SXSW: Day 5

First panel: The Future of Television: Super-Modality. I wasn't that into the subject matter, but this was an extremely well put together presentation. He talked ZUIs, modality (commands do different things depending on context/mode), and supermodality (putting lots of modes together with low barriers between them, approaching the infinity that is modelessness). Being able to "surf" on your tv with ZUIs and supermodality is what keeps tv in the box relevant in a web 2.0 video world. It's a way to navigate with interrupting your visual experience whereas web 2.0 is very modular and interrupts you with ads (think surfing YouTube).

He also showed a video game called Portal that demonstrated how we're used to adapting our thinking to a mode, but if we actually allow ourselves to think freely, it's possible to accomplish something that ordinarily seems impossible to do. Imagine you're in a room and you need to exit that room via a door. Except that there's a barrier like a giant chasm in the floor that makes it impossible to get to the door, or so you would normally think. But instead of being stuck, you blow a hole in the wall next to you that opens up a similar portal on the other side of the room next to the door, and there you are next to the door. I'm not doing it justice, but it was fascinating.

Aside from that, the last day at SXSW consisted of selecting panels based on where in the Austin Convention Center one can get internet access (i.e., not on the 3rd floor).

Had a terrific lunch with Jason and Baratunde at Moonshine. Good food, good drinks (Planter's Punch!), not at all crowded, outdoor seating. Great company, too. I didn't get a chance to talk to Baratunde much throughout the conference (partly because he literally can't speak right now), so it was nice to spend a little time with him since everyone else I hung with spoke so highly of him.

Next panel: Net Politics: The Internet Can Make You President. Meh. Politics always attracts commenters that refuse to be concise and give up their turn at the mic. If you want to argue with the guy, take it offline.

Next panel: $100 Internet Businesses. I was concerned this one would be about that whole build your web app in record time with Ruby on Rails thing. I'm not looking to program shit. Turned out to be an overview of categories of sites and basic startup steps. Kinda hard to listen to someone just talk for 25 minutes without slides or anything, but good subject/presentation for the short-form panel.

Thought about going to Can Social Networking Build Your Brand? but I'm more interested in my personal brand (going back to the whole identity/reputation discussion) and this one looked to be more business-focused.

I had planned to be done for the day after that, but I forgot that the Trade Show closed early (so I never got to see it), and it was still pouring down rain outside, so I decided I wasn't quite ready to brave the weather just yet. Thus...

Last panel: Bruce Sterling's SXSW Rant. I've heard that he's ADD. I've heard there's no need/point to taking notes. I'll chalk this up to SXSW tradition.

Speaking of SXSW traditions, I'm definitely skipping the Nuclear Tacos from now on. Ouch.

Twittered my way to Lainie who took me to Thai Passion for dinner. We talked about how awesome and scary the internet is. Lainie's the shit. She's OG ON.

No more hanging out for me after that. Returned early-ish to the hotel to make order where there was chaos regarding my stuff. Lots of folks were delayed at the airport today, I presume due to the rain. (And damn you AUS for not having free wifi.) Hopefully tomorrow is better.

[flickr photoset]