Simulating History

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Brock University – Interacting with Immersive Worlds Conference

CALL FOR PAPERS

Third Brock University Conference on the Interactive Arts & Sciences
BROCK UNIVERSITY, ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO
JUNE 13th – 14th, 2011

http://brocku.ca/conferences/immersive-worlds

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED: NOW FEBRUARY 28th 2011
NEW CONFERENCE FEATURES:

Additional keynote address by Michael Schmaltz, President, Digital Extremes

http://www.digitalextremes.com/

Pre-banquet tour of the Generator at One motion capture studio and other state-of-the-art facilities, Monday June 13th

http://www.thegeneratoratone.com/

Pre-conference “game jam”

“Augmented reality” event Tuesday June 14th

CONFERENCE DETAILS:
This biennial conference explores the growing cultural importance of interactive media. Confirmed keynote speakers for the conference so far include Professor David Benyon, Director of the Centre for
Interaction Design, Edinburgh Napier University, U.K. and Jon-Paul Dyson, Director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at the Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY.
The first Interacting with Immersive Worlds conference in 2007 drew presenters and attendees from a multiplicity of disciplines who heard keynote presentations by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Claremont Graduate University), James Gee (Arizona State University), and Chris Csikszentmihalyi (MIT Media Laboratory). The second conference in 2009 was just as successful and provocative, with keynote speakers such as Janet Murray (Georgia Institute of Technology), Espen Aarseth (IT University of Denmark), Geoffrey Rockwell (University of Alberta) and Deborah Todd (Game Designer, Writer and Producer).

All scholarship on, and creation of digital interactive media (including but not limited to computer games and interactive fiction) will be considered in one of four broad conference streams:
The Innovations in Immersive Worlds stream features creative exploration and innovation in immersive media including ubiquitous computing, telepresence, interactive art and fiction, and alternative reality.
The Critical Approaches to Immersion stream looks at analyses of the cultural and/or psychological impact of immersive worlds, as well as theories of interactivity.

The Immersive Worlds in Education stream examines educational applications of immersive technologies.
The Immersive Worlds in Entertainment stream examines entertainment applications of immersive technologies, such as computer games.

We welcome the submission of abstracts for a 20-minute presentation plus a 10-minute discussion. Send a 500-word abstract plus a brief biographical statement. Please include a separate cover page with the following:
• Author’s name and affiliation
• Email
• Mailing address
• Title of presentation
Since all abstracts will be anonymously reviewed, include the title of the paper on the abstract but not the author’s name, affiliation, email or mailing address.
Please email your abstract to
mdanahay {a-t) brocku (d-(o)-t] c/a

Acceptance of your paper for presentation implies a commitment on your part to register and attend the conference. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by March 10th, 2011.
For further information on the conference please contact:

Professor Martin Danahay
Director, Centre for Digital Humanities
Brock University
St. Catharines ON L2S3A1
Canada
905 688 5550 X5203

The students of the “Imagining Immersive Worlds” course (IASC 3F00) at Brock University presented their Second Life prototypes on April 6. The class projects launch attracted faculty members and students from other years in the Interactive Arts and Science Program.
The “Anatomy Online” team, Casey Scott and Matt Clare introduced the development process and explained the potential applications of their educational augmented reality prototype in Second Life. “Anatomy Online” is a virtual museum in which one uses multimedia (such as PowerPoint, and potentially video/audio) to learn about different parts of the human body while navigating through a three-dimensional space. Matt and Casey explained that “Anatomy Online” is an augmented reality tour for high school students. They both maintained that their prototype is adaptable to accommodate other subjects taught in public schools.
The second team, “Relic Raceway”, talked about both the challenges and advantages of developing a game in Second Life. Brad Bouwers, Corey Sherman, Sarah Drew, Michelle Chan, and Christian Barrious took turns in the presentation to provide a deeper insight into their different roles in their teamwork experience and the different design stages of the game. The “Relic Raceway” game provides the player with different play options, diverse play experiences, and so it could be played more that one time: the game can be played in single or multiplayer moods, and as a first or third-person game. Moreover, the player can move through the game world on foot, using different vehicles, flying, and by using teleporters. “Relic Raceway” is story-driven and the player is able to communicate with non-player characters. The audience of the “Relic Raceway” presentation applauded the visuals (especially the animated textures) and the diverse play experience. I was personally proud and impressed by both presentations and the hard work the IASC 3F00 students put to meet their design goals.

The Simulating History lab and Brock University are hosting the Playing With Technology In History conference on April 29th and 30th, 2010 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The conference will host guests from across the globe who are involved in digital studies and gaming. Activities will include a day of un-conference activities where participants will explore technology and history through play. The second day will be a collaborative effort to discuss and revise various papers that have been submitted.

Click here to visit the conference website.