SECOND CALL FOR CHAPTERS
Proposal Submission Deadline: February 28, 2010 (extended and final)
Virtual Worlds, Second Life and Metaverse Platforms: New Communication and Identity Paradigms
A book edited by Nelson Zagalo, University of Minho; Leonel Morgado, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro; and Ana Boa-Ventura, The University of Texas at Austin
To be published by IGI Global:
http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=794
Introduction
The metaverse is emerging, through the increasing use of virtual world technologies that act as platforms for end-users to create, develop, and interact, expanding the realm of human communication, and collaboration. Researchers and scholars are experiencing the importance of this new area. The private sector is also strongly investing in these domains. Even more importantly, society is responding, and this will have a huge impact on life transformation. This book will present texts whose focus are the scientific research on uses, effects, developments and applications of various metaverse platforms, such as Second Life, Home (Sony), OpenSimulator, Open Croquet, Activeworlds, Project Wonderland, World of Warcraft and others. The goal is to provide a forum for the research community to present and discuss innovative approaches. Whereas metaverse platforms are not a novel topic, they continue to pose challenges in areas such as the adaptation of conventional research methodologies and communication practices. Furthermore, these platforms are reshaping our frameworks in topics as important as digital identity, collaboration, entertainment and play, technology and arts, educational objects, virtual space and digital representation, and communication design.
Objectives of the Book
The mission of this book is to discuss the main issues, challenges, opportunities and trends related to the metaverse and its potential for research, society and technological evolution. The overall objectives are:
- To discuss the impact of the metaverse and related new paradigms;
- To present new technological developments, and their current and future possibilities
- To present affective and cognitive effects of virtual worlds
- To discuss anthropological and social impacts;
- To present new creation and simulation perspectives for art and design
- To discuss the future generations of virtual worlds;
- To provide guidance for further research and development;
- To build a bridge between research and practice.
Target Audience
The target audience of this book will be composed of professionals and researchers working in the fields of virtual worlds, virtual environments, virtual reality, videogames, communication, design, computer science, education, psychology and information technology.
Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Design
- Interactivity
- Technology
- Simulation
- Games and Play
- Aesthetics
- Creativity
- Communication Paradigms
- Culture and Identity
- Education
- Collaboration
- Behavioral studies and Emotion
Submission Procedure
Potential contributors are invited to submit on or before February 28, 2010, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by March 15, 2010 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by June 15, 2010. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project. To follow the progress of this project, please visit regularly: http://sites.google.com/site/metaverseparadigms
Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2011
Important Dates
- February 15, 2010: Early Proposal Submission Deadline
- February 28, 2010: Late and Final Proposal Submission Deadline
- March 15, 2010: Notification of Acceptance
- June 15, 2010: Full Chapter Submission
- August 30, 2010: Review Results Returned
- October 30, 2010: Final Chapter Submission
- November 30, 2010: Final Deadline
Editorial Advisory Board Members
Craig Becker, Emerging 3D Internet and Virtual Business EBO, IBM, USA Graham Attwell, University of Warwick, United Kingdom Isabel Valverde, Visualization and Intelligent Multimodal Interfaces, INESC-ID, Portugal João Mattar, Universidade Anhembi Morumbi and PUC/SP, Brazil Julian Lombardi, Duke University, USA
Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document) or by mail to:
Nelson Zagalo, Communication and Society Studies Centre, University of Minho – ICS, 4710-057 Braga – Portugal Phone: +351 253 604 214 . Fax: +351 253 604 697 . e-mail: nzagalo@ics.uminho.pt or nzagalo@gmail.com