businessinfomag.uk magazine 28 ACCESSORIES Kensington, the desktop and mobile computing accessories company, celebrated its 40th anniversary in November. From the launch of its first product in 1982 – the SystemSaver cooling and surge protection solution for the then-fanless Apple Macintosh computer – Kensington has focused on making computers, laptops and mobile devices easier to use, more comfortable and more secure, whether used in the office, at home or anywhere in-between. Over the last 40 years, Kensington, a division of Acco Brands, has been responsible for numerous firsts in computer input, device security, personal productivity and health and wellbeing – areas in which it continues to innovate, as its multiple Best of CES 2021 awards attest. Computer Input When it comes to computer input, one of Kensington’s most enduring legacies is the trackball mouse, which it introduced to early home computer users with the launch of Turbo Mouse for Macintosh in 1986 and the Expert Mouse for PC in 1989. Since then, Kensington has led the industry in the evolution of trackball and mouse technology, notably ergonomic vertical trackballs and mice that reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries and accurate, space-saving Kensington thumb trackballs that are popular among recording studio engineers, video editors, architects and graphic designers. Kensington celebrates 40 years of innovation Today, the Kensington brand has remained a market leader by innovating with new trackball designs, as well as wired and wireless keyboards and mice in both traditional and ergonomic form factors. Device security Kensington has sold more than 38 million security locks since 1992 when it introduced the industry’s first laptop lock, the MicroSaver lock, and initiated a campaign to have a Kensington Security Slot incorporated into all major laptop computer lines. Today, these are built into most laptops, projectors, monitors and printers sold worldwide. In 2017, Kensignton launched the first-of-its-kind VeriMark Fingerprint Key, which combined superior biometric performance and 360-degree readability with anti-spoofing technologies to provide a more secure, biometric login for laptops, desktops and applications, such as Windows Hello. A 2018 CES Innovation Honoree, the VeriMark Fingerprint Key integrated the smallest touch sensor available into its compact design. Productivity aids Since introducing its first docking station in 1996, Kensington has built a broad portfolio of docks in line with the evolution of connectivity technologies, enhancing the functionality of laptops and other mobile devices and increasing the productivity of their users. In 2018, Kensington launched the SD7000 Surface Pro Docking Station, a first-of-its-kind solution that turns the Microsoft Surface Pro into a Mini Surface Studio, with a choice of eye-level desktop display mode or ‘studio mode’ for drawing on-screen and photo editing. More recently, it has enhanced the functionality and usability of another leading tablet computer with the launch of the StudioDock iPad Docking Station. A 2021 CES Innovation Award Honoree and recipient of eight Best of CES 2021 awards, this versatile dock turns the iPad into a desktop workstation by enabling the addition of an external monitor, as well as wireless charging for the entire Apple ecosystem. In partnership with Intel, which brought out the next generation of its Thunderbolt technology in 2020, Kensington also launched the industry’s first fully powered Thunderbolt 4 laptop docking station. The SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station was the first Thunderbolt 4 docking station to give users full performance and connectivity capabilities delivered through Intel’s new connectivity technology. Wellbeing Kensington’s portfolio of ergonomic desk products, including monitor stands, monitor arms and ergonomic keyboards, mice and trackballs, makes it easy to be healthy and comfortable whether working at the office or from home – a key requirement in this age of hybrid working. Addressing the concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kensington recently announced the UVStand Monitor Stand with UVC Sanitisation Compartment. Another CES 2021 Innovation Award Honoree, the UVStand combines the ergonomic benefits of a monitor or laptop stand with a large compartment that uses UV light to eliminate viruses and bacteria from keyboards, mice, trackballs, mobile phones and other devices. www.kensington.com Popular accessories brand still innovating after 40 years of industry firsts
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