Tomorrow Happens Here.

Jane McGonigalImage of SXSW speaker Jane McGonigal by Frankie Norstad

SXSW® Interactive Scheduled March 9-13, the 2012 SXSW® Interactive Festival will feature five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders, the unparalleled SXSW Trade Show and an unbeatable lineup of special programs showcasing the best new digital works, video games and innovative ideas the international community has to offer. Join us for the most energetic, inspiring and creative event of the year, coming March 2012. If you'd like to speak at SXSW 2012, be sure to propose your idea through the SXSW PanelPicker. Entry process runs June 20-July 15. Stay tuned to this website for complete details.

The Latest Bits & Bytes from SXSW® Interactive

SXSW Eco Announces The Nature Conservancy’s Mark Tercek as First Keynote Speaker

We are excited to announce that Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy, will be an inaugural keynote speakers at SXSW Eco.

“In a rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever that we bring together diverse perspectives on ways to balance the needs of people and nature,” said Tercek.

“This conference will be an important new forum for generating fresh thinking about the opportunities and challenges ahead as we work to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends.”

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The leader of one of the largest global conservation organizations, Tercek will speak on the opportunities and challenges of conservation in the 21st century, and innovative partnerships and ideas that are driving win-win conservation results that are beneficial for people and nature. For decades, The Nature Conservancy has recognized that the private sector has an important role to play in advancing its conservation mission. The organization currently works across all sectors of industry and society to help advance their mission of protecting the natural world. Tercek will also share his unique combination of experience in financial and environmental markets, global business, and recognized leadership on climate change and other conservation issues with SXSW Eco registrants.

To read more about today's announcement, click here.

Posted by melissa on 07/27/2011 in SXSW News

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: Techies Can Save the World, Why Aren't They?

techiescansavetheworld_panel_stephanieschulz.jpgTechies are plugged in. We're cutting edge. So, why aren't we more green? Why aren't we the ones using our special power to save the world? In the 2011 SXSW Interactive session, "Techies Can Save the World, Why Aren't They?" Lora Kolodny of Tech Crunch asks a super-stacked panel of environmentally and socially focused tech pioneers to provide insights, examples and practical inspiration for those looking to do some good.

As panelist Jack Hidary put it, "There is a lot of talent being attracted to all the great game companies and the great app companies and it's fantastic but the fact is that we have major challenges to solve. Renewable energy, mobility, transportation, all these big areas are really left unsolved."

Posted by sarah on 07/27/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: Tweets from September 11

tweetsfromsept11_250px_manginbelinsky_timmyhuynh.jpgTwitter wasn't around on September 11, 2001, but what if it had been? How would the technology, and others like Facebook, have changed how that day had gone? How would emergency response have been different? What about the reaction around the globe?

tweetsfromsept11_250px_haddow_timmyhuynh.jpgThe SXSW Interactive 2011 panel "Tweets from September 11" presented by Charles Mangin (Option8 LLC), George Haddow, Katrin Verclas (Mobileactive.org), Mark Belinsky (Digital Democracy) and Schuyler Erle (SimpleGeo Inc) discusses this topic and how that fateful day may have differed.

Click here to listen to Tweets from September 11.

Posted by andrew on 07/26/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: Too Soon? Timing Topical Web Videos

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How soon is too soon? That's one of the issues groups such as CollegeHumor.com and The Gregory Brothers face. Both do different things, College Humor is a humor website and the Gregory Brothers are a band making parody-type music, but both face similar questions. Do they run the risk of putting something out too soon and offending someone? Do they care? What if they wait too long and they miss the boat?

toosoontimingtopicalwebvideos_250px_gregory_menealosprokos.jpgIn the SXSW Interactive 2011 panel "Too Soon? Timing Topical Web Videos," Michael and Sarah Gregory of the Gregory Brothers and Jeff Rubin, Patrick Cassels and Streeter Seidell of CollegeHumor.com tackle these issues.

Click here to listen to Too Soon? Timing Topical Web Videos.

Posted by andrew on 07/26/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Features: Zombies Must Eat: How Genre Communities Make Money

zombiesmusteat_skotleach_matthewcomer.jpgBrains!!! Who doesn't love horror-movie culture? As hard as it is to believe, not everyone adores the masses of undead entertainment. Learn how horror genre's online communities have learned to thrive in a niche market by keeping their communities loyal. Through targeting their market and building engaging social communities, these companies keep the passionate horror fans coming back for more gore.

Join KW Low of DreadCentral.com and Skot Leach of Lost Zombies as they explore this topic. Check out speakers' bios here.

Click here to listen to Zombies Must Eat: How Genre Communities Make Money.

Posted by tammy on 07/25/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: Branded Entertainment - Do Brands Hurt Good Storytelling?

brandedentertainment_panel_sonyamuniz.jpgHow does storytelling work in the post-broadcast age we live in? Explore and determine if stories rely on brands or if brands rely on stories for success in broadcast models. This is the place where content producers and brand ambassadors learn how to work together to build ideas to leverage stories that resonate clearly in the digital world.

Join Jesse Albert, Kristin Jones of Vuguru, Matt Di Paola of Proximity and Shira Lazar of Disrupt Group as they explore this topic. Check out speakers' bios here.

Click here to listen to Branded Entertainment: Do Brands Hurt Good Storytelling?

Posted by tammy on 07/25/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: The Future of Microformats

thefutureofmicroformats_250px_panel_antonyng.jpgWhat does the future look like for microformats? This session looks closely at real problems with implementing microformats in HTML5 and how this can be done, and whether there will be a continuing place for them. A discussion around emerging technologies and techniques, such as RelMeAuth also takes place. As Microformats celebrates its 5th birthday, this panel discusses the highs and lows of the project thus far.

Speakers on this session are Ben Ward of Twitter, Frances Berriman of Nature Publishing Group, Paul Tarjan of Facebook and Tantek Celik of tantek.com. Check out each speaker's bio here.

Click here to listent to The Future of Microformats.

Posted by tammy on 07/22/2011 in Podcasts

Uncharted to Become Comic Book Series

Attendees take in the sites and sounds of ScreenBurn 2011. Photo by Jojo Marion.The popular video game series, Uncharted, currently being developed for a big screen adaptation by director Neil Burger, will soon be available as a comic book series. Sony and DC Comics have called in some heavy hitters to bring Nathan Drake's world to life on the comic book page.

Posted by Peter on 07/22/2011 in Interactive News, ScreenBurn News, Business at SXSW

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: The 100 Thing Challenge

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After nearly two years of living with a minimal, though completely adequate, amount of personal possessions, Dave Bruno has shaken the habit of consuming for consumption's sake. His mindset and behavior have changed as a result of the 100 Thing Challenge. The challenge has freed his time for all sorts of better endeavors than shopping, like spending time with family, writing a book and scheming about business opportunities.

Dave Bruno is an author and advocate for simple living. He's the creator of the 100 Thing Challenge, a project focused on breaking free from the constraints of American-style consumerism. Check out his bio here.

Click here to listen to The 100 Thing Challenge.

Posted by tammy on 07/22/2011 in Podcasts

SXSW Streaming Audio Feature: Terrorism 2.0: Al Qaeda's Online Tools

terrorism3_243px_graff_ryanpollack.jpg It is often said that the web inherently benefits the insurgent. Thus, it's no surprise that it's becoming the medium of choice for terrorists and violent extremist groups around the world. This presentation by Garrett Graff, editor of the Washingtonian magazine, examines how terrorists are using the same tools we're developing for spreading information and social networking in the West for their own nefarious purposes—even sometimes live online to coordinate unfolding attacks.

Click here to listen to Terrorism 2.0: Al Qaeda's Online Tools

Posted by tammy on 07/21/2011 in Podcasts
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