*** Virtual Worlds, Second Life and Metaverse
Platforms: New Communication and Identity Paradigms ***
A book edited by Nelson Zagalo, University of
Minho, Leonel Morgado, University of
Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, and Ana
Boa-Ventura, The University of Texas at Austin
To be published by IGI Global:
<http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=794>http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=794
***Introduction***
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 communication, and collaboration.
Researchers and scholars are experiencing the
importance of this new area. The private sector
is also strongly investing in these domains.
Even more importantly, society is responding,
and this will have a huge impact on life transformation.
This book will present texts whose focus are the
scientific research on uses, effects,
developments and applications of various
metaverse platforms, such as Second Life, Home
(Sony), OpenSimulator, Open Croquet,
Activeworlds, Project Wonderland, World of
Warcraft and others. The goal is to provide a
forum for the research community to present and discuss innovative approaches.
Whereas metaverse platforms are not a novel
topic, they continue to pose challenges in areas
such as the adaptation of conventional research
methodologies and communication practices.
Furthermore, these platforms are reshaping our
frameworks in topics as important as digital
identity, collaboration, entertainment and play,
technology and arts, educational objects,
virtual space and digital representation, and communication design.
***Objectives of the Book***
The mission of this book is to discuss the main
issues, challenges, opportunities and trends
related to the metaverse and its potential for
research, society and technological evolution.
The overall objectives are:
. To discuss the impact of the metaverse and
related new paradigms; . To present new
technological developments, and their current
and future possibilities . To present affective
and cognitive effects of virtual worlds . To
discuss anthropological and social impacts; . To
present new creation and simulation perspectives
for art and design . To discuss the future
generations of virtual worlds; . To provide
guidance for further research and development; .
To build a bridge between research and practice.
***Target Audience***
The target audience of this book will be
composed of professionals and researchers
working in the fields of virtual worlds, virtual
environments, virtual reality, videogames,
communication, design, computer science,
education, psychology and information technology.
***Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:***
. Design
. Interactivity
. Technology
. Simulation
. Games and Play
. Aesthetics
. Creativity
. Communication Paradigms
. Culture and Identity
. Education
. Collaboration
. Behavioral studies and Emotion
***Submission Procedure***
Potential contributors are invited to submit on
or before February 15, 2010, a 2-3 page chapter
proposal clearly explaining the mission and
concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors
of accepted proposals will be notified by March
15, 2010 about the status of their proposals and
sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are
expected to be submitted by June 15, 2010. All
submitted chapters will be reviewed on a
double-blind review basis. Contributors may also
be requested to serve as reviewers for this
project. To follow the progress of this project,
please visit regularly:
<http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms>http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms
***Publisher***
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI
Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of
the ?Information Science Reference? (formerly
Idea Group Reference), ?Medical Information
Science Reference,? ?Business Science
Reference,? and ?Engineering Science Reference?
imprints. For additional information regarding
the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com.
This publication is anticipated to be released in 2011
***Important Dates***
February 15, 2010: Proposal Submission Deadline
March 15, 2010: Notification of Acceptance
June 15, 2010: Full Chapter Submission
August 30, 2010: Review Results Returned
October 30, 2010: Final Chapter Submission
November 30, 2010: Final Deadline
***Editorial Advisory Board Members***
Graham Attwell, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Craig Becker, Emerging 3D Internet and Virtual Business EBO, IBM, USA
Isabel Valverde, Visualization and Intelligent
Multimodal Interfaces, INESC-ID, Portugal
João Mattar, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi and PUC/SP, Brazil
Julian Lombardi, Duke University, USA
***Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded
electronically (Word document) or by mail to: ***
Nelson Zagalo, Communication and Society Studies
Centre, University of Minho - ICS, 4710-057 Braga - Portugal
Phone: +351 253 604 214 . Fax: +351 253 604 697 . Mobile: +351 962761660
e-mail: (nzagalo /at/ ics.uminho.pt) or (nzagalo /at/ gmail.com)
***
<http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms>http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms
***
