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Papyrus News
CFP: Shaping the Network Society

Reminder! Please forward to any colleagues who are interested in the continuing development of information and communication systems -- of ALL types -- that address human needs. The power of this project will be realized only through its diversity. Thanks!

SHAPING THE NETWORK SOCIETY
Patterns for Participation, Action, and Change

DIAC-02 Symposium; Seattle, Washington USA. May 16-19, 2002
http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02

Researchers, community workers, social activists, educators and students, journalists, artists, policy-makers, and citizens are all concerned about the shape that the new information and communication infrastructure will take.

Will it meet the needs of all people?
Will it help people address current and future issues?
Will it promote democracy, social justice, sustainability?
Will the appropriate research be conducted?
Will equitable policies be enacted?

The Shaping the Network Society symposium -- sponsored by the Public Sphere Project of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility and the National Communication Association Task Force on the Digital Divide -- will provide a forum and a platform for these critical issues. And through the exploration of "patterns" we hope that this symposium will help spur the evolution of an information and communication infrastructure that truly meets today's urgent needs.

Please join us in Seattle in May 2002 for this exceptional event!

To promote bridge-building between theory and practice, across economic, cultural, geographical, and disciplinary chasms, we are soliciting "patterns," instead of abstracts, and accepted patterns will be developed into full papers for this symposium.

Based on the insights of Christopher Alexander and his colleagues, a "pattern" is a careful description of a solution or suggestion for remedying an identified problem in a given context that can be used to help develop and harness communication and information technology in ways that affirm human values.

The information contained in patterns is similar to that in traditional abstracts or papers, but it is arranged in a common structure in order to inspire scholars and practitioners to think about their work in terms of social implications and actual social engagement and to build networks that include research, practice, and advocacy. The most important outcome may be allowing people to see their patterns in a large yet coherent network of patterns, a "pattern language."

+ Patterns are SOLUTIONS to PROBLEMS in a given CONTEXT
+ Patterns can be observable actions, empirical findings, hypotheses, theories, or "best practices"
+ Patterns exist at all levels; they can be "global" as well as "local;" theoretical as well as practical.
+ Patterns are the springboard for discussion, research, and activism

Patterns can be submitted for consideration for presentation at the symposium and/or published on the web site as a contribution to the evolving pattern language. (The submitted patterns will be made public in early 2002.) Patterns accepted for presentation will be developed into full papers and will appear in the Conference Proceedings. The best papers will be selected for an edited book. A pattern language book / web site is also planned.

We believe that the "pattern" orientation will be useful and inspiring for all participants. If you're tempted to submit a pattern (or multiple patterns!) we encourage you to do so. Although this approach may require slightly different thinking we believe that it will be worth the extra effort. Remember: you can submit patterns whether or not you come to the symposium.

Complete details on pattern submission, including example patterns, are available at the web site: http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02/.

The preferred way to submit patterns is through the pattern intake site (http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/diac02/pattern.cgi). If you cannot access the site, please send your pattern(s) as email text (no attachments) to docrod99@hotmail.com. If you lack email access, you may submit your pattern(s) via surface mail to be received by December 1, 2001 to: Rod Carveth, School of Mass Communications, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 43082, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. Please see the patterns page for more explanation about patterns (including examples) and the author's advice page to assist potential contributors.

Important Dates

August 1, 2001 Patterns can be entered via web page
November 15, 2001 Web registration available
December 1, 2001 Patterns due for conference consideration
January 15, 2002 Feedback to conference pattern submitters (accept/reject decision)
March 15, 2002 Full papers (based on accepted patterns) due
April 15, 2002 Last day to submit pattern abstracts for database inclusion only
May 16 - 19, 2002 Shaping the Network Society Symposium; Seattle, Washington US

Program Committee

Abdul Alkalimet (US), Alain Ambrosi (Canada), Ann Bishop (US), Kwasi Boakye-Akyeampong (Ghana), Rod Carveth (US), Andrew Clement (Canada), Fiorella de Cindio (Italy), Peter Day (UK), Susana Finquelievich (Argentina), Mike Gurstein (Canada), Harry Hochheiser (US), Toru Ishida (Japan), Susan Kretchmer (US), Brian Loader (UK), Geert Lovink (Netherlands, Australia), Richard Lowenberg (US), Peter Mambrey (Germany), Peter Miller (US), Kenneth Pigg (US), Scott Robinson (Mexico), Partha Pratim Sarker (Bangladesh), Doug Schuler (US), David Silver (US), Sergei Stafeev (Russia), Erik Stolterman (Sweden) and Peter Van den Besselaar (Netherlands).

Other invaluable assistance

Christopher Alexander (inspiration and advice), Steve Berczuk (patterns), Susan Kretchmer and Rod Carveth (NCA Task Force on the Digital Divide liaisons), Noriko Okazaki (graphics), Robin Oppenheimer (advisor), Lorraine Pozzi (communications), Scott Rose (web technology). Nancy White (advisor).

For more information please contact symposium coordinator
Doug Schuler, douglas@scn.org.

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Last updated: November 29, 2001 in Hot Metal Pro 6.0