Category Archives: WikiSym 2013

Requirements for a Suitable Publisher in 2014

OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 2013

WikiSym + OpenSym would like to provide a full-fledged Open Access option for authors who submit research papers for inclusion in the conference proceedings. After reviewing our situation, we have identified the following requirements:

  1. Reputable publisher (must). Obviously a must.
  2. Established publisher (nice). The more established, the better, as long as the open access option is proper.
  3. Non-profit publisher (nice). Many of the problems in publishing, including overcharging for open access publishing, stems from the for-profit motives the publisher. Thus, we prefer a stable non-profit publisher.
  4. Known in computer science (nice). With a strong background in computer science, we prefer a publisher who has a proper reputation in computer science. This requirement may become less important over time.
  5. Open access option (must). The publisher must allow for a proper open access option. The cheaper the better as long as the publisher is solid and has a long-term perspective.
  6. Reputable license choice (must). The available open access licenses should be widely acknowledged and should include the CC-BY and CC-BY-SA families. A publication permission (no copyright transfer) is also acceptable.
  7. No copyright transfer (nice). For those authors, who reject open access (or can’t pay the fees) the publisher should only request a publication permission rather than require a copyright transfer.
  8. Allows for self-publication (must). With open access being an option, rather than a requirement, it is important that the publisher allows for self-publication (on the conference website and the authors’ own websites).
  9. Reasonable and minimal service choice (nice). The publisher should allow for the submission of whole proceedings only and not require the purchase of additional editorial services (and impose consequent cost).

Requirements 1, 5, 6, and 8 are musts, requirements 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 are desirable but not required.

At present, the ACM Digital Library, our current publisher, does not offer 5 and 6, which are musts. They have made a recent announcement that they will provide these options, but details have not yet been provided.

Feedback is welcome!

Why We Publish Through the ACM Digital Library in 2013

OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 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

OpenSym 2013, Wikimedia, WikiSym 2013

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

Announcement, OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 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

OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 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

Doctoral Symposium, OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 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!

Announcement, OpenSym 2013, WikiSym 2013

The website for WikiSym + OpenSym 2013 is live!

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

Announcement, OpenSym 2013, Wikimedia, WikiSym 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

Announcement, OpenSym 2013, Wikimedia, WikiSym 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

Announcement, OpenSym 2013, Wikimedia, WikiSym 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 →