“I’m convinced that the latest iteration of crowd-accelerated innovation, fueled by Web video, is about to ignite the biggest learning cycle in human history.”

Big statement… with even bigger consequences. Imagine the impact on productivity if it’s correct.  Chris Anderson, founder of Future Publishing and curator of the TED Conference  says the rise of web video is driving a worldwide phenomenon he calls Crowd Accelerated Innovation — a self-fueling cycle of learning that could be ‘as significant as the invention of print.’

True to the vision of TED (“Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world”) Anderson suggests that video sharing sites like YouTube are driving innovation in thousands of disciplines ranging from the ultra-niche to the sharing of truly world-changing ideas.

Today individuals are driving this radical innovation. Organizations on the other hand, still  have to contend with inertia and institutionalized bad habits. They also need to embrace radical openness in order to tap into the power of this growing phenomenon. That’s a big challenge.

The video is thought provoking and certainly worth a look:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/18/anderson.youtube.innovation/

Ogilvy and Mather developed a series of 30 ads to showcase value-added services offered by Indian’s second largest mobile carrier – Vodaphone.  The ads have become very popular in India and are already being spun into other promotional activities. The ads are also doing very well on international viral video charts.

It’s interesting to note the feedback on YouTube – unanimously positive. (I’ve never seen that before.)Facebook is also buzzing with Zoozoo fever. Either Ogilvy has their promotional machine spun into overdrive or they have genuinely struck a nerve in India.  You have to question some of the ‘buzz’ when you read a YouTube comment like “Express yourself with Vodaphone.” Regardless of whether the excitement is genuine or ‘enhanced’ you have to give Ogilvy & Mather credit. India is coocoo  for Zoozoo.

Video is a powerful media. A couple of idiots employed by Domino’s Pizza will probably cost the fast food company millions in lost revenue as a result of the ‘prank’ video they placed on YouTube showing themselves performing a number of disgusting acts to the food they were preparing prior to it being send out. It is unclear whether the food they were defiling actually made it out the door – they claim it did not. (They have since been fired and a federal warrant has been issued for their arrest.)

Unfortunately the damage is done and Domino’s now has to deal with a public relations nightmare. Domino’s has fired back with a YouTube video of their own with a very tired looking President (Patrick Doyle) outlining the steps the fast food chain will take to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Responding with a video on YouTube makes sense and I assume they will employ other media as well in an effort to restore public confidence. The video is measured and in two minutes Patrick Doyle covers most of what needed to be said. The video looks like it was put together quickly which, under the circumstances is understandable. Doyle doesn’t make eye contact with the camera – which is unfortunate as he seems to be reading cue cards up and to the left of the camera. Renting a teleprompter, or better yet, delivering an unscripted speech to the camera would have served the company better.

This is a teribble thing for a company to go through and an example of why firms hire PR agencies to help them with disaster planning. Unfortunately the ubiquity of video devices and ease of transmission will guarantee that this could happen again - to any company. Video will play an important role in responding to these crises.