There are different reasons for submitting work as a poster. Maybe the work wasn't quite mature enough at the papers deadline, but you would like to show it to your colleagues. You want some feedback on what others think about work that is at an early stage. Maybe the work was interesting but not of such great value that it would warrant a paper - student projects often fall into this category. Perhaps you have developed or applied ideas presented in a previous paper or submission, or applied existing ideas in a new context. You may have some late breaking results or a new application you want to show the world before writing a complete paper. Or your work may be best suited to the poster format where the emphasis is on graphics and discussion. A poster presentation provides you with the chance to get more feedback than with a paper presentation, and you can get in contact with people working in a similar field, or who are interested in your work.

What are my responsibilities as a poster author?

To facilitate dissemination, discussion, and access, posters will be on display during the whole of VIS. Authors will be expected to set up their posters on the first morning of the conference, and take them down on the penultimate evening. Posters are also presented in person, first at the fast-paced poster summary session, and then by standing with the poster during the poster session itself to describe the work and to answer questions. If the poster has multiple authors, not all authors need to be there, however the poster must be staffed by at least one person at all times during the poster session. Multiple authors may wish to "tag team," taking turns at their own poster and then seeing the other poster presentations.

What makes for a good poster?

The key content of the poster should be easy to interpret from two or three meters away. The poster may also have more dense text or graphics, suitable for viewers who come for a closer look, standing perhaps one meter away. Consider also that the material on the poster should be useful for you to illustrate important aspects of your work when discussing it individually with attendees during your session. This may involve text, but may focus predominantly on graphics - it is VIS after all! Don't forget to include your name, affiliation, and contact information on the poster. At the poster session, you should have your business card or a leaflet ready to give to interested people.

What is the expected physical format of a poster?

Posters are usually printed with a large-format printer onto a large piece of paper (A0 maximum, 841mm x 1189mm / 33.1" x 46.8"), which covers most or all of the poster board it is mounted on. A less attractive option is to form the poster from a collection of individual letter-size sheets of paper, either as the individual pages of the presentation, or as "tiles" of a single large-format document. It's really up to you how you fill the A0 space. At the conference, you will mount your poster onto a poster board for display. Each poster will be allocated a poster board and a map of poster locations will help delegates find you. Poster boards and push-pins will be supplied by the conference organizers.

Will I have an internet connection for my laptop?

No - we can't guarantee this. You shouldn't plan on having an internet connection during your session as we cannot guarantee that there will be reliable wireless access.

Will AC power be available for my laptop or other devices?

Sorry, we can't promise AC power outlets. Please charge your batteries before the session.

Can I leave my laptop or other equipment in the poster area before or after the session?

The poster session is in an unsecured open area. Keep an eye on your laptop and take all your gear with you. You can bring your own locking system for your laptop.