Q&A with SIGGRAPH 2015 Technical Papers Chair Doug James

Technical Papers chair Doug James shares his passion for the program in an exclusive interview below. 

Reminder: Technical Papers submission form and abstract are due 22:00 UTC/GMT, 19 January 2015. The final paper is due 22:00 UTC/GMT, 20 January 2015.

How did you become involved with SIGGRAPH?

My first SIGGRAPH was in `99 when I published a paper as a graduate student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Since then, I've continued to be very excited about interactive physics simulation--and graphics and animation research in general--and found SIGGRAPH to be a great community for advancing those ideas. As a computer graphics professor, it is the natural venue for our research.

What motivated you to become Technical Papers Chair?

SIGGRAPH has always been the primary venue for my research activities, and I have been a long-time volunteer in the review process of the Technical Papers program, having reviewed hundreds of papers. I was honored to be asked to be the Technical Papers Chair: it's a great opportunity for me to help maintain and improve the widely respected SIGGRAPH review process established by our community.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in submitting content for the first time?

For new submitters to the Technical Papers program, I recommend reading the Technical Papers "call for papers" and related website content. In particular, there is an extensive Technical Papers FAQ that addresses many common questions. The basic recipe for showcasing your work in the technical program is to have a novel idea, explain it clearly in written form, and to provide evidence (be it data, images or video) to help support claims that your method improves upon the state of the art in some specific ways. Understanding and citing related works, and being able to explain the pros/cons of your approach, are also critical components. Getting feedback from experienced colleagues is also a good way to improve your submission.

What makes this program different from the others at SIGGRAPH?

The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers program is the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. We focus on the technical details underlying a broad spectrum of computer graphics innovations, and seek to document and disseminate these advances in all their glory.

Outside of Technical Papers, what other areas of the conference are you particularly excited about?

Everything. Seriously. I strongly recommend trying to look at a little of everything if you can, especially if it's something less familiar or different for you--come for the technical papers, but stay for the art and games. Things always change, and you never know what you will see next year.

How has SIGGRAPH influenced you personally and professionally?

We're inseparable. It's given me a lifelong venue for practicing and experiencing exciting technical and artistic innovations.

SIGGRAPH 2015 Call for Submissions

SIGGRAPH 2015 will feature the highest caliber of technical skills and creative talents. In order to ensure the best quality of work is presented, SIGGRAPH 2015 is excited to officially open its Call for Submissions. 

Join thousands of your fellow artists, scientists, and scholars in computer graphics and interactive techniques--including areas pertaining to games, fabrication, visual displays, and immersive digital environments--and submit your work for consideration. Whether you will be a first-time attendee or are a conference veteran, presenting at SIGGRAPH 2015 is an incredible opportunity that will take your career to the next level. 

LEARN MORE about SIGGRAPH 2015 directly from the program chairs!

Important Submission Deadlines

Please note that every piece submitted to SIGGRAPH 2015 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 submission deadlines are strictly enforced, so be sure to plan accordingly.

All deadlines are 22:00 UTC/GMT. Please verify deadlines in your time zone via THE WORLD CLOCK CONVERTER. 

13 January 2015	STUDENT VOLUNTEER TEAM LEADER APPLICATIONS
19 January 2015 (Submission form due) 20 January 2015 (Paper deadline) 21 January 2015 (Upload deadline)	TECHNICAL PAPERS
27 January 2015	ART PAPERS
30 January 2015	PRODUCTION SESSIONS
10 February 2015	STUDENT VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
17 February 2015	General Submissions: COURSES EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES PANELS POSTERS STUDIO TALKS
3 March 2015	COMPUTER ANIMATION FESTIVAL
31 March 2015	REAL-TIME LIVE! IMMERSIVE REALITIES (AR/VR) CONTEST
28 April 2015	DAILIES
6 May 2015	LATE POSTERS DEADLINE
24 June 2015	APPY HOUR

Poster submissions can occur prior to the 17 February General Submissions deadline or the 6 May Late Posters deadline. In both cases, Posters are reviewed using the same criteria and by the same jury. Authors submitting prior to the first deadline will get decision notification in late April.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Highlights from Vancouver

SIGGRAPH Technical Papers Fast Forward was a popular session on Sunday evening.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - SIGGRAPH 2014 returned to Vancouver, Canada, for its 41st conference and exhibition. From 10-14 August, 14,045 artists, research scientists, gaming experts and developers, filmmakers, students, and academics from 50 U.S. states and 75 countries gathered to experience cutting-edge computer graphics and interactive techniques. There were 6,156 participants from the host country of Canada.

The SIGGRAPH Exhibition ran from 12-14 August and attracted 175 exhibitors.

The conference boasted more than 40,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space featuring 175 participating companies - an increase from the 2013 conference in Anaheim, California. Eighteen countries were represented on the exhibit floor, 44% of which are based outside of the U.S. - including 28 companies from Canada. Furthermore, 25% of the exhibitors were first-timers, which was the highest percentage in four years.

Dave Shreiner

"This year’s exceptional education, numerous networking opportunities, and mind-blowing technological advances appealed to everyone," said Dave Shreiner, SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair. "SIGGRAPH 2014 offered an incredible exhibition experience, innovative and inspiring content, and celebrated the impact that graphics and technology can have in every day life. Finally, the city of Vancouver was amazing - from the mayor’s office to the convention centre to the economic commission to the tourism bureau."

An impressive 1,533 speakers and contributors participated in the conference through a variety of talks, sessions, panels, papers, presentations, tutorials, and screenings.

Highlights from SIGGRAPH 2014 included:

The impactful keynote presentation by Not Impossible Labs co-founder Elliot Kotek shared a simple message: “Help One. Help Many.” Kotek showed how technology can have an immense impact on humanity by sharing stories of Not Impossible Labs’ efforts including Project Daniel, which outfitted Sudanese amputees with new prosthetic limbs thanks to 3D printing technology. 

Thierry Frey (center), SIGGRAPH Emerging Technologies Chair, leads the Vancouver mayor on a tour.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson made an appearance, addressing members of the press and visiting SIGGRAPH 2014’s Emerging Technologies venue. He expressed his delight that emerging technologies and computer graphics have caused "an influx of talent and great people to our city" as well as thousands of jobs for its citizens. The Vancouver Economic Council sponsored the Emerging Technologies area. The virtual reality experience “Birdly” won the Laval Virtual award and the AR/VR competition.

Jerome Solomon served as the 2014 Computer Animation Festival Director.

The Computer Animation Festival presented the world's most innovative, accomplished, and amazing creators of digital gaming, film, and video. The festival received more than 450 juried submissions in 2014. SIGGRAPH 2014 Computer Animation Festival award winners included:

Box

BEST IN SHOW AWARD
Box (United States)

Directed Tarik Abdel-Gawad, Bot & Dolly

Paper World

JURY AWARD 

Paper World (Hungary)

Directed by Dávid Ringeisen, László Ruska, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design

Home Sweet Home

BEST ANIMATED SHORT 

Home Sweet Home (France)

Directed by Pierre Clenet, Alejandro Diaz, Romain Mazenet, Stéphane Paccolat, Supinfocom Arles

Wrapped

BEST STUDENT PROJECT PRIZE

Wrapped (Germany)

Directed by Roman Kalin, Falko Paeper, Florian Wittmann, Filmakademie Baden-Wüerttemberg

Gravity

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Gravity (United Kingdom)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Esperanto Filmoj

Kinematics

BEST VISUALIZATION & SIMULATION

Kinematics (United States)

Directed by Jessica Rosenkrantz, Jesse Louis-Rosenberg, Nervous System

The Crew

BEST GAME

The Crew (France)

Directed by Maxime Luère, Dominique Boidin, Rémi Kozyra, Unit Image

RYSE: Son of Rome

BEST REAL-TIME GRAPHICS

RYSE: Son of Rome (Germany)

Directed by Chris Evans, Peter Gornstein, Martin L’Heureux, Crytek

The Pony

BEST COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT

Three, "The Pony" (United Kingdom)

Directed by Dougal Wilson, Blink Productions

SIGGRAPH 2014 Technical Papers Chair Adam Finkelstein  

Technical Papers is the premier global forum for presenting groundbreaking research from today's leading experts. The SIGGRAPH 2014 Technical Papers program featured 173 Technical Papers, selected among 550 submissions. The Technical Papers detailed new advances across many fronts, including 3D printing, creating water and snow with particles, deformation and distortion, and more.

For more details about SIGGRAPH 2014, visit the official SIGGRAPH 2014 Media Blog: http://siggraphmediablog.blogspot.ca/  

Download photos from SIGGRAPH 2014: www.flickr.com/photos/siggraphconferences/ 

Join Us in Los Angeles in 2015


SIGGRAPH 2015, the 42nd International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, will be held 9-13 August, 2015 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Recap: Day 1

SIGGRAPH 2014, the 41st International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, made its return to Vancouver, Canada, when it officially opened its doors to attendees on Sunday, 10 August. The first day of the conference featured several Talks, Panels, Birds of a Feather events, Studio Courses and StudioXperience interviews, not to mention Technical Papers Fast Forward, ACM SIGGGRAPH Theater Events and Art Gallery.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Releases Mobile App Game (SMAG)

Go big or go home! The SIGGRAPH Mobile App Game (SMAG)  is a mobile-enhanced persistent game that allows you to collect achievements throughout the SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference. Using your  iOS  or Android  mobile devices to scan QR markers using the SIGGRAPH Mobile App wherever you see them in the Vancouver Convention Center, from your fellow attendees' apps, and in sessions. Have fun and meet people as you make your way towards becoming one of this year's big winners!

Here are  five solid reasons to get everyone (you, attendees, random strangers on the street) excited:

1.  SMAG has 127 (and counting) achievements to complete! This means that you won't run out of things to do, even on the last day of the conference. You can chase a mad scientist, carry secrets passwords, catch a golden snitch(!), or find a wandering Guardian of the Galaxy on the conference floor.

2.  You can earn points just by being involved in the conference! Our goal is to promote great content and projects - attendees will be gaining points just by:

• Participating in the International Center's NoirMaker: Escape from Vancouver;
• Playing SIGGRAPH Caching, a clue-based treasure hunt that will happening concurrently on the conference floor;
• Exploring with RTL's AR App and searching for RTL's Behind-the-Scenes content;

3.  We are also promoting everybody's venues and projects, such as:

• Studio's Drawing Contest;
• The Back-to-Back CAF/How To Train Your Dragon 2 Screening;
• The World Record Attempt;
• And many more! You can even earn points just by registering or buying a cup of coffee!

4.  You can win prizes just by participating! Thanks to the help of friends and sponsors, we have a variety of prizes that be available throughout the week that may be available through a variety of means. 

• You may not be the top scorer, but you can still win an elusive RenderMan teapot, mysterious grab bags, and SIGGRAPH memorabilia just by playing!
• If you are a top scorer, you could win an S2015 Full Conference Registration, a copy of SIGGRAPH Encore, and many more!

5.  You can challenge yourselves intellectually! With our timed trivia challenges, you can earn points from identifying technical papers/concepts, pop culture references, and general geekiness!

Will you be this year's winner? Get a headstart and scan the QR marker above, and check out our documentation page for all the achievements and prizes available.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Welcome Letter from Premier of British Columbia

SIGGRAPH 2014 received the following welcome letter from Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia.

Christy Clark

Dear SIGGRAPH Attendees:

On behalf of the Province of British Columbia, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone attending the 2014 SIGGRAPH conference in Vancouver.

Our vibrant, expanding digital media industry makes B.C. a perfect fit. SIGGRAPH brings together business, art, and science to celebrate and showcase the cutting edge of computer graphics. 

You will have an opportunity to learn, network and cultivate relationships with colleagues from around the world, surrounded by the latest in digital art and technology. 

Thank you to the Association for Computing Machinery for organizing and coordinating this conference. British Columbians take pride in our spectacular home and in being good hosts. 

I encourage you to visit the British Columbia booth on the expo floor to learn more about what we're doing to support digital media and the technology sector here in B.C., and to take the opportunity to enjoy everything Vancouver and the region have to offer.

Sincerely,

Hon. Christy Clark

First-Time Attendee Guide to SIGGRAPH 2014

The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers Fast Forward is always a "must attend" event and a great preview for the week ahead.

We've all been there .... staring overwhelmed at all the great SIGGRAPH content and trying to figure out how in the world to tackle it all. In fact, the SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair Dave Shreiner was once a first-time attendee many moons (a couple of decades ago). 

"When I arrived at my first show, SIGGRAPH 1989 in Boston, I was in total awe of what I saw there.  I didn’t have a plan for the show, so I just wandered around for three days soaking in everything I could," said Dave Shreiner, SIGGRAPH 2014 Conference Chair.  

He continued, "Computers for generating real-time graphics were just getting to the size of refrigerators, and 50 thousand triangles a second was the speed record, but the most enjoyable aspect of the show was sharing ideas and knowledge with everyone there. Regardless of where you’re in your career, stop and talk with your fellow attendees - you’ll be amazed at what you can learn! But be sure to come with a plan."

With his help and others, we put together this focus to help you tackle your first SIGGRAPH. And by all means ask anyone for help especially at the SIGGRAPH 2015 booth or at any of the many networking events.

Whether between sessions or at any of the official SIGGRAPH events, networking with peers is a big part of the SIGGRAPH experience that will impact your professional and personal life for years to come.

Here is a slice of content that may help make the most of your time in wonderful Vancouver:

Panels
Ready, Steady ... SIGGRAPH
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 118-120

Courses
Fundamentals Seminar
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 109-110

Courses
The Glass Class: Designing Wearable Interfaces
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

The Studio is a great opportunity to network and gain valuable professional skills.

Studio - Courses
Arduino Drawing Machines
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 12:30 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Courses
Introduction to WebGL Programming
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 109-110

Panels
The Future is Here: Augmented and Virtual Reality
SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Building Blocks for "The LEGO Movie"
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

It would be wise to budget at least a few hours for the Exhibition - offering training, networking, and great general knowledge of where the industry is headed.

Birds of a Feather
First Steps in Large-Scale Rendering
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Room 9

Studio - Courses
Design Tips for Digital T-Shirt Printing
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Making of Marvel's “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Making of Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy"
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Roll out the red carpet and be sure to get your ticket for the Electronic Theater!

Computer Animation Festival - Electronic Theater
MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 6:30 PM - 8:45 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
An Insight Into the Making of "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For"
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Creating Content to Drive Destiny’s Investment Game: One Solution to Rule Them All
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
DreamWorks Animation Presents: The Growth of “How To Train Your Dragon 2”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Inside the Magical World of Disney’s “Maleficent”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Creating the Amazon in “Rio 2”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures Present the VFX of “Godzilla”
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Attendees of Real-Time Live! get the opportunity to learn from the artists and engineers who produced the ground-breaking work.

Real-Time Live!
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 5:30 PM - 7:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Birds of a Feather
SIGGIG: Gays in Graphics
TUESDAY, 12 AUGUST 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, Port Hardy

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Industrial Light & Magic Presents: Capturing the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Courses
Mathematical Basics of Motion and Deformation in Computer Graphics
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Rooms 118-120

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Meet Your New Production R&D Department - ACM/SIGGRAPH
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Unmask the Secrets Behind “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Studio - Courses
alphaBot Workshop: Constructing Robots, Translating Language
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

You just never know who you might meet at a SIGGRAPH Production Session.

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Industrial Light & Magic Presents: Deconstructing the Visual Effects of “Transformers: Age of Extinction”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
The Production and Visual Effects of “Killzone Shadow Fall”
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Making "Gravity" at Framestore
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom A-B

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Puppets, Printing And Compositing: A Unique Collaboration In LAIKA’s Animated Features
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Appy Hour
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Exhibit Hall A

Dailies gives each presenter one minute to present an animation and describe the work. It is an incredibly valuable opportunity to learn a lot in a very short amount of time.

Dailies
WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building, Ballroom B-C

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Making “The Dam Keeper”: How Two First-Time Directors Brought Paint to Life in Their Animated Short Film
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Feast – A Look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' Newest Short
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom C/D

Computer Animation Festival - Production Sessions
Twentieth Century Fox Presents the Visual Effects of “X-Men: Days of Future Past”
THURSDAY, 14 AUGUST 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM | Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Ballroom 

When preparing for your trip be sure to pack comfortable shoes and a light jacket. Also, as you leave the convention center, be sure to remove your badge and store it in a safe place. Walking around in any city with a badge on screams "I'm not from here" and makes you more of a target. 

Finally, if you anticipate that a particular session will be popular, get there as early as possible to make certain you are allowed inside. Per fire codes, each room only allows a certain number of occupants.  See you in Vancouver!

SIGGRAPH 2014 TECHNICAL PAPERS PREVIEW

The SIGGRAPH 2014 Technical Papers program is the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. In anticipation of the upcoming conference, SIGGRAPH’s 41st annual, the program preview trailer is available on the official ACM SIGGRAPH YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/ACMSIGGRAPH).

Submissions to the Technical Papers program are received from around the globe and feature high quality, never-before-seen scholarly work. Submitters are held to extremely high standards in order to qualify.

“The quality of this year’s Technical Papers content was superb,” said Adam Finkelstein, SIGGRAPH 2014 Technical Papers Chair. “Not only did we receive outstanding work in the traditional areas of modeling, rendering, animation, and imaging, but we also noticed two emerging fields in design/fabrication and learning.”

SIGGRAPH accepted 127 technical papers (out of 550 submissions) for this year’s showcase, an acceptance rate of 25 percent (one percent higher than 2013). As is tradition, the papers were chosen by a committee made up of academia and industry experts.

The 2014 Technical Papers program also includes presentations for 46 papers published this year in the journal ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG). SIGGRAPH 2014 takes place 10-14 August 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

Highlights From the SIGGRAPH 2014 Technical Papers Program:

Pixie Dust: Graphics Generated by Levitate and Animated Objects in Computational Acoustic-Potential Field
Authors: Yoichi Ochiai, Jun Rekimoto, The University of Tokyo; Takayuki Hoshi, Nagoya Institute of Technology

To generate graphics using levitated small objects, this method expands the acoustic manipulation method by changing the distribution of the acoustic-potential field. The approach makes available many expressions (for example, expression by materials and nondigital appearance), and the expressions are levitated in mid-air.

Floating Scale Surface Reconstruction

Authors: Simon Fuhrmann, Michael Goesele, Technische Universität Darmstadt

Introducing a novel, virtually parameter-free method for surface reconstruction from oriented, scale-enabled point samples. The approach constructs an implicit function as the sum of compactly supported basis functions. The final surface is extracted as the zero-level set of the implicit function.

PushPull++

Authors: Markus Lipp, Pascal Müller, Esri; Peter Wonka, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Introducing the novel 3D modeling tool PushPull++. which enables rapid modeling and adjustment of arbitrary meshes with slanted surfaces. PushPull++ reduces the required clicks for common modeling tasks up to an order of magnitude compared to leading commercial tools.

Intrinsic Images in the Wild

Authors: Sean Bell, Kavita Bala, Noah Snavely, Cornell University

Introducing a large-scale, public dataset for intrinsic image decompositions of indoor scenes (Intrinsic Images in the Wild) with crowdsourced annotations of pairwise comparisons of material properties. The approach develops a dense CRF-based algorithm for intrinsic image decomposition of these images that outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms.

Learning Bicycle Stunts

Authors: Jie Tan, Yuting Gu, Karen Liu, Greg Turk, Georgia Institute of Technology

A general approach to simulation and control of a human character riding a bicycle. The rider not only learns to steer and balance in normal riding situations, but also learns to perform a wide variety of stunts, including wheelie, endo, bunny hop, front-wheel pivot, and back hop.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Registration Now Open!

It's Time to Register!

SIGGRAPH 2014 is returning to Vancouver this summer and we can't wait to see you there! Register now and meet us at the Vancouver Convention Centre 10-14 August for the Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques event of the year. Where else can you interact with the best and brightest in art, science, and technology?

SIGGRAPH 2014 Registration Categories 

Full Conference Access Pass*
Includes admission to ALL conference programs and events, including the Art Gallery, Art Papers, Awards Presentation, Birds of a Feather, Computer Animation Festival-Daytime Selects, Computer Animation Festival-Electronic Theater, Courses, Dailies, Emerging Technologies, Exhibition, Exhibitor Tech Talks, Exhibits Fast Forward, International Resources, Job Fair, Keynote Sessions, Panels, Posters, Production Sessions, Real-Time Live!, Reception, Studio, Talks, Technical Papers, and Technical Papers Fast Forward.

*Note: The Full Conference Access Pass is the only pass that allows access to Courses, Panels, Technical Papers, Talks, and the Reception.

Full Conference One-Day Pass
Includes one day admission to ALL conference programs and events and the Exhibition (Tuesday - Thursday). Does not include reception ticket.

Select Conference Pass
Includes admission to the Art Gallery, Art Papers, Awards Presentation, Birds of a Feather, Computer Animation Festival-Daytime Selects, Computer Animation Festival-Electronic Theater, Dailies, Emerging Technologies, Exhibitor Tech Talks, Exhibits Fast Forward, International Resources, Job Fair, Keynote Sessions, Posters, Production Sessions, Real-Time Live!, Studio, Technical Papers Fast Forward, and all days of the Exhibition (Tuesday – Thursday). Does not include reception ticket.

Select Conference One Day Pass
Includes one day admission to the Art Gallery, Awards Presentation, Birds of a Feather, Computer Animation Festival-Daytime Selects, Computer Animation Festival-Electronic Theater, Dailies, Emerging Technologies, Exhibitor Tech Talks, Exhibits Fast Forward, International Resources, Job Fair, Keynote Sessions, Posters, Production Sessions, Real-Time Live!, Studio, Technical Papers Fast Forward, and all days of the Exhibition (Tuesday – Thursday). Does not include reception ticket.

Exhibits Plus Pass
Includes admission to the Art Gallery, Birds of a Feather, Emerging Technologies, Exhibitor Tech Talks, Exhibits Fast Forward, Job Fair, Posters, Studio, Technical Papers Fast Forward, and the Exhibition (Tuesday - Thursday). Does not include Electronic Theater or reception ticket.

To secure your spot at SIGGRAPH 2014 in Vancouver as well as for more registration information, visit the SIGGRAPH 2014 website.

SIGGRAPH 2014 Releases Advance Program

The SIGGRAPH 2014 Advance Program is available here.

For comprehensive information about speakers, exciting events, and SIGGRAPH 2014 content, download this year's Advance Program! To make the best out of your SIGGRAPH 2014 experience, use this important resource to begin planning a week filled with education, interaction, networking, and fascination.

The Advance Program is your guide to all the amazing content packed into five full days in wonderful Vancouver. Whether you are interested in Art Gallery, Art Papers, Birds of a Feather, the Computer Animation Festival, Courses, Dailies, Exhibition, Emerging Technologies, Job Fair, Panels, Production Sessions, Real-Time Live!, Studio, Talks, or Technical Papers, this year's conference will highlight developments from the past 12 months that will spark your imagination and blow your mind.

2014 Technical Papers Preview Video Released

The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers Preview Video highlights a selection of the program's 173 accepted submissions. As the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work, the Technical Papers program is the place for computer graphics and interactive techniques aficionados. Watch the video below for an idea of what you can expect at SIGGRAPH 2014.

Six Reasons to Attend SIGGRAPH 2014

Why SIGGRAPH?
Why spend five or six days away from the office, away from home, when you can improve your skills in your spare time on the web? If you're hearing those questions from your employer, or from friends and family, here are a few answers, plus some real quotes from recent SIGGRAPH attendee surveys:

Learning
At SIGGRAPH 2014, you will learn more in five days than you could at any other conference, or any combination of conferences, anywhere in the world. And you'll learn from the world's leading experts in computer graphics and interactive techniques.

“It changed the way I see my work daily."

“The new technologies and all of the talks by major companies are amazing.”

“It is the place for all related computer graphics and interactive media.”

Inspiration
With direct, real-time access to the latest theories, the coolest technologies, and the wisdom of thousands of colleagues and collaborators, you will return from SIGGRAPH 2014 creatively rejuvenated. This is your chance to get out of the office, away from your daily routine, and out from under your email and meet the best minds in the industry.

“My head exploded."

“It's the most inspiring thing I do every year – the latest cutting-edge everything.”

“It's a creative recharge of epic proportions.”

Expertise
From the Exhibition to the Production Sessions and from Technical Papers to Courses, when people are developing new ideas and emerging technologies, they present them at SIGGRAPH.

“It’s the best way to learn things people never tell you at school.”

“It is literally mind blowing in what you will experience.”

“Technology in an ever-changing world requires constant education.”

Engagement
Interactive is so important to us that it’s part of our name. At SIGGRAPH 2014, you'll see, hear, and touch real-time demos by the most technically advanced minds in computer graphics and interactive techniques.

“Experience worth every penny.”

“This is a chance to interact with the creators and the brains behind most of the products that we use on a daily basis.”

“Its like being a fly on the wall at a major studio's creative meeting.”

Exclusive
With its breadth of programs and events, only SIGGRAPH 2014 allows you to produce a conference experience that's exclusively yours. The balance of technical presentations with artistic and creative demonstrations is what really makes SIGGRAPH stand out.

“It’s invaluable – you will reference the talks you see to your colleagues in production scenarios for the next few years.”


Community
Connect with people from everywhere in the world who share your joy in the power of art and science. Interact with artists, researchers, educators, animators, new-comers, and pioneers in computer graphics and interactive techniques.

“Think of everything that has ever made you geek out and feel so passionate about something in your whole life and put it into one feeling... That, my friend, is the feeling you get when being at SIGGRAPH.”