Infosys v2n028 (August 23, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/infosys/infs-v2n028 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * INFOSYS: The Electronic Newsletter for Information Systems * * Volume 2, Number 28 ISSN: 1173-3764 August 23, 1995 * * * * Editor: Dennis W. Viehland, Massey University, New Zealand * * Listowners: Greg Welsh, American University, Washington DC * * Peter M. Weiss, Penn State * * Sponsor: boyd & fraser publishing, Danvers, Massachusetts * * * * Current Subscribers = 3,921 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TABLE OF CONTENTS * * * * * * * * * * * * * EDITOR'S NOTE - Fire! Conference Changes Special Plug * * NEWS - Fire at the Terry College of Business the Univ of Georgia * * CONFERENCE - Artifical Intelligence in Economics and Management * * CALL FOR PAPERS - CIKM Workshop on Intelligent Information Agents * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Play and Computers (DATA BASE) * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Data and Knowledge Systems for Manf and Engr * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Info Systems * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 0748* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * EDITOR'S NOTE - Fire! Conference Changes Special Plug * * Dennis Viehland, Massey University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * No Edupage or Innovation this week. Instead, a report on the Fire at the University of Georgia leads the news. Thanks to Paul and Mark who wrote the article on short notice. Occasionally, after a conference or call for paper announcement is made in INFOSYS a deadline may be extended or additional information may become available. Only rarely is an repost of the first INFOSYS article justified. However, the updated information is recorded in the INFOSYS Calendar of Upcoming Events (see About INFOSYS at the end of this issue to find how to access the Calendar). For example, these three changes have been announced within the last fortnight and the change, and new Calendar entry, are shown below. EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 15, 1995 Call for research exchange proposals, submission deadline Sixteenth Annual International Conference on Information Systems Managing the Distributed Information Systems Infrastructure December 11-13, 1995 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Contact: cbeath@mail.cox.smu.edu ICIS 95 info: http://www.eur.nl/acab/ICIS/icis-95.html (see article 0335, INFOSYS v1 n38) NEW CONFERENCE URL: September 26-29, 1995 6th Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS'95) Perth, Australia Contact: pervan@ba1.curtin.edu.au http://www.is.curtin.edu.au/conf/acis95.htm (see article 0694, INFOSYS v2 n21) EXTENDED SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 17, 1995 Call for papers, submission deadline International Office of the Future: Design Options and Solution Strategies April 9-11, 1996 Tucson, Arizona, USA Contact: vogel@bpa.arizona.edu (see article 0696, INFOSYS v2 n21) Speaking of conferences, in a few hours I am off to the AIS- Americas conference in Pittsburgh and to do some visiting in the States. The next INFOSYS won't be out until early September. Finally, being INFOSYS Editor allows certain privileges. One of those privileges is using this section to call your attention to a very special Position Announcement at the conclusion of this issue. If you have ever thought of taking what the Kiwis call a "big OE" (overseas experience), consider applying for one of the two positions available here at Massey University in New Zealand. Anyone attending AIS with an interest can contact me in Pittsburgh. \EOA 0749* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS - Fire at the Terry College of Business the Univ of Georgia * * Paul Hays and Mark Huber, Univ of Georgia * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On Tuesday, August 15 Brooks Hall the home of the Terry college of Business at the University of Georgia was heavily damaged by fire. The fire started on the roof and was apparently caused by workers installing a new roof. While there was no loss of life or serious injury, damage to the building was extensive. The fire gutted the fifth floor, home of most of the college's PhD. students.The remaining floors suffered smoke and water damage. More than 1.5 million gallons of water were pumped into the building over an eight hour period. The day of the fire it was estimated that many offices would be total losses. The day after the fire structural engineers were evaluating the building and hazardous materials teams were removing debris. The full extent of the damage is unclear at this point. The majority of damage to offices was not from the fire, but from the water used to extinguish the fire. Water traveling from the fifth floor created miniature rain showers in the offices below. Papers, computers, and books on desks or tables were destroyed or damaged. Materials stored in desk drawers, filing cabinets or on shelves were for the most part undamaged. By the end of the week staff and faculty were allowed limited access to remove essential documents from all floors, but the fifth. Computer equipment and nonessential items were left in the offices for professional cleaning and decontamination. We would like to pass on several observations from this experience. A disaster plan is needed to provide goals and procedures for the immediate future after a disaster. The college had no formal disaster plan. Much of the communication after the fire consisted of impromptu calling circles. Since the fire occurred right after lunch many of the faculty/staff/students were in the area and knew the initial details. Some people missed later announcements about new phone numbers, times to enter the building, and meetings. Also, many people were asking questions and demanding responses for issues of longer-term importance, issues not relevant to the immediate tasks of resuming operations and recovering items from the building. Given the general level of confusion many faculty/ staff/students had a difficult time adapting to the new priorities of the college. Having a backup does not mean that you are safe. The location and ease of using the backup are critical. Since the summer term was almost over many grade rolls, student projects, and final exams were lost. Students did not have duplicates of projects, final exams needed to be rewritten and copied. Many of the grade rolls existed in duplicate on both paper and in computerized form, but typically these were in the same office. The college's WorldWide Web (WWW) server illustrates a computer backup problem. The backup tape for the server was stored in the office adjacent to the server. The server was damaged and luckily the tape was recovered intact. In the several days since the fire a replacement server was located, unfortunately a tape drive could not be found to read the tape. Thus the backup exists, but it cannot be used until a new tape drive is purchased. The lack of a duplicate tape drive prevented the WWW server from becoming operational. The moral of the story is that a fire or other disaster can happen to you. Proper planning and common sense can help reduce the impact when a disaster occurs. The electronic world that we live in is truly amazing. Many of you on the Internet knew of the fire before people in the college did. We would like to thank everyone for their help and support during this trying time. \EOA 0750* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONFERENCE - Artifical Intelligence in Economics and Management * * Phillip Ein-Dor * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AIEM4 - Artificial Intelligence in Economics and Management: The Fourth International Workshop January 7-10, 1996 Tel-Aviv, Israel It gives me great pleasure to invite you to attend AIEM4 - The Fourth International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Economics and Management which promises to be an exciting event. A feature of AIEM is its emphasis on practical applications of AI. The field of Artificial Intelligence seems prone to cycles of excitement and rapid progress followed by periods of stagnation and gloom. Throughout these cycles, and apparently impervious to them , there is slow but constant progress in the application of artificial intelligence techniques to an ever-widening body of practical uses - the focus of this series of workshops. Thus, over two-thirds of the papers selected for presentation deal with application from citrus harvest to insurance to forecasting economic growth. The remaining papers are devoted to AI techniques and cognitive aspects of AI applications. Israel has well-developed and thriving software and electronics industries to provide an appropriate background for this conference. It is possible to provide contacts and plant trips for those interested. Registration and Event Fees Early registration - to November 15, 1995 - $225 Regular Registration - to December 30, 1995 - $250 On Site Registration - $275 (Per person, including opening reception, lunch on full workshop days and social events.) The following rates are per night, including Israeli buffet breakfast and service charge at the 5 Star Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel-Aviv. US$50 per person - double occupancy US$83 per person - single occupancy, Complete conference information, including a program and registration form is available from aiem96@taunivm.tau.ac.il \EOA 0751* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - CIKM Workshop on Intelligent Information Agents * * Timothy Finin,k * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CIKM Workshop on Intelligent Information Agents December 1-2, 1995 Baltimore, Maryland, USA The CIKM95 Workshop on Intelligent Information Agents will be held in conjunction with the Fourth ACM Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM'95). The Workshop will bring together a small number of researchers who are working on or interested in exploring the use of agent-oriented paradigms in information systems. A partial list of topics relevant to the workshop is: --agent communication and messaging languages --agent programming and scripting languages --agent theories and architectures --interaction and coordination protocols (negotiation, partial global planning etc.) --learning agents and trainable agents --information mediators and agent-based middleware --the role of shared ontologies in agent systems --agent-human interfaces --information filtering, retrieval, gathering and monitoring --resource discovery by and for agents --integrated agent testbeds --applications of agent technology to digital libraries, electronic commerce, education, command and control, information filtering, data mining, etc. The workshop will consist of invited talks, individual presentations, and group discussion. If you wish to present your work, please submit five copies of a paper (up to 5000 words) or extended abstract (up to 2000 words). To participate, please submit a short position paper. All submissions should include an e-mail address. Graduate students who are engaged in a relevant research project are encouraged to participate. An informal proceedings will be compiled from the extended abstracts and research statements and distributed at the workshop. Participants will be encouraged to submit in advance electronic material or URLs for an online "proceedings" to be made available on the Web. To get more information on the workshop and to register your interest, send e-mail to iiaw-info@cs.umbc.edu. You can also find current information at http://www.cs.umbc.edu/iia/. To get more information on CIKM95 and to register your interest, send email to cikm-info@cs.umbc.edu. You can also find current information at http://www.cs.umbc.edu/~cikm/. Papers, extended abstracts and position papers should be submitted in electronic form -- HTML source is preferred; otherwise postscript or ASCII. If electronic submission is not possible, hardcopy will be accepted. E-mail electronic submissions to iiaw@cs.umbc.edu. FTP electronic submissions to FTP.CS.UMBC.EDU in pub/iiaw/incoming. Mail hardcopy to: CIKM95 IIA Workshop CSEE Department University of Maryland Baltimore County 5401 Wilkens Ave Baltimore MD 21228-5398 Please submit material so that it arrives on or before September 22, 1995. Invitations to participate will be sent by October 20, and final copies of workshop papers will be due on November 17. \EOA 0752* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Play and Computers (DATA BASE) * * Jane Webster, Univ of Waterloo * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Play and Computers: Humorous, Cognitive, and Social Playfulness in Real and Virtual Workplaces" A Special Issue of DATA BASE Humor and play at work are no contradictions in terms. Rather, distinctions between work and play are becoming less clear as more jobs involve the use of networked computers that feature great diversity of software, and also permit workers to work anywhere. For example, since microcomputers can be simultaneously fun to use and also serious tools, they might be seen as eroding the ritualized distinctions between work and play. Recently, in an effort to re- establish those boundaries, some organizations have implemented policies to ban games from their PC networks, because employees using them waste too much time and the games are deemed to be frivolous. Conversely, many companies train their employees to use the Windows operating environment by encouraging them to play games such as "Solitaire" or "MineSweeper" which come with the system. Submissions to the special issue should cover original research completed on the questions of interactions of computer users or developers with humorous, cognitive, or social playfulness in the physical, as well as the virtual, workplace. Topics can include (but are not necessarily limited to): --the reasons why computers seem to encourage humorous, cognitive, or social playfulness --implications (both positive and negative) for individuals, groups, and organizations of playfulness engendered by computers in the workplace --differences in humor on the Internet versus within a specific organizational setting --impacts of humor on the Internet including visual humor; formula humor; and the widespread telling of urban folk tales --relationships among playfulness, creativity, and computers --gender differences and humorous, cognitive, or social playfulness --topics that are taboo for computer humor When submitting a manuscript, please follow the Instructions for Authors as published in DATA BASE. Six copies of your original manuscript, including camera-ready illustrations, should be submitted to one of the Special Issue Editors: Dr. Julie E. Kendall School of Business-Camden Rutgers University Camden, NJ 08102 USA Voice: 1-(609)225-6585 E-mail: kendallj@camden.rutgers.edu Dr. Jane Webster Department of Management Sciences University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2L 3GI Voice: 1-(519)888-4567, extn 5683 E-mail: jwebster@mansci1.uwaterloo.ca All submissions are due by February 1, 1996. Manuscripts sent via email or fax will not be considered. Authors whose articles are provisionally accepted for the Special Issue will be asked to complete revisions in a timely manner. \EOA 0753* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL FOR PAPERS - Data and Knowledge Systems for Manf and Engr * * Joan Peckham, The University of Rhode Island * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Fifth International Conference on Data and Knowledge Systems for Manufacturing and Engineering (DKSME '96) October 24-25, 1996 Phoenix, Arizona The Fifth International Conference on Data and Knowledge Systems for Manufacturing and Engineering (DKSME'96) will be held in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme of the conference is Processes and Models for Intelligent Collaboration in Heterogeneous Manufacturing Environments. The conference will highlight contributions from researchers and engineers who are developing systems to improve engineering design and manufacturing. Database management and artificial intelligence are key technologies for improving products and reducing the cost of manufacturing. The conference will bring together people from industry and academia to resolve "real world" problems through research that provides new results for manufacturing and engineering system methods and technologies. The general topics of interest will include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence and database technologies as applied to: --Active and/or real-time data management --Collaborative and/or distributed decision support --Computer aided design (CAD) --Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) --Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) --Concurrent engineering --Data exchange techniques and standards --Expert systems --Factory automation --Flexible manufacturing --Group technologies --Knowledge based systems --Multi-media manufacturing systems --Object-oriented/semantic modeling --Product planning and scheduling --Quality control systems & processes --Re-engineering/reverse engineering Papers should clearly highlight their contribution to the conference theme. Papers will be reviewed by at least three reviewers. Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. Exceptional papers will also be forwarded to appropriate journals for publication. Submission Instructions: Submit four copies of an original paper not exceeding 25 pages double-spaced (5,000 words) to Program Co-Chair: Prof. Joan Peckham Tyler Hall Dept. of Computer Science and Statistics University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881, USA Voice: 401-792-2701 (or 4174) E-mail: joan@cs.uri.edu Important Dates: Submission deadline March 1, 1996 Notification of decisions June 1, 1996 Submission of Camera-ready copy July 24, 1996 General Conference Chair: For more information concerning the conference, contact Prof. Sudha Ram Department of MIS University of Arizona Tuscon, Arizona 85721 USA Voice: 520-621-2748 Fax: 520-621-2433 E-mail: ram@bpa.arizona.edu \EOA 0754* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT - Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Info Systems * * Dennis Viehland, Massey University * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Senior Lecturer/Lecturer Department of Information Systems Massey University - Albany Auckland, New Zealand The Department of Information Systems is seeking a person with established skills in undergraduate teaching to join a group of enthusiastic colleagues on a new and developing campus. You should have a higher degree (Masterate or PhD). Recent experience as an information systems professional would be an advantage. The main thrust of the Department's teaching is in the systems development area, with supporting topics in Management Information Systems (MIS), database, distributed systems and programming. Staff will be expected to undertake research and participate in outreach programmes both locally and nationally. Enquiries of an academic nature should be directed to the Acting Head of Department, Barry Jackson (telephone 64-6-350-4210 or by e-mail b.x.jackson@massey.ac.nz). Reference number INFOSYS must be quoted. Closing date: 22 September 1995. As a condition of application the University reserves the right to make enquiries of any person regarding any candidate's suitability for appointment. It also reserves the right not to make an appointment or to appoint by invitation. An information package including Conditions of Appointment is obtainable by telephoning 64-6-350-5984. Applications, including a full curriculum vitae and the names, addresses and fax numbers of three referees must be sent to: Academic Vacancies Human Resources Section Private Bag 11-222 Palmerston North New Zealand \EOA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ABOUT INFOSYS * * INFOSYS is an electronic newsletter for faculty, students, and * * practitioners in the field of Information Systems. INFOSYS * * publishes news items, requests for assistance, calls for papers * * announcements of professional meetings and conferences, position * * announcements, journal table of contents, and other items of * * interest to the Information Systems community. * * * * INFOSYS is published biweekly, more frequently if volume requires * * it. INFOSYS operates as an electronic mailing list on listserv * * software at American University in Washington, DC. The editor is * * Dennis W. Viehland . * * * * INFOSYS is sponsored by boyd & fraser, publishers of educational * * materials for computer and information education. Contact Bill * * Lisowski or visit http://www.bf.com/bf.html * * or gopher.bf.com for more information about boyd & fraser. * * * * To subscribe to INFOSYS send the following one-line e-mail * * message to listserv@american.edu: subscribe infosys yourfirstname * * yourlastname (e.g., subscribe infosys John Smith). You will * * receive a welcome letter that will tell you more about INFOSYS * * and listserv. To cancel your subscription send the following * * message to listserv@american.edu: unsubscribe infosys * * * * Guidelines for submitting articles to INFOSYS are published in * * the Welcome message each new subscriber receives (or e-mail "get * * infosys welcome" to listserv@american.edu). Send articles to * * infosys@american.edu or d.viehland@massey.ac.nz. * * * * The INFOSYS Calendar of Upcoming Events is updated fortnightly * * and can be obtained in the following ways: * * --E-mail: send the following one-line message to * * listserv@american.edu: get infosys calendar * * --FTP: anonymous FTP to ftp.american.edu; file is pub/infosys/ * * infosys.calendar * * --Gopher: gopher to auvm.american.edu; choose INFOSYS * * --WWW: forthcoming * * * * INFOSYS Back Issues are archived by Robert McArthur at: * * AUSTRALIA: http://www.fit.qut.edu.au/~mcarthur/infosys/ * * by Eric Morgan (N Carolina State Univ) at: * * USA: ftp://ftp.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/infosys/ * * USA: wais://wais.lib.ncsu.edu/infosys * * USA: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/infosys-index.html * * by Brian Fitzgerald (University College Cork) at: * * EUROPE: http://www.ucc.ie/htbin/infosys * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *