The New York International Auto Show kicked off March 30 and runs through Sunday at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. At the Lexus booth, the centerpiece was the 51- by 22-foot, 7-inch Takumi Craftsmanship Interactive Touch Screen, which told key stories of Lexus’s passion for craftsmanship. Featured here via LED content was such content as a color and trim configurator; safety system plus interactive touch screen; Lexus racing interactive touch screen; and Mark Levinson sound experience. Hakuhodo developed the initial booth concept, while design and execution came from George P. Johnson and digital engagements were from sister agency Spinifex Group.
Guests were able to experience Sony’s first mixed-reality music video for singer-songwriter Khalid during the corporation's music events. Sony also showed off its Acoustic Vessel “Odyssey” experience, which is made up of 576 thin speakers illuminated with light.
CNN’s second SXSW activation centered on the media company's stories. Guests could learn more about each story from the nearby tablet, and then partake in the activation, from the claw machine master (people pretended they were inside the machine) to the neon-lit poisonous garden in England to the infinity room.
Guests were invited to take an interactive questionnaire where Pinterest would determine their tastes in home decor, fashion, or food. It resulted in the color-based Pinterest Taste Graph, which was printed and emailed to participants. The graphs also corresponded to a color-coded drinks menu, indicating taste preferences.
The SXSW-adjacent miniature music festival changed locations once again, taking over an event space that used to house a French restaurant. The guest-only list was able to play ping-pong courtesy of Spin's upcoming Austin location, with coupons for free games once it opens. New Balance set up a covered space with comfortable seating and a ball pit for photos. Jack Daniels offered barbershop haircuts.
HP showcased its technologies with a one-day colorful house. People could pose for a digital portraits created using HP software.
By far the biggest spectacle during the festival was the giant wave pool in the middle of downtown Austin, erected by TNT and Civic Entertainment Group along with FlowRider. Participants were able to don wet suits, step onto a surfboard, and try their hands at riding a wave. The rest of the Southern California beach-inspired space included a beach bar, live graffiti wall, and sneaker bar.
In a domed tent, Pandora showcased its new Music Genome Project with interactive experiences for guests. In addition to its concert lineup, the music-streaming service offered a punch card that guests could use to collect free gifts from sponsors.
Las Vegas
#1 Technology Industry Event
The consumer electronics mega show drew a record-breaking crowd of more than 170,000 attendees and 3,631 exhibiting companies. Media coverage of the show saturates news and entertainment sites in the United States and across the globe. In addition to big players like Sony and Samsung, 375 start-ups had their own exhibit space, dubbed Eureka Park. Next: January 6-9, 2016
