With social media and interactive, it’s very easy to get caught up in the technology. Let’s not forget that the idea is still what counts. Rather than rote utilization, how about injecting an idea and pushing the boundaries of what can be done? (Chuck Yeager meets the Internet.)

Take a look at the Coke Zero Facial Profiler. Here’s the campaign idea. Coke Zero tastes so much like Coke that “we should sue ourselves.”  Maybe you’ve seen the spots with the Coke brand managers asking lawyers to help them sue the Coke Zero brand managers. Amazingly simple, on strategy (it tastes just like Coke) and funny.

The Coke Zero Facial Profiler asks “if Coke Zero has Coke’s taste, is it possible someone out there has your face?” The application matches and connects people via Facebook. It’s a social experiment via social media.

Is it as buzz-worthy as the Whopper Sacrifice? Nope. But it’s still conceptual. And these are the projects that get the public’s attention, which is definitely not a coincidence.

UPDATE: Here’s something that I cannot believe I didn’t catch. One of our copywriters pointed out that the Coke Zero Facial Profiler site uses the line Find the Other You. Well, we produced a campaign several months ago that uses a similar line. There are social media plug-ins here as well–and, the coolest feature in my opinion, is the ability to receive text updates from the other you.

How did I not notice this?

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Tonight while researching online music experiments and crowdsourcing, I found this site. Further evidence the Internet is awesome.

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I’ve got no clue how to pronounce their name, but Idee is up to some cool stuff. This weekend I found a link to their Multicolr software, which extracts “the colours from 10 million of the most ‘interesting’ Creative Commons images on Flickr” and, by using “visual similarity technology,” allows you to navigate the collection by color. It is really pretty amazing. Give it a try.

What is “visual similarity technology,” you ask? Here’s what Idee has to say about it:

Visual similarity technology uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze hundreds of image attributes such as colour, shape, texture, luminosity, complexity, objects and regions.

These attributes form a unique visual signature and are arranged by our software into a visual index of your image set. The compact image signature is calculated quickly, stored efficiently and used to facilitate searches for similar images using an optimized and accurate comparison engine.

The implications and applications of the software are only limited by imagination. For our purposes, it’s a great way to test color combinations and find Creative Commons photos that might assist in comp layouts. Very awesome.

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Here’s something awesome from Creature in Seattle. Endorsed by such financial wizards as Alan Greenspan, Bernie Madoff and Tom Casey, the Mattress Wallet may be the most important innovation in wallet technology since the invention of the billfold itself.

The graphs (and copy) in the “financial advice” section make a compelling case indeed. I think I just found a replacement for my bacon wallet. Thanks Creature.

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Advertising people are notorious “borrowers” of pop culture, art, music and other advertising. Adam Noel and Jon Kubik decided to make it easy for all of us. Check out Steal Our Ideas.

They explain:

“Stealourideas.com is here to help you get back the happiness that you’ve sacrificed to work long hours in creative industries. Our blog entries will save you the time and energy it usually takes to think of stuff, while building the credit needed to chat yourself up at award shows.”

Really funny writing and great illustration.

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