Fifth International Cyberspace Conference on Ergonomics (CybErg'08)

Sarawak, Malaysia - CybErg’08 is an international cyberspace conference that incorporates issues in an area of Ergonomics including physical, cognitive, organisation and social. This conference also highlights the latest development and current technologies applied in the area.

CybErg’08 is an international cyberspace conference that incorporates issues in an area of Ergonomics including physical, cognitive, organisation as well as social. This conference also highlights the latest development and current technologies applied in the area. In addition to the theme above, we also accept submissions of extended abstracts, discussion panels, in the following areas:

Applied Ergonomics

Design
Planning and management
Social systems at work or leisure
System Safety
Disability Studies
Biomechanics

Children and Ergonomics
Cognitive Ergonomics

Perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response
Mental workload
Decision-making
Skilled performance
Human-computer interaction
Human reliability
Work stress and training
Human-system design
Control and Display Design
Accidents and Human Error
Automation
Cognitive Ergonomics Applications

Safety and Efficiency
Transportation ergonomics - controlling airplances and ground vehicles
Multimodal Interfaces
Attention and Interruption Management
Cognitive Modeling
Engineering Aesthetics
Physical Ergonomics

Human anatomical
Anthropometric
Physiological and biomechanical
Industrial Design
Organizational Ergonomics

Optimization of sociotechnical systems
Organizational structures, policies, and processes
Motivation and job satisfaction
Occupational Safety and Health

Workplace Ergonomics

Crew resource management
Work design
Design of working times
Teamwork
Participatory design
Cooperative work
New work paradigms
Community Ergonomics

Communication
Virtual organizations
Telework
Consumer Products

Many of technological and ergonomic advancements originate from the West, generally from countries in North America and developed nations of Europe. Many of these technologies were imported by developing nations, such as those in Asia and Africa.

In the past, it was generally accepted (and expected) that these imported technologies which are efficacious in the source nations would work in the target countries. Unfortunately, not all imported technologies were successful, and there are numerous examples of how these technologies which work in the source nations but not in the target markets.

For instance, prosthetics from the West were initially allowed for sitting and standing only. However, in some target (Asian) countries, squatting is the norm. People, fitted with the original prosthetics, were ostracized because they were unable to squat.

Another technology that was exported for use all over the world was software, which only allowed interactions in English. Then, it was assumed by the companies in the source nations that all users spoke English, or could learn English to use the software applications.

Fortunately, the situation today has improved. Now, prosthetics allow for squatting, and software applications not only allow interactions in the language of the source nation, but target nations are able to localise elements of the interface, such as images and icons, to cater for their own needs.

While practitioners and researchers are now aware of the need to adapt and fit technologies to the target market, there is much more to be done. For any technology that is applied into a new environment, not necessarily for a new nation, much knowledge and information is needed. It is essential to know who the target users are, what the new environment is, as well as, how these technologies plan to be applied in the new environment.

It is also generally acknowledged that technologies today not only originate from developed nations but also from developing nations. New knowledge about the different requirements of various cultures, needs, and application of new and old technologies in a variety of environs are being identified; these local knowledge can then be applied for products and services targeted for nations all over the world. All this will bring about the betterment of society, in improving the usability of technologies and personal experiences, quality of life and work.

It is within this context of discovery of new local knowledge and its global application, that we would like to invite the global community to contribute and participate in the 5 th International Cyberspace Conference on Ergonomics (CybErg’08). As this is an online conference, you can attend wherever you may be, we hope to see a greater worldwide participation on areas of your interest.

The CybErg conference series is based on the principle of internationalising ergonomics' knowledge and increasing the quality of ergonomics discussion by making conference attendance easier, quicker and far cheaper than face-to-face conferences. It is quite easy to see how an International conference based on the World Wide Web can drastically reduce travel-related costs. Such a virtual conference also enables discussions and knowledge to be immediately accessible all around the world at the click of a mouse.

The four previous conferences were held in 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2005.

Objectives of CybErg
To increase the quality of academic papers and the quality of academic discussion by allowing more time to read papers and more time for the discussion of these papers. Hence, the conference discussions are open for a month. Paper authors are able to write longer papers in a style and quality that is publishable in an international journal.

The eradication of travel costs (transport costs, accommodation costs, subsistence costs, etc.) and the reduction of the conference registration fee (no conference venue hire costs, no refreshment costs, no guest speaker travel costs, etc.). This is particularly beneficial to participants from developing countries, where there is a poor rate of currency exchange and where travel to foreign countries is expensive.

Using a widely available medium (the WWW) to access a wider range of participants (through the reduction of travel expenses) and therefore reduce the bias towards predominantly west European and North American delegates found at most international face-to-face conferences.

To establish a smart partnership between practitioners and those in related fields.

CONTACTS

[email protected]

Dr Alvin Yeo Wee Chairperson of CybErg2008 +6082583785 +6082583764
Nurfauza Jali Web Master of CybErg2008 +6082583648 +6082583764

http://cyberg2008.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

From 15 Sep 2008
Until 15 Oct 2008
Sarawak, Malaysia
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