Anyone interested in a joint paper submission for abuse on DI, DB & Jamestown?

I don't think the reviewers would actually believe what went on here!!!

Cheers,

George

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PAPERS
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"Abuse: the darker side of human-computer interaction"
An INTERACT 2005 Workshop
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Date: Monday, September 12 (Full day)
Location: Rome, Italy
Submission Deadline: 23 May 2005
Web-site: www.agentabuse.org
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AIMS AND SCOPE OF THE WORKSHOP
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Computers are often the subject of our wrath and often, we feel, with good reason. There seems to be something intrinsic to this medium which brings out the darker side of human nature. This may be due to the computer complexity which induces errors and frustrations in the user (bad interface design), to the human tendency to respond socially to computers (media equation), or to a disinhibition effect induced by the interaction with a different form of information processor, perceived as inferior (master/slave relationship).

As software is evolving from the tool metaphor to the agent one, understanding the role of abusive behaviour in HCI and its effect on the task-at-hand becomes increasingly important. The reaction of traditional software to abuse is obvious - it should, like a hammer, ignore it. With the agent model, however, software can be autonomous and situated. That is, it should be possible to create software that takes note of its surroundings, and responsibility for its actions. Conversational agents are a clear case of a software entity which might be expected to deal with abuse. Virtual assistants, to take a classic application instance, should not just provide timely information; a virtual assistant must also be a social actor and participate in the games people play. Some of these games appear to include abusive behaviour.

This workshop aims to bring together papers that transcend disciplinary boundaries. Papers are solicited from researchers and practitioners who have encountered the occurrence of abuse in HCI and CMC and given some thought to why and how it happens. Papers that explore virtual abuse and the abuse of agents as cultural artifacts are particularly welcome. We hope this will provide a forum for discussing both the reasons behind aggressive behaviour and suggestions for how software should deal with abuse.

Relevant topics include but are not limited to
* determinants and correlates of end user frustration
* emotional reactions to computing technology
* emotional interfaces – how to deal with negative emotions
* conversational agents and abusive language
* conflict resolution in face-to-face communication and CMC
* flaming and disinhibition in HCI and CMC
* art on the edge
* relationship of the virtual and the real, the literal and metaphor
* outing, passing, hiding, covering -- how are agents designed to seem "normal" and what are the assumptions about "being human" that inform design?

INTENDED AUDIENCE AND WORKSHOP FORMAT
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The workshop will bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers and practitioners in human computer interaction, computer mediated communication, intelligent virtual agents, game design, social psychology, cultural critics and art. The program will feature the presentation of refereed papers, demos and poster followed by interactive sessions drawn on a number of scenarios which will be distributed prior to the workshop. A part of the discussion will concentrate on the definition of a roadmap for future research.

SUBMISSIONS AND DISSEMINATION
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We seek:
- Position papers (4 pages) reporting on experiences, theories, case studies and experiments.
- Theoretical papers (4 pages) discussing cultural, artistic, political, and philosophical issues.
- Demo submissions (4 pages).
- Poster submission (1 page description of the poster or 1 page sketch of the poster)

Position and theoretical papers as well as demo submissions will be peer reviewed and should be formatted according to the LNCS (Lecture Notes in Computer Science) format (templates are available at Springer-Verlag LNCS Authors Instructions page and at www.Interact2005.org at the Submission page ).

Please e-mail your submission in PDF to
[email protected]
(cc [email protected])

Accepted papers will appear in the workshop proceedings and will be posted on the web (www.agentabuse.org). Outcomes of the workshop will be summarised and posted on agentabuse.org, which is intended to become a dynamic repository for relevant research. If enough interest is gathered from the participants, we will explore alternatives such as a special journal issue or a book collection.

IMPORTANT DATES
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May 23: submission
June 6: Notification of acceptance
June 10: Registration dead-line for presenters
July 1: camera ready copies
September 12: workshop

REGISTRATION
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Registration will cost 150 Euro before June 10 and 200 Euro after this date. Participants will register through the conference website (http://www.interact2005.org/).

ORGANISING COMMITTEE
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Co-Chairs:
Antonella De Angeli (University of Manchester), UK
Sheryl Brahnam (Missouri State University), US
Peter Wallis (University of Sheffield), UK

Programme Committee
Pamela Briggs (Northumbria University), UK
Alan Dix (Lancaster University), UK
Dirk Heylen (University of Twente), Holland
Graham Johnson (NCR), UK
Catherine Pelachaud (Universite de Paris 8), France
Daniela Petrelli (University of Sheffield), UK
Laurent Romary (INRIA), France
Daniela Romano (University of Sheffield), UK
Oliviero Stock (IRST), Italy
Alistair Sutcliffe (University of Manchester), UK
Sean Zdenek (Texas Tech University), US
Yorick Wilks (University of Sheffield), UK

Contact Information.
For information, expressions of interest and/or submission please contact
Antonella De Angeli
Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design
School of Informatics, the University of Manchester,
M60 1QD United Kingdom
[email protected]

 

I suppose I'd have to cite conflict of interest as a reason for not signing up. By the way George, what is it that you believe "went on here?"
Jack

 

Were you around when the mail bomb attack occured on DI?

Cheers,

George

 

I've been around pretty much from the begining so I guess the answer is "yes."
Jack

 

Well, there you go then.

Cheers,

George

 

OK, if that's the example you're citing then I understand something of your perspective. However, while I do not want to get into a semantics debate, I would call that an assault, not abuse.
Whatever
Jack

 

I was actually suggesting a study surrounding the interactions/ flaming and antagonising that goes on between AND inside each of the forums. Assault, abuse, name calling, harrasment, acting like an arsehole - it goes on everywhere, not just in these NGs.

Cheers,

George