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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">=============================================================================<BR>DEADLINE
EXTENDED – PAPER SUBMISSION STILL
OPEN<BR>=============================================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">SLACTIONS
2009<BR>Research conference in the Second Life® world - Life, imagination, and
work using metaverse platforms<BR><BR>September 24-26,
2009<BR><BR>http://www.slactions.org/<BR><BR>=============================================================================<BR>DEADLINE
EXTENDED – PAPER SUBMISSION STILL
OPEN<BR>=============================================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 4.1pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 4.1pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in"><SPAN
lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The
metaverse is emerging, through the increasing use of virtual world technologies
that act as platforms for end-users to create, develop, and interact, expanding
the realm of human cooperation, interaction, and creativity. The conference
focus is scientific research on applications and developments of these metaverse
platforms: Second Life, OpenSim, Open Croquet, Activeworlds, Open Source
Metaverse, Project Wonderland, and others, providing a forum for the research
community to present and discuss innovative approaches, techniques, processes,
and research results.<BR><BR>SLACTIONS 09 is the first international conference
held simultaneously in several countries on the topic of metaverse platforms.
SLACTIONS 09 aims at covering most areas currently enabled by metaverse
platforms, from educational research to content production, from gender studies
to media distribution, and from metaverse-based branding, advertising, and
fundraising to emerging mash-ups and technology applications. SLACTIONS 09 is
unique in its format too, as a one-of-a kind event conducted both in a metaverse
platform (Second Life) and on-site in multiple countries throughout the world.
SLACTIONS will thus contribute to the current redefinition of the way we think
about hybrid online and on-site scholarly collaborations.<BR><BR>Whereas
metaverse platforms are no longer a novel topic, they still pose challenges for
the adaption of conventional instructional and business practices, research
methodologies, and communication practices. We are looking forward to presenting
a program of research results, case studies, panel discussions, and
demonstrations that scholars, educators, and businesses can port to their own
environments and apply in their research, teaching, and business strategy. We
will accept papers from the full spectrum of intellectual disciplines and
technological endeavors in which metaverse platforms are currently being used:
from Education to Business, Sociology to Social Sciences, Media Production to
Technology Development, Architecture and Urban Planning to the
Arts.<BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Publication
venues<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">All
accepted papers will be published on-line and in an ISBN-registered
CD-ROM/DVD-ROM of proceedings.<BR>The Scientific Committee will invite authors
of selected full papers to provide revised and expanded versions for publication
in an ISBN-registered book.<BR>The authors of the best papers will be invited to
provide revised and expanded versions for publications in special editions of
journals or as single contributions to theme-specific journals:<BR><BR>Computer
& Graphics (ISSN 0097-8493, SCI)<BR>* Best paper on computer graphics -
invitation to submit expanded version.<BR><BR>International Journal of
Technology Enhanced Learning (ISSN 1753-5255)<BR>* Special issue with expanded
versions of selected papers on education.<BR><BR>Journal of Theoretical and
Applied Electronic Commerce Research (ISSN 0718–1876)<BR>* Selected papers on
e-commerce and e-business.<BR><BR>VIRTual (ISSN 0873-1837)<BR>* Special issue
with expanded versions of selected papers on visualization, interactive systems
and pattern recognition.<BR><BR>Check out www.slactions.org regularly for more
information and developments on the book publisher, book series, and journal
venues for best
papers.<BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Topics
covered may include but are not limited to:<BR><BR>* Accessibility in metaverse
platforms<BR>* Advanced scientific visualization in metaverse
platforms<BR>* Automatic content generation<BR>* Behavioral studies in
the metaverse<BR>* Combination of metaverse platforms with external systems
(e-learning, e-business, etc.)<BR>* Communicational paradigms in the
metaverse<BR>* Content management<BR>* Creativity, design, and arts on
the metaverse<BR>* E-business and e-commerce
applications<BR>* Educational research, applications, and case
studies<BR>* Embodiment in metaverses and Gender
Studies<BR>* GIS/metaverse mash-ups<BR>* Integration between metaverse
platforms<BR>* Nonprofit activities and fundraising<BR>* Quantitative
and qualitative research methodologies<BR>* Social Sciences studies in or
through metaverse platforms<BR>* Space representation, use, and management
in metaverses<BR>* Using metaverse platforms for
cooperation<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Format<BR><BR>SLACTIONS
09 has the format of a hybrid online and physical conference. All paper
presentations and plenary sessions by guest speakers will be held on-line in the
Second Life virtual world, and projected locally for participants attending
physically. Physical participants can interact with the online participants via
a "physical chapter avatar" and microphone.<BR>Participants will also be able to
follow the proceedings broadcast on the Web and interact via a text chat
applet.<BR><BR>Workshops and other events are conducted locally – or in mixed
format accross several participating chapters – and chapters may held local
topical round
tables.<BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Submissions<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><BR>Authors
are invited to submit:<BR><BR>* A full paper of eight to ten pages for oral
presentation<BR>* A "work in progress" paper of 4 pages for oral
presentation<BR>* A Flickr image or YouTube video, indexed with the tag
“slactions 09” for poster presentations ‘in-world’ or presentation in SL using a
creative format<BR><BR>All submissions are subject to a double blind review
process and should be professionally proofread before submission. All
manuscripts should be formatted according to the ASIS&T proceedings
template.<BR><BR>(Disclaimer: SLACTIONS 2009 is not associated with
ASIS&T.)<BR>No manuscripts will be accepted that do not meet the required
format.<BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Official
language of the conference:<BR><BR>The official language for the on-line space
and all submissions is English only. However, at the physical site of local
chapters you can also use the native language of that location.<BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">=============================================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Important
dates<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">First
call deadline: February 28th, 2009 -- CLOSED <BR>Second call deadline:
March 31st, 2009 -- OPEN<BR>March 31st, 2009 - Submission results provided to
authors of first call papers<BR><BR>April 30th, 2009 - Submission results
provided to authors of second call papers<BR>June 30th, 2009 - Deadline for
early registration<BR>July 31st, 2009 - Deadline for print-ready versions of
accepted papers<BR>September 24-26th, 2009 -
Conference<BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Local
chapters<BR><BR>Belgium - Ghent University<BR>Brazil/Rio Grande do Sul -
Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos)<BR>Brazil/São Paulo -
Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo<BR>Finland - Jyväskylän
yliopisto<BR>Hong Kong - Hong Kong Polytechnic University<BR>Israel - HIT/Holon
Institute of Technology<BR>Portugal - Braga, joint organization of Universidade
de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Universidade do Minho, Universidade de Aveiro,
Universidade do Porto<BR>USA/Texas - University of Texas-Austin<BR>USA/West
Coast - University of California-Berkeley<BR><BR>Note: If you believe your
institution can hold a physical chapter in an as-yet unsupported region, please
contact the organization at info@slactions.org.<BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">=============================================================================<BR><BR>Programme
Committee<BR><BR>Aaron Walsh, GRID Institute / Boston College, USA<BR>Adriana
Bruno, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil<BR>Ahmer
Iqbal, Jyväskylän yliopisto, Finland<BR>Ana Boa-Ventura, University of
Texas-Austin, USA<BR>António Ramires Fernandes, Universidade do Minho,
Portugal<BR>Augusto Abade, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal<BR>Benjamim
Fonseca, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>Carlos Santos,
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal<BR>Daniel Gonçalves, Instituto Superior
Técnico, Portugal<BR>David Herold, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong
Kong<BR>Daiana Trein, Unisinos - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos,
Brazil<BR>Donizetti Louro, Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo,
Brazil<BR>Dor Abrahamson, University of California-Berkeley, USA<BR>Ederson
Locatelli, Unisinos - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil<BR>Eliane
Schlemmer, Unisinos (Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos), Brazil<BR>Hanan
Gazit, HIT-Holon Institute of Technology & MetaverSense Ltd.,
Israel<BR>Hilary Mason, Johnson & Wales University, USA<BR>George Siemens,
University of Manitoba, Canada<BR>Graham Attwell, University of Warwick,
UK<BR>Hugo Paredes, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro,
Portugal<BR>Jeremiah Spence, University of Texas-Austin, USA<BR>João Barroso,
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>João Varajão,
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>John Jamison,
imagiLEARNING, Inc., USA<BR>Julian Lombardi, The Croquet Consortium,
USA<BR>Leonel Morgado, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro,
Portugal<BR>Lucia Pesce, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo,
Brazil<BR>Luís Pedro, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal<BR>Lynn Alves,
Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Brazil<BR>Margarita Pérez-García, MENON
Network, Belgium<BR>Maria da Graça Moreira, Pontificia Universidade Católica de
São Paulo, Brazil<BR>Maria Toro-Troconis, Imperial College London, UK<BR>Marja
Kankaanranta, Jyväskylän yliopisto, Finland<BR>Martin Leidl, Technische
Universität Darmstadt, Germany<BR>Martin Valcke, Ghent University,
Belgium<BR>Miltiadis Lytras, Athens University of Economics and Business,
Greece<BR>Moez Limayem, University of Arkansas, USA<BR>Narciso Cerpa Torres,
Universidad de Talca, Chile<BR>Nelson Zagalo, Universidade do Minho,
Portugal<BR>Niall Winters, London Knowledge Lab, UK<BR>Patricia Hannaway, Vivaty
Inc., USA<BR>Paulo Frias, Universidade do Porto, Portugal<BR>Paulo Martins,
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>Paul Penfold, Hong Kong
Polytechnic University, Hong Kong<BR>Pedro Almeida, Universidade de Aveiro,
Portugal<BR>Pedro Sequeira, Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior,
Portugal<BR>Peter Duffy, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong<BR>Pilar
Lacasa, Universidad de Alcalá, Spain<BR>Ramiro Gonçalves, Universidade de
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>Shalini Chandra, Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore<BR>Sneha Veeragoudar Harrell,University of
California-Berkeley, USA<BR>Stefan Göbel, ZGDV, Germany<BR>Steve Warburton,
King's College London, UK<BR>Suely Fragoso, Unisinos - Universidade do Vale do
Rio dos Sinos, Brazil<BR>Teresa Bettencourt, Universidade de Aveiro,
Portugal<BR>Theng Yin Leng, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore<BR>Tim
Savage, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland<BR>Vincent Ng, Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Hong Kong<BR>Yesha Sivan, Shenkar College and Metaverse Labs Ltd.,
Israel<BR><BR>=============================================================================<BR><BR>Organization<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Ana
Boa-Ventura, University of Texas-Austin, USA<BR>Leonel Morgado - Universidade de
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal<BR>Nelson Zagalo - Universidade do Minho,
Portugal<BR><BR>=============================================================================<BR>Contacts<BR>Organization:
info@slactions.org<BR></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>