[ecrea] CFC (28.02.2009) - "New Communication and Identity Paradigms"

> Proposal Submission Deadline: February 28, 2010 (extended and final)
>
>
> *** 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: Early Proposal Submission Deadline
> February 28, 2010: Late and Final 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***
>
> Craig Becker, Emerging 3D Internet and Virtual Business EBO, IBM, USA
> Graham Attwell, University of Warwick, United Kingdom
> 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 
> . e-mail: (nzagalo /at/ ics.uminho.pt) or (nzagalo /at/ gmail.com)
>
> *** 
> <http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms>http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms 
> ***