Meanwhile, the hologram did just what it was supposed to - protect Microsoft's software from being counterfeited. The hologram even helped police catch the bad guys. A corporate good luck amulet for the 21st century, the mini-image triumphed. Holograms are deceptive little things. But don't dismiss them as nothing more than a pretty picture.
Holograms are one of the best security devices ever invented.
Their laser images are extremely difficult to duplicate, requiring expensive equipment, technical know-how, and artistic skill. That's why companies are commissioning them like hotcakes these days and slapping them onto everything from credit cards to new CDs. And, of course, computer software. Yet for every proprietary hologram, there's a high-tech artist out there who'll try to copy it. These are the forgers of the new millennium.