It’s better to trust the people you collaborate with - Report from SIGGRAPH

Thursday - As part of an attendee-rewards program, I was one of five Student Volunteers and attendees chosen to sit down and talk with graphics research pioneer and author, Andrew Glassner. It really was an eye-opening experience. After we introduced ourselves and explained our history, we were fortunate enough to hear a little insight from him on the realm of research.

Oftentimes, we like to think of ourselves as the sole owners of our own ideas. We think that we would be better off keeping our ideas to ourselves, until they're fully-realized, and then unleashing them upon the world to be met with great respect and awe.

"That," says Glassner, "just doesn't happen."

What usually happens, instead, is that the idea festers and we can never get everything quite finished enough to be fully-realized. When that happens, what we really need, despite our huge egos and Type A personalities, is another person in the loop.

Glassner went on to say that we have a natural tendency to fear collaboration. We fear that someone whom we trust will betray us and take our ideas to advertise as their own. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious like that," he noted. "The thing to keep in mind is that even if they do steal your idea, likely they won't be able to take it as far as you could, and you can always come up with something else."

The take-away that he gave at the end of our talk was that no matter what happens, it's better to trust the people you collaborate with until they prove otherwise. Ninety-nine out of one hundred times, they'll be loyal to you and you'll be better off because of it.

It was a huge honor to get to meet Dr. Glassner and it totally made my day.