SXSW: Looking Ahead

By Sheetal Jaitly

South by Southwest (SXSW), the yearly film, interactive media, and musical gathering, is upon us once again. Founded in 1987, SXSW has grown in both scope and size each year since. As the technological presence increases year-over-year, it’s quickly becoming a hotspot for app launches, tech innovation, and AR/VR demonstrations. Here are some of the innovations we expect to see at this year’s events.

1. 3D printing: 3D printing leverages customization in assembling products that could be exceptionally impactful on supply chain management and the retail experience:

Adidas: From 3D printed midsoles to precision milled kicks, ADIDAS’ design team has been hard at work shaping the not-so-distant future of games’ performance and method. Always looking for new hurdles to cross, Adidas gave rise to Future Craft; shoes that offer the future looks like when creativity permeates all stages of production.

Exiii: Focusing on flexible, individualized prosthetics manufactured through 3D printing. Exiii will be demonstrating a world of possibility for custom prosthetics, shaping how researchers approach individualized medical issues.

2. Virtual Reality/ Augmented Reality: As the race to release the best VR/AR products ramps up, we’re likely to see a huge showing of these reality altering products at South-by. From the $3000 Microsoft HoloLens, to the $30 Google Cardboard, there’s a virtual experience to be had at any budget.

3. The future of Music and Technology: Technological advancements are changing the way artists are able to market themselves. The traditional approach to the music industry is evolving as more artists are leveraging mobile, VR, and digital sound technologies. Our team at TribalScale worked closely with the RecordMob team to create a live indie music experience being featured at SXSW this year.

4. Wearable Tech: Wearable technology is far from a new sight at SXSW. Every year, new developments in the wearable space are popping up at the event, leading innovation in the space. As wearables are implemented across a multitude of industries, one stands out among the rest as the most critical application in our eyes. The utilization of wearables to collect biometric data within the healthcare industry is creating unparalleled benefits in quality of care and accuracy of testing.

5. Robots and Artificial Intelligence: There are definitely people living in fear of the Robot Apocalypse. We’re hoping our robotic friends will be in attendance en masse at SX. As AI innovation and mechanical development ramp up, it will turn into an undeniably welcome experience.

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or check out our website!