Please distribute the following call widely. Apologies in advance for cross-posting and multiple copies. ***************************************************** * * First Call For Papers * --------------------- * * COSIGN 2002 * * The 2nd International Conference on * * COMPUTATIONAL SEMIOTICS FOR GAMES AND NEW MEDIA * * Augsburg (Germany) * * 2nd September - 4th September, 2002 * * http://www.kinonet.com/conferences/cosign2002/ * ****************************************************** CONFERENCE SCOPE ==================== This cross-disciplinary conference explores the ways in which semiotics (and related theories such as structuralism and post-structuralism) can be applied to creating and analysing computer systems. It is intended for anyone with an interest in areas of overlap (or potential overlap) between semiotics and computers. This would include, but is not limited to, the following: computer scientists; HCI and AI practitioners; creators of expert systems; digital artists; designers; critics; semioticians; narratologists; etc. Semiotics is the study of signs, symbols and signification, and is therefore the study of how meaning is created, encoded and understood. Computational semiotics is understood here to be the application of semiotic theories to computer systems and interactive digital media. Three possible aspects of this are: - The way in which meaning can be created by, encoded in, or understood by, the computer (using systems or techniques based upon semiotics). - The way in which meaning in interactive digital media is understood by the viewer or user (again using systems or techniques based upon semiotics). - The way in which semiotics can be used as the starting point for a system for looking critically at the content of interactive digital media. Media that make use of the unique capabilities of digital systems are of particular interest to this conference. These include: hypermedia; content analysis systems (particularly those that extract higher-level meaning); the semantic web (and similar systems); multimedia and the internet; digital art, net art and other technology-based or technology-oriented art forms, computer games, interactive narratives and other forms of interactive entertainment; virtual reality systems and virtual environments. COSIGN 2002 invites submissions in the following categories: 1. Academic Papers 2. Artworks 3. Posters 4. Technical Demonstrations Details of the submission procedures are given below. Authors of accepted papers will be required to prepare an electronic version for the online conference proceedings (PDF), which will supplement the traditional printed volume. Information about the conference are available at the following web address: http://www.kinonet.com/conferences/cosign2002/ The programme and online proceedings for COSIGN 2001 are available at the following web address: http://www.kinonet.com/conferences/cosign2001/program.html IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES ============================= Academic Papers and Artworks Submission date: 27th March 2002 Acceptance will be notified on or around 6th May 2002 Camera-ready copy by 10th June 2002 Posters and Technical Demonstrations Submission date: 22nd April 2002 Acceptance will be notified on or around 21st May 2002 Camera-ready copy by 10th June 2002 SUBMISSION PROCEDURE ==================== 1. ACADEMIC PAPERS Papers are invited on any subject that explores areas of overlap (or potential overlap) between semiotics and interactive digital media. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, the following: - The use of semiotics in artificial intelligence and expert systems. - Software architectures and technologies using, based upon or inspired by semiotic theories, systems or models. - The use of semiotics in the creation of generative narrative systems, interactive digital games, entertainment and artworks. - The use of semiotics in the study and criticism of digital interactive media. - Narratology in games and new media. - Semiotic-orientated HCI. - Semiotics and Hypermedia. Papers should demonstrate an understanding of - and engagement with - the principles of semiotics (understood here as the study of signs) and gain something from this engagement. All papers must be submitted electronically (in either Postscript, Microsoft Word, RTF or PDF format) to Frank Nack at the following address: Frank.Nack@cwi.nl ------------------------------------------------------ Submission date for Academic Papers: 27th March 2002 Acceptance will be notified on or around 6th May 2002 PDF copy for the proceedings by 10th June 2002 ------------------------------------------------------ 2. ARTWORKS In addition to academic and theoretical papers, presentations of artworks of all forms and in all formats are invited. We are particularly interested in digital art, net art and other technology-based or technology-oriented art forms. Selection of work for presentation at the conference will be based upon its relevance to the themes of the conference, its interest in demonstrating or exploring the potential of new media, and its challenging of perceptions, theoretical assumptions, or understanding in any areas related to the conference. Selection may also be constrained by practical requirements for equipment, safety, etc. Final decisions will be made by the Artwork Committee. Artworks will be assessed on the basis of documentation of the work presented in the form of an online website. The website should display the following: - A textual description of the proposed artwork and any illustrations - A biography of the artist(s)/author(s) - Contact details Please submit the URL of the website containing your proposal in an email to Andy Clarke at the following address: andy@kinonet.com Those wishing to submit additional supporting material, such as videotapes, should contact Andy Clarke to make arrangements for this. No responsibility is taken by the COSIGN organisers for any such material, and all expenses for its return must be met by the artist. ------------------------------------------------------- Submission date for Artworks: 27th March 2002 Acceptance will be notified on or around 6th May 2002 PDF copy for the proceedings by 10th June 2002 ------------------------------------------------------- 3. POSTERS There will be an opportunity for researchers to present new work and ideas that are not yet ready for the full presentation. Short papers will be presented in poster format, and will be included in both the hardcopy and electronic proceedings. All papers must be submitted electronically (2 to 4 pages of A4 size, double spaced, in either Postscript, Microsoft Word, RTF or PDF format) to Clive Fencott at the following address: P.C.Fencott@tees.ac.uk ------------------------------------------------------- Submission date: 22nd April 2002 Acceptance will be notified on or around 21st May 2002 PDF copy for the proceedings by 10th June 2002 ------------------------------------------------------- 4. TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATIONS Demonstrations of relevant leading-edge work and work in progress are invited. Submissions will be peer-reviewed to ensure quality. Demonstration proposals must be submitted electronically (in either Postscript, Microsoft Word, RTF or PDF format) to Craig Lindley at the following address: craig.lindley@interactiveinstitute.se Those wishing to submit supporting material, such as videotapes, should contact Craig Lindley to make arrangements for this. ------------------------------------------------------------- Submission date for Technical Demonstrations: 22nd April 2001 Acceptance will be notified on or around 21st May 2001 PDF copy for the proceedings by 10th June 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------- ALTERNATIVE SUBMISSION PROCEDURE ================================ Authors and artists who have difficulty in making their submission in the appropriate form (as outlined above) should contact: Frank Nack CWI - INS2 Kruislaan 413 P.O. Box 94079, NL-1090 GB Amsterdam Email: Frank.Nack@cwi.nl Phone: +31 20 592 4223 Fax: +31 20 592 4312 ORGANISING COMMITTEE ==================== Elisabeth Andre - University of Augsburg (Germany) Andy Clarke - Kinonet (UK) Clive Fencott - University of Teeside (UK) Craig Lindley - Interactive Institute (Sweden) Grethe Mitchell - University of East London and Kinonet (UK) Frank Nack - CWI (Netherlands) PROGRAMME COMMITTEE =================== Elisabeth Andre - University of Augsburg (Germany) Wilton Azevedo - Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, (Brazil) Paul Brna - Leeds University (UK) Kevin Brooks - Motorola Human Interface Labs (USA) Andrew Clarke - Kinonet (UK) Clive Fencott - University of Teeside (UK) Mathias Fuchs - Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (Finland) Werner Kriechbaum - IBM (Germany) James Lester - North Carolina University (USA) Craig Lindley - Interactive Institute (Sweden) Grethe Mitchell - University of East London and Kinonet (UK) Frank Nack - CWI (Netherlands) Mirko Petric -University of Split (Croatia) Paolo Petta - OFAI (Austria) Doug Rosenberg - University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) Ola Stockfelt - University of Goteborg/University of Skovde (Sweden) Robert Wechsler - Palindrome Inter-media Performance Group (Germany) ARTWORK COMMITTEE ================= Jorge Luiz Antonio - Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) Andrew Clarke - Kinonet (UK) Silvia Eckermann - Digital Artist (Austria) Fatima Lasay - University of the Philippines (Philippines) Luca Marchetti - Anomos (France) Grethe Mitchell - University of East London and Kinonet (UK) Timothy Portlock - University of Illinois (USA) Emma Posey - Bloc (UK) David Rokeby - Digital Artist (Canada) Doug Rosenberg - University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) ************************************************ ---------- end of cfp