BigShinyThing

Grafedia is multimedia graffiti written as an email address (—- @grafedia.net) or in blue underlined text to look like a hyperlink. Spotters can send a message to the address and in return get digital art sent to their phone. The above bastardized McDonald’s sign returns a graphic instructing viewers how to avoid choking (see below).

Grafedia has already been used as a promotional tool, linking to images or text that includes a personal website address or a band name. An art teacher in Australia creates treasure hunts, with one grafedia image pointing to the next. It’s also begging to be used to promote parties and events.

Grafedia was invented by John Geraci, a recent graduate from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications program. He likens it to putting a message in a bottle, “You don’t know who will find it and uncork it, and it doesn’t really matter. It’s an act of anonymous, artistis sharing, done with strangers in your city.”

More than 2,000 images have been uploaded to the Grafedia server since it went live in December 2004.

You can make your own grafedia by taking a picture and send it to “anyword@grafedia.net” then write that address anywhere you like. It’s ridiculously easy - for a picture of my cat, email jepthah@grafedia.net.

There’s a greater teaser ad in this somewhere as well - see below. The full story from Wired is here.