Posts from — February 2004

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*
*    Call For Papers - COSIGN 2004
*
*    The 4th International Conference on COMPUTATIONAL SEMIOTICS
*
*    University of Split (Croatia)
*
*    14th - 16th September 2004
*
*    http://www.cosignconference.org
*
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CONFERENCE SCOPE
================

The creation and interpretation of meaning in interactive digital media
requires the manipulation of signs and/or pre-existing structures of
meaning. COSIGN plays a crucial role in exploring the relationship between
computer systems and sign systems.

The focus of COSIGN is the way in which meaning can be created by, encoded
in, understood by, or produced through, the computer. As such, it is of
interest to computer scientists, digital artists and designers, HCI and AI
practitioners, and a broad range of other critics, theorists and researchers.

Possible themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

* Software architectures and technologies based upon or inspired by
existing theories of meaning (such as structuralism or semiotics).
* Structures of meaning in artificial intelligence systems.
* Hypertext/hypermedia and the semantic web as structures of meaning.
* The study, analysis or criticism of digital interactive media using
methods drawn from structuralism, semiotics or other theories of meaning.
* Narrative/ludic structures in interactive digital media and videogames.
* Interface as sign system.

Media that make use of the unique capabilities of digital systems are of
particular interest to this conference. These include, but are not limited
to, the following:

* virtual reality systems and virtual environments
* hypertext, hypermedia, multimedia and the internet environments
* content analysis systems (particularly those that extract higher-level
meaning)
* the semantic web (and similar systems)
* digital art, net art and other technology-based or technology-oriented
art forms
* computer games, interactive narratives and other forms of interactive
entertainment.
* Interface as sign system

The programme and proceedings of the previous three COSIGN conferences are
available at the conference website: http://www.cosignconference.org

COSIGN invites submissions in the following categories.

1. Academic Papers
Submissions in this category can be initially either in the form of an
abstract of 500 words or in the form of a full paper of up to 10 pages (see
http://www.cosignconference.org for full details). After the review process
authors will be notified of acceptance/modifications.

2. Artworks
COSIGN also invites presentations of artworks relevant to the themes of the
conference. We are interested in all forms/formats of artwork - it need not
be digital art if it is relevant in other ways.

Submissions in this category will be assessed on the basis of documentation
of the work presented in the form of an online website. The website should
include the following:

- A textual description of the proposed artwork and any illustrations.
- A biography of the artist(s)/author(s).
- Contact details.

3. Posters
We also welcome poster presentations of work that is not yet ready for a
full paper, or which would benefit from this more informal mode of
presentation.

4. Demonstrations
Demonstrations of relevant leading-edge work and work in progress are also
invited.

We also welcome proposals which don't fit into these categories (such as
panels, workshops, etc).

All submissions are peer reviewed to ensure the quality and relevance of
those selected. All submissions selected will be included in both the
printed and online proceedings.

As in previous years, COSIGN will endeavour to support as much as possible
the registration fees and/or accommodation of those presenters who are not
funded by an institution or organisation.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
====================

For full submission procedure, guidelines and requirements, please go to:
http://www.cosignconference.org

IMPORTANT DATES
================

29th April 2004 - Submission date for 500 word abstracts, draft/full papers
and artworks
24th May 2004   - Submission date (posters and demonstrations)
26th May 2004   - Notification of acceptance (papers, abstracts and artworks)
04th June 2004  - Notification of acceptance (posters and demos)
26th July 2004  - Camera-ready copy for the proceedings (all)

LOCATION
========

COSIGN 2004 will be held in Split, Croatia. The city of Split is located in
the South of Croatia, just one or two hours away by ferry from some of the
most attractive Adriatic islands and seaside resorts. It is easy to reach
Split by air or by an overnight ferry from Italy. Split International
Airport is connected with major European airports via Zagreb and Frankfurt.
In the summer months, there are also numerous direct flights from several
European capitals. International ferries and S.N.A.V. speedboat for Split
depart from the Italian port of Ancona.

COSIGN will be hosted by by the Department of Visual Communication, Art
Academy, University of Split. The Department is located in what originally
used to be a Venetian fortress, just a  five-minute walk away from the
historic core of the city. The medieval heart of Split, whose eclectic
architectural style is highly appreciated by art historians, grew from the
palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (built between 295 and 305 AD).
Numerous cultural events take place in Split all year round. In September,
the city is home to the International Festival of New Film and Video, with
a vibrant new media section.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE
====================

Andy Clarke - Kinonet (UK)
Clive Fencott - University of Teeside (UK)
Grethe Mitchell - University of East London and Kinonet (UK)
Frank Nack - CWI (Netherlands)
Mirko Petric - University of Split (Croatia)

PROGRAMME AND ARTWORK COMMITTEES
================================

For up-to-date details of these, please see the conference website:

http://www.cosignconference.org

***********************************************
COSIGN 2004 - University of Split (Croatia)
COSIGN 2003 - University of Teesside (UK)
COSIGN 2002 - University of Augsburg (Germany)
COSIGN 2001 - CWI (Netherlands)
***********************************************

CALL FOR PAPERS
ICEC 2004

3rd International Conference on Entertainment Computing
http://www.icec.id.tue.nl
September 1 ö 3, 2004
Technical University Eindhoven, The Netherlands

We invite you to participate at the prestigious 3rd International
Conference on Entertainment Computing under the auspices of the
International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP). Based on the
very successful first international workshop and the second international
conference, the next ICECâ04 has been set up as an international forum to
exchange experience and knowledge among researchers and developers in the
field of entertainment computing. Research papers, posters, demonstrations
and case studies are invited that present scientific ideas or improvements
to existing techniques in the broad multi-disciplinary field of
entertainment and edutainment applications. Suggested research topics
include, but are not limited to:

o Advanced Interaction Design, e.g. Haptic Interfaces
o Ambient Intelligence for Entertainment
o Art, Design and Media
o Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
o Avatars and Virtual Action
o Computer Games and Game Based Interfaces
o Education, Training, and Edutainment Technologies
o Evolutionary Platforms / Hardware
o Graphics Techniques
o Human Factors of Games
o Human Sciences, Violence and Entertainment
o In-Car/Flight/Train Entertainment Systems
o Intelligent Board Games
o Interactive Digital Storytelling, and Interactive Tele-Vision
o Mobile Entertainment via e.g. Mobile Phones, PDAs etc
o Narrative Environments and Virtual Characters
o Networking (technical and social)
o New Genres, New Standards
o Novel Hardware Devices
o Pervasive Entertainment and Game-Playing
o Robots and Cyber Pets
o Simulation Applications of Games, and Military Training
o Social Computing and Presence
o Sound and Music
o Sport and Entertainment
o Video Games
o Wearable Computers and Sensors for Entertainment

Case studies are invited from any entertainment and edutainment
application, including:
Authoring, Computer Games, Cultural Heritage, E-Commerce, E-Learning,
Event-Marketing, Home Entertainment, Media System Design, Service Robotics,
Video Games, etc.

Important Deadlines for Submission:
March 20, 2004: Full Papers (max 8 pages)
April 10, 2004: Short Papers (max 4 pages), Posters & Demonstrations (max 2
pages)
May 1, 2004: Notification of Acceptance.
June 1, 2004: Camera Ready Copy (CRC) for all submission categories.

Private No More.

The New York Times reports that “The Justice Department is demanding that at least six hospitals … turn over hundreds of patient medical records on certain abortions performed there.” This is necessary, they claim, in order to defend the new prohibition on “partial birth” abortions. This is bad enough, since as David Seldin, a spokesman for Naral Pro-Choice America, puts it: “This notion of John Ashcroft poring over medical records in a fairly unprecedented type of fishing expedition is exactly the type of privacy invasion that worries people.”

But the real news comes in paragraph 15, where we learn that the Justice Department argued that in light of “modern medical practice” and the growth of third party insurers, “individuals no longer possess a reasonable expectation that their histories will remain completely confidential.”

[Crooked Timber]

——

no longer possess a reasonable expectation that their histories will remain completely confidential….. oh well… it isn't that important is it? unless well they raise insurance rates or fail to give us medical service… hmmm, hmmm?

Virtual Friends in Virtual SpacesThe Orkut communi …. Virtual Friends in Virtual Spaces
The Orkut community continues to grow with many academics and researchers that I am familiar with. I tend to look at other people's friends to see who is on Orkut, and I came across a “person” called Gollum, complete with a LOTR picture. I was amused – but truly fascinated by the number of friends this virtual person had.

Lisbeth makes some interesting comments about Gollum and how he even wrote a testimonial about her. Fictional characters are not allowed on Orkut – though I would argue that some of the profiles that people post can be deemed as fiction. I mean, we are presenting our physical selves in a certain way in the virtual world – aren't we all ficticious to a point? What is real and what is imaginary? Which self are we presenting?

Torill notes that Gollum has been removed from Orkut: “He was active, had a sense of humour and a lot of friends, what more does a person need to be real?” Very true. If we are presenting ourselves with a pseudonym – isn't that fake/pretend as well ? There is a real/physical person behind Gollum – where is that person? Will the real Gollum please stand up?
[Netwoman]

The Register: Why wireless will end 'piracy' and doom DRM and TCPA – Jim Griffin. OK, so he likes compulsory licensing, but what's that got to do with wireless? This quote is great: “It costs $20,000 to fill an iPod from iTunes Music Store. Quite simply, no one looks at a 40 GB iPod and thinks, 'it will cost me $20,000 to fill it'. It's a polite fiction. It's a looking the other way. We pretend there's monetization, but there isn't.” [Hack the Planet]

——

the hidden facts of information are coming out…… informaiton is alot smaller than you think it is.

the judge did the right thing. ashcroft, et. al. once again demonstrate a profound lack of judgement about civil rights such as privacy.

the current political economic strategy of the cheney-bush administration seems to be increase public debt to extreme proporttions until the electorate are left with two choices, cut back major government programs or cancel the debt. either one of these options will be ruinous to the average american because they will have to pick up the cost of the program personally within a market system, or people who invest in government bonds will more or less get bankrupted, which will throw a huge burden on the rest of american's to support a huge growth of the number of impoverished.

MacCentral: MacMall sells pieces of Virginia Tech G5 supercomputer. I still think only a dumbass would buy millions of dollars of equipment and sell it a few months later. [Hack the Planet]

Networks aren't necessarily communities. Kevin Barron, Systems Manager at UCSB's Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (thank you Google!) posted this comment earlier today:

February 11, 2004   No Comments

Thu, 12 Feb 2004 00:45:07 GMT

by Jeremy

February 11, 2004   No Comments