background preloader

5 Key trends from SXSW 2012

Facebook Twitter

Piers Fawkes Talks 5 Key SXSW Trends [Video] During our trip to South by Southwest this year, PSFK founder Piers Fawkes sat down with the team at Leo Burnett to talk about the 5 “Need To Know” trends we were following at the festival. These include Co-Sharing, Me-TV, Social Pairing, Gaming for Good and Sonic Interface. Here, Piers talks about how Gaming For Good is cropping up everywhere but may not necessarily be the best platform for brands, and how the real essence of Co-Sharing is adding value and getting ahold of the best products for you. Watch part one of the interview below: Leo Burnett. The Sonic Interface Trend [Need To Know: SXSWi] Shazam Gives Out Recipes By Recognizing Baked Good Ads.

Welcome to Shazam. Walmart’s Updated iPhone App Lets You Speak, Type & Scan To Add Items To Your Shopping List. Kinect-Powered Online Banking Logs You In With Your Face And Voice. The Lithuanian company ETRONIKA has developed a Microsoft Kinect-based online banking application that recognizes your face and voice to log in to your account and lets you control options with gestures. An updated version of this system was presented at Finovate Europe 2012 in London earlier this month. The company uses their own and third party Biometric User Authentication and Identification Technology to identify the user. The application analyzes your face and voice to log you in and gesture recognition is used to control the software. You can scroll through the different services, such as accounts, balance, statements, savings and offers, with a swipe of your hand.

As an additional security measure, when you make a payment you must verify it by entering your PIN code into your phone. Air Dictate app brings Siri's voice control to Macs, makes you feel just a little more important. Voice Recorded Updates Let You Tweet Without Typing. Bubble Motion :: Home. The Social-Pairing Trend [Need To Know: SXSWi] As we all begin to look forward to the interactive section of South By South West in March, PSFK has identified five key trends that readers should be monitoring during the festival. One of these trends, we have coined ‘Social-Pairing.’ People with similar interests, hobbies and needs have the opportunity to meet today through smart services that use a mix of social, location and demographic data to match profiles. Networks are looking at their member’s profiles on their site and across the social graph and linking people up based on interests, needs and location.

These systems facilitate tremendous efficiencies. People can connect in a way (and at a speed) that would previously have taken a great deal of time and effort. Social Pairing is about getting people together. One pertinent example of this trend that continues to come up in our research is Co-Parenting. Social Network Brings Co-Parenting To The US Other Manifestations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. App Facilitates One-On-One Activites With The People You Care About. Duet. Social Network Helps You Meet The Neighbors. Imagine combining Facebook with Yelp. Now filter out all the people in the network who live miles away and cancel the status updates you don’t need. Now imagine that you need a power drill, or a babysitter, and don’t always trust Craigslist to be the most reliable source. Enter Nextdoor, the new social network designed for you and your neighbors, and that’s all. It’s private, and you have to actually live in the neighborhood to write reviews etc. and offer skills and services.

Perhaps the most innovative potential we see for Nextdoor is this: it’s going to build strong communities. From potential business opportunities to reliable reviews, to just getting to know your neighbors and meeting new friends, Nextdoor seems like the social media platform that is not only creates community but is also incredibly useful. Nextdoor. The Me-TV Trend [Need To Know: SXSWi] As we all begin to look forward to the interactive section of South By South West in March, PSFK has identified five key trends that readers should be monitoring during the festival.

One of these trends, we have coined ‘Me-TV.’ With the amount of content available through broadcast and online channels, there is a growing need for services that help curate people’s entertainment libraries. By identifying and analyzing the preferences pulled from an individual’s interest graph, the topics trending within their social networks and direct recommendations from peers, new platforms are creating personalized entertainment channels that streamline the process of managing existing content, while aiding in the discovery of new music, videos, books and other media.

As these services move to the cloud, people will be able to access their content anywhere and consume it on their preferred device. Other Manifestations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. People to follow regarding this trend: Shelby.tv | The best online video from Facebook, YouTube, and more! (And yeah, it's free.)

Aereo Live TV On iPad. Eye-Tracking Takes Viewers Into The Stadium From Their Couch [Video] Technicolor demonstrated their new technology called ‘Personalized Content Rendering’ at this year’s CES. The tech device is able to enhance the viewer’s experience of watching a wide-angle sporting match such as football, baseball or soccer. Incorporating six different camera angles at a stadium, the device tracks the movement of your eyes to allow you to control and see what you want to view. It can even zoom into a scene to give you better details and focus. The Personalized Content Rendering technology is expected to become commercially available in the next couple of years.

At this stage, there are still lots of improvements to be made, such as smoother camera transitions or what happens when more than one person is watching the game. Watch the video below to see how the device works. Technicolor. Google TV Updates YouTube Channel Surfing. This article titled “Google TV YouTube app gets discovery-focused update” was written by Stuart Dredge, for guardian.co.uk on Monday 13th February 2012 10.22 UTC Google is releasing an updated version of its YouTube app for Google TV, which the company says will make it easier for viewers to find videos and channels to watch on their big-screen TVs.

The app is available on Google’s Android Market store, and according to Google’s blog post on 12 February, the update was due to roll out at some point during the next few days. “First you’ll notice the app works faster with smoother navigation for a better experience,” explained product manager Jurek Foryciarz. “Next, we’ve added a new feature called Discover, which lets you browse YouTube channels by categories. Whether you’re looking for hilarious comedy, delectable cooking content, or the latest news, you can find great channels for any of your interests.” guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010. Check-In App For Television Creates Virtual, Social TV Guide [Headlines]

Bacardi Uses Facebook Data For Interactive Online House Party Simulation. Lonely Planet Facebook App Concept Connects Travelers To Locals In Their Social Network. The Lonely Planet Friends for Friends is a useful Facebook application concept for people who are looking to find locals in their next travel destination. Developed by students at the Miami Ad School in Brooklyn, USA. The online tool utilizes the traveler’s Facebook network and locates their friends and also second-degree connections on a world map. Users can find and connect with locals to find insider advice and information for various travel situations. If the concept does take off, Friends for Friends could offer a new web platform for visitors seeking insights that are more intimate, local and up-to-date compared to a travel book or a tourist information website.

Watch the video below to see how Friends for Friends works. Miami Ad School. Smartphone Apps Crowdsource Music For Gap Store Based On Facebook Likes, Profiles & Votes. Roqbot‘s apps for iPhone and Android devices let users choose what music is playing in various venues (clubs, bars, gyms, etc) from its catalog of six million songs. By checking in to the location, their musical preferences (such as their Facebook likes, profile listings, Pandora bookmarks and the music on their smartphone) affect the soundtrack.

They can also use the apps to vote for tunes and add them to the queue. The Gap store on Chestnut Street, San Francisco has become the first retail partner for Roqbot, allowing its customers to decide what they listen to while they shop. Customizing the music to match what shoppers like to listen to is an easy way to make them happy and remain in the store for longer. Roqbot’s co-founder and CEO, Garrett Dodge, told Evolver.fm: Music has always been a reason for people to stay in a venue for longer. On-screen displays let customers see what’s playing, how they are influencing the songs, and view the voting scores.

Roqbot. Be the DJ at your favorite bars, restaurants, gyms and more :: Roqbot. Online App Analyzes Your Offline Social Life Using Photos & Check-ins. Ultimat Vodka‘s new campaign by ad agency Amalgamated features a Facebook app that rates your social life. Created by Stink Digital, the Social Life Audit analyzes your Facebook photos using facial recognition and mood analysis, and your Facebook Places check-ins using Blackbook’s database of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The online app then scores different aspects of your social life like activity, popularity, crew size, trendiness and workaholism, and gives you a pass or fail grade. The Co-Sharing Trend [Need To Know: SXSWi] As we all begin to look forward to the Interactive section of South By South West in March, PSFK has identified five key trends that readers should be monitoring during the festival.

One of these trends, we have coined ‘Co-Sharing.’ Today, a growing number of people are trading items and favors between each other. Digital technology allows anyone to find an object or service they need, when they want it, where they want it. Rather than finding these products and services at retailers or from large corporations, these items are often found in the hands of other people—sometimes neighbors, sometimes like minds a great distance away. Everything and anything is being lent and traded. This peer to peer exchange raises the overall value of the entire community of members by offering more choice, experience and opportunities that meet an ever changing set of expectations and needs.

One pertinent example of this trend that continues to come up in our research is car-sharing. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. . Springwise: A Peer-To-Peer Marketplace For Experiences. It’s been a while since we featured Sweemo’s online auction for experiences, but recently we came across something similar. Based in Berlin, Gidsy bills itself as ‘a community marketplace for authentic experiences.’ Now in beta, Gidsy is still gearing up for launch. Once it does, it promises to provide a place where anyone can host an activity, as well as simply finding something fun to do. Walking tours guided by locals, ‘nature hikes with wild cavemen’ and meals at exclusive pop-up restaurants hosted by top chefs are all among the experiences Gidsy anticipates finding listed on its site.

Gidsy is currently focused on activities hosted in Berlin and New York City, but it hopes to expand soon. Website: www.gidsy.com Contact: www.gidsy.com/contact Spotted by: MM Republished with kind permission from Springwise. Springwise is an independent new business ideas and innovation firm that seeks out the most promising new business ideas around the world. Springwise | New business ideas, trends and innovation. Gidsy.com: book and offer tours, activities, workshops, local events and more exciting things to do. Community Website And Smartphone App Encourages Friends To Swap Clothes. UK TV station Channel 4 Education has launched a new project developed by game company Inensu.

Closet Swap is an online fashion community site and app that encourages users to think ethically about their wardrobe and to share their clothes with friends instead of buying lots of new items. To use the app, simply sign in with your Facebook account and upload photos of clothes you’d like to swap to your virtual closet. Then invite your friends to do the same and you can start borrowing and lending items to boost your wardrobe without spending any money. Closet Swap also lets you discover local markets, vintage stores and pre-loved clothing shops, organize fashion parties and read information about sustainable fashion in their online magazine. Paulina Bozek, the founder of Inensu, said: Fashion has always been a social activity that you share with friends and with Closet Swap we have created a must-have fashion app with a positive message that champions personal style over disposable fashion.

Ridesharing, carpooling and buses - Zimride. Welcome to Exclusive Exchanges. Share My Storage. Event and Party Venues to simplify your event planning | Eventup. The Gaming-For-Good Trend [Need To Know: SXSWi] As we all begin to look forward to the interactive section of South By South West in March, PSFK has identified five key trends that readers should be monitoring during the festival.

One of these trends, we have coined ‘Gaming-For-Good.’ Fueled by the ability to connect and gather players from across the world and motivate them to participate by injecting competitive aspects and rewards into structured play, games are growing up and being seen as agents of change. The ability to scale enables these platforms to prompt positive action and overcome challenges on both an individual and societal level with implications for a growing number of areas from science and medicine to education and the environment. Whether improving health, fundraising for charity or solving previously unsolvable problems, games are encouraging personal and social good. One pertinent example of this trend that continues to come up in our research is ‘Using Gaming To Leverage Collective Manpower.’ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

See Contest section for more info