h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've never suffered from 'insecure mouse mat syndrome'. The material used for all my mouse mats has ensured that they stay where they're put. However, I used to suffer from another problem. When using a mouse on a standard mouse mat for any length of time, the pressure on the small bone to the left of the base of my right hand (where the wrist starts) would eventually cause pain. Part of the problem was that my computer at home doesn't have space for a mouse mat next to the keyboard, so my hand was at a slightly awkward angle. But the problem can occur at work too. My solution has been to buy a mouse mat made by 'Fellowes', which has a gel wrist rest. The mouse mat is only two-thirds the size of a normal mat, but still allows you to move the cursor from one side of the screen to the other, without having to re-position the mouse. The wrist rest means the pressure on the mouse is less so it moves more easily, and also prevents the painful pressure on my hand.

Yes, I too have purchased one of those. Though I removed the gel pack and attached the small adhesive rubber feet to the gel pad itself. I use this in conjunction with a "Wild Touch" normal sized mouse mat/pad this system works very well with my multilevel desk, and at last the numbness that used to permeate my fingers after several minutes of mouse maneuvering has ceased to be a factor. Unfortunately it also means that I don't have to stop working in order to regain touch sensitivity in my hand, so I don't get as many cups of coffee as I used to (though the number of spilled cups due to the numbness in my hand as dropped significantly) which means my caffeine levels drop rapidly this has resulted in unscheduled naps in front of the computer, and subsequently disrupted sleep patterns at night. My mental state has suffered due to this effect, and therefore I have decided to ditch the wonderful gel pad and resume with a numb hand and spilled coffee.
$15.00 down the tubes.
C'est la vie

I always found that if I was really tired, coffee wouldn't keep me awake. Not even strong black coffee. I have no problems with disrupted sleep patterns due to lack of caffeine, largely because I gave up drinking strong black coffee many years ago. (I gave it up because I used to get really bad headaches if I didn't get a cup of coffee within a couple of hours of waking up. I suppose they were withdrawal symptoms. I decided that there was something wrong somewhere and cut back drastically. Mind you, I was drinking strong black coffee at the time, which didn't help! Now I only have coffee occasionally, but I still like it strong(ish).)

I have never liked coffee but I am going to give up my Dr. Pepper (a caffeinated soft drink) because I get a headache on the days I don't drink one, and that scares me, like you, Cheerful Dragon. And I like mice.

Reminds me of that immortal Dilbert strip where the boss needs to move the cursor to the right, but his mouse is at the edge of the mousemat. The technical support line advises him to buy an 800 dollar mousemat upgrade.

No sir you would be quite correct in that statement. If a person is physically exhausted coffee will not help him at all.
The lethargy comes from staring at the monitor for long periods of time, becoming bored, which then results in naps. The coffe breaks served two distinct purposes.
1. They gave me a chance to get up and move about.
2. They gave me something else to think about for the time that I was away fromt the monitor.
It was for these reasons that the trips to the coffee pot were most useful.
at this time I do not experience the caffeine addiction symptoms that you all have reported. Also calculate the fact that in post high school career I was a truck driver so that my system became used to and addicted to caffeine early. It is one of those addictions that, on a general basis, I am not yet persecuted by political health radicals for engaging in and intend to keep at least until they raise the price to a level much higher per cup than a pack of cigarettes which at least for now I still take pleasure in.

I tend to be able to keep awake despite many hours spent staring at the internet at a time (so far 4 hours tonight - bloody hell that's sad, but I am a single mum so I have an excuse). I don't know what my secret is, two mousemats I think. One is leather, is that a bit kinky? I hope so.

A leather mouse mat? I like the idea!

leather? cool. i have a wireless mouse that requires a special sensor mouse mat. Any other variations?

Leather mouse mat? HMMM. I hadn't even concidered that. Kinky? Probably. Never the less, I envy your ability to remain alert after long periods at the monitor. However, for me, four hours is barely the tip of the iceberg. On the average, between work and home, I spend approx 16 hours per day in front of these wonderful eyes to the world.

16 hours! That only leaves 8 for eating / sleeping / having a life! My working day keeps me in front of a screen for about 8 hours (on a normal day) and I try to spend no more than 2 - 3 hours in front of a computer when at home. That leaves me 14 hours (ish) for getting to and from work, eating, sleeping, watching TV, linedancing ...

And, yes, I can stay alert without copious quantities of caffeine when I'm in front of a computer!