Hot wired: That search for office harmony

Coffee-warmer for the forgetful.

It's never easy finding suitable gifts for office-mates, particularly when you have no real idea of what they get up to after work - other than watch endless amounts of television.

We all really need only one paper-clip dispenser, office multitool or personalised coffee mug with an absurd commentary of our habits emblazoned on it.

Given the laptop boom, USB-powered computer accessories seem a surefire option. The following affordable handy PC add-ons are all available locally.

Workmates who get so engrossed in their work that their coffee or tea always goes cold will welcome a desktop coffee warmer.

The heat plate is big enough for most regular cups, it has an on/off switch, and the USB cord is a handy 1.5m. At $30 it comes with a stainless-steel mug and lid so that oft-forgotten 10am coffee can last all day. Just think of the savings.

If the smell of one office mate's constant coffee drinking (or other personal habits) is too much, how about a USB ionizer with aroma diffuser for the same price? A fan draws in the polluted air then dispenses trillions of negative ions to clean and ionize the air. Optional natural aroma beads can "enrich" the ionized air further.

New-age workmates may prefer a personal USB aromatherapy diffuser for $25. It diffuses lavendar scent to fill the workspace with a calming fragrance that soothes the mind and heals the body. If you sit close enough you too can enjoy all the benefits of aromatherapy at your own desk.

For the boss may I recommend investing $60 on a laser pointer with remote presentation control. The pen-sized laser pointer incorporates "page up" and "page down" buttons for PowerPoint presentations, as well as a handy pocket clip. The remote plug-and-play transmitter connects discretely into a USB port.

Jaycar Electronics can supply a wedgewood blue welded vinyl pocket protector for an extra $3.

Sadly the USB missile launcher is not in stock yet. When it is, watch out. It costs more than $70 but is so brilliant you'll want to buy it for yourself.

The launcher can fire up to three soft foam missiles at the click of your PC mouse, and boasts realistic sound-effects. Software is included to adjust the trajectory, panning 180 degrees and tilting 45 degrees.

Get one before the office ratbag does.