SID, the Society for Information Display > Chapters > Americas

Predicting visible differences in Virtual and Augmented reality

Alexandre Chapiro
Vision Scientist, Meta

Wednesday, Jun 17, 2026, 6:00 - 7:00PM PDT

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Abstract

In this presentation, I will give an overview of key aspects of accurate simulation of the visibility of distortions in VR and AR. Next, I will discuss our work in the Visible Difference Predictor (VDP) line of vision science-based metrics, and future research directions.

Speaker Bio

Alexandre is a Vision Scientist at Meta, working in Doug Lanman's Display Systems Research team in Reality Labs. Previously, he worked in the Wearables Architecture and Applied Perception Science teams at Meta, Core Display Incubation team at Apple, the Applied Vision Science team at Dolby Laboratories, and the Stereo and Displays group at Disney Research Zurich. He earned a PhD from the Computer Graphics laboratory at ETH Zurich, and holds MS and BS degrees in Mathematics.

Alexandre is interested in solving novel problems for industry applications, touching on perception, computer graphics, computational display, and psychophysics. Prior work involved perceptual difference metrics, brightness and color, stereo 3D, the perception of faces, and display topics like virtual and augmented reality, frame rate, high dynamic range and more.

The seminar is free. Non-Members are welcome.

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2025 Meeting Calendar

Month	Date	Company	Speaker	topic	location	state
Jan	15-Jan	MIT Labs	Akshat Dave	Superhuman 3D Vision by jointly designing Cameras, Graphics, and AI	Microsoft	WA
Feb	-
Mar	19-Mar	Meta	Nihar Mohanty	The evolution of display materials and processes for full augmented reality	UW campus	WA
Apr
May	12-17-Jun			SID – Display Week
June	04-Jun	Consultant	Adi Abileah	Highlights of Display Week 2025	Microsoft & online	WA
July	09-Jul	Consultant	Adi Abileah	Highlights of Display Week 2025 (Part #2)	Microsoft & online	WA
Aug.	-	-	-	-
Sep	10-Sep	Pohang Univ. of Science & Tech. Korea,	Prof. Junsuk Rho	Optical metasurfaces for imaging, sensing and display	Microsoft & online	WA
Oct	8-Oct	Meta	Jim Zhuang	AR/VR displays	planned
Nov	TBD	Portrait Displays	Catherine Meninger	Display color calibration	planned
Dec

Article 1 - NAME, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE

1.	The name of this organization is, "The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society for Information Display," hereinafter called the Chapter.
2.	The purposes of this chapter shall be:
	a.	To support the activities and purposes of the parent organization, the Society for Information Display, hereinafter called the SID.
	b.	To encourage and contribute to the scientific and educational advancement in the field of information display and to promote its use.
	c.	To provide forums for the exchange and dissemination of ideas and knowledge relating to the field of information display.
	d.	To conduct all activities without pecuniary profit for Chapter officers or members. Any balance of money or assets remaining after the full payment of Chapter obligations of all and any kinds shall be devoted solely to the above state purposes.
3.	Chapter functions and activities shall be, in general, carried out in the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.

Article 2 - MEMBERSHIP

1.	Grades and Qualifications
	a	Any member of the SID parent body may request to be a member of the Chapter. Normally, a SID member who resides in the Washington, Oregon, Idaho or Alaska shall be a member of the Chapter. A member of the Chapter shall hold the same grade in the Chapter as is accorded by the SID.
2.	Privileges
	a.	All members may hold office, vote, serve on nominating committees or participate in committee work. Sustaining Members (companies) and Student Members may not hold office, vote, nor serve on Nominating Committees. All chapter members shall have equal privileges including but not limited to the right to:
		i.	Vote for officers, amendments, and additions to the bylaws and on such other Chapter business as requires polling of the members.
		ii.	Hold offices and membership in Committees.
		iii.	Receive all notices of general Chapter functions.
		iv.	Attend all meetings of the Chapter.
	b.	Non-members
		i.	Non-members are specifically excluded from holding office, voting on Chapter matters, or membership on committees.
		ii.	Non-members may participate in business meetings only by express invitation of the Board of Officers or by a vote of the members at a business meeting, and then only when their presence and participation is pertinent to the business of the Chapter.
		iii.	Non-members may be invited to all Chapter meetings of a technical or social nature, as guests of a Chapter member, or by general notice of the Chapter function except that such non-members may be required to pay registration, admission, dining, or other fees as deemed fair by the Board of Officers to help defray the expense of the meeting.
3.	Termination
	a.	Membership in the Chapter may be terminated only for one or more of the following reasons:
		i.	Voluntary withdrawal by the member by means of written notice to the Chapter.
		ii.	Non-payment of SID dues.
		iii.	Voluntary withdrawal due to relocation to another geographical area.
		iv.	For cause: Such as misuse of Chapter facilities, or name, or other such activity which brings disrepute to the Chapter or parent body, the SID.
	b.	Upon approval of two-thirds of the membership who cast a ballot, the Chapter shall recommend to the Membership Committee of the SID, that it take appropriate action to effect termination of membership.

Article 3 - DUES AND FEES

1.	Each Chapter member shall pay dues annually to the SID in accordance with his/her SID grade. No chapter dues are required.
2.	Fees, if any, for attendance at technical meetings or other Chapter activities shall be established by the Board of Officers. Chapter members in good standing may be granted preferential fees.
3.	The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from January 1 to December 31 of the same year.

Article 4 - BOARD OF OFFICERS

1.	The elected officers of the Chapter shall be Chair, Co-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall constitute the Board of Officers. No Officer may serve in any specific office more than three (3) consecutive one-year terms.
2.	Any Chapter member in good standing at the time of nomination, who also holds the SID grade of Member, Fellow, Life Member, or Life Fellow, is eligible for each office.
3.	The duties and authority for each office are as follows:
	a	Chair: The Chair shall be the principal executive officer of the Chapter and shall supervise and control the business and affairs of the Chapter. The Chair shall, when present, preside at all general business meetings of the Chapter. The Chair may sign in the place of the Secretary or Treasurer any bank checks, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Officers has authorized to be executed, and in general shall perform all duties incidental to the office of Chair. The Chair shall be responsive to the wishes of the Board of Officers in the performance of such additional duties as may be requested by the Board from time-to-time. The Chair may also appoint members of the Program and Membership Committees.
	b	Co-Chair: In the absence of the Chair or such person's inability or refusal to act, the Co-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions on the Chair. The Co-Chair shall perform such other duties as from time-to-time may be assigned by the Chair or by the Board of Officers.
	c	Secretary: The Secretary shall:
		i.	Keep a book of minutes of all general business meetings of the Chapter, and all meetings of the Board of Officers. Minutes of Board meetings shall include the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present or represented at members' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
		ii.	See that all notices are given in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.
		iii.	Be custodian of the Chapter's records.
		iv.	Perform such other correspondence within and external to the Chapter.
		v.	In general, perform all duties incidental to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned from time-to-time by the Chair or by the Board of Officers.
	d	Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
		i.	Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the Chapter's properties and business transactions.
		ii.	Have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Chapter, and deposit all such funds in the name of the Chapter in such depositories as shall be selected in accordance with Article 7 of these bylaws.
		iii.	Provide financial information as required to SID and request a chapter rebate as established by the SID bylaws and SID Board of Directors.
		iv.	In general perform all the duties incidental to the office of Treasurer, and such other duties as from time-to-time may be assigned by the Chapter Chair or the Board of Officers.
4.	Vacancies on the Board of Officers, other than the Chair, shall be filled by temporary appointment by the Board of Officers. Elections to fill such unexpired terms may be held or not at the discretion of, and in a manner determined by the Board of officers. The Co-Chair shall succeed to the office of Chair in the event of the Chair’s resignation, extended absence, or inability or refusal to act. In the case of inability or refusal to act, as determined by vote of the Board of Officers, the Chapter membership shall be notified in writing of the circumstances and resulting actions.
5.	Voting on Chapter matters shall normally be accomplished during meetings attended by a majority (3) of the Board of Officers. In the event that a meeting of the majority of the officers cannot be held in a timely manner, voting via mail, telephone, fax, or e-mail may be held if approved in advance by a majority of the officers. Complete records of the vote in the form of minutes or hard copy of letters concerning outcome of the voting must be placed in the Chapter records by the Secretary or other board members and distributed to all members of the Board of Officers.

Article 5 - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1.	Candidates for each elected office may be selected by a Nominating Committee after due deliberation as to qualifications and willingness to serve, if elected. An opportunity will be provided for nominations, and statements of qualification of nominees, from the floor in addition to recommendations made by the Nominating Committee. This shall occur at a regular chapter meeting at which time the announcement of nominees by the Nominating Committee is made. The Secretary will mail ballots to all qualified members in good standing. The completed ballot must be returned to the Board within 30-days after mailing (or electronic voting). Legible write-in votes will be considered valid.
2.	Counting of the votes will be made by the Board of Officers in time to permit installation of newly elected officers. A plurality of the legal votes cast for each office will be sufficient to elect to the office. In case of ties, the tie will be broken by special election.

Article 6 - RECOMMENDED COMMITTEES

1.	The following committees, as a minimum, are recommended: Nominating Committee, Membership Committee, and Program Committee. The Chairs of these committees may be appointed by the Chapter Chair with concurrence of the Board of Officers.
2.	Nominating Committee
	a.	The Chair of the Nominating Committee and two additional committee members shall be appointed.
	b.	The Nominating Committee shall select a slate of candidates for office. These recommendations shall be incorporated with those nominations made from the floor at a regular monthly meeting and presented as a slate to the Chapter body in good standing for balloting.
	c.	It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to be judicious and insightful in the preparation of the slate which would meet the needs of the Chapter. The nominating slate shall not include individuals who: 1) have an existing direct manager-employee association, 2) have a direct companyclient relationship, or 3) have a close personal relationship including, but not limited to, being related, living together, or working closely together. Additionally, the Nominating Committee will conduct the election balloting as described in Article 5.
3.	Membership Committee The Membership Committee may conduct membership drives, encourage membership applications and maintain and recommend standards of membership consistent with SID and Chapter Bylaws.

4.

Program Committee The Program Committee may:

	a.	rRecommend the technical programs and activities to be conducted,
	b.	Recommend a specific time and place of meetings,
	c.	Establish and submit for approval by the Board of Officers a program budget, and
	d.	Arrange for facilities, agenda, publicity and all other necessary matters pertinent to the business-like and professional management of meetings.

5.

Other committee chairs not described above may from time-to-time be appointed by the Chapter Chair. (For example: Awards committee, web-master, etc.)

Article 7 - FINANCES

1.	All funds of the Chapter, other than petty cash, shall be kept in recognized banking or savings institutions, Expenditures of funds in excess of $100 for any single transaction shall have the approval of the Board of Officers. Below that amount, a board member's signature shall be sufficient. All expenditures shall fall within the general guidelines approved by the Board of Officers. Expenditures incurred by the Board members or committee members can be reimbursed by the Chapter upon a written expense report submitted to the Chapter Treasurer and approved by the Treasurer.
2.	The books of account shall be open to inspection by the Board of Officers and the SID Treasurer. The books of account shall be audited annually and upon change of the Treasurer or at the end of his term. The types and methods of recording in these books shall be in accordance with the instructions of the Board of Officers.
3.	Funds and real property of the Chapter shall revert to the SID upon the dissolution of the Chapter.

Article 8 - MEETINGS

1.	There shall be at least one general business meeting conducted each fiscal year. This meeting shall be held at a time and place recommended by the Board of Officers.
2.	A majority of the Board of Officers shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business. A majority of the quorum shall be sufficient to approve any motion.
3.	Meetings of a technical or informative nature shall be held in keeping with the objectives of the SID and as arranged by the Program Committee.

Article 9 - AMENDMENTS

1.	Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by petition from a majority of the Board of Officers, or ten percent of the chapter membership in good standing. Such proposed amendments are subject to review and approval by the SID Board of Directors. Once approved, the Chapter Secretary shall mail the proposed Amendments, within 60 days of receipt, to the general chapter membership with a ballot for ratification. An approval of a simple majority of the ballots cast by the membership shall be necessary for ratification.
2.	Ballots are to be returned to the Board of officers within 30-days of the ballot mailing. The Board of officers will count the ballots and certify the approval or disapproval of the proposed Amendments. A record of the vote shall be made in the Secretary's Chapter records. When an amendment is ratified, all members shall be notified within 30-days.

	PNW Companies
	The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. is privileged with the presence of many noted display corporations, companies and industry renowned consultants which represent various areas of the display industry. Areas of display expertise include direct view flat panel technology, LCOS and other projection techniques, retinal imaging, avionics/aerospace displays and components, displays-related software development and numerous areas of fundamental displays research. The following companies are representative of displays-related activity within the Pacific Northwest chapter:
	Idaho


	Oregon














	Washington

Officers

Chariman

Adi Abileah

Adi Abileah, consultant, retired from Planar Systems, where he served as chief scientist for 14 years. His main activity is related to development of AMLCD, physics and optics of displays of several technologies. Adi has BSc in physics from the Technion, and MSc in plasma physics from the Hebrew Univ. He developed soil density detectors at the Negev Institute. Developed high power CO2 lasers in the Hebrew Univ. His first work in the Industry at Elscint was development of Gamma Camera. He was head of optics group at Elbit for 5 years. He managed the El-Op branch (R&D) in Haifa. Since 1987 he managed the optics engineering at OIS, MI, development of AMLCD, until 1988, when he joined Planar. Adi has 46 US patents, and many papers and seminars in display technologies, as well as other topics. He is a Fellow of SID and got the Schade award. He was the director of the SID Pacific Northwest chapter (2010-17). In the last four years he was the Regional VP for Pacific and South Americas.

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Co Chairman

Ying Zheng

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Treasurer

Jignesh Gandhi

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Secretary

Ying Zheng

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Past Officers

Year	Director	Chair	Co-Chair	Secretary	Treasurer
1997	John Rupp*
1998	John Rupp	Todd Yuzuriha	Pat Green	Tim Robinson	Surjit Chadha
1999	John Rupp	Todd Yuzuriha	Pat Green	Tim Robinson	Surjit Chadha
2000	John Rupp	Todd Yuzuriha	Pat Green	Tim Robinson	Chuck Watkins
2001	John Rupp	Tolis Voutsas	Pat Green	Steve Ellersick	Chuck Watkins
2002	John Rupp	Tolis Voutsas	Pat Green	Steve Ellersick	Chuck Watkins
2003	John Rupp	Tolis Voutsas	Pat Green	Steve Ellersick	Chris Curtin
2004	Tolis Voutsas	Steve Ellersick	Pat Green	Koji Yugawa	Chris Curtin
2005	Tolis Voutsas	Steve Ellersick	Pat Green	Koji Yugawa	Chris Curtin
2006	Tolis Voutsas	Steve Ellersick	Pat Green	Koji Yugawa	Chris Curtin
2007	Tolis Voutsas	Aris Silzars	Adi Abileah	Gary Johnson	Chris Curtin
2008	Adi Abileah	Aris Silzars		Gary Johnson	Chris Curtin
2009	Adi Abileah	Aris Silzars	Chris Curtin	Gary Johnson	Koji Yugawa
2010	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris Curtin	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2011	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2012	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2013	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2014	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2015	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2016	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2017	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Chris King	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist
2018	Adi Abileah	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist	Sam Phenix	Chris King
2019	Adi Abileah	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist	Sam Phenix	Chris King
2020	Adi Abileah	Gary Johnson	Steve Sechrist	Sam Phenix	Chris King
2021	Sam Phenix	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Linghui Rao	Chris King
2022	Sam Phenix	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Ying Zheng	Jignesh Gandhi
2023	Sam Phenix	Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa	Ying Zheng	Jignesh Gandhi
2024 2025	- -	Adi Abileah Adi Abileah	Koji Yugawa Ying Zheng	Ying Zheng Ying Zheng	Jignesh Gandhi Jignesh Gandhi
* SID BOD Appointed Interim Director prior to 1998 Americas Region Elections

Committee Information

Membership Chair

Akra Mejumdar

Program Committee Co-chair

Arka Mejumdar

Program Committee Chair

Akra Mejumdar

Web-Master
	Abhijit Sarkar

Past Committee Chairs

Year	Membership	Nominations & Awards	Program
2001	Dean Wilkinson	Tom Curran
2002	Dean Wilkinson	Chris Curtin
2003	Dean Wilkinson	Chris Curtin
2004	Dean Wilkinson	Joe Hallett	Adi Abileah
2005	Dean Wilkinson	Joe Hallett	Adi Abileah
2006	Dean Wilkinson	Joe Hallett	Adi Abileah
2007	Koji Yugawa	Joe Hallett	Pat Green
2008	Koji Yugawa	Joe Hallett	Pat Green
2009	Joe Hallett	Brian Schowengerdt	Pat Green
2010	Joe Hallett	Brian Schowengerdt	Pat Green
2011	Chris Curtin	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2012	Chris Curtin	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2013	Chris Curtin	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2014	Allen Gard	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2015	Allen Gard	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2016	Allen Gard / Samantha Phenix	Peggy Lopez	Pat Green
2017	Samantha Phenix	Jacob Choi	Koji Yugawa
2018	Gary Johnson	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa
2019	Gary Johnson	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa
2020	Gary Johnson	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa
2021	Gary Johnson	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa
2022	Gary Johnson	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa
2023	Rashmi Rao	Tim Large	Koji Yugawa

Past Committee Chairs

Year	Membership Chair	Nominations & Awards	Program Chair	Web Master Chair
2023	Rashmi Rao	Tim Larger	Koji Yugawa
2024	Arka Mejumdar		Abhijit Sarkar & Arka Mejumdar	Abhijit Sarkar
2025	Arka Mejumdar		Abhijit Sarkar & Arka Mejumdar	Abhijit Sarkar

News, commentary, and blogs from Members of the PNW SID Chapter.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not related to the PNW SID Chapter or SID International. To include a link to your display-related site, send a request to the Chapter Chair

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