Instructions for Authors and Presentors
Spotlight
Presentors
Spotlight presentations at NIPS 2003 are BRIEF
advertisements for posters. Spotlights
should be simple, visual, and accessible to non-experts; speakers should not
aim to communicate detailed results.
Each Spotlight is alloted two (2) minutes of time, including the time to
switch between speakers. Thus, each speaker has only 100 seconds or so to
present the actual Spotlight.
A very strict procedure is followed to maximize speaking
time and to minimize time spent shuffling slides and microphones. The procedure is enforced by the
Spotlight Czar. This year's Spotlight Czar is Chris Burges.
Each speaker is limited to two (2) overhead
transparencies: no movies, no
PowerPoint! Each transparency
should have the speaker's name, the Spotlight number (e.g., ET 02), and a
transparency number along the bottom so that they can be kept in the correct
order.
Each speaker must provide TWO COPIES of their
transparencies to the Spotlight Czar.
There will be two overhead projectors and a student volunteer at each
projector. The volunteer will
handle the transparencies. There
will be a hand-held microphone for speakers to use for presentations.
Speakers must provide their transparencies to the
Spotlight Czar PRIOR TO THE START of the session featuring their Spotlight. For example, the first set of Spotlights
appears in the Tuesday morning session that starts at 10:40 am. It contains 3 oral talks and 9 Spotlights. The Spotlight Czar must receive all
transparencies before 10:40 am. Speakers
who do not submit transparencies in advance will not be permitted to
speak. There is no time between
the end of the oral presentations and the start of the Spotlights to juggle
transparencies. The Spotlight Czar
will be standing at the A/V table at the back of the meeting hall prior to the
start of the sessions -- specifically, at the following times, on both Tuesday
and Wednesday: 10:20-10:40 am, 1:40-2:00 pm, 3:40-4:00 pm
At the start of the Spotlight Session, the speakers
should line up along the front left side of the hall where the microphone will
be positioned. Speakers should
line up in the order of their Spotlights
and take the microphone when it is their turn to begin. In between speakers, the Spotlight Czar
will use the transition time to introduce the next speaker (as well as his/her
title and co-authors). Therefore,
there is no need to spend time on introductions.
Poster Presenters
Posters will be on officially on view from 7:30 pm to Midnight on Tuesday, December 9, and Wednesday, December 10, 2003.
Setup and Removal:
The Poster Rooms are on the Plaza Level and will be open from 9:00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday for the placing of posters. Volunteers will be available to assist you. You may place your poster at any time prior to 6:30 on the day of your presentation. Tuesday night presentors must remove their posters by 8:00 am on Wednesday. Wednesday night presentors must remove their posters by 8:00 am on Thursday morning. Posters remaining after 8:00 am will be discarded.
Assigned numbers for posters (e.g., AA 22) will be attached to the individual display boards in the Poster Presentation Rooms. You should find the display board corresponding to your number and attach your poster there. Poster pins will be provided. Poster numbers and locations can be previewed at http://nips.cc/Confe/2003/Posters/.
Each poster presentation will occupy a 4 foot x 8 foot surface area. Plan your poster to fit this space. Identify your poster near the top of the panel with title and name(s)of investigator(s). All typefaces and graphics on the poster should be large enough to be read comfortably from distances of four to five feet. A well-designed poster clearly states the main problem and contribution and guides the viewer through the presentation. Hardcopies of viewgraphs do not make a good poster. A matte finish on your poster materials will give better visibility under the glare from lights. You may want to have copies of your paper or poster available, along with other materials, to give to viewers.
Demonstration Presenters
Setup and Removal:
Demo Sessions will take place between 7:30 pm and midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Presenters who are in the main Demo room (Georgia A) may set up their Demos at any time during the day. Presenters who are in the Plaza Foyer will have a shorter amount of time to set up, especially if they are unwilling to leave their setup before the Demo Session begins. Plaza Foyer Demo material can be stored in the main Demo Room during the day before the evening Demo Session.
Demos in Georgia A and in the Plaza Foyer should be removed immediately after the Demo Session.
Security
The equipment in the Demo room will be loosely monitored by the Demo co-chairs and by NIPS Volunteers. Once equipment has been set up in the Demo Room, it may not be removed without the permission from one of the Demo Co-chairs.
Please note that neither the NIPS Foundation nor the Hyatt Regency can assume responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged equipment, software, or other property. We strongly advise you not to leave your equipment unsupervised.
Poster Boards
Each Demo will be provided with a poster board which will be placed either to the side or behind the Demo. Presenters can prepare an easily-viewable poster to use for talking points. It should show the Demo title, the names of the creators, and their affiliations. Poster material should be clearly legible at distance of 10 feet. No text or detailed formulas—you are making a poster to illustrate your Demo's inner workings and attributes (with your verbal assistance) Please, no EuroPosters consisting of four sheets of A4 paper. A URL reference would be very helpful for people who are interested in obtaining more information. We emphasize that the poster is only for explanation—the Demo itself is primary and should speak for itself.
Being Available
Presenters naturally like to look at other Demos, but this means that your Demo (if you are the only presentor) may be left unattended for a period of time.