Submitted by: Ephraim P. Glinert, SIGCAPH Chair
I am pleased to once again be able to report that SIGCAPH continues to make strides on the road to viability. By far the major event for the SIG during the past year was ASSETS'94, the First International ACM/SIGCAPH Conference on Assistive Technologies, which was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Marina del Rey (Los Angeles), California on October 31 and November 1.
A total of 60 attendees (51 from the United states, 3 each from England and Japan, and 1 each from Switzerland, Germany and Greece) gathered to hear 22 papers on the latest research intended to help people with a variety of disabilities. Randy Dipner, of Meeting the Challenge and ACM, gave the keynote talk. Because the organizing committee was extremely frugal, attendees were able to enjoy top-quality meals as an integral part of the program, for a registration fee just slightly more than that charged by other conferences which do not provide a similar benefit.
The bottom line for ASSETS'94 was a net loss of just under $2,000, which is quite satisfactory under the circumstances. Perhaps the most important and lasting achievement of the conference is that it created a sense of community among professionals in our field within ACM, which bodes well for the SIG's future. We therefore plan to adhere to the same general approach in planning for ASSETS'96, which is scheduled for April 11-12 in Vancouver, Canada, and where we anticipate a substantially higher attendance which will allow us to turn the conference into an annual event.
Another exciting development for SIGCAPH was the election of new officers for 2-year terms beginning July, 1995. Julie Baca of the Waterways Experiment Station in Clinton (MS) was elected Vice Chair, Harriet Fell of Northeastern University in Boston was elected Treasurer, and I was re-elected Chair. Julie and Harriet are enthusiastic and eager to undertake their duties, and I am confident that our new team will provide the SIG with renewed strength and vigor. David Leserman, our former Treasurer, chose not to run for re-election but has graciously agreed to serve as treasurer for ASSETS'96. David played a truly key role in bringing our SIG to where it is today, and I look forward to his continued active and capable participation for many years to come.
On the downside, we continue to experience problems with our Newsletter. It does not appear as frequently as we would like, and is often thin for lack of contributions. We recognize the central importance of the Newsletter as a SIG member benefit, and intend to devote substantial energy during the coming year to finding a remedy for the deficiencies mentioned.
A copy of the Call For Participation for ASSETS'96 is appended to this report.
The 2nd ACM/SIGCAPH Conference on Assistive Technologies April 11-12, 1996 Waterfront Center Hotel Vancouver, Canada
Sponsored by the ACM's Special Interest Group on Computers and the Physically Handicapped, ASSETS'96 will be the second in a new series of conferences whose goal is to provide a forum where researchers and developers, from academia and industry, can meet to exchange ideas and report on new developments relating to computer-based systems to help people. The conference scope spans disabilities and special needs of all kinds, including but not limited to: sensory (hearing, vision); motor (orthopedic); cognitive (learning, speech, mental); and emotional.
TECHNICAL PAPERS of the high quality expected at major ACM conferences should be up to 8 pages in length and may be of various kinds:
Authors are encouraged to send a short VIDEOTAPE with their paper, if possible, to clarify and reinforce the concepts discussed. Papers must be set in 11 point type and formatted in two-column conference style.
PANEL PROPOSALS up to 3 pages in length on timely and controversial topics are also welcome. These submissions should be formatted like a technical paper, and will if accepted be included in the conference proceedings. They should include:
ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE REFEREED, and no more will be accepted than can be comfortably presented in a single track (no parallel sessions). Authors of accepted papers will be required to prepare an electronic version for the on-line conference proceedings which will supplement the traditional printed volume. Some authors will also be asked to submit an electronic version of their paper for review purposes prior to acceptance, in ASCII or other human-readable format.
Send 7 copies of full papers along with 2 copies of any accompanying videos, and 4 copies of panel proposals, to the Program Chair:
David L. Jaffe
Dept. of Veteran Affairs Medical Center
3801 Miranda Avenue - Mail Stop 153
Palo Alto CA 94304
All submissions must be received no later than Tuesday, OCTOBER 17, 1995.
QUESTIONS regarding submissions should be directed to the Program Chair; for information regarding registration or other matters, please contact the General Chair. Here's how to reach these people:
Program Chair: David L. Jaffe
via phone: (415) 493 5000, ext 4480
via fax: (415) 493 4919
via Email: jaffe@roses.stanford.edu
General Chair: Ephraim P. Glinert
via phone: (518) 276 2657
via fax: (518) 276 4033
via Email: glinert@cs.rpi.edu
BONUS: Plan now to attend two key conferences for the price of a single air ticket! ASSETS'96 will immediately precede CHI'96, which will take place in Vancouver on April 13-18, 1996. See you in Vancouver, Canada's jewel of the northwest!
