Why do over 30,000 of the Who's Who of all things digital and innovative travel to Austin for SXSW? Is it just about wearing sandals and eating BBQ while socialites and influencers post selfies as they party with their internet friends?
Why yes, it is. But SXSW is much more. Here are my takeaways, but first, let me show you a selfie...
2. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Why do over 30,000 of the Who's Who of all
things digital and innovative travel to Austin for
SXSW? Is it just about wearing sandals and
eating BBQ while socialites and influencers post
selfies as they party with their internet friends?
Yes. But there is more!
3. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Here are some of my key takeaways from
SXSW…
But first, let me show you some
of those selfies!
4. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Human connections with old
friends from past events and new
friends were made during this
conference.
5. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
You may see selfies, but I see
people who inspire me and help
me to be a better human.
6. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
SXSW is more than a party
and social media is more
than metrics, right friends?
7. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway One:
Spirit of Humanity
The ooey-gooey stuff like fun, connection, music and the
creative spirit may be difficult to justify to your spouse or
boss, but they are all critical to business development and
success. We are humans, not pixels. Imagine Don Draper
thriving if he spoke in metrics instead of anecdotal
experience.
8. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway One:
Spirit of Humanity
From the front row at the SNOOP show to the up-and-
coming indie performers playing at DeliRadio’s house party
or the onstage performances at the Paypal lounge, I realized
that music is an essential component to my own creativity
and motivation. When the music plays, we relax and
connect. The human spirit comes alive transforming an idea
into a business and relationships into partnerships.
9. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway Two:
3D Printing Gets Dunked
In 2013, I learned that stilettos and skulls could be printed.
The 3D printing buzz in 2014? Plastic toys and Oreos. What
is interesting to me is that last year we were creating human
body parts and this year we seem to be creating cookies. No
doubt however the food science industry’s 3D bioprinting of
meat and creation of nutritional drink mixes will shake up the
the future of our health industry.
10. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway Three:
Wearable Tech Gets Fashionable
Did someone say wearable tech and fashion? I’ve got more
to share about this, but first,
let me take a selfie…
11. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Speaking of selfies… let me show you
some more of those SXSW
selfies…
12. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway Three:
Wearable Tech Gets Fashionable
When it comes to the wearable technology trends, aesthetics and styles
were showcased over function. From the gazillion early tech adopters in
Austin, I only saw two people wearing Google Glass. This month, Google
announced they are working with the designer behind Ray-ban and
Oakley. As wearable tech like Glass and FitBit begin to integrate fashion
and design, will sales increase? Time will tell.
13. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway Four:
Robot Friends Are Awesome
Meet one of my new friends I met. Her name is Brianna. She and I
walked down the sidewalk in Austin and talked about how she was
“really” in California, but was seconds ago in London. Brianna appears
like a flat screen monitor and Segway mashup, however, this smart use
of virtual reality, wearable technology time travel and teleporting
capabilities may transform business as we once knew it.
14. SXSW 2014 - Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook #DigitalDash
Takeaway Four:
Privacy, The New Black (that man is oversharing)
This year’s hottest trend represented at SXSW was based on the theme
of privacy. Who owns our personal data? Who will protect our privacy?
Speakers like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange combined with the
new trend of “shh apps” like
Secret, Whisper, Wickr, TigerText, Gryphn, Frankly, Vibe, Rumr, etc., forc
e us to consider our position on privacy and security and our values
represented in politics, parenting, marketing, global
governance, ethics, morals, education and more. Let’s discuss!
15. Special thanks to:
Nurenu
as the exclusive sponsor of the
real-time event content coverage
and to
Paypal
for providing the #paypalit perks including
access to the lounge as the hottest spot at
#SXSW
and to
The Hobb Family, TOTT
SXSW 2014
Top Takeaways by Andrea Cook, #DigitalDash