CALL FOR CHAPTERS: User Interface Design for Virtual Environments: Challenges and Advances

CALL FOR CHAPTERS: User Interface Design for Virtual Environments: Challenges and Advances

Full Chapter Submission Deadline: December 20, 2009
User Interface Design for Virtual Environments: Challenges and Advances
A book edited by Dr. Badrul H Khan

To be published by IGI Global:
http://www.igi-global.com/requests/details.asp?ID=622


Introduction:
In the Information society, the advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has created a digital society and broadened the scope sharing innovations globally. In this globally digital society, people use electronic devices in almost anything they do in their lives: from brushing teeth to driving a car. In the fast moving digital society, people are encountering newer features associated with emerging technologies including (but not limited to): computers,
appliances, machines, mobile communication devices, software applications, and websites. Advances in emerging technologies coupled with fast moving lifestyles, people are increasingly overwhelmed with various electronic devices and services. What do users of these various digital devices and services really need? They need useable and easy to adapt interfaces to
operate in these virtual environments.

Linkage between a digital society and globalization has tremendous implications on the design of user-interfaces for various virtual environments. Reflecting on the global and cross cultural nature of today�s world, the user interface design of various virtual environments should be based on the needs of a cross culturally diverse population of users around the globe. The interface design should be user centric. User interface design should strive for making the user's interaction as simple, meaningful, and efficient as possible. This book focuses on challenges that designers face in designing interfaces for users of various virtual environments.

Objective of the Book:
This book will aim to provide both a theoretical and practical knowledge base in user interface design. It will be written for professionals who want to improve their understanding of challenges associated with user interface design issues for various virtual environments for globally-dispersed users.

Target Audience:
The target audience of this book will be composed of professionals and researchers working in various disciplines, including (but not limited to): information technology, computer science,
educational technology, e-leaning, distance education, corporate training, communication technology, medical technology, engineering, management information system, library science and other relevant fields.

Several relevant topics are listed below; however, additional topics are welcome. Please feel free to propose a topic of your choice.
� Addressing the Challenges of Inquiry-Based Learning through
Technology and Curriculum Design
� Adaptation in Automated User-Interface Design
� Challenges for End-User Development in CE devices
� Voice User Interface Design for Automated Directory Assistance
� Challenges for Design: Seeing Learners as Knowledge Workers Acting in
Physical-Virtual Environments
� Challenges in Human/Computer Interfaces: Making the Technology Serve
the User
� Challenges for Brain-Computer Interface Research for Human-Computer
Interaction Applications
� Human-Computer Interaction Research and Development Challenges
� Psychological Aspects of the Human Use of Computing
� Designing the Human Computer Interaction: Trends and Challenges
� The Challenges And Opportunities Of Human Technology
� Interfaces including flowchart, intelligent zones and sensitivity
approach.
� The Epistemology of Human Interface Design
� The Social Dimension of User Interface Design
� Challenges and solutions for user interface design on mobile devices
� Interface design challenges for Web2.0 designs
� The Impact of Design Interaction on Learner Success in Online Learning
� The Cross-Cultural Design of User Interfaces and Experiences
� Cultural Considerations in Interface Design
� Usable Accessibility: Making Web sites work well for people with
disabilities
� Designing & Drawing Mobile Interactions
� Successful and available: interface design exemplars for older users
� Meta-User Interfaces for Ambient Spaces: Can Model-Driven-Engineering
Help?
� An Intelligent User Interface for Browsing and Search MPEG-7 Images
using Concept Lattices
� Creativity Support Tools: A Grand Challenge
� Constraints on their efforts for User-centered Interface Design
� Interface design issues for virtual reality (such as Second Life)

Submission Procedure:
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before December
20, 2009 an 8,000 to 10,000 word chapter on a topic relating to the
subject of the book. Kindly include a title and contact information for
each contributor (Name, Affiliation, and E-Mail) within the file. Each
chapter will undergo double-blind review and review results will be sent
to the authors. Chapters should adhere to the IGI Global Full Chapter
Submission Guidelines.

The Chapter Formatting Guidelines can be found here:
http://www.igi-global.com/development/author_info/extendedtemplate.doc

The Full Chapter Submission Guidelines can be found here:
http://www.igi-global.com/development/author_info/chapterdetails.doc

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,� and �IGI
Publishing� imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher,
please visit www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be
released in 2011.

Important Date:
December 20, 2009: Full Chapter Submission Deadline

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded electronically (Word document)
or by mail to:

Kindly e-mail your chapters to:
idbookeditor@mcweadon.com

Read More >>

New Trends: Computers Give Up CD Drives for Touch-Screens

A recent Associated Press report points out that personal computers are changing rapidly. It has definitely been a year of "out with the old and in with the new" as far as computers go. Laptops and Desktops are missing familiar components, slimming down and gaining lots of cool, new, unique features. Despite the popularity of gadgets such as the iPhone, PCs are still at the heart of the digital world and will likely stay that way for a while to come...even if they look and act a little differently.

One noticable change in the world of new computers is the lack of drives. Optical drives that play CDs and DVDs have been an important part of computers for over a decade. Whether you're watching a movie, listening to music, or installing software, the drives have been part of almost everyone's daily computer usage. Apple started getting rid of drives about two years ago when it first introduced the MacBook Air. Even though that wasn't a mainstream computer, due to its $1,800 pricetag, it was the start of what looks to be a popular trend. Netbooks, which are used mostly for web-browsing, start at $250 and are growing in popularity.

People are using their little laptops to download software, music and movies, while enjoying the convenience and price. The availability of Wi-Fi and cellular internet service combined with services that let you store files online are making the need for drives almost obsolete. Of course, there are the die-hard DVD watchers and CD burners who are not yet ready to give up those drives, but the lack of drives in many computers, particularly laptops does often lead to a lighter price and a much lighter load.

These days, people are also tending to purchase less powerful computers and this is another reason netbooks are becoming more popular. Everyone's been inside a retail establishment and listened to a salesperson rattle off a list of processors, graphics cards, gigabytes of memory and sizes of hard drives, but unless you're a hard-core gmer or a professional video editor, all of that stuff isn't really necessary. People are looking for computers that let them browse the web, email and use word processing applications more than anything right now.

Computer manufacturers aren't just competing with each other these days, they're also having to stand up to smartphone manufacturers, as well. People want to be connected 24/7 it seems and it's easier for that to be possible via a cell phone. "Smarbooks" are being created - think a smartphone-like device that is closer to the size of your laptop than your cell phone, and computer companies are starting to focus on laptop appearanes. Colors, patterns, themes, designs, shapes, and materials are all considered to be an important part of computer manufacturing lately, allowing users to treat their computers more like fashion accessories than tools. People also want thin and light computers that are easier to carry.

And finally, touch-screens are becoming a popular computer trend. Ever since the iPhone was developed in 2007, multi-touch has become more prominent in today's technology. The recently released Windows 7 includes support for a number of multi-touch applications and companies such as Dell and HP are designing software that allow you to browse everything from the web to your music library with your fingers instead of a mouse. And while experts say the touch-screen won't replace the mouse and keyboard, it will most likely become just as important.

Read More >>

It's a Great Time to Buy a Mac

People are generally pretty defensive when it comes to whether they prefer a Mac or PC, but still, there are some people on the fence, debating making the jump to a new Apple product. Well, according to some experts, there's no time like present to invest in a new Mac. Last week, Apple released several new products, as well as updating several of the old ones.

So, which Macs got updates? Well, the Mac Mini got a little refresher. Now you have a new option to choose two hard drives with no optical drive. And the MacBook is now built out of a durable unibody enclosure. It also now features a new non-removable, long-lasting battery (7 hours of estimated life). The bottom is also now made out of a non-slip material.

As far as new products go, the new Magic Mouse is hot. It's an average Apple desktop mouse combined with a trackpad like you would find in a laptop. It allows desktop users to perform the same finger gestures as laptop users can and for that reason, Apple calls it the "world's first Multi-Touch mouse."

The new iMacs have new, bigger screens (21.5" and 27" models) but they are also IPS panels, which are considered by many to be the top LCD panels. But it's little luxuries like this that have allowed Apple to become such a computer giant. And while the new monitor size, alone, is reason enough to get excited, it's got new upgrade options including including a Quad Core CPU, up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 2 TB of disk space.

Read More >>

An Evening with SSL and Miloco

Sound Technology is pleased to announce an evening with Solid State Logic and Miloco Studio Group at Assault & Battery 2 in London (16th Nov) or The Chairworks in Castleford (9th Nov).

SSL studio events are a great opportunity for engineers, producers and musicians to visit some of the best-equipped commercial recording studios in the UK.

More information:
http://www.soundtech.co.uk/ssl/news/an-evening-with-SSL

Read More >>

Sonos Bundle BU250

The latest Sonos adds a major upgrade the CR200 touch screen remote. If that wasn't good enough and the remote is excellent it can also be controlled by any iPhone or iPod Touch running a free app that's available via the iTunes App Store. The result is a whole house music system that's easier to control than ever before. The catch? The system costs a somewhat pricey $1,000. And while that may seem like a lot, custom installed systems can cost as much as $5,000 per room and they aren't as easy to use nor do they offer the level functionality found in this system.

We were always impressed by Sonos' capability to access your home music collection and a variety of online music options, but the addition of the slick new touch screen remote and the iPhone or iPod Touch integration gives the luxury digital audio system a compelling leg up on the competition. There are three main components of the Sonos Digital Music System two ZonePlayer base stations one ZP120, one ZP90 and one CR250 Controller (the remote control).

Each one is available separately as well additional ZP120s are $500, the ZP90 is $350, and the CR250 goes for $350 so the $1,000 price tag of Sonos Bundle BU250 represents a $200 savings versus buying them a la carte. Take one look at the silver and white color scheme (and that scroll wheel on the remote), and you get the idea that Sonos wants you to think its understated sleek components would fit right into Apple's iPod line and they would. We just wish a black option was available as well especially after seeing a custom painted version.

The ZonePlayer ZP120 houses a fully fledged, 55 watt per channel, Class-D digital amplifier and weighs 5 pounds. It fills out a 3.5 inch high by 7.3 inch wide by 8.15 inch deep footprint about the size of seven DVD cases stacked on top of one another. The ZP120's die cast, matte aluminum enclosure feels far more solid and substantive than most of today's all plastic consumer electronics. It sports two pairs of high quality speaker binding posts, one set of analog stereo inputs (for attaching and playing any external device through the Sonos system), a subwoofer output, and two Ethernet ports (more on those later).

On board buttons are limited to three volume up and down and mute because the main functions are controlled remotely. With its built in amp and speaker terminals, the ZP120 needs only a pair of speakers connected to fill a room with music no other audio equipment is required. (Sonos offers the SP100 speakers, but nearly any set of unpowered speakers will suffice.) But the ZP90 ZonePlayer is intended for those rooms where there's already an audio system in place. Just about anything will do a tabletop radio, a mini system, an iPod speaker system, or a full fledged AV receiver so long as it has an auxiliary line in jack.

Because it lacks the built in amplifier, the ZonePlayer ZP90 is smaller than its big brother it measures just 2.9 by 5.4 inches square and weighs a mere 1.5 pounds. As a result, it can fit in plenty of tight spots that the larger ZonePlayer can't. The front panel offers the same sparse volume controls, but the ZP90's tiny backside is chock full of jacks in addition to analog stereo inputs and outputs, there are also two digital audio outputs (one coaxial, one optical) for single wire all digital connections. Two Ethernet jacks provide network connectivity.

Features
Sonos Digital Music System can stream a wide range of file formats from your personal music collection. With the exception of lossless WMA files, nearly all other file format standards will stream perfectly : MP3, AAC, WMA (nonloss less), Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF files are compatible, as are Audible audio books. Since DRM (digital rights management) is, thankfully, largely a thing of the past for music purchases, the wide file compatibility means that Sonos will stream downloaded tracks bought from iTunes, Amazon, Classical.com, eMusic, Napster, WalMart, Live Downloads, and Zune Marketplace.

The only caveat is for iTunes : most of the tracks purchased from the Apple site before 2009 will still be encoded with Fairplay DRM and will not be streamable by the Sonos until and unless you "upgrade" them via the iTunes Store to the DRM free iTunes Plus version (it costs 30 cents per track, or $3 per album). Perhaps more importantly, Sonos also offers a great selection of online music services from both subscription (paid) and free sources, each of which can be accessed from the Sonos Controller without the need to have the PC powered up.

The Rhapsody, Sirius, and Napster premium services each charge a monthly fee. (All of them offer a free 30 day trial through the Sonos, available at the touch of the screen no annoying sign up process or limitations.) Last.fm and Pandora are free streaming music services (with optional step up paid versions). Nearly all of the services offer access to thousands of artists, songs, and albums across a variety of genres, available on demand or via customized "stations." In addition to importing all of your iTunes playlists, Sonos also offers its own playlists. The advantage of the latter is that you can build them from the remote and (what's really cool) mix and match your own music with some of the "rentable" tracks from the likes of Rhapsody and Napster (assuming you're a subscriber).

Read More >>

TV Could Come to iTunes

So the big question here is…would you pay $30 a month to watch TV through iTunes?

This is Apple’s most recent endeavor to further expand their world-wide utilized program iTunes. They have been pitching this new idea to a variety of TV networks during the past few weeks. The company is trying to rally support for a service that would provide a monthly subscription that would bring users a variety of TV programs via the easy to use iTunes multimedia program that over a 100 million customers already use.

Apple has said that they would like to be able to offer this service sometime early next year, but as of right now, there is no news of any programmer that has made a definite commitment to the company. It is suspected that if anyone commits to Apple the first would most likely be Disney. In the past, Disney has been ready and willing to support Apple and iTunes in their endeavors. In 2005, Disney CEO Bob Iger was the first to sell their programming via a la carte downloads through iTunes. Also, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is the largest shareholder in Disney stock.

Now there are several reasons as to why this may be difficult for Apple to work out. Different cable networks are not going to want to jeopardize their relationships and subscription fees with cable providers such as Comcast. Programmers are also afraid that the iTunes TV subscription could affect the advertising revenue. Even if iTunes didn’t offer TV programs until after their initial air date, there is still the risk that ratings would drop.

Past these factors, I’m sure that Apple is looking at how TV and movies over the Web is definitely on the rise. Netflix already offers a service with streaming movies and TV shows while also continuing disc-by-mail subscription service. iTunes and Amazon offer movie rental services, and YouTube is attempting to start up the same thing. Hulu is also trying to work out the details of a paid service that would offer rentals, downloads, or subscriptions.

So when considering all the facts, what Apple is trying to do is simply keep up with the times. TV and movies over the Web is a growing field that I would be shocked if Apple does not become involved with in the very near future. The question of the matter is…how quickly can they get the service set up and will it really take off like Apple believes? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, and for now we’ll have to depend on our other sources to watch our favorite shows.

Read More >>

CFP: Timberline Acquisitions Institute

CFP: Timberline Acquisitions Institute

The Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge
May 15-18, 2010

WHAT IS The Acquisitions Institute?
* The pre-eminent Western North America conference on acquisitions and collection development, entering its tenth year at Timberline Lodge.
* A small, informal and stimulating gathering in a convivial and glorious Northwestern setting.
* A three day conference focusing on the methods and madness of building and managing library collections.
* See The Acquisitions Institute home page at http://libweb.uoregon.edu/ec/aitl/ for more information.

WHAT TOPICS are we looking for?
* The planning committee is open to presentations on all aspects of library acquisitions and collection management. Presenters are encouraged to engage the audience in discussion. Panel discussions are well received. The planning committee may wish to bring individual proposals together to form panels. The committee is especially looking for submissions on the following topics:
* Operations management of acquisitions or collection development
* Acquisitions functions in open source catalogs
* Role of consortia in collection development
* How subject librarians use their time
* Recruiting for technical services and collection development
* Scholarly communication from the publisher perspective
* Data curation: new roles for subject and technical services specialists
* E-books, streaming audio, streaming video: content, access, cataloging
* External forces driving a library's collection management decisions
* Collection assessment: library and vendor perspectives
* Linking collections with learning outcomes
* Return on investment studies
* Acquisitions and collection development: the small library perspective

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE for submitting a proposal?
* December 30, 2009

HOW do I submit a proposal?
* Send an abstract of 200 words or less to:
Faye A. Chadwell
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-4501
faye.chadwell@oregonstate.edu
Voice: (541) 737-8528
Fax (541) 737-3453

Read More >>

CFP: Code4Lib 2010: Prepared Talk Proposals

CFP: Code4Lib 2010: Prepared Talk Proposals

The Code4Lib 2010 conference

Code4Lib 2010 is a conference for library technologists to commune, gather/create/share ideas and software, be inspired, and forge collaborations. It is also an outgrowth of the Access HackFest, wrapped into a conference-like format. It is *the* event for technologists building digital libraries and digital information systems, tools, and software.

The conference will be held Monday February 22nd (preconference day) - Thursday February 25th, 2010 in Asheville, NC. More information can be found at http://code4lib.org/conference/2010/.

Prepared talks

Prepared talks are 20 minutes, and must focus on one or more of the following areas:

* "tools" (some cool new software, software library or integration platform)
* "specs" (how to get the most out of some protocols, or proposals for new ones)
* "challenges" (one or more big problems we should collectively address)

The community will vote on proposals using the criteria of:

* usefulness
* newness
* geekiness
* diversity of topics

We cannot accept every prepared talk proposal, but multiple lightning talk sessions should provide everyone who wishes to present with an opportunity to do so.

Schedule

Proposals can be submitted through November 13. Voting will commence soon thereafter and be open through December 1st. Successful candidates will be notified by December 3rd. The submitter (and if necessary a second presenter) will be guaranteed an opportunity to register for the conference through December 21st.

Guidelines for Proposals and Submissions

Proposal abstracts must be no longer than 500 words. Include your name and email address. All proposals should be submitted on the wiki page at http://wiki.code4lib.org/index.php/2010talks_Submissions

Read More >>

CFP: Catalog Management Interest Group (ALA Midwinter, Boston)

CFP: Catalog Management Interest Group (ALA Midwinter, Boston)

The ALCTS CCS Catalog Management Interest Group invites proposals for presentations for our meeting at Midwinter in Boston. The group will be meeting on Saturday, January 16th, from 1:30-3:30.

The charge of the Catalog Management Discussion Group is as follows: to discuss the various issues involved with cataloging, classification, and authority control after the initial cataloging has been performed. In this respect, catalog management is defined as the continuous upgrading and updating of a catalog, regardless of its format, be it card, microform, book or on-line. The group will provide a forum for exchanging information and discussing techniques, new developments, and problems in managing the bibliographic integrity of library catalogs.

Proposals are due by November 30, 2009.

For questions, contact:


Philip Young
Chair, ALCTS CCS Catalog Management Interest Group, 2010
Catalog Librarian
University Libraries at Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
(540) 231-8845
pyoung1@vt.edu

Read More >>

Lenovo Unveils Six New Windows 7-Friendly Computers

Lenovo's new computers aren't just Windows 7-friendly, they also include Enhanced Experience software that improves system boot and shutdown times. Three new laptops, the IdeaPad U150, U550 and Y550P, and three new desktops, the IdeaCentre B500, K300 and H230, were introduced by the company last week. Each one runs Intel processors ranging from the Core 2 Duo hips to the Core i7 PC processor.

The Enhanced Experience software comes from a Lenovo collaboration with Microsoft. It includes multimedia tools that produce quality graphics and maintenance tools that improve data recovery and back-up, as well as anti-virus protection. It boots Windows 7 up to 56% faster than Windows XP and Vista and shuts down in as little as five seconds.

The new laptops range from high performance to slim and light. The Y550P features the Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia discrete graphics. The 15.6 inch screen is Lenovo's most powerful laptop and it will set you back $1,149. The U150 is only half an inch thick and weighs under three pounds, with a 11.6 inch, high definition display. Its only $585, supports up to 8 GB of system memory and features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The U550 is considered the most mainstream of the laptops. For $650, you get a 15.6 inch display that runs the Core 2 Duo chip, a built-in DVD drive, and an integrated fingerprint reader.

As for desktops, the IdeaCentre B500 is an all-in-one system that features an Inteo Core 2 quad-core processor, discrete graphics, up to 8 GB of system memory and and 1 terabyte of storage. For $649, the computer comes with a 23 inch screen, JBL-brand integrated speakers, and a remote. The K300 is a tower desktop. It features a Core 2 quad-core processor, RAID-configured hard drives, and Lenovos power control switch that makes it possible to adjust power level for energy efficiency for maximum power. This one starts at $499. The H230 starts at $449 and is meant to appeal to customers looking for customization.

Lenovo isn't the only company releasing new Windows 7-compatible computers just in time for the holiday season. Acer, Gateway, Sony, and Hewlett-Packard also have new PCs on the market.

Read More >>