SIGGRAPH 2012 Highlights from Los Angeles

SIGGRAPH 2012, the world's premier conference on computer graphics and interactive techniques, welcomed 21,212 artists, research scientists, gaming experts and developers, filmmakers, students, and academics from 83 countries around the globe to Los Angeles this week. In addition, 161 industry organizations exhibited at SIGGRAPH 2012 representing 44,750 sq. ft. of exhibit space – approximately a 5,000 sq. ft. increase over 2011. A total of 19 countries where represented on the show floor.

“As SIGGRAPH 2012 draws to a close, I’m incredibly proud of the body of work that represents thousands of hours of effort from hundreds of volunteers,” said Rebecca Strzelec, SIGGRAPH 2012 Conference Chair from Penn State Altoona. “SIGGRAPH is not about a location – it is about the kindred spirit of our community and being able to provide cutting-edge content across many different fields. In that sense, SIGGRAPH 2012 was a resounding success whether you are an artist, a scientist, a game developer, or a student… we featured incredible content that will continue to inspire everyone into 2013.”

In all, more than 1,200 speakers and contributors participated in the conference through a variety of talks, sessions, panels, papers, presentations, tutorials, and screenings.

Highlights from SIGGRAPH 2012 included:

• Keynote Jane McGonigal Says Playing Games Can Improve Health and Lengthen Lives
  
  Jane McGonigal, director of game research and development at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) treated the audience to a lively discourse on how games are transforming the way we lead our real lives, and how they can be used to increase our resilience and well-being.
  
  McGonigal’s research has shown that scientific studies suggest playing games can and have helped those with autism, ADHD, PTSD and even cancer. She has created the game SuperBetter, which helps players achieve health goals or recover from illness or injury by increasing their personal resilience.

• The second annual SIGGRAPH Business Symposium was held on Sunday, featuring keynote speakers Carl Rosendahl, founder of Pacific Data Images, venture capitalist, and co-director of Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center-Silicon Valley, and John Textor, chairman and CEO of Digital Domain Media Group. The objective of the event was to help shape the future direction of the computer graphics industry.
• The Computer Animation Festival presented the world's most innovative, accomplished, and amazing creators of digital gaming, film, and video. A total of 91 films were shown during the Festival. In addition to film screenings, the Festival included interactive sessions and exclusive learning opportunities to gain industry secrets and advice from some of the most successful professionals in the field.

SIGGRAPH 2012 Computer Animation Festival award winners include:

• Best in Show Award: Réflexion
  Directed by Yoshimichi Tamura, PlanKtoon; France
• Jury Award: How To Eat Your Apple
  Directed by Erick Oh, Independent; USA and South Korea
• Best Student Project Prize: Estefan
  Directed by Jeff Call, Brigham Young University; USA
• Best Student Project Prize Runner-Up: Globosome
  Directed by Sascha Geddert, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg; Germany
• Best Student Project Prize Runner-Up: Herr Hoppe und der Atommüll
  Directed by Jan Lachauer and Thorsten Löffler, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg; Germany
• Well-Told Fable Prize: Rosette
  Directed by: Romain Borrel, Gaël Falzowski, Benjamin Rabaste, and Vincent Tonelli, Supinfocom Arles; France

• Technical Papers, the premier global forum for presenting groundbreaking research from today's leading experts. The SIGGRAPH 2012 Technical Papers program featured 94 Technical Papers, selected among 412 submissions. The Technical Papers detailed new advances across many fronts, including 3D display technology, photographic prints for HDR images, textile design, and more.
• The SIGGRAPH 2012 Art Gallery: In Search of the Miraculous presented exceptional digital and technologically mediated artworks that explored the existence of wonderment, mystery, and awe in today’s world of mediating technologies and abundant data. From nearly 400 submissions, the Art Gallery jury selected 12 pieces to be featured.

Download photos from SIGGRAPH 2012 at http://www.siggraph.org/photos

Join Us in Anaheim in 2013

SIGGRAPH 2013, the 40th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, will be held 21-25 July 2013 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

About SIGGRAPH 2012

SIGGRAPH 2012 brought thousands of computer graphics and interactive technology professionals from six continents to Los Angeles, California for the industry's most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, music, gaming, interactivity, education and the web from Sunday, 5 August through Thursday, 9 August 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. SIGGRAPH 2012 included a three-day exhibition of products and services from the computer graphics and interactive marketplace from 7-9 August 2012. More details are available at www.siggraph.org/s2012 or on the SIGGRAPH 2012 Facebook and Twitter.

About ACM SIGGRAPH

The ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques www.siggraph.org is an interdisciplinary community interested in research, technology and applications in computer graphics and interactive techniques. Members include researchers, developers and users from the technical, academic, business and art communities. ACM SIGGRAPH enriches the computer graphics and interactive techniques community year-round through its conferences, global network of professional and student chapters, publications and educational activities.

About ACM

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery www.acm.org is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field’s challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for lifelong learning, career development and professional networking.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50373392&lang=en