Panels


Deadline   Send To                             Participation Categories

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Panels Co-Chairs

Joelle Coutaz, University of Grenoble, France
Steve Whittaker, Lotus Development Corporation, USA

The aim of panels is to stimulate discussion about ideas and issues of crucial interest to the human-computer interaction community. While panels often focus on complex technical issues, they also provide an opportunity to exchange different views and address controversies, through the medium of informed debate. A panel is not a mini-paper session but an interactive discussion. Suitable topics for panels include pressing issues in HCI theory and practice, emerging user trends and technologies, and social issues associated with technology.

Types of Panels

Panels last 90 minutes and can be organised in many formats. We list some possibilities but other suggestions for alternative formats are encouraged.

Analytic.
These are aimed at analysing and synthesising current practices in the various fields of HCI. They are primarily pedagogic and should be composed of experts selected from distinct fields, addressing a single problem. They should address the following questions: how do research fields complement each other? How do we reconcile vocabulary, concepts, notations, frameworks and methods? How can research results be transferred effectively to industry, and conversely how can industrial concerns be integrated into the research arena?

Comparative.
These are aimed at comparing distinct approaches, techniques and models to a particular problem, including evaluation, design and implementation. Panelists should answer the following questions: "Why is my technique/method/theory better than yours? What is the common ground and where is the divergence between approaches?" Comparative panels are controversial, but respectful. They should be composed of experts selected from the same research area.

Common Ground in Action.
In these sessions, panelists will solve a particular problem "on the fly". The content of the scenario may not be known in advance by the panelists or will be selected by the audience among a set of topics predefined by the panelists. A moderator will summarize the contribution of the panel.

History
These panels revisit the past in order to inform the present. One panel might be composed of authors of papers on a given topic presented 10 years ago. Another panel could be a remake of a successful CHI '86 panel. How are things different? Have we made progress towards achieving common ground?

Influencing the future.
Here experts from different fields will discuss the ways in which emerging techniques and technologies will impact our future lives. Areas for discussion might include the effects of HCI for future developments in home, entertainment, education and commerce. Given the nature of the subject matter, panels will necessarily be more open ended and discursive.

Topics

Panels can deal with any topic in HCI that will stimulate discussion and debate, including theory, practice, design, methods and social issues.

Review Process

Each proposal will be independently reviewed by the members of the Panel committee. The committee is a multidisciplinary group drawn from industry and academia. We are looking for stimulating and timely proposals debated by well-informed and engaging panelists. Controversy is encouraged, as are unique and diverse subjects. Given that successful panels often depart from the usual, please feel free to contact either Panel Co-Chair to discuss your ideas prior to submission.

Panels are selected based on several criteria including:

Focus on a central issue relevant to HCI
A topic or issue that lends itself to debate
Discussants with demonstrated expertise in the topic under discussion
New insights or novel questions for the audience
An effective or exciting format for presentation

Given that the most effective panels arise from informed discussion around clearly identified issues, we encourage contributors to identify these issues in advance and state what perspectives or positions their panelists might take.

Format

Conference Companion Summary.

Prepare a two-page summary of the panel, suitable for publication in the CHI 96 Conference Companion. The summary should include the title, names and affiliations of the panelists, an overview of the panel topic and a summary of each panelists position. It must be in the Conference Proceedings format.

Proposal.

Prepare a 6 page proposal, including:

A description of the topic, stating compelling issues to be debated, and their relevance to HCI (one page maximum)
A short description of the panel category (analytic, comparative, other, etc.), stating how and why this format is an appropriate choice for debating this issue (one page maximum)
A summary of all panel members, including names, affiliations, phone numbers, email addresses. You should state who is the panel organiser. You should also indicate that each person has agreed to be a member of the panel.
A compilation of position statements. The panelists should each generate a position statement outlining their view on the panel topic, and the issues it raises, as well as their qualifications to talk about the topic. Each participant's comments should be no more than half a page in length. All members must agree to the publication of these statements if the panel is accepted.

Upon Acceptance

Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by the end of November 1995.

Summaries of accepted panels will be published in the CHI 96 Conference Companion and on the CHI 96 CD-ROM.

The primary author of each accepted panel will receive an author kit, with instructions for producing camera ready and electronic materials for publication. These materials are due on January 5, 1996.

Panel organisers are expected to help panel participants prepare for participation, and co-ordinate the contributions of the panel.

Ground Rules

Your submission must be in English.
Electronic and fax submissions are not accepted.
Submissions which arrive after the deadline will not be considered.
Your submission should contain no proprietary or confidential material and should cite no proprietary or confidential publications.
Responsibility for permissions to use video, audio or pictures of identifiable people rests with you, not CHI 96.
If your submission is accepted, it will not be published without copyright release forms signed by the first-listed author or a representative of the first author's institution.
We strongly suggest the use of express mail or a courier service, for speedy delivery. Customs labels should bear the words "Educational materials with no commercial value."

Checklist

Please follow the steps in this checklist to ensure completeness in your submission.

Read the Invitation To Submit.
Fill out Cover Pages One, Two, and Three
Prepare a Conference Companion Summary (two pages) in the Conference Proceedings format for publication, as described above.
Prepare a Proposal for review, as described above.
Collect Cover Pages One, Two and Three, the Conference Companion Summary, and the Proposal, in the order given, in a packet, and make 6 copies of the packet. Use 8.5 x 11 inch or A4 paper.
Make sure each copy of the packet is STAPLED, not loose or held by clips.
You may include a self-addressed reply postcard which will be mailed to acknowledge receipt of your submission.
Send the 6 copies of your submission packet, and the reply postcard, to one of the Panels Co-Chairs at the Send To address shown.

chi96-webmaster@acm.org / 95-12-01