the origins of archaeology as non-western profession

Nabodinus, Last Great King of Babylon – Archaeology Expert (UK)
http://www.archaeologyexpert.co.uk/Nabodinus.html

As a “science” however it can be traced back to Sir William Stukeleyhttp://heritage-key.com/world/worlds-first-archaeologists-and-their-role-defining-history

I still wonder if the Roman emperor Hadrian could be considered a revivalist architect or archaeologist.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/907

The Villa Adriana (at Tivoli, near Rome) is an exceptional complex of classical buildings created in the 2nd century A.D. by the Roman emperor Hadrian. It combines the best elements of the architectural heritage of Egypt, Greece and Rome in the form of an ‘ideal city’.

a squeezable game controller

a Finnish company has made one, named Blobo!

the new google phone?

according to reports, scratch that, gossip, google will release their own phone start of 2010. And from what I have read between the lines, it will be a vast improvement over current Android phones.

A vast improvement for me would be:

-native and tested SDK for 2D and 3D interactive content (runs Unity 3D and Blender and Flash)

-a keyboard peripheral (portable, possible can fold), that can be attached for serious typing

-accelerometer and GPS (even if add-on or upgrade)

-microphone support

-a good camera or a replaceable / updateable camera (can any phone do this-why not?)

-decent battery settings for maximum battery life

-can hook up directly to external monitor and run that monitor at full display settings (the impossible dream).

narrative in adventure gamebooks

well actually it was the beautiful diagrams that caught my eye:

http://samizdat.cc/cyoa/

cross-cultural interactions in virtual worlds

I was emailed some questions out of the blue by a student on the Worldplay Research initiative project. One question of particular interest to me that I should be able to answer (but cannot, just yet), was how games are designed for different cultures.

Apart from my wondering if perhaps their project should be called Worlds play rather than worldplay, and my wondering if I should have mentioned my discussions with psychologists on worlds and worldfulness in relation to mental health, there are some important and interesting questions in their project.

a cfp for cfps via wordpress

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/calls-for-papers/

there must be an aggregator of other blog meta cfp posts somewhere!

Construct open source game creator

Another free (opensource) game engine (unity 3D, unreal 3 and now this!) Only this is for DirectX 9.
No direct programming involved, instead a clear and easy to understand interface

Physics, behaviours, bones and Python [..sounds like a conference paper title..]

screenshots here
http://www.scirra.com/screenshots.php

cfp: ThaiSim 2010

I want to slow down on cfps sent to this blog, but the ah layout of this website proved irresistible!

http://www.thaisim.org/en/thaisim_2010.htmThaiSim 2010: Learning from experience through games and simulations

25-27 March, 2010 (Thurs-Fri-Sat)

Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Thailand

Proposals = 30 Nov, 2009.

Early-bird registration = 16 Feb, 2010.

Share in expertise, research and experience on simulation and gaming for learning. Present your work. Help to develop Thai education.

Graduate students, teachers, educators, faculty members, practitioners, trainers, researchers and all interested persons.

All areas that use simulation and games for learning, training, teaching, evaluation, development, assessment and research.

Near exquisite islands like Ko Lanta, Ko Ngai (Hai), Ko Muk, Phuket, Ko Phi Phi.

Workshop: Using, debriefing and designing games and simulations: A hands-on, creative workshop for teachers and trainers. 21-24 March, 2010 (Sun-Mon-Tues-Wed)

http://www.thailandguidebook.com/southern-thailand/trang/index.php

cfp: ICTVC2010-Typography and Visual Communication (June, Cyprus)

http://designcalls.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/ictvc2010/#more-23

ICTVC2010: 4th Intl Conf on Typography and Visual Communication (June, Cyprus)

On 17, 18 & 19 June 2010 the Department of Design & Multimedia of the University of Nicosia will be hosting the 4th International Conference on Typography and Visual Communication (ICTVC) with the general theme “Lending Grace to Language”.

After three important and successful international meetings (2002, 2004, 2007 /http://www.ictvc.org/) ICTVC moves to Cyprus. Our new home sits at the crossroads of three continents, a location of historical significance that far outweighs its small size. The multicultural character of the island makes Cyprus a perfect location for a conference that explores the world of typographic design and visual language.The Organizing Committee members invite you to contribute your proposals for a presentation or panel discussion for inclusion in the programme of the 4th ICTVC. Abstracts of no more than 200 words and a short bio of 70-100 words, either in Greek or English, should be submitted by 10 January 2010. Conference presentations should be up to 30 minutes.

This time ICTVC is organized in collaboration with the Mass Media and Communication Institute (IMME), Cyprus, and AlterVision, Greece, and is supported by the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication at the University of Reading (UK), the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI), the Institute of Paper, Printing & Publishing (IP3, UK), the Greek Graphic Designers Association (EGE) and the Thessaloniki Design Museum. ICTVC is endorsed by the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA).

cfp DESIGN Conference Dubrovnik

http://www.designconference.org/?menu=105

DUBROVNIK – CAVTAT – The Conference Venue

The DESIGN 2010 Conference invites high-quality submissions on substantial, original and previously unpublished research. Applied, theoretical, results-oriented and speculative papers from both academia and industry will all be considered for inclusion. Contributions should be classified into and will be reviewed in the following categories:

• Research Papers describing contributions and the latest results of scientific work.
• Philosophy or Speculations provide a category for papers where the author has a free hand to evolve new ideas without a claim for scientific validation. However, the paper should be rigorously related to state-of-the-art literature and clearly indicate the novelty of the ideas.
• Industrial Papers should signal industrial needs for design approaches/techniques, experiences from their implementation and use, experiences from training of engineers, demands on computer support, best practice, qualitative case studies, etc.
• Design Education Papers should be based on a scientific approach describing substantial new experiences based on design education training, teamwork, projects or cases.

• Online submission will open on: June 1st, 2009
• ABSTRACTS ARE NOT REQUIRED!
  FULL PAPER submission deadline: December 14th, 2009
• Final acceptance of papers: March 1st, 2010
• Publish-ready papers: March 20th, 2010
• Final Conference program: April, 2010
• May 17 – 20, 2010 – DESIGN 2010 Conference

Call for Papers: Games Research Methods seminar « Games Research Methods

Games Research Methods seminar

Seminar at the University of Tampere, 8-9 April, 2010
What are the approaches and methods that are useful while studying games, play and related phenomena? The dynamic nature of interactive game form, the changing strategies adopted during actual play, as well as the multiple research questions that surround the design, implementation, distribution as well as the social uses of games all present their distinctive requirements for the methods that are suitable for their study.

A rich collection of different scientific and scholarly approaches has been adopted to use in the games research. At the same time the researchers have found it often necessary to modify the established practices to better address the ludic nature of their subject of study. For example, the ethnographic methods as practiced in the history of anthropology do not necessarily fit the study of virtual game worlds without some adjustments. Similarly, the methods that have been designed in computer sciences to study usability issues of computer software are not always optimal for the study of game play experiences. Also, requirement for researchers to play games themselves presents also unique demands to the working practices and facilities of games researchers.

‘Games Research Methods’ seminar invites presentation from multiple topics and points of view, in order to facilitate dialogue and exchange of ideas among the research community. The organiser, University of Tampere Games Research Lab invites theoretically as well as more practice oriented papers, as well as case studies that show particular approaches being used in actual analysis.

• Abstract Deadline: January 15, 2010
• Notification of Acceptance: January 30, 2010
• Full Paper deadline: March 6, 2010
• Seminar dates: April 8-9, 2010

The Inclusive Museum

The Inclusive Museum
This Conference is to be held at the Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey 29 June to 2 July 2010.
The deadline for the current round in the Call for Papers is 12 November 2009.

Plenary speakers include some of the leading thinkers in museum studies and leading practitioners, as well as numerous paper, colloquium and workshop presentations.

Participants are welcome to submit a presentation proposal either for a 30-minute paper, 60-minute workshop, jointly presented 90-minute colloquium session or a virtual session. Parallel sessions are loosely grouped into streams reflecting different perspectives or disciplines. Each stream also has its own talking circle, a forum for focused discussion of issues. For those unable to attend the Conference in person, virtual participation is also available.

Presenters may choose to submit written papers to The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, a fully refereed academic Journal. Virtual participants also have the option to submit papers for consideration by the Journal. All registered Conference participants receive a complimentary online subscription to the Journal. This subscription is valid until one year after the Conference end date.

Leonardo Electronic Almanac: Creative Data issue is now out!

it has taken two years but our special issue Creative Data is out on Leonardo Electronic Almanac. Thanks to all the writers for their patience!

Jack Ox, Jeremy Hight, and Erik Champion, Creative Data: Visualisation, Augmentation, Telepresence and Immersion
Trish Adams, “Machina Carnis”
Joe Faith, “Interactive Data Exploration with Targeted Projection Pursuit”
Joanna Griffin, “Satellite Stories: Immersion in the Large-Scale Projection of Google Earth and Public Storytelling”
Cindy Keefer, “‘Raumlichtmusik’ – Early 20th Century Abstract Cinema Immersive Environments”
Carol LaFayette, “Atta, Palindrome”
Luther Thie, “LA Interchange: A Real-Time Memorial”
Klaus Wassermann, “lifeClipper – Commonality in Images”
Ruth West, et al., “Algorithmic Object as Natural Specimen: Meta Shape Grammar Objects from Atlas in Silico”

ASFS – ASFS 2010 Conference

http://australiansocietyfrenchstudies.org/index.php?action=show_page&page_id=12

18th Annual Conference of the Australian Society for French Studies

University of Sydney  30 September-2 October, 2010

Playtime: formes, fonctions et théories du jeu

How do we define “play”? Why do we play, with whom and for whom? What forms does our playfulness adopt, and what are its cultural specificities? We take the proliferation of research activity on play and the aesthetics of entertainment as an invitation to examine their role in our culture(s).

This conference aims to explore French and francophone manifestations and strategies of play, across disciplinary and generic boundaries (literature, cinema, theatre, linguistics, philosophy, sociology, art), with particular emphasis on the social, ideological, pedagogical and aesthetic dimensions of ludicity. Artistic manifestations of playfulness and intrinsically playful practices (parlour games, board games, role-playing, video games and online gaming), whether pedagogically or socially motivated, will doubtless take centre stage.

From role-play to fancy-dress, from carnival to puns, the conference will explore the affective reach of games, playfulness and ludicity, their signifying power and representational range, as well as the cultural role they… play.

cfp: 2nd IFIP Entertainment Computing Symposium (ECS 2010) Brisbane

Cultural Computing: New Frontier for Entertainment Computing

In the 21st century we are getting into the era of “Cultural Computing” where computers would be able to handle specific forms and human characteristics that hide behind each culture. In this symposium we want to introduce and discuss still unveiled possibilities of Cultural Computing which would analyze and visualize substantial cultural issues such as sensitivity, memory, spirituality, storytelling, racial characteristics, etc. that have not been treated in computer science and engineering so far. There are various possibilities in this area. From art point of view, Cultural Computing could go beyond the present media art by treating various kinds of cultural issues. From technology aspect, it would open up a new area in computer technologies that so far have been only treating the digitization of cultural heritages/contents to preserve them. The 2nd IFIP Entertainment Computing Symposium attempts to focus this emerging and challenging area by bring various fields together and explore boundaries and new frontiers. This symposium will be a single track, highly selective set of presentations and discussions of visionary concepts, advanced technology, interactive demonstrations/installations, etc.

The symposium will include, but is not limited to, the following topics:
1) Preservation of cultural heritage using computers
2) Preservation of traditional technologies using computers
3) Treating models and types in cultural contents
4) Education of cultures using computers
5) Interactive installation treating cultural contents

Submission of papers:January 31, 2010
Notification to authors:April 20, 2010
Camera-ready copies:May 15, 2010
Conference:20-23 September 2010

cfp: Artech 2010 “Envisioning Digital Spaces”

Artech 2010 is the fifth international conference held on the topic of Digital Arts. It aims at promoting contacts between Iberian and International contributors concerned with the concept, production and dissemination of Digital and Electronic Art.

Artech 2010 aims at bringing the scientific, technological and artistic community together, while promoting the interest in the digital culture and its intersection with art and technology as an important research field, a common space for discussion and exchange of experiences, a forum for emerging digital artists and a way of understanding and be delighted with new forms of digital expression.

Artech 2010 includes new topics concerning the relation between digital culture, architecture and design. In traditional design processes, architects work with aesthetic, functional, technical, economic and social elements in order to achieve a final structural design proposal. Generative Computational Design processes share these same concerns, despite the fact that innovative digital tools are forcing new approaches for architectural design to emerge. If in the past paradigms, architects have built what they could represent and represented what they could build, in the new emerging paradigms they are less limited in this regard, due to the integration of generative design systems with digital production technologies including, among others, virtual reality and ambient intelligent artifacts.

Full papers submission: 27 November 2009
Conference: 21-23 April 2010

cfp: Electronic Visualisation and the Arts London

Electronic Visualisation and the Arts

*Visualising* ideas and concepts in culture, heritage and the arts: digital arts, sound, music, film and animation, 2D and 3D imaging, European projects, archaeology, architecture, social media for museums, heritage and fine art photography, computer arts

When? Monday 5th – Wednesday 7th July 2010

OFFERS OF PAPERS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS by 15 January 2010

We invite proposals of papers, demonstrations or short performances, workshops or panel discussions. Only a summary of the proposal on not more than one page is required for the selection process. this must be submitted electronically according to the instructions on the EVA London website, http://www.eva-conferences.com/eva_london/.

Proposals may be on any aspect of EVA London’s focus on visualisation for the arts and culture, broadly interpreted, including technology, use and users, creative, visual and performing arts and music and visualisation for museums, historic sites and architecture. Papers are peer reviewed and may be edited. They will be published as hard copy and online. Other presentations may be published as summaries or as papers.

If your proposal is a case study, we will be looking for discussions of wider principles or applications using the case study as an example.

***********************************************************

EVA London’s conference themes will include, but are not limited to:

* Digital and computational fine art and photography
* Reconstructive archaeology and architecture
* Visualising ideas and concepts
* Moving and still images in museums and galleries
* Digital art
* Digital performance
* Historic sites and buildings
* Immersive environments
* Web 2.0 technologies in art and culture
* Visualisation in museums and historic sites
* Sound, music, film and animation
* Technologies of digitisation, 2D and 3D imaging
* Virtual and augmented worlds
For further information see
http://www.eva-conferences.com/eva_london/

CFP Fun ‘n games 2010 15 – 17 Sep 2010, Leuven, Belgium

Fun ‘n’ Games 2010 – International conference on Fun and Games

Date: September 15, 16 & 17
Location: Leuven, Belgium.

Fun ‘n’ Games is a single-track, 2-day conference where academics and practitioners can interact together in a playful event that marries the best of academic writing with the most innovative user experiences.

The conference elicits contributions from designers, developers, and researchers in computer games, experience design and fun. We are particularly interested in contributions that cross the traditional disciplines of human computer interaction, games design and game development.

It will provide a venue for presenting and discussing peer reviewed academic and practitioner papers, posters and live demos.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES

• Technical Papers: March 20, 2010
• Work-in-progress and posters: April 26, 2010
• Demonstrations: May 21, 2010

cfp: special issue on “Digital Storytelling” - seminar.net

http://www.seminar.net/latest/call-for-papers-special-issue-on-digital-storytelling

“Digital storytelling” is a strong and emerging genre in the contemporary media landscape, and we invite scholars to publish the results of their academic studies in this area. Joe Lambert of the Center for Digital Storytelling, professor Theo Hug of University of Innsbruck, and professor Knut Lundby, University of Oslo have agreed to act as an advisory board to the editors for this special issue.

Important dates: November 1, 2009: Final date for sending proposals to editor, January 1, 2010: Final date for sending contributions to the editor and March 31, 2010: Publication.

CFP: Drawing Out 7-9 April 2010, Melbourne Australia

http://www.drawingout.com.au/papers/
Call for papers DRAWING OUT

7-9 April 2010, Melbourne Australia
Proposals for papers, workshops, panels and exhibitions are invited, as well as for other innovative modes of presentation. Proposals are sought in three broad streams, and might address (but are not limited to) the following sub themes:

1 – Drawing in / Drawing is a way of thinking
Drawing as second nature: how do we think openly through drawing?
Drawing as a speculative activity.

2 – Drawing out / Drawing is a way of mapping
After drawing: how is drawing an impetus to other practices?
What opportunities exist for new technologies as a way of mapping our world?

3 – Drawing across / Drawing is a way of communicating
Drawing as a part of general literacy and its relationship to numeracy, writing and measurement.
Drawing as a means of transferring information.

Submissions of abstracts and project proposals: Friday 23 October 2009
Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts: Friday 13 November 2009
Submission of full papers: Friday 15 January 2010
Revision advice on review of full papers: Monday 15 February 2010
Submission of revised papers and non-refereed papers/projects: Friday 5 March 2010