Computers in Human Behavior
                             Special issue on
                         Attention aware systems

I. Call for papers
This forthcoming issue of the journal Computers in Human Behaviour
(http://authors.elsevier.com/JournalDetail.html?PubID=759&Precis=IF) is
dedicated to the exploration of "attention aware systems".
The special issue will include some of the most significant contributions to
the workshop "Designing for attention" (http://ac.aup.fr/~roda/attention/)
that took place at the annual conference of the British HCI group 2004
(http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/hci2004/).
Along with these contributions we invite the submission of original
unpublished work in the field of attention aware systems from several
different perspectives including cognitive psychology, ethnography, digital
arts, system design, and human computer interaction.

I.1 The theme
Much research has focussed on the design of systems enabling users to access
and use information quickly and efficiently. However the capability of using
this information is seriously limited by finite human cognitive resources.
Although the role of attentional processes in allocating cognitive resources
has been demonstrated to be crucial, the research relating attentional
processes and human computer interaction has not been dealt with as a
coherent body of knowledge.

We believe that publishing an interdisciplinary collection of current
research in this area would encourage an inclusive approach to the design of
"attention aware" systems, i.e. systems capable of adapting to, and
supporting, human attentional processes. On the other hand, focus on
"attention aware" system design would provide a framework for the
integration of research on human attentional processes in fields as
different as cognitive psychology, sociology/ethnography, aesthetics, and
human communication.

Attention aware systems will be crucial for the development of applications
in a wide variety of domains including education, life critical systems
(e.g. air traffic control), support to monitor and diagnosis, knowledge
management, simulation of human like characters, games, and e-commerce.


I.2 Indicative list of subjects
Subjects of interest include but are not limited to:
- Studies of cognitive / physical factors that may influence attention and
their application to system design
- Rhetorical, cultural, and aesthetic aspects of attention
- High level cognitive processes - motivations, goals, interests - and
attention
- Visual attention
- Awareness and notification systems
- Systems designed to exploit specific attentional mechanisms
- Systems capable of assessing users' attentional focus
- Eye tracking systems
- Simulations of human attentional mechanisms
- The design of transparent systems
- Systems capable of guiding / maintaining users' attentional focus
- The role of surprise in designing for attention: caveat or useful tool?

II. Submission information
Papers should be submitted by email to both the guest editors of the special
issue: Claudia Roda ([log in to unmask]) and Julie Thomas
([log in to unmask]).

II.1 Important dates
November 15 2004    paper submission
January 30 2005    notification to authors
February 28 2005    revised paper submission
March 28 2005    notification to authors
July/August 2005    publication

II.2 Formatting for first submission (the final submission format will be
different)
General: The corresponding author should be identified (include a Fax number
and E-mail address). Paper length may vary but, as an indication, papers
between 10 and 30 pages are appropriate. We recommend 12pt single spaced
manuscripts. Authors should consult a recent issue of the journal for style
if possible.

Abstracts: An abstract of no more than 200 words should accompany each
paper.

References: All publications cited in the text should be present in a list
of references following the text of the manuscript. In the text refer to the
author's name (without initials) and year of publication, e.g. "Since
Peterson (1993) has shown that..." or "This is in agreement with results
obtained later (Kramer, 1994)". For 2-6 authors, all authors are to be
listed at first citation, with "&" separating the last two authors. For more
than six authors, use the first six authors followed by et al. In subsequent
citations for three or more authors use author et al. in the text. The list
of references should be arranged alphabetically by authors' names. The
manuscript should be carefully checked to ensure that the spelling of
authors names and dates are exactly the same in the text as in the reference
list.
References should be given in alphabetical order and in the following form:

Miller, D. (1981). The depth/breadth trade-off in hierarchical computer
menus. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 25th Annual
Meeting (pp. 140-200) Santa Monica, CA.

Paap, K.A., & Roske-Hofstrand, R.J. (1988). Design of menus. In M. Helander.
Handbook of human-computer interaction (pp. 205-235). New York: Elsevier.

Wu, A.K.W., & Lee, M.C. (1998). Intelligent training systems as design.
Computers in Human Behavior 14 (2), 209B220.

Copyright
All authors of accepted papers must sign the "Transfer of Copyright"
agreement before the article can be published. This transfer agreement
enables Elsevier Science Ltd to protect the copyrighted material for the
authors, without the author relinquishing his/her proprietary rights. The
copyright transfer covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute
the article, including reprints, photographic reproductions, microfilm or
any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations. It also
includes the right to adapt the article for use in conjunction with computer
systems and programs, including reproduction or publication in
machine-readable form and incorporation in retrieval systems. Authors are
responsible for obtaining from the copyright holder permission to reproduce
any material for which copyright already exists.

III. Review process
Papers will be first reviewed by at least three reviewers of the special
issue's reviewing panel. Reviewer's comments will be sent to all authors.
Authors of accepted papers will be asked to revise their papers following
the reviewers' comments and the revised version of the paper will be
submitted to the journal editor.

IV. Information about the journal Computers in human Behaviour (Extract from
the journal's Web page
http://authors.elsevier.com/JournalDetail.html?PubID=759&Precis=DESC)
Computers in Human Behavior is a scholarly journal dedicated to examining
the use of computers from a psychological perspective. Original theoretical
works, research reports, literature reviews, software reviews, book reviews
and announcements are published. The journal addresses both the use of
computers in psychology, psychiatry and related disciplines as well as the
psychological impact of computer use on individuals, groups and society. The
former category includes articles exploring the use of computers for
professional practice, training, research and theory development. The latter
category includes articles dealing with the psychological effects of
computers on phenomena such as human development, learning, cognition,
personality, and social interactions. The journal addresses human
interactions with computers, not computers per se. The computer is discussed
only as a medium through which human behaviors are shaped and expressed. The
primary message of most articles involves information about human behavior.
Therefore, professionals with an interest in the psychological aspects of
computer use, but with limited knowledge of computers, will find this
journal of interest.

Guest Editors:

Claudia Roda
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Co-chair of the Computer Science, Math and Science Department
American University of Paris
[log in to unmask]           http://www.ac.aup.fr/roda

Julie Thomas
Associate Professor, International Communications
Acting chair of the International Communication Department
American University of Paris
[log in to unmask]