Hi, At UTAD, I am working hard with my team to make sure this year's edition of SLACTIONS 2012 will be a great event. 4 journals are already supporting the conference. Chapters are taking place in 4 different continents. Submissions of papers and posters are open until June 30th.
Please help spread the word and the call for papers below. Inté, Leonel Morgado UTAD - University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Portugal =============== SLACTIONS 2012 Research conference on virtual worlds - Life, imagination, and work using metaverse platforms November 2012 http://www.slactions.org/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SLACTIONS-Life-imagination-and-work-using-meta verse-platforms/242464792497177 http://twitter.com/slactions CALL FOR PAPERS 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: Habbo Hotel, IMVU, Second Life, OpenSimulator, Open Croquet, Activeworlds, Open Wonderland, Minecraft, and others, including MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft, and virtual worlds based on social networks, such as *-ville and others, providing a forum for the research community to present and discuss innovative approaches, techniques, processes, and research results. SLACTIONS 2012 is the fourth edition of SLACTIONS, which was the first international conference held simultaneously in several countries on the topic of metaverse platforms. SLACTIONS 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 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 throughout the world. SLACTIONS will thus contribute to the current redefinition of the way we think about hybrid online and on-site scholarly collaborations. Whereas metaverse platforms 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 endeavors 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 and production - 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 - Adapting and developing research methodologies for metaverses - Social Sciences studies in or through metaverse platforms - Space representation, use, and management in metaverses - Using metaverse platforms for cooperation FORMAT SLACTIONS has the format of a hybrid online and physical conference. All paper presentations and plenary sessions by guest speakers will be held on-line in the Second Life virtual world, and projected locally at local chapters, for participants attending physically. Physical participants can interact with the online participants via a "physical chapter avatar" and microphone. Participants will also be able to follow the proceedings broadcast on the Web and interact via a text chat applet. Workshops and other events are conducted locally or in mixed format across several participating chapters and local 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 "work in progress" paper of 4 pages for oral presentation - A Flickr image or YouTube video, indexed with the tag slactions2012 for poster presentations in-world - A live presentation in Second Life. 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, available at http://www.asis.org/Conferences/AM04/proceedingstemplate.doc. (Disclaimer: SLACTIONS is not associated with ASIS&T.) PUBLICATION VENUES - JOURNAL AGREEMENTS All accepted papers and posters will be published on-line and in ISBN- registered digital proceedings. Video posters and live presentations can submit an abstract for inclusion in the digital proceedings. 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. - Journal of Virtual Worlds Research (ISSN 1941-8477) Selected papers will be fast-tracked for publication in early 2013 issues of JVWR. - Computer & Graphics - International Journal of Systems & Applications in Computer Graphics (ISSN: 0097-8493 / Imprint: ELSEVIER / impact factor 2010:0.720) Authors of the Best Paper in computer graphics themes will be invited to submit an extended version to be considered for journal publication. - VIRtual - Electronic Journal of Visualization, Interactive Systems and Pattern Recognition (ISSN 0873-1837) Authors of selected papers on visualization and graphics will be invited to submit extended versions to a special Issue of the journal. - Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research (ISSN 0718-1876) Authors of selected papers on e-business/e-commerce/m-commerce/e-learning/e-government will be invited to submit extended versions the journal. - International Journal of Web Portals (ISSN 1938-0194, SCOPUS index) Authors of the Best Paper in Web portals themes will be invited to submit an extended version to be considered for journal publication. Check out www.slactions.org regularly for more information and developments on the proceedings publisher 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 Submissions deadline: June 30th, 2012 July 15th, 2012 - Submission results provided to authors September 15th, 2012 - Deadline for early registration October 15th, 2012 - Deadline for print-ready versions of accepted papers November 15-17th, 2012 - Conference LOCAL CHAPTERS Portugal Venue: Tagus Park, Oeiras, Portugal About the Tagus Park: www.ist.utl.pt/pt/sobre-IST/localizacao/#tagusapresentacao/html/descricao.ht ml Coordinators: António Quintas-Mendes [quin...@uab.pt] Lina Morgado [lmorg...@univ-ab.pt] Isabel Valverde [isabel...@yahoo.com] ____________________________________________________________________ New Zealand Venue: Wellington Institute of Technology, New Zealand About the Wellington Institute of Technology: http://www.weltec.ac.nz/ABOUTWELTEC/CampusLocationsMaps.aspx Coordinator: Todd Cochrane [todd.cochr...@weltec.ac.nz] ____________________________________________________________________ Florida Central Florida - Orlando/Space Coast area About the 1 Virtual World Development: https://sites.google.com/site/1virtualworlddevelopment/ Coordinator: Gwenette Sinclair [gwenettewri...@gmail.com] ____________________________________________________________________ Italy Rome - in preparation, more data soon ____________________________________________________________________ Ireland In preparation, more data soon ____________________________________________________________________ Brazil In preparation, more data soon ____________________________________________________________________ Argentina In preparation, more data soon ____________________________________________________________________ Peru In preparation, more data soon ____________________________________________________________________ Check out www.slactions.org for updated lists and contacts. Note: If you believe your institution can hold a physical chapter in an as-yet unsupported region, please contact the organization at i...@slactions.org ____________________________________________________________________ Steering Committee Leonel Morgado - University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Nelson Zagalo - University of Minho, Portugal Ana Boa-Ventura, University of Texas-Austin, USA Programme Committee Ahmer Iqbal University of Jyvaskyla, Finland Ana Amélia Carvalho University of Coimbra, Portugal Ana Boa-Ventura University of Texas, Austin, USA Ângela Pereira Leiria Polytechnic Institute, Portugal António Fernando Coelho - University of Porto, Portugal António Lopes Lusófona University, Portugal António Quintas Mendes - Open University, Portugal Benjamim Fonseca University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Clare Atkins Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand Daiana Trein University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil Daniel Gonçalves Higher Technical Institute, Portugal David Deeds Changchun American International School, China David Herold Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Donizetti Louro Catholic University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Emanuel Peres University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Filipe Santos Leiria Polytechnic Institute, Portugal Greg Lastowka - Rutgers School of Law / Camden, USA Helen Farley - University of Southern Queensland, Australia Hugo Paredes University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Isabel Valverde - Lisbon Technical University, Portugal James Corbett - CEO at MissionV Education/ Business Development Manager at Daynuv Owner at GlobalGreyhounds Ltd., Ireland João Varajão University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal José Luís Ramos - Évora University, Portugal Leonel Morgado University of Trás-os- Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Lina Morgado - Open University, Portugal Luís Magalhães University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Luís Pedro University of Aveiro, Portugal Marco António Chávez- Aguayo University of Barcelona, Spain Margarita Pérez-García - Catholic University College Limburg & Provincial University College Limburg, Belgium Marja Kankaanranta - University of Jyvaskyla, Finland Micaela Esteves Leiria Polytechnic Institute, Portugal Narciso Cerpa University of Talca, Chile Nelson Zagalo University of Minho, Portugal Nuno Silva Higher Institute of Engineering of Porto, Portugal Paulo Frias University of Porto, Portugal Paulo Martins University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Pedro Sequeira - Higher School of Sport of Rio Maior, Portugal Pilar Lacasa University of Alcalá, Spain Ramiro Gonçalves University of Trás-os- Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Sara de Freitas - Serious Games Institute, UK Steven Warburton Kings College London, United Kingdom Teresa Bettencourt University of Aveiro, Portugal Theng Yin Leng - Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Vincent Ng Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Yesha Sivan The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel, and Metaverse Labs Ltd., Israel/Managing Editor of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research Global Organization Ana Margarida Maia University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Daniela Pedrosa University of Coimbra / University of Trás- os- Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Fernando José Cassola Marques University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Gonçalo Cruz Matos University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Maria da Glória Fraga - University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Leonel Morgado University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Ricardo Rodrigues Nunes University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Vinicius Loureiro University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal Yesha Sivan The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Israel, and Metaverse Labs Ltd., Israel/Managing Editor of the Journal of Virtual Worlds Research Contacts Organization: i...@slactions.org http://www.slactions.org/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/SLACTIONS-Life-imagination-and-work-using-meta verse-platforms/242464792497177 http://twitter.com/slactions _______________________________________________ Policies and (un)subscribe information available here: http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/OpenSource-Dev Please read the policies before posting to keep unmoderated posting privileges