[CHI '95 Home] [Call Home] [Table of Contents]
[Deadline] [Send To] [Additional Inquiries]

Papers

Papers at the conference describe innovative and significant work in the research and practice of HCI. Papers are collected in an archival conference Proceedings, published by ACM, which is cited and read by researchers and practitioners world wide. Accepted papers are presented at the CHI conference attended by over 2000 individuals. Having a paper on the technical program gives authors an opportunity to have a tremendous impact on the study and application of HCI principles, theory, and techniques.

Submissions to CHI are reviewed rigorously by a large pool of volunteers drawn from the international technical community of HCI researchers and practitioners. Because there is no revision cycle, the content and presentation of submitted papers must be acceptable as received. To assist authors in preparing high quality submissions, as well as to facilitate review of the large number of papers submitted each year, detailed submission guidelines follow.

Also, be sure to check out what is at the Paper Submission Information ftp site.

Categories

The CHI conference is a good forum for many different types of papers, with respect to both topic and style of the work reported. In this section, some of the more common styles of work presented at the conference are described. Comments are included on how reviewers will judge work of different styles.

Empirical Research

These papers describe the collection and interpretation of data concerning the design or use of an HCI artifact. The data collected might range from very informal and qualitative behavioral observations to more formal quantitative measures. Empirical papers will be judged according to the appropriateness and rationale for the methods of data collection and analysis, and the significance of the conclusions for practice and/or research in HCI.

Experience

Experience papers describe a situation in which HCI methods or theory were applied in the design or development of an HCI artifact. They will be judged according to the usefulness to other practitioners of the reflections abstracted from the experience.

Systems

These papers describe the design of and rationale for a novel interactive application, user interface feature, or user interface design or development tool. Systems papers will be judged on originality and soundness of the associated design arguments. Authors should make clear to what extent the design ideas have been or could be implemented. If the design ideas have been implemented, authors are encouraged to submit a coordinated demonstration proposal.

Theory

Theory papers describe principles, concepts, or models on which work in HCI (empirical, systems, experience, methodology) might be based; authors of theoretical papers are expected to position their ideas within a broad context of HCI frameworks and theories. The papers will be judged according to the originality and soundness of the analysis provided, as well as the relevance of the theoretical content to HCI practice and/or research.

Methodology

These papers describe a novel method for the design or evaluation of an HCI artifact; the method may be intended for use in research or development settings (or both), but the paper should be clear about the intended audience. The papers will be judged according to the originality and soundness of the method and its usefulness for the intended audience.

Topics

CHI '95 encourages paper submissions on a wide range of topics. Topics are enumerated in the General Submission Instructions. The following list of keywords is intended both as a guide to possible topics and a source of descriptors to include on each paper's cover sheet. The keywords you provide will be used (along with the style of the work) to assign reviewers. The keywords are listed in no particular order, so please read through them carefully when searching for descriptors for your own work. Although we have tried to cover a wide range of topics, we clearly cannot provide an exhaustive list; if none of the keywords describe your topic area, please provide your own.

Keywords

Usability engineering; Participatory design; GOMS; Formal methods; Design rationale; Multi- or hyper-media; Pen-based input; Tactile or gestural I/O; Auditory I/O; Virtual reality; Aids for the impaired; Visualization; Information retrieval; Metaphors; Intelligent systems; User interface components; UIMS; Programming environments; End-user programming; Software engineering; Design problem-solving; Psychology of programming; Prototyping; Documentation or training; Individual differences; HCI professional issues; HCI education; Legal issues; Technology transfer; Ethnography; CSCW; Office applications; Home applications; Educational applications; CAD/CAM; Military or government applications; Expert systems; Commercial applications; Entertainment applications; Health applications; Networks or communication; Process control.

Review Process

Note that in addition to considering the criteria outlined for each type of paper, all papers will be evaluated for overall quality of presentation: the problem and its context must be clearly described (including its relation to prior work, as appropriate); and the arguments and conclusions must be coherent. It must also be clear from the presentation that a succinct (approximately 20-minute), high quality verbal presentation at the conference will be possible.

Each submitted paper will be reviewed by a group of 5 to 8 reviewers selected from a volunteer reviewer base of 200 to 300 HCI professionals. Reviewer assignment will be done by matching based on the reviewers' areas of expertise and the topic keywords provided by authors. Each paper will also be assigned to one of 25 to 30 program committee members. The committee member will collect a paper's reviews and develop a summary review and recommendation for acceptance or rejection. Final decisions will be made at a program committee meeting, where the committee as a whole will review the recommendations and rationale made by committee members. The group's decisions will consider issues of balance (e.g., across different paper categories) as well as the quality of individual submissions.

Format

Submitted papers must conform to the standard Conference Proceedings format. Authors are encouraged to browse through the papers from INTERCHI '93 or CHI '94 for examples. Papers may be no longer than eight pages in the Conference Proceedings format, including references, appendices and figures. Color figures must be provided on separate pages at the end of the manuscript; these pages are included in the page count. Each paper must also include a Standard Cover Sheet and Planning information Sheet; these sheets are not included in the page count.

Some ideas are conveyed best with moving pictures. To support this, authors can submit dynamic electronic figures, in the form of analog or digital video, that will be reviewed along with the paper.

Digital video figures must be in QuickTime or Video for Windows format and must be no more than 10MB in size. These figures will be included in the Electronic Proceedings CD-ROM, subject to space limitations.

Analog video figures must be in NTSC or PAL format on VHS cassette, and must be no more than two minutes in length. These figures will be included on the CHI '95 Video, subject to space limitations.

Authors should use color figures only when necessary. We also ask that you include supporting video only if it provides critical supporting content as it increases the burden on the reviewers and on the review process in general. Color figures and supporting video will be reviewed for significance, and a paper may be rejected if it contains these materials and they are superfluous.

Upon Acceptance

Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by the end of November 1994.

Accepted papers will be published in the CHI '95 Conference Proceedings. Electronic versions will be published on a CD-ROM. The primary author of each accepted paper will receive an Author Kit with detailed instructions on how to submit both the camera-ready copy and the electronic version of the paper. These materials are due on January 6, 1995.

Additional Information

This Call provides all of the information you need to prepare a paper for submission. Additional information, including answers to questions commonly asked, format templates for camera-ready copy, and copies of review forms and procedures is available from the Paper Submission Information ftp site. Questions not answered by this material may be addressed to Mary Beth Rosson at the Send To address, or by E-mail (preferred) or telephone (see Additional Inquiries).

Checklist for Submissions

Every year some submissions are returned without review because the authors failed to follow the guidelines established by the conference committee. Don't let this happen to you! Please follow the steps in this checklist in preparing your submission, and double-check that you have met all the requirements before sending it.
  1. Read the General Submission Instructions.
  2. Note that submissions must be in English, and that electronic mail or FAX submissions will not be accepted.
  3. Fill out the Standard Cover Sheet.
  4. Fill out the Planning Information Sheet.
  5. Prepare your paper in the Conference Proceedings format. Papers must be no longer than 8 pages, including the text, figures, references, and appendices.
  6. Be sure that your submission contains no proprietary or confidential material. Be sure you have not cited proprietary or confidential materials or other materials not available to readers. Submission of video or pictures of identifiable people should be done only with the understanding that responsibility for the collection of appropriate permissions rests with the submitter, not CHI '95.
  7. Collect the Standard Cover Sheet, the Planning Information Sheet, and the paper, in the order given, in a packet, and make ten copies. Use 8.5 x 11 inch or A4 paper.
  8. Make sure each copy of the packet is STAPLED, not loose or held by clips.
  9. If the paper includes dynamic electronic figures, make six copies of the supporting material. Digital video must be in Video for Windows or QuickTime format. Analog video must be on VHS cassette in PAL or NTSC format. We regret that diskettes and cassettes will not be returned. If people appear in your videos, make sure you have signed release forms.
  10. You may include a self-addressed reply postcard which will be mailed to acknowledge receipt of your submission.
  11. Send the ten copies of your submission packet, the six copies of your dynamic electronic figures (if any), and the reply postcard, to the Papers Chair at the Send To address. Be sure to allow enough time for your submission to arrive by the indicated Deadline.
Keith Instone // instone@acm.org // 94-12-06