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March 09, 2003
SXSW Observations
it was rather sad actually. i just walked the entire sxsw trade show in six minutes. it was for a combination of reasons i think. overall there are less exibitors then in the years past. and there are definately more film then IT booths. the stalwarts like jim beam, the group of guys who build bots, the austin newspaper, they're all still here. but gone are all the little startup type companies - replaced by big corporate exhibitors like Sony (who has several spaces).
there's less people in the interactive conference as well, despite what the cab driver said on the way in. i think he must have been speaking of the Film festival. the conference rooms for interactive, although mostly full, are smaller this year then in the past.
this being my fourth sxsw interactive, and my fifth sxsw overall, i've come to notice that every year here seems to have an unwritten theme. two years ago it was WAP/wireless/handheld devices. sessions right and left extolled it being the wave of the future. heaven forbid if your site won't render on a cell phone! in 2000 it was broadband - back then we were told that before you know it, everyone will have a fat pipe and the world as we know it will change forever. part of that has come true BTW... and in 1999? two letters. VC. it was all about how to get a venture capital firm to toss tons of money at your idea.
and this year's theme?
notice the basic difference between this year and the years past. previously it was all about soaring technology and making money. ok, so deep down it's always about making money. but this year it seems more humanitarian. that's not to say there isn't tech all over the place - i mean the goddamn building is one giant wi-fi antenna! but there seems to be an attitude shift towards maybe we need to slow down a little and focus on our business processes and our users.
a kinder saner sxsw? maybe.
Posted by P at March 9, 2003 05:27 PM
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