually launch a specified application when hiding a window if the application isn't already open. And if you're not around to step on the switch, a timed hiding feature lets you hide windows after a specified period of inactivity. You can also connect up to four slave pedals that will perform virtually any single specific task you define. The StealthSwitch II comes with the one-button master USB footswitch and a 6-foot USB/PS2 compatible cable. The StealthSwitch II sells for $32.99 (slave units are $14.99 each) and works with most versions of Windows and Mac OS X. So go ahead and play that game confident in knowing that at a moment's notice, you can just step on your StealthSwitch II and look like you're hard at work. Is that the boss reading this over your shoulder? http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c8a8 Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, Computer America, heard on the Business TalkRadio Network and the Lifestyle TalkRadio Network -- Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.-midnight ET. For more information, visit his web site at www.computeramerica.com. Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the weekly radio show, "Computer America," heard nationwide. For more information, visit his web site at http://www.computeramerica.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Computer Column Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |