Identification Required - Electronic Gadget - Unknown Use (Floating Electro-Magnet Executive-Toy Perhaps?)

[QuasarHead]

It's around 12" high with what looks like an electro-magnet in the top part and there is a gap to the bottom part, which contains a complex circuit board including a micro-processor.
It has a USB port, but I cannot get the indicator light to come on in any of the three switch positions.
The large magnet on the top part is very strong (& heavy). I suspect that the copper coils surrounding it may turn it into a variable electro-magnet. The contraption weighs 942g.
Perhaps it is an executive toy to float a ferrous object below it?
I've got photos on my google drive at:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzQIQFX6CILbMUNWYjRURU8yQXM&usp=sharing

[woofgang]

looks like this to me
http://www.geekologie.com/2007/07/27/levitating-globes.jpg