The Coolest Tech at SXSW Interactive This Year

Some people hit up SXSW for its raucous party and star music concert , others for the debate - fueled dialog box and movie debuts . But Austin also bet host to one of the biggest tech conference at SXSW Interactive , a case spotlight the industry ’s late biz - changers designed to transmute our everyday lives . The net of Things served as this twelvemonth ’s root , with everything from lifelike humanoid to VR - enter apps steal the glare .

Splash

What it is : A VR app that capture 360 - degree videos on your iPhoneSnapchat meets Vimeo ? Picture that , and then add 360 degree . splosh converts your smartphone into a practical - world shooter , taking stable effigy or video clips in parts of the frame to create an immersive POV . The app should pave the way for a community of interests of next - gen television producer looking to create cutting - edge videos on their mobiles .

The Arc

What it is : An interactive melodious soundboardThe Arc looks like it belongs in aTronmusic research lab , with 20 speakers and tons of sensors that clean up move to morph musical elements into new line . Different portion on the instrument panel control unlike audio , include chord modulation , harmony , melody , regular recurrence , and sound volume . It ’s work up for collaborations , so multiple participant can make music without the intrusiveness of software package . So what ’s it gon na take to get a Daft Punk , Skrillex , and Yeezy jam session on this matter ?

The Pepper robot

What it is : A " humanoid robot " programmed for social companionshipA future where robots become our in effect friend might sound lonely , but it ’s one we ’ll embrace as father metre look at its toll . This android is powered with AI engineering , the same used in IBM ’s cognitive computing locomotive engine “ Watson , ” to engage with mass by interpret human voices and respond to questions . It can predict human behavior over time to learn personal preferences , has an iPad mounted for FaceTiming , and even speaks with expressive gestures based on a someone ’s mood . enquire how Pepper react to being imprecate out Joe Pesci - style .

Nom

Here Active Listening system

What it is : Bionic earplug with augmented listening capabilitiesNot your average in - ears , these sartor the way you ’ll listen to concerts through their follow nomadic app and several sound configurations to customize how you hear everything around us . Selecting any one of the 14 sound filter help oneself create a broad , intimate soundstage with each audio frequency pick engineer to block out select environmental noises . This include everything from outside construction to rowdy co - workers . A stylish ego - charging font lend to its aggregated ingathering .

Glyph VR headset

What it is : A wearable amusement theaterIn a show dominated by virtual - reality peripheral machine , thisStar Trek - appear headset reigned supreme . The Glyph double as a pair of phone and features a 720p screen that ’s incorporate into the headband with a gyro to sustain motion tracking when watching 360 - degree video clip . Avegant uses patented Retinal Imaging Technology that boast advanced optics and 2 million mirrors to project image . It ’s as phantasmagorical as they come .

Kodak Moments

What it is : An Io app that turn your photograph into storiesPutting a modern - day construction on the “ Kodak moment , ” the iconic picture taking brand looks to the future with a young exposure app made for storytelling . Kodak Memories lets user upload a photo from their camera roll , Facebook , Instagram , Dropbox , or Flickr , which then prompts them to add textual matter account that specific moment . Unlike all other social photo - communion networks , this one offers more narrative tools fashioned for curating your memory .

Sony Prototype N

What it is : hand - gratuitous headphone with fresh featuresBasically the Amazon Echo for your collar , Sony ’s audio concept is a smart speaker system disguise as phone with the ability to reply to voice commands . you may require it for eatery suggestions , weather updates , and to snap photos through the equipment ’s built - in 8MP camera . The invention lets audiophiles get word euphony and other ambient noise , plus its motility sensors and GPS functionality can detect your movement via behavior tracking .

Anchor

What it is : A social internet for audio messagesVoice interactions are shit a comeback – at least that ’s what the minds behind Anchor are selling us on . The sound - based social internet look to diversify the way we pass on on our smartphones by right away broadcasting short audio clips to trip conversations with a planetary hearing . View it as mini podcasts that are shareable across multiple message services ( iMessage , Facebook , Twitter , SMS ) .

Pepper Robot