SXSWi Preview: Family App

US start-up Djed Studios will launch a new app for family life at the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) technology, film and music festival in Texas, US.

The platform is designed to become a hub for family life, gathering data such as contacts, calendars, notes, photos, health information and shopping lists into one place. Each family can build a "tribe" – a network of trusted family and friends – to share the information with.

Djed can be used in a number of different ways, depending on each family's needs, says founder Darren Reid. While a childless couple might use it for things like planning a holiday or money management, larger families might use it to schedule after-school activities, keep track of pocket money, share photos and plan events, he suggests.

Djed will launch as a web application at SXSW later this week. An iOS version will be made available in the next few weeks, while an Android version is expected later this year.

From mealtime apps to voice-controlled speakers, a market is opening up for tech tools that help the 21st-century family – which often includes live-in grandparents and boomerang kids – communicate more effectively.

SXSW runs from March 13-22. Look out for further coverage of this year's event, coming soon. In the meantime, take a look at our Macro Trend Modern Family for more insight into how family life is changing.