In the summer of last year I submitted a panel idea for SXSW interactive which went to community vote, the SXSW Advisory Boards and SXSW staff before making it through to the first batch of events to be programmed for 2010. On 11am on 16 March 2010 I was joined by Toby Barnes of Mudlark, Nina Steiger of Soho Theatre, Duncan Speakman and Simon Johnson of SlingShot to present as part of the Screenburn programme.

We were overwhelmed with the feedback, which was attended by about 200 people. A few of the tweets:

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#pervasivegames is turning out to be the most inspiring panel at #sxsw. Surprise.less than a minute ago via webSMERC
SMERC_Design

@SMERC_Design - #pervasivegames is turning out to be the most inspiring panel at #sxsw.

@yoomsters: Best idea ever, have the moderator on a bell to cut off the ramblers and stay within time limits. Props to #pervasivegames

@alper: Switch pays off! Tail of this panel #pervasivegames is better than most others. Quick, pointed and skips the basics. Thanks @clarered!

@katylindemann #pervasivegames are totally showing how a successful & compelling panel should be run & moderated. watch & learn

@alper Switched from the #cityasaplatform session (slow moving) to the #pervasivegames one #sxsw. Who would program these two against each other?

@grether: Finally, after ALL these sessions, some panelists actually disagree with each other! Now THAT is reality. #pervasivegames

You can read all of the tweets in this pdf summary.

The SXSW Interactive Festival celebrates the creativity and passion behind the coolest new media technologies. In addition to panel sessions that cover everything from web design to bootstrapping to social networks, attendees make new business connections at the three-day Trade Show & Exhibition. With a focus on online services, gaming and mobile, South by Southwest is an invaluable opportunity to connect with a wider international audience of delegates working in new and emerging technologies. The aim for me in attending the Festival is to research new business opportunities, view work, spot emerging digital trends and experience first hand one of the biggest international conferences in the digital sector. Having a panel in the programme enabled more networking opportunities, a higher profile and an excuse to talk to people, which was of huge value.

Our panel, which was supported by UK Trade & Investment and Arts Council, England, explored the new possibilities in game-play that mobile internet, pervasive gaming and sensor-enriched public spaces enable. We were keen to build on previous SXSW events, and get leading UK practitioners to explore the ethics, design challenges and business potential of this new form in a more textured way than I had seen at SXSW.

Some lessons learnt (which may be useful to others):

  • Keep the format and slides simple - I gave each of the panelists five minutes to present a project and then switched to discussion. They were allowed one image each to inspire the audience but not distract. The twitter hashtag and our twitter names were visible at all times.
  • Prepare – we did two sessions and found potential areas of disagreement to tap into – there is nothing more dull than a panel in complete agreement
  • Deconstruct the things that you think work and don’t as an audience member - I was keen that this panel was reflective, offered insight and addressed the ‘why’ of the project - something missing in presentations which concentrated only on the specifications of the technology.
  • One of the most successful elements of our event (learnt from being frustrated audience members in the past) was banning self promotion and rambling questions from the audience. People were welcome to use the twitter stream to reference projects but anyone breaking the rules was cut off with an old fashioned bell.

 

The podcast of this session will be available from July 15th at http://sxsw.com/interactive/news/videos_and_podcasts