I organized a 2 day event as part of the EPSRC Digital Economy cluster. The first was on Web 2.0 and the Arts, the second on Web 2.0 and Health.
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Digital
Part of Futuresonic festival in Manchester
At approximately 1030pm GMT, Facebook went down, at least it did for me. What's going on I wonder. I was engrossed in a conversation with a friend I've not spoken to for over 15 years too. How about that?
Emerging Ethical Issues of Life in Virtual WorldsCall for chapters
Scholarly articles on emerging issues of life in virtual worlds such as Second Life are solicited. Work that connects streams of ethics research and theory to virtual worlds as they are and to what they are developing into is particularly sought. Among the virtual world issues explicitly invited are: privacy, monitoring and eavesdropping, the fear of being exploited, the loss of identity, ethical impacts of aesthetic decisions, values and ethics manifested in the social processes and their relevance for activities such as design there, professional ethics, standards of integrity given identity issues and practices, malevolence and altruism, legal and ethical doctrines of confidential and privileged information, ethics for students and instructors, ethical development stages and issues, vandalism, harassment and crime, how ethics and values are inscribed in the discourse and practices of social groups, and how they can change and emerge in the midst of pragmatic concerns, such as collective tasks.
Proposals of any length are welcome, though the more detailed and clear the easier it will be for us to have it properly reviewed. Also, include your full contact information, institution affiliation and position. Please include information on your related publications and other work.
Schedule. Proposals due August 15, 2008. Notification of acceptance/rejection decision after review process, September 1, 2008. First drafts of chapters due, January 15, 2009. Revised final drafts due, March 15, 2009. Publication, June 15, 2009 (Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC).
Editors: Charles Wankel, St. John's University, New York, and Shaun Malleck, University of California, Irvine. Send all correspondence to both wankelc@stjohns.edu and skmalleck@gmail.com . Include in the subject field VW ETHICS.
In an attempt to start assembling journalists that will be in Beijing, I've put together a Facebook group to share impressions, understanding and knowledge about orientation. If you're going and you're covering the Games as a journalist, please join the group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10776325266&ref=mf
A couple of days ago, I interviewed for ABC Radio on the recent discussions about blogging at the Beijing Olympics. Here's the transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2008/2179195.htm
my kind of event, why aren't i going!?
SciBarCamp
Table of contents
SciBarCamp is a gathering of scientists, artists, and technologists for a weekend of talks and discussions. It will take place at Hart House at the University of Toronto on the weekend of March 15-16, with an opening reception on the evening of March 14. The goal is to create connections between science, entrepreneurs and local businesses, and arts and culture. The themes are:
- The edge of science (eg, synthetic biology, quantum gravity, cognitive science)
- The edge of technology (eg, mobile web, ambient computing, nanotechnology, web 2.0)
- Science 2.0 (open access, changing models of publication and collaboration, scientific software)
- Scientific literacy and public engagement (eg, one laptop per child project, policy and science, technology as legislation, enfranchising the poor, the young, the old)
- The interactions of science, art and culture: Scientists and artists as partners in the continuing evolution of the culture.
In the tradition of BarCamps, otherwise known as "unconferences", (see BarCamp.org for more information), the program is decided by the participants at the beginning of the meeting, in the opening reception. Presentations and discussion topics can be proposed here or on the opening night. SciBarCamp will require active participation; while not everybody will present or lead a discussion, everybody will be expected to contribute substantially - this will help make it a really creative event.
The talks will be informal and interactive; to encourage this, speakers who wish to give PowerPoint presentations will have ten minutes to present, while those without will have twenty minutes. Around half of the time will be dedicated to small group discussions on topics suggested by the participants. The social events and meals will make it easy to meet people from different fields and industries. Our venue, Hart House, is a congenial space with plenty of informal areas to work or talk, and there will be free wireless access throughout.
Our goals are:
- Igniting new projects, collaborations, business opportunities, and further events.
- Intellectual stimulation and good conversation.
- Integrating science into Toronto's cultural, entrepreneurial, and intellectual activities.
- Prototyping a model that can be easily duplicated elsewhere.
Attendance is free, but there is only space for around 100 people, so please register by sending an email to Jen Dodd (dodd.jen@gmail.com) with your name and contact details. Please include a link to your blog or your organization's webpage that we can display with your name on the participants list at www.SciBarCamp.org.
Sponsorship
Thanks to our sponsors so far!
- Hart House
- Microsoft
- Mindtouch
- Scimatic Software
We're looking for sponsorship for SciBarCamp. If you're interested in sponsoring, please contact Jen Dodd (dodd.jen@gmail.com, +1 (519) 572 2275).
Last night was the launch of the Human Futures exhibit SK-interfaces at FACT. It was really extraordinary and nice to see some friends come over for the event. The highlight was the performance of http://www.yannmarussich.ch 'Blue Remix'. Photos are in my Flickr photoset. this image is of his assistant and I was moved by the care and attention this man gave to the whole process. Made me wish i could take better photographs.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVSPw1XrRK0]
Futuresonic Conference 1-2 May 2008 with supporting events 30 April & 3 May
Online, Mobile and Unplugged Social Networking explored by leading figures developing the next generation of social software alongside Richard Stallman founder of the Free Software movement and Gerd Leonhard on the future of music, plus keynotes, critical debates, demos, experiences and open sessions on mobile social software, freeing space in the augmented city, the future of music, how game design can revolutionise social software, OpenID and who is keeping an eye on the kids. Register before 1 February and save £90 on a Delegate Pass.
http://www.futuresonic.com/
FACT's new programme for 2008 is advertised in their Oct-Dec brochure. Human Futures looks to be an excellent series of exhibitions, events and debates about such themes as medicine, the body, technology, art and more. It's so closely tied to so much of my research that I doubt I'll have much cause to leave Liverpool while it's running It also shares similar themes with 'Ethical Futures' , a project that I have become involved with at the RSA. Perhaps the two communities will meet
The second 2.0 platform of the day is Hypertope. I was kindly informed about this via this blog and I just subscribed. Finally, something specifically for academics. I'm a bit nervous about having to maintain another webspace, but maybe it'll be easy to combine. It certainly looks very interesting. They have a free join-up for a limited period only, then it's by invitation. PS: thanks for the correction guys ;) hyperTOPE, not hyperTROPE! got it. at least, the link was accurate :)
Last weekend, I was in Barcelona and two friends of mine happened to be there as well, one from New York, the other from Vancouver. Just by chance, I was able to meet one of them, but it made me think about what applications might be out there to assist with promoting 'coincident' meetings. So, I emailed Boris Mann (the one i missed) and he told me about Dopplr. Seems to be doing that kind of job. So that's one of my new 2.0 environments!
New Journal.. This new scientific, international, peer reviewed online journal deals with everything ludic and looks at digital games from a multitude of perspectives. Its approach is deliberately broad to accommodate the rapid changes and constant growth of this highly transdisciplinary field.
The journal is organized in sections with the first issue containing an in-depth introduction, articles and game reviews. You can already enjoy this kick-off publication at http://www.eludamos.org
More sections are possible in later issues, and we are looking forward to your suggestions. We also invite you to submit ideas for special issues.
Our goal is a biannual appearance, and the next publication is intended for February 2008. Please see official call for papers below.
Call for Papers The call for papers for the new, international, peer-reviewed online journal "Eludamos. Journal for Computer Game Culture" is now open. Submissions are expected to be in English and to include full papers plus abstracts. Please note that we can only consider papers which have not been previously published and which are not under consideration for another journal (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor). For further specification of submission guidelines please consult http://www.eludamos.org
The next issue is due to appear in February 2008. Submissions can be made throughout the year; however, articles for the February edition must be submitted by Dec. 15th 2007. Submissions that reach us after that date will be considered for the summer issue.
She Got GameSaturday, September 8, 2007 11 am to 5 pm
Located at the Austin Convention Center—Austin, TX
Keynote Speaker: Dona C. Bailey, creator of the Centipede video game, one of the first video games to incorporate artificial intelligence.
Games Now and Then From her early days on Centipede to her current work with students at the University of Arkansas—Little Rock, Dona C. Bailey takes a look at where video games have been, where they are now and where she'd like to see them go in the future.
Panels Diversity Equals Dollars: Why Having a Diverse Development Team is Good for Your Bottom Line
Her Virtual Life: Women and Online Games
Roundtables Attracting Women into Games; Being "You" Online; Get in the Game; Meet the Frag Dolls Captain; Planning for the Long-term Career; Quality of Life—A Perspective from Managers, HR and Legal
Speakers Brenda Brathwaite, Professor, Savannah College of Art & Design; Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment; Lori Durham, Vice President of Operations, Aspyr Media, Inc.; Denise Fulton, Head of Studio, Midway-Austin; Sheri Graner Ray, Executive Chair, WIGI; Jeb Havens, Lead Designer, 1st Playable Productions; Joye McBurnett, Senior Producer, Amaze Entertainment; Mike McShaffry, Mr. Mike Consulting; Morgan Romine, Frag Doll Team Captain, Ubisoft Entertainment; Steve Wartofsky, Senior Producer, NCsoft; Gordon Walton, Co-Studio Director, BioWare; DebySue Wolfcale, Senior Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment
Register today!
General Attendees - $55, WIGI Members - $40, Students - $30, AGDC Passholders - FREE
Want a $25 discount for a full Austin GDC Conferece pass? Visit www.austingdc.net and use code WIGI2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Blake
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qw_CAXzGFU]
Now published by Emerald
The TCS conference is just about to begin its final plenary, which includes an author of personal interest to me, N. Katherine Hayles. Her book, Becoming Posthuman, has been a central reference point for my own ideas on posthumanism over the last few years. It's also relevant for my forthcoming, co-authored book 'The Medicalization of Cyberspace'. This is my first TCS conference and it's been a rich mix of ideas and presentations. It's also a good excuse to visit Tokyo for the first time, where we've already had a typhoon and an earthquake!
I would like to inform you of an advertisement for a PhD studentship.A stipend is attached to the studentship. Please feel welcome to contact me directly in relation to this [preferably by email].
Please note that the deadline for applications is 27 July 2007, but the formal advertisement does not appear until Monday 9th July, so there will be no other information on the University website until then. However, application documents are available. Please also note that applications can be sent electronically.
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New Media at the Beijing Olympics School of Media, Language & Music, University of Paisley, Scotland, UK. Closing date: 27 July, 2007.
This project investigates the development of new media within China, in association with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In so doing, it responds to new agendas in media research in three areas: studies of the media in China, studies of new media, and the role of the media in the construction of the Olympic Games to an international audience. In combining these areas, the student will focus on media discourses surrounding the Beijing Olympic Games. The aim will be to consider the ‘external’ impression of the Beijing Olympics, by studying the cultural and political dimensions of the Games. This work will draw on key theoretical insights into international media events and digital culture. It will also theorize the transformation of journalism as a profession in the context of new media publishing and broadcasting.
Key concepts: citizen journalism, social software, media event, Olympics.
This research will draw on collaborative research projects undertaken by Dr Miah with the London School of Economics and the University of East London. Partner institutions also include various Beijing Universities, particularly the Communication University of China, a leading provider of broadcasting expertise in Beijing and China. Collaborations are also underway with the Annenberg School of Communication, various new media organisations and the student will be assisted to attend the Beijing Olympics in August 2008. The student will support the teaching of ‘Sport & Spectacle’, a course directed by Dr Miah focusing on the media, cultural and political aspects of the Olympic Movement. The project also benefits from an External Adviser Charlie Beckett, Director of POLIS at the London School of Economics. There will also be an opportunity to provide Editorial Assistance to the academic magazine ‘Culture at the Olympics’ http://www.culturalolympics.org.uk
Kember, S. (1998). Virtual Anxiety: Photography, New Technologies, and Subjectivity. Manchester, Manchester University Press.
"...the raising of the undead in technoscientific discourse signifies not only the validation of difference but the desire to effect new and illicit kinds of connection within and across academic and disciplinary boundaries as well as organic and inorganic realsm. Vampires in this context are about difference, technology and writing linked by the possibilities of 'as if'. They are a facet of feminist figurative writing in academic discourse which, tied to specific and declared investments, help to keep the monsters out of the closets and divert us from our virtual anxieties."
Mitchell, W. J. (1995). City of Bits: Space, Place, and the Infobahn. Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press.
'The uncertainties and dangers of the bitsphere frontier are great, but it is a place of new opportunity and hope. So forget the global couch-potato patches that Marshall McLuhan surveyed back in the sixties. This will be the place for a global village.'