The Anywhere Lap Desk
COMING SOON!
How it all Began
Marc Fogel, M.S., a seasoned organizational consultant, has attended professional conferences for over 20 years. A common challenge at large conferences is the prevalence of row seating, which typically lacks any kind of writing surface. As someone who prefers to take notes on his laptop, Marc repeatedly found these seating arrangements to be both inconvenient and limiting.
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As many professionals can attest (and as described here), using a laptop without a table can be physically awkward, uncomfortable, and even risky - especially in tightly packed rows where others frequently brush by, forcing the user to be constantly concerned for their device's safety.​​​
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A few years ago, Marc decided he needed a solution to this problem.
​His requirements were simple. The solution had to meet the following 3 criteria:
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Fit easily into his backpack
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Keep his laptop secure while resting on his lap, and
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Be discreet enough for use in professional settings without drawing attention
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After spending countless hours online searching for a suitable solution, he discovered that there is no current product that met his needs. And so, Marc decided to design and build his own solution.
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The way he saw it, the concept was simple: the laptop needed to sit on a thin, flat surface that would rest on the user’s lap. The device needed to have a backstop to prevent the laptop from sliding away and off the flat surface. And the flat surface needed to somehow be connected to the user so that it didn’t fall off their lap. The easiest solution for this last problem seemed to be a thin strap, wrapped around the user’s lower back and connecting to the front of the flat surface.
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In 2024, Marc tried out his invention at a conference, and in airports and found it to be a true revolution in the way he thought about where he could use his laptop in comfort. He quickly realized how much freedom his invention afforded him, enabling him to work productively in places he’d previously written off as a viable work location - such as on a park bench, an airport or even in his own back yard. The idea for a product was born!
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Recognizing its broader potential, Marc made the strategic decision to patent his invention and begin the process of bringing it to market. His goal: to give other laptop users the same freedom, mobility, flexibility, and comfort he had come to rely on.
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[Click here to read an article written about Marc and his invention.]​​​​​​
