Friends from Illinois were visiting this weekend; Joanie had a photo tote bag with five photos of her family nearly covering one side of the bag. She said she got it primarily to remind herself [regularly] of what is really important in life, but it has also resulted in several unexpected but welcome conversation opportunities with people commenting on the bag or the photos. There are a variety of physical media that can be augmented with a photo (e.g., coffee mugs, key chains and various clothing items); however, I think the tote bag represents a qualitatively distinct medium. Photo-imprinted mugs are rarely seen outside the home or office, keychains are rarely seen (usually in a pocket or purse), and personalized photo-imprinted clothing is rather ostentatious (and, I suspect, rarely worn except when the person who gave such clothing as a gift is visiting). The tote bag, however, is carried everywhere, and is more easily viewed — and ignored — than a tee shirt (especially worn by a woman), and thus (in my view), more likely to act as a conversation catalyst for anyone who might be so inclined.
The tote bag seems like a perfect medium for using thin, flexible, low-power displays such as E Ink or Iridigm, allowing the photos to be easily updated, offering the prospect of a mobile Ceiva or a supersized Medallion.