Conference Website:  http://conference.opensimulator.org

The OpenSimulator Community Conference is an annual virtual conference that focuses on the community around the OpenSimulator software.  The conference features two days of presentations, workshops, keynote sessions, and social events across diverse sectors of the OpenSimulator user base, including four tracks and an interactive Learning Lab:

• Business & Enterprise
• Content & Community
• Developers & Open Source
• Research & Education
• Learning Lab

Organized as a joint production by the Overte Foundation and AvaCon, Inc., the conference is hosted on an OpenSimulator grid specifically designed for the conference and held virtually in the grid conference venue.

Call for Proposals 2014

The OpenSimulator Community Conference 2014 invites members of the OpenSimulator community and those involved in technologies related to virtual reality, virtual worlds, and the metaverse to submit proposals to be a speaker, presenter, or performer at the conference. This year’s conference broadly groups the wide variety of topics and uses of OpenSimulator into four themed tracks and a Learning Lab for hands on hackerspaces, speedbuilds, and more:

• Business & Enterprise
• Content & Community
• Developers & Open Source
• Research & Education
• Learning Lab

While lecture style presentations are acceptable, we highly encourage proposals that are interactive in nature, involve the audience in hands-on learning experiences, or otherwise showcase and take advantage of the immersive nature of OpenSimulator. In addition, though we will provide an auditorium-style venue for breakout sessions on the conference grid, this year, we encourage presenters to consider constructing or sharing a build, region, or other audio-visual aids beyond a PowerPoint slide presentation to accompany their presentation. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Submit a Proposal

To submit a proposal, select the appropriate track below and enter your information in the Proposal Submission form.

• Business & Enterprise
• Content & Community
• Developers & Open Source
• Research & Education
• Learning Lab

We look forward to reviewing your submissions!

Business & Enterprise

The Business & Enterprise track will feature sessions that cover a broad range of uses related to doing business in and with OpenSimulator, such as those by grid hosts, third party developers, private entrepreneurs, in-world and enterprise businesses, as well as corporations and organizations using OpenSimulator for marketing, fundraising, product research, focus groups, and more.

Call for Proposals

In this track, we seek proposals that explore business and enterprise use of OpenSimulator, as well as what it takes to create, build, and sustain OpenSimulator-based businesses. Proposals might include presentations that discuss how to get management buy-in for OpenSimulator deployments in companies, schools, non-profits and government agencies, how to deploy and manage OpenSimulator technology, how to choose and manage vendors, issues and barriers to adoption, and what the OpenSimulator platform may need in the future to become a broadly adopted platform. While the primary interest of this conference is the use and expansion of the OpenSimulator platform, interesting work performed using other virtual environment platforms will also be considered as long as the concepts or techniques are applicable to OpenSimulator.
Although lecture style presentations are acceptable, we highly encourage proposals that are interactive in nature, involve the audience in hands-on learning experiences, or otherwise showcase and take advantage of the immersive nature of OpenSimulator. In addition, we will provide an auditorium-style venue for breakout sessions on the conference grid, but this year, we encourage presenters to consider constructing or sharing a build, region, or other audio-visual aids beyond a PowerPoint slide presentation to accompany their presentation. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Topics of Interest

• Getting buy-in
• Grid deployment and management
• Integration with other platforms, such as corporate directories or MOODLE
• Choosing and working with vendors
• Simulations & rapid prototyping
• Training
• Tutorial tools & workshops
• Event planning & management
• Hypergrid commerce
• Business applications of the Oculus Rift for architecture, manufacturing, or other applications

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August 1, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Presentation Formats

When you submit your proposal, you will need to select an appropriate presentation format that will best fit your content and style.

Single Presenter Presentation

This presentation format is for a solo presenter who has at least 40 minutes of content to share. Generally the speaker should reserve 10 to 15 minutes of the presentation for Q&A if the presentation is largely lecture style, though we also encourage more interactive sessions that engage the audience.

Multiple Presenters Presentation

This format is most appropriate for a team presentation approach that has more than one speaker, though there is a separate format specifically for panels. Multiple presenters still need to reserve 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A, and so will need to coordinate in advance how to break up the 40 minutes of content.

Panel Presentation

The panel presentation style works well with 3 or more speakers, usually who have different perspectives or expertise on a particular topic. Panel presentations also have 40 minutes for content and 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A.

Workshop or Training Class

Workshops or training classes specifically focus on teaching attendees new skills, usually with hands on activities that encourage the audience to practice the skills being taught. Ideally, presenters who select a Workshop or Training Class format should have previous experience delivering training online.

Live Performance

This can be a live music performance, a short theatrical sketch, a live poetry reading, an interpretive dance or any other performance art. This presentation format is generally popular in the Artistic & Creative Expression track, but depending upon your performance, it may also be appropriate in other tracks. Please indicate in your submission if your performance should be slotted into a 30 minute or one hour time slot, and be very specific about your technical requirements or venue needs.

Content & Community Track

The Content & Community Track features sessions about all of the wonderful things that happen in-world. Building and content creation includes large scale immersive art installations, ballet, theatre, performance art, machinima, literary arts, clothing designs, virtual fashions, architecture, music performances and other cultural expressions. There are also communities for nearly every interest, including role playing groups, science fiction communities, virtual towns and interest groups, historical explorations, religious and spiritual communities, book clubs, and so much more.

Call for Proposals

In this track, we seek proposals that explore creative expression using the OpenSimulator platform, including what it takes to successfully execute art and design in virtual environments, as well proposals that explore aspects of the social experience in OpenSimulator, and what it takes to create, build, and sustain communities.
Proposals might include presentations that discuss how to design engaging artistic installations and experiences, innovative performances, strategies and tools, and what the OpenSimulator platform may need in the future to become more broadly adopted by artists and designers, or proposals that explore aspects of the social experience in OpenSimulator, including how to market and attract new users, issues and barriers to sustaining communities, and what the OpenSimulator platform may need in the future to become a broadly adopted platform for the future metaverse. While the primary interest of this conference is the use and expansion of the OpenSimulator platform, interesting work performed using other virtual environment platforms will also be considered as long as the concepts or techniques are applicable to OpenSimulator.
Although lecture style presentations are acceptable, we highly encourage proposals that are interactive in nature, involve the audience in hands-on learning experiences, or otherwise showcase and take advantage of the immersive nature of OpenSimulator. In addition, we will provide an auditorium-style venue for breakout sessions on the conference grid, but this year, we encourage presenters to consider constructing or sharing a build, region, or other audio-visual aids beyond a PowerPoint slide presentation to accompany their presentation. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Topics of Interest

• Art & Design in Virtual Worlds
• Architectural Innovation in Virtual Worlds
• Avatar & Fashion Design
• Best Practices, Tips, Tools, & Strategies
• Building Themed or Roleplay Communities
• Community Management
• Event Management & Production
• Mesh, Modeling Skills, & Techniques
• Musical or Theatrical Performances
• Nonprofits, Healthcare, and Government in Virtual Worlds

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August 1, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Presentation Formats

When you submit your proposal, you will need to select an appropriate presentation format that will best fit your content and style.

Single Presenter Presentation

This presentation format is for a solo presenter who has at least 40 minutes of content to share. Generally the speaker should reserve 10 to 15 minutes of the presentation for Q&A if the presentation is largely lecture style, though we also encourage more interactive sessions that engage the audience.

Multiple Presenters Presentation

This format is most appropriate for a team presentation approach that has more than one speaker, though there is a separate format specifically for panels. Multiple presenters still need to reserve 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A, and so will need to coordinate in advance how to break up the 40 minutes of content.

Panel Presentation

The panel presentation style works well with 3 or more speakers, usually who have different perspectives or expertise on a particular topic. Panel presentations also have 40 minutes for content and 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A.

Workshop or Training Class

Workshops or training classes specifically focus on teaching attendees new skills, usually with hands on activities that encourage the audience to practice the skills being taught. Ideally, presenters who select a Workshop or Training Class format should have previous experience delivering training online.

Live Performance

This can be a live music performance, a short theatrical sketch, a live poetry reading, an interpretive dance or any other performance art. This presentation format is generally popular in the Artistic & Creative Expression track, but depending upon your performance, it may also be appropriate in other tracks. Please indicate in your submission if your performance should be slotted into a 30 minute or one hour time slot, and be very specific about your technical requirements or venue needs.

Developers & Open Source Track

The Developers & Open Source track covers the technical side of OpenSimulator. As such, this encompasses servers, viewers, external components, grid architecture, development, administration – anything that is necessary for the installation, operation and use of an OpenSimulator system.

Call for Proposals

While the primary interest of this conference is the use and expansion of the OpenSimulator platform, interesting work performed using other virtual environment platforms is also welcome as long as the concepts or techniques are applicable to OpenSimulator. In addition, lecture style presentations are acceptable, but we highly encourage proposals that are interactive in nature, involve the audience in hands-on learning experiences, or otherwise showcase and take advantage of the immersive nature of OpenSimulator. Finally, we will provide an auditorium-style venue for breakout sessions on the conference grid, but this year, we also encourage presenters to consider constructing or sharing a build or region, or other audio-visual aids beyond a PowerPoint slide presentation to accompany their presentation. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Topic of Interest

• Approaches to installing and operating OpenSimulator
• Advanced OpenSimulator architectures which aim to improve scalability or reliability
• Use of the modular system in OpenSimulator to add functionality
• Configuration and use of the Hypergrid
• Distributions which add components or content to OpenSimulator
• Web frontends for OpenSimulator
• More specialized frontends for OpenSimulator, such as integrated Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Third-party components for OpenSimulator operation, such as grid service replacements or money modules
• Applications that interact with OpenSimulator, such as search tools or marketplaces
• Use of OpenSimulator features (e.g. NPCs, mesh, physics etc.) in applications or general virtual environments
• Scripting in OpenSimulator
• Viewer development and customization
• Use of immersive technology hardware with OpenSimulator, such as the Oculus Rift and the Leap Motion

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August 1, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Presentation Formats

When you submit your proposal, you will need to select an appropriate presentation format that will best fit your content and style.

Single Presenter Presentation

This presentation format is for a solo presenter who has at least 40 minutes of content to share. Generally the speaker should reserve 10 to 15 minutes of the presentation for Q&A if the presentation is largely lecture style, though we also encourage more interactive sessions that engage the audience.

Multiple Presenters Presentation

This format is most appropriate for a team presentation approach that has more than one speaker, though there is a separate format specifically for panels. Multiple presenters still need to reserve 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A, and so will need to coordinate in advance how to break up the 40 minutes of content.

Panel Presentation

The panel presentation style works well with 3 or more speakers, usually who have different perspectives or expertise on a particular topic. Panel presentations also have 40 minutes for content and 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A.

Workshop or Training Class

Workshops or training classes specifically focus on teaching attendees new skills, usually with hands on activities that encourage the audience to practice the skills being taught. Ideally, presenters who select a Workshop or Training Class format should have previous experience delivering training online.

Live Performance

This can be a live music performance, a short theatrical sketch, a live poetry reading, an interpretive dance or any other performance art. This presentation format is generally popular in the Artistic & Creative Expression track, but depending upon your performance, it may also be appropriate in other tracks. Please indicate in your submission if your performance should be slotted into a 30 minute or one hour time slot, and be very specific about your technical requirements or venue needs.

The Learning Lab

The Learning Lab provides an opportunity for attendees to explore and practice their virtual world skills, share their best OpenSimulator strategies, and experiment and discover diverse ways to use OpenSimulator to support creativity, knowledge production and self-expression. If you are a gamer or game enthusiast, this is the track for you!
The Learning Lab features interactive sessions where attendees get to practice and apply skills hands-on, either in design or to play a game.

Call for Proposals

Would you like to host a speed build, a game, a creativity session or to support our Hackerspace?
We invite submissions that describe your ideas for hosting a Learning Lab activity that stimulates creativity, the imagination and play. This OpenSimulator Community Conference area centers on participant activity and creativity, and features a Spotlight Showcase area for showcasing the cool builds, game results and inventions that come out of the Learning Lab experience.
Games that can be played in OpenSimulator are welcome, including work that was originally produced or performed using other virtual environment platforms. The goal of the conference is to explore how to use and/or create these technologies on the OpenSimulator platform. We invite your activity-centered submissions to stimulate creativity, imagination, the use and design of games and to strengthen learning. Whole brain, identity and cultural activities are also welcome as well as opportunities to mingle, talk, develop and share ideas.
We encourage the Learning Lab session coordinators to present proposals that identify the materials that are needed and to feel welcome to construct a build that supports the session. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Topics of Interest

Please note that a discussion of many of these topics may be more suitable in another track, but if you are planning to offer a workshop with hands-on experience, then your proposal is more appropriate for the Learning Lab.

• Hackerspace
• Speed Builds
• Games Avatars Play
• Game Design
• Gamification for Business & Education
• Modeling & Simulation
• Making Machinima
• Theatrical Production
• Storytelling
• Comedy Corner
• Information Visualization
• Whole Brain & Cognitive Fitness
• Non-Player Characters & Chatbots
• Bulletsim Physics Tips & tricks
• Accessibility Tools & Techniques
• Self-Exploration & Avatar Customization

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August 1, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Presentation Formats

When you submit your proposal, emphasize how you will foster participant activity and what you will need for the Learning Lab environment.

Creativity Sessions

This presentation format is great for speed builds, fast-paced games and activities that engage the audience during a 45-minute session.

Design & Development Sessions

This session format is ideal for activities that require a mix of preparation, design, development and presentation of the final product, as is common in game design, theatrical production, machinima creation, simulation and modeling and tool development and showcasing the produced creations. Please note how much time will be needed and if there is a shorter format possible for a scaled down version of the session.

The Hackerspace

Do you have a Learning Lab activity that anyone can do at any time? Or a guided activity that is not linear that attendees can join at any time? These activity-centered sessions may be self- self-guided for use by participants in the dark of night or for guided sessions that can be joined in progress. The session includes a Spotlight Showcase for these creations.

Workshop or Training Class

Workshops or training classes specifically focus on teaching attendees new skills, usually with hands on activities that encourage the audience to practice the skills being taught. Ideally, presenters who select a Workshop or Training Class format should have previous experience delivering training online.

Live Performance

This can be a live music performance, a short theatrical sketch, a live poetry reading, an interpretive dance or any other performance art. This presentation format is appropriate for the Learning Lab if you plan to demonstrate how to do it and help the attendees participate during the performance. Please indicate in your submission if your performance should be slotted into a 30 minute or 45-minute time slot, and be very specific about your technical requirements or venue needs.

Research and Education Track

The Research and Education Track will explore the ways in which OpenSimulator has become a platform for computationally understanding complex problems, characterizing personal interactions, and conveying information. This track seeks presentations regarding OpenSimulator use towards research applications in computer science, engineering, data visualization, ethnography, psychology, and economics. It will additionally feature sessions that cover a broad range of uses related to teaching and learning in and with OpenSimulator.

Call for Proposals

We invite submissions describing results of theoretical, technical, empirical, conceptual and experimental work in virtual environments. While the primary interest of this conference is the use and expansion of the OpenSimulator platform, interesting work performed using other virtual environment platforms will also be considered as long as the concepts or techniques are applicable to OpenSimulator. We invite your submissions in the areas of applications, infrastructure, content, and pedagogy.
Although lecture style presentations are acceptable, we highly encourage proposals that are interactive in nature, involve the audience in hands-on learning experiences, or otherwise showcase and take advantage of the immersive nature of OpenSimulator. In addition, we will provide an auditorium-style venue for breakout sessions on the conference grid, but this year, we encourage presenters to consider constructing or sharing a build, region, or other audio-visual aids beyond a PowerPoint slide presentation to accompany their presentation. OAR and IAR uploads can be coordinated with conference organizers if your proposal is accepted.

Topics of Interest

• Immersive and collaborative information visualization
• Integration with external simulation frameworks
• Connecting the real world and virtual world (cyberphysical systems)
• The impact of virtual worlds on behavior, psychology, and social issues
• Design of, and experience with, OpenSimulator modules and extensions and NPCs
• Uses in learning or training scenarios
• Performance studies of OpenSimulator and other virtual environment platforms
• Design strategies and deployments for usage in schools, colleges, universities, or multi-institutional groups (in class, or online, or within Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs))
• Studies of virtual education communities
• Best practices, Tips, Tools, & Strategies for teachers

Important Dates & Deadlines

• July 15, 2014 – Proposals are due by Midnight PST (Pacific Standard Time).
• August 1, 2014 – If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from your track leader with more information.
• September 30, 2014 – Accepted speakers must register for the conference in order to be included in the conference schedule and program.
• October 15, 2014 – Custom builds, regions, or other audio-visual aids and props must be submitted to be included in the conference program.
• November 1-2, 2014 – Speaker Orientation & Training sessions will be held to prepare speakers for the conference.
• November 8-9, 2014 – The conference begins!

Presentation Formats

When you submit your proposal, you will need to select an appropriate presentation format that will best fit your content and style.

Single Presenter Presentation

This presentation format is for a solo presenter who has at least 40 minutes of content to share. Generally the speaker should reserve 10 to 15 minutes of the presentation for Q&A if the presentation is largely lecture style, though we also encourage more interactive sessions that engage the audience.

Multiple Presenters Presentation

This format is most appropriate for a team presentation approach that has more than one speaker, though there is a separate format specifically for panels. Multiple presenters still need to reserve 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A, and so will need to coordinate in advance how to break up the 40 minutes of content.

Panel Presentation

The panel presentation style works well with 3 or more speakers, usually who have different perspectives or expertise on a particular topic. Panel presentations also have 40 minutes for content and 10 to 15 minutes for Q&A.

Workshop or Training Class

Workshops or training classes specifically focus on teaching attendees new skills, usually with hands on activities that encourage the audience to practice the skills being taught. Ideally, presenters who select a Workshop or Training Class format should have previous experience delivering training online.

Live Performance

This can be a live music performance, a short theatrical sketch, a live poetry reading, an interpretive dance or any other performance art. This presentation format is generally popular in the Artistic & Creative Expression track, but depending upon your performance, it may also be appropriate in other tracks. Please indicate in your submission if your performance should be slotted into a 30 minute or one hour time slot, and be very specific about your technical requirements or venue needs.

 

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