-------- Forwarded Message --------
Dear AISWorld readers
SAICSIT 2020 - CALL FOR PAPERS
‘Interfacing with Digital Africa’
www.saicsit2020.org.za
Venue: Christel House, Cape Town, South Africa
Conference dates: 14-16 September 2020
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula
University of
Technology is pleased to announce the hosting of the 2020 South
African
Institute for Computer Scientists and Information Technologists
(SAICSIT)
conference. It will take place from the 14th to the 16th of
September at
Christel House in Ottery, Cape Town. The theme is 'Interfacing
with Digital
Africa'.
With the rapid increase of technology-for-development related
research,
interfacing can enable or constrain lines of communication. As
such,
academic researchers in Africa enjoy an important responsibility
in
directing the flows of novel research in IS and CS. Both
Africanisation and
the decolonial turn point to the importance of developing
knowledge from
African contexts. This can be interpreted as an extension of
information
that encapsulates relevance and context for the benefit of all its
citizenry.
The development of local knowledge requires an understanding of
the context
in which IS/CS solutions are to be applied by incorporating the
four
dimensions of digital technology (computing, connectivity, content
and
capacity). Researchers in Africa enjoy special opportunities for
interfacing with a diverse range of perspectives and realities by
engaging
these four dimensions and closing related gaps in literature. Such
research
may develop into unique contributions that range from developing
novel
theoretical knowledge to trialling IS/CS innovations. In contrast,
local
researchers might also face severe constraints that mitigate
against
interfacing outside the dominant academic understanding of the
Global North
or the needs of 'universal' software development and its users.
Interfacing with Digital Africa seeks to address how the work of
computer
science and information technology researchers interfaces with
unique
opportunities and challenges on the continent. It also aims to
spotlight
the gaps and challenges for our research community’s exploration
of
under-resourced settings and marginalised communities outside the
defaults
of 'standard' computing and information technology environments.
The conference programme will include full paper sessions, plenary
keynote
addresses, panel discussions, and workshops. The first day (Monday
14
September 2020) will be devoted to workshops, an AISSAC Seminar,
and a
Postgraduate Symposium. The main conference will be held from
Tuesday 15
September to Wednesday 16 September 2020. We hereby invite
submissions for
empirical research papers, conceptual papers, panel proposals,
workshop
proposals or postgraduate abstracts.
Topical questions to address may include:
1. What progress are software developers making in Southern Africa
to
interface with African contexts and users?
2. How is computer science and information technology research
responding
to African realities more broadly?
3. What are the gaps in African CS and IS research and what
constraints do
these suggest?
4. How are African solutions for African problems meeting the
world?
5. What are the enablers and constraints that influence interface
design
for Africans?
6. How are developers catering for previously neglected
communities through
custom interfaces and African language libraries?
7. How might software development for marginalised, African
communities be
developed as sustainable projects?
8. Among many African IT start-ups, could any grow into high
performing
technology companies like the FAANGs?
9. How is African computer science and information technology
research
rebalancing 'global' understandings developed in very different
settings?
10. How can transdisciplinary research contribute to understanding
of IS
and CS dynamics in African contexts?
11. What are the underlying theories and philosophies of
Africanisation in
the technology domain?
IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline for submission (all papers): 11 May 2020
Notification of acceptance (papers): 15 June 2020
Deadline for M&D submissions: 29 June 2020
Registration deadline (papers): 13 July 2020
Deadline for M&D acceptance: 3 August 2020
Registration deadline (M&D): 24 August 2020
Conference: 14-16 September 2020
SUBMISSIONS
All submissions will be peer-reviewed by a national and
international panel
of experts. English is the official conference language.
Submissions in all
categories must follow the ACM International Conference
Proceedings Series
prescribed format. The template and guidelines for papers are
located on
the website at
https://www.acm.org/publications/proceedings-template For
all tracks, only anonymised PDF files must be submitted for
review. Any
questions regarding the formatting and uploading of submissions
should be
directed to Prof Ephias Ruhode (
ruhodee@cput.ac.za). All
submissions must
be made through the online submission system, Easychair, which
will be
online soon.
FULL RESEARCH PAPERS
We invite the submission of full papers (maximum 10 pages) to
report
original previously- unpublished work in the topic areas of the
conference.
General papers that do not directly address the topic areas will
also be
considered. Full papers typically report on completed and mature
research
results.
CONCEPTUAL PAPERS
We invite the submission of conceptual papers (maximum 10 pages)
to report
on the latest developments in literature, theory and philosophy
regarding
the topic areas of the conference. General conceptual papers that
do not
directly address the topic areas will also be considered.
Conceptual papers
may report on novel non-empirical research.
PANELS
We invite proposals for panels on stimulating or controversial
topics of
current interest within the general scope of the conference.
Topics and/or
themes for a panel session may also be proposed by individuals
with an
interest in chairing a panel in a topic that intrigues them.
Preference
will be given to topics that raise forward-looking and/or
contentious
issues, and that promote debate among panel members and
involvement of the
audience. All suggestions will be assessed for their topicality
and ability
to generate stimulating debate.
WORKSHOPS
We invite proposals for workshops as satellite events associated
with the
conference. Workshop proposals should include the aim of the
workshop,
tentative programme, possible speakers, and expected outcomes.
POSTGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM SAICSIT 2020 offers postgraduate students
at
master’s and doctoral levels the opportunity to actively engage
with their
peers and established researchers on the first day of the
conference.
Successful students will be required to present their research
during the
dedicated sessions. Participation is free and open to all CS, IS
and IT
postgraduate research students at any stage of their research.
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Organising chair: Izak van Zyl (
vanzyliz@cput.ac.za)
Programme chair: Ephias Ruhode (
ruhodee@cput.ac.za)
Logistics chair: Angus Morton/africaMASSIVE
(
saicsit@africamassive.co.za)
Symposium and workshops chair: Mourine Achieng
(
achiengm@cput.ac.za)
Sponsorship and web chair: Travis Noakes (
noakest@cput.ac.za)
We hope to see you in Cape Town in September! Visit our conference
website
at:
https://saicsit2020.org.za/
The SAICSIT membership website is available at:
https://www.saicsit.org/
Sincerely
Organising chair: Izak van Zyl (
vanzyliz@cput.ac.za)
(Message sent by Jan H. Kroeze on behalf of the organising
committee)
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