Category Archives: OpenSym 2013

Why We Publish Through the ACM Digital Library in 2013

We would like to clarify the reasons for publishing this year’s proceedings through

  1. the ACM Digital Library and
  2. the conference website.

In both cases, papers are not available under a Creative Commons (or the like) license, though they are freely available on the conference website (no paywall or other hurdles, see http://wikisym.org/archives/). Given that the conference itself is about everything open, including open access, this may strike some as odd.

First things first: As researchers and practitioners of open collaboration, we would like Open Access to be an option to everyone who wants to publish through WikiSym or OpenSym.

Our reasons for sticking with the ACM as the publisher in 2013 are the following:

Continue reading Why We Publish Through the ACM Digital Library in 2013

Wikipedia Research at WikiSym 2011 and Onward

The Wikimedia Foundation has been an important sponsor of WikiSym as well as this year’s WikiSym + OpenSym 2013. We are very happy to have received funding once more.

The Wikimedia Foundation also just published an independent report on its funding strategy. The research comes to the following conclusion as to WMF’s funding of WikiSym:

A large grant was given to the John Ernest Foundation in support of WikiSym 2011. This was the first grant of any size given by the Wikimedia Grants program to a non-Wikimedia movement organization. WikiSym is an annual conference focused on research into wikis, including into Wikimedia Foundation wikis. In 2011, eleven WMF-focused papers, one WMF-focused demo, and seven WMF-focused posters were presented. More research about WMF projects was presented at WikiSym than anywhere else in 2011. WikiSym is a good example of where a WMF grant to a non-movement group (for a mission-aligned event) can be very worthwhile. The Wikimedia Grants program currently has very limited visibility outside of the movement. It is likely to prove difficult to raise the profile of the Wikimedia Grants program outside of the movement, but increasing the Grants program’s engagement with non-movement members (for movement-aligned goals) is likely to be worthwhile.

Emphasis is ours. We believe that the increase in Wikimedia Foundation related project research in 2012 has kept us in this leadership position, and we are looking forward to further extending the WMF related research in 2013. To that end, we created a dedicated Wikipedia and related research track. Two more weeks to submit your paper! (Please also consider any of the other tracks, which are equally part of the sponsorship.)

Research Paper Deadline Extension for WS+OS 2013

To accommodate a significant number of deadline extension requests, to avoid not initially recognized deadline collisions, and to accommodate different schedules, the deadlines for paper submissions to the research tracks have been changed.

The March 17th deadline has been changed to April 2nd, 2013, for these tracks:

The March 17th deadline has been changed to May 17, 2013, for this track:

We hope that this extension makes life easier for everyone.

Call for Submissions: Community Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Community track submission deadlines:

  • Early deadline: March 17, 2013
  • Regular deadline: May 17, 2013

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at opensym.org/wsos2013.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: COMMUNITY TRACK

The following types of papers can be submitted to the community track:

  • Experience report long and short: A regular presentation slot (30min) will be provided
  • Workshop proposals: A workshop slot (half-day or full-day) is provided at the conference
  • Panel proposals: A session (90min) discussion slot for the panel will be provided
  • Demo proposals: Space and time is provided during the demo session (90min)
  • Tutorial proposals: A tutorial slot (90min) is provided at the conference

Submissions are reviewed by the community track committee for their interest to the WikiSym + OpenSym community in general. For questions about community track submissions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Continue reading Call for Submissions: Community Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

Call for Applications: Doctoral Symposium at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Doctoral symposium paper submission deadline: April 19, 2013.

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at opensym.org/wsos2013.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: DOCTORAL SYMPOSIUM

The WikiSym + Openym 2013 Doctoral Symposium is a forum in which Ph.D. students can meet and discuss their work with each other and a panel of experienced researchers and practitioners. The symposium will be held on August 4 in Hong Kong.

We encourage participation from all doctoral students doing work related to open collaboration, regardless of their academic discipline. Relevant disciplines include (but are not limited to) computer science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, law, information science, cognitive science, rhetoric, communications, and economics.

Applicants should be Ph.D. students with a clear focus or programme of research. This workshop will help to strengthen and sharpen the research focus and implementation, rather than generate specific ideas for research. Preference will be given to students who already have begun their dissertations and are within two years of graduation.

The Symposium committee will select 8-10 participants. Participants will present their work at the Symposium; each student presentation will be followed by feedback from a faculty mentor and extensive group discussion.

Feel free to email the chair with any questions.

Continue reading Call for Applications: Doctoral Symposium at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 Website Live!

The website for WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is live!

Call for Papers: Open Access, Open Data, and Open Government Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Research paper submission deadline: May 17, 2013 (March 17, 2013).

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at opensym.org/2013.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OPEN ACCESS, OPEN DATA, AND OPEN GOVERNMENT RESEARCH TRACK

Recent years have seen a huge growth in demand worldwide for Open Access to an extensive range of materials, across a broad range of sectors. The online environment and digital technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for information sharing and collaboration, in both developed and developing countries.

At present, much attention is focused on facilitating access to and reuse of public sector information, government data, research outputs (publications and data), educational resources, legal information (legislation and judgments), spatial and location information, and cultural works.

Continue reading Call for Papers: Open Access, Open Data, and Open Government Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

Call for Papers: Open Collaboration (Wikis, Social Media, etc.) Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Research paper submission deadline: April 2, 2013 (March 17, 2013).

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at opensym.org/wsos2013.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OPEN COLLABORATION (WIKIS, SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC.) RESEARCH TRACK

Defined as “collaboration that is egalitarian (everyone can join, no principled or artificial barriers to participation exist), meritocratic (decisions and status are merit-based rather than imposed) and self-organizing (processes adapt to people rather than people adapt to pre-defined processes)“, we are seeking research submissions that best exemplify this definition of open collaboration. We are looking for research papers that represent new and innovative research on wikis, social media and other applications that best exemplify open collaboration. We seek submissions that will bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Some of the topics that would be appropriate for submission to the “open collaboration” track are:

  • Innovative development and/or implementation of wiki applications
  • Building open systems and tools
  • Social and cultural aspects of open collaboration
  • Open collaboration beyond text: images, video, sound, etc.
  • Communities and workgroups
  • Open knowledge and information production
  • Uses and impact of wikis and other open resources, tools, and practices in fields and application areas, for example:
    • Open source software development and use
    • Education and Open Educational Resources
    • E-government, open government, and public policy
    • Law/Intellectual Property (including Creative Commons)
    • Journalism (including participatory journalism)
    • Art and Entertainment (including collaborative and audience-involved art)
    • Science (including collaboratories)
    • Publishing (including open access and open review models)
    • Business (including open and collaborative management styles)

Continue reading Call for Papers: Open Collaboration (Wikis, Social Media, etc.) Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

Call for Papers: Free, Libre, and Open Source Software Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Research paper submission deadline: April 2, 2013 (March 17, 2013).

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at opensym.org/wsos2013.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: FREE, LIBRE, AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE RESEARCH

Although free, libre, and open source software (FLOSS) can be studied with the general methodologies and techniques developed for other kinds of software, it shows enough peculiarities (such as the extent to which it can be reused, the fact of being usually build by cooperating communities, or the exploration of new business models) to need new developments that help to understand it. In addition, in many cases it also offers new possibilities and opportunities to researchers, such as the availability of detailed data about the development process, the openness of the decision taking procedures, or the open and collaborative nature of communities around FLOSS projects, which allow for the development of new techniques and methodologies.

The track on FLOSS research is one of the peer-reviewed research tracks of OpenSym. It aims at hosting current research papers on issues related to the different aspects of this kind of software, from different points of view. Multidisciplinary research is specially welcome, but specific lines within a given research field also have their place. In any case, the works presented should show specific aspects of FLOSS, and should not be limited to showing research issues on products that happen to be FLOSS, but have no differential aspect because of that.

Practical cases or industry presentations are welcome, provided they meet the scientific standards that will be applied by the program committee.

Topics of interest to this track include, but are not limited to:

  • FLOSS development, including software engineering aspects
  • FLOSS technologies, specially those taking advantage of being FLOSS
  • FLOSS communities, including developer, but also user or business communities
  • FLOSS and innovation, how both are related, and new innovation models based on FLOSS
  • Motivation and incentives to FLOSS development and adoption
  • Business models based on FLOSS and sustainability of FLOSS projects
  • Legal aspects of FLOSS, including copyright and licensing
  • Education and FLOSS
  • Impact of FLOSS in specific domains or technological areas, and FLOSS adoption
  • Measurement of significant parameters related to FLOSS

Continue reading Call for Papers: Free, Libre, and Open Source Software Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

Call for Papers: Wikipedia Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013

WikiSym, the 9th International Symposium on Wikis and Open Collaboration
OpenSym, the 2013 International Symposium on Open Collaboration

August 5-7, 2013 | Hong Kong, China

ACM In-cooperation with SIGWEB and SIGSOFT. Archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Research paper submission deadline: April 2, 2013 (March 17, 2013).

The 2013 Joint International Symposium on Open Collaboration (WikiSym + OpenSym 2013) is the premier conference on open collaboration research, including wikis and social media, Wikipedia, free, libre, and open source software, open access, open data and open government research. WikiSym is in its 9th year and will be complemented by OpenSym, a new conference on open collaboration research and an adjunct to the successful WikiSym conference series. WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is the first conference to bring together the different strands of open collaboration research, seeking to create synergies and inspire new research between computer scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, and everyone interested in understanding open collaboration and how it is changing the world. Read more about the conference at wikisym.org/wsos2013.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WIKIPEDIA RESEARCH TRACK

Topics of interest to the Wikipedia research track include, but are not limited to:

  • What do particular articles or groups or articles tell us about the norms, governance and architecture of Wikipedia and its impact on media, politics and the social sphere? How is information on Wikipedia being shaped by the materiality of Wikipedia infrastructure?
  • What is the impact of all/some of Wikipedia’s 211 language editions having on achieving the project’s goal to represent the “sum of all human knowledge”? Do smaller language editions follow the same development path as larger language editions? Can different representations in different languages tell us anything about cultural, national or regional differences?
  • What are the gendered dimensions of Wikipedia editing? How are issues around power, knowledge and representation drawn into focus by gender, geography and other gaps and imbalances in Wikipedia editing?
  • What skills/competencies/connections/world views are required to become an empowered member of the Wikimedia community? What does a Wikipedia literate person look like? How are those skills/competencies/connections/world views obtained and enacted?
  • Does Wikipedia enact an open source of authoritative knowledge that impacts learning in formal and informal settings? For instance, how do students employ Wikipedia as a covert/overt source in their papers or as a generative site for problem formulation? Or how is Wikipedia being used as a serendipitous experience of knowledge acquisition? What methods can be employed to understand these varied utilizations?
  • What is the effect of outreach initiatives involving the growing institutionalisation of Wikipedia activities? As galleries, libraries, archives and museums hire Wikipedians-in-residence to digitize, showcase and/or represent their collections, is Wikipedia able to fill some its key knowledge gaps? Or are there unintended effects of this institutionalization of knowledge?
  • What are the methodological challenges to studying Wikipedia? How are researchers engaging with innovative methodologies to solve some of these problems? How are other researchers using traditional or well-established methods to study Wikipedia?
  • How are wiki projects other than Wikipedia evolving? What are the benefits to studying other wiki projects and can comparisons and generalisations be made from our observations of these systems?
  • How does information contained in Wikipedia shape our understanding of broader social, economic, and political practices and processes? What theoretical frameworks in social, economic, legal and other relevant theoretical traditions can be applied to enrich the academic discourse on Wikipedia?

SUBMISSION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

The following types of submissions are invited:

  • Long research papers (5 to 10 pages)
  • Short research papers (1 to 4 pages)
  • Research posters (1 to 2 pages)
  • Research presentations (1 to 10 pages)

Research papers present integrative reviews or original reports of substantive new theoretical or empirical work. Research papers will be reviewed by the research track program committee to meet rigorous academic standards of publication. Papers will be reviewed for relevance, conceptual quality, innovation and clarity of presentation. They must be written in English. At least one author of accepted papers is required to attend the conference in order to present the paper.

Research presentations present integrative reviews or original reports of substantive new theoretical or empirical work. This is a new format is specifically aimed at the requirements of social science researchers enabling those researchers to use WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 (WS+OS) as a pre-publication venue before journal publication. Only the abstracts of these papers will be published as part of the proceedings thus leaving open the opportunity for journal publication at a later date. Research presentations will be reviewed by the research track program committee to meet rigorous academic standards just like research papers.

Research posters enable researchers to present late-breaking research results, significant research work in progress, or research work that is best communicated in conversation. WS+OS’s lively poster sessions let conference attendees exchange ideas one-on-one with authors, and let authors discuss their work in detail with those attendees most deeply interested in the topic. Successful applicants will display their posters, up to 1x2m in size, at a special session during the event.

Submissions for experience reports (long and short), tutorials, workshops, panels, non-research posters, and demos are also sought but are handled through the community track, please see the community track call for submissions. Submissions to WS+OS’s Doctoral Symposium are also sought but are handled separately, please see the doctoral symposium call for submissions.

Submissions should follow the standard ACM SIG proceedings format. For advice and templates, please see http://www.acm.org/sigs/publications/proceedings-templates. All papers must conform at time of submission to the formatting instructions and must not exceed the page limits, including all text, references, appendices and figures. All submissions must in PDF format.

All papers and posters should be submitted electronically through EasyChair using the following URL: https://www.easychair.org/account/signin.cgi?conf=wikisym2013.

Continue reading Call for Papers: Wikipedia Research Track at WikiSym + OpenSym 2013