The effect that the introduction of the item can have on a standard-issue, despair-filled, open-plan office environment is truly amazing. The sheer novelty and "out-of-place-ness" of the item will bring a confused yet amused smile to the face of many a corporate wage-slave.

Most will find "activating" it hard to resist, giggling shyly as they gleefully note the effect they produce. As others are alerted to the presence of the item, principally by its ever more frequent "activation", the "prairie dog" or "meerkat" effect will be noted around the office, often accompanied by a bemused silence, or a nervous snigger. The braver ones will immediately seek to examine the item, eyeing its owner suspiciously, but with a wry smile, as they do so. They will seek to find a sinister reason for its existence, not able to accept that the item is just there to be what it is.

Mundane tasks will be embellished by its presence, playfulness will become a part of the office environment, hitherto rare bursts of laughter will reverberate around the uniform grey partitions if the item is activated with just the right timing.

All because I chose to put one of these on my desk, just for a laugh...