News

1. You can reserve virtual reality experiences ahead of time.

Jump to the front of the line by reserving time slots in advance for the mind-blowing virtual and augmented reality experiences at SIGGRAPH 2015. Anticipated to be one of the most popular features of this year's conference, the VR Village offers stand-up and sit-down VR, tabletop AR, nomadic VR (untethered head-mounted displays or AR), full-dome cinema and live performances and demos in a 360-degree immersion dome.

Visit the VR Village page of the SIGGRAPH 2015 site to reserve time slots. If you prefer a more fluid schedule at the conference, experiences will still be open to walk-ins from a queue.

2. Like TED talks? You'll love SIGGRAPH Next.

SIGGRAPH Next is a brand new speaker series at SIGGRAPH that's only accessible by attendees with full conference or full conference platinum registration. It features renowned, forward-thinking speakers who live on the cutting edge of computer graphics innovation. For those interested in more than just staying current, SIGGRAPH Next is not to be missed.

3. If you couldn't make it to UIST (ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology), you have a second chance.

SIGGRAPH 2015 is offering a UIST reprise from 3:45 to 5:15 pm in Room 402 AB, featuring an overview of five fascinating, impactful talks from the conference.

4. The SIGGRAPH mobile app is revamped for this year.

Attendees can create their own conference schedule, find out which of their friends and colleagues are attending, post photos, access a live feed of photos and posts from other attendees, participate in SIGGRAPH games and more. Download the app now to check it out.

5. Your badge gets you discounts.

Show your attendee badge at a number of restaurants, bars and other establishments near the Los Angeles Convention Center for SIGGRAPH-only discounts. The full list of participating venues is here.

6. Paulo is back!

Paulo Machado is back with us for SIGGRAPH 2015. If you happen to see him driving his Double robot around the conference, stop and say hello!!

In search of a list of after-hours events at SIGGRAPH 2015? Maybe we can help. SIGGRAPH.org has compiled a calendar of public parties and events happening during SIGGRAPH 2015 in Los Angeles, which will be constantly updated as information becomes available. To import the party listings to your Google calendar, click the +Google Calendar button on the lower right of the calendar, or add events individually by clicking on the event names. If you're hosting a public party or event at SIGGRAPH 2015 and would like it to appear on this calendar, contact the ACM SIGGRAPH Content Manager.

Please note that actual event times and locations may differ from this calendar, so be sure to double check with the conference locator or the sponsoring organization.

Disclaimer: Please note that many of these events are not directly affiliated with ACM SIGGRAPH, though they are put on for the benefit of SIGGRAPH attendees. ACM SIGGRAPH is providing this information as a courtesy to conference attendees, and does not necessarily recommend or endorse any of the events or the sponsoring companies or organizations. 

Resumes and reels are a constant source of frustration for students and new graduates. What to include? How much? How should it be presented? All are very important questions, and with answers that vary widely depending on the experience level of the applicant, and the position to which they're applying.

Each year at SIGGRAPH, Student Services offers a resume and reel review program for ACM SIGGRAPH student members. The program is engineered to address and resolve the uncertainty that comes along with attempting to prepare application materials that best reflect the skills and experience most attractive to potential employers.

The resume and reel review program has a strong history of success in providing actionable advice to students and recent graduates, but its continued success depends on the efforts of volunteers.

The Student Services Committee is in search of reviewers with expertise in all areas of production willing to donate a tiny fraction of their time at SIGGRAPH 2015 to helping the next generation of CG experts. If interested, please contact Student Services using this form.

The ACM SIGGRAPH Pioneers Group is proud to present as it's guest speaker, one of the most influential scientists in today's fast moving computer graphics industry. Dr. Paul Debevec is a research professor of computer science at the University of Southern California, and the chief visual officer at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies. He will present a visual report on his recent work done at the institute, including advancements in human scanning and rendering using his Light Stage systems, for which he received a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award® in 2010.

Dr. Debevec is perhaps best known for his pioneering work in high dynamic range imaging, which has impacted professional photography as well as consumer smart phones. But his latest efforts have involved creating digital versions of Hollywood actors and even President Obama, giving him a unique perspective on the current status of animating digital humans. When asked if we have crossed the “uncanny valley,” the term that describes the visceral disbelief common in most attempts to duplicate humans digitally, Debevec responds: “It's like we have made it to the moon a few times, but we still need to make the process affordable, reliable and safe for enough for producers to stake the success of a film on it.”

He will share several examples that appear to bridge the valley, as well as the story behind the historic scanning of President Obama. Other topics in the presentation include: Project "Digital Ira," New Dimensions in Testimony, the use of Light Fields for VR, and recent use of the Light Stage systems for feature film production.

The 2015 ACM SIGGRAPH Pioneers' Reception will take place on Tuesday, August 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Gold Ballroom at the JW Marriott Hotel, which is in downtown Los Angeles near the convention center. Light appetizers will be served, and drinks will be available.

The reception is exclusive to active members of the ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Pioneers Group.

Any person with 20 years of experience in some aspect of computer graphics and/or interactive techniques is eligible to become a member of the ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics Pioneers Group. The cost for a non-ACM SIGGRAPH member to become an ACM SIGGRAPH CG Pioneer is $47, which includes ACM SIGGRAPH membership. New members can join online. The cost to upgrade an existing ACM SIGGRAPH membership to Pioneer level is $5, and can be done by calling ACM Help at 1-800-342-6626 or by emailing acmhelp@acm.org.

ACM SIGGRAPH is in search of candidates for three open director-at-large positions on the ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee, with terms beginning July 1, 2016. The positions are volunteer, with term lengths of three years.

As part of a nine-person committee charged with steering the organization on its mission to foster and celebrate innovation in computer graphics and interactive techniques, directors-at-large hold crucial leadership positions within the organization. Like all voting members of the ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee, directors-at-large are elected by the ACM SIGGRAPH membership.

Specific duties include:

• Attendance at ACM SIGGRAPH Executive Committee meetings
• Voting on important decisions affecting ACM SIGGRAPH operations and membership
• Participate in committee oversight of the ACM SIGGRAPH newsletter, the ACM SIGGRAPH website and uses of the ACM SIGGRAPH email lists

Types of decisions facing the EC:

• Benefits ACM SIGGRAPH members will receive
• Level of the fees for ACM SIGGRAPH
• Policies for the conferences sponsored by ACM SIGGRAPH and in-cooperation with ACM SIGGRAPH
• Which awards are given by ACM SIGGRAPH
• Determining the winners of ACM SIGGRAPH awards
• What programs and projects that ACM SIGGRAPH participates in or underwrites
• Communication with the ACM SIGGRAPH membership

General expectations for ACM SIGGRAPH EC members:

• Promoting technical excellence, through taking an active role in the technical community as individuals
• Providing high-quality technical resources and programs (conferences, newsletters, etc.) within the scope of ACM SIGGRAPH's mission statement
• Promoting communication and interaction between ACM SIGGRAPH and others in the technical community, both within ACM (chapters, other SIGs) and outside
• Providing benefits to ACM SIGGRAPH members
• Overseeing conferences, symposia and workshops, both for technical quality and fiscal soundness
• Identifying additional benefits for members within the scope and financial resources of ACM SIGGRAPH
• Promoting and publicizing ACM SIGGRAPH achievements within the membership

The ACM SIGGRAPH Nominations Committee will be interviewing potential candidates at SIGGRAPH 2015 in Los Angeles, which takes place from August 9 to 14. To express interest in running for ACM SIGGRAPH Director-at-Large, and to schedule an interview at the conference, please contact Nominations Committee Chair G. Scott Owen at owen@siggraph.org.

Election Timeline

• July : Call for nominations posted
• August: Nominations Committee conducts interviews at the annual SIGGRAPH conference
• October: Slate of candidates presented
• March: Candidate statements posted
• April: Ballot posted
• June: Election results announced
• July: New EC members take office