As someone who hates buzzwords, it really annoys me that “three-dee” has now come to mean “good in general”: 3D thinking, three-dimensional living, and 3-D music are all now things. In this case, however, 3D really is an asset.

Sadly, this isn’t a true hologram, but rather a flat acrylic wire mesh that lights up. The 3D effect is still pretty cool, though, and unlike a painting or poster, you can view it from multiple angles. It seems like just the fact that the design isn’t printed or embossed on a flat surface creates a kind of optical illusion, which looks like it’s somehow suspended in mid-air.

Although the base is only a little larger than a hockey puck, the sculpture itself is about 10 inches tall. You can set it to any of seven colors to suit your mood, or let it cycle through each of them in turn. The light is quite bright, making this an eye-catching ornament that will easily add some atmosphere to a party or casual get-together.

There is a whole range of design options to suit various interests: sports, music, or fantasy art. It operates on USB and consumes only half a watt of power.

On the negative side, again:

• This is not a hologram and not really 3D,
• It’s as large as the manufacturer says, no larger – suitable for a bookshelf or a desk,
• The build quality is about what you’d expect at this price point.

Still, this makes a nice gift for people of almost any age, although children will probably like it best. The manufacturer offers a range of styles, it even comes as a tooth – what other cool gift could you possibly give a dentist?