Topic Maps 2008 is targeted towards users and potential users of Topic Maps, in particular:

• Information architects, software engineers and project managers working with portals and web sites;
• Knowledge officers responsible for intranet-based knowledge management;
• Corporate and commercial publishers;
• Public sector providers of information;
• Students and teachers of computer science and library and information science.

Presentations

We are particularly interested in proposals for presentations based on real-life case studies, but other presentations aimed at practitioners of Topic Maps will be considered (e.g. tools overviews, generalized project experiences, etc.).

Presentations will be 20-45 minutes long and will include time for questions. Attendance will range from 50-250 people in each track.

Presentations are more likely to be accepted if they highlight a particularly unusual, interesting or important aspect of Topic Maps, such as:

• Applications that demonstrate quantifiable business benefits and ROI
• Applications in industry and/or the private sector
• Applications in fields other than pure web publishing, e.g. knowledge management
• Applications that make innovative use of Topic Maps features like merging and scope
• Applications worthy of promotion as showcases in their own country and/or language

Every application is noteworthy in its own way; make sure your proposal highlights the noteworthy aspects of your application!

Tutorials

There will be a whole day of tutorials on Wednesday 2 April. Proposals are sought on any Topic Maps-related subject that is suitable for a full-day or half-day tutorial. Appropriate topics include the following:

• Introduction to Topic Maps
• Introduction to Ontology Design
• Advanced Ontology Design Workshop
• Knowledge Organization with Topic Maps
• How to Build a Portal using Topic Maps
• Topic Maps and Interaction Design
• The Role of Topic Maps in a Digital Library
• Topic Maps and the Semantic Web
• How to Create a Topic Map
• The Formal Semantics of Topic Maps
• Introductions to CTM, TMQL and TMCL

Submissions

Initial submissions may be sent to the program committee at any time – the sooner, the better. Proposals should be approximately 500 words. Case study proposals should contain a detailed description of the project, its goals and status, and highlight which aspects are viewed as being of particular interest.

Proposals should include details of the presenter’s past speaking experience. Please note that the conference will be held in English and that no simultaneous translation will be provided. It is therefore important that presenters are fluent in English and capable of speaking clearly and confidently.

Final submission deadline: 2008-01-04

Please send proposals to: tm2008@topicmaps.com