Get Ready For SIGGRAPH 2013

Ready or Not, Here Comes SIGGRAPH!

Image submitted by Massey Moto, who added: "Happy 40th Anniversary! My 20th.  My first was in Anaheim in '93 #SIGGRAPH2013 Time flys." Thanks Massey, we hope to see you at 20 more!

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Anaheim! To stay up-to-date with everything SIGGRAPH while on site, be sure to follow SIGGRAPH 2013 on Twitter (check out the conference locator on site for all the official hashtags to join the conversation), like us on Facebook and bookmark this blog for exclusive content throughout the week.

With plenty to do and see at SIGGRAPH 2013, make the most of your trip with these tips and conference highlights. Also, when outside of the conference try to remember to remove your badge and store in it a safe place.  Nothing says, "I'm not from here" like someone walking around town with a registration badge on.

Getting There

Airport Shuttle Bus Discounts

SIGGRAPH 2013 has partnered with Super Shuttle to offer transportation to and from John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

To/From SNA
Shared Ride Van - $9 per passenger, one way (up to 9 passengers)
Town Car Service (to SNA) - $68 per sedan (up to 4 passengers)
Town Car Service (from SNA) - $75 per sedan (up to 4 passengers)

To/From LAX         
Shared Ride Van - $14 per passenger, one way (up to 9 passengers)
Town Car Service (to LAX) - $102 per sedan (up to 4 passengers)
Town Car Service (from LAX) - $108 per sedan (up to 4 passengers)

These discounted rates are valid from five days before the conference to five days after it closes.

Book by phone at 800.258.3826 (toll free) or +1.310.222.5500, extension 4. To receive the discount, you must mention the SIGGRAPH 2013 discount code: PK7AU. Or you can book online at the Super Shuttle web site. Drivers accept cash and all major credit cards for all transfers.

If you book your shuttle reservation through the SIGGRAPH 2013 web site, you earn miles on American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, and Frontier Airlines.

Cancellations or changes for Shared Ride Van transfers and sedan cars made 12 hours prior to the scheduled day of transfer will not incur a cancellation fee. Cancellation or changes made within 12 hours of the scheduled day transfer, or no-show, will be charged the estimated cost that was quoted at the time of the reservation (mini-buses need 72 hours for cancellation).

All reservations are the sole responsibility of the attendee.

Metrolink: Los Angeles to Anaheim
Round-trip train service several times per day from Union Station in downtown LA to Anaheim. View the schedule and prices.

Registration Hours

When you arrive at the Anaheim Convention Center, head to the registration area in the Arena Lobby to pick up your badge. Registration hours throughout the week are as follows:

Sunday, 21 July               8 am - 6 pm
Monday, 22 July              8:30 am - 6 pm
Tuesday, 23 July             8:30 am - 6 pm
Wednesday, 24 July        8:30 am - 6 pm
Thursday, 25 July            8:30 am - 1 pm

SIGGRAPH 2013 Online Scheduler & Mobile App

Personalize your schedule, connect with other attendees, find sponsors and exhibitors and more with the SIGGRAPH 2013 Scheduler & Mobile App.

Download the app to your phone or tablet or use your internet browser to:

• See other attendees who are coming to SIGGRAPH 2013
• Review the agenda and speakers, and create a personalized schedule
• Connect with other attendees by sending messages and setting up 1-on-1 meetings, while keeping your email private
• Find sponsors and exhibitors and review their brochures and videos before you go

You received an email with a link to download the App. Or, visit mySIGGRAPH.zerista.com and go to Log In. To set up a personalized account, use your Registration ID as your username and your last name plus “2013” as your password:

Username: Registration ID
Password:  LastName2013 (all lowercase)

Have a question or need help with the App? Contact support@zerista.com.

Wireless Access

Free wireless access is available in most areas of the Anaheim Convention Center via the "s2013" network. The “s2013-legacy” network is also offered to support 2.4 GHz-only wireless devices.

For assistance or further information, contact the SIGGRAPH 2013 GraphicsNet team in person in Room 204C, through email at graphicsnet@siggraph.org, or on Twitter at
@GraphicsNet.

Camera/Recording Policies

No cameras or recording devices are permitted at SIGGRAPH 2013. Abuse of this policy will result in the loss of the individual's registration credentials. SIGGRAPH 2013 employees a professional photographer and reserves the right to use all photos taken on site in future conference promotions.

Age Requirement For Exhibition Access

Children under 16 are not permitted in the Exhibition. Age Verification is required.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Evening Events

Technical Papers Fast Forward
Sunday, 21 July, 6 – 8 pm
Hall A

Hear an entertaining and illuminating a summary of the new ideas presented in the SIGGRAPH 2013 Technical Papers in this rapid-fire session. The author(s) of each paper just under a minute to wow you with their results and convince you to hear their complete findings later in the week.

Computer Animation Festival: Electronic Theater
Monday, 22 July, 6 – 8 pm  |  Tuesday, 23 July, 6 – 8 pm  | Wednesday, 24 July, 6 – 8 pm
Arena

Watch some of the finest achievements in animation, visual effects, and visualization at the Computer Animation Festival, a qualifying festival of the Academy Awards. Since 1999, several works originally presented in the Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for or have received a “Best Animated Short” Academy Award.

Dessert Networking Reception - Sponsored by Walt Disney Animation Studios
Monday, 22 July, 8 – 10 pm
Arena Outdoor Plaza

Catch up with colleagues and friends from around the globe at SIGGRAPH 2013 Networking Dessert Reception. Nosh on delicious desserts and toast the past year’s success.

If you didn't purchase a reception ticket with your registration, they will be available for purchase in the Registration Area in Arena Lobby at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Real-Time Live!
Tuesday, 23 July 5:30 – 7 pm
Hall A

Get inside insight from the artists, engineers, designers, and technical director who developed the complex interactive, real-time sequences from games and scientific visualizations from companies like Beautypi; Epic Games, Inc.; NVIDIA Corporation; Square Enix Co., Ltd; Unity Technologies, and others.

Cut&Paste: Characterized@SIGGRAPH
Tuesday, 23 July, 7 – 8 pm
Hall A

Cut&Paste brings the CHARACTERIZED Tour to SIGGRAPH 2013. Presented by HP, CHARACTERIZED @ SIGGRAPH is a design competition focused on character creation, technique, and intent. Three teams throw down in rapid, live onstage rounds, revealing their digital design process and original character artistry. It's a dynamic mashup of character designers in Cut&Paste's experimental team format.

Dailies
Wednesday, 24 July, 6 – 8 pm
Room 304 A-D

Get the inside story on recent breakthroughs, frustrations and solutions directly from animators during these 90 second presentations. Peek behind the curtain at major studios
including Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, Naughty Dog Inc., Pixar Animation Studios, Tippett Studio and academic labs.

SIGGRAPH After Dark
Wednesday,  24 July, 8 pm – 12:30 am
Grand Plaza

Kick back with friends new and old and end your day with blockbusters "Toy Story" and "Jurassic Park" screened under the stars.

Hotels

Still need to plan your stay in Anaheim? SIGGRAPH can help. Visit the SIGGRAPH web site for some available Anaheim hotels.  Rates* at official hotels may vary from the official conference rates as the housing deadline has passed.

onPeak provides onsite hotel and travel services at a housing desk at the Anaheim Convention Center during SIGGRAPH 2013 registration hours for inquiries and requests for assistance.  You may also call them at +1.714.765.2007. On 25 July (the last day of SIGGRAPH 2013), the desk is not staffed, and requests for assistance should be directed to the telephone numbers below: 800.631.5557or +1.312.527.7300

* Please note, all hotel rates have a 17% occupancy tax as well as California State tax added to the rate.

Discounted Attraction Tickets

If you haven't already, visit the Anaheim page to purchase discounted tickets to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Disney California Adventure.

Weather Update

Fri

84°

64°

Sat

81°

66°

Sun

82°

68°

Mon

81°

66°

Tue

82°

66°

Wed

82°

68°

Thu

84°

63°

Fri

82°

64°

With lots to do indoors and out at SIGGRAPH 2013, be sure to check the weather in Anaheim before you pack to be prepared. As the temperature may vary in some of the session rooms and may become chilly, so be sure to dress in layers.

SIGGRAPH Mobile App & Scheduler Now Available

Maximize and customize your experience at SIGGRAPH 2013 with our mobile app and scheduler. Personalize your schedule, connect with other attendees, find exhibitors, investigate job fair participants, and more!  Use your phone, tablet, or internet browser to:

• See other attendees who are coming to SIGGRAPH 2013.
• Review the agenda and speakers, and create a personalized schedule.
• Connect with other attendees by sending messages and setting up 1-on-1 meetings (while keeping your email private).
• Find exhibitors and review their profiles before you even get onsite.
• Provide feedback for each session you attend.

"It is great to offer a platform that should absolutely enhance the SIGGRAPH experience from both a networking and planning perspective," said Mk Haley, SIGGRAPH 2013 Conference Chair from Disney Research. "We listened intently to our audience's wishes for a platform of this nature and we are excited to have delivered this customized version in time for the 2013 conference."

Shortly after you register for SIGGRAPH 2013, an account to access all of the features of the mobile app will be created for you.  You will then receive an email with a link to activate your account. Or, click here and go to "Log In". To set up a personalized account, use your Registration ID as your username and your last name plus “2013” as your password:

Username: Registration ID
Password:  LastName2013 (all lowercase)

Why create an account? To personalize your event schedule, request meetings with others, access real-time event information, and more!

Please note that the App system may not recognize you immediately after registering for SIGGRAPH due to the time required to transfer your data. For assistance with the app, contact support@zerista.com

Also after the conference ends, be sure to complete the post-conference survey with any suggestions that you have for next year's SIGGRAPH mobile app and scheduler.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Conference Chair Mk Haley Previews the 40th SIGGRAPH Conference

Following is a brief conversation with Mk Haley (pictured below), SIGGRAPH 2013 Conference Chair from Disney Research Labs, who discusses the vision, goals, and team behind SIGGRAPH 2013.

Background on Mk:

Mk Haley, SIGGRAPH 2013 Chair
Photo credit: Jess Allen

Mk Haley is a Research Producer with the Disney Research Labs, having worked with Disney for 19 years across Imagineering, R&D, Television and other groups in a variety of creative, technical, and operations roles. SIGGRAPH 2013 is her 25th Conference as an attendee and volunteer, primarily contributing to student and educational based initiatives and Emerging Technologies.   Mk has also served as Communications Director on the ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee and as part of the Education Committee.
 
Having taught part-time at Cal State LA in the Design Dept, UCLA in the School of Theater Film and Television, and Carnegie Mellon University in their Master's of Entertainment Industry Management Program, Mk recently completed a three-year term as Full-time Faculty and The Associate Executive Producer of the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University, and still serves as adjunct faculty to the program.  She has contributed to books on the creative process with Walt Disney Imagineering, and patented work in the area of user interface.

What is your vision for SIGGRAPH 2013?

For SIGGRAPH 2013 we’re focused on a high-quality experience across the board. Not only the content we present, but also the entire experience involving the conference:  from the submission and review process to the attendee experience.  

The key areas of focus we defined are Community, Service and Delight!  I have worked with the 2013 team of volunteers from the very beginning to consider how to best serve all of our communities. This includes our conference attendees as well as our submitters, jurors, operations teams, and volunteers.  Each of these communities has unique needs and priorities that contribute to SIGGRAPH’s success. Thus, we really focused on tending to as many as we could across the board during the entire process to allow each the best potential to thrive.

This easily leads into the "service' idea.  In what ways can we provide an experience with service as a focus?  If there were ever a question about a venue or creative idea, we could go back to "What best serves the community?" and it’s pretty easy to pick. 

The focus for "Delight" is somewhat difficult to define in words, but you sure know it when you see it.  How is our conference a must-see experience? What experiences or opportunities will you see on-site that just delight and amaze you?  What experiences will make you thrilled you are here?  From training our Student Volunteers with an experienced organizational development and leadership expert to providing the highest level of service to our attendees, and updating our servers to best handle our submission loads, the community will be provided the highest level of delightful service.

Over the past 25 years, you have held various volunteer positions as a SIGGRAPH volunteer, how does this experience as Conference Chair compare?
The Conference Chair experience has an interesting point of view into every single program. You are able to see so many working parts all chugging away at once. It is inspiring to say the least!  I was able to define and select my entire team, which was fun, but  there were so many great people interested in supporting the conference with such a nice range of good ideas that is was a tough choice.  We all bought into the vision right off the bat, so it’s great to see this giant machine headed in the same direction.  It’s also staggering to realize how much work each venue chair and their team has put into each program, and then multiply that by our entire scope.  Amazing!

I don't know if the general public realizes the scale of this entire venture.  That surely was a surprise.  The total number of talented people interested in supporting the conference, anyway they could, with thought provoking and new ideas was a delight!

Editorial note: For a full list of the committee, click here.

What can attendees expect this year?
Attendees can expect a real sense of focus for our venues this year.  Many had specific calls that encouraged a point of view to be expressed in the submission which will result in excellent bodies of work for the attendees to enjoy and get inspired by.  For example, the Emerging Technologies venue has always celebrated and explored a wide range of interactive technologies, from robotics and displays, to sensors and input devices.  This year Dylan Moore, our chair, has encouraged submissions with a focus on "Assistive Technologies". This has encouraged a lot of outreach and consideration to medical devices, educational tools, and other non-traditional communities of research for us.  I am excited to see the results.

Our Art Gallery chair, Victoria Szabo from Duke University, has challenged the submitters to consider scale in her call for the venue titled, XYZN:Scale.  Digital work has the unique opportunity to explore scale, perhaps more readily, and submitters are encouraged to develop and submit work that celebrates, questions, and explores these challenges and opportunities.


What is important to know about Anaheim, California as a host city?

Anaheim is only 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, so it is convenient for many of our attendees already located in Southern CA.  SIGGRAPH has not been to Anaheim since 1993, and wow has it changed! 

The convention center had a massive re-design and expansion, with both technology upgrades and thoughtful space design considerations that will really support our goals at the conference. They now have the largest exhibition show floor on the West Coast, and have a focus on easy access to meeting rooms.

There are fantastic meeting spaces, for formal and informal interaction, and gorgeous exterior spaces as well. The local area has also gone through some major expansion, with a second park, Disney's California Adventure, added to the Disneyland Resort, and an upscale dining and retail district developed as well.

All of our conference hotel selections are within walking distance to the convention center, and public ways are all lush and landscaped areas that you will enjoy strolling through.  The city has really collaborated between local services and attractions with their convention and meetings teams to support easy connections across work and play.

How is the SIGGRAPH conference trying to remain relevant?
With the addition and growth of our Mobile and Gaming focus areas, we are really connecting with all of the research, educational, and production areas that our industry is exploding in.  We will also welcome back the recently formed Business Symposium, a forum for the business leaders in our industry to connect and develop a community that supports not only their strategy directly, but also encourages the support of their team members participation in the conference.  With our demographic changing to include both senior leaders in the industry and more attendees who are just beginning their careers, we are actively engaging in social media and other formats that best speak to all of our attendees.


What are some of the things that will be happening at SIGGRAPH 2013 that you are personally most excited about?
 I am very excited about the SIGGRAPH University proposal that our Courses Chair Paul Strauss from Google, Inc., initiated. It has greatly taken off beyond this conference and into other organizational-related concepts.  Paul is working with contributors who are not only subject matter experts, but also have experience in online education. The goal is to present and share a few of our foundation level offerings this year, for free, online, to anyone after the fact. This will start a cycle of our conference extending far beyond the one week, in one particular place.  For example, next year's attendees can prepare themselves with introductory content, and then arrive onsite ready to hit the more advanced topics.

By sharing content our attendees have always shown a high interest in, especially in the forums they are familiar with (in this case our ACM SIGGRAPH YouTube Channel), we can extend our impact and develop relationships with the community that reflect the evolution of technology and educational models.

I am also very excited about the great juries our teams have pulled together, in particular the Computer Animation Festival, chaired by Jason R.M. Smith.  His world class collection of animation masters from around the globe (and each viewing the work from their own lens, simulation, anime, independent, large studios, etc.) will provide our attendees with the best of the best across the board, because there is such diversity in the process.

What changes (if any) should attendees expect this year?

I am thrilled to extend the interaction opportunities for our Exhibitors from the show floor and tech talks to the beloved SIGGRAPH Fast Forward model.  A staple of the technical papers community and a highlight of the conference every year, this fast and fun forum provides a high level sampling of each paper being presented that week.

By inviting our Exhibitors to feature their highlights in a similar forum, a few seconds per presenter, we are connecting our attendees very quickly with information that will help them direct their focus on the show floor and, we are allowing our Exhibitors the opportunity to have the  undivided attention of the attendees. We are also excited to integrate the feedback we received directly from our attendees last year into programs this year.

Our teams turned around the survey data quickly and we are focusing on what our attendees told us was of the highest priority to them, as well as of most interest.  In particular, our attendees will enjoy more hands-on training. Our Studio Chair, Patricia Clark from Arizona State University, is partnering with industry and her subcommittee to offer full slates of workshops that allow us to serve a larger percentage of our audience than we have in the past with directly transferable skill sets.

How do you define SIGGRAPH’s target audience?

Our audience are key stakeholders in the community, those driving research and business forward for the past 40 years.  The respect between our contributors and attendees is mutual, and a fluid relationship that has the target audience moving between attendee and content creator from year to year, or even minute to minute. For the 2013 conference, I am defining our target audience as one that is purposely engaged with each other. From our Educators and Artists, to Researchers, Students, Production Professionals and Business teams, our audiences do not live in silos, they actively engage across disciplines and the end result has been our staple for success from year to year.

What characteristics/backgrounds were you looking for when selecting your 2013 conference committee?
I was looking for a team that had very specific ideas about how they wanted their individual venues to develop  as well as a passion for the conference and organization as  whole. And then I stood back and let them do it!  The team is highly interested in not just their venue or year, but in laying the foundation for ideas that will take a while to fully develop.  They partnered really well with the years on either side of them, for a future bigger than just any one team could pull off.  I was also looking for a diverse set of volunteers who could all contribute from not just their area of subject matter expertise, but also from different communities, life experiences, and history with the conference itself.

Editorial note: to view the committee, click here.

What advice would you give someone who has never been to SIGGRAPH before? 

SIGGRAPH is a glorious amalgamation of high quality content across several slices of the computer graphics and interactive communities. It can be intimidating to try and sort through all the offerings we have.  A plan of action is always your friend.

We will continue to provide suggestions based upon a particular focus area, with our teams poring through all of the accepted content and preparing suggested sessions and content for gaming, animation, research, education, etc.   Often, the most rewarding experiences for our attendees are when they venture off their presumed path.

I highly encourage participation in offerings that may not directly align your areas of interest, these intersections are where our unique magic most often lives.  Also, plan a lot longer for walking from point A to point B than you presume you need, and be prepared to say "Hi!" to strangers.  The intersection of people is one of our highest values, and you want to be sure to allow these intersections and opportunities to thrive. You will be delighted at how easy barriers to conversation and ideation fall away during SIGGRAPH, especially if you go after it.

As an industry expert and long-time SIGGRAPH volunteer, what keeps you professionally motivated? 
I get to work with some really amazing people; smart, fun, inspiring, accomplished, mentors, mentees, from all over the world. It’s a uniquely collaborative culture that allows not just technologies to be shared, but also allows people to easily share their expertise and time with each other.  The thrill of these intersections makes every day motivating, different, and challenges me to give back as much as I have been given.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Computer Animation Festival and Real-Time Live! Deadlines Approaching

SIGGRAPH 2013, taking place 21-25 July in Anaheim, California, seeks cutting-edge content for computer graphics and interactive techniques across several areas. The deadline for two of the most notable features of the conference, Computer Animation Festival and Real Time Live! is 5 March 2013 (22:00 UTC/GMT). Only finished works will be considered for inclusion, and all submissions must be uploaded at final resolution.

The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival is the world's most innovative exploration of computer-generated animation and visual effects. The four-day, international event is a glimpse into the most talented technical and artistic minds of the industry. The Computer Animation Festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival. Since 1999, several works originally presented in the Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for or have received a Best Animated Short Academy Award.

The festival accepts Computer Animation Festival submissions in 10 distinct categories:

•    Computer Animation Shorts
•    Music Videos
•    TV and Web Commercials
•    Visualizations and Simulations
•    Student Projects
•    Animated Feature Films
•    Visual Effects for Short Films and TV Programs
•    Visual Effects for Live-Action Feature Films
•    Real-Time Graphics
•    Miscellaneous

Real-Time Live! is the premier showcase for the most innovative and interactive real-time graphics created in the last 12 months. Entries will be judged on creativity, innovation, performance, and most importantly, the ability to render in real time in front of a live audience as part of the Computer Animation Festival. The top selections will be played and demonstrated live on a PC or game console. As long as the submission is interactively controlled, rendered in real time, and repeatable for a live audience, it will be considered. Accepted work is demonstrated live on a PC or game console in front of an audience. The result is an entertaining, informative, and engaging experience. 

Submission examples of real-time graphics and simulations, include:

•    Military or industrial simulations
•    Interactive animation and graphics
•    Research projects
•    Computer games
•    Real-time art explorations
•    Scientific visualizations: medical, astrophysics, astronomy
•    Interactive data visualization and information graphics

Information must be submitted by the March 5 deadline. For more information on how to properly submit, visit the Computer Animation Festival or Real-Time Live! websites.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Computer Animation Festival Seeks Cutting-Edge Content

Artist Meats Meier recently completed this year's version of "Animation Mother",

Celebrating its 40th year, the world’s most innovative exploration of computer-generated animation and visual effects will be on display at SIGGRAPH 2013 in Anaheim, California this summer. The four-day, international event (21-25 July) spotlights the most prestigious innovators of technical and artistic short films. The festival showcases everything from student films to blockbuster visual effects and mainstream commercials.

Furthermore, the Computer Animation Festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a qualifying festival. Since 1999, several works originally presented in the Computer Animation Festival have been nominated for or have received a Best Animated Short Academy Award.

“As a qualifying venue for the Academy Awards, our jury judges on various criteria including the quality of technical submissions, creativity, and the art of storytelling,” said Jason R.M. Smith, SIGGRAPH 2013 Computer Animation Festival Director from LucasArts.  “And we encourage submissions from a wide variety of sources whether you are a global studio, a small start-up, or a student team, there is a place for you at SIGGRAPH.” 

The festival accepts submissions in 10 distinct categories:

• Computer Animation Shorts
• Music Videos
• TV and Web Commercials
• Visualizations and Simulations
• Student Projects
• Animated Feature Films
• Visual Effects for Short Films and TV Programs
• Visual Effects for Live-Action Feature Films
• Real-Time Graphics
• Miscellaneous

Stereo 3D work will be considered and can be entered in any of the above categories. Shot breakdowns to fully illustrate the amount of CG work involved in photo-real submissions are encouraged.

All entries must be uploaded by 5 March 2013 (22:00 UTC/GMT). Only finished works will be considered for inclusion, and all submissions must be uploaded at final resolution.

View detailed information on how to submit Computer Animation Festival content.

An Appeal from the SIGGRAPH 2013 Student Volunteer Chair: "Last Call for Applications"

Apply now to be considered for an invitation to join an  incredible group of gifted and dedicated students who help make SIGGRAPH possible.

The SIGGRAPH Conference draws thousands of attendees together from around the world, along with industry professionals who are linked by a drive to push the boundaries of advanced computer technologies. As a Student Volunteer, students will get to peek behind the curtain and become an essential part of running this prestigious, international event.

Please encourage the industry's future leaders to apply!
We need students who demonstrate leadership, enthusiasm for service, and a passion for computer graphics and interactive techniques. But hurry! The deadline is coming up very fast: 5 February 2013, 22:00 UTC/GMT. For information on how to apply, eligibility requirements, benefits and more click here. You may also access our online application system directly here.

Need some assistance promoting the program to students?
Visit our documents page on our website (powerpoint presentation, web banners, etc.), view our presentation online, or become a fan of our Twitter or Facebook page!

Thanks to friends like you, we have been able to promote the SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer Program to a greater number of students than ever before! Last year, a majority of our students heard about the Student Volunteer Program through a teacher, mentor, or an advisor. We need your help again this year to promote this unique opportunity to students.

Right-brained or left-brained, we are all working to advance the world of computer technologies. We invite you to encourage students to volunteer for this unparalleled experience--it's a no-brainer!

We hope to see you in Anaheim in 2013!

Best Regards,

Gracie Arenas Strittmatter
SIGGRAPH 2013 Student Volunteer Program Chair
sv2013@siggraph.org

SIGGRAPH 2013 Calls for Real-Time Live! Content

SIGGRAPH 2013 seeks cutting-edge Real-Time Live! content to be presented as part of this year’s prestigious Computer Animation Festival. Examples of accepted real-time simulations and graphics submissions include:

• Military or industrial simulations
• Interactive animation and graphics
• Research projects
• Computer games
• Real-time art explorations
• Scientific visualizations: medical, astrophysics, astronomy
• Interactive data visualization and information graphics

As long as the submission is interactively controlled, rendered in real time, and repeatable for a live audience, it will be considered. Accepted work is demonstrated live on a PC or game console in front of an audience. The result is an entertaining, informative, and engaging experience.

Check out examples from a previous year in the following video:





“Celebrating its 5th anniversary, Real-Time Live! has grown into a can't miss event at SIGGRAPH and has established itself as the premier annual showcase for the best of the best in interactive real-time graphics,” said Abe Wiley, Real Time Live! Chair from Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. “We hope that this year's content will be more diverse than ever and highly encourage submission from all industries and fields of research."

The Real-Time Live! submission deadline is 5 March 2013. All real-time work will be reviewed by a professional jury of industry experts from traditional computer graphics, video games, and research organizations.

Entries will be judged on creativity, innovation, performance, and most importantly, the ability to render in real time in front of a live audience as part of the Computer Animation Festival. The top selections will be played and demonstrated live on a PC or game console.

View detailed information on how to submit Real-Time Live! content.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Seeking Mobile Content

SIGGRAPH Mobile also features an interactive area where attendees can investigate mobile technologies.

Mobile graphics is growing at an incredible speed. Only a few years ago, mobile devices were so limited in display capabilities and processing power they were hardly considered a viable platform for computer graphics. Today, smartphones, tablets, and handheld gaming devices with powerful graphics hardware can easily run advanced games, productivity apps, and multimedia presentations on large full-color screens.

"The mobile devices in our pockets keep us connected to our friends, entertain us whenever we have a spare minute, and help us find information when we most need it," said Lars Erik Holmquist, SIGGRAPH 2013 Mobile chair from Yahoo! Labs. "And they pack in additional features such as cameras, sensors and location awareness that make the possibilities for new graphics experiences practically endless."

SIGGRAPH Mobile will feature a variety of activities during a full day of SIGGRAPH 2013 in Anaheim and is looking for the best content from all types of participants including industry, media, art, academia, and more. Like many SIGGRAPH programs, it is jury-reviewed to ensure the best quality experience for participants and presenters. There are many different formats for presentation - from single-speaker sessions to full-blown workshops and presentations.  The deadline for content is 17 March 2013.

"At SIGGRAPH Mobile, we want to see the exciting things that are happening in the field of mobile graphics and apps! Come and show your newest mobile game, your amazing augmented-reality app, or your ass-kicking graphics hardware," said Holmquist. "Share experiences on mobile development and design tools, how to get to millions of users in the app stores, and how to harness the power of social networking. If it is new, useful, or just plain cool, we want to see it at SIGGRAPH 2013!"

To ensure that all types of work can be shown and discussed, there are four submission categories:
• Presentations are focused talks, typically by one speaker, on a single topic, technology or result.
• Panels are multi-speaker presentations and discussions in a particular area.
• Workshops are hands-on tutorials on current mobile technologies and tools.
• Demonstrations of the latest and greatest mobile applications, software, and hardware.

Submitters can select their presentation times and target different types of SIGGRAPH audiences.

An international jury will judge all submissions according to quality, novelty, diversity of topics, and relevance to the SIGGRAPH Mobile program. To round out the program, the jury and the chair may invite additional presentations. The jury includes Jesse Barker, ARM, Inc.; Henriette Cramer, Yahoo! Labs; Matt Jones, Swansea University; Florian Michahelles, ETH Zürich; and Mark Piszczor, Nukotoys, Inc.

For more information on submitting, click here.

SIGGRAPH 2013 Call for Submissions

                                            Left Brain or Right Brain ... which one are you?

Celebrating its 40th year, the SIGGRAPH conference is the premier international event on computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2013 invites you to showcase your expertise and unique technical and creative skills at the International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, 21 - 25 July 2013 in Anaheim.

From students to studio executives, from scientists to artists, SIGGRAPH is home to the best and brightest minds in computer graphics. This year, bring your best work to SIGGRAPH 2013.

Every piece submitted to SIGGRAPH 2013 through the Call for Submissions is reviewed by a highly qualified jury composed of top practitioners in the relevant field. Because we want each jury to have the time to review each piece carefully, submission deadlines generally are several months ahead of the conference itself. All the submission deadlines are strictly enforced, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Important Submission Deadlines:

Be Sure to Plan Your Submission Process Accordingly!

8 January 2013*    Student Volunteer Team Leader Applications

17 January 2013    Technical Papers

22 January 2013     Art Papers and Art Gallery

5 February 2013    Student Volunteer Applications

12 February 2013  Courses, Emerging Technologies, Panels, Posters, Talks, Studio

5 March 2013        Computer Animation Festival and Real-Time Live!

2 April 2013           Dailies

1 May 2013           SIGGRAPH Mobile

7 May 2013           Late Breaking deadline for Posters

Submission Deadline Notes:
Unlike recent years, each SIGGRAPH 2013 program has only one deadline, except Posters.
There are no "Late Breaking" deadlines for Studio or Talks. Poster submissions can occur prior
to the 12 February "general submissions" deadline or the 7 May Late Breaking Poster deadline.
In both cases, Posters are reviewed using the same criteria and by the same jury. Authors
submitting prior to the early deadline will get decision notification in mid-April.

*All deadlines are 22:00 UTC/GMT. To determine what time that is where you are, you can use a converter such as The World Clock.