South by Southwest isn't a contest, per se. But in six hours, Google (GOOGL 1.27%) positioned itself as the undisputed leader in wearable tech while Apple's (AAPL 0.64%) rumored iWatch was nowhere to be seen.
Two devices were on display at Google's makeshift camp across from the Austin Convention Center. First, Glass, the interactive spectacles that bring the Web to wearers willing to pay up $1,500 to get access to the prototype.
Second, shoes. That's right: footwear. In the three weeks leading up to SXSW, engineers hacked together 12 pairs of shoes with chips and gear for broadcasting data to the Web. A thought experiment that spokespeople said were meant to demonstrate how brands might use the Internet to engage more fully with customers and prospects.
Do either of these devices matter? Or do they typify the sort of creativity we expect from a company whose stated intent is to fund a handful of "moonshots" in hopes of a 10 times or better return? In this interview with The Motley Fool's Alison Southwick, Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova says Google is pushing design limits in all the right areas. Please watch, and then leave a comment to let us know what you think.
