Mapping Friends at SXSW
So you would expect something spectacular to come out of SXSW. So far, I have not seen it but maybe it is brewing on the laptop of what seems to be thousands of startups that are hoping to get recognition here. For me, the best part of SXSW has been checking in on foursquare. I know, just days ago I was commenting on the Mayor status quantum shift allowing users to seemingly take over a location without the protracted battle that it once required. But over the last 24 hours I have been religiously using the updated foursquare application to follow my friends around SXSW as they check in just about every 12 feet at one sponsored location after the other.
Where I had cooled off on check-ins back home, feeling that a trip to the Giant didn’t warrant my effort, SXSW has been my oyster. And if I ever get cool fingers, one of my several friends here don’t hesitate to check in as a reminder of where they are and what they are doing.
Sponsors and those who are on the fringe are also keeping Foursquare in their crosshairs. Nikon is having people check in based on clues to find Ashton Kutcher and those who figure it out get tickets to their visual event party with Vimeo.
In the end, The big winner will be whoever takes over as Mayor of Austin. In the meantime, thank you Unison for sending me down here, I will be sure to check in when I get back to Washington D.C.