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SXSW Interactive: Health Outlook

Africa Andre Blackman Austin Hope Phones Online social networking Other social media South by Southwest Southwest Texas Twitter United States World Wide Web (Show more tags)

Africa Andre Blackman Austin Hope Phones Online social networking Other social media South by Southwest Southwest Texas Twitter United States World Wide Web

By Angilee Shah

March 10, 2011

Angilee Shah

I'll admit it: I am a South by Southwest newbie. But since the megaconference in Austin, Texas, is expecting over 14,000 participants in the Interactive portion alone, I'm going to guess I won't be the only one.

But I've done my homework, downloaded the (indispensible) mobile app, and scoured the schedule for new ideas in health. Here are the panels that caught my eye:

Global Perspective on Saturday: A panel will examine mobile health innovations in Africa and ask what the United States can learn about cost containment and rural health.

Tech Happy on Sunday morning: SXSW is all about being online and connected, creating content and distributing it. So it's only apt that there is a panel that asks the question, "Can the Internet make us happy?"

Minority Report on Sunday morning: A social media panel will examine this question: How can social media help minority communities in the United States find the health care they need? I'll be looking for new ways the media can diversify its health coverage.

Heath Apps on Sunday afternoon: Do all these new tools on our phones and computers actually make us healthier?

Open Health Data on Sunday afternoon: The Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services will talk data -- great for reporters who want to use all this newly-available information in their reporting.

Socialize on Monday: HealthTap is hosting a Health Meet Up. They're also using the hashtag #sxswh to round up SXSW health folks on Twitter.

Give Back: Look out for Hope Phones, a project which puts your old phone to good use (hat tip to Andre Blackman, on Twitter @mindofandre).

Want more health-related panels and events? Click on the March 12, 13 and 14 in the health category of the schedule. There are 17 panels to choose from, most of them on Sunday.

Keep up with my posts from SXSW here at ReportingonHealth, or by following me on Twitter @angshah and @ReportingHealth.

Still not sure what SXSW Interactive is all about? Here's the "definitive guide" from IFC.com and BajillionHits.Biz.