September 2024 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Polymedia
by Traci Belanger 11 Jul '25

11 Jul '25

Hi everyone, does anyone have suggestions for articles on "polymedia" or specifically how polymedia interacts with media ecology? Thanks so much! Traci Belanger --- May all winds at your back inspire you, and may you have harmony and peace today.

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For my US colleagues: an 8 minute survey, where your input might make a difference
by Patricia Aufderheide 08 May '25

08 May '25

I know, exactly what you don't need to do at this crazy point in the semester. At AU, Profs. Aram Sinnreich, Joseph Graf and I have been working with Electronic Frontier Foundation and New Media Rights to design a survey about DMCA exemption language and its accessibility. Would you be interested in taking, sharing with your students and networks, including putting on social media the survey link <http://bit.ly/2nEfY8j>? Here it is again: *http://bit.ly/2nEfY8j <http://bit.ly/2nEfY8j>* Your generosity much appreciated! 👏 -- Patricia Aufderheide, University Professor, School of Communication Founder, Center for Media & -- Patricia Aufderheide, University Professor, School of Communication Founder, Center for Media & Social Impact American University 4400 Massachusetts Av., NW American University, Washington, DC 20016-8017 McKinley Hall 323 @paufder @cmsimpact cmsimpact.org paufder(a)american.edu 202-885-2069 office <202-643-5356> 240-643-4805 mobile <202-643-5356> "The world we have received also belongs to those who follow us." --Pope Francis

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Non-software uses of GitHub
by Jim Herbsleb 16 Apr '25

16 Apr '25

I’m looking for GitHub repositories that are used for things other than software, especially where users are actively collaborating rather than just putting together static collections. So far, we have found a few books being written, some musical transcriptions being error-checked, and some policy documents maintained online. Does anyone know of any examples of these or other categories? Any pointers much appreciated. Happy to share what we find with anyone interested. Jim ---- Jim Herbsleb Carnegie Mellon University http://herbsleb.org/ Google Scholar profile: https://goo.gl/sv3p7l

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AOIR Discord?
by Roo S 18 Dec '24

18 Dec '24

Hello! I'm wondering what AoIR members think of building a Discord? I realize that there are several platforms out there, and ironically we all are probably "too close" to some of the failings and/or opportunities of community, communication and digital space, but I would imagine that this group would probably hold a strong consensus that group email threads and listservs is an outdated way to share, organize, search for, and apply information. I'd love to connect more deeply with anyone who's interested. Here's a brief/simple survey to help me follow up and/or learn from the group: https://forms.gle/zbxmg5433r7LctKf8 Last but not least, here's an interesting article about the applications of Discord for better digital community practice: https://www.newkinco.com/projects/anitya-metaverse-platform Looking forward to connecting! Roo -- Systems Thinking for Digital Products | linktr.ee/roosphere | Work with me <https://www.workwithroo.com/>

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Job alert: Assistant Professor: Regulation, Law, and Emerging Technologies
by Bryce Newell 09 Oct '24

09 Oct '24

Dear colleagues, I'm chairing a search for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position looking for a new colleague whose research and teaching expertise lies in the use, adoption, and regulation of new and emerging information and communication technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), forms of immersive media (VR/AR/XR), and/or digital platforms (including, but not limited to, social media and/or digital games). We are certainly open to internet/media scholars who have also expertise in media law/free speech, etc. More below (full add is here: https://careers.uoregon.edu/en-us/job/533945/assistant-professor-of-law-and…) *** The University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) seeks a tenure-track faculty member at the assistant professor (pre-tenure) rank with research and teaching expertise in the use, adoption, and regulation of new and emerging information and communication technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI), forms of immersive media (VR/AR/XR), and/or digital platforms (including, but not limited to, social media and/or digital games). A successful candidate will be expected to teach our required undergraduate course in media/communication law, as well as other courses in their area of specialization, including in our thriving Eugene-based undergraduate programs in Media Studies, Journalism, Advertising, and Public Relations. The candidate may also contribute to our professional master’s programs, including our master's program in Immersive Media Communication (based in Portland) and our PhD program in Communication and Media Studies. They will be eligible to supervise and mentor graduate students in the SOJC’s graduate programs and undergraduate students in the SOJC Honors Program. We seek an outstanding scholar and educator whose research and teaching are focused on some or all the following areas: 1) How the law regulates new and emerging information and communication technologies including, but not limited to, generative AI, immersive media (XR/VR/AR), and/or digital platforms; 2) How these technologies regulate human behavior; 3) How the use, adoption, and regulation of these technologies can be informed by diverse approaches to human values, ethics, and critical approaches to technology, data, media, and/or information; and 4) Related issues of media and technology law, including free speech and the First Amendment, privacy, surveillance, and/or platform regulation. *** Sincerely, Bryce Bryce Clayton Newell, PhD, JD Associate Professor, Media Studies Coordinator, SOJC Honors Program School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) University of Oregon bcnewell.com<http://bcnewell.com/> | Google Scholar<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7kICf7kAAAAJ&hl=en> External positions: Dialogue Editor, Surveillance & Society<https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/surveillance-and-society/index> Co-Director, Surveillance Studies Network<https://surveillance-studies.net/> (SSN)

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So.Hist-Info : a new seminar (French and English)
by Camille Paloque-Bergès 07 Oct '24

07 Oct '24

Dear Colleagues, This message is to inform you of the first session in the 2024-2025 academic year of the Socio-History of Informatics seminar <https://sohistinfo.github.io/>, a research seminar organized at the HT2S research center of the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris <https://technique-societe.cnam.fr/histoire-des-technosciences-en-societe-ht…>. The goal of this seminar is to explore new narratives in the long-term history of computing, with a focus on how computing intertwines with social, economic, political, and cultural issues. Every two months, we will invite a researcher in history and/or anthropology and sociology (with a historical or diachronic perspective) of computing to present their work. Website link : https://sohistinfo.github.io/english/ The first session will take place online and at CNAM in Paris on Monday, October 14, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM with Ksenia Ermoshina (Centre Internet et Société, CNRS) - *A "Sovereign Intelligence"? Infrastructures, Representations, and Geopolitics of Russian AI: A Comparative Approach*. Registration form: https://framaforms.org/inscription-seminaire-de-socio-histoire-de-linformat… *Summary of the presentation:* *As part of the ANR CulturIA project, this investigation focuses on the contemporary history of artificial intelligence and its socio-cultural aspects, particularly within the Russian-speaking world and its international relations. Marked by the war against Ukraine and economic sanctions, the field has undergone a restructuring both in terms of infrastructure and in terms of discourse and representations. The collective research, conducted in collaboration with Boris Melnichenko, follows Russians who create or use AI in exile as well as engineers working for large companies in Russia. In line with the spirit of Science and Technology Studies (STS), it remains attentive to code and infrastructure and describes the significant restructurings of technological projects in the context of a major geopolitical crisis. By comparing Russian machine learning and AI projects with similar initiatives from the United States and China, this research asks: can we speak of a “Russian AI”? Are there distinctive characteristics that define the ways of developing and discussing AI specific to Russia, despite the inevitable borrowing, influences, and transnational exchanges that shape this field?* *Future sessions:* - December 16, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Barbara Hof - University of Lausanne - February 10, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Cédric Neumann - CNAM, HT2S - April 1, 2025 - Marie-José Durand-Richard - CNRS-Paris 7 Denis Diderot, SPHERE - April 14, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Jaroslav Švelch - Charles University (Prague) - June 16, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Michael Homberg - University of Cologne The summary of each presentation will be communicated later. Each session will be held in a hybrid format at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 2 rue Conté, 75003 Paris, in room 30-1-18 (Building 30, 1st basement level, Room 18). To facilitate the organization of the sessions, please register via this form: https://framaforms.org/inscription-seminaire-de-socio-histoire-de-linformat… A connection link (Big Blue Button) will be sent after registration to allow remote participation in each session. This research seminar will focus on the history of computing not for its own sake within the well-defined framework of the omnipotent computer and its pervasive environments, but through the study of situations where computing plays a pivotal role in the articulation of science-technology-society relations. In this way, the seminar aims to shed light on a socio-history of computing over the long term and in spaces expanded geographically as well as socially, culturally, politically, and economically. You can find a more detailed presentation of our approach (with the program of planned sessions) on the seminar website: https://sohistinfo.github.io/ Looking forward to seeing you there. Best regards, Mathilde Fichen (PhD student, HT2S), Adrien Tournier (PhD student, HT2S), and Camille Paloque-Bergès (Researcher, HT2S) for the seminar organization. -- Institutional email address : camille.paloque_berges(a)cnam.fr *Laboratory for the History of Techno-Sciences (HT2S), Conservatoire national des arts et métiers, 2 rue Conté, 75003 Paris, France

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CfP: Mediapolis special issue on “Playable Cities" - 3K words reflections on a theme
by Alex Gekker 07 Oct '24

07 Oct '24

Dear colleagues, A call for your consideration, available also here: https://t.ly/MC3OY In parallel to this year’s ASCA Cities Seminar <https://www.cities.humanities.uva.nl/news/2024-2025-playable-cities/>, Carolyn Birdsall, Linda Kopitz and Alex Gekker are co-editing a *special issue on “Playable Cities”* for Mediapolis – A Journal of Cities and Culture <https://www.mediapolisjournal.com> to be published in September 2025. The city is a playground. But is it really? This dossier takes this recurring metaphor as a starting point to explore what ‘playability’ means in the context of the urban environment. From the use of simulation games in city planning (cf. Lammes 2008) to urban installations that invite playfulness, from alternative cityscapes in video games to activist interventions for more public spaces: Play can be understood both as a way to imagine the city – and a way to disrupt it. It is often positioned as an alternative to a more constraining and utilitarian form of “smart” urbanism, one that emphasizes contingency and freedom (De Lange 2015; Gordon and Walter 2016). If playing is a form of “understanding what surrounds us” (Sicart 2014, 1), thinking about the intersections between play and the city also points to larger questions of access, belonging and ownership of spaces. In this context, we are also interested in how urban play – both physically and virtually – can be a way to “resist the givenness of the place” (Boano and Talocci 2014, 112). Exploring how playable cities are represented, designed and built points us to the complex connections between imagination and practice in making cities more ‘livable’. Some of the questions we are interested in: # What makes a city ‘playable’? # How is play rendered (in)visible in the city? # What forms of play and playing are possible/desired/designed in the city? # How is ‘playability’ operationalized in public policy and urban planning? # In what ways are urban infrastructures made ‘playable’? # How are urban environments represented in virtual games? # How can activist interventions in public space draw on or be framed through play? # How can we approach play both as a concept and method? The call engages with media studies, games studies, geography and urbanism, alongside researchers and practitioners from other relevant disciplines. Building on recent work in those fields, for instance, a recent special issue on “Cities as Playgrounds/Playgrounds as Cities” (Davies, Hjorth and Lammes 2024), it explores the benefits and limits of playability as an urban metaphor. What is lost or gained when cities are compared to – or even built upon – games, toys, playgrounds, performance spaces and the like? We invite contributions from diverse fields, including, but not limited to, urban studies, film/television studies, game and gaming studies, sociology, geography, gender studies, political studies, philosophy, new media theory, disconnection studies, history, and so on. We are especially interested in contributions exploring ‘Playable Cities’ from a global and interdisciplinary perspective including artistic research and architectural practice. Please submit an abstract of your proposed article (300 words) and a short bio (100 words) to Linda Kopitz (l.kopitz(a)uva.nl) by 15 October 2024. Authors will be informed of the selection within two weeks after the deadline. Full articles (3000 words) will be due in May 2025 and will subsequently go through an anonymous peer review process. The dossier is scheduled for the September 2025 issue. Mediapolis: A Journal of Cities and Culture is an interdisciplinary online journal of media and urban culture. We publish research across multiple academic fields — including, but not limited to, media studies, urban studies, geography, film, architecture, art history, visual culture, digital humanities, sound, and music. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– References: Boano, Camilo, and Giorgio Talocci. 2014. “The Politics of Play in Urban Design: Agamben’s Profanation as a Recalibrating Approach to Urban Design Research.” Bitácora Urbano Territorial 1 (24): 105–18. Davies, Hugh, Larissa Hjorth, and Sybille Lammes. 2024. ‘Introduction to the Special Issue: Cities as Playgrounds/Playgrounds as Cities: Rethinking Urban Play, Civic Engagement, and Socio-Spatiality’. Space and Culture 27 (2): 132–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/12063312231159228. De Lange, Michie. 2015. ‘The Playful City: Using Play and Games to Foster Citizen Participation’. In Social Technologies and Collective Intelligence, edited by Aelita Skaržauskienė, 426–34. Vilnius: Mykolas Romeris University. Gordon, Eric, and Stephen Walter. 2016. ‘Meaningful Inefficiencies: Resisting the Logic of Technological Efficiency in the Design of Civic System’. In Civic Media: Technology, Design, Practice, edited by Eric Gordon and Paul Mihailidis, 243–66. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Lammes, Sybille. 2009. ‘Spatial Regimes of the Digital Playground: Cultural Functions of Spatial Practices in Computer Games’, 11, no. 3: 260-72. https://networkcultures.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/PlayfulMappingInTheD… Sicart, Miguel. 2017. Play Matters. First MIT Press new paperback edition. Cambridge, Massachusetts London, England: The MIT Press. === Alex Gekker, PhD. Assistant Professor in Digital Research Methods, Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. Profile and publications <https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6042-2086> // a.gekker(a)uva.nl // tw: @AlexGekker <http://twitter.com/alexgekker> // mastodon @gekker@aoir.social <https://aoir.social/@gekker> Recent works include a deep dive into moving Israel “into the cloud” <https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2024.2343816>, a breakdown of QAnon as participatory play <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051231157300>, an analysis of “gamified” stock trading <https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/jgvw_00062_1>, and a post-mortem of Google Maps’ Covid-19 Layer <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20501579221143325>

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Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design - Teachers College, Columbia University
by Ioana Literat 06 Oct '24

06 Oct '24

The Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design (CMLTD) Program at Teachers College, Columbia University is pleased to announce a search for a tenure-track faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor. We seek a colleague with expertise in new media, digital culture and communities, and the intersection of emerging technologies and learning. Building from a strong foundation in communication, learning sciences, media studies, or related fields, the ideal candidate’s research will incorporate innovative research methodologies and teaching to address current issues in media, technology, and learning (e.g. AI, XR, digital games, online communities). Candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students, and who can contribute to the climate of inclusivity are encouraged to identify their experiences in these areas. For complete job posting details and a link to apply, please visit: https://employment.tc.columbia.edu/cw/en-us/job/512893/cmltd-program-tenure… Review of applications will begin on November 1. If you have any questions about the position feel free to contact Dr. Ioana Literat (search chair) at il2311(a)tc.columbia.edu <mailto:il2311@tc.columbia.edu> -- Ioana Literat, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Communication, Media and Learning Technologies Design CMLTD Program Co-Director Teachers College, Columbia University literat(a)tc.columbia.edu <mailto:literat@tc.columbia.edu> http://ioanaliterat.com <http://ioanaliterat.com/>

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CFP: Global Online Safety Benchmark Project
by Joly MacFie 30 Sep '24

30 Sep '24

ttps://bit.ly/onlinesafetybenchmark <https://bit.ly/onlinesafetybenchmark> *Call for Proposals: Global Online Safety Benchmark Project* This research project aims to develop a Global Online Safety Benchmark, which will serve as a critical tool for organizations, policymakers, and individuals to evaluate and enhance their online safety practices. As digital connectivity increases globally, so do the risks associated with online safety, making it essential to have standardized benchmarks to guide and improve the practices of entities responsible for internet safety. The proposed benchmark will be built around a series of key performance indicators (KPIs) and best practices, offering a comprehensive framework for assessing online safety measures across different sectors and regions. By examining current policies, identifying gaps, and proposing actionable solutions, the project will contribute to the creation of safer online environments worldwide. The primary focus should be on regions with significant internet usage growth and varying online safety standards. These include 1. Africa 2. North America 3. Latin America/Caribbean 4. Asia/Australia/Pacific 5. Europe *Project Objectives:*1. Identify key trends, challenges, and best practices in online safety across different sectors. 2. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing online safety policies and regulations. 3. Provide actionable insights and recommendations for improving online safety standards globally. 4. Assess regional variations and propose solutions to bridge gaps in online safety practices. 5. Create a benchmark report that will serve as a reference for policymakers, organizations, and internet users to enhance their online safety measures. *Scope of Work:*1. Conduct extensive research on global online safety policies, practices, and emerging threats. 2. Gather data from diverse sources, including industry reports, regulatory frameworks, and case studies. 3. Engage with stakeholders, including industry experts, policymakers, and end-users, to gather insights and feedback on online safety challenges and priorities. 4. Analyze data to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. 5. Produce a comprehensive report, including a benchmark framework, key findings, and actionable recommendations for enhancing online safety. *Eligibility Requirements:*1. Applicants must be organizations, not individuals. 2. No one from the applicant organization should hold any leadership role within the Internet Society Online Safety SIG. 3. Organizations must have demonstrable experience in cybersecurity, online safety, or related fields. *Conflict of Interest:*1. Organizations must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. 2. Applicants must confirm that no member of the team is affiliated with the leadership team of the Online Safety SIG. Know your leadership team: https://www.internetsociety.org/sigs/online-safety/ 3. The leadership team of the Internet Society Online Safety SIG or anyone closely related to the leadership team cannot be a part of the applicant organization. *Outline the project scope and expected deliverables, such as:*1. A comprehensive report detailing global trends in online safety. 2. Data collection and analysis methodology. 3. Case studies or examples from diverse geographical regions. 4. A benchmarking framework for evaluating online safety practices. *Terms & Conditions:*1. Organizations should demonstrate a clear understanding of the global online safety landscape. 2. The final report will be subject to review by the Internet Society Online Safety SIG, and revisions may be required. 3. The final report and all research materials will be the property of the Internet Society Online Safety SIG. 4. All proposals must be submitted by 20th October, 2024. 5. The selection process will be transparent, and any potential biases or conflicts of interest will be avoided. Total budget allocation for the proposed project should not be more than *7,000 USD.* All proposals must be submitted by *20th October, 2024.* Successfully Applicant will be contacted by* 8th November, 2024.* If you have any questions or need further clarification, please send us an email at online-safety(a)isoccommunity.org - - -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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Research on AI and Online Discussions
by Patrick Lowenthal 30 Sep '24

30 Sep '24

Dear faculty, We are exploring instructors' perceptions and experiences using online discussions in hybrid, remote, and online courses in higher education since the emergence of AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT). We are specifically interested in *how instructors think AI has or will change the use of online discussions* and any changes made due to the increased use of AI. We will use the results to educate faculty and staff on ways to improve their use of online discussions. Participation is voluntary. The survey *takes 10 minutes*; you may withdraw from participation at any time. Your answers will remain anonymous. *https://boisestate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2uzpXpCZ50hJu2a* <https://boisestate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2uzpXpCZ50hJu2a> Thank you for your consideration. Please also consider sharing this with your colleagues. Sincerely, *Patrick Lowenthal* Professor, Boise State University 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725 208-426-3952 or patricklowenthal(a)boisestate.edu *Amy Vecchione* Professor, Boise State University 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725 amyvecchione(a)boisestate.edu

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