Presentation Instructions

Quality presentations are key to the success of the conference, and we want to help you give the best presentation that you possibly can. First we cover some logistical details and then give some style suggestions for improving your presentation (shamelessly adapted from CSCW).

Logistical Details:

  • Presenters of regular papers will have 20 minutes and presenters of short papers and invited TiiS papers will have 10 minutes. We anticipate that about 80% of your time should be allocated to presentation and the remainder should be left for questions. Papers of seven pages or less are considered short papers, and you can verify the intended length of your presentation by examining the schedule on the IUI web site.
  • The schedule of presentations is full, so time limits will be strictly enforced. An iPad-based timer will be used in all sessions, so you have no excuse if you lose track or go over your time!
  • The conference room will be equipped with a projector and standard VGA connection. You are responsible for bringing your own adapter if you need one.
  • Each session will have a session chair who is responsible for keeping presentations on time, introducing speakers, and fielding questions. Be sure to connect with your session chair before your presentation.

Style Suggestions:

  • These suggestions are adapted from list created from CSCW 2013 . These are intended to help you deliver a memorable talk, and should not be considered strict rules.
  • PRACTICE. Many of us feel like we don't need to practice talks, but there are very few of us for whom at least one run through doesn't lead to improvements. If you're new to giving talks, make sure to give the talk in front of other people and get feedback.
  • The IUI audience is diverse. Make sure you do a good job of explaining terms, defining acronyms, or providing context that would help a diverse audience understand your contribution.
  • Understand your personal style. Some people can use humor effectively in a talk, and some can't. Some people have text-filled slides and make them work, others struggle. Think through what your strength as a presenter is, and lean on that strength.
  • Don't speak to your slides. They already love you because you made them. Speak to the audience.
  • Don't ever go over time. It's rude to your audience, and your fellow presenters. We're sure your stuff is so awesome that you could use more time, but the right people will find you after your talk.
  • It's OK to make mistakes, and stumble. No one cites a talk, they cite your paper. Don't let little mistakes throw you off of your narrative flow.
  • A talk and a paper are different things. You don't need to present your *whole* paper to the audience. Focus on the important take-aways. Almost always, less is more in terms of what you cover in a talk.
  • Don't just present the data, be clear about what your *story* is and present that story in a compelling way. People will remember the story long after they forget the particulars of the data.
  • If it's on the slide, you probably don't need to say it out loud. Figure out the relationships between what's on your slides and what you are saying.
  • Make sure your font is big enough to be seen at the back of the room. If it's a screen shot you can't easily enlarge, narrate what the audience can't see. Remember that many attendees are coming from contexts where English is not their primary language, and some of us are getting hard of hearing as we get older. Project, speak slowly, enunciate.
  • SMILE. This is fun. We are all lucky to be working these dream jobs in such a cool field. While we may get nervous speaking in front of others, a smile always goes a long way.
  • Sometimes things go wrong. Be able to give your talk without slides if you need to. We've seen many a presenter get flustered by technical glitches and struggle to deliver any content.
  • Live demos are risky. Think carefully before deciding to do a live demo in such a short time slot. If you do choose to demo, check your demo timing carefully. Assume your Internet connection may be unreliable. Have backup slides in case your demo doesn't work.
  • Be aware of your "filler" words. Do you start every sentence with "So..."? How often do you say "ah" or "um" during a talk?