Here are 5 trends to watch for at South By Southwest (#SXSW) 2013.

1. Gemma Craven
Head of Social@Ogilvy New York
March 2013

2. Trends
to watch
for at
2013

3. The Age of
Context
is Upon Us
The Nike+ Fuelband launched at SXSW12. The mountains of social data we
generate combined with the rapidly evolving technology and devices we all
own means we entering the age of context. How can social data make you and
your phone smarter? How do apps such as Google Now (& Google Glass) easily
take disparate data sources and help enhance your life? How does all this
information make your life more efficient? This is a space to watch at SXSW this
year to see any new product launches, emerging trends and discussions.

4. Gaming + Social
= Mainstream
Conversation
SXSW Gaming is the fast growing video game component of SXSW Interactive.
It brings the world of video games to the mix in Austin, and is one to watch as
the intersection between gaming and social connectivity spills over into the
mainstream conversation at the event.

5. Social TV
Strategy
Expansion
Social TV is not a new topic but what is new is how TV shows have placed social
at their core, and they appear aplenty in Austin this year. From Andy Cohen’s
onsite episodes of Watch What Happens Live to panels from many in the
ecosystem including the WWE, Conan, Deadliest Catch and TMZ, Austin 2013 is
the place for the broadcast industry to get social.

6. Twitter and
Innovation lead
the Charge
Twitter first blew up at SXSW in 2007 - could this be Twitter’s year again
at SXSW13? With the recent launch of its advertising API, the latest Synch
Tweet collaboration with AMEX (client) and new direct marketing tools for
brands are among many recent innovations to the many panels featuring
Twitter at their core this year, it feels like the bird is certainly having a
moment in Austin this year.

7. The Sky is
No Longer
The Limit
Space ships are in vogue this year, appearing in everything from commercials
(AXE) to branded content (RedBull) – and at SXSW that trend continues
apace. Elon Musk the CEO and chief designer at SpaceX, will keynote in
Austin this year alongside panel appearances from five-time NASA astronaut
John Grunsfeld, who visited Hubble on three missions; as well as experts
in astrophysics, Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope project, and Webb prime
contractor Northrop Grumman.