Invitation to Paper Submission
Japan's first international conference on universal design (UD) was held in Yokohama in November 2002. The International Universal Design Declaration adopted on the final day defined UD as a way of creating a social environment that respects the humanity of every individual, and asserted that it was urgently necessary to rebuild the relationship between makers and users and thereby create a human-centered system that applies to all aspects of society. Since then, various people in various fields have conducted activities based on that declaration.
The next international conference, after Kyoto in 2006 and Hamamatsu in 2010, will be held in Fukuoka in 2012. At this conference, we will share new advances and developments that have taken place in UD-related research and practices in Japan and throughout the world. We will also engage in conversations aimed at realizing a higher-quality UD society.
The theme of this upcoming conference in 2012 is “Safety and Security – Thinking about the Foundations of Universal Design.” On the first day, keynote addresses and a panel discussion will be presented at an open symposium. Plenary or sub-sessions and other forums will be following on the next couple of days, where we expect lively discussions to take place.
Additionally, as described below, we are soliciting papers (reports, essays, research papers, etc.), from people active in various fields (industry, government, academia, civic activities, etc.), on subjects relating to UD activities or themes, and proposals for the further development of UD in the future. The papers that are ultimately selected can be presented by their authors at the conference. We hope to receive papers from a range of different people, including researchers, educators, product planners and developers, consultants, people involved in NPOs and other civic activities, students, and others. The 4th International Conference for Universal Design 2012 could thus be an opportunity for you to present your research results, or your efforts in product creation or practical affairs, to an international audience of experts and leaders in the field of UD.