Interview with the 2011 SIGGRAPH Technical Papers Chair

Following below is a brief conversation with Hugues Hoppe, SIGGRAPH 2011 Technical Papers Chair from Microsoft Research, who shares his insights, opinions, and thoughts regarding SIGGRAPH 2011 and beyond.

What was your inspiration/motivation for volunteering to be the SIGGRAPH 2011 Technical Papers Chair?

Being the Technical Papers Chair is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to serve the research community and to experience the process from a completely different point of view, so this opportunity would have been difficult to pass up. Serving as chair entails many different responsibilities, but fortunately there is a large organization that provides help in numerous ways.

One of the most rewarding aspects is to try to improve the various stages of the Papers Program (submission, review, and presentation). Although this process has been fine-tuned over many years, one can still try to improve it. This year I worked toward increasing anonymity in the review process (so that it can hopefully become “double-blind” in the future), and worked with Stephen Spencer (SIGGRAPH Publications Director) to provide hyperlinks in PDF documents, as well as to introduce a “Papers fast-forward” document.

While SIGGRAPH has one of the most beautiful printed proceedings of any conference, the future lies in on-line electronic distribution, and we want to make that medium as rich and convenient as possible.

Did any trends surface as you reviewed all the submissions? Any surprises?

There are of course different “hot” topics every year, as our field continues to evolve. In addition to the traditional themes, some of the prominent ones this year include stereo acquisition and display, procedural and interactive geometry layout, and facial animation. Generally, we see a continuing trend towards data-rich approaches, as opposed to purely procedural ones. Personally I was impressed by the quality of real-time techniques in cloth animation and fluid simulation.

In comparison to last year, the acceptance rate was lower? Any reason for this?

I don’t think anyone knows precisely why the acceptance rate varies from year to year --- much like the stock market. There is much continuity in the papers committee members, and there is certainly no target number of accepted papers. Over the past five years, the acceptance rate has been 18%, 24%, 17%, 18%, and 27%. Thus, this year’s rate of 19% lies right in the middle of the long-term distribution.

How is this year’s program similar or different compared to previous years?

The program seems very similar to previous years in having the same balance of fresh/unexpected topics versus refinement of established areas.

What were some of the challenges that your committee faced in reviewing the content?

The review process seemed relatively uneventful this year. (I cannot reveal any of the issues encountered in the committee review discussions.) As usual, we had some Internet difficulties during the mad dash before the submission deadline. The lesson this year was to not advertise the precise time (about two hours before the deadline) at which we switch from uploading files to instead uploading MD5 hashes. Giving away the precise time effectively leads to a “denial-of-service attack” by our own users at that earlier time.

You have had many papers published since 1992, do any of them standout above the rest for particular reasons?

Two impactful papers are “Surface reconstruction from unorganized points” (1992) and “Progressive meshes” (1996). Surface reconstruction was a relatively new topic 20 years ago, and our results were really primitive, especially by today’s standards, so it’s great that SIGGRAPH recognized the potential this might have. The progressive meshes paper was also significant personally, as it was the first work on my own.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering submitting a paper to next year's SIGGRAPH?

Start work early! Really. Current SIGGRAPH papers have an amazing level of polish. That is likely why we see so few single-authored papers. The old timers in graphics recount stories of how they would have a great idea a few days before the submission deadline and quickly write it up; that is unfortunately not very feasible anymore.

If you had to name someone who has had the greatest impact on your professional life, who would that be and why?

Working with my PhD advisor Tony DeRose at the University of Washington was an invaluable experience. Overall, my time in graduate school was hugely productive. I’ve also had many supportive managers at Microsoft Research over the last 17 years.

We saw on your website that you have a preference for Belgium products, what is your connection to Belgium?

Indeed I was born in Belgium, and still speak some French. Although my family moved to the U.S. when I was young, I haven’t lost the taste for Belgian chocolates.

SIGGRAPH 2011 Media Registration Now Open

SIGGRAPH is the best place in the world to experience the explosive evolution of computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2011 invites you to “Make it Home” with the best and brightest minds in computer graphics for the 38th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, 7 - 11 August 2011 in Vancouver.

Online media registration LINK is now open. In order to receive the latest breaking news from leading SIGGRAPH 2011 exhibitors, register by 8 July. Online registration will close 5 August.

Please note: Even if you have qualified for a SIGGRAPH media badge in the past, you must re-qualify for SIGGRAPH 2011. For assistance with your pre-show coverage, contact: media@siggraph.org.

SIGGRAPH 2011 Media Highlights include:

• Vancouver – The vibrant mix of urban and natural environment combined with its contagiously creative energy makes Vancouver the ideal host for SIGGRAPH 2011. With over one-third of it’s population active in SIGGRAPH’s major communities: artists, academics, film production, gaming, VFX, research, and more, this inspirational city welcomes the exploration and innovation this year’s conference brings.

• Technical Papers: The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers program is the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2011 Technical Papers will provide a look into some of the latest achievements in facial animation, procedural modeling, and rendering.

• Computer Animation Festival: The leading annual festival for the world's most innovative, accomplished, and amazing digital film and video creators. 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.

• Courses: SIGGRAPH 2011 courses provide attendees inside knowledge that is critical to career advancement presented by experts in the field. The spectrum of Courses ranges from an introduction to the foundations of computer graphics and interactive techniques for those new to the field to advanced instruction on the most current techniques and topics.

• Keeping you informed: Stay up to date on everything SIGGRAPH 2011 with our monthly conference newsletter SIGGRAPHitti, Facebook, and Twitter.

For complete details on all of the dynamic content available at SIGGRAPH 2011, or to register as media for the event, visit the For Media of the SIGGRAPH 2011 Web site.

SIGGRAPH 2011 Exhibition Sales on Track to Meet or Exceed 2010 Results

SIGGRAPH has traditionally provided the year's largest, most comprehensive exhibition of products and services for the computer graphics and interactive techniques marketplace. If current sales trends continue, SIGGRAPH 2011 will be no different.

SIGGRAPH 2011, 7-11 August, at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada, is on pace or in some instances exceeding the exhibition sales data at this point last year for SIGGRAPH 2010 in Los Angeles. For instance, the current number of exhibitors participating and amount of booth space sold is higher this year than at this same point in time last year.

"Since this is the first time SIGGRAPH is being held in Canada, we are encouraged by the positive response of our exhibitors from North America and around the world," said Peter Braccio, SIGGRAPH 2011 Conference Chair from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. "We are very encouraged by this vote of confidence from the exhibitor community. This year's submissions are even more encouraging. The volume and quality of papers, talks, courses, artwork, films, and interactive demos submitted so far confirm that this will be one of the most memorable SIGGRAPH conferences in years."

View more information on submitting work to be featured at SIGGRAPH 2011.

View more information on becoming a SIGGRAPH 2011 exhibitor.

View a detailed list of all SIGGRAPH 2011 Exhibitors.

SIGGRAPH 2011 Selects Cory Doctorow as Keynote Speaker

SIGGRAPH announces the selection of Cory Doctorow, science fiction novelist, blogger, and technology activist, to give one of its keynote presentations at SIGGRAPH 2011, the 38th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, 7-11 August 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

Doctorow is a contributor to The Guardian, The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Wired, as well as co-editor of the popular blog Boing Boing. He was formerly director of European affairs for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit civil liberties group that defends freedom in technology law, policy, standards, and treaties. He is a visiting senior lecturer at Open University (U.K.) and previously served as the Fulbright chair at the Annenberg Center for Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California.

“As an author, scholar, future-thinker, and creator, Cory Doctorow brings a lot to the table that should be of immense interest to the SIGGRAPH audience,” said Peter Braccio, SIGGRAPH 2011 Conference Chair from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. “His dynamic vision and creativity are certain to be interspersed throughout his presentation and will be a conference highlight for everyone.”

In 2008, Doctorow’s novel, Little Brother, was a New York Times best seller. Tachyon Books published a collection of his essays called Content: Selected Essays in Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future and IDW published a collection of comic books inspired by his short fiction called Cory Doctorow’s Futuristic Tales of the Here and Now. Doctorow’s latest works include an adult novel, Maker, published by Tor Books/HarperCollins U.K.; For the Win, a young adult book about video games, labor politics, and economics; and a short story collection entitled Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present.

Doctorow has won the Locus and Sunburst Awards, and been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, and British Science Fiction Awards. He co-founded the open source peer-to-peer software company OpenCola, sold to OpenText, Inc. in 2003. He serves on the boards of the Participatory Culture Foundation, the MetaBrainz Foundation, Technorati, Inc., the Organization for Transformative Works, Areae, the Annenberg Center for the Study of Online Communities, and Onion Networks, Inc.

SIGGRAPH keynote speakers represent a variety of prominent industry luminaries and technology experts who explore various aspects of computer graphics and interactive techniques.

Image Caption: Cory Doctorow, science fiction novelist, blogger, and technology activist.
Photo by Paula Mariel Salischiker, pausal.co.uk, CC-BY.

SIGGRAPH 2011 Seeks Real-Time Live! Content

SIGGRAPH 2011 seeks cutting-edge Real-Time Live! content to be presented at 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

All content that is interactively controlled and rendered in real-time will be considered. Submissions must be able to be demonstrated in front of a live audience.

“Since its debut in 2009, Real-Time Live! has featured some of the most innovative and cutting-edge work presented at SIGGRAPH’s Computer Animation Festival,” said Jason Smith, SIGGRAPH 2011 Real-Time Live! Chair. “Each year the quality and diversity in real-time submissions showcases the best work going on in the industry. This year’s program will continue this trend of dynamic innovation.”

The Real-Time Live! submission deadline is 15 April 2011. 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 their respective platform (PC, PS2, PS3, X box 360, or Nintendo Wii).

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

Highlights from SIGGRAPH 2010 Live Real-Time Demos

Conference Chair Previews SIGGRAPH 2011 in Vancouver

The SIGGRAPH 2011 Marketing and Media team has created this blog to provide SIGGRAPH media with a central point for the latest information and announcements regarding the upcoming conference in Vancouver, Canada. Return to this blog for updates and important announcements.

Following below is a brief conversation with Peter Braccio (pictured below), SIGGRAPH 2011 Conference Chair from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute , on what to expect this year.

SIGGRAPH travels outside the United States for the first time in its history – what brought about this exciting change?

Vancouver was an obvious choice as a host city for SIGGRAPH as it has large and vibrant groups in all of our major SIGGRAPH communities: artists, academics, film production, gaming, VFX, research, and more. Plus, it is both an international and an inspirational city. As for being outside of the United States for the first time, this is merely an extension of the fact that SIGGRAPH is an international event.

That being said, I can’t think of a better city for SIGGRAPH’s initial foray outside of the United States’ border than Vancouver. And it offers relatively easy access for all the industry situated on the West Coast. Besides the concentration of our various communities here, we also have one of SIGGRAPH’s most active Professional Chapters based in Vancouver. So, in a real sense, we are actually coming home. It’s just to a place that we’ve never been before.

If someone has never visited Vancouver before what should they expect?

The first thing you’ll notice is that the area is just drop-dead beautiful. The way the mountains jut out of the bay reminds me a bit of the fjords of Norway. The second thing that you’ll learn quickly is that the Vancouver residents are just down-right friendly and helpful. This has made the long hours of conference planning a joy. And there’s something for everyone here outside of the conference – whether that be family activities, nightlife, outdoor activities, shopping, or dining. It is a major international city and should make this year’s conference extremely memorable.

How do you expect it to impact attendance or content?

That’s the $64,000 question, isn’t it? At least as far as attendance numbers it is. We believe that the attendance figures are going to be comparable to what they were at SIGGRAPH 2010. While we may have a few less United States attendees, we are likely to pick up more attendees from Asia and Europe due to the Canadian location. More importantly our focus isn’t on the number of bodies, but the quality experience we provide everyone who attends.

As for content, we’re seeing no decrease in submissions. In fact, our General Submissions deadline just passed and we saw a 47% increase in completed submissions over last year’s numbers. We saw significant increases in Technical Papers, Games Papers, Art, and Art Papers submissions as well. While numbers don’t directly correlate to quality, we feel very comfortable in saying that SIGGRAPH 2011 will be at least as good as past conferences in that regard.

What is the vision behind this year’s theme: “Make it Home”

The theme revolving around “Home” came out of a brainstorming meeting in 2010. A small group of us were discussing what the conference means in our lives and how we should use this as a way to reach out to our attendee groups. The fact that the word “groups” is plural is key to this discussion. SIGGRAPH does not have a homogeneous attendee base like most other conferences. This leads to conflicting interests at times. However, it always provides great opportunities because you have access to many points of view given the diverse audience.

The second step on the road to this theme concerned this being the first SIGGRAPH Conference outside of the United States. We talked about how we were going to have to educate our attendee and exhibitor base that it might not be more expensive to do X or harder to do Y, but that there just may be different roads that we would have to follow in order to accomplish what we did in the past. We also discussed that on a daily basis the world is getting smaller. We deal with, and affect, people around the globe constantly. The fact that the conference is not going to be in the United States could be inspirational and show the strength of our organization and its members.

At this point in the process, a planning group member stated that all of these discussions were reminding her of a postcard that she has tacked up in her house. It is a picture of the Earth taken from Apollo 17 (the famous Blue Marble photo). Directly under the photo was one word: Home. This idea resonated with the people in the room. It didn’t matter WHERE the conference was. It only mattered WHO made up the conference. We would be home no matter where we were.

Previously you served as the Guerrilla Studio chair (which is a daunting task in itself), what motivated you to take on the role of overall conference chair?

I’m still trying to answer this question to myself. Basically I felt that I owed it to the conference. I’ve learned a lot from my attendance at the SIGGRAPH conferences and have met some of my best friends here. In my household, the joy of attending the conference is not limited to me. My wife, Rachel, has been helping out in The Studio since the first time I ran that venue in 2000. In 2003, my children, Jacob and Sierra, began to come to the conference with us. So, in a very real sense, The Braccios have made SIGGRAPH "home" for a long time.

How is the SIGGRAPH conference trying to remain relevant?

This is a hard question because it deals with perception. As I’ve already pointed out, SIGGRAPH is made up of many different communities. What is relevant to one is maybe somewhat or totally irrelevant to another.

That said, I believe that we are making strides in addressing the needs of several communities that may have not felt as embraced at SIGGRAPH in recent years. For the people in the trenches in the Production Communities, we instituted the Dailies! Program in 2010. This is a program that applauds the craft of using the tools we have rather than the innovation of the tools themselves.

Another group that we are engaging is the people whose business is computer graphics. In 2011, we are launching The SIGGRAPH Symposium, the business think tank. This will be a day-long discussion concerning many of the thorniest issues facing a group actually trying to make money with computer graphics. Check back to conference website for details about this exciting new program.

What are some of the things that you are most excited about for the 2011 conference?

I think that the The SIGGRAPH Symposium is going to be a big deal that is going to spark conversations that take place well after the conference is over. This day-long event has the potential to change how a lot of people are doing business. And it will be an opportunity for executives and professionals from different backgrounds to network and engage each other in way that has never been experienced at SIGGRAPH. Plus, our exhibitors are responding to the venue change in a very positive fashion – as of today we are currently outpacing booth space sold, quantity of exhibitors, and international exhibitors from what we achieved in Los Angeles at this time last year.

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

Besides The SIGGRAPH Symposium, the biggest change that long-time attendees will see is that we are planning on moving the Reception to Monday night. It will start a bit later in the evening as well and will be a dessert reception. There are a couple of pluses to doing it like this for 2011. The first is that, since the reception will be in the convention center where people will be able to interact with the Art Gallery, Emerging Technologies, and The Studio during the reception. (These venues will open for reception attendees.) The second plus is also logistical. The Reception will start shortly after the Monday night Electronic Theater lets out. Since the reception is one escalator ride away from the Electronic Theater, there should be no time conflicts this year.

Attendees should also expect to be fully engaged by the beauty of this city. You will be inspired by the content in the conference as well as by the amazing natural beauty you encounter literally just outside the convention center.

Two SIGGRAPH Submission Deadlines Are Tomorrow

Deadlines are quickly approaching to submit your work to SIGGRAPH 2011, the 38th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, 7 - 11 August 2011 in Vancouver.

The deadline for General Submissions (Courses, Emerging Technologies, Panels, Posters, Talks, The Studio) and submissions to SIGGRAPH Dailies! is Friday, 18 February 2011, 22:00 UTC/GMT (17:00 EST or 14:00 PST). To determine what time that is where you are, you can use a converter such as The World Clock.

To view additional call for submissions deadlines and complete details on this year’s submission process, visit the SIGGRAPH 2011 Call for Submissions page.

Click here to watch preview videos of Vancouver and its VFX, animation, gaming, technology, and education communities.