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The 23nd Annual ICA Mobile Preconference 2027

Re-Centering the Human in Socio-Technical Ecologies of Mobile Media

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Date: 2 June 2027, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: University of Glasgow, Ferguson and Gilbert Scott rooms
Submission Deadline: January 30, 2027
Submissions Email: icamobilepreconference@gmail.com

Mobile media technologies and services are increasingly distributed throughout
environments, bodies, vehicles, and infrastructures. Furthermore, mobile AI is
reconfiguring the human-machine boundaries around agency. As mobile media become
more distributed, so too do many of the agencies that were centered with the user.
Methodological advancements, for example with data mining, sensing, and screenshot
captures, can also reduce the centrality of the user by distancing their involvement in data
collection and analysis. Theoretical advancements have also helped de-center people by
calling attention to the surrounding socio-cultural and situational forces that shape mobile
media engagement. There have also been recent calls for scholars of mobile media to
expand their scope for a “more-than-human” perspective.

Indeed, there is much to be gained by de-centering humans as mobile media technologies,
services, and agencies continue to become more distributed. At the same time, it is
important that we recognize the challenges in studying mobile media and communication
(MMC) in the absence of certain voices and participants, including ethical, methodological,
theoretical challenges. Therefore, the 2027 Mobile Communication pre-conference invites
submissions that help re-center the human in the contemporary socio-technical
landscape of MMC, whether it be through theory, methods, analysis, or otherwise. We also
welcome submissions that engage with the tensions between centering and de-centering
humans in MMC more broadly.

We invite scholars from diverse disciplinary, methodological, and theoretical backgrounds.
We also welcome a diversity of scholars at diUerent stages in their careers: graduate
students, postdocs, junior faculty, along with more senior scholars to consider these
issues in an open, informal, and conversational setting. Practitioners in the field are also
encouraged to apply.

The pre-conference this year will accept two kinds of submissions: interactive Blue-Sky
workshop sessions and extended abstracts. We welcome research ideas at various levels
of gestation: ideas that are just being formed, open questions to the field, as well as the
sharing of research results, as long as they are presented in an interactive manner. We also
welcome explorations of practical projects, such as mobile applications, mobile media
artworks, and mobile games.

This pre-conference is equally open to diUerent topics, methods, and theoretical
traditions, as long as submissions centrally engage with mobile media/communication and
address the pre-conference theme and aims. Beyond that, all topics and research
approaches are welcome. We are open to a wide variety of themes associated with the
social uses of mobile media and communication, especially ideas related to emerging
trends and practices.

Submissions:
Workshops and Extended Abstracts proposals can be submitted via email to
icamobilepreconference@gmail.com.

Extended Abstracts:
Target word length is 1000-1500 words plus tables and references. Use APA 7th edition
format for all elements of the abstract. All manuscripts need to have complete blinding of
authorship.

Before submitting your abstract, please note the following:
1. Abstract may be works in progress, where data collection is ongoing.
2. The extended abstract needs an explicit statement (50-100 words) on the front page
describing the fit with the division. You can consult the call and the keywords to
determine fit.

Accepted extended abstracts will be presented as short oral presentations of 5-7 minutes
in length.

Workshops:
Each workshop will be allocated a time slot of 60 minutes and should include “hands-on”
or active audience participation. A workshop will typically be organized by four or five
participants, but we will accept more or fewer organizers. Pre-conference attendees will be
able to attend multiple workshops throughout the day.

Submissions should be between 500-800 words (excluding title and references) and
include:
1. The title of the workshop;2. The workshop’s description and goals;
3. The workshop’s connection to the pre-conference theme;
4. The scheduled activity, detailing how participants and audience members will be
involved, and
5. The list of workshop participants and their relationship/contribution to the
workshop.

Review Process:
Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of scholars. Proposals will be selected based
on:
● Relevance for the field of Mobile Communication;
● Originality;
● Clarity;
● Theoretical/practical contribution;
● Fit with the pre-conference theme.

Notifications of acceptance or rejection will be emailed in February, early March at the
lastest.to contributors end of February. close to the date of the acceptance notification for
the general conference, to accommodate travel planning.

Organizing Committee
Scott Campbell, The Ohio State University, campbell.2844@osu.edu
Adriana de Souza e Silva, Northeastern University, a.desouzaesilva@northeastern.edu
Justin Grandinetti, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, jgrandin@charlotte.edu
Jordan Frith, Clemson University, jfrith@clemson.edu
Archana Krishnan, University at Albany, akrishnan@albany.edu
Rich Ling, Nanyang Technological University, riseling@gmail.com
Jakob Ohme, Weizenbaum Institute, jakob.ohme@weizenbaum-institut.de
Morgan Ross, Oregon State University, morgan.ross@oregonstate.edu
Andrew Yee, Nanyang Technological University, Andrew.yee@ntu.edu.sg
Lia Yu-Tico, University of California San Marcos, cuytioco@csusm.edu​

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