ANCIENT ART MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY

ANCIENT ART MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY John Alderman Studios Designs Revolutionary Tattoo Applicator

Media Advisory August 5, 2002

ANCIENT ART MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY
John Alderman Studios Designs Revolutionary Tattoo Applicator

CANON CITY, Colorado--August 5, 2002-John Alderman of John Alderman Studios today announced a revolutionary leap of technology for an established global industry. The following is a recent interview conducted by Alan Miller with John Alderman.

AM: Welcome John. It is our understanding that you have designed a new technology in an industry that has taken on a unique popularity. Our question, is tattooing still a closeted practice?

JA: Thank you, Alan. No, it is not. In the U.S., growth of the tattooing industry stems from an increasing social acceptance of the ancient art. Tattooing has taken on an increasingly larger, more visible role in today's mainstream culture. Today, you see all kinds of tattooed celebrities, rock stars, movie stars, and even super models all proudly displaying their body art. In other countries, it has been an accepted art form for years.

AM: You said ancient art". The popular belief is that tattoos have been around since the 1800s. Primarily associated with sailors or indigenous people.

JA: That may be a popular view, but an inaccurate view. Tattoos have been around since the dawn of recorded time. In 1991, the frozen body of a Siberian "Iceman" was discovered in the Alps that was dated to be more than 5,000 years old. The Icemans body had 57 tattoos. In 1948, a Russian archaeologist was excavating a group of tombs and found the mummy of a Scythian Chieftain. On the mummy's right arm, were tattoos of a donkey, a mountain ram, and two deer. As well, there were tattoos of four running rams that encircled his shin. Procopius of Caesarea, who lived during the first half of the sixth century wrote a number of official histories, once reported that many Christians were tattooed on their arms, with a cross or the name of Christ. During the time of the Old Testament, the pagan world was practicing the art of tattooing.

Hence, the art of tattooing, is one of the original surviving art forms from antiquity.

AM: Why the tattoo industry?

JA: I was looking into several industries that havent been touched by the advent of the micro-chip. Over the course of the last 20 years everything from movies to how we checked out our food at the grocery store has been touched by technology. When I came across the tattoo industry, which produces global revenues in the billions. The core technology of this industry hasnt changed in the last sixty years. I saw an opportunity.

AM: I understand you come from a long line of inventors.

JA: True. My grandfather and his father are successful inventors. They had over 1600 patents between them. I guess they were guiding me to this. I stopped what I was doing and took a full time interest in the tattoo industry.

AM: As you said, the core of the tattoo industry hasnt changed.

JA: Oddly enough, the process of tattooing hasnt changed. Currently, the tattoo gun in use today; in just about every tattoo studio around the world is approximately the same design. As a result, tattoos are generally line-art and cartoonish shading. The level of technology available today limits even the most skilled tattoo artist.

AM: The current design of tattoo guns lacks precision?

JA: The current tattoo gun is a cumbersome instrument that vibrates the hand of the tattoo artist. The first phase of our ergonomic design is shaped like a ball-point pen with minimal weight and vibration. Our design is a precision instrument that gives the tattoo artist freedom of movement in order to express their creativity. The design leap is akin to typing on an old Underwood typewriter as compared to that of a desktop computer.

AM: What about sterilization and client safety?

JA: Our design follows the same safety and sterilization protocols used in the tattoo industry. The tattoo blades that are used today, and what is used in our design, are the same. Our new gun design will be manufactured the same way stainless steel operating room instruments are made, and will follow the same sterilization program.

AM: What about your business model and funding of this project?

JA: Our design is original and is patent pending. We are still raising money with private investors to complete the prototype and launch our roll-out program. Our program is very attractive to private investors. We are talking about an established global marketplace, and we will hold the patent. We are not reinventing the wheel as in the case when PCs were introduced into the marketplace. Our ambition is to capture just a small market-share in the first five years but on a global scale.

AM: Just one personal question for you John. Do you have a tattoo?

JA: Not at the moment. But you can probably guess who will have the first with our new tattoo applicator.

CONTACT: Alan Miller
Corporate Relations & Communications
John Alderman Studios
719-276-6817