SIGGRAPH 2018 Highlights

Following are some of the highlights at the show.

Workshops – New this year are full-day Sunday workshops on topics related to future applications of computer graphics and interactive techniques. They include: Grand Challenges in Chronic Healthcare, Computer Graphics for Autonomous Driving Applications, and Truth in Images, Videos, and Graphics. There is a separate $40 registration fee for these workshops.

Appy Hour – During Appy Hour, the latest mobile app creations are on tap for attendees to test drive and share their feedback with the independent app developers who created them. Hours: Wednesday, August 15, from 5-7 pm in West Building, Exhibit Hall B.

Art Gallery – Building upon an exciting and eclectic selection of creative practices mediated through technologies that represent the sophistication of our times, the SIGGRAPH 2018 Art Gallery will embrace the narratives of the indigenous communities near Vancouver and throughout Canada as a source of inspiration, with the theme “Origins. ” The exhibition will feature contemporary media artworks, art pieces by indigenous communities, and other traces of technologically mediated ludic practices. Hours: Sunday, August 12, from 1:30-5:30 pm; Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, from 10 am-5:30 pm; Thursday, August 16, from 10 am-3:30 pm, at West Building, Exhibit Hall A.

Art Papers – The Art Papers Program aims to open up meaningful dialogue between artists, scientists, technologists, and industry leaders. The program showcases work that addresses all digital arts modalities, and particularly embraces work that creates and articulates connections with participants in the various SIGGRAPH communities and events, including Technical Papers, Art Gallery, Computer Animation Festival, Emerging Technologies, and the Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality Program. Hours: Tuesday, August 14, 3:45-5:35 pm, and Wednesday, August 15, from 10:45 am-12:35 pm, at West Building Room 118-120.

Birds of a Feather – Share your ideas and interests with a Birds of a Feather discussion. West Building, Exhibit Hall B.

Business Symposium – The SIGGRAPH 2018 Business Symposium features speakers from multiple industries and backgrounds, in an in-depth exploration of the future of innovation, design, and technology. Attendees will experience interdisciplinary collaboration through panels, discussions, roundtables, keynotes, and interactive surveys. Saturday, August 11, 8:00 am-6:00 pm; Sunday, August 12, 8:30 am-1:30 pm. West Building Room 301-305. (Breakfast & lunch included, plus reception on Saturday.)

Computer Animation Festival – The SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival started as an annual showcase of advances in computer graphics; and since then has come to celebrate the rise of computer graphics as a medium for storytelling, not just in animation, but also in visual effects for movies and games. In-line with the 2018 conference theme of “Generations,” this year’s Electronic Theater lineup is poised to epitomize a next-generation showcase of 25 short films, culled from over 400 submissions.

Though newer than the Electronic Theater, the 2018 Computer Animation Festival VR Theater promises to pack just as much punch. In its second year, the VR Theater will present daily ticketed screenings — expanded from 25 to 32 seats each — along with individual kiosk programming, culled from more than 30 global submissions. Electronic Theater: Monday, August 13, 6:00-8:00 pm; Tuesday, August 14, from 9:00-11:00 pm; Wednesday, August 15, 8:00-10:00 pm—West Building, Ballroom AB. VR Theater: Sunday, August 12, 2:00-5:00 pm (Full Conference Platinum Only); Monday, August, 13, through Wednesday, August 15:10:00 am-5:30 pm; Thursday, August, 16, 10:00 am-3:30 pm--East Building, Exhibit Hall A.

Courses – SIGGRAPH courses are learning sessions in which experts from all areas of computer graphics technology and interactive techniques share their knowledge. Course presenters distill key concepts and ideas into self-contained lessons. Courses may lie anywhere on a continuum from conceptual and theoretical to practical and applied.

Courses are presented in both long (3.25 hour) or short (1.5 hour) sessions and may include elements of interactive demonstration, performance, or other imaginative approaches to teaching. Hours: Sunday, August 12, through Thursday, August 16, 9:00 am-5:15 pm.

Educator ’s Forum – A carefully tailored program for educators. Many SIGGRAPH attendees are educators, and education is a tremendously important part of the total SIGGRAPH experience. The Educator’s Forum is devoted entirely to content for educators of all levels, allowing you to optimize your conference experience. Hours: Monday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 14, 9:00 am-5:15 pm—West Building Room 116/117.

Emerging Technologies – SIGGRAPH 2018 showcases emerging technologies that are exponentially expanding our human experience. The internet of things, the quantitative self, and immersive technologies have matured, and the new data systems that support these innovations make way for more invention and interconnectedness.

A variety of new research at SIGGRAPH 2018 will be showcased, including work focused on personal vicissitude; new products and systems to surround us in comfort and function; and new technologies designed to change the way we will approach sports, games and active watching. Hours: Sunday, August 12, 1:30-5:30 pm; Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, 10:00 am-5:30 pm; Thursday, August 16, 10:00-3:30 pm—West Building, Exhibit Hall A. An Emerging Technologies Award Ceremony will be held Wednesday, 15 August 3:30-4:30 pm--West Hall A (in Emerging Technologies).

Games – Games at SIGGRAPH 2018 will spotlight the creators, visionaries, and pioneers of the game industry with presentations from the world’s leading studios. Their achievements will be presented in sessions and demos on advances in real-time character rendering and asset pipelines, real-time character animation in video games, new solutions for game navigation, amazing advances in hardware and software collaboration, and more. West Building Exhibit Hall B.

Job Fair – The Job Fair is absolutely the best place at SIGGRAPH 2018 for employers to meet with thousands of job seekers from around the globe! Once again, Job Fair Exhibitors will be posting their jobs on the CreativeHeads.net and ACM SIGGRAPH job boards one month prior to the conference. This allows SIGGRAPH 2018 attendees to connect with employers before the conference, during the conference via the Job Fair, and after the conference via the CreativeHeads.net job board and candidate profiling system.

Keynote – Rob Bredow, Senior Vice President, Executive Creative Director, and Head of Lucasfilm company Industrial Light & Magic, (ILM) will share his unique understanding of how media and technological innovation can join forces to tell great stories and create groundbreaking experiences. Hours: Monday, August 13, 2:00-3:15 pm—West Building Ballroom AB.

Panels – SIGGRAPH 2018 is a place where important voices converge, collaborate and engage in dialogue about the topics that are important in computer graphics and interactive techniques. The SIGGRAPH Panels are a place for questions and discussion, expert opinions and unique points of view. Get ready to expand your mind.

Posters – The SIGGRAPH 2018 Posters program is a cooperative, communal setting in which professionals of all levels and varieties present and discuss their research and ideas relating to computer graphics, interactivity, and beyond. The program encourages feedback on recently completed work or tentative new approaches. Hours: Sunday, August 12, 1:30-5:30 pm; Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, 9:30 am-6:00 pm; Thursday, August 16, 9:30 am-3:30 pm—West Building Ballroom Foyers.

Production Sessions – During 60-80 minute presentations, production team members from some of the most compelling recent releases pull back the curtain and offer SIGGRAPH attendees a glimpse at the hard work behind the scenes. Attendees are able to ask questions about production challenges and work flow issues on complex productions in CG animation, visual effects, gaming applications, virtual reality, themed entertainment, cultural exhibition, projection mapping and other applications of computer graphics. Hours: Monday, August 13, 10:45 am-12:15 pm; Tuesday, August 14, through Thursday, August 16,10:45 am-12:15 pm; also 2:00-5:15 pm—West Building Ballroom AB.

Real-Time Live! – Real-Time Live! is one of the experiences that makes SIGGRAPH 2018 a truly unique, must-attend event. Watch as the best of the best in real-time graphics and interactivity come together for a live competition and share their innovations. From mobile games to console games to virtual and augmented reality, creators of cutting-edge real-time graphics give you a look under the hood of their creations and share the techniques they use to achieve jaw-dropping results. A jury of industry experts recommends what makes it on stage, and also which presentation will take home the Best of Real-Time 2018 prize. Tuesday, August 14, 6:00-7:45 pm—West Building Ballroom AB.

SIGGRAPH Next – SIGGRAPH has long been a pioneer in computer graphics research and emerging technologies. SIGGRAPH Next continues that tradition by offering a series of plenary speakers on topics that speak to “What’s Next” for the industry, such as artificial intelligence and other groundbreaking new trends. Join us in Vancouver if you’re ready to break the mold and take your mind to the next level. Hours: Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, 8:00-8:45 am—West Building Room 118-120.

Studio – The SIGGRAPH 2018 Studio is a place where collaboration and interactivity merge to create an experience unlike any other. Utilizing both new and old technologies, SIGGRAPH attendees are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and bring their wildest ideas to life. In addition to hands-on installations, workshops will be taught by industry professionals on a wide variety of topics related to computer graphics and interactive techniques. These workshops will be offered in graduated levels of difficulty. Start with the very basics and learn a new skill, or jump in at an advanced level and polish off a project you’ve been working toward. Finally, the Studio experience offers presentations about studio-based research projects. Hours: Sunday, August 12, 1:30-5:30 pm; Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, 10 am-5:30 pm; Thursday, August 16, 10:00 am-3:30 pm—West Building Exhibit Hall A.

Talks – SIGGRAPH 2018 feature talks that elaborate on the full range of computer graphics and interactive techniques, including case studies, academic research, technical developments, improved pipeline tools, education and curriculum, professional development, or social commentary.

Technical Papers – Submitted technical papers for SIGGRAPH 2018 adhere to the highest scientific standards and are chosen through a rigorous peer-review process. A prestigious international jury of scholars and scientists selects the most visionary, innovative and significant submissions for presentation. At the conference, Technical Paper authors provide brief overviews of their work in Technical Papers Fast Forward, and then get a chance to present their complete papers during one of the technical papers sessions. Hours: Monday, August 13, 10:45 am-12:15 pm and 2:00-3:30 pm; Tuesday, August 14, through Thursday, August 16, 9:00 am-5:15 pm.

The Technical Papers Fast Forwards will be Sunday, August 12, from 6:00-8:00 pm—West Building, Ballroom AB.

Virtual, Augmented, Mixed Reality – As virtual reality (VR) expands into the consumer market, and augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) get ready for prime time, SIGGRAPH 2018 will be the place to take a deep dive into these emerging media. In 2018, we are featuring a new space: the Immersive Pavilion, which will be devoted exclusively to these mediums.

The Immersive Pavilion is the place to experience, play, and learn about the latest technological advances. It will host physical spaces to learn about the advancements in immersive realities such as the Vrcade (games and experiences), the VR Theater (storytelling) and the Village (installations). Hours: Sunday, August 12, 1:30-5:30 pm; Monday, August 13, through Wednesday, August 15, 10:00 am-5:30 pm; Thursday, August 16, 10:00-3:30 pm—East Building Exhibit Hall A.