Jansen is flooded with requests to make every conceivable item levitate. One popular option for illusionists and thrill-seekers is to make a human float, which he is pursuing with some reservations.

“You could have magnets inserted into clothes but it would not feel like resting on the clouds … If you have these magnets working together it’s a giant force. It can hurt the skin. There need to be safety precautions.”

The Jansens are not alone as there is a growing market of levitating applications for consumers. A Californian company has released a set of floating speakers, promising a unique experience for the listener. Czech designers have produced a computer mouse buoyed by magnetic levitation, designed to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome.