Paul Schultz is a Coast Guard investigator who found a bright red camera while he was at work looking for tar balls. Schultz found that there were many photos as well as an underwater video on the camera. While the photos had been taken by humans, the video was shot by a turtle. He posted the 'turtle cam' on YouTube.
'Turtle Cam' went viral, but Schultz still didn't know who the camera's owner was. After posting the story on YouTube and tracking down details in the camera's photos, he located the camera's owner -- a Sergeant in the Royal Dutch Navy who lost the camera while diving in Aruba.
Accidental Videographers
'Turtle Cam' Goes Viral When Turtle Shoots Video on Lost Camera
Trend Themes
1. User-generated Content - This trend showcases the untapped potential of user-generated content, which can not only create viral sensations but also instigate community building.
2. Animal Tech - This technological trend highlights how animals can participate in technological advances in the same way humans do, enabling companies to come up with unique innovations by observing animal behaviour.
3. Eco Tourism - The trend of eco-tourism offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for companies to stand out by preserving ecosystems while giving tourists the chance to create their own user-generated content.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism and Hospitality - Companies in the tourism and hospitality industry can capitalize on user-generated content and eco-tourism to offer differentiated and personalized experiences to their customers.
2. Consumer Electronics - Consumer electronics firms can capitalize on animal tech to develop products that capture and use animals' movements and behaviors to create unique and exciting content for their users.
3. Social Media and Communication - Social media and communication firms can benefit from the trend of user-generated content by developing more platform features that promote users' engagement and creative expressions and foster 'accidental videographer' experiences.