A panel discussion is an in-person discussion about a specific topic within the field of MobileHCI amongst a selected group of panelists who share different perspectives. The panel is usually facilitated by a moderator who guides the panel, asking the panelists specific questions, controlling for panelist time, and facilitating questions from the audience. A MobileHCI panel will usually include 3-4 experts or practitioners of a specific topic related to MobileHCI. The panelists should offer their opinions, research insights, and answer questions from the audience. Panel length should be 75 minutes; thus, filling a full session.

In contrast to papers, panels do not have to include original research. Because they do not have to demonstrate a product or service, they are different from other venues like demonstrations. The two main focuses of the panels are audience interaction with the panelists and subjects relevant to the MobileHCI community.

It is to be noted that all panel organizers, moderators, and panelists invited to speak/present at the session are responsible for registering for the conference and paying their conference registration fees.

Example Panel Topics

A key feature of a panel discussion is a good and relevant topic related to the community and the conference theme. Here are a few examples of topics, but feel free to submit other ideas.

• Connection to MobileHCI 2024's theme "Connecting Cultures"
• Digital Technologies Connecting Cultures
• Mobile HCI and designing for diverse environments
• Beyond Human-Centered Design of Mobile HCI
• Inspiration from Indigenous Wisdom toward Sustainable Living
• MobileHCI for social good
• Mobile Technologies improving future living
• Augmented reality / virtual reality / extended reality Futures
• MobileHCI and AI: connections, challenges, and opportunities
• Cross culture mobile interface design
• Designing mobile interactions for the Aging Population
• Global Challenges and Global Collaborations
• The Role of LLMs within MobileHCI

Panel Format

At the conference, panels are held during a separate 75-minute session. Panels at MobileHCI 2024 can be in-person.

Panels can be designed effectively using different forms and formats. A panel discussion, for instance, may involve several specialists who discuss a subject or theme, act out a particular aspect of their field of study, or consider and contrast their various experiences. The audience must participate in panels in some way, whether through questions and answers, voting on or critiquing the experts' presentations, discussion, using web-based or mobile technologies, using the actual room, or other means. The proposal should clarify how the audience can engage with the panelists and promote interaction. Panels can be a classic panel of discussants with a moderator, a fireside chat where a person is interviewed by the moderator, a roundtable where the moderator(s) submit questions to the audience for debate, a town hall session, or another suggested format.

We strongly advise panel organizers to keep the number of panelists to a minimum to ensure a productive and coherent conversation. The best panels typically feature fewer panelists and more audience participation. We also support debate and discussion; panels that spend most of their time making prepared presentations by panelists are not recommended. It is important that the panelists can cover a wide range of perspectives on the topic to foster great discussion.

Submission Platform

All materials must be submitted through the PCS submission system.

Submission Format

The panel proposal should be a maximum of six pages (including references) in the ACM Master Article Submission Templates (single column, Manuscript template) submitted as a PDF file.

Further resources:

• ACM Templates and Publishing Process | Overleaf template
• Guide to accessible submissions
• Accessible PDF Author Guide
• Accessible Presentation Guide
• Adding Document Tags
• PDF Accessibility Checker

Preparing the Submission

The panel proposal has to include the following information:

• The title of the panel
• An abstract outlining the idea of the panel
• A description of the panel's topic, including a general overview of the topic area and the varied opinions and perspectives related to this topic; any lessons or experiences you hope to convey in the session; as well as contrasting or controversial perspectives on the topic(s).
• A list of the panelists, including their short biography and relation to the panel's topic
• The moderator of the panel including a short biography and relation to the panel's topic
• Authors shall provide rationale on why they selected these moderator(s) and panelists, and how they represent a great option to reflect on the topic
• A description of the proposed panel's format, and how the panel organizers will ensure discussion and interactivity. Describe how to run the panel, the organizers' /panelists' /moderators' roles, and any special logistical needs (e.g., special seating or A/V, audience size limitations, involvement of student volunteers, accessibility requirements, language-support requests, etc.).
• Regardless of the topic, all panel proposals must include a plan for interactivity and engaging audience members.
• Authors are strongly encouraged to work on improving the accessibility of their submissions, using recommendations found in the following resources. If the authors have any questions or concerns about creating accessible submissions, please contact the General Chairs at chair2024@mobilehci.acm.org.

Anonymity

Panels are not submitted anonymously, i.e., organizers do not remove their names and affiliations from their submission materials.

Selection Process

The panels are selected using a review process. Panels are a juried track and the Panels Chairs will select panel proposals.

Panels present ideas that are novel, controversial, or engaging, and that inspire the audience to respond and further elaborate. We aim to select a balance of panels to appeal to the wide variety of conference attendees. The review criteria will consider the extent to which the session includes:

• One or more topics likely to evoke a lively response from the MobileHCI attendees
• Invited panelists who will contribute unique perspectives, content, or other interactive content to the session
• A well-organized and feasible session plan
• A novel and creative session plan that emphasizes audience interaction
• Useful and interesting contributions to HCI

At the Conference

Panels will be included in the conference program and will have a 75-minute slot. Session organizers are strongly advised to meet with their invited panelists prior to their session to ensure a coordinated effort. If any special logistics are involved (e.g., seating, student volunteers, unique technological setup), organizers should contact the Panels Chairs at panels2024@mobilehci.acm.org.

Publication and Presentation

Accepted submissions will be included in the ACM Digital Library as part of the MobileHCI 2024 Adjunct Proceedings. ACM will send you a copyright form, which the panel authors have to complete. Once completed, ACM will provide the copyright information to add to the panel proposal.

After the Conference

Panels can often be a jumping-off point for future work. Previous panels have become the starting point for special issues of journals or books, or follow-up panels, papers, workshops, SIG meetings, or Communities. We encourage panel organizers to think about their panel's potential to inform future work or public audiences. Some of these discussions may also be recorded at the conference and distributed by the ACM.

ACM Publication Policies

By submitting your article to an ACM Publication, you are hereby acknowledging that you and your co-authors are subject to all ACM Publications Policies, including ACM's new Publications Policy on Research Involving Human Participants and Subjects.

Alleged violations of this policy or any ACM Publications Policy will be investigated by ACM and may result in a full retraction of your paper, in addition to other potential penalties, as per ACM Publications Policy.

Panels Chairs

Contact: panels2024@mobilehci.acm.org

Jeni Paay
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Sven Mayer
LMU Munich, Germany