The Prank Collective Improv Everywhere caused a stir in their native New York recently when they hooked up serial offenders of the texting and walking habit to seeing eye pedestrians. The hilarious prank saw New Yorkers who were completely engrossed in what was going on on their phones attached via rope to a ‘seeing eye person’ who wore an orange high visibility vest, much like a seeing eye dog would.
If you’ve ever walked around a city, you’ll know that walking texters are a serial epidemic who narrowly avoid walking out in-front of cars and bumping into other pedestrians. Whenever asked by passers by about this ridiculous spectacle, the ‘Seeing Eye People’ said they were part of a pilot program run by the Department of Transportation.
I’m not sure how many people believed these pranksters, but it sure is hilarious to watch.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Texting and Walking
- Opportunities for wearable technology companies to create devices that help prevent accidents caused by texting and walking.
- Public Pranks
- Opportunities for content creators to engage with audiences through comedic stunts in public spaces.
- Smart City Navigation
- Opportunities for startups to develop smart city navigation systems that combine technology and human assistance to improve safety and mobility in urban centers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Wearable Technology
- Wearable technology companies can take advantage of the opportunity presented by the dangers of texting and walking.
- Content Creation
- Content creators can capitalize on the popularity of public pranks for engagement with audiences.
- Urban Mobility
- Startups working on smart city navigation systems can provide safer and more efficient transportation solutions for urban centers.
