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In this age of extended hours, working from your home or vehicle, and carting around a load of items used in your daily life, the passenger seat becomes a bit of a catch-all.

If you're like me, you toss stuff there while you go about your day, reaching over for it as needed, often to find it has shifted or fallen into the crack between the seat and the door or centre console, or been pitched unto the floor.

If you have to take your eyes off the road to look for something or grab it to prevent it from moving, you're putting yourself in a dangerous situation. Deskinacar can solve that problem.

This portable plastic device is designed to fit on the passenger seat, your lap or anywhere you need a flat surface. We're not advocating you use it as a desk while driving — and neither are the inventors, who wisely advise it be used only to secure items while under way, and used as a work surface only when stopped.

While the design is clever and allows for a variety of configurations, the most significant aspect to me is the soft-touch, non-slip surface that allows you to place items on the Deskinacar and have them remain there. I didn't test it under extreme cornering conditions, but during everyday and sometimes-aggressive driving, my PDA, wallet, notebook and camera all remained in place. Pair up your cellphone with the wireless system in the vehicle, plug it in to recharge and place it on the lightweight polycarbonate unit and it stays there.

The manufacturer, Officeinacar, says the unit is meant for travelling sales reps, adjusters, engineers, oil field people — anyone who travels and whose work is gadget-intensive.

Pull over to make a call or take a note, and everything is at hand. It is also useful out of the car — place it on your lap and you have a flat work surface or toss it in your briefcase and you have a portable desktop. It's $50 at www.deskinacar.com.