Technology and Intimacy: Choice or coercion?
From distant mainframes to personal computers to handhelds to wearable tech and implanted devices, contemporary technology seems on an unstoppable trajectory to get nearer and nearer to us, our bodies, and the most intimate details of our lives. This conference series has marked every stage of this journey from 1974 until today. Manchester, home of the computer and now European City of Science in 2016, welcomes HCC12 with the aim of scrutinising the journey from impersonal monolithic technology towards the intimate intertwining of devices and the self. What is the impact of this journey and where are we going next?

Intimate technologies are now manifest in so many ways in the workplace, domestic environment and through entertainment opportunities. The conference seeks to bring together an inclusive and representative sample of these many constantly evolving intimate relationships that have existed previously and continue to exist between humans and technology.
Cross-disciplinary papers concerning ethics, health and wellbeing, or the security and privacy issues associated with any or all of the topics below are very welcome.

The conference welcomes inputs from members of academia and research, civic society, computing associations, industry, and the IT professions on the following themes:

Intimacy – Location – Personal/Social – Wearables – Implantables – Data Manipulation
Personalisation – Identity – Digital Footprint – Gender
Marketing – User Experience – Human Computer Interaction & Design – Search and Social Media
Customisation – Material Culture – Innovation – Kit – Microchipping
Generations – Histories – Enabling Technologies
Geographies – Urban Technologies – Wayfaring
ICT for Development – Global Mobility – Developing Economies – Sustainability.
Paper Submission
The conference is open to attendees at all stages of career and education, whether you are at the start, middle or peak of your career, either as academics or practitioners. Submitted papers should be approximately 3,000-5,000 words in length. Please return your paper, using the appropriate format, through http://www.hcc12.net using the EasyChair system. This link will be posted soon.

Conference Venue
The conference venue is MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, in the heart of Greater Manchester.

Important Dates
January 8th 2016 – Submissions due
March 18th 2016 – Notification of acceptance/rejection
April 15th 2016 – Submission of camera ready papers
July 1st 2016 – Deadline for early bird registration
Sept 7th-9th 2016 – Conference dates.