APHA-Film & Technology Theater






APHA Film & Technology Theater




Introduction | Instructions for Abstract Authors | Instructions for Program Planners | Equipment | Software



Introduction to the Film & Technology Theater


The Film & Technology Theater is an environment for (1) live presentations of information and computer technology applications for public health; and (2) for the showing of public health films (documentaries, public service announcements, short clips) and related multimedia. It is a fully equipped meeting room with Internet access, LCD projection capability, and theater-quality video projection and stereo audio.

Morning sessions in the Film & Technology Theater are devoted to scientific content and sessions; afternoon and evening sessions are devoted to the showing of films and other multimedia and Web sites providing multimedia. The latter sessions make up the Film Festival.

Instructions for Authors Submitting Abstracts and/or Films



a. Submitting a Scientific Session


All abstracts for possible presentation in the Film & Technology Theater should be submitted to the Section, SPIG or Caucus with members who would be most interested in the topic.

The Section, SPIG or Caucus will peer review your abstract. You should also indicate when you write your abstract that you are technology dependent (require special technology not provided by APHA or access to the Internet) and wish to present in the Film and Technology Theater. Look for a check-box to indicate that you are technology dependent.

What does technology dependency mean to you as a speaker? To present in the Film & Technology Theater you must require one or more of:

  • a need to show a film, video, DVD and require special equipment to do so (Please consider submitting your film to the Film Festival)

  • have a special application that requires demonstrating it interactively such as a database or GIS system or special software application (e.g., an online nutrition program that helps people determine their daily intake of fat, calories, etc).

  • Internet connection: the speaker needs to go online to demo a Web site or application. Note: The Convention Center does not have wireless in the presentation rooms but it is available in the public areas.



It may help you to think about the words: interactivity, Internet, real-time demonstrations, audio-visual, DVDs, films/videos when you are submitting your abstract.

Note: We can accommodate laptops in the Film & Technology Theater so feel free to bring your laptop if it will make it easier for you as a presenter.

Your abstract will be reviewed by peer reviewers/content experts within the Section, SPIG, or Caucus you submit your abstract to. If enough technology dependent abstracts are accepted to fill one session, the Program Chair will schedule the session with the Film & Technology Theater Program Planner.

If only a few abstracts are accepted by the Program Committee, the Film & Technology Theater Program Planner will combine the abstracts for a cosponsored Session. The Film & Technology Theater Program Planner will do her best to bring related talks together into one session, but this is not always possible.

Please note there are only a limited number of time slots that can be accommodated in the Technology Center. If your accepted abstract cannot be scheduled for presentation in the Technology Center, you may

  • request appropriate equipment and present in your regularly scheduled room. (Note: all costs for additional AV equipment will be the responsibility of the individual presenter.

  • use an image capture program like SnagIt to take snapshots of critical page information on your Web site, insert the jpgs or gifs into your PowerPoint presentation. Screen captures using PrtScn make huge PowerPoint files. You can keep your PowerPoint files relatively small by using a screen-capture program and then saving the resulting file as a jpg or gif.

  • use a screen capture program like Camtasia or Captiva to develop a small movie that you can show during your session (Note: save the video as a WMV or SWF (Flash) file so that it can be shown using the Windows Media Player). For additional information and helpful suggestions, please contact Laura Larsson (larsson@cedarc.info).



If you have specialized software that you would like to demonstrate, ask to be put in the Technology Theater. You may distribute freeware/shareware/demo disks in the form of CDs for people to use at the annual meeting. Please let Laura Larsson know ahead of time if you need to load software. Similarly, if you have special equipment needs and are assigned to the Technology Theater, contact me as soon as you know so that I can ensure the equipment you need is available. I can be reached at this email address larsson@cedarc.info. If you have any questions, my preferred means of contact is by email, not by telephone.

Please remember to submit your abstracts to the appropriate Section, SPIG or Caucus for peer review.

Note: see the section on available equipment and software below

b. Submitting Films to the Film Festival


Submit international or global health documentaries to the International Health Program. The contact person for international or global health documentaries is: Maryellen Glennon, mglennon@msh.org.

American made films intended for an American audience should be submitted to the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section's Health Communication Working Group. The contact person is: Gary Black. You may send questions to: Gary.black@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

The Health Communications Working Group requires either a formative or summative evaluation for each film submitted. Members of the Working Group will help the film submitter with this requirement.

Instructions for Program Planners


Note: Sessions held in the Film & Technology Theater do not count against your allotment.

Submitting a Scientific Session or Individual Abstracts to the Film & Technology Theater



Four sessions are available for technology dependent scientific sessions in the Film & Technology Theater. Each session is 90 minutes.

If you can, please submit a 90 minute session with a maximum of four speakers. Changing speakers in a technology-rich environment takes a few minutes plus any speaker who needs to explain the technology will usually take up quite a bit of time. More than four speakers is too many for a Film & Technology Theater session.

Please do not send anyone who just needs PowerPoint to the Film & Technology Theater. Look for words like database, registry, Internet connection, Web site, interactivity to help define the need for technology. Plus, look in the instructions to abstract submitters for additional insights.

Submitting a Video/Media to the Film Festival



If you are contacted by a presenter who wishes to submit a film or video to the Film Festival, please submit any documentaries dealing with international or global issues to the International Health Section. The contact person for international or global health documentaries is: Maryellen Glennon, mglennon@msh.org.

American made films intended for an American audience should be submitted to the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section's Health Communication Working Group. The contact person is: Gary Black. You may send questions to: Gary.black@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

The Health Communications Working Group requires either a formative or summative evaluation for each film submitted. Members of the Working Group will help the film submitter with this requirement.

You may also contact me directly at larsson@cedarc.info for answers to questions.

Ten sessions are available for showing videos/media.

Film sessions are 90 minutes long. Please try to leave at least 10-15 minutes for questions and discussion of the film/s at the end of the showing.

Equipment



The Film & Technology Theater provides access to the following equipment:

  • Internet (Ethernet) connection (T1 line or wireless)

  • Multimedia computer with (at least) a 256MB video card running Windows XP or Vista with 2 USB ports (no Macs, sorry)

  • CD/DVD player

  • VCR with output (sound and video) through overhead sound system

  • TV with VHS player and DVD player combination

  • Sound mixer (sound will be piped through the overhead speakers)

  • 4 port switch box for accommodating laptops (enables switching between desktop computer and PCs) (Yes, we can accommodate laptops in the Film & Technology Theater).

  • Phone line (if requested in advance. This is an extra cost to you. A telephone is not provided by APHA nor is it likely needed with the T1 connection.)

  • LCD Projector

  • (floppy disk drive no longer available)



Reminder: You can bring your own laptop to the Film & Technology Theater. We have a switch box that makes changing equipment between speakers easy.

Software (loaded onto the meeting room computer)




  • Adobe Reader (current version)

  • Netscape 7.x browser/FireFox

  • MS Internet Explorer 6.x browser

  • MS Office Suite including PowerPoint and Word

  • Flash player (Macromedia/Adobe)

  • Quick Time player (Apple)

  • Real Player

  • Windows Media Player (Microsoft)

  • Winzip (for unzipping files)






Program Planner Contact Information:
Laura LarssonConsultant
3741 State Highway 6
Chehalis, WA 98532
Phone: 360-291-0560
Fax: none
larsson@u.washington.edu