Track description
The use of simulations and serious games have been so far mostly related to training of mechanical stimulus response skills (i.e. shoot / don't shoot) or to the 'reproduction' of cultural issues in order to create a stimulus response phenomenon in the user. We suggest a more sophisticated employment of technology, one that exploits the potential of simulations in representing scenarios' richness and complexity to be used to train cognitive capabilities and stimulate brain plasticity. In other words, we suggest that simulations should be used to challenge the user and train to 'think better/be smarter' rather than for providing answers on what to do, which in turn leads the user to think less and listen to the tool more. Through tailor made vignettes and exercises, carefully studied according to the effects that want to be achieved, the users' mental models are challenged and stretched. We believe that the key issue for developing effective training is not 'reproducing reality according to fidelity, which is centred around the engineer or researcher’s view of development,'. Rather, the key suggested here is the establishment of cognitive authenticity, achieved through the presentation of rich and complex problems that the users must 'detangle' in oredr to make sense of the situation.



Key Dates
Submissions of Extended Abstracts: April 12, 2012
Notification of acceptance:May 12, 2012
Final Camera-Ready Submission:June 12, 2012
Early Registration:July 01, 2012


Authors' Guidelines
FIRST SUBMISSION
Extended abstracts (minimum 2 pages), full draft papers or other proposals should be submitted for the review process through the submission section by April 12, 2012.
The extended abstract or the full draft paper must contain title, authors, affiliations, addresses, main body and references.
Each extended abstract or full draft paper will be reviewed by at least two members of the International Program Committee taking into consideration scientific quality, originality and relevance. Only original papers, written in English will be accepted.
The extended abstract or the full draft paper should be prepared by following the final paper formatting. However any type of paper formatting can be accepted for the first submission.

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE
Notification of acceptance will be sent by May 12, 2012.

CAMERA READY PAPER SUBMISSION
The International Program Committee will accept two types of camera ready papers: extended paper (10 pages, 2 columns); regular paper (6 pages, 2 columns) both for regular and special sessions.
The camera ready paper must adhere to the conference template. The .dot file contains the complete instructions for preparing a camera ready copy for the Proceedings. The final version of the paper must be a PDF file.
Your camera ready paper (extended paper or regular paper) in PDF format must be submitted by using the submission section before the June 12, 2012
The page limit for manuscripts is ten (10) pages (included in the author registration fee). Additional pages will require an additional fee.
If your work must be cleared or approved before publication by your institution, company, or governmental agency, please be sure that process will be completed by the due date above or we will not be able to include it in the CD Conference Proceedings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT dhss@msc-les.org