From: sstone@weber.ucsd.edu (Allucquere Rosanne Stone) Subject: Third International Conference on Cyberspace Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1991 05:58:43 GMT Organization: University of California, San Diego **************************************************** * * * REVISED AND UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT * * * * THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CYBERSPACE * * * * MONTREAL, QUEBEC * * * * MAY 29-30, 1992 * * * **************************************************** Sponsored and hosted by DEPARTMENT OF COMPARATIVE LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL and GROUP FOR THE STUDY OF VIRTUAL SYSTEMS Center for Cultural Studies U.California, Santa Cruz ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Third International Conference on Cyberspace will be held May 29-30, 1992 at the University of Montreal. This is a call for abstracts, approximately fifteen of which will be selected for development and presentation at the Conference. All papers, and a number of selected abstracts, will be published in Proceedings, available late 1992. Abstracts should be between 600 and 1000 words, and are due by January 1, 1992. Submission of an abstract indicates the submitter's intention and capability to write and present the corresponding, full length paper, if chosen. Participation in the Conference is limited to 140 people in the following categories: 1. Participants who have been invited to present papers based on their abstracts. (Limit 15) 2. Participants who have submitted abstracts judged by the Program Committee to be of particular interest. (Limit 35) 3. Participants with creative and clearly stated interests in the topic who are involved with work on cyberspace in any capacity. (Limit 60) 4. Visitors & observers, who are not actively working in the field at this time but who have expressed interest in the subject. (Limit 30) Like the First Conference at Austin in 1990, and the Second International Conference in Santa Cruz in 1991, the Third International Conference on Cyberspace is not only about the enabling technology of virtual reality, 3-D user interfaces, networking, data visualization, or high speed computer graphics, but also the nature of cyberspace as such, conceived of as an independent realm, a shared virtual environment whose inhabitants, objects and spaces are data, but data which is visualized, heard and (perhaps) touched. It seeks to reach an understanding of how the components of cyberspace already "under construction" in the development and design of graphic user interfaces, scientific visualization techniques, video games, CAD, abstract architecture and architectural design theory, knowledge navigation, "cyberpunk" discourse, cultural studies, film and narrative theory, virtual and artificial reality systems, MUDs, INTERNET, USENET and other networks, groupware, and hypermedia might someday function together to create a true, public cyberspace, as well as private, special-purpose cyberspaces: viable, 3-dimensional, alternate realities providing the maximum number of individuals with the means of communication, creativity, productivity, mobility, and control over the shapes of their lives within the new information and media environment. The Third International Conference on Cyberspace is scheduled to take place in six sessions over two days and two nights. The sessions are outlined below: I. WHY CYBERSPACE? Representative subtopics: the nature/ validity/lessons of William Gibson's vision; cyberspace and mythology; the nature of work and power in an "informated" society; cyberspace as the site of multinational/ multilocational business; the role of cyberspace in corporate life and the corporation in cyberspace; implosion and media; global vs. local vs. private systems; costs and benefits of reifying information; the directions and futures of computing and virtual world systems... II. LOGICAL AND ONTOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. Representative subtopics: space-time axiomatics; magic vs. logic; the presence of self and others; the meaning of travel and action; what is "natural" in a computer-constructed environment?; the framing of cyberspace; strategies of search and navigation; requisite levels of structure and consensus; surveillance, security, privacy, and control in cyberspace; dealing with subjectivity in virtual space; body as metaphor; rethinking clothing, body surface, prosthesis; augmented reality and/or embodied virtuality?... III. EVENING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION. All topics discussed; a moderated forum with speakers, special invited guests, and conference participants. IV. REPRESENTING AND MANIPULATING DATA IN SPACE. Natural vs. artificial coordinate systems; the form and meaning of data objects; state, phase, and abstract spaces of scientific visualization; 3-dimensional user interface design; alternative spatiotemporal metaphors from "physical reality"; ambiguity, complexity and learning; visual languages; art and science together at last?; real world control and feedback; human performance with abstract stimuli; group behavior; art and image; telepresence, teleconferencing, tele-?. . . V. VISUALIZATIONS and DEMONSTRATIONS . Literary, graphic, or computer examples of, attempts at, and designs for cyberspace, at the public or private scale; demonstrations of products and components; discussion of legal, economic, and technological factors in the institution of cyberspace(s); architecture in, and the architecture of, cyberspace; computational models for virtual world interfaces, languages, and large communication and data network protocols... VII. DINNER AND WRAP UP. Summary, discussion, and setting of date and place of the Fourth International Conference on Cyberspace. LOCATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS. The Conference will be held at the University of Montreal in Quebec Province. There are many fine hotels in the Montreal area that provide spacious and comfortable accommodations. Special rates are being arranged for participants in the Conference. Details will be announced in the Second Call for Abstracts. LANGUAGES: The Third International Conference on Cyberspace will be bilingual in English and French. Papers will be accepted in either language. Translators will be provided at the Conference. TRANSPORTATION. For participants from the Americas, Dorval Airport is the entry point of choice; European participants may wish to use Mirabel. Transportation from Dorval to downtown Montreal by taxi costs CDN$20.00 (CDN$1.00=US$0.85). Transportation from Mirabel by taxi is costly (ca. CDN$50.00), but buses are reasonably inexpensive (ca. CDN$10.00). The subway suystem is clean and convenient and is well-coordinated with buses and other forms of transportation. RECREATION. Montreal is a fun city for food, with many varieties of excellent cuisine. Music is well represented in most of its modes, from classical, with an excellent symphony orchestra with Dutoit as chief conductor, to Jazz (Rising Sun, for example), Rock, and others. Ethnically, Montreal is very mixed, but with a predominantly French speaking population. * * * * * * * * * * * BUSINESS * * * * * * * * * * * DIRECTIONS FOR SUBMISSIONS Abstracts judged acceptable will be printed in Collected Abstracts exactly as received, so please observe these guidelines. Abstracts should ideally be between 600 and 1000 words, but in no case longer than 4 pages including a brief optional bio (one paragraph) if desired. Due to limitations on our abilities to handle large quantities of paper during the selection process, we cannot accept finished essays until the selection process is completed. Type or print abstracts on one side only of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper, allowing at least 1 inch margin all around. Do not number the pages. Submit one original and SIX copies; if possible, include a floppy disk version. Please observe the following format: TITLE Your name Your affiliation Proposed conference session Body of abstract (Optional one paragraph bio) DEADLINES. Deadline for submission of abstracts is JANUARY 1, 1992. Abstracts should be sent to the Correspondence address below. Notification of selection for presentation will be by FEBRUARY 1, 1992. Deadline for registration is MARCH 1, 1992. REGISTRATION. Cost of registration includes printed material, two lunches, and final dinner (Session VI). Registration for participants is US$180.00, which includes copies of the Collected Abstracts and preferred seating; registration for visitors and observers is US$100.00, and includes the Collected Abstracts and one lunch. Make checks payable to GROUP FOR THE STUDY OF VIRTUAL SYSTEMS. SCHOLARSHIPS. A limited number of registrations and accommodations will be made available at reduced rate to students and others demonstrating financial need. * * * * * * * * CORRESPONDENCE * * * * * * * * * * ADDRESS REGISTRATION AND RELEVANT QUESTIONS TO: Allucquere Rosanne Stone Department of Sociology University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA 92093-0102 Telephone: 619.534.0525 Fax: 619.534.4753 Email: virtual@cats.ucsc.edu ADDRESS ABSTRACTS AND ALL OTHER CORRESPONDENCE TO: Jean-Claude Guedon Departement de Litterature comparee Universite de Montreal PO Box 6128, Branch "A" Montreal Quebec H3C 3J7 Canada Telephone: 514.343.6208 Fax: 514.343.5683 Email: guedon@ere.umontreal.ca * * * * * * * The 1992 Program Committee * * * * * * * Jean-Claude Guedon (Program Chair) Department of Comparative Literature, University of Montreal Allucquere Rosanne Stone (Co-Chair) Group for the Study of Virtual Systems Center for Cultural Studies, U. California, Santa Cruz Department of Sociology, U.California, San Diego John Young Hughes Aircraft Corp., Maryland Martin Tuori Alias Research, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Michael Benedikt School of Architecture University of Texas at Austin Alan Wexelblat Bull Worldwide Information Systems Billerica, Massachusetts