- Air-L - lists.aoir.org

social change?
by André Brock 31 Jul '12

31 Jul '12

via Radhika: I find many usability surveys that test for how the interface is usable or not - but they dont necessarily test for the effectiveness of content in relation to conveying the social change and advocacy part … This describes information science in a nutshell. Can i steal? André

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CFP: Computer Games and Technical Communication
by deWinter, Jennifer 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

I know that some of us on this list work with games or in tech-comm, so I thought that I would include the cfp here: CFP: Computer Games and Technical Communication: Critical Methods & Applications at the Intersection (Edited Collection) This book collection of essays investigates the multiple intersections between the study of computer games and the discipline of Technical and Professional Writing for both research and pedagogical purposes. At the most basic level of this intersection is the simple observation that games are both technical and symbolic. The gaming industry pushes technological innovation through complex dialectics amongst large and small game developers, hardware developers, distributors, consumers, hackers, congress people, journalists, ESRB raters, parents, IP lawyers, and many others besides. Further, computer games are symbolically communicative, relying on written, verbal, visual, algorithmic, audio, and kinesthetic information to convey information. Technical and Professional Writing scholars are uniquely poised to investigate this intersection between the technical and symbolic aspects of the computer game complex. To add to this observation is recent research in the ways in which computer games proceduralize learning and processes. In his book Persuasive Games, Ian Bogost writes “Procedurality refers to a way of creating, explaining, or understanding processes. And Processes define the way things work: the methods, techniques, and logics that drive the operation of systems from mechanical systems like engines to organizational systems like high schools to conceptual systems like religious faith. Rhetoric refers to the effective and persuasive expression. Procedural rhetoric, then, is a practice of using processes persuasively” (2-3). The idea that processes are rhetorical is nothing new in the field of technical and professional writing. However, with this emphasis on procedurality in games studies comes an ethical critique as articulated by Sicart’s “Against Procedurality.” Sicart’s argument calls attention to the formalist understanding of games as oppressive systems, and game studies as a whole would be better served by remembering players as heterogeneous interlocutors in complex processes. At this intersection, we see a struggle between the ideology of rules (static expressions) and play (free expressions). In addition to these primary intersections, there are a number of other intersections that this book will explore, including the following: * Games are database-driven: they collect massive amounts of data from players and their interactions. * Games are procedural: they are rule-based systems that encourage players to test their boundaries. This testing behavior encourages hacking culture and provides insight into mobile and ubiquitous computing, user experience design, and usability. * Games are used to train workers and students. * Games are technically produced; they go through a rigorous development process that relies on specialized documentation and testing. * Gaming cultures provide avenues for community and identity formation for technical and professional communicators to research and participate in. * Gamification, or the process of turning everyday activities into games in order to compare worker productivity, student learning, or similar, is fast becoming big business. Questions that authors might consider: Production and Pedagogy * What types of documentation support computer games as technical artifacts? * What do the documentation practices in the computer games industry have something to instruct Technical and Professional Writing as a field? * Who are the actors in game-based documentation (technical writers, fans, game developers, etc.) and how do they shape the intersection of games and technical writing? * How might race, gender, age, and sexual orientation play out in the computer game complex as they particularly intersect with documentation? * How does the increasingly globalized production and circulation of computer games affect documentation practices? How might national markets and globalized markets work in conjunction or against one another complicate the types of communication that occur? What might professional writers in this field need to do to navigate the dynamic workplaces engendered by these tensions? Pedagogy * How are computer games used to teach technical writing? What are the strengths of the medium for teaching? What are the weaknesses of the medium for teaching technical and professional writing in particular? * Several scholars and game developers advocate gamification as an inherently advantageous pedagogy. What happens when gamification fails? When is it not advantageous? * How can games be used to teach procedural approaches to complex activities (in lieu of manuals, for example)? User Testing and Playtesting * What are the similarities and differences between usability testing and playtesting? * What can Technical and Professional Writing as a field learn from playtesting? Research Methods & Ethics * What methodologies can researchers employ at the intersection of games studies and technical writing? How might these methodologies account for the complexities of production, global circulation, and participatory consumption? * What are the ethical considerations concerning ownership, power, participatory culture, and content that researchers in technical writing should consider in game studies? Please provide the editors with a 250-word abstract of your proposal by September 12th, 2012. Full drafts of accepted articles will be required by March 15th, 2013. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the editors: Jennifer deWinter at jdewinter(a)wpi.edu<mailto:jdewinter@wpi.edu> and Ryan Moeller at rylish.moeller(a)usu.edu<mailto:rylish.moeller@usu.edu>. ---------------------------------------------------------- Jennifer deWinter, PhD Assistant Professor of Rhetoric Co-Director, Professional Writing Interactive Media and Game Development, Associated Faculty Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Ignite-IR 13.0 Deadline Extended to 15 August 2012
by Alexander Halavais 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Hello, everyone, It's great to see people registering for the conference and getting ready for Salford. Getting excited about meeting many of you there. For the second year, the Internet Research conference will offer the opportunity to present short, five minute talks in rapid succession. Presenters provide a deck of twenty slides, which will auto-advance each fifteen seconds. The deadline for proposals (which consist of a paragraph summarizing your presentation and answering a series of questions) is 15 August. Like pecha-kucha, Ignite is formed around a formalism: you must create a “deck” of 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds. This represents a radical departure from the traditional paper presentation, and is focused on telling an enlightening story, making an argument, and inciting an audience to come to your way of thinking and action. Keep the logos, but add pathos: humor, wit, rhetorical (and physical) stunts are encouraged. It’s academic stand-up. The Ignite format of talks started in Seattle, but by now there are thousands of people who have given them. Many of these can be found here: http://igniteshow.com/ You might also take a look at: http://www.speakerconfessions.com/2009/06/how-to-give-a-great-ignite-talk/ Some things to note: * You may propose an Ignite-IR talk even if you already have a paper accepted–it does not count against your presentation cap. * While it can be related to a later research talk, it should not be a “preview”–the Ignite-IR talk should stand on its own. To propose a session, please submit the form found here: http://bit.ly/igniteir13 If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at prez(a)aoir.org. Best, Alex -- -- // // This email is // [x] assumed public and may be blogged / forwarded. // [ ] assumed to be private, please ask before redistributing. // // Alexander C. Halavais, ciberflâneur // http://alex.halavais.net //

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Assistant Professor position in Communication at Lake Forest College
by Park, David 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Air-ers: Hi. See below. Internet researchers are encouraged to apply. Thanks, Dave Lake Forest College Position: Assistant Professor of Communication, Tenure-track. The Department of Communication at Lake Forest College seeks applicants for a full-time, tenure-track position at Assistant Professor rank, to commence in August 2013. Ph.D. in communication expected by the time of appointment. The person hired to this position should both complement and deepen our course offerings, and will be expected to teach Introduction to Communication (which must introduce media studies and rhetoric) and either Rhetorical Criticism, or Communication Research Methods (which must cover quantitative and qualitative approaches). Beyond this, any contribution the candidate could make to the department's offerings in journalism and film studies should be noted. The successful candidate will be expected to teach beyond any single specialty and will also have an active research program. The Department of Communication at Lake Forest College is dedicated to two distinct areas in the field of communication: media studies and rhetoric. All teaching in the department is performed with these emphases (and their potential connections) in mind. Faculty members normally teach 3 courses per semester (introductory to advanced undergraduate). Other duties will include: advising and directing senior research projects. Preliminary interviews will be held at the NCA Convention in Orlando, FL. A highly selective liberal arts college located in a suburb of Chicago, Lake Forest College enrolls approximately 1,500 students from over 47 states and 78 countries. At Lake Forest College, the quality of a faculty member’s teaching is the most important criterion for evaluation. The College also expects peer-reviewed publication or creative works and active participation in the College community. Lake Forest College embraces diversity throughout all of its constituencies and encourages applications from women and members of historically underrepresented groups. Send letter of application, curriculum vitae, and evidence of teaching excellence to: commsearch(a)mx.lakeforest.edu<mailto:commsearch@mx.lakeforest.edu> . In addition, arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to this email address. The letter of application and letters of recommendation should be addressed to: David Park, Chair, Department of Communication, Lake Forest College, 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. All materials must be received by October 15, 2012.

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Re: [Air-L] Criteria for proving that online data (especially forum comments) are real?
by Maria Eronen 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

I want to thank you all for your helpful information about online data validity. Since I'm analyzing morality in celebrity forum discussions, I've been pondering a lot about the issues of trustworthiness in the digital space. My material involves very hostile commenting (even death threats to particular celebrities). A lot of that data is now omitted from the internet - I think because it is illegal to be accessed in public. Interestingly the issue of data trustworthiness touches both research (research ethics, reseach credibility - Michael dealt with these two issues very thoroughly) and the actual participation online. Who can you trust? What is the criteria of trustworthiness? Maybe this sounds like a science fiction thing, but I think Rushing and Frentz (1995: 180, "Projecting the Shadow: The Cyborg Hero in American Film") have described this phenomenon of untrustworthiness very well by introducing the problem of shadow. The "shadow" is not the real 'self' but an outcome of technological proximity in which the part of us that is projected onto the other is rejected. One may ask, where do we situate our trust in digital environments? One may also ask where do we situate our trust when internet research is concerned - in the mercurial digital space itself or in a researcher and her description? Maria

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CFP Reminder: Doctor Who Fan Phenomena (15 AUG)
by Paul Booth 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Hi! Apologies for the cross-post. I just wanted to let everyone know that the deadline (15 AUG) is rapidly approaching for submitting abstracts for the Doctor Who Fan Phenomena title by Intellect Press. This series aims to explore and decode the fascination we have with what constitutes an iconic or cultish phenomenon and how a particular person, TV show or film character/film infiltrates their way into the public consciousness. The Doctor Who (Fan Phenomena) title will look at particular examples of Doctor Who fan culture and approach the subject in an accessible manner aimed at both fans and those interested in the cultural and social aspects of Doctor Who and fan culture. The editor is particularly interested in exploring the changing characteristics of Doctor Who fandom, from scholars and fans alike, over the fifty-year history of the programme. As such, we invite papers that address the nature of fandom, the unique attributes of Doctor Who fandom specifically, or the relationship between Doctor Who as a multi-generational text and its fans. Other topics could include (but are not limited to): • Fandom of specific Doctors • Changing norms of fandom • How one knows he/she is a fan • Aca-Fandom • The influence of other factors on Doctor Who fandom • Fandom of Doctor Who ancillary products, like the Big Finish audio or Virgin book titles • Specific fan practices (vidding, fanfic, cosplay, et al.) • Multi-generational fandom • Doctor Who conventions • Gender/Sexuality in Doctor Who fandom • New Who vs. Classic Who fandom • Fandom of Doctor Who DVD • Fan collecting • Learning through Doctor Who This book is aimed at both fans and those interested in the cultural and social aspects of Doctor Who. The book is intended to be entertaining, informative, and generally jargon-free (or at least jargon-lite). Abstracts should be 300 words long. Please also send a CV or resume with your abstract. Abstracts due 15 Aug 2012. Final chapters of 3000-3500 words will be due 01 Nov 2012. The final book will include ten chapters. Please direct all questions and submissions to Paul Booth, pbooth(a)depaul.edu. -- Paul Booth, PhD Assistant Professor of Media and Cinema Studies/Communication Technology College of Communication DePaul University 14 E. Jackson Chicago, IL 60604

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Learning, Media and Technology - call for proposals for 2014 guest edited special issue
by Rebecca Eynon 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

* Apologies for cross posting * We are currently inviting proposals from potential guest editors willing to produce a special issue of the Taylor & Francis journal Learning, Media and Technology. The issue will be published in 2014 (volume 39) on a theme of the guest editors’ choice. The team should consist of two (or more) guest editors. Applicants should have a clear vision of the purpose and content of their special issue – outlining the theme and rationale of their proposed special issue in no more than 500 words. The deadline for proposals is September 7th 2012 (the successful guest editorial team will be notified by October 1st 2012) Further details, and guidance on how to submit a proposal can be found here: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/cfp/cjemcfp.pdf Many thanks Rebecca Eynon and Neil Selwyn LMT Editorial team

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Open access e-book: Digital Passages. Moroccan-Dutch youths performing diaspora, gender and youth cultural identities across digital space
by Leurs, K.H.A. (Koen) 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Dear AIR-L members, Apologies for my shameless self-promotion: over the last couple of years I have benefited from discussions on the mailinglist during the research for and writing of my dissertation. After defending the thesis, it has been published as an open-access e-book: Digital Passages. Moroccan-Dutch youths performing diaspora, gender and youth cultural identities across digital space The book can be downloaded in pdf form from: http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2012-0614-200543/UUindex.…<blocked::http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2012-0614-200543/UUindex.html> Summary: Digital Passages considers how the relations between gender, diaspora and youth culture are digitally articulated by Moroccan-Dutch youths between the age of 12 and 18 years old. Combining new media, gender and postcolonial theory, a transdisciplinary analysis is carried out of a young ethnic-minority population whose contribution to digital culture was undertheorized. In particular I explored how Moroccan-Dutch youths appropriate digital spaces in order to convey their belongings across multiple axes of identification such as gender, sexuality, diaspora, religion and youth-culture. The study was conducted in the context of Wired Up, a research project funded by a Utrecht University High Potential grant, bringing together humanities and social science scholars to analyze digital media use among migrant youths. Together with other Wired Up researchers, a large-scale survey was developed. 1408 students in seven secondary schools completed this survey. Furthermore, in-depth interviews were carried out with a group of 43 Moroccan-Dutch youths, 21 girls and 22 boys, between the age of 12 and 18 years old. Online, narratives were gathered through participant observation. >From the survey I learned that Moroccan-Dutch youths consider online discussion forums, instant messaging (IM), online social networking sites (SNSs) and video sharing platforms most important. These four types of digital space were analyzed on a case-study basis. Survey data showed computer ownership and Internet access is widespread among Moroccan-Dutch youths, however I revealed that digital divides go beyond ownership and access. Exploring how offline exclusionary mechanisms travel online and establish new digital divides, I unraveled how technological decisions and mainstream user preferences contribute to medium-specific spatial hierarchies. The focus was in fact on the ways in which hierarchies are subverted from below and how the medium-specificity of each of the four applications studied informs these processes differently. An inventory was made of space invader strategies Moroccan-Dutch youths employ to cope with multiple forms of inequality. With the title Digital Passages, I referred not only to their navigation across bordered digital spaces, but also capture the digitization of key identity formation processes such as voice, romance, affectivity and the negotiation of coming-of-age, gender, diaspora, generational, religious and youth cultural expectations. Rather than a straightforward continuation of migrant cultural legacies the informants are actively transforming those legacies in ways that resonate with the dominant local and global youth cultures in which they grow up. My cartography of Moroccan-Dutch youths' multi-spatial digital identity performativity provides a history of the present full of promises but also full of personal experiences of struggle. The relationship between profit-driven digital templates and user cultures and conveying belonging across multiple axes of identification remains intricate and complex. At certain points, the private/public and online/offline world overlap or augment one another and at others they collide, providing room for re-signification. The boys and girls I interviewed are confronted with various aspects of Dutch multicultural society: while they are often considered the other, in their everyday digital convivial encounters they nevertheless also establish and connect new passages between their Dutch, Moroccan-Dutch, Muslim, gender, diaspora and youth cultural belongings. I'm looking forward to receiving any comments and/or questions you might have. Hope this is of interest, Best wishes, Koen Leurs Koen Leurs, PHD | Utrecht University | Muntstraat 2a, 3512 EV Utrecht | tel. 030-253 7859 | K.H.A.Leurs(a)uu.nl<blocked::mailto:K.H.A.Leurs@uu.nl> | www.uu.nl/wiredup<blocked::http://www.uu.nl/wiredup> | www.koenleurs.net<blocked::http://www.koenleurs.net/> | www.digitalcrossroads.nl<blocked::http://www.digitalcrossroads.nl/>

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Reminder: Call for Proposals: Cybersafety stream for the 2013 World Congress on Family Law and Childern's Rights
by Jeremy Blackman 30 Jul '12

30 Jul '12

Hi all, Just a friendly reminder that the deadline for proposals for the cybersafety stream at the 2013 World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights (in Sydney), is looming. We would welcome your input to the Congress. Please see the letter below, which outlines the call for proposals. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss. It's shaping up to be a fabulous congress. Kind regards, Jeremy. Re: Call for session proposals for the 6th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights, Sydney, 17-20 March 2013 I am writing to invite you to participate in the 6th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights to be held in Sydney from 17-20 March 2013. The World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights is a significant event held every four years to bring international attention to the serious issue of the safety of children. Supported by the United Nations, the World Congress is an Australian initiative with worldwide support and recognition. Attracting judges, lawyers, legislators, policy makers, doctors, healthcare professionals, non-government organisations, educators and human rights organisations, the World Congress seeks outcomes that promote and protect the rights of children. For further information about the event, you can visit the official website at: www.lawrights.asn.au/ While the conference predominantly focuses on law and children's rights, the 2013 Congress provides The Alannah and Madeline Foundation with an opportunity to emphasise the integral role that schools, the community and children can play in cybersafety education and innovation. The Alannah and Madeline Foundation has been asked to partner with the 6th World Congress to organise a stream dedicated to cybersafety issues and best practice. We invite you and/or those in your networks to submit a proposal for a session as part of the cybersafety stream, which we envisage to encompass the following broad issues: * Cybersafety: youth, children and the legal frameworks * Psychology and sociology of online behaviour * Cybersafety education and the role of schools, children, families and the community * Disadvantaged and vulnerable youth in the online world * The nature and design of online environments and their suitability for youth * Positive opportunities for youth in the online world. In striving for an informative and engaging event, we are assembling a range of presentation types, from lecture-style to highly interactive workshops. Further information regarding submissions can be found below. The deadlines for proposal submissions are as follows: * Call for proposals closes: Friday 3rd August * Inform speakers: Friday 17th August We hope you will give consideration to becoming involved in the 6th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights; it will have a major impact in helping to protect children in Australia and across the world. The Foundation is coordinating the cybersafety stream, so please send your proposals and/or queries to: Jeremy Blackman, Senior Cybersafety Specialist - jeremy.blackman(a)amf.org.au or +61 (3) 9697 0666. Yours sincerely, The Hon. Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) Chair Overview of proposal submissions: Presentations will not necessarily be restricted to any of the six cybersafety themes listed above. There is room to consider sessions on any area of cybersafety that might be of interest to an international congress. Session length: 45 or 90 minutes Proposal length: 150 - 200 words Proposal to contain: * Overview of session content * Description of format (e.g. lecture style, workshop, interactive discussion) * Intended outcome(s) of session (i.e. the key concepts your audience members will take away) * Ideal session length (45 or 90 minutes) * Name and contact details of presenter(s). Please send proposals to: Jeremy Blackman, Senior Cybersafety Specialist - jeremy.blackman(a)amf.org.au or +61 (3) 9697 0666. All proposals will be reviewed by The Alannah and Madeline Foundation's World Congress Committee before being accepted.

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FW: [ciresearchers] Reminder, final deadline for abstracts: Journal of Community Informatics CFP: Southern Africa Special Issue
by michael gurstein 29 Jul '12

29 Jul '12

From: shaun.pather(a)gmail.com [mailto:shaun.pather@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Shaun Pather Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 7:18 AM To: ciresearchers(a)vancouvercommunity.net; ci-research-sa(a)vcn.bc.ca Cc: Jackie Phahlamohlaka; joci(a)cput.ac.za Joci Subject: [ciresearchers] Reminder, final deadline for abstracts: Journal of Community Informatics CFP: Southern Africa Special Issue Dear Colleagues Thank you for all those who have already submitted their extended abstracts. We have also received a few request over the past week, for a few extra days to submit abstracts, as the CFP did not reach some constituencies. As such the deadline for abstract submission has been extended to Thursday 02 August. Extended Abstract submission (750 - 100 words): Email to: joci(a)cput.ac.za Subject header: JOCI abstract submission A response on abstract acceptance will be made by 06 August. The original call is reposted below. Please refer to the attached for more details. --------------------------------------- We have pleasure in announcing a call for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Community Informatics, focusing on Southern African countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe). University academics in South Africa should take note that JoCI is indexed by the IBSS, and published research articles will therefore be eligible for accreditation at your universities. We welcome submissions of completed research articles, case studies or book reviews relating to the following: . Internet and ICT use and appropriation by specific groups, especially disadvantaged groups; . The use of ICTs for community based service delivery as for example in health, municipal services, education, amongst others; . Internet content production (blogs, sites, etc.) aimed at social and community development; . The role of mobile telephony in a Community Informatics context in relation to grassroots development; . Analyses of initiatives for democratization of internet and ICT for social development; . Policy analysis of specific countries or cross-country analyses of national policy and how this relates to community based use of ICTs; . Investigations of the social, political and cultural aspects of the 'digital divide'; . Community informatics as it relates to e-Democracy, e-Participation, and e-Government; . Political and private initiatives for digital inclusion in education, and for cultural production and preservation; . Joint public and private actions and policies related to digital inclusion; . Cybersecurity for Community Informatics. The above list is not exhaustive and we welcome submissions of papers on other topics but which have a strong Community Informatics theme. You may contact either of the special issue editors if you want to clarify the scope of your submission. Important Dates: 1. Submission of extended abstracts (750-1000 words): 02 August 2012 2. Article submission: September 06th 2012 3. Final article due: December 15th 2012 4. Publication: February 2013 **Please refer to attached CFP for further details and submission procedures. -------------------------- Special issue editors: Shaun Pather: <mailto:pathers@cput.ac.za> pathers(a)cput.ac.za Jackie Phahlamohlaka: <mailto:jphahlamohlaka@csir.co.za> jphahlamohlaka(a)csir.co.za

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