Kensington Debuts MouseWorks Software; New, easy-to-use software enables users to customize input devices for time-savings, convenience and precision.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1996--Kensington Technology Group, a leader in high-quality computer accessories, peripherals and software, today introduced its new MouseWorks software for use with Kensington's line of input devices.

MouseWorks features a completely new, intuitive graphical user interface that makes it extremely simple for computer users -- regardless of computer expertise -- to customize their input devices to work faster and with greater precision.

MouseWorks features pre-built application sets for many popular Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Macintosh applications. Application sets allow users to quickly tailor the settings of any Kensington input device with special settings for a given application.

For example, an application set is included for Netscape Navigator which turns the mouse buttons into "go forward" and "go backward" buttons, enabling users to browse quickly through web sites by toggling just these buttons.

MouseWorks also features pop-up menus which provide the ability consolidate commonly-used commands into a menu which pops up with a press of a button -- providing significant time savings, reducing hand movements, and helping to reduce repetitive tasks. Users can employ the pre-defined menus that come with MouseWorks, or they can build their own.

The Macintosh version also provides an application menu that lists running applications, enabling users to easily switch back and forth between applications.

With MouseWorks, users can customize each input device button independently to perform common tasks. For example, one button can be assigned to perform a double click, while a second can save, print and close a file.

A custom acceleration screen lets users fine-tune the acceleration of the mouse movement on the screen. Other features of the software allow users to instantly jump to any predefined hot spot on the screen and back; jump the cursor automatically to the default button in any dialog; and monitor mouse and keyboard use to remind users to take a break at user-defined intervals.

"We brought users into our labs and videotaped them using input devices and input device software," said Peter Dupont, president of Kensington. "Using this and other extensive user feedback, we've been able to develop software that gives people the features they want, while saving time and improving productivity."

MouseWorks will be included with the following Kensington input devices starting in June, 1996, in retail stores nationwide: -0-

   --   Kensington Mouse -- two-button mouse for Windows and Macintosh
   --   Kensington Thinking Mouse -- four-button mouse for Windows
        and Macintosh
   --   Expert Mouse 5.0 -- four-button trackball for Windows
   --   Turbo Mouse 5.0 -- four-button trackball for Macintosh-0-

Users of Kensington's current mouse software (version 4.1 or later) can upgrade to MouseWorks free of charge by downloading the new software from the Worldwide Web at www.kensington.com. Users wishing to obtain a disk and manual can do so for a shipping/handling charge of $19.95.

Kensington input devices include Kensington's unparalleled Satisfaction Guarantee, featuring a 5-year product warranty with toll-free technical support, information via fax 24 hours per day, and a 90-day no-risk trial.

Headquartered in San Mateo, Kensington Technology Group is the technology platform of ACCO World Corporation, an operating company of American Brands Inc. Kensington designs and markets a broad range of quality computer accessories, peripherals and software.

CONTACT: Kensington Technology Group

Shawn Gathas, 415/572-2700

[e-mail]

or

Evans Communications

Chris Black, 619/360-8656

[e-mail]