Conferences, Workshops and Call for Papers

SPA2005 - Software Practice Advancement

April 10-13, 2005
The Robinson Centre, Bedfordshire, England

SPA2005 explores the following issues:

Technology: Technology is the bottom line in software. Topics include:

• Enterprise Development Platforms (J2EE, .Net)
• Internet technology, eCommerce and Web Services
• Languages (Java, C#, Python, Perl, Smalltalk)
• Distributed, component-based or service-based development
• Pervasive or embedded systems

People: Software is an intensely human activity and understanding how to organise and support people is a key challenge in software development. The conference will cover such topics as:

• Dynamics of software development
• Education and training
• Communication, motivation and reflection
• Problem solving and thinking models
• Organisational structures

Practice: Sharing knowledge and experience of successes and challenges is critical in the face of rapidly increasing complexity. Topics include:

• Patterns and pattern languages
• Knowledge management and capitalisation
• Comparative experience (what we have learned or can learn from other disciplines)
• Experience reports that highlight lessons learned

Process: Understanding the 'how' of software development and delivery is a central issue. Sessions might examine:

• Software or system architecture
• Requirements capture management and evaluation
• Metrics and estimation
• Modelling techniques
• Agile verses plan-driven lifecycles
• Balancing stakeholders' needs

More information can be found at: SPA2005

Editors note: Session 42 looks particularly appealing

ACCU 2005

April 20-23, 2005
Oxford, UK

The ACCU Conference 2005 will bring software professionals the chance to hear about the latest ideas in software development.

The ACCU Spring Conference 2005 boasts an impressive technical programme with an emphasis on C++, Java and Python, with tutorials, workshops and discussions on eXtreme Programming, Patterns and embedded software. This year's event features keynote talks by Bjarne Stroustrup, Jim Coplien, Ross Anderson and Kevlin Henney.

The programme has been designed to facilitate dialogue between developers, analysts, planners and managers. It addresses a wide range of subjects including the development process, design, analysis, and patterns as well as softer aspects such as team building, communication and leadership.

The lineup of speakers includes many well known industry figures, writers and practicing developers from the front line of software development.

ACCU website

12th Annual ACT-R Workshop

July 15-17, 2005
Trieste, Italy

ACT-R is a cognitive theory and simulation system for developing cognitive models for tasks that vary from simple reaction time to air traffic control.

The foundations of the ACT-R theory were detailed in the book The Atomic Components of Thought by John R. Anderson and Christian Lebiere, published in 1998 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Recent advances in the theory are detailed in several publications accessible at the url:

ACT-R Advances

Each year, a three-day workshop is held to enable new and current users to exchange research results and ideas. The 12th Annual ACT-R Workshop will be in Trieste, Italy, on July 15-17, 2005 (just a few days before CogSci2005 in Stresa). During the workshop participants will illustrate their ACT-R research in 20 minutes presentation. Nick Chater (University of Warwick, UK) will be the workshop invited speaker.

More information can be found on the CogSci webiste:

27th annual meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (CogSci 2005)

HCI 2005

September 5-9, 2005
Napier University, Edinburgh, UK

HCI2005 is the 19th Annual Conference of the British HCI Group, a specialist group of the British Computer Society. Established in 1985, the conference has become the premier annual conference on Human-Computer Interaction in Europe. Attracting hundreds of researchers and practitioners from over twenty countries, its published proceedings (The People & Computers series) form an important part of the archive of HCI research.

In returning to Scotland in 2005 we particularly welcome the involvement of the Nordic community, both as organisers and presenters, and the conference flavour hopes to reflect the shared culture of nations bordering the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

The HCI conference has always addressed the needs of practitioners and researchers through a balance of conference activities. Each annual conference has a theme, but submissions on any HCI topic are always welcome.

The British HCI Group