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Subject:Because you asked (both of you): Forum 95 info. From:Jack Shaw <jsh -at- SOFTWARE-AG -dot- DE> Date:Fri, 8 Jul 1994 10:46:10 MEZ
OK, OK...only one of you asked. But here it is anyway --
my rendition of the Forum 95 info. With that, apologies
to the affected and maligned citizenry of Dortmund, to
whose city I should have attributed these goings-on...
This is the somewhat convoluted content of the Forum 95
brochure sent out with the German technical communication
society (tekom) journal, earlier this year. Enlightening
comments are from me--JS.
The fifth Forum conference on technical communication
will be held at:
DORTMUND, GERMANY
13 - 15 November, 1995
-- A conference for:
* technical communicators
* communication researchers
* industrial trainers
* communication managers
(here, courtesies to the sponsors, who are...)
- IEEE Technical Communication (who would never
let me join because I wasn't a certified
electrician or some such...JS)
- ISTC/Institute of Scientific and Technical
Communication (veddy Briddish, all talk like
Higgins...JS)
- STIC--QTD/Studiekring voor Technische Informatie
an Communicatie/Quality of Technical Communication
(The Netherlands, but some of you might call it
"Holland", which is OK--the Dutch are a very
understanding people...Ik heb dat ook noor naar
twee aans kapeert...JS)
- TEKOM/Gesellschaft fuer technische Kommunikation,
e. V. (which means, "eingetragener Verein"--which
means that any profits they make they have to give
to me because I'm an "Ag"...JS)
...now, on to the substantive...
...A SHORT FORUM HISTORY:
1975-Malmoe, Sweden
The first Forum conference featuring idea market, brain-
storming sessions, a canned information festival and a
daily conference newspaper (at the end of the day--don't
snicker: all they had was a bunch of willing typists, Polaroids,
Selectric composers and a photocopierer, all working like mad...JS).
1980-Lillehammer, Norway
The conference with (their quotes:)"more dinner speeches
than lectures". Consolidating the Forum conference methods.
1985-Helseingor (sic), Denmark
The "Preseedings" and "Postharvest" books introduced. A
daily video journal covering the day's events. Intellectual
smorgasbord, a communication cartoon party, multi-brainstorming
sessions and an information test lab running during the
conference.
1990-Stockholm, Sweden
An exceptional program including Idea Market, Sort-and-build
sessions, Superbrain sessions and introducing a New Media Room
and a Communicators' Show Room. The televised "talk show" and
Intellectual Smorgasbord were presented daily.
1995-Dortmund, Germany (liberated from the very adept Viking hordes--JS)
The next Forum to come. Be sure not to miss it, register
today to receive further information (sic).
FORUM 95 SCHEDULE:
1994 Spring (March): Call for Papers
June: Latest news
September: Final Call for Papers
1995 January/February: First Registration
Preliminary Program
May: Second Registration
July/August: Final Registration
Final Program
November FORUM 95
PROGRAM:
The central theme of Forum 95 will be:
--D I S A P P E A R I N G B O R D E R S
This theme reflects the central aim of the organizing parties
to fill the gaps between...
* Technical communication in different countries
and cultures;
* Producers and consumers of technical artifacts:
* Writers and other disciplines related to technical
communication;
* Researchers and practitioners in the field of
technical communication.
The program will include traditional Forum aspects...
* "Preseedings"
* Activators presenting posters
* Discussion groups, network lunches, production
groups, workshops, etc.
... as well as conventional congress activities...
* plenary lectures (keynote speakers)
* paper presentations
(Here, I took liberties with the brochure order...JS)
THE FORUM METHODS...
"Idea Market" -- marketplace for your thoughts
This activity has been very successful at previous Forum
conferences and other meetings, as the result has been a
change from monologue to dialogue.
Each chartkeeper at the Idea Market has a double
flipchart at her/his disposal during the session
(1-2 hours). Together with about 10-15 other chartkeepers,
you will be situated in a large hall where the "audience"
is free to walk around and discuss the various subjects
with the chartkeepers and other participants (this is the
core of the original Forum concept, and lets you do some-
thing you never could do elsewhere--walk away in the middle
of somebody's pitch--neat!--JS)
Chartkeepers will often have pre-prepared material (headlines,
pictures, graphs, examples, etc.) on one flipchart, and use
the other to supplement this with spontaneous visualizations
and comments received (from the audience-JS) during the dis-
cussions
In this way, you are likely to take home much more than you
bring (True. I still have my authentic Viking helmet with
"Made in Taiwan" written in runic characters...JS).
Paper Presentations
Especially for those involved in academic research, Forum 95
will give the opportunity to present projects and results in
paper presentations, followed by intensive discussions. This
way, Forum 95 offers an excellent opportunity to share research
interests not only with fellow researchers, but also with prac-
titioners. After the conference, papers can be submitted for a
scientific anthology, which will be peer reviewed.
Preseedings -- The Pre-conference Thinking
Pre-prepared material can be published in the Forum 95 Preseedings.
This publishing service will give the basis for a deeper dis-
cussion at the conference, as the material will be sent to the
participants before the conference takes place.
The material ought to be new, not previously published for
a large audience.
Brainstorming Sessions -- Solving Your Problems?
This is your chance to get technical communicators from all
over the world to help you solve your problems. Brainstorming
sessions will take place a couple of times during the conference.
and the subjects will be chosen (from) among those suggested in
advance by the participants.
At earlier Forum conferences, brainstorming sessions have shown
themselves to be very effective in shaking up your thoughts and
bring up new ideas. Besides, they are usually a lot of fun (kick,
punch, bludgeon...JS)! Please let us have your suggestions for
brainstorming subjects.
Sort-and-Build Groups
Some subjects will likely require more time for an in-depth
treatment than is available at the Idea Market. We shall be able
to arrange "sort-and-build" groups that can dig deeper into
a subject. Such groups can also be gathered to formulate resolutions
on various important aspects of technical communication, based
on the experience and expertise of colleagues from many countries.
(...here, back to the rest of the published brochure...JS)
First Call for Activators
YOu can already now give us an early indication of your interest
in being an activator at Forum 95. By being an activator you
gain from being able to choose your own subject -- a subject
which others are going to help you develop! You will also have
and extra day before the conference to meet the other activators
(at no extra cost) and to get acquainted with the conference
methods to be used.
This is what to do: Send us a letter stating the subject you aren
interested in (if possible with a short summary). If you have
prior experience of Forum conferences, please indicate what type
of activation you are most interested in (e.g., Idea Market,
Brainstorming sessions...). And don't forget the theme of Forum
95:
D I S A P P E A R I N G B O R D E R S
Requests for more information can be sent to:
tekom (Forum 95)
Markelstr. 34
D-70193 (...the "D-7000" in the brochure is no longer valid--JS)
Stuttgart 1
Germany
...or, FAX to:
(country code 049) 711 650767
...or, ask STC. They should also have this information, or more...
at least, they used to provide Forum info.
