I've just left CHI 2008 and while I have more to say, the most prevalent comment I can think of right now is 'wow, I've just met a majority of my literature review (and those of many others)!'. The amazing thing about CHI is that it is a community dedicated to sharing and interaction across MANY disciplines. This is the push/pull nature of conferences of this size. There is just so much being brought into this 'carnival' that it is always a rich and heady engagement. I am always a-buzz with optimism and possibility here.

To top things off, Bill Buxton gave a rousing closing plenary. It was fantastic, rich, and argumentative. ,and it challenged everyone to think more critically and realistically about the impact that the products they make, and the research they do, has on people beyond their market, research, or user constituencies.