[Sigia-l] CfP: workshop on architectures of meaning

[Andrea Resmini]

* apologies for cross-posting

Call for Workshop Papers

Pervasive Information Architectures as Architectures of Meaning for
Complex Cross-channel Systems
 
Workshop at the 10th International Conference on Pervasive Computing
(Pervasive 2012)

June 18, 2012, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

This workshop will reflect on how the practice of information
architecture (IA) as “the structural design of shared information
environments” has been changing in the past few years under the influx
of media convergence and ubiquitous and pervasive computing, outline how
IA is uniquely positioned to help improve the design of successful user
experiences and customer journeys in pervasive, cross-channel
environments, move the discourse on IA towards indeterminate problem
solving, and help establish a common language and grammar for both
practice and research in the field.

The goals of the workshop are: 1) to reframe information architecture
and its role as the enabling layer for pervasive systems where
information permeates physical space and products become cross-channel
services; 2) to tackle established problems within the field with a
multi-disciplinary perspective centered on indeterminate problem
solving; 3) to identify new directions of research in this specific area
which might advance both the theory and practice of information
architecture in pervasive information spaces; 4) to promote the shared
understanding of issues, challenges and opportunities among individuals
and institutions that participate in the creation of complex, pervasive
digital / physical information spaces or services from a user-centered
perspective.

As such, the workshop targets researchers and practitioners coming from
such diverse backgrounds as architecture, information systems, design
theory, library and information science, product design, interaction
design, visual and information design, business and marketing, and
service design, and welcomes both theoretical reflections and academic
perspectives, and case study-related best practices and insights. 
Contributions and Selection Process

We invite practitioners working with the private or public sectors and
researchers alike to submit a paper proposal, including a short bio and
picture, by email to andrea.resmini [at] hb [dot] se by 6pm GMT March 2
2012, to participate in the half-day workshop.
Proposals should be full papers and not exceeding 6000-8000 words in
length. While no particular constraint is placed on the initial
proposal, the camera-ready versions should be formatted according to the
Springer template for conference proceedings (Word 2003 template for the
preparation of LNCS proceeding papers,
http://www.springer.com/computer/lncs?SGWID=0-164-6-793341-0. Direct
link to the .zip file: http://is.gd/MiaJmM).

Accepted participants will be notified via email in early April, and
will have to produce the final camera-ready version of their
contribution within the deadlines given below. 
Participants to the workshop will have access to all of the accepted
papers in advance, to facilitate discussion and to support the
collaborative structure of the workshop.

Structure of the Workshop

All participants will be required to read workshop materials beforehand,
in order to have common grounds on which to articulate a meaningful and
insightful conversation. Participants will not be required to just
“lecture the audience”, ie simply present their papers, but rather the
organizers will provide a continuous thread for discussion in the form
of a round-table conversation around the themes and questions brought
forth in the workshop outline and in individual contributions, and will
both allow free interventions and ask participants to introduce relevant
concepts and insights from their contributions whenever appropriate. 

The reason for using this format is the desire to avoid to simply
replicate the content of the individual proposal in a social context
during the workshop, move the conversation one step further, foster the
development of novel reflections on the themes being discussed, and
allow free-flow, brainstorming-like interactions. 

Suggested Topics

Proposed papers should attempt to frame or answer relevant challenges
and issues as per the goals outlined above. Topics that can be explored
include (but are not limited to):

- information architecture as a tool for “sense-making” and
indeterminate problem solving
- conceptual information architecture models for cross-channel problem
solving
- information architecture tools or artifacts for cross-channel problem
solving
- the role of information architecture in multidisciplinary teams
focused on solving indeterminate problems spanning across channels
- experiences in breakdowns or successes where the language or grammar
of information architecture has been applied in cross-channel design
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies that re-frame
information architecture as an enabling layer for pervasive systems
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies that specifically
investigate the positioning of  information architecture within the
design thinking framework
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies investigating the
relationship between information architecture and service design in
cross-channel systems
- new directions in research that advance the theory and practice of
information architecture in pervasive information spaces
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies dealing with the
application of  methodologies such as practice-led research, action
research, or co-design, to information architecture
- theoretical reflections or research that explore the relationship of
information architecture to other disciplines and the implications of
this when the scope widens to include pervasive, cross-channel
environments
- research exploring fundamental principles or characteristics of
information architecture and how they are changed or challenged in the
move from the traditional dimension of information spaces to that of
physical or hybrid spaces
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies that explore where
and how information architecture thinking fits into multidisciplinary
contexts where many different problem solving methodologies or
approaches may compete or conflict
- theoretical reflections, research or case studies that deal with the
teaching of information architecture and pervasive information
architecture

Important dates

Submission deadline   March 2 2012
Notification          April 2 2012
Camera-ready versions April 20 2012
Workshop              June 18 2012

Organizers

Andrea Resmini, University of Borås
Terence Fenn, University of Johannesburg
Jason Hobbs, Human Experience Design

Full outline in PDF format at
http://andrearesmini.com/download/resmini-fenn-hobbs-pervasive12-workshop.pdf.

If you know someone who might be interested in participating, please
pass along this Call for Papers. The URL is
http://andrearesmini.com/blog/architectures-of-meaning/.

Pervasive 2012 conference website: http://pervasiveconference.org/2012/

-- 

Andrea Resmini
Information Architect
http://andrearesmini.com/