July 2005 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

International conference
by Dr. Nadia Kutscher 14 Jul '05

14 Jul '05

We would like to invite you to the following international conference: Cyberworld unlimited? Digital Inequality and New Spaces of Informal Education for Young People International Conference February 9th -11th 2006 Bielefeld, Germany Today, the internet is regarded as the central resource for knowledge and information. Associated with this is the idea that everyone is able and even expected to serve himself or herself according to his or her own needs via this medium. Since more and more services (banks, universities, schools, public administration etc.) are delivered online the internet seems to allow its users to enjoy specific advantages in dealing with their everyday life. However, using the internet is based on a range of preconditions. New results of empirical and theoretical research indicate the rise of a social divide in this context. Within the internet, differences in ways of use can be identified alongside social inequalities. They mirror boundaries of the "real life" in the virtual space e.g. in terms of forms of communification and spaces for appropriation (in a sense of self-formation processes of social actors). These are not only shaped by invidual preferences but particularly by social structures and processes. This appears in two dimensions: by processes of social closure and by service structures which only reach special target groups - prevalently in contrary to their own intention. In the context of the broader debate on education it is stated that formal educational structures are to be urgently completed by arrangements which are structured in informal resp. nonformal ways. Particularly the internet is suggested to play a special role in this respect. However, the phenomenon of digital inequality points to limitations consolidated by effects of cultural, social and material resources: Economical resources affect opportunities of access, priorities of everyday life shape respective intentions of internet use, social relationships have an impact on the support structures available and ways of appropriation reproduce a specific understanding of informal education ("Bildung"). This produces an early stratification of opportunities especially for the subsequent generation and may lead to extensive inequalities regarding the distribution of advantages in terms of education. Thus the capacity of the virtual space in terms of participatory opportunities and democratic potentials raises concerns of major relevance with respect to social and educational policy. From the perspective of different disciplines involved in these issues it is essential to clarify this issue in empirical as well as theoretical ways and to make it utilizable for a future-orientied practice. In particular, the following questions are central for the analysis: a.. What are the impacts of technical equipment and social sites of access with respect to online participation? b.. How do social preconditions influence differences in using the internet and which are the consequences for young people's ways of use? c.. What forms of communification and specific media cultures can be observed on the internet and how do they affect informal processes of education? d.. In which ways are aspects of the "real life" and the "virtual space" related regarding the facilitation of different ways of appropriation? e.. Which preconditions are required for opening up new spaces of education for young people via the informal structure of the internet? For further questions please take at look at the conference website http://www.kib-bielefeld.de/tagung/engl/ or contact me. Best regards Nadia Kutscher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Nadia Kutscher Project Co-Ordinator Center of Competence for Informal Education (CCIE) Faculty of Educational Sciences University of Bielefeld Postfach 10 01 31 D-33501 Bielefeld Germany Tel.:++49-(0)521-106 3297 Fax: ++49-(0)521-106 8047 Email: nadia.kutscher(a)uni-bielefeld.de KIB/CCIE: http://www.kib-bielefeld.de/engl/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Re: [Air-l] Telecommunications Grad Programs
by ANDREW RUSSELL 13 Jul '05

13 Jul '05

Hi Ralph - There is a terrific Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder, http://itp.colorado.edu/ The program is designed around the conviction that students should be trained in economics, law, and policy as a complement to the technical skills they need to be successful professionals. It is a diverse program with an international student body, a very distinguished faculty, and plenty of opportunities for mentoring and internships with firms in the Denver area (Qwest, Sun, IBM, Level 3, etc.). Phil Weiser hosts fantastic conferences through his Silicon Flatirons Telecom Program (http://www.silicon-flatirons.org) And of course you get to live in Boulder ;-) Andy Russell History of Science and Technology Johns Hopkins University ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Siddall <ralph-siddall(a)uiowa.edu> Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 0:30 am Subject: [Air-l] Telecommunications Grad Programs > A friend of mine currently in Cambodia was approached by someone > inquiring > about MA programs in telecommunications. I told her I'd pass his > request on to > those on this list. Are there any good sources for listing these > programs, or > does anyone have any specific programs they'd like to recommend? > > Thanks in advance. > Peace, Ralph > -- > Ralph W. Siddall > The University of Iowa > Department of Communication Studies > 134 BCSB > Iowa City, IA 52242 > ralph.siddall(a)gmail.com

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London: Shopping in the Digital Age: a Critical View
by csandvig＠uiuc.edu 13 Jul '05

13 Jul '05

Dear AoIR colleagues and friends: A free event in London this Friday that may be of interest to those concerned about e-commerce / databases / privacy / marketing. Christian **************************************************** SHOPPING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: A CRITICAL VIEW Friday, 15 July 2005 5:30 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m. with wine and cheese to follow Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research (tube: Marble Arch) Stanhope House, Stanhope Place (at Hyde Park) London W2 2HH Free and open to the public; no advance booking is required. A public lecture by Professor Joseph Turow. Professor Turow is just completing a comprehensive study of the ways in which new digital technology fundamentally alters the relationship between consumers and those interactively involved in selling to them. Professor Turow provides novel insights into the privacy issues, questions of autonomy and self, and areas for regulatory concern. Turow is Robert Lewis Shayon Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School For Communication. He is the author of more than 50 articles and seven books on mass media industries, including _Breaking Up America: Advertisers and the New Media World_, _Playing Doctor: Television, Storytelling and Medical Power_, and _Getting Books to Children: An Exploration of Publisher-Market Relations_. This event is hosted by the Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research and co-sponsored by the Internet Society of England. For more information: http://www.stanhopecentre.org/ info(a)stanhopecentre.org 0207 479 5900

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elections and voting
by Jeremy Hunsinger 12 Jul '05

12 Jul '05

If you are a paid member of AoIR, at around 9:00am est on Tuesday July 5th, you should have received the ballot via email. If you did not receive one, and think that you should have received one, then send me a note at buridan(a)aoir.org or jhuns(a)vt.edu and I'll look into it. Email does not always guarantee receipt and some of the emails that we have may no longer be the ones that you use, so I suspect that some members will not have received the vote email. Let me know, jeremy hunsinger jhuns(a)vt.edu www.cddc.vt.edu jeremy.tmttlt.com www.tmttlt.com () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.aoir.org The Associatiion of Internet Researchers

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Telecommunications Grad Programs
by Ralph Siddall 12 Jul '05

12 Jul '05

A friend of mine currently in Cambodia was approached by someone inquiring about MA programs in telecommunications. I told her I'd pass his request on to those on this list. Are there any good sources for listing these programs, or does anyone have any specific programs they'd like to recommend? Thanks in advance. Peace, Ralph -- Ralph W. Siddall The University of Iowa Department of Communication Studies 134 BCSB Iowa City, IA 52242 ralph.siddall(a)gmail.com

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New Opening at the OII for a Internet Projects Officer and a Research Officer
by enquiries 11 Jul '05

11 Jul '05

Dear Colleague, The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is looking to appoint an Internet Projects Officer and a Research Officer and will accept applications until 10th August 2005. Please feel free to pass the information on to individuals who might be excellent candidates. The full application pack can be found at: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/people/application_pack/RO_and_IPO_200507.pdf Kind Regards Eleanor. ------- Enquiries and Library Assistant Oxford Internet Institute University of Oxford 1 St Giles Oxford OX1 3JS Tel: 01865 287210 Fax: 01865 287211

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GOR06 -Call for papers: 8th General Online Resarch Conference
by Uwe Matzat 11 Jul '05

11 Jul '05

Dear Internet Resarchers, are you doing research on online communities, social networks online & offline, the internet in organizations, digital inequality, or a related topic? Then this call for papers should be of interest to you. --------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR PAPERS --------------------------------------------------------------- 8th International GOR Conference GOR 06 GENERAL ONLINE RESEARCH '06 21st and 22nd of March, 2006 at Ravensberger Park, Bielefeld, Germany --------------------------------------------------------------- Organized by: German Society for Online Research - DGOF e.V. scientific co-organizers: Prof. Dr. Frank Faulbaum Prof. Dr. Nicola Doering Prof. Dr. Manfred Leisenberg sponsored by: TNS Infratest, Bielefeld --------------------------------------------------------------- Conference topics include theories, methods, and findings concerning social and business aspects of the Internet and mobile communication. The aim of the conference is to document the progress of Internet science, innovative developments, and practical experience. Traditionally, GOR conferences have been excellent opportunities for dialogue between: - researchers and users of Internet science - universities and companies - customers and suppliers. --------------------------------------------------------------- Conference Languages: English, German ------------------------- Contributions: -------------- Paper presentations, posters, and sessions can be proposed on the following topics: A: The Internet as a Resarch Tool Online Market Research and Social Research - Methods' Effects of Online Data Collection - Mobile Data Collection - Statistical Biases in Online Sampling - Best Practice Examples - Innovative Data Collection Tools - Online Access Panels - Quality Standards - Data Mining - Online Experiments B: The Internet Measured - Diffusion of Visual Online & Mobile Communication - Indices of the Digital Divide(s) and Digital Inequality - Use of Logfiles and Databases - Indices of the Information Society - Measurement of Range of Coverage C: The Internet in its Context Internet, Mobile Communication, and Civil Society - Online Groups / Online Communities - Social Networks and Relationships - E-Government and E-Voting - Internet, Social Movements, and Collective Action - Internet & Science Electronic & Mobile Business - E-Business - Evaluation of Web-Sites and E-Commerce - Mobile Commerce - Electronic Customer Relationship Management Internet & Mobile Communication in Everyday Life - Mobile & Online Entertainment - Social and Psychological Effects of Internet Use - E-Health - E- & M-Learning - Weblogs Internet & Mobile Communication in Organizations - Online Employee Surveys - Virtual Teams & Online Communities of Practice - Online Knowledge Exchange and Knowledge Management in Organizations ------------------------------------------------------------ Paper Presentations: ------------------------------ Paper presentations include an oral presentation of max. 20 minutes, plus 10 minutes for discussion time. Selected contributions will be invited to submit their paper for publication in an international English language conference proceedings' volume or in an international English language journal. Posters: ------------- Posters will be discussed at fixed times. The best poster(s) will be awarded by an independent jury. Prize total: EUR 500,-. Sessions: -------------- There will also be the opportunity to propose a group of (3-5) interrelated presentations within one session. For more information please contact the program committee (gorpaper06(a)dgof.de) Workshops: ----------------- There will be tutorial workshops covering key methods of Internet Science. The workshops will take place the day before the GOR conference (March 20, 2006) as well as during the conference. Participation in workshops is not free of charge and the number of participants will be limited. Registered visitors of the conference have priority. More information is available at http://www.gor.de. Exhibition Stand Space: ---------------------------------- Companies will have the opportunity to book exhibition stand space for presentations of products or services. More information is available at gororga06(a)dgof.de. Social Events and Membership Meeting: ----------------------------------------------------------- The traditional early-bird-meeting will take place in the evening of March 20, 2006. During this meeting visitors and participants will have the opportunity to socialize with colleagues and meet with other researchers. On Tuesday 21st March 2006, there will be a social event in the evening which will include dinner and dancing. During the conference there will be a meeting of the members of the German Society for Online Research. The members will receive additional information about the meeting at a later date. ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------- Submission Guidelines -------------------------------- If you would like to contribute to the conference by presenting a paper or a poster, please submit an abstract electronically no later than: September 30th 2005 to: http://www.gor.de Abstracts should contain no more than 350 words. The abstract has to be written in English language. An additional German language version is appreciated, if possible. Authors may present in English or German. In any case the transparencies have to be prepared in English language. Papers can be only submitted via the Web-based online tool located at the GOR-Website. We ask for your understanding that we cannot accept papers sent via email. Authors will receive notification of acceptance by: November 30, 2005. The preliminary program will be posted by January 1st, 2006 at the following URL: http://www.gor.de Accepted oral presentation transparencies or Power-Point files in English are to be sent by February 17th 2006. -------------------------- Conference Fees: -------------------------- Conference fees include conference materials, two lunches, conference dinner, drinks and snacks during breaks. Researchers: 150 Euros Students: 90 Euros Presenting participants: 120 Euros (first authors only) Commerical participants (e.g. company representatives, free- lancers, consultants): 390 Euros Participants living in the EU will have to pay full conference fees in advance. Other participants may pay their fees on the conference date at the venue. Day tickets are not available. DGOF members are subject to a 20% conference fee reduction (membership application forms can be found at: http://www.dgof.de/dgof_antrage.pdf) Early registrants (excluding DGOF members), who register before January 20, 2006 receive a fee reduction of 15%. For first authors there are special deadlines for registration: After notification of acceptance (Nov. 30, 2005) first authors can register immediately. First authors who register no later than December 15, 2005 receive a fee reduction of 15% (not valid for DGOF members). First authors have to register no later than December 31, 2005. Registration for all other participants will begin on January 1st 2006. Further detailed information will be posted continually at the following URL: http://www.gor.de ------------------------------ Important deadlines: ------------------------------ 09/30/05 Deadline for abstract submission 11/30/05 Feedback on acceptance / Registration of authors begins 01/01/06 Preliminary program will be published / General registration begins 03/20/06-03/22/06 Conference + workshops ----------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of contacts: Conference Website, Abstract submission, Workshops: http://www.gor.de Business activities & any further questions: office(a)dgof.de ----------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================= Uwe Matzat Sociology Section Department of Technology Management Eindhoven University of Technology P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven The Netherlands --------------- phone: +31 40 247-8392 email: u.matzat(a)tm.tue.nl http://www.tue-tm-soc.nl/~matzat/ =======================================

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new media and shock
by Ken Hillis 09 Jul '05

09 Jul '05

Hello all--a colleague of mine asked me if I could help him with the following question. I'm not an authority on the Frankfurt School or its theorization of shock but hope that some of you out there might be. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Ken His problem/question is as follows: Much ink has been spilt over shock within Frankfurt School writings. A concept clearly taken over from Simmel and Freud, shock runs to the heart of Benjamin's media theory. But have Benjamin and Adorno appropriated the term as face value without ever considering the implications of their assertions? Adorno's thinking would seem to intimate that at some future date nothing will ever shock us anymore, for the body will have developed such a thick protective barrier that nothing harmful will ever get through--an idea worth resisting in itself. Are there any sustained studies of the question of shock particularly within the domain of media Are there any articles within media theory that address the matter of shock in a postmodern, digital world?

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Conference costs
by Kris Markman 09 Jul '05

09 Jul '05

Ed Lamoureux wrote: >I would add one a comment about a general factor that is usually in >play in US . . . ><snip> > >However, as many of you know, one trades off HUGE differences in >airfare. > >So while NY, Chi, LA, Boston, DC, Atlanta, etc., charge high room >rates, the air costs for tickets to and fro (esp. international >fares) are so much lower that in the long run, attendees save $ in >the bigger cities. Speaking of which, for those of you living in/near cities served by Southwest Airlines, they are currently running a fare sale, which includes Chicago. I just found a round-trip ticket from Manchester, NH (Boston area) to Chicago (Midway) for $185 including tax, which was better than anything available from Logan. As a graduate student, I can certainly sympathize with the high costs of attending conferences, however, as someone who has organized and worked on a number of conferences and workshops in both large and small cities, I would second the idea that larger cities on balance offer a better trade-off between costs and options. Putting together conferences is an expensive undertaking, and I think that for an organization with a limited budget, AoIR does a great job in providing us with reasonable conference fees and accommodations. -Kris M. -- ********** ********** ********** ********** Kris M. Markman, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate Communication Studies The University of Texas at Austin Email: jho-kmm(a)mail.utexas.edu https://webspace.utexas.edu/~kris3198 ********** ********** ********** **********

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Call for papers: Exploring Gender, Feminism and Technology from a Communication Perspective
by Michele H Jackson 08 Jul '05

08 Jul '05

Call for Submissions Women's Studies in Communication announces a special issue on "Exploring Gender, Feminism and Technology from a Communication Perspective" to appear in September 2006. Across disciplines, studies of technology have been a rich source for understanding women's experience and for advancing feminist theory. The goal of this special issue is to emphasize the contribution of communication practice and/or theory in exploring this relationship. More specific themes within this general emphasis may include examination of women's uses of particular technologies, the gendered nature of technology, the effect of technologies (or technological culture and globalization) upon women's lives, and developing/critiquing feminist theories of technology. Any type of technology may be considered; although they are welcome, manuscripts need not be limited to communication and information technologies. Manuscripts may by theoretical, empirical, or descriptive. For empirical studies, we welcome the full range of methodologies. All manuscripts must be clearly labelled as submissions intended for this special issue and submitted following standard guidelines described at http://www.bk.psu.edu/faculty/ramsey/submissions.html. All submissions will be blind and peer reviewed. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to WSIC Associate Editor Michele Jackson, jackson(a)colorado.edu . Submission deadline: February 1, 2006

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