2) The NSF-Sponsored Workshop on Imaging and Image Analyses led by Peter Bajcsy, April 22-23, 2009.

Designed to facilitate education, training and information exchange among multiple scientific disciplines, the NSF-supported workshop on Imaging and Image Analyses workshop will bring together representatives from academic institutions in the United States and abroad and from US museums. Humanists, social scientists, and artists will be paired with computer scientists at the workshop in order to present complementary views on topics related to imaging and image analyses of historical objects. The intent of the workshop is to examine the process of going from actual physical objects to digital objects made available via the Internet and the related process of enabling computer assisted learning over large digital collections for education and research. The overarching goal of the workshop will be to understand the challenges associated with imaging and image analyses that are inherent in this process, as well as solutions, needs and opportunities for further research. All experience levels are welcome.  Download a copy of the tentative schedule.


Presenters include:

Ana Boa-Ventura, University of Texas

Mark Kornbluh, Michigan State University

Michael Toth, R.B.Toth Associates

Patricia Seed, University of California Irvine

Will Noel Walters, Art Museum, Baltimore

Michael Meredith, University of Sheffield

Anne D. Hedeman, University of Illinois

Bob Markley, University of Illinois

Chatham Ewing, University of Illinois

Mara Wade, University of Illinois

Narendra Ahuja, University of Illinois

Peter Bajcsy, NCSA

David Stork, Stanford University

Bonnie Mak, University of Illinois

Max Edelson, University of Illinois


3)  The Virtual Worlds Visualization Workshop led by Donna Cox, April 22-23, 2009. 

Building a virtual world is very complex, requiring significant technical skill. Commercial virtual worlds, such as Second Life, do not support high resolution graphics and real time inputs, and generally impose restrictions on what kind of world can be created.


The mWorlds project is developing a framework to support a highly distributed, scalable environment, with distributed simulations and rendering, and a complete gamut of input and display devices, from Wii game controllers to cell phones to tiled HD displays. We are using mWorlds as a testbed to explore new approaches to real-time, interactive, distributed, collaborative creating in-world (i.e., directly in a multiuser virtual world).


Current interest in virtual worlds shows the potential of a powerful yet general-purpose environment for many collaborative projects in art, science, technology, commerce, and entertainment. Clearly, these virtual worlds are significant cultural phenomena that offer new and diverse opportunities for creativity, especially collaborative creativity.


The mWorlds project focuses on bringing together artists and computer scientists to make the creation of such virtual worlds easier, more accessible to non-specialists, and thereby unleashing tremendous creative potential, without sacrificing high-quality graphics and interaction.


In this HASTAC workshop, we will cover the basic elements and techniques for building a virtual world including such topics as place, motion, user representation, game engines, graphics, physics simulations, AI simulation, world design, multi-player interaction models, and user interface design, persistence, etc., and show how to develop these using our mWorlds virtual world framework. Participants with programming experience, can download software and use it to develop their own virtual world.


Conference Hotels:

Hampton Inn Champaign/Urbana

1200 West University Avenue

Urbana, Illinois, USA 61801

Tel: (217) 337-1100

Fax: ( 217) 337-1143

http://www.hamptoninn.com

HASTAC III has reserved a block of rooms at a significantly reduced conference rate. Rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.  The Hampton Inn also offers a complementary breakfast. To reserve a room, please call (217) 337-1100 and refer to the conference by name.  Conference rates are available until April 1, 2009.


The Hampton Inn is located on the corner of North Goodwin Avenue and W. University Avenue approximately 0.07 miles (1 block) from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA).


Directions to the Hampton Inn:

From Interstate 57 North or South:

Interstate 57 to 74 East

Exit 74 East at Lincoln Avenue Exit.

Head south 2.5 miles on Lincoln Avenue to University Avenue.

Turn right on University Avenue.

Hotel is located 2 blocks west on right side at the corner of N. Goodwin and West University.


From Interstate 74 East:

Exit 74 East at Lincoln Avenue Exit.

Head south 2.5 miles on Lincoln Avenue to University Avenue.

Turn right on University Avenue.

Hotel is located 2 blocks west on right side at the corner of N. Goodwin and West University.


From Interstate 74 West:

Exit 74 West at Lincoln Avenue Exit.

Head south 2.5 miles on Lincoln Avenue to University Avenue.

Turn right on University Avenue.

Hotel is located 2 blocks west on right side at the corner of N. Goodwin and West University.


From Willard Airport:

Exit Airport Road by turning left onto 45N.

Follow 45N for 5 miles (45N becomes Neil Street)

Turn Right onto University Avenue.

Follow University Avenue 1 mile east to N. Goodwin Avenue.

Hotel is located at the corner of University and N. Goodwin Avenue.


Directions from the Hampton Inn to NCSA

Exiting the Hampton Inn, proceed South on North Goodwin Avenue exactly one block to Clark Street. NCSA is the first building on your right at the corner of North Goodwin and Clark Street.


Additional recommended hotels include:

The I Hotel and Conference Center

1900 S. First Street

Champaign, Illinois 61820

217.819.5000

www.stayatthei.com

The I Hotel and Conference Center is located ~2.72 miles from NCSA. HASTAC III will not be able to provide transportation to and from the I Hotel. Local transportation is available via taxi or the public bus system.


The Hilton Garden Inn Champaign/Urbana

1501 S. Neil Street

Champaign, Illinois, USA, 61820

Tel: (217) 352-9970

Fax: (217) 355-4682

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com

The Hilton Garden Inn is located ~2.3 miles from NCSA. HASTAC III will not be able to provide transportation to and from the Hilton Garden Inn. Local transportation is available via taxi or the public bus system.


CAMPUS INFORMATION

Parking Information: Metered parking is available near the NCSA Building on Clark Street, in the parking garage just north of NCSA, and on other surrounding streets. Rates are 75 cents/hour, and the meters accept quarters, dimes, nickels and dollar coins. While you can park all day in the garage, time limits for surrounding streets are usually two hours. Please note that there is no free parking, and that all nearby public parking requires coins.


Day Meter Permits are available at a cost of $9.00 per day and may be used at University meters only (not city meters or red 30-minute University of Illinois meters). University meters are designated by the block "I" displayed across the top of meter. They become valid when you scratch off the month, day, and year and place the permit on the rearview mirror with the date displayed toward the windshield. These are one day use permits only. Day Meter Permits are available for purchase on-line (http://www.parking.uiuc.edu/daymeterpermits.htm) or visit the Parking office at 1110 W. Springfield (corner of Springfield and Goodwin), Public Safety Building, 2nd Floor, Urbana during business hours (8:30am - 5pm Monday through Friday).


Campus Maps: http://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap