SXSW 2009: What’s the Buzz? Part 1
I’m back from my trip to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference in Austin, Texas! I met so many interesting people doing great things in the digital media industry. I was able to learn and talk about emerging trends and best practices relating to the online and technology industries. I’m excited to be be back and looking forward to incorporating some of those new processes and ideas into the work we do here at Balance.
There was so much to absorb at SXSW, but I wanted to share what was buzzing in Austin.
Quick Response (QR) Codes: Also called 2-D barcodes, consumers can take a picture of a QR code associated with a product using their cell phone, and can then view similar products and even purchase the exact product advertised directly from their phone. QR codes have been used in Japan for years, but they’re just starting to hit the mainstream here in North America. This article about QR Codes from Advertising Age explains a bit more about them.
Augmented Reality in Flash. If you haven’t seen the new GE Ecomagination campaign, you should really check it out. This technology allows you to see a hologram or 3-D image when you hold up a piece of paper with a specific printed icon to your webcam. The opportunities for creating unique interactions with your brand are endless. Not to mention it’s pretty darn cool.
Using the Wisdom of Crowds. There are some really interesting ways for companies to listen to their users and make their companies / websites better. By interpreting analytics information, or asking your customers to answer simple, easy questions (ie: do you like this–yes or no), you can learn valuable lessons that will help you respond quickly to feedback and give your audience what they really want.
There were too many things to list in this post, so stay tuned for part 2 where I’ll outline some more of the buzz coming out of Texas.
Posted by Andrea on March 18, 2009 in events, industry, progressive, technology