SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS CIR-2000: The Challenge of Image Retrieval Third UK Conference on Image Retrieval May 4-5 2000, Brighton, United Kingdom CIR moves to Brighton in 2000, with a new format - separate practitioner and research tracks linked by common plenary sessions. As in previous years, it aims to attract high- quality papers covering all aspects of image and video retrieval from both the UK and overseas. The main themes of CIR-2000 are video asset management, image indexing and metadata, and content-based image retrieval. Our distinguished list of invited speakers includes: Professor Howard Besser, University of California at Berkeley Dr Ruud Bolle, IBM Thomas Watson Research Center Dr Richard Nicol, Head of Research, BT Adastral Park Professor Mark Overmaars, University of Utrecht Image and video storage and retrieval continues to be one of the most exciting and fastest-growing research areas in the field of multimedia technology. However, opportunities within the UK for the exchange of ideas between different groups of researchers, and between researchers and potential users of image retrieval systems, are still limited. The Challenge of Image Retrieval series of conferences was set up specifically to bridge the gap between the different communities with an interest in image retrieval. Successful conferences were held in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1998 and 1999. The 2000 event again aims to bring together researchers and practitioners in the area of image data management, to exchange information and gain some idea of the significance of developments in related disciplines. It should be of interest to researchers in fields as diverse as information retrieval, database, computer vision and image processing, human visual perception and interface design, as well as users and managers of image and video libraries. CALL FOR PAPERS Original papers are solicited for the conference describing research or innovation in any area related to image or video storage and retrieval. Accounts of work in progress are acceptable provided at least some results are reported. Possible topics include, but are not limited to: * Studies of information-seeking behaviour among image users * HCI issues in image retrieval * Evaluation of image retrieval systems * Novel image data management systems and applications * Query models, paradigms and languages for image retrieval * Content-based indexing, search and retrieval of images * Feature extraction and representation * Visual perception and image retrieval * Image search and browsing on the Web * Semantic retrieval of images and video * Neural network techniques for image classification and retrieval * Database architectures for image retrieval * Image data management for multimedia systems The programme committee are aiming to ensure a balance between technical and user orientation in the submitted papers presented at the conference. To achieve this, we particularly welcome submissions which deal with user issues. SUBMISSION DETAILS: Authors are asked to submit full papers (no longer than 5000 words), in English, to the Programme Chair, Dr John Eakins. Electronic submission is strongly encouraged. Authors wishing to submit electronically should consult the CIR-2000 Web pages at http://www.unn.ac.uk/iidr/cir/cir00/cfp.html for details of submission procedures and guidelines. Authors who do not wish to submit electronically are asked to send three paper copies of their submission, together with a covering letter containing contact information, to: Dr John P Eakins, The Challenge of Image Retrieval, Institute for Image Data Research, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST. The closing date for both electronic and paper submissions is Friday 21 January 2000. Submission can be accepted after the official closing date only by prior agreement with the Programme Chair, Dr Eakins (john.eakins@unn.ac.uk). Authors whose contributions are accepted for presentation will be notified by Friday 3 March 2000. They will be required to submit final versions of their papers, for inclusion in the conference proceedings, by Friday, 7 April 2000. It is intended that all accepted papers will be published in the BCS electronic Workshops in Computing series. PROGRAMME COMMITTEE: * John Eakins (co-chair), University of Northumbria at Newcastle * Peter Enser (co-chair), University of Brighton * Margaret Graham, University of Northumbria at Newcastle * David Harper, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen * Karina Holm, Getty Images * Paul Lewis, University of Southampton * Martin Nail, Library and Information Commission CONFERENCE SPONSORS (PROVISIONAL): * Institute for Image Data Research, University of Northumbria at Newcastle * The British Computer Society Information Retrieval Specialist Group * The Library and Information Commission * The Institute of Information Scientists * Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen * The British Machine Vision Association IMPORTANT DATES: Deadline for Submission: 21 January 2000 Notification of Acceptance: 3 March 2000 Final version due: 7 April 2000