alt.HRI 2023 CFP

alt.HRI invites high-quality submissions that push the boundaries of human-robot interaction research and that have high potential for impact. The goal for alt.HRI is to broaden the scope of research and interdisciplinary perspectives presented at HRI 2023. With this in mind, alt.HRI aims to be inclusive of perspectives, epistemologies, and methodologies relevant to HRI but perhaps less commonly included in the main HRI conference. We also invite creative and thought-provoking work that might not otherwise be featured at the HRI conference because it transcends boundaries beyond the established contribution criteria. Submissions will be rigorously peer-reviewed, in a double-blind fashion.

The theme of HRI this year is “HRI for all”. Alt.HRI answers this call with the dual perspective “ALL for HRI”. We aim to solicit broader participation across all the disciplines and approaches that have gained less attention in HRI. The HRI community could benefit from different and expanded ways of building knowledge; however, some approaches have hitherto gained less attention.

We particularly aim to reach colleagues using those ways of knowing that are not yet part of mainstream HRI research, and ask for the unexpected, the controversial, the creative, and the diverse. For example, what insights can neuroscience hold for an HRI researcher? How might an interactive art or an installation be a catalyst for advancing HRI? In which ways might Science and Technology Studies (STS) be integrated within HRI research? How might feminist theory, decolonial theory, critical race theory (CRT), or critical disability theory contribute to new epistemologies and more just and fair practices in HRI research? Will a critique of conventional methods allow us to adopt different perspectives on what HRI researchers usually do? These are only some examples of the kind of questions your submissions could address. We welcome contributions that demonstrate the transformative potential of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, that demonstrate how the field of HRI might be enriched by diverse and innovative perspectives.

In an effort to increase diversity and visibility of alternate approaches to HRI, this year’s alt.HRI invites two submission types: alt.HRI Paper Submissions and alt.HRI Video Submissions. We hope the video submission option will create opportunities for more creative and nontraditional formats, especially those art works and/or performances that present different ways of researching within HRI. If authors are interested other than these two formats, please contact the alt.HRI chairs.

alt.HRI contributions can be described as radical, unique, provocative, and controversial. Topics such as HRI and art, critical HRI, speculative HRI, alternate or underrepresented histories of robots, history as a method of inquiry, new epistemologies and methodologies in HRI, robots and racism, robots for social justice are encouraged in alt.HRI. Other unconventional topics and approaches are also welcome. alt.HRI contributions aim to trigger meaningful and respectful discussions in the HRI community. Feel free to have a look at previously accepted papers in alt.HRI in the conference programs HRI’21, HRI’20, HRI’19, HRI’18, HRI’17, and HRI’16.

Both paper and video submissions will be rigorously double-blind peer-reviewed by a cohort of HRI experts from the most diverse backgrounds. Excellence is a criteria for all submissions. Additional alt.HRI review criteria include:

• Is the work compelling and relevant to an open-minded HRI audience?
• Is there potential for impact, controversy, or thought-provoking discussion, even if the work seems unusual or unorthodox?
• Is the work rigorous, accepting that ‘rigor’ may fall outside of what is typically published in HRI? Is the work well researched? Well argued? Well realized?
• Does the work belong in alt.HRI and not an existing HRI track?
• Does the contribution combine or represent diverse disciplinary perspectives or approaches?

Papers must be submitted via PCS. Accepted papers will be orally presented at the conference and will be archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Full papers are up to eight camera-ready pages, including figures, but excluding references. Accepted full papers will be published in the conference proceedings and presented in an oral session. The HRI conference is highly selective with a rigorous, two-stage review model that includes an expert program committee meeting where papers are extensively discussed. All papers for the conference must be submitted in PDF format and conform to ACM Proceedings specifications. Please note that we are following the general ACM SIG format (“sigconf”, double column format), not the SIGCHI format. Templates are available at this link (US letter). In addition, ACM has partnered with Overleaf, where you can start writing using this link directly (note that this Overleaf document uses the new ACM workflow by default, which is not what HRI is using; to fix this, make sure the document uses the “sigconf” document class, rather than the “manuscript,screen,review” document class that is enabled in the Overleaf document by default).

We invite short videos related to creative, or nontraditional approaches to HRI research. The videos must be self-explanatory for the audience, of relevance to alt.HRI call, and enjoyable to watch. The videos will be lightly-juried based on the following criteria: novelty of approach/creativity, transdisciplinary or interdisciplinary approaches, thought-provoking impact, suitability for the alt.HRI audience, and contributions that do not readily lend themselves to traditional paper format. Video submissions should be anonymized as much as possible. Accepted videos will be published in the conference companion proceedings and archived in the ACM Digital Library.

Videos are limited to 3 minutes in length, and should be accompanied by a short paper (3 pages max, including references) using this link directly (note that this Overleaf document uses the new ACM workflow by default, which is not what HRI is using; to fix this, make sure the document uses the “sigconf” document class, rather than the “manuscript,screen,review” document class that is enabled in the Overleaf document by default).

alt.HRI follows the double-blind review process of the annual HRI conference; every aspect of all submissions must be properly anonymized. Please see the anonymization guidelines.

Elizabeth Jochum, Aalborg University

Hee Rin Lee, Michigan State University

Alessandra Sciutti, Italian Institute of Technology

Contact: althri2023@humanrobotinteraction.org

Published: 11/22/2022