🚀 go-pugleaf

Low Cost Solutions to Static Problems?

I work with a support center that provides computer advice to
hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the state.  Over the
past few months, several people have told us that they are having
problems with static in their office.

After walking across the carpet, they are charged with static
electricity and when they touch their computer equipment they
experience a slight shock.  In one office, static has actually
damaged some of their hardware.

Recently, in an office supply catalogue, I saw an advertisement for
some fairly expensive anti-static products: chair mats, table mats,
keyboard mats, and mouse mats.  The makers of these products claim
that they will solve the static problem, but many of the
financially strapped organizations that we deal with cannot afford
to buy these products.

So, I decided to turn to the mighty wisdom of the Internet for
assistance.  My questions are this:

1.   Does anyone have experience with these commercially available
anti-static products?  Do they really work?

2.   What is the concept behind these products?  The advertisement
I came across claimed that the chair mat had "an internal carbon
grid that disssipates static through a 15' grounding cord."

3.   Does anyone have any ideas about inexpensive alternatives to
these anti-static products?  It seems as if it should be pretty
easy to modify pre-existing mats to make them static proof.

If anyone out there has any ideas about how to tackle this problem,
please e-mail your responses to: vpcsc11@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu.

Thanks!

--
aaron delwiche
public interest clearinghouse