So What Was SXSWi All About, Anyway?

A quick analysis of event titles, descriptions, and speakers reveals which topics dominated this week's SXSWi festival in Austin, Texas. Clearly, the hot topic of the time is "SOCIAL MEDIA". But the interactive space remains cluttered with a number of items -- "MOBILE", "TECHNOLOGY", "GAMES", "DIGITAL", "BUSINESS" -- that indicate the many varied directions being explored by leading thinkers today.

Anyone else notice that "DATA" was edged by even "CHEVY" for mindshare and relevance at the conference this year? Anyone else want to bet that we'll not see that again in 2012, as recognition for data's impact on all things interactive should explode by this time next year?