Obviously there is a lot going on at South by Southwest (SXSW)--music, film and "interactive." But what do they mean by interactive? Tech, of course! Social tech!


What You Missed at SXSW: Tech Launches
It has been common practice for tech start-ups to launch their product or service at SXSW. In 2009, Foursquare and Gowalla (RIP) both launched at SXSW. Whatever is buzzing at SXSW instantly becomes a social media and tech trend--last year SXSW was abuzz with Pinterest and now look at the masses! This year there were lots of mobile apps fight on the front lines, but these are the ones that stood out from the crowd.

Highlight is the "who's by me" app. Basically you can scan the area to see who in your general vicinity (on highlight) where you can then friend/follow them, if you please. At first this sounds creepy but if you think about it in the terms of traditional networking, if you meet someone at a conference and you want to initiate an online friendship or business networking you can simply scan the area for them in highlight. In today's society it is common networking to friend/follow someone you just met, this just makes it easier to find them to do so.
Task Rabbit is the "outsourcing" app. Basically think of a lame, mundane task or errand that has been on your "honey do" list for the past year that you keep putting off... now think about what it could be like if you could outsource it to a stranger who likes doing that task! There is someone out there who wants to fix your sticky door jam... for FREE! And now you can have Task Rabbit find them for you!

For other takeaway thoughts from this year's SXSW, check out this Huffington Post article on the eight biggest points.

I would really like to go to SXSW on year. Perhaps I'll make it next year!