[sldev] CFC (Feb 15, 2010): * Virtual Worlds, Second Life and Metaverse Platforms: New Communication and Identity Paradigms *

[Leonel Morgado]

Apologies for cross-posting. Please warn potentially interested parties.


********** CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS **********

Proposal Submission Deadline: February 15, 2010


*** 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


***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
. 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, 2007. 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


***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, Institute for Human Studies and Intelligent Sciences,
Portugal



***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 ***
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.secondlife.com/pipermail/sldev/attachments/20100120/fb93e89d/attachment.htm