When GoPro Met Periscope

The tale of an up-and-coming app power couple. 

Who doesn't love watching incredible footage of unique, daring, and exciting events? Few. Who doesn't love watching bored people sit at home in front of their webcams? Many. This is why Periscope should be thanking their lucky stars for their new partnership with GoPro.

Last week Forbes author Larry Magrid posted a piece that highlighted the news of this union as a blessing for GoPro. He noted the potential to reach a new market "beyond its traditional sports-action users" as well as the benefit of giving every average user the opportunity to create truly interesting video with its two-camera live broadcast. While these benefits for GoPro are real, the true winner in this partnership is Periscope.

Periscope (Periscope TV) first came into sight a few months back after being acquired by Twitter and reaching 10 million accounts in just four months. Offering live streaming videos and constant viewer commentary and questioning, the app promised a new and dynamic social experience. Periscope had the potential to integrate our favorite elements from Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook into one mega app. It was intended to be personal and compelling, allowing users to see from another's perspective.

Unfortunately Periscope users have turned the camera around so rather than seeing through someone else's eyes we're seeing exactly what we've always seen. The app is currently reminiscent of Chatroulette, the 2009 site which allowed users to chat or video chat with other users around the globe at random. The similarities are due vastly to the content of the video streams as well as the randomness of subjects. The majority of common users stream footage of recreational drug use, singing  and themselves sitting at home alone - hardly providing the intriguing, thought provoking footage advertised by Periscope.

Periscope will become vastly more interesting and true to its pitch through this partnership. Users will have the technological ability to stream multiple angles at once making their footage more professional and simultaneously more immersive. Existing GoPro users who already fall under the "sports-action" title will contribute content that aligns with Periscope's vision. This partnership will give periscope the technology and user base to re-focus become the app it was intended to be. 

However, despite the implications of the GoPro technology it is possible that Periscope users will continue the pattern of turning the camera around. Could there be a deeper issue that cannot be solved by introducing new technology and a more adventurous audience? Maybe Periscope users are more interested in showcasing themselves rather than just their perspective. How can Periscope capitalize on GoPro technology and users to combat what seems to be an attention-seeking epidemic?   

Let's hear your thoughts!