Research conference in the Second Life� world – Life, imagination, and work using metaverse platforms
September 24-26, 2009
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CALL FOR PAPERS
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The metaverse is emerging, through the increasing use of virtual world technologies that act as platforms for end-users to create, develop, and interact, expanding the realm of human cooperation, interaction, and creativity. The conference focus is scientific research on applications and developments of these metaverse platforms: Second Life, OpenSim, Open Croquet, Activeworlds, Open Source Metaverse, Project Wonderland, and others, providing a forum for the research community to present and discuss innovative approaches, techniques, processes, and research results.
SLACTIONS 09 is the first international conference held simultaneously in several countries on the topic of metaverses. SLACTIONS 09 aims at covering most areas currently enabled by metaverse platforms, from educational research to content production, from gender studies to media distribution, and from metaverse-based branding, advertising, and fundraising to emerging mash-ups and technology applications. SLACTIONS 09 is unique in its format too, as a one-of-a kind event conducted both in a metaverse platform (Second Life) and on-site in multiple countries in Europe and in North and South America. SLACTIONS will thus contribute to the current redefinition of the way we think about hybrid online and on-site scholarly collaborations.
Whereas metaverses are no longer a novel topic, they still pose challenges for the adaption of conventional instructional and business practices, research methodologies, and communication practices. We are looking forward to presenting a program of research results, case studies, panel discussions, and demonstrations that scholars, educators, and businesses can port to their own environments and apply in their research, teaching, and business strategy. We will accept papers from the full spectrum of intellectual disciplines and technological endeavours in which metaverse platforms are currently being used: from Education to Business, Sociology to Social Sciences, Media Production to Technology Development, Architecture and Urban Planning to the Arts.
Topics covered may include but are not limited to:
* Accessibility in metaverse platforms
* Advanced scientific visualization in metaverse platforms
* Automatic content generation
* Behavioral studies in the metaverse
* Combination of metaverse platforms with external systems (e-learning, e-business, etc.)
* Communicational paradigms in the metaverse
* Content management
* Creativity, design, and arts on the metaverse
* E-business and e-commerce applications
* Educational research, applications, and case studies
* Embodiment in metaverses and Gender Studies
* GIS/metaverse mash-ups
* Integration between metaverse platforms
* Nonprofit activities and fundraising
* Quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
* Social Sciences studies in or through metaverse platforms
* Space representation, use, and management in metaverses
* Using metaverse platforms for cooperation
Format
SLACTIONS 09 has the format of a hybrid online and on-site conference. All paper presentations and plenary sessions by guest speakers will be held on-line, and projected locally for participants attending physically. Workshops are conducted locally – or in mixed format accross several participating chapters – and chapters may held local topical round tables.
Submissions
Authors are invited to submit:
* A full paper of eight to ten pages for oral presentation
* A Flickr image or YouTube video, indexed with the tag “slactions 09” for poster presentations ‘in-world’ or presentation in SL using a creative format
All submissions are subject to a double blind review process and should be professionally proofread before submission. All manuscripts should be formatted according to the ASIS&T proceedings template. (Disclaimer: SLACTIONS 2009 is not associated with ASIS&T.) No manuscripts will be accepted that do not meet the required format.
All accepted papers will be published on-line and in an ISBN-registered CD-ROM/DVD-ROM of proceedings.
The Scientific Committee will invite authors of selected full papers to provide revised and expanded versions for publication in an ISBN-registered book.
The authors of the best papers will be invited to provide revised and expanded versions for publications in special editions of journals or as single contributions to theme-specific journals.
Check out www.slactions.org regularly for more information and developments on the book publisher, book series, and journal venues for best papers.
Official language of the conference:
The official language for the on-line space and all submissions is English only. However, at the physical site of local chapters you can also use the native language of that location.
Important dates
* February 28th, 2009 – Deadline for paper submissions
* March 31st, 2009 – Submission results provided to authors
* June 30th, 2009 – Deadline for early registration
* July 31st, 2009 – Deadline for print-ready versions of accepted papers
* September 24-26th, 2009 – Conference
Local chapters
Belgium – Ghent University
Brazil/Rio Grande do Sul – Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos)
Brazil/S�o Paulo – Pontificia Universidade Cat�lica de S�o Paulo
Portugal/North – Universidade de Tr�s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Universidade do Minho, Universidade de Aveiro, Universidade do Porto
USA/Texas – University of Texas-Austin
USA/West Coast – University of California-Berkeley
Note: If you believe your institution can hold a physical chapter in an as-yet unsupported region, please contact the organization at info@slactions.org.
Programme Committee
Adriana Bruno, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ana Boa-Ventura, University of Texas-Austin, USA
Ant�nio Ramires Fernandes, Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Augusto Abade, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Carlos Santos, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Dor Abrahamson, University of California-Berkeley, USA
Ederson Locatelli, Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos), Brazil
Eliane Schlemmer, Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos), Brazil
Jo�o Barroso, Universidade de Tr�s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Leonel Morgado, Universidade de Tr�s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Lucia Pesce, Pontif�cia Universidade Cat�lica de S�o Paulo, Brazil
Lu�s Pedro, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Lynn Alves, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Brazil
Martin Leidl, Technische Universit�t Darmstadt, Germany
Martin Valcke, Ghent University, Belgium
Miltiadis Lytras, Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece
Nelson Zagalo, Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Niall Winters, London Knowledge Lab, UK
Paulo Frias, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
Pedro Almeida, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Pedro Sequeira, Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior, Portugal
Pilar Lacasa, Universidad de Alcal�, Spain
Sneha Veeragoudar Harrell, University of California-Berkeley, USA
Stefan G�bel, ZGDV, Germany
Teresa Bettencourt, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal
Tim Savage, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Organization
Ana Boa-Ventura, University of Texas-Austin, USA
Leonel Morgado – Universidade de Tr�s-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Nelson Zagalo – Universidade do Minho, Portugal
Contacts
Organization: info@slactions.org