Magic has got to be behind this, right?

This is what I thought when I watched a

Invented and constructed by WobbleWorks, the 3Doodler pen allows the user to draw things in the air or on surfaces. You can sketch anything by lifting the pen, controlling the speed buttons on the front of device, drawing the object and, voila! You have an actual 3D image of whatever you drew.

So how does it work? It uses ABS plastic, the same plastic used in many 3D printers. Heated plastic leaks from the inside of the pen as you draw, much like a hot glue gun. The plastic then rapidly solidifies as you draw.

Pretty neat, huh? The concept behind the 3Doodler is smart and simple. What seems like a trivial toy for kids is actually getting tons of supporters. Currently it has 26,457 backers on Kickstarter, and it had already reached its initial funding goal of $30,000 a few hours after its campaign release on Feb. 19, 2012. More than $2 million has been pledged so far, and hundreds of fans have expressed their excitement and curiosity in this innovative product.

There are reasons why the 3Doodler pen is so popular. First of all, it’s simple to use. It’s a pen, after all, and not some fancy 3D printer that needs special software to run. Anybody who loves drawing, doodling or just expressing their creativity, even if they are not tech-savvy, can use it.

You can also make tons of cool things with the pen, such as jewelry, decorative art and iPhone cases adornments. The company is also working with wire artists on Etsy to construct works of art. And it’s not only used for artwork, co-creator Max Bogue said in a [CNN video,](http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2013/04/12/exp-point-3doodler-demo.cnn), but many teachers expressed interest in the pen for geometry classes. It’s also handy for interior designers when decorating walls.

Besides all the practical uses, the 3Doodler can just be used for fun, to express your artistic side. It’s a must for a boring, rainy day or a great conversation starter. It’s a practical hit for artists, and for those who aren’t talented at drawing, the company even offers print-out stencils to create objects (such as the Eiffel Tower) online. All one has to do is trace the stencil with the pen and then join the parts together.

The only downside to it is that it isn’t recommended for kids younger than 12, who are probably the most playful age group. The dangers of the hot plastic are huge and kids shouldn’t be around the pen. The company is still working on pen heads to keep users from getting burned, but with hot plastic comes age restrictions.

The pen will cost about $75 retail, which to me is a reasonable. It’s a new invention and technology, after all, and the possibilities are endless. Although it is not as practical as some other technology, the 3Doodler answers to the hobbyists, artists and designers. Plus, it’s eco-friendly. The ABS plastic that the pen uses is made out of corn, which means its biodegradable. 3Doodler may lead to new inventions and it might make geometry class less boring.