April 2021 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

CfP: "Crowd Control," SHOT 2021 (Abstracts 4/7—deadline approaching)
by Scott Kushner 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

***DEADLINE APPROACHING: 4/7*** Dear AOIRians, I'm proposing an open session called "Crowd Control" for the 2021 meeting of SHOT, the Society for the History of Technology (New Orleans, November 18-21), and I think it may be of interest to internet studies folks who are interested in the management of crowds online. If that sounds like you, I hope you'll consider submitting an abstract. Queries and abstracts (by 7 April) to scottkushner(a)uri.edu. See below or visit https://tinyurl.com/CrowdControlSHOT2021. *** CROWD CONTROL Organizer: Scott Kushner, University of Rhode Island Queues, gates, doorways, turnstiles, stanchions, guards, cages, pens, cells, anterooms, hallways, cameras, bottlenecks, streets, signage, velvet ropes, bouncers, bleachers, fences, barriers, ushers: the methods of crowd control are technological interventions. The ways that crowds have been constituted, apprehended, understood are historically, geographically, and culturally contingent. The discourses that differentiate crowds from (and conflate them with) adjacent categories of analysis, such as audiences, mobs, masses, multitudes, are similarly variable across different contexts. The purposes to which crowd control has been put have also changed over time and space, organizing the flows and stases of bodies in order to impose political, social, cultural, and economic logics specific to and co-constitutive of the contexts in which its various technologies are situated. This SHOT session seeks to develop an understanding of technologies used to control crowds of people over time. Participants will present research on historically-situated technological devices, protocols, systems, and infrastructures that modify built and natural environments in order to contain, channel, direct, arrange, expel, disperse, and otherwise direct the movements and stillnesses of human bodies. The significance of this work to the history of technology lies in concentrating discussion about the ways that technological interventions have shaped the spatial dispositions of groups of human bodies in order to sculpt the experiences of those spaces and of the crowds of people those spaces attract. Proposals engaging with any era and geographic context are welcome. The organizer is interested in placing in conversation scholars and audience members working with and curious about a range of materials and methodologies. Potential participants are therefore invited to imagine the notion of crowd control in adventurous manners. Note: A pair of panels had been constituted for SHOT 2020, which was cancelled due to public health concerns. Not all panelists are able to participate in SHOT 2021, so a small number of additional papers will be selected to round out the group. Procedure: Those interested in proposing presentations for potential inclusion in this session should kindly prepare a one-page abstract (500 words maximum) and a one-page short CV (300 words maximum) with current contact information. Please send these materials to Scott Kushner ( scottkushner(a)uri.edu) no later than April 7, 2021. If you will be a first-time SHOT presenter, do not hold a tenure-stream position, are no more than two years from receipt of a terminal academic degree, and wish to be considered for the Robinson Prize, please indicate as much in your abstract. (Find information about the Robinson Prize at the SHOT website.) -- Scott Kushner Assistant Professor Department of Communication Studies Harrington School of Communication and Media University of Rhode Island 312 Davis Hall 10 Lippitt Rd. Kingston, R.I. 02881 +1 (401) 874-5223 scottkushner(a)uri.edu

1 0

Submissions Deadline Reminder AoIR2021 - 15 April
by Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

*The submissions deadline for papers and panels at AoIR2021 is 15 April 2021 23:59 UTC. * If you are unsure what time this is where you are, please check here. <https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AoIR2021%2BSubmis…> ( https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AoIR2021+Submissi… ) Please note that in light of the change from an in-person to a virtual event, the call for proposals has changed: - We are accepting extended abstract submissions for papers and panels only. - Unfortunately, due to logistical issues we will be unable to consider preconference proposals, or proposals for fishbowls and roundtables. Video presentations will be required of all accepted submissions and must be uploaded by 1 August in order to be included in the conference program and in our conference proceedings, Selected Papers of Internet Research (SPIR). Specific guidelines for these video presentations will be similar to last year, and will be sent out with conference acceptances. *Submissions to AoIR 2021: Independence <https://aoir.org/aoir2021cfp>* The 2021 conference welcomes contributions that address the theme of Independence (https://aoir.org/aoir2021cfp/) To re-familiarize yourself with the call for proposals and types of submissions solicited, please see here: https://aoir.org/subtypes/ If you have any questions about the submission process, please email AoIRConfChair(a)aoir.org. Ready to submit? Click here <https://www.conftool.org/aoir2021> ( https://www.conftool.org/aoir2021) and login! We hope you will submit by 15 April and join us in October!

1 0

References for AI Literature
by Ming-Yi Wu 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Dear Colleagues, I am wondering whether you know any theories that may explain people's perceptions about artificial intelligence (AI), applications of AI, and impacts of AI? For example, are there any books or journal articles for me to read? When I presented my paper at Eastern Communication Association's (ECA's) annual conference last week, one of my panel participants asked me a question which is related to AI. That's why I would would like to know about this. If you can share the AI theories, research findings, and references with me, it will be truly appreciated! Thanks, Ming-Yi Ming-Yi Wu, Ph.D.Graduate FacultyNortheastern University

4 8

CFP - Digital Inclusion Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) - September 2021
by Carmi, Elinor 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Happy Easter/Passover everyone, I hope you're doing as well as possible these days. Since you're all tired of emails I'll do the short version here and you can read the full abstract on the conference website - https://easychair.org/cfp/DIPRC2021: The Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) Tuesday, September 14 2021 In this third edition of the Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2021, we invite scholars and practitioners to talk about their latest work in what many consider as a crucial point for digital inclusion, digital divides and data literacy. Who got left behind and struggled the most during the pandemic? What new digital practices emerged from the pandemic to help people manage their well-being and survival? Did technology interventions such as contact tracing apps actually help manage the pandemic? How did different communities organise to assist each other via digital means? How did different governments and local municipalities respond to digital literacy challenges? How is mainstream media implicated in how we understand what is happening? The conference aims to focus on the recent global developments influenced by the pandemic in research, policy, and practice. Over this short time digital inequalities, digital inclusion and digital literacies have changed in response to global developments. However, key themes have remained important such as: material and financial access; skills and digital literacy; use by citizens and communities; the impact of socio-economic factors; motivation and attitudes; and more recently socio-economic and socio-cultural variations in patterns of usage. Digital inequities therefore have become an important part of broader persistent issues of social equity and justice. For the open sessions, we seek presentations and papers that cover empirical research as well as policy and practice interventions, on topics such as: * Data analysis of levels of digital inclusion/exclusion and engagement. * Case studies of initiatives and programmes. * Case studies of community impact. * Studies of the impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities. * Policy interventions to address digital inequalities. Given that 2020 and 2021 have been dominated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has itself revealed huge digital inequalities, we also invite papers on: * Disinformation/misinformation and digital literacy during the pandemic. * Studies on the link between misinformation and data literacies. * Government, community and voluntary sector responses to digital literacy needs. * Digital platform use and 'big tech' responses to the pandemic. * Community responses to digital needs due to the pandemic. Please submit your abstract here: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2021 The conference will be free to attend this year and held online - events will be scheduled to facilitate as far as possible attendance from all time zones. Important dates: * Date for submitting abstracts - 31st May 2021 * Date for announcing acceptances - End of July 2021 * Date for speakers to confirm participation - Mid August 2021 at latest. Take care and best wishes, Dr. Elinor Carmi, Postdoc Research Associate - Digital Media & Society, Department of Communication and Media, Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences, School of the Arts, Liverpool University, UK. https://elinorcarmi.com<https://elinorcarmi.com/> Twitter: @Elinor_Carmi

1 0

(Conference CFP) DISC 2021 (June 18-19, 2021 ONLINE)
by Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Dear Colleagues, Apologies for cross-posting. The 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference Conference Dates: June 18 - 19, 2021 (JST) Abstract Submissions April 15, 2021 (JST) Conference Organizers Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki (University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan) Manuela Hartwig (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan) Han Woo Park (Yeungnam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) Cyber Emotions Research Institute (YeungNam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) About the Conference We are pleased to announce that the 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference will be organized as a completely ONLINE event to be held June 18-19, 2021 (JST) using Zoom. Traditionally, DISC conferences have focused on evidence-based methodologies to analyze complex social interactions as a means of understanding social and technological change. We welcome research from a broad array of fields and are especially interested in comprehensive trans-disciplinary approaches that integrate Triple Helix (TH) studies with approaches such as webometrics, scientometrics, informetrics, datametrics, and technometrics (WSIDT). Applying these methods in turn to different academic fields such as policy and technology studies, business, communications, creative industries, sociology, information technology, and tourism can yield new insights (paradigms) in understanding social phenomena. At this year’s conference, we want to simultaneously situate DISC’s traditional emphasis on TH and WSIDT and extend such trajectories to current global crises. First, the COVID-19 pandemic changes ways of working, learning, and living (“new normal”), which affects academic research, businesses, and cultures. Methods and applications of social research have to be reconsidered. Second, simultaneously, accelerating climate change threatens civilizations and world societies have to achieve net-zero carbon emissions within the next 30 years by 2050. These circumstances show that we are in dire need of systemic changes. Ultimately, our goal for DISC 2021 is to discuss what motivates social systems to change and what kind of future systems we can expect to emerge out of these challenging times. General Conference Tracks Track 1 “Triple Helix and Webometrics”: Triple Helix (TH) and Webometrics, Scientometrics, Informetrics, Datametrics, & Technometrics (WSIDT) Track 2 “Applications of SNA to the Humanities and Social Sciences”: Applications of quantitative and qualitative social network analysis in humanities (including digital humanities), social sciences, and multi-disciplinary studies. Track 3 “Asian Innovations in Social and Technological Change”: Identifying and discussing Asian approaches to social innovations and technological change with a focus on practices and applications. Special Conference Tracks: Special Track 1 “Networks and Societies in the Post-COVID-19 World”: Rethinking network analysis from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and the future of social network research in the “new normal” post-COVID era. Special Track 2 “The ‘Big Environment’ Era: Realizing the 2030 SDGs and a Decarbonized World in 2050”: Stakeholders in the future net-zero carbon emissions society. What will the world in 2050 look like, and how will actor roles and relationships change? Submissions DISC 2021 accepts panel and/or individual paper submissions (see below for submission details). Postgraduate student and early-career researcher panels are especially encouraged, and we have set aside space in each track for such panels. Participants may have up to three roles during the conference. For example, they can be authors or co-authors on up to two papers plus be a discussant on a panel. Participants are not allowed to present more than once on a single panel. Panel submissions: Panels are made up of three to five individual papers and must have at least one organizer and a discussant. Presentations should be about 20 minutes each, with 20 minutes at the end of each panel session devoted to Q & A. Panels may be completely pre-recorded and submitted or be conducted in a hybrid “live” online manner. Please note that the panel organizer is responsible for organizing the content and flow of the panel, including gathering any pre-recorded papers/presentations and organizing the hybrid environment. The following information must be inputted in Form 1 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021panel ● Track choice ● Panel title ● Panel organizer(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 100- to 150-word panel abstract showing how papers are connected ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper ● Author(s) name(s), institutions, email for each paper ● Discussant name and affiliation Individual paper submissions Paper presentations should be about 20 minutes. There will be a limited number of individual paper slots available for each track. Recorded presentations are not accepted for individual paper submissions. Presenters of individual paper presentations must be prepared to present their paper in real time. The following information must be inputted in Form 2 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021paper ● Track choice ● Paper title ● Author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper Special issues In the past, DISC conference paper presentations with methodological, mixed methods, and data focus have been published as original research in Quality & Quantity. In addition, Asia-related research has been published in the Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia (JCEA). We are currently making proposals to both journals. Confirmed keynote speakers: Marc Smith, Founder, Social Media Research Foundation Hee Dae Kim, Director General, Mobile Technology Convergence Center, Daegu Technopark, Chief Secretariat, Daegu Creative Living Lab NodeXL Award In 2019, WATEF in Cooperation with the Social Media Research foundation inaugurated the NodeXL Insight Award for data-driven studies on social innovation. More information about the NodeXL Award is available at: https://jceasia.org/new-nodexl-network-insight-award-for-2019 Important Dates: April 15, 2021 Abstract Submission Deadline April 30, 2021 Decision Notification June 18 -19, 2021 Conference Dates For further inquiries, please contact the Conference Organizers at: DISC2021.Japan(a)gmail.com For further information about WATEF and past DISCs: http://watef.org/home/ http://watef.net/ (English only) (We will have updates about our website and other conference information on social media very soon. If you want to stay up-to-date on DISC2021 let us know via this form at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021interest)

1 0

2021 Nancy Baym Book Award Nominations Open
by Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

We are pleased to call for nominations for the Nancy Baym Annual Book Award. This award recognizes the best scholarship of the Association of Internet Researchers, and highlights the breadth of work relating to the social and cultural dimensions of networked media. To be eligible for the award: - The book must be authored or co-authored as a monograph and must explore a single topic (edited collections are not eligible). - All of the book’s authors must be current members of AoIR at the time of submission (May 15, 2021). Memberships may be purchased here <https://members.aoir.org/>. - The book must have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2020. The books will be reviewed by a committee of Nicholas John-The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Nancy Baym-Microsoft Research, Robert W. Gehl-Louisiana Tech University, Heidi McKee-Miami University, Panayiota Tsatsou-University of Leicester, and Robert Tynes-Bard College. Each book should be accompanied by an emailed letter of nomination. Self-nominations from AoIR members are welcome. The letter of nomination, *which must be written by a current member of AoIR*, should outline: - How the book contributes to AoIR’s intellectual community. - The book’s unique contributions and overall strengths. - If not a self-nomination, the letter should also include a statement that the nominated author has been contacted prior to its submission and accepts the nomination. Books submitted without a meaningful nomination letter outlining both the strengths of the book and the book’s contribution to the AoIR community to AoIR will not be eligible. We are happy to accept books in either digital or hard copy. If digital, please send pdf to bookaward(a)aoir.org or contact for individual email addresses. Hard copies (1 each) should be mailed to: Nicholas John Department of Communication, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus Jerusalem 91905 Israel Nancy Baym Microsoft, 12th floor 1 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Niki Cheong School of Media and Performing Arts, Coventry University Ellen Terry Building Jordan Well CV1 5RW Coventry UK Robert W. Gehl Robinson 212 Louisiana Tech University Ruston, Louisiana 71272-0001 10258 USA Heidi McKee Miami University Bachelor 364 Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA Panayiota Tsatsou School of Media, Communication and Sociology University of Leicester Bankfield House 132 New Walk Leicester LE1 7JA UK Robert Tynes Site Director, Eastern Bard Prison Initiative Bard College PO Box 5000 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000 USA Nomination letters and book copies should arrive no later than May 15th. The winner of the award will be announced in the summer of 2021. In addition to winning a cash prize, the individual will also be invited to participate at the AoIR conference in Berlin in October. Please contact Nicholas John (bookaward @ aoir.org) or President Lynn Schofield Clark (prez at aoir.org) if you have any questions about this process. Lynn Schofield Clark President, AoIR

1 0

Reminder CFP: Edited Collection for D&D's 50th Anniversary [Due 8th April]
by Premeet Kaur Sidhu 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Hi all, Just a reminder that there is one week left to submit an abstract for our edited collection on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons [D&D], timed to celebrate and comment on its 50th anniversary. The book will be edited by Premeet Sidhu, Marcus Carter, and José Zagal, with the aim to publish through a university press. The full CFP can be found below and is also available at our website here: https://dnd.gamescholarship.org<https://dnd.gamescholarship.org/> The deadline for abstracts of 300-800 words is Thursday 8th April 2021 at 11:59 pm (Anywhere on Earth). If you have any questions or queries, please email us at dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. We appreciate you passing along this CFP to your relevant networks and anyone who may be interested. Cheers, Pre, Marcus, and José ___________________________________________________________________________ CFP: Edited Collection for D&D’s 50th Anniversary Abstract Deadline: Thursday 8th April 2021 (11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth) Contact/Submissions: dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com> Editors: Premeet Sidhu, Marcus Carter, and José Zagal Over the past 47 years, the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons [D&D] has had widespread influence across games, media, and social play. In anticipation of D&D’s upcoming 50th anniversary, we are soliciting abstracts for an edited collection that will overview the game’s evolution, players, and broader sociocultural impacts throughout its first 50 years. We hope to collect and showcase some of the diverse voices and experiences within the broader D&D community (e.g., academics and non-academics, developers/designers, players, educators, historians, streamers, practitioners, gaming club/store organisers, and artists—to name a few), and encourage all to submit abstracts. Key areas of interest are (but are not limited to): studies of the game itself, D&D players and related communities, broader sociocultural impacts and value of the game, and reflections on D&D’s past, present, and future. Submissions may take one of the following general formats and accessible writing is encouraged: * Scholarly research written for an interdisciplinary and public audience. * Q&A style interviews with significant figures in the D&D community (past and present, and both locally and/or globally). * Reflective/speculative essays about what D&D, its player base/community, and related fields of academic inquiry, can aspire to achieve in the oncoming years. Abstracts of 300-800 words are due by Thursday 8th April 2021 at 11:59 pm (Anywhere on Earth) and should be submitted to dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. Your abstract should include: * 3-5 key words that summarise your proposed chapter * A brief description of your proposed chapter * [And, if appropriate] A brief description or outline of the research methods and/or theoretical foundations that underpin your research Key dates * Abstract Submissions Due: 8th April 2021 * Acceptance Notifications Sent Out: 15th April 2021 * Online Workshop for Contributors: (tentatively) May 2021 * Full Chapters (5000-8000 words) Due: 15th August 2021 All academic chapters will be subject to double blind peer review. For further details, please visit our website at https://dnd.gamescholarship.org/. If you have any questions or queries, please email us at dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. We understand that everyone is facing unprecedented circumstances now and that some contributors’ lives are/will be more disrupted than others. If you want to submit an abstract but need more time, please send through an email to dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com> and we can work together to set an abstract deadline that is achievable for you. Cheers, Pre, Marcus, and José

2 1