Beyond interactive, check out these inventions and innovative new ways of thinking from day one and two at SXSW 2013.
- 3D Printing: it’s here and even more accessible. Entrepreneur and founder of MakerBot Industries Bre Pettis opened day one of SXSW with the latest in desktop 3D printing demonstrating that almost anything can be replicated into amazing true-to-life objects. From replicating and creation anew everything from fashion to art to gadgets and even gnomes – follow his Thingiverse blog to see what else can be recreated.
- The artificial leaf may just make its way out of the laboratory. Not all invention prototypes make their way out of the laboratory, but the artificial leaf is certainly one to watch. So what is it? In scientific terms, this catalyst-coated wafer is a silicon version of a photosynthesizing leaf that turns sunlight into storable fuel by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.
- Panera Bread makes a deposit in the lives of people through food. Panera Bread founder Ronald Shaich is on a mission to end hunger in America with Panera Cares. Panera Cares community cafes are designed to help address the ever-worsening epidemic of food insecurity (as labeled now by the USDA) in the U.S. Leveraging his company’s nationwide brand awareness and retail network, Mr. Shaich says “Panera Cares community cafes exist to feed each and every person who walks through our doors with dignity regardless of their means.” The customer experience twist – there are no prices on the menu board. Pay what you think its worth.
- Every infrastructure must be created to scale including payments. Introducing Bitcoin, an experimental new digital currency that enables and allows instant payments to anyone, anywhere in the world. Bitcoin uses peer-to-peer technology to operate with no central authority (i.e., big bank): managing transactions and issuing money payment systems that scales with population size.
- Unhung Heroes, the movie documentary confirms that sex always sells. I just had to include this one as the winner for best film wild posting design throughout the Austin Convention Center. In a crowd of almost 50,000 attendees and hundreds of events, what better way to get passers-by attention than this.
