GCA's XML '98 Conference: Call for Papers

Subject:      GCA's XML '98 Conference: Call for Papers
From:         "Thieme, Don" <dthieme@printing.org>
Date:         1998/06/04
To:           comp.text.sgml                                             
To:           SGML/XML Colleagues

XML '98. A New Beginning: Integrating Information Technologies

November 15-19, 1998
Chicago, IL USA
Headquarter Hotel: Sheraton Chicago

XML '98 is a new beginning for GCA's annual comprehensive event focusing on applications, trends, and technologies that support Standard Generalized Markup Language (ISO 8879). Since SGML became an ISO standard in 1986, GCA's major conference focused on the ISO standard itself. During these years, SGML came alive, matured, and evolved. And thanks, in part, to SGML, the Web was born.

Today's Web languages, HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and now eXtensible Markup Language (XML), both have their roots in SGML. And a host of related Web standards continue to emerge. It is clear that the Web has forever changed our definition of publishing, documents, and even commerce. Broadening the scope of GCA's conference to encompass new languages and technologies is critical to the educational mission of GCA. So, this year GCA has updated the name of its major conference to reflect changes in the marketplace, the impact of the Web, and in particular to focus up on the streamlined dialect of SGML which is destined to enable the next generation of the Web applications.

If you are concerned about the creation, management and delivery of structured information, whether on paper, CD-ROM, intranets, or on the Web, XML '98 offers you the opportunity to hear, see, and learn about the full range of standards and technologies available to your organization. There are sessions designed for newcomers who have no clue about the differences among SGML, HTML and XML. Other sessions focus on the technical underpinnings of SGML, XML and related structured information standards. And still other sessions focus on transitions which every organization must address in upcoming years.

Main Conference

XML '98 will have sessions for managers, users, and technical experts. It will address concerns of the traditional publishing community and Web publishers alike. This year's conference is co-hosted by OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) and is sponsored by GCA's Independent Consultants Cooperative and X-ACT.

Markup Technologies Seminar

Following XML '98, a special two-day seminar focusing on technical details of markup technologies will focus SGML, HyTime, DSSSL and related markup technologies. This seminar will provide delegates an opportunity to attend the presentation of juried academic papers which focus on markup technologies. A call for papers will follow shortly.

Exhibits

An exhibit floor, featuring over 100 vendor booths will complement the conference. The GCA bookstore will be open throughout the conference, offering the latest titles on XML, SGML, and related subjects.

Tutorials

A wide range of tutorials will be offered the two days preceding the conference. Tutorials will be an ideal way for attendees to get up to speed on topics of interest before the conference begins.

GCA Members-Only Event

GCA will host a members-only technical event in conjunction with the conference. This event will provide special technical content which is not available to general conference attendees as well as providing members with an opportunity to socialize.

Industry Meetings

Associated industry meetings will be conducted in conjunction with this years conference. Meetings include OASIS, X-ACT, the International SGML User's Group, the Midwest SGML Forum, and ISO 12083. Other vendors and users groups are encouraged to plan meetings concurrent with XML '98.

Tracks and Topics

Three potential tracks have been tentatively identified for XML '98. Tracks are intended to address the following audiences and questions:

Newcomer

  • Are you just starting with SGML?
  • Are you a Web Publisher who has hit the limits of HTML?
  • Are you a print publisher looking for new delivery media?
  • Are you a database publisher who must provide information on the Web?
  • Are you confused about the new standards and which to pick for your application?
  • Do you need to learn about SGML/XML tools and what each can do for you?

Core Technology

  • Are you trying to learn more about how to implement a standards-based information system?
  • Do you want to learn more about the options in design approach?
  • Are you interested in learning more about core information standards and technologies?
    • XML
    • SGML for Publishers
    • Web SGML
    • Linking Languages, X-Pointer and HyTime
    • Style languages (DSSSL, XSL, CSS)
    • RDF, CDF and XML-Data Schemas
    • MathML
    • PDF; PGML
    • DOM
    • ICE
    • XML and Perl
  • Are you interested in learning from XML and SGML case studies presented by other implementers?
  • Are approaches to content management critical to your success?

Transitions

  • Are you concerned about the transitions in SGML industry standards being made in response to emerging Web requirements
  • Are you getting started with SGML?
  • Do you want to make a transition from HTML to XML?
  • Do you need to make a transition from SGML to XML?
  • Are you looking for new alternatives for delivery of database information?
  • Do you need XML as well as PDF?
  • Are you looking for a hybrid solution?
  • Are you concerned about the XML Continuum (well-formed XML or DTD-based XML)?
  • Are you wondering about the advantages of moving to a 3-tier architecture?
  • Do you want to know how XML can be used in your software development lifecycle?
  • Is it critical that your Web site is accessible?
  • Are you interested in the next generation of SGML/XML tools?

E-Commerce

  • Is enabling E-commerce a critical component of your business plan?
  • Do you want to know what role XML can play in the interchange of commercial information?
  • Are you investigating ways to move your EDI function to the Web?
  • Do you want to add cataloging metadata to your storefront so your products and services can be more readily located on the Web?

Call for Papers

All interested parties are invited to submit proposals for presentations at XML '98. Papers addressing issues outlined in our tenative tracks will be of particular interest. However other related topics will be considered. Presentations will be in 45 minute blocks of time with 30-35 minutes allowed for presentation and 10-15 minutes allowed for questions. Additionally a written paper, tagged in XML must be submitted. Both electronic and paper conference proceedings will be produced for the conference.

Submissions must be submitted electronically in a clear text format which contains the following key fields:

  • Presentation Title:
  • Author Name:
  • Job Title and Affiliation:
  • Author Address: (including street, city, state, country, postal code)
  • Email:
  • Abstract: (not less than 500 words)
  • Brief Description: (2 sentences for program)
  • Track/Audience:
  • Author's Biography:

Call for Tutorials

The conference will be preceded by 2 days of tutorials. Proposals may be made for half-day, full day, and 2 day tutorials. Submissions must be submitted electronically in a clear text format which contains the following key fields:

  • Tutorial Title:
  • Presentation Length:
  • Author Name:
  • Job Title and Affiliation:
  • Author Address: (including street, city, state, country, postal code)
  • Email:
  • Abstract: (not less than 500 words)
  • Brief Description: (2 sentences for program)
  • Technology Requirements:
  • Author's Biography:

Submission Schedule

[otiose: 'All Submissions must be made electronically in a clear text format which contains the recommended key fields ending with a colon (:)']

  • Submission deadline is Friday July 3rd
  • Send submissions to: xml98@gca.org
  • Notification of selection will be made August 3, 1998
  • Full papers, marked up using designated XML tag set are due September 15, 1998.

Call for Peer Review

GCA annually invites members of the SGML/XML community to participate as peer reviewers for conference papers. Each reviewer will be responsible for reviewing 15 to 20 papers in their area of subject matter expertise. To participate as a peer reviewer, please forward the following electronically in a clear text format which contains the recommended key fields ending with a colon (:)

  • Author Name:
  • Job Title and Affiliation:
  • Author Address: (including street, city, state, country, postal code)
  • Email:
  • Expertise:

Applications for peer review must be made to xml98@gca.org by Jun 13, 1998.

Don Thieme, APR
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
GCA
100 Daingerfield Rd., Alexandria, VA USA
Tel: +1 703-519-8190
FAX: +1 703-548-2867
Email: dthieme@gca.org
WWW: http://www.gca.org

See the GCA Web site, or the main conference entry in the SGML/XML Web Page: XML '98 - "A New Beginning - Integrating Information Technologies."