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Keyboard grime analysis

This is what clogs up your key strokes

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Ever wondered what makes up the grimy residue that coats your computer keyboard?

According to intensive research by AOL, it consists of bits of fingernails, hair, insects, vegetables and the odd cornflake crumb. And as if that isn't enough useless information for one Friday afternoon - here's some more. Britain's seven million online households accumulate 0.138 tonnes of this stuff every year.

Thus AOL has teamed up with fast food outlet Domino's Pizza "to put a halt to the ever-growing mound of filth in and around the nation's PCs".

The two companies sent a sample of one month's grime "chosen at random from a London company" to be analysed at Reading Scientific Search Laboratory. The major identifiable components, and their per centage of the total weight of grime are listed below.


  • Corn Flakes 15%
  • Boiled sweet 15%
  • Noodles 7%
  • Vegetable piece 4%
  • Leaf 1%
  • Pencil lead/shavings 1%
  • Staple 1%
  • Finger nail 1%
  • Tape/plastic 1%
  • Insect 1%
  • Foil 1%
  • Hair 1%

Under the deal with Domino's, AOL users will be able to order pizza online - "a food easy and convenient to eat at the keyboard without crumbling or spillage," according to AOL. ®

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