SXSW 2024 daily recap: Ethically insulated jackets, clinical trial trucks and bot phones for kids

US – The 2024 edition of the SXSW festival encompassed various topics ranging from emerging technology and new film genres to music artists, beauty and wellness innovations, and civic engagement. Inside the Creative Industries Expo, a hub where innovations within these areas converge, visitors could browse hundreds of projects that ignited imaginations and pushed boundaries.

Solament™, for instance, is a pioneering material innovation company that has developed a solar concept akin to the warmth of a down jacket. This innovative powder material absorbs sunlight, providing insulation and heat shielding for comfort in varying weather conditions. The technology can potentially enable the ethical production of insulated jackets, replacing animal down feathers. The Japanese firm unveiled its new exclusive accessories, such as hats and scarves, at SXSW 2024.

Care Access, as a beacon of accessibility and efficiency, aims to ‘accelerate the future of medicine for everyone.’ The service, which was launched in Boston, encourages broader participation in clinical trials by offering remote consultations and testing through a mobile medical unit to advance medical innovation and reach underserved populations. Care Access currently operates in the United States, Canada and Brazil, with plans for expansion into the UK, Italy and the Netherlands.

Rhino, a travel app imagined in Texas, follows a similar trajectory in promoting inclusion through technology. It offers users a diverse array of user-generated content showcasing travel destinations and experiences, allowing them to choose based on their identity (women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, among others) and preferences. Similarly to our previous analysis of the rise of TikTok Travel Agents, users can interact with content creators and fellow community members via a social media-style platform.

Another standout was Bot Talk, one of Japan’s best-selling devices, according to representatives on the ground. This innovative communication tool lets parents and children interact via a bot-like phone, alleviating safety concerns. On 7 March 2024, Bot Talk launched in the US, citing the prevalent issue of child disappearances – approximately 28,000 cases reported in 2022 – as a primary motivation for expanding into this market.