3rd Digital Cultures Workshop – Navigating Multiplicity June 30, 2010

Organisers

Ben Light, Marie Griffiths and Gordon Fletcher - University of Salford, UK.
Steve Sawyer - Syracuse University, UK.
Sian Lincoln - Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

Confirmed Speakers

Professor Susanna Paasonen
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies - University of Helsinki

Dr Kylie Jarrett
Centre for Media Studies - National University of Ireland Manooth

There is still negotiation regarding the novelty of Web 2.0 and social media. Yet, whether these arrangements are 'new' or recombinants/re-presentations of extant things, it is very much the case that in many societies, those that would not have engaged with such arrangements in the past are, and that different sites of such arrangements are becoming easier to connect with each other.

Thus, we are increasingly faced with the issue of having to navigate multiple places across and connected with the Internet. Unsurprisingly, those in commercial and other formal organisations are also making these connections too.

This year we hope the workshop will tackle issues associated with the multi-sited nature of digital culture. However, as usual, we intend for the workshop to be multi-disciplinary in nature, broad in the approaches participants take and issues they cover. If your work is about any aspect of digital culture, this is the workshop for you!

The following are thus only indicative of potential topics that could be raised:

* What kinds of sites/spaces are being connected and why?
* How does identity feature in multi-sitedness?
* How does multi-sitedness feature in our knowledge and experiences of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity and disability?
* What are the problems and benefits of sociotechnical convergence?
* What roles are mobile and ubiquitous/pervasive computing technologies playing in multi-sitedness?
* How are commercial and non-commercial artifacts, digital games/TV/Radio/newsprint for example, being situated within and across physical and virtual spaces?

Following from the first two workshops we continue to see this workshop having three purposes. First, we seek to give voice and structure to existing digital media, ICT and technology related research which may not readily sit within conventionally accepted areas. Second, we wish to draw in research on new forms of digital technology, ICT, computing, organising and social interactions. Third, we want to continue discussions regarding potential futures for ICT related research, which combine research as related to the evolving forms and functions of organisations and the changing boundaries and relations between these organisations and their social milieus.

We seek abstracts (of up to 600 words) that focus upon an aspect of digital culture. We hope to have a special issue of a journal associated with the workshop, as in the past. A special issue of Information Technology and People will be published early in 2011 and this has attracted papers from the 2009 event. Abstracts should be submitted to Ben Light at: [email protected]

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Date: 31 May 2010
Notification of Acceptance: 6 June 2010
Workshop Dates: 1 and 2 July 2010

Workshop Arrangements

The fee for presentation/attendance at the workshop is £80. This will cover refreshments and meals throughout the workshop and a workshop dinner to be held on the evening of the 4th of June.

There is no fee for PhD students, however they still need to register for the workshop with Deborah Woodman (details below). PhD student registration includes refreshments during the workshop but excludes attendance at the workshop dinner (This is subject to a £25 fee, payable upon registration).

From Mid May 2010, you will be able to register for the workshop at: https://shop.salford.ac.uk

Location of the workshop

The workshop will be held at CUBE. CUBE (Centre for the Urban Built Environment) is an architecture centre and a member of the Architecture Centre Network. Located in the city centre of Manchester on Portland Street, it occupies a 500m2 gallery and seminar space. The remit of CUBE is to create and promote understanding of the built environment through activities including exhibitions, events, debates, educational projects and publications.

If you experience any difficulties regarding the workshop arrangements, please do get in touch with Deborah Woodman: [email protected]

Conference hashtag: #digcult10

Official Website: http://www.salford.ac.uk/events/details/1208