It's essentially a dildo on a pogo stick. The spring mechanism isn't as strong and it doesn't have foot pedals, but it bears more resemblance to a pogo stick than the Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 does to a vibrator.

According to the user guide, you can use the Jack in all kinds of positions, although I suspect they used illustrations rather than photographs because some of the suggestions seem more theoretical than probable.

At first I dismissed the Jack out of hand. No woman is going to want that near her, I thought, watching the earnest marketing team bounce the things around in their first-ever adult trade show booth.

But in writing the first draft of this column, I came to understand that my initial dismissal has more to do with the name and the way it's being marketed than with the product itself.

It's entirely possible that the Jack will become a popular way to get through a serious injury that restricts your mobility without giving up masturbation. Or it could become the all-time favorite toy for people with mobility challenges.

You can stand up or sit at the edge of a chair, or brace it against the wall while you lie down or assume bala-asana. The long handle frees you from having to put your hands near an orifice, if reach is an issue for you. It doesn't need batteries and it comes with a one-year warranty.

At orgies, you can use it to penetrate one partner while having intercourse with another. A single man can use it for penetration while keeping one hand free to stroke himself. And webcam chat has opened up a whole new realm for novel sexual accessories. The Jack could always double as a pole for an exotic dancer who works from home.