The Buzz

Merriam-Webster, Inc. (MW) has updated its premium online reference Merriam-Webster Unabridged. There are two new searchable databases: MW’s French-English Dictionary and MW’s Medical Dictionary, and a revised monthly newsletter, Word.com, featuring “Words in the News” and “The Puzzle Corner.” Plus, they’ve updated the Collegiate Encyclopedia and created search tools for Firefox users. unabridged.merriam-webster.com.

Educators can visit www.toolfactory.com/olympus _contest to complete an online application to enter the 2005-06 Olympus and Tool Factory Classroom Grant Program. Ten grants will be awarded to K–12 educators whose curriculum ideas facilitate learning through classroom digital photography projects. Five winners chosen for each of two deadlines (Dec. 30, 2005 and June 2, 2006) will receive $3,550 in prizes that include Olympus digital cameras and Tool Factory project-building software.

Did you know that the average office desktop has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Eewww! To protect against the spread of infection, Unotron’s SpillSeal® computer keyboards feature a patented key mechanism, allowing the keyboard to be cleaned and disinfected, while protecting it against liquid or dust penetration. The submersible SpillSeal costs $39.99, with a wireless version available for $59.99. (800) 381-5871 www.unotron.com.

Flash drives, those nifty little lozenges that allow you to transport files from one computer to another, have gotten even cooler. The newly released “smart” drives feature U3 technology, enabling the device to store software applications as well as data, so users can carry their personal workspace wherever they go for a truly mobile experience. With conventional drives, you couldn’t work with data that you transported to another PC, unless that machine had the right software installed. Smart drives are available in various storage capacities from Kingston, Technology, Memorex, SanDisk and Verbatim and currently only support Windows XP and Windows 2003. Prices start at $29.99 for a 256MB device.

What’s red and green and blue all over? It’s Kids Search, a new interface from EBSCO that gives younger students a more age-appropriate search experience. Combining the EBSCOhost search engine with a bright graphic design, Kids Search can be used to access a variety of K–6 products, such as Primary Search, Middle Search Plus, and History Reference Center. Kids Search comes as a free option with a database subscription. Librarians can customize Kids Search through branding, linking to the OPAC, and other tools. www.ebsco.com.