I think the basic points are the same as with any rebuttal. The main difference between CHI/UIST and most other venues (e.g. SIGGRAPH) is the addition of meta reviews which might provide helpful summaries for rebuttal.
2013-11-08
2013-11-04
Plan what you do
While focusing on rushing a project it can be difficult to stop and think about the overall picture, but without that you could end up wasting a lot of time in the wrong stuff.
Spend a few minutes writing down the plan, rationale, and whatever thoughts you have at the beginning of each day before the crunch begins. This little initial investment can greatly enhance the eventual efficiency and happiness.
If you are my collaborator I can vet your sanity through your write ups. I am not looking for a PhD thesis; just a few sentences will be enough.
2013-10-17
Automation
A capital crime for computer science is manual repetition of uninteresting tasks. You will be happier and more productive by proper automation, which, coincidentally, is a main job for computer scientists.
For example, instead of sitting up all night tuning parameters of an experiment, you can write a script to try over a million settings over night while you go home sleep or have a fun time in Lan Kwai Fong.
2013-10-14
Brainstorming
I stumbled upon this article about group brainstorming today.
It echoed well with my own personal experiences and my general take that meetings are almost always completely useless for research/creative works.
I do meetings only when absolutely necessary, such as resolving major confusions or conflicts among multiple team members, evaluating live demonstrations of a UI design, and interviewing (i.e. reading) people.
Some managers and administrators like meetings. Fight them with all your power. Do not let less intelligent people waste your time or reduce your effectiveness.
2013-10-02
Sharing experience
I received the following question:
I just had an interesting email conversation with a PhD I don’t know in XXX University as below. I was suggested to share my experience via blogs to new graphics researchers. On one hand I think sharing my experiences may increase my impact in the research community. On the other hand I seriously doubt whether I’m qualified or senior enough to do so. Another reason I tend not to publish my experience is that I know many stronger and smarter researchers who work very hard and yet remain silent. Would you please let me know your comments?
My answer:
If someone asks your advice, it is already evidence for your qualification.
In particular, if you are my advisee and you can survive me, you should tell others how you did it.
The same (or similar) question is likely to be asked by others, so it is better to post up your answer once for all. This reduces your workload and benefits more people.
(I started blogging mainly to avoid repeating answering the same questions over and over.)
I am not sure how many advices out there are actually qualified. So do not hesitate if you think yours are even remotely so.
There is no such thing as seniority in terms of sharing. Some of the best research blogs I have seen are written by grad students, as they are in the more relevant career stage compared to more senior professors or researchers.
(My memory for my grad school days is already fuzzy, except that I spent a lot of time playing video games and my office mate was Ravi and some undergrads mistook me as his TA.)
I always want to know the secrets of those stronger and smarter researchers who remain silent.
Last but not least: I also want to read and learn from your blog!
2013-09-25
Job season
I am in a constant process of helping students and postdocs landing jobs.
One thing I find very common and extremely interesting is the discrepancy between self-perception and reality. That is, candidates tend to have a higher estimation about their own qualifications (and thus higher expectation about the job offers they will get) than what reality would warrant.
This is just human nature. There is very little I can do; few took my advice, and many learned the hard way. But I guess this is how life works.
Humility is a virtue that we all learn eventually, one way or another.
2013-09-22
Cycles
It is actually very easy to maintain a good work-life balance: just have stable cycles, working steadily and consistently every day.
It always puzzles me why some people cannot heed to this very simple strategy. They slack off while away from the deadlines and work inhumane hours near the crunch time. And they get burned out, causing the next round of slack off. And the unstable cycle continues.
I work almost exactly the same amount of hours every day, except during travels (when I work a bit less) and bailing out my collaborators who lack enough discipline (when I work a bit more).
2013-09-10
Parents
Dear students:
Since we are not in the kindergarten anymore, I do NOT meet with your parents.
Your study is between you and me, and your future depends on your performance. I only look at that, nothing more, nothing less.
Under special situations in which your parents are in the kind of power or position to help you, they can deal directly with your future schools and employers. There is no need to involve me anyway.
2013-09-07
For undergrads
If you have good foundation in math and coding, you can pick up (almost) everything and compete with (almost) everybody and their brothers. So, take as many math and programming courses as possible, in particular those that will make you (actively) do things (e.g. projects) instead of just (passively) reading books and passing exams.
That is basically what I did as an undergrad (plus taking the swimming class so that I can access the school pool). I did not plan or think much beyond that. Life is simply too random to over-plan.