SXTXState Journalists Cover Tech Trends at SXSW

The biggest theme that I noted during this SXSW was the growing anxiety caused by technology. We’ve come down a path of copious amounts of personal data being collected via social media and location services and technology is often used to create and spread false information. We still contend with issues of diversity and representation. But SXSW is a good place for these conversations to occur, because it operates at the intersection of so many disciplines—tech, journalism, entertainment, politics, health, non-profit, and more. There was a sense of optimism, however, in that solutions would be found and collaborations would be forged to prioritize the best interests of the public over corporate interest.

SXSW has evolved into a broad creativity and inspiration platform. It is of high value for students to attend, because it gives them a chance to engage with progressive ideas and critical thinking around these issues that will affect their careers, and I look forward to watching students thrive at SXSW every year.    

The most exciting thing for me during SXSW 2019 was seeing a more narrowed focus on accessibility and inclusive design for our most underserved communities. What I found at SXSW, and through the conversations that were taking place, is that we have to completely change the way we think about and approach problems when ensuring design is truly inclusive. Next year I would love to see the accessibility track grow and dive into conversations surrounding mental health and mental disabilities through technology. I personally keep coming back to SXSW because I want to be at the center of creativity, technology, and government, and witness the conversations that are sparked when these minds cometogether.

SXSW is always full of the latest and the craziest ideas we may soon see in technology. This year was no different. One of the most significant possibilities was the advances that would be seen in the sky, both in personal and urban aerial mobility and the exploration of space. Space exploration may include the addition of building spacecraft using augmented reality (AR), which will allow workers to focus more on developing the aircraft. It may be difficult to always see what is new, but one helpful hint may be to just lookup.

Health and medical technology is not excluded from the SXSW buzzword collection with terms like bots, blockchain, and data mentioned in nearly every panel. Luckily, unlike their social media counterparts, health and med-tech panels often discussed preventing the misuse of personal data rather than reacting to scandals from recent months. SXSW is continuing its trend toward high-level innovation ideas with fewer direct solutions. I’m looking forward to seeing how these conversations play out over the next 12 months and into next year’s conference.

The big theme of 2019 for me was 'change'. Democrats and Republicans alike discussed mistakes their respective parties had made in the past and what their future looks like in 2020 and beyond. Along with this, there was a change in how politicians, and non-politicos, discussed technology. Angst, apprehension, distrust, and skepticism are not usually themes found among the panels of SXSW, but this year [we] saw a lot of folks questioning the role the major technology companies play in our day-to-day lives. How this will impact both the tech sector and governmental policies is a place to watch over the next year leading into the 2020 election.