Make:

I'm temporarily bed-ridden and am trying to figure out a design for laptop stand that suits my needs. Most of the designs for stands that could be used in bed are suitable for someone propped up from behind. like this:

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/02/bedtop_computer_stand.html

Because I spend a good deal of my recovery time lying on my sides and stomach, I need to come up with a stand which I can position so that the screen can be viewed from virtually any angle.

The only thing i can envision is something like a VESA arm mounted to the wall behind the headboard, which can then extend out/down to the right position. On the end of the VESA arm, I'm envisioning a tray that the laptop sits on mounted to some kind of 360 degree swivel ball joint. As long as I firmly attach the laptop to the tray somehow, I'd then be able to swivel the tray in any direction so that the screen was positioned for optimal viewing, regardless of which way my poor little head was laying in bed.

Here's a $500 commercial LCD monitor stand almost exactly what I'm looking for, but I'm hoping to find someone who's built something similar for a lot less.

http://www.ergomart.com/HD_LCD_monitor_arms/lcd_monitor_arm_SAA66.htm#adjustability

The parts question I had is re: the 360 swivel ball joint (something like they've used here maybe, except larger?) . http://www.totalcnctools.com/item.php?itemid=106

does anyone know of a source for swivel joints like this which either can be locked into position or which have stiff enough tension that, once positioned it will stay put? Am I barking up the wrong tree by trying to use a joint like this to mount the laptop tray to the articulating arm?

Any ideas or help would be appreciated

(Also, can I get someone to fluff my pillows :)