How to Prepare and Present a Computer Science Poster
John Greiner
Rice University
Poster Session Challenges
Challenges
•
Audiences make decisions quickly
Solutions
•
Poster must be accessible
– Show overall organization
– Show comparisons
•
Posters sometimes stand alone
•
Poster must be comprehensible
•
Audiences come and go as
•
Speaker must attract others, adapt
presenters talk
to situation
2
Today’s Plan
• Textual
• Visual
• Oral
• Pragmatics
3
Similar to a Technical Paper
Tell an interesting story
What’s your “news”?
• What problem are you solving?
• What are your results/conclusions?
• What sets your work apart?
– E.g., new algorithm or theoretical approach
• Why does your work matter?
• How can your work be applied?
4
Similar to a Technical Paper
Structure your story
• Say what you’re going to say
• Say it
• Say what you said
Abstract
Body & Results
Conclusion
5
Make “The News” Accessible
Using structure
– Provide a “gist” somewhere (abstract, summary, overview)
– Include problem statement or objective
– Use specific headings
Using wording
– Reduce jargon
Using visuals
– Is it an image?
– Is it a contrast? (old vs. new)
– Is it a demonstration?
6
Different From a Technical Paper
Space is at a premium
Interactivity is key
•
•
•
•
Be concise – word choice, sentence fragments
Be precise – word choice
Pictures are often more effective than words
Omit unnecessary details
– MUST KNOW
– Good to know
– Nice to know
Use as your main focus
Add some
Leave details for oral presentation
7
If you design a poster that
looks like this …
8
9
Your audience will react like this
10
Complex Text to Clear Text
Complex Text to Clear Text
The ideal anesthetic should
quickly make the patient
unconscious but allow a
quick return to
consciousness, have few
side effects, and be safe to
handle.
Ideal anesthetics:
–
–
–
–
Quick sedation
Quick recovery
Few side effects
Safe to handle
11
Complex Text to Clear Text
Next generation computer
games cost approximately
20 to 30 million dollars,
require one to three years
of development, and may
have a short life cycle in the
market of only six weeks.
Next-gen game:
Investment: $20M–$30M
Development cycle: 1–3 years
Life cycle: 6 weeks
12
Think Visually
• Figures & Graphs
• Fonts
• Colors
• Layout
With lots of examples to discuss
13
Figures Should Be Accessible & Self-Explanatory
Use tags and/or captions
Caption…
14
Problems Producing Graphs & Pictures
• Size
• Resolution
• Colors
• Labels
• Units
• Chart junk
• Significant figures and
error bars
15
Before
Microbenchmark Performance
Runtime Relative to Unmodified
Classes
3
2.849
2.679
Original Classes
Modified Classes
Modified Optimized
2.642
2.5
2.156
2.135
1.991
2
1.5
1
1
1
1
0.5
0
Empty Loop
Loop Field
Operation
Loop Method
Invocation
Microbenchmark
16
After
Runtime Relative to Unmodified Classes
Microbenchmark Performance
3
2.5
Original Classes
Modified Classes
Modified Optimized
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Empty Loop
Loop Field Operation
Loop Method Invocation
17
Before
7,000
Untreated Cells
TC Treated Cells
FN Treated Cells
Cell Density (cell/cm 2)
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
0.5
1.25
Time (hr)
2.5
4
18
After
6,000
FN Treated Cells
Cell Density (cell/cm 2 )
5,000
TC Treated Cells
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
Untreated Cells
0
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Time (hr)
19
Textual Presentation Guides the Reader
• Scale expresses relative importance
• Indenting shows subordination
– As in this example
• Color adds emphasis or coherence
• Meaningless font and color changes are distracting
• Avoid low-contrast colors
• White space directs gaze
20
Font Style and Size
• Title – about 6-8 words
– 90 – 120 pt
• Headings – about 3 words
– 36 – 48 pt
• Text
– 30 – 36 pt
Sans serif fonts best in large scale – posters
Serif fonts best on small scale – papers
21
Left-to-Right in Columns
Title & Authors
Like a paper, flows top to bottom, left to right
22
Title & Authors
Problem
Methods
Results
Table 1
Fig 2
Goals
Conclusions
24
25
Left-to-Right in Rows
Title & Authors
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
26
Centered Image & Explanations
Title & Authors
Abstract
29
30
Side-by-Side Compare & Contrast
Title & Authors
31
32
33
Details Matter!
• Use consistent formatting
• Check grammar & spelling
• Include contact info
• Use a correct bibliography
• Give credit to others
34
Connect with the Audience
Greet audience.
Why are they interested?
What are their backgrounds?
How will they benefit?
What are their questions?
Prepare 30 second, 2 minute, and 5 minute talks.
• Different levels of interest
• Different backgrounds
• Be able to summarize key points in 2-3 sentences.
• Be able to start from any section.
Reinforce key points.
36
Communicate with Confidence
• Be enthusiastic
• Maintain eye contact
• Adjust pacing
•
•
•
Stand up straight
Integrate gestures
Don’t block view of
poster
• Speak up
37
Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009)
Deadlines
• By Oct 1: Sign up online with abstract:
https://cohesion.rice.edu/Services/EventReg/?event=CSA9
• By Oct 8: Submit poster for printing
• Oct 15: Corporate Affiliates day
Getting help from me
• Feedback on draft posters
• 1-on-1 presentation coaching session
– Your poster/demo should be done!
38
Corporate Affiliates Day Specifics (2009)
• Any size, but mounted on 48”x48” board
• Mounted with velcro (provided) or pins
• Posters judged on 3 main criteria:
– Technical novelty
– Poster design
– Oral presentation
39
Practicalities
Editing:
– LaTeX, PowerPoint – many templates online, or use a friend’s
Printing:
– Plotters in Earth Science: http://terra.rice.edu/videos/
– Plotter in library:
http://library.rice.edu/services/dmc/resources/peripherals/printers/hp-5500ps-guidelines/
Plotters in Mudd Building: https://docs.rice.edu/confluence/display/ITTUT/Plotters
–
– University Copy Center in the RMC
– One plot/student paid for Corp. Affiliates – email rxg@ for fund #
– FedEx (2455 Rice Blvd.):
http://www.fedex.com/us/office/marketing/signsbanners/posters/packages.html
– Relatively expensive! (roughly $70 with white background)
– Can print drafts in low resolution / matte (still fairly expensive).
– Takes time – plan ahead.
40
Contact info
• John Greiner, greiner@
• More design information at
– www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj
41
42
Better organization
But distracting color
contrasts
43