Prato 2008: ICTs for Social Inclusion: What is the Reality? 5th Prato Community Informatics & Development Informatics Conference 2008: ICTs for Social Inclusion: What is the Reality?27 OCTOBER-30 OCTOBER 2008, MONASH CENTRE, PRATO ITALY. Draft ProgramDetails of the draft program, including an evaluation workshop, keynotes, PhD colloquium, and over 40 presentations from many countries will be posted shortly. REGISTRATIONEarlybird registration is now available. Please log into the website if you already have a user account, or set up an account to make a payment. Major earlybird prices are: Regular Registration $AUD560 For currency conversions, please see www.xe.com CALL FOR PAPERSPlease note. The major call for papers is now closed, but we will accept some late abstracts if space becomes available. We are seeking abstracts and proposals from academics, practitioners and PhD students for a conference and workshop event at the Monash University Centre, Prato, Italy (near Florence). The Conference will also include a development informatics stream under the aegis of the International Development Informatics Association as part of its second conference meeting. The Prato campus is an exceptional environment in which to exchange ideas. We emphasise participatory processes in the conference. The Centre is just off the main piazza of a small Tuscan town. It is close to Italian transport hubs. Puzzled about Prato? See this feature article in the New York Times. Abstracts must be submitted via the registrations site. The Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash in conjunction with researchers and practitioners from many countries, has held highly successful events in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 in Prato, as has supported associated workshops over the years, in the UK, France, and Portugal. We are very grateful for support from Turabo University, the University of Illinois-Champaign, and University of Milan. MAJOR CONFERENCE THEMEICTs for Social Inclusion: What is the Reality?Community Informatics is an emergent discipline with a number of focusses including, the conduct of research about the relationship between the design of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for communities, and second, the implementation of ICT projects and projects involving such things as community economic development and social development in conjunction with local stakeholders. The implementation of ICT in developing economies involves constraints not applicable in developed regions. Constraints cover a wide range from technologies and infrastructures (energy grids, networks) to human aspects such as poverty and illiteracy. We seek to exchange experiences and possible solutions to address such problems. Since the inception of the Community Informatics Conferences in Prato in 2003, we have explored issues such as theory, action, and community memory. Online communications have the potential to build strong and purposeful on-line and off-line communities, with shared values, goals, and interests. There is constant interplay between all of these aspects around attempts to promote social inclusion and social development through effective use of ICTs. In fact 'social inclusion' has become a buzzword in a number of western countries, but it is also equally relevant to the development of ICT programs in developing countries. For example, the Scottish Government defines it as 'is about reducing inequalities between the least advantaged groups and communities and the rest of society by closing the opportunity gap and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.' Social inclusion is also closely linked to ideas about 'social cohesion', which according to the Canadian academic Judith Maxwell, is 'building shared values and communities of interpretation, reducing disparities in wealth and income, and generally enabling people to have a sense that they are engaged in a common enterprise, facing shared challenges, and that they are members of the same community'. How then is 'social inclusion' or e-inclusion understood as it applies to communities in their interaction with technology? Are governments, funders and policy makers understanding the link between 21st century technologies and social development, or are they re-branding past policies such as 'digital divide' that was in favour a number of years ago? Possible topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to: Community Informatics:• Design and decision-making processes for projects for social inclusion. Development Informatics• Web technologies - eg. synchronisation with off-line systems Papers on other topics within the community informatics realm are also most welcome, including topics such as: • Community enterprise and community business. We are also seeking proposals for workshops of up to 90 minutes. PHD COLLOQUIUMPhD students are encouraged to submit a short paper (1000-2000 words) in the PhD colloquium for discussion with academics and other students. The paper should be about your PhD research and is NOT limited to the conference themes. This is an excellent opportunity for feedback about your research and an opportunity to meet other students, researchers, and practitioners. Student accommodation will be available. SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS & PAPERS.1) You must submit an abstract--not a paper-- of up to 500 words via the registrations site, and follow the link. You will need to set up a passworded account and all the details are there. Abstracts must be in English. Do not send abstracts via email. Only abstracts that are received via the website will be considered 2) You will be contacted if your abstract is accepted or rejected in early April. 3) Subject to your abstract being accepted, submit a paper by the deadline (see below), and it will be blind peer reviewed by at least two reviewers. Conference papers can be in English, French, Spanish, or Italian but if you wish to submit a paper for consideration in the post-conference publication, it must be in English. The major language of communication at the conference is English but of course, multilingualism is encouraged! KEY DATES1 April 2008: all 300 word abstracts due for consideration - the earlier DRAFT CONFERENCE PROGRAM (subject to alteration)1) 27 October: Ph.D. colloquium with feedback from academics and students. Students make a short presentation and submit a 1000-2000 word position paper or report. CONFERENCE PUBLICATIONConference papers will be published on line and selected refereed papers in a volume. REGISTRATION/ACCOMMODATIONWe anticipate that full registrations will be in the region of $AU500 (=€310) and a moderately priced conference banquet in Prato. Registration concessions will be available for students. Registrations will be taken from mid-year, and is separate from your accommodation booking. You will be able to also register for social events and tours. We are also asking that all delegates contribute to a fund to assist the attendance of delegates from developing countries though a modest additional donation that can be given a the time of registration. We are unable to offer any bursaries or scholarships for attendance. Delegates must seek their own funds, and secure appropriate visas to attend. Insurance is your responsibility and we accept no liability. Hotel space in Prato is limited, and your early reservation is strongly encouraged. Please see http://www.ita.monash.edu/visit/accommodation/ for hotel/pensione/student accommodation. TRAVEL/SOCIALPrato is close to Italian rail, air, and other transport hubs via Florence. Social and cultural information will be posted shortly. If you are thinking of bringing a spouse, partner, family or friend, Prato is an excellent base from which to explore Tuscany without the crowds. Please see http://www.ita.monash.edu/visit/gettingthere.html Photos of past conferences: on Flickr & Facebook, search under the terms: community informatics Prato. Many people took photos Conference Committee (partial)Don Schauder, Monash Univ, Fiorella de Cindio, Univ of Milan. Co-chairs Inquiries: prato2008 AT fastmail.fm. Abstracts via registrations site. printer friendly version | 2609 reads
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