*Apologies for cross posting -- please note extended deadline and circulate*2nd
CFP, The 9th AISB Symposium on Computing and Philosophy: Artificial
Sexuality
AISB Convention <http://www.sheffieldrobotics.ac.uk/events/aisb-2016/>,
University of Sheffield, UK, from 4-6th April 2016
The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of
Behaviour <http://www.aisb.org.uk/> (AISB)
Symposium Website <https://stmarysphilosophy.wordpress.com/aisb/>
*OVERVIEW:*
Sexual activity is central to our very existence; it shapes how we think,
how we act and how we live. It is deeply embedded in our society. With
cognitive systems development being heavily influenced by human cognition,
perception, and interaction, should sexual behaviour and sexuality be part
of that influence? Previous research has examined what might happen to us
if we form close relationships with machines and intelligent systems. We
feel that this is only one aspect of what we term Artificial Sexuality, and
suggest that there are multiple and equally important strands that have not
yet been fully explored, including – but by no means limited to – modelling
sex and cognition, embodiment, gender issues, reproduction, ethics, and
law.
With cognitive computing trying to find a way for machines to learn and
think, much of the research looks towards humans to understand our own
cognitive processes. However, sexuality and sexual behaviour is largely
ignored within the discipline despite its central role in human biological
and social behaviour. Indeed the relation between sexuality, identity and
intelligence is often presumed in evolutionary accounts of human
development. Yet, given the hopes and aims of having a machine that is -
for example - creative, could we also have a machine that could desire? And
if so, what implications might lead from that in terms of sexuality, gender
identity, and reproduction? For this symposium we will invite papers that
engage with such topics, and seek to bring together a number of scholarly
fields including computing, AI, philosophy, and psychology.
*TOPICS OF INTEREST:*
These include, but are not limited to: AI and sex/sexuality; gender and
technology; robot companions; cognitive systems; human cognition,
perception, interaction; machine relationships; modelling sex and
cognition; embodiment; ethics; law; identity; machine reproduction.
*SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION DETAILS:*
Submissions by full paper or extended abstract, via EasyChair
<https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aisb16aisex>.
Text editor templates from a previous convention can be found here
<http://www.aisb.org.uk/convention/aisb08/download.html>.
We request that submitted papers are limited to eight pages, with a minimum
of 2 pages for extended abstracts. Each paper will receive at least two
reviews. Accepted papers will be published in the general proceedings of
the AISB Convention, with the proviso that at least ONE author attends the
symposium in order to present the paper and participate in general
symposium activities. Papers are sought on topics related to the symposium
content, although other submissions (posters and panels, for instance) may
also be considered.
*IMPORTANT DATES:*
i. Full paper submission deadline: *18 January 2016 [extended
deadline]*
ii. Notification of acceptance/rejection decisions: 28
February 2016
iii. Final versions of accepted papers (Camera ready copy): 7
March 2016
iv. Publications copyright form from all authors: 14th March
2016
v. Convention: 4 - 6 April 2016 Goldsmiths; symposium date to
be confirmed* [likely 4 &/or 5 April]*
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:*
There will be separate proceedings for each symposium, produced before the
Congress, and available to conference delegates. In previous years there
have been awards for the best student paper, and limited student bursaries.
These details will be circulated as and when they become available, but
queries on this or other issues to do with the convention should be
directed to the convention organisers. Authors of a selection of the best
papers may be invited to submit an extended version of the work to a
journal special issue.
*SYMPOSIUM ORGANISING COMMITTEE (OC):*
Dr Yasemin J Erden
<http://www.stmarys.ac.uk/arts-and-humanities/staff/yasemin-j-erden.htm#page=teaching>,
Philosophy, St Mary's University, Twickenham *(chair)*
email: [log in to unmask]
tel: +44 (0) 208 240 4295
Prof. Mark Bishop <http://www.gold.ac.uk/computing/staff/m-bishop/>,
Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London.
email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Kate Devlin <http://www.gold.ac.uk/computing/staff/k-devlin/>,
Computing, Goldsmiths, University of London.
email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Christine Campbell
<http://www.stmarys.ac.uk/mss/staff/christine-campbell.htm#page=research>,
Psychology, St Mary's University, Twickenham.
email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Stephen Rainey <https://dmu.academia.edu/StephenRainey>, CCSR, De
Montfort University, Leicester.
email: [log in to unmask]
Prof Richard Huxtable
<http://www.bris.ac.uk/social-community-medicine/people/richard-huxtable/index.html>,
Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol.
email: [log in to unmask]
Monica Dionis, Independent Researcher.
Some key links (if you have trouble accessing embedded text):
https://stmarysphilosophy.wordpress.com/aisb/
http://www.sheffieldrobotics.ac.uk/events/aisb-2016/
http://www.aisb.org.uk/
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=aisb16aisex
http://www.aisb.org.uk/convention/aisb08/download.html
