Three SXSW high tech activities your kids must try
Posted by MomOnMars on March 11, 2012
At South by Southwest this year, many of the new technologies being introduced are for adults. But I’ve found at least three you can try right now with your kids. Guaranteed to make you smile.
1. DrawAStickman.com. If your kids haven’t played Episode 1 on DrawAStickman.com, go play it now. Then try out Episode 2, introduced this week at ScreenBurn. Get chased by a tiger, fly away in a box, and enjoy the surprise ending with a cameo appearance that will surprise you (with alternate endings if you’re on an iPad). And for double the fun, when you share on Facebook, friends who click on your link will be able to interact with your stickman.
2. ProjectRebrief.com. Who remembers the Coke commercial where everyone was standing on a hilltop singing “I’d like to buy the world a Coke?” Now, fast forward to today….infuse that ad with all the technologies available to us, throw in a social element and make it happen. Buy the world a Coke. This is the thought behind Project Rebirth, dreamed of by Google, executed by Johannes Leonardo and Grow Interactive, working with the advertising icon, Harvey Gabor, who created the original hilltop ad. Here’s how it works: go to Project Re:Brief. Click on New Ads on the left bar. Watch the video play on the right. When it’s done, a red box shows up that says “Send a Free Coca-Cola Now.” Click on it and follow the directions, including adding a very short message…something along the lines of “Hey! From San Antonio, Texas…Enjoy your free Coke!” You’ll have the option to include your email address if you want the app to send you a copy of both your message and the message from the receiving end when they get their free Coke.
I had a chance to preview the new ad today while watching a live stream of the Coke machine in New York City. Want to know what it looks like when you Buy the world a Coke? Watch the video.
3. We discovered a great a hands-on craft project at the SXSW Interactive Kick-Off Party, sponsored by Frog Design and Microsoft. Buy some bi-pen LED lights (Christmas tree light replacements), large watch batteries (the biggest you can find), washers, black electrical tape and super heavy duty magnets. Attach the LED lights to the batteries placing the longer wire against the flattest side of the battery. The light should go on. Attach as many lights as you want and secure with tape and/or magnet. Extend with magnets and washers to create a unique light sculpture. Easy, fun craft for elementary and older.
