Re: Fw: [COMPLEX-M] CFP: Coping with Complexity, Workshop, 16/17 September 2004 (Bath, UK)

[Judith Rosen <***>]

The conference in September in Bath appears to be strictly about computer
modeling (as in "the complex problems of computer modeling"). It's not about
modeling complexity, it's about the "complexity of modeling", yes?

Judith
I think I need to dig out my Groucho Marx glasses-and-nose to say that, here
on the list, we've already been discussing "the complexity of modeling
complexity".....

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ionel" <***>
To: <***>
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 9:40 PM
Subject: Re: [ROSEN] Fw: [COMPLEX-M] CFP: Coping with Complexity, Workshop,
16/17 September 2004 (Bath, UK)


> I agree with John M. completely: this seems to be the norm, maybe even in.
> or at, Santa Fe. I was surprised to find on the web under "Higher
> Dimensional Automata" that some cellular automatons claim " to simulate
all
> life...", etc. Obviously they didn't bother to read either Robert's "Life
> Itself"  or his "Essays... " As John M. says some people like
complications
> for the sake of complication , especially when they are less than genius
> level, 'pure' mathematicians.
>
> Ionel
>
>
> Please note that the inserted quotes around "Complexity" are mine! Hope
> John M. doesn't mind?!
>
> On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 17:02:36 -0400, John M <***> wrote:
>
> >Appeared on another ("Complexity") list. Short notice, but maybe
> >some listers want to contribute a position in RR's views. It seems the
> >organizers have the 'conventional complicated structures' in mind and
think
> >in computerized limited models, even restricting them further (by
> >'abstraction') to simplify the problems.
> >I don't know if they accept sent-in papers from people not going to Bath
UK
> >in September? I just saw the call an thought about the RR position
missing
> >in the writeup.
> >It does not look like "THE" top cpnference of the century.
> >Just FYI
> >
> >John Mikes
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Anne Bruseberg" <***>
> >To: <***>
> >Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 11:21 AM
> >Subject: [COMPLEX-M] CFP: Coping with Complexity, Workshop, 16/17
September
> >2004 (Bath, UK)
> >
> >
> >> WORKSHOP CALL - UNIVERSITY OF BATH - 16/17 September 2004
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Coping with complexity: sharing new approaches for the design of
> >> human-computer systems in complex settings.
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> The use of interactive information and communication technologies is
now
> >> thoroughly ingrained in society, but the complexity of their role is
> >> constantly changing, and deepening.  The complexity of the interplay
> >between
> >> such technologies, people and society needs to be better understood to
> >give
> >> design a better foundation.  Capability to support settings such as
> >> collaborative work, mobile work, knowledge-sharing communities, as well
> as
> >> the operation of dynamic, high-consequence, and safety-critical
systems,
> >> requires new approaches.  Equipping computer systems with new
> capabilities
> >> is often approached through increased automation, adaptivity, context
> >> sensitivity, and artificial intelligence techniques.  Such advances,
> >> however, create new types of interaction, and therefore new problems
> >> including new types of error, often with higher consequences.
However,
> >the
> >> aim of any such design should be to make human-computer interaction
> >simpler
> >> not more complex and difficult.
> >>
> >> Whilst theory and practice of HCI has made tremendous progress in many
> >> areas, identifying suitable approaches to dealing with complexity
remains
> >a
> >> major challenge.  Neither just modelling the complexity of the
technical
> >> artefacts we operate, nor modelling the activities we engage in gives
us
> >all
> >> the insights we need for design.  We need to study the interplay of
both.
> >> Moreover, we are increasingly faced with having to understand what is
> >often
> >> termed 'context' -- the settings, resources and constraints, within
which
> >> tasks are carried out by individuals and groups.  Lastly, when
modelling
> >> interaction for design, we are faced with change and uncertainty.  How
> can
> >> we envisage future interaction?  What aspects of current activities,
> >> knowledge and skills should be preserved?  Which aspects need to be
> >> improved?
> >>
> >> When faced with the design of effective and seamless human-computer
> >systems
> >> in complex settings, we face the classical dilemma.  We need to create
a
> >> suitable understanding to reduce complex phenomena.  We cannot reason
> >about
> >> complexity without suitable abstractions that take account of the
> features
> >> of reality that matter for the specific design task we are faced with.
> >> However, solutions for simplified systems often do not scale to complex
> >> systems.  Understanding and shaping complexity requires identifying
> >> essential structures and central aspects (which may differ for specific
> >> domains and design problems).  Do we need to study organisational
> >structures
> >> and rules to deal with the problem of managing interdependencies
between
> >> activities?  Do we benefit from viewing interactive systems as
> distributed
> >> cognition by shifting traditional system boundaries between computer
> >system
> >> and users?  Should we design computer systems as collaborators, by
> drawing
> >> suitable analogies to collaboration as can be observed between humans?
> >> Should we focus on studying meta-cognitive processes?  Can biological
> >> systems inform the design of interactive systems?
> >>
> >> This workshop aims to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on new
> >> approaches to support the development of new generations of interactive
> >> systems -- and to establish a network of researchers working with these
> >> problems.  The workshop is open to contributors from any discipline
> (e.g.,
> >> computer scientists, designers, sociologists, biologists, architects,
> >> environmental scientists) -- including both practitioners and
academics.
> >>
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Format and organisational details:
> >>
> >> We invite two types of position papers: Long Position Papers (6-8
pages)
> >and
> >> Short Position Papers (1-2 pages).  We will select a number of long
> >position
> >> papers that will be the main basis for the discussions after 20-minute
> >> presentations.  The short papers act as an indicator to structure the
> >themes
> >> for discussion.  Acceptance of short position papers is essential for
> >> attendance.  Participants will present their short papers as posters.
All
> >> position papers will be selected on the basis of their relevance,
quality
> >> and ability to stimulate discussion.  We envisage a number of
> participants
> >> of around 30, although some limited places may be available for people
> who
> >> have not submitted papers.
> >>
> >> *Long position papers:
> >> due by the Friday,                18 June 2004;
> >> should describe original research work;
> >> should be 6-8 pages long, and no longer than 7000 words.
> >>
> >> *Short position papers:
> >> also due by Friday,               18 June 2004;
> >> outlining experience and views on the topic, and reasons for the
interest
> >> in the workshop;
> >> should be 1-2 pages long, and no longer than 1500 words.
> >>
> >> *Notification of acceptance:          Friday 23 July 2004
> >> *Workshop date:                       16-17 September 2004
> >>
> >> Please download the style guide:
> >> http://www.cs.bath.ac.uk/~hci/Workshops/2004/formatting_guide.doc
> >>
> >> All accepted papers will be made available prior to the workshop via
our
> >> webpage http://www.cs.bath.ac.uk/~hci/Workshops/2004/complexity.htm
> >> After the workshop, we will produce post-workshop
> >> proceedings including a workshop report.   It is our intention to
publish
> >> selected papers in an extended and revised form through a journal, or
as
> >an
> >> edited book.
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >> Address For Further Information And Submissions:
> >>
> >> Anne Bruseberg or Peter Wild: ***
> >> Department of Computer Science
> >> University of Bath
> >> BA2 7AY
> >>
> >> Workshop Organising Committee:
> >> Peter Johnson
> >> Anne Bruseberg
> >> Peter J Wild
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> [Reminder: To alter your list options:  go to
> >> http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=complex-m]
>