Last week I tweeted about getting an augmented reality tattoo and what it would be of. Swimming dolphin? Growing rose? Heart with MOM written on it pulsating? Seriously people are doing this. At first glance of AR last summer I thought it was pretty sick. (That GE moving windmill.) Then I saw some LAME John Mayer video with it and dismissed the technology as being NOT that cool. Who wants to hold something up to their webcam, blocking your line of sight, for 5 minutes to see and hear Mr. I-have-synesthesia sing? (check that work out) At any rate I’ve been kind of making fun of AR. Until now.

Adidas did it again. Yeah something cool, they do it all the time. You buy Adidas cool original kicks and on the tongue is an AR image code. You hold up your shoe to your webcam and BAM! you are in this awesome interactive neighborhood. Each shoe represents a different neighborhood. Check it out. Buy em all. Pretty cool.

http://www.adidas.com/campaigns/originals_ss10/content/microsites/neighborhood/default.aspx?headerType=discreet&strCountry_adidascom=us

Bottom line. Cool technology is way cooler when it is used with a concept rather than just being used to be used, John Mayer. We have to remind ourselves not to be mesmirized with the flashy new but find a way to use the flashy new in a relevant, conceptual way.

Taking AR tattoo suggestions.

- Lindsay Stevens