[General] AFRIGRAPH 2009: Call for Participation

Call for Participation: AFRIGRAPH 2009 The 6th International Conference on Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, Visualisation and Interaction in Africa Sponsored by ACM SIGGRAPH and in cooperation with EUROGRAPHICS. 4-6 February 2009 Centurion Lake Hotel, Pretoria, South Africa. Keynote speaker: Roberto Scopigno AFRIGRAPH 2009 (AG2009) is the 6th International Conference on Virtual Reality, Computer Graphics, Visualization and Interaction in Africa. AG2009 is organized by the African Graphics Association (AFRIGRAPH) and is sponsored by ACM SIGGRAPH and in cooperation with EUROGRAPHICS. The conference will be held near Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. The keynote address will be given by Roberto Scopigno. Roberto is a Research Director at CNR-ISTI, Italy, and is a well known figure in the European graphics community. He is currently playing a leading role in CG for cultural heritage and was recently nominated as the coordinator of a national programme on Cultural Heritage and ICT in Italy. Academic Papers AG2009 welcomes contributions in the form of full papers or short papers. The conference particularly welcomes contributions that focus on Computer Graphics in the developing world; addressing the use of Computer Graphics in urban renewal, rural development, health, education, environment and the African arts and media. However, contributions will be accepted from all areas related to virtual reality, computer graphics, visualization and interaction. Topics include (but are not limited to): . Rendering . Parallel algorithms for graphics . Computer vision for graphics . Computational Geometry . Computer animation . Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality and Presence . Graphics in the Developing Country Context . Education and Computer Graphics . Interactive Application Development . Visualization and Simulation . Perceptually-based graphics techniques . Image analysis and processing . Multimedia . Medical Imaging . Computer Aided Design and Prototyping . 3D Modelling . Data Acquisition . Human Computer Interaction . Special and Visual Effects Submission Guidelines Papers are to be submitted electronically via the Afrigraph web-site (www.afrigraph.org/conference). All contributions must be written and presented in English. Papers will be reviewed by an International Programme Committee and the Conference proceedings will be published by ACM SIGGRAPH and also appear in the ACM Digital Library. The best two papers (as decided by the Programme Chairs in consultation with the Programme Committee) will be republished in the journal Computer Graphics Forum. There will also be an award for the best paper. Short Papers Authors are invited to submit extended abstracts of no more than 5 A4 pages in length. These should represent late breaking results, work in progress or novel results that are more appropriate to a shorter format. Full Papers Full papers should report research contributions, practice and experience, or novel applications. They must be no longer than 10 A4 pages in length. Tutorials There is one day devoted to tutorials in the conference program. Tutorials must be in either a half-day or full-day format and the proposal should include details of the presenters, tutorial content, expected level of required delegate expertise and educational outcomes. Important dates Paper and Tutorial submission deadline: 10 October 2008 Notification of acceptance: 12 November 2008 Final version due: 28 November 2008 International Programme Committee Programme committee chairs: James Gain and Wolfgang Strasser . Shaun Bangay, Rhodes University . Dominique Bechmann, Louis Pasteur University . Edwin Blake, University of Cape Town . Charl Botha, TU Delft . Judy Brown, California State University . Marcello Carrozzino, PERCRO . Alan Chalmers, Warwick Digital Laboratory . Sabine Coquillart, INRIA . Carsten Dachsbacher, TU Stuttgart . Neil Dodgson, University of Cambridge . Bernd Froehlich , Bauhaus-Universitaet Weimar . Alexandre Hardy, University of Johannesburg . Eric Jansen, TU Delft . Marcus Magnor, TU Braunschweig . Patrick Marais, University of Cape Town . Daniel Weiskopf, TU Stuttgart . Gary Marsden, University of Cape Town . Karol Myszkowski, Max-Planck-Institut fur Informatik . Marc Nienhaus, University of Potsdam . Shaun Nirenstein, NVIDIA . David Nunez, University of Cape Town . Werner Purgathofer, TU Wien . Eric Reinhard, University of Central Florida . Theresa-Marie Rhyne, North Carolina State University . Holly Rushmeier, Yale University . Mateu Sbert, University of Girona . Hannah Slay, Rhodes University . Oliver Staadt, University of Rostock . Jules Tapamo, University of KwaZulu-Natal . Alade Tokuta, North Carolina Central University . Michael Wand, Max-Planck-Insitut fur Informatik Art and Animation AG2009 will once again host an Art and Animation Gallery, featuring artistic works and animations produced using computer graphics. The gallery provides a unique opportunity for up and coming artists, animators and scientists to display their work using visually pleasing and stimulating techniques. The Gallery is a platform for artists in computer graphics to present their work to peers in the field, exchange ideas and network with potential employers. Categories of the Gallery are as follows: . Image Stills: Artwork is to be submitted as an image still, and may be of any topic provided the work is produced using techniques in the field of computer graphics and animation. Prints of the work are to be displayed in the Gallery, for the entire duration of the conference. . Animations: Animation clips may be submitted in this category, and a special viewing session will be held for the entries. Clips may contain storylines, or demonstrate techniques in computer graphics. All contributions (artwork and animations) must be accompanied by a one page description of the work, as well as an indication of the techniques used to achieve the final piece. Artwork and animations will be reviewed by the conference organisers and voluntary reviewers from academia and industry. Pieces will be judged using the following criteria: . Ingenuity of the techniques employed (specifically related to computer graphics); . Aesthetics; . Creativity; . Overall impression. All submitted works will be displayed in the Gallery, and awards will be made for the top entries in each category. In addition, the one page abstract of the winners will be published in the conference proceedings. Important Dates . Intention to submit an artwork (one page description of artwork): 3 October 2008 . Artwork submission deadline: 17 October 2008 . Notification of acceptance: 31 October 2008 (Note that the full sized piece must be provided by the artist before or at registration for display in the Gallery) . Animation submission deadline: 17 October 2008 . Notification of acceptance: 31 October 2008 Posters Candidates who have only just begun a research project in Computer Graphics or Computer-Human Interaction are encouraged to participate in the AG2009 Poster Session. Posters are encouraged to be a visual abstract of the research project, and participants are challenged to produce works that are not only colourful and attractive, but that also clearly convey the scientific meaning of the research. Important Dates . Submission deadline: 17 October 2008 . Notification of acceptance: 31 October 2008 (Note that the full sized poster must be provided by the participant at registration for display at the Gallery). Exhibition The exhibition provides an opportunity for institutions from industry and academia to advertise their potential, and provide an opportunity for networking and recruiting in the area of computer graphics. Academic Institutions with programs in computer graphics or animation, or film/advertising/marketing institutions that work with computer graphics are encouraged to participate in the exhibition. AG2009 offers a unique chance to review and recruit local talent, network, and offer advice to up and coming academics, scientists, artists and animators in the field of computer graphics in South Africa. Requests for stall space at the exhibition can be made directly through the Exhibition Chair. Stall sizes, availability and registration costs are available on request. Corporate Demo Reels Participating organisations will also have the opportunity to present a demo reel as part of the Animation gallery. Parties interested in providing sponsorship to AG2009 will automatically receive exhibit space (if required), and product/brand placement at the conference may be negotiated. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Conference Chair. Contact Details Conference Chair: Alexandre Hardy (ahardy(a)uj.ac.za) Programme Chairs: James Gain (jgain(a)cs.uct.ac.za) Wolfgang Strasser (strasser(a)gris.uni-tuebinger.de) Web site: www.afrigraph.org/conference