[Air-l] Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication Conference

[Fay Sudweeks]

*** SAVE and Register Early by May 17 ***

International Conference on
CULTURAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION (CATaC'02)
12-15 July 2002, University of Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Conference theme:
The Net(s) of Power: Language, Culture and Technology

Website: www.it.murdoch.edu.au/~sudweeks/catac02/

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This biennial conference series aims to provide an international forum for
the  presentation and discussion of cutting-edge research on how diverse
cultural attitudes shape the implementation and use of information and
communication technologies (ICT).  "Cultural attitudes" here includes
cultural values and communicative preferences that may be embedded in both
the content and form of ICT - thus threatening to make ICT less the agent of
a promised democratic global village and more an agent of cultural
homogenisation and imperialism. The conference series brings together
scholars from around the globe who provide diverse perspectives, both in
terms of the specific culture(s) they highlight in their presentations and
discussions, and in terms of the discipline(s) through which they approach
the conference theme.

PROGRAM
An exciting program has been arranged, including presenters from Australia,
Canada, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Philippines, Saudi Arabia,
South Africa, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, UK and USA. See the conference
website for paper details. Ample time is allowed for open discussions at the
end of each session. The conference concludes with a panel discussion. The
panel is led by session discussants and integrates the themes of the
conference, focusing on future research directions in the converging areas
of culture, technology and communication.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Susan Herring (Associate Professor of Information Science, Adjunct Associate
Professor of Linguistics, Indiana University) will be speaking on "The
language of the Internet: English dominance or heteroglossia".

INVITED SPEAKER
Laurie Walker, University of Lethbridge, Canada

LOCAL CHAIR
Lorna Heaton, University of Montreal, Canada

ACCOMMODATION
Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the university residences and at the
Royal Terrasse Hotel. Be sure to make your reservation early, particularly
at the hotel where rooms are limited.

CONFERENCE DINNER
The conference dinner will be held on Sunday 14 July at Fairmont Le Château
Montebello, a stunning red cedar log château famed for its rugged luxury in
beautiful surroundings. Dinner and bus transport to Montebello are included
in the registration fee. Montebello is approximately a one-and-a-half hour
drive from Montreal.

REGISTRATION
Until 17 May, the conference registration fee is USD300 with further
discounts for authors (one author discount fee per paper) and full-time
students. After 17 May, each fee type will increase by USD40. Conference and
author registration fees include technical sessions, conference dinner and
transport, reception, proceedings, satchels, breakfasts, lunches, morning
and afternoon coffees, panel and closing cocktails. Student registration fee
excludes the conference dinner and transport. All fees include the panel on
Monday 15 July. The panel is also open to the public for a fee of USD30.

See the registration form on the conference website for more information and
REGISTER NOW.

CONTACTS

Charles Ess
Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Center
Drury University
900 N. Benton Ave.
Springfield, MO  65802  USA
Tel: 417-873-7230; Fax: 417-873-7435

Fay Sudweeks
Senior Lecturer
School of Information Technology
Murdoch University
Murdoch WA 6150 Australia
Tel: 61-8-9360-2364; Fax: 61-8-9360-2941