SXSW
South by Southwest, often shortened as SXSW or SouthBy, is an annual trio of festivals held in Austin, Texas, showcasing art, culture, and technology. Launched in 1987, its a music, film, and interactive festivals are held in March of each year, hosted by SXSW Inc.
In 2018, the reported attendance of SXSW was 161,000 for music, 72,872 for film, and 75,098 for interactive. That year, the festival generated approximately $350 million for the city of Austin.
SXSW Inc. holds three other events that focus on innovation and the environment.
Notable events at SXSW Interactive
SXSW Interactive has traditionally served as the launching point for innovative startups and new interactive technologies.
On March 11, 2009, Foursquare launched its mobile application at SXSW Interactive, garnering acclaim and massive buzz. The app introduced the idea of combining social updates with geolocation, enabling users to "check in" at locations and retail businesses. Today, Foursquare's applications serve approximately 50 million users.
In 2016, in the final year of his two terms of office, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered the keynote at SXSW Interactive. He presented his thoughts about improving technology in America, and urged that outdated networks be replaced. He also presented his view on the rights of citizens to encrypt private data on mobile devices. His keynote can be viewed below.
Business terms, Computer abbreviations, Environment, Interactive, Music