There is something for everyone at SAS Global Forum 2013. I like to attend presentations in the Statistics and Data Analysis track and talk with SAS customers in the SAS Support and Demo Area. But one activity that I enjoy the most is to stroll through the poster area and to chat informally with the poster presenters. In contrast to the formal lectures and presentations, posters promote a two-way dialog between the presenter and the listener. If a poster interests me, I might stay and talk for 20 minutes. If a poster does not interest me, I can move on to the next poster.

This year, several posters feature SAS/IML computations, so I am keen to see those and to talk with the presenters. This year the presenters will be at their posters on Monday, April 29, 2013, 2:00 pm–3:30 pm. Here are a few posters whose abstracts mention the SAS/IML language:

• A SAS Macro for Generating a Set of All Possible Samples with Unequal Probabilities without Replacement [View poster]
• Optimize SAS/IML Software Codes for Big Data Simulation [View poster]
• A Flexible Method to Apply Multiple Imputation Using SAS/IML Studio [View poster]
• Analyzing Partially Confounded Factorial Conjoint Choice Experiments Using SAS/IML [View poster]
• What Score Should Johnny Get? Missing_Items SAS Macro for Analyzing Missing Item Responses on Summative Scales [View poster]
• Utilizing SAS for the Construction of Preassembled Parallel, Computerized Fixed-Test Forms under Item Response Theory Framework [View poster]

The poster on how to "Optimize SAS/IML [for]Simulation" interests me because I am currently putting the finishing touches on my newest book, Simulating Data with SAS. There will be an advanced copy of my book at the SAS Press booth, in case you want to browse it.

Of course, I am also excited to be giving a free Hands-On Workshop, "Getting Started with the SAS/IML Language," on Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at 1:30 pm–3:10 pm (Room 2024 in the Moscone West Convention Center).

I am also interested in the paper "Using SAS to Measure Airport Connectivity: An Analysis of Airport Centrality in the US Network with SAS/IML Studio," which will be presented on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at 9:00 am–9:50 am. Because SAS/IML Studio supports dynamically linked statistical graphs, I think it will be an interesting talk and demo. Also, I've done an analysis of US airports using SAS/IML Studio, so it will be fun to see a related analysis.

What talks are you looking forward to at SAS Global Forum 2013? I hope to see you there!