HCSNet SummerFest 2006
27 November 2006
Experts from fields as diverse as linguistics, engineering, robotics, music, dance, and psychology will converge on Sydney University to collaborate on cutting-edge research into human communication science, from 27 November - 1 December.
HCSNet SummerFest '06 organised by The Human Communication Science Network (HCSNet), is aimed at promoting and facilitating interdisciplinary research in human communication science by connecting leading researchers in speech, language and sonics.
Bringing together leading and emerging researchers from across a wide range of disciplines, the Network aims to increase knowledge and generate multiple new approaches and advances in areas such as automated speech recognition, distress call monitoring, hearing prosthesis, web interfaces and data retrieval and data mining systems.
The event comprises a two-day summer school for graduate students and researchers and the second HCSNet Conference which includes the presentation of papers and discussions, as well as three interdisciplinary workshops
The 2006 Summer School includes:
Introduction to Cognitive Neuropsychology - Prof Max Coltheart, Macquarie University; Human Computer Interaction - Prof Judy Kay, Sydney University; Acquired Neurological Language Disorders - Prof Helen Chenery, Qld University; Signed Languages - A/Prof Trevor Johnston, Macquarie University.
On Wednesday a speed paper session will be held. "This session is unique to the SummerFest. It enables researchers to present a 4 minute presentation on their area of interest with the audience providing feedback via a tear off sheet. It is loosely based on the concept of speed dating," says Professor Robert Dale, Co-convener HCSNet.
Some of the topics in the speed paper session are:
Early reading in indigenous education; Virtual collaboration and virtual communities
Emotive sonfication; Signed languages; No ifs or butts: Nicotine research calls for study on lexical-semantics with fMRI.
A workshop on Thursday discusses research into perception and action (i.e., the neural activity that underpins perceiving an action and performing an action is very similar). The workshop concludes with a concert: Marimba Plus…Perception and Action in Musical Performance led by percussionist Mary Broughton. During the recital we will record continuous data from some audience members using the portable Audience Response Facility developed in MARCS Auditory Laboratories, University of Western Sydney.
Contact: Jake O'Shaughnessy
Phone: +61 2 9351 4312 or 0421 617 861