Dear AoIR-ists: On behalf of our local chairs at Karlstad University - Malin Sveningsson, Ylva Hård af Segerstad, and Robert Burnett - Fay and I are very pleased to pass on the following announcements. If you need any excuse to visit Sweden right at Midsommer celebrations, this would do nicely ... == with apologies for duplications and cross-postings: *** SAVE and Register Early by 16 April 2004 *** International Conference on CULTURAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION (CATaC'04) 27 June - 1 July 2004, Karlstad, Sweden Conference theme: Off the shelf or from the ground up? ICTs and cultural marginalization, homogenization or hybridization Website: www.it.murdoch.edu.au/catac/ <http://www.it.murdoch.edu.au/catac/> ------------------------------------------------------- This biennial CATaC conference series provides a continuously expanding international forum for the presentation and discussion of current research on how diverse cultural attitudes shape the implementation and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). PROGRAM An exciting program made up of seven major themes has been arranged, including presenters from Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, UK and USA. See the conference website for paper details. Ample time is allowed for open discussions at the end of each session. The conference concludes with a workshop that provides initial synthesis and future directions for research and publication. PANELS CATaC04 also features two particular foci, each chaired by a distinguished colleague who has guided development of the panels. PANEL 1: The Multilingual Internet Panel Chairs: Susan Herring and Brenda Danet This panel focuses on how the Internet impacts language choice and linguistic practices in traditionally non-English speaking cultural contexts. PANEL 2: Utopian Dreams vs. Real-World Conditions: Under what conditions can ICTs really help worse off communities? Panel Chair: Michel Menou This panel focuses on how far ICTs can succeed in supporting culturally-appropriate development, and what appropriate answers to real-world conditions are required in order for our best efforts to realize the liberatory potentials of these technologies not be broken down. KEYNOTE SPEAKER Nina Wakeford, University of Surrey, UK ACCOMMODATION Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel, Ibis Hotel and Savoy Hotel. CONFERENCE DINNER The conference dinner will be held on Tuesday 29 June, in the restaurant at Rottneros Park (http://www.rottnerospark.se/). The Park is one of the most beautiful flower and sculpture parks in Scandinavia. Rottneros Park is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Karlstad. REGISTRATION Until 16 April, the conference registration fee is USD375 with further discounts for authors (one author discount fee per paper), reviewers, and full-time students. After 16 April, each fee type will increase by USD50. The registration fee includes technical sessions, panels, workshop, conference dinner and transport, reception, proceedings, lunches, morning and afternoon coffees. (Student registration fee _includes_ the conference dinner and transport.) See the registration form on the conference website for more information and REGISTER NOW. CONTACTS Charles Ess Drury University Tel: 417-873-7230; Fax: 417-873-7435 catac@it.murdoch.edu.au Fay Sudweeks Murdoch University Tel: 61-8-9360-2364; Fax: 61-8-9360-2941 catac@it.murdoch.edu.au