The first meeting of the 2008 IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee was held on 14 February 2008, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Leung Tsang, IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee Chair (2008-2009), called the meeting to order at 1:14 pm EST. A list of attendees is attached.

REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented with modifications in order to accommodate schedules and the motion to endorse IEEE Transactions on Biometrics was moved to a discussion item.

APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 2007 IEEE TAB PERIODICALS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES The minutes of the 15 November 2007 IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee meeting were approved as written.

CHAIR’S REMARKS Leung Tsang moved on to the business of the meeting.

REPORT OF VICE PRESIDENT – IEEE PUBLICATION SERVICES AND PRODUCTS BOARD John Baillieul, Vice President of the IEEE Publication Services and Products Board (PSPB), discussed issues PSPB and all of IEEE will be dealing with. Since there has been a lot of consolidation in our industry, we need to consider what we need to do to stay ahead of the competition. Issues include doing a better job in assessing our performance (using metrics including timeliness) and determining where we need to be, what services we need to provide to authors, identifying new forms of content, and sunsetting (which we have not done a good job with). There is currently work being done to collect data from other publishers to see where we stand, as we want to make sure IEEE has a reputable reputation. Discussion ensued on the difficulties of sunsetting, the IEEE’s willingness to experiment with different forms of open access and timeliness issues.

REVIEW AND GENERAL DISCUSSION OF NEW JOURNALS APPROVAL PROCEDURE Leung Tsang briefly discussed the new periodicals development process. Discussion ensued that the timing for a call for papers after a June approval for a new title could result in a time lag for the first issues of the new title. Laura Creighton, Senior Periodicals Product Manager, suggested that the first two issues rely heavily on invited papers to move the first issues along more quickly, that having special issues in an existing journal helps show the breadth of the field, a March launch is best for new titles that will be quarterly and that cosponsored publications need to allow for extra time for coordination in order to avoid being late on a new launch.

MOTIONS TO TAB

Endorsement of the following IEEE TAB Periodicals Review Committee reports which have completed the entire review process: IEEE Circuits and Systems Society, IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, IEEE Industry Applications Society, IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society, IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society, and IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics Steve Yurkovich gave his TAB Periodicals Review Committee report while discussing this motion and briefly discussed the PRC process. It was noted that in a rare occurrence, an editor did not respond to the request for more information in the report. The report is submitted as is, with the request for more information noted. The motion passed.

Endorsement of the update to the Reprint Voluntary Page Charge/Overlength Paper Charge (VP/OPC) listing Laura Creighton briefly discussed the list. After no discussion, the motion passed.

Endorsement of IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS), IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Consumer Electronics Society, and IEEE Sensors Council's new periodical proposal (phase two approval of full business plan - 2009 launch) for IEEE Transactions on Computational Intelligence and AI in GamesJim Keller, Vice-President of Publications for CIS, presented the proposal.

The scope is as follows: “The IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND AI in GAMES (T-CIAIG), published four times a year, publishes archival journal quality original papers in computational intelligence and related areas in artificial intelligence applied to games, including but not limited to video games, mathematical games, human-computer interactions in games, and games involving physical objects. Emphasis will also be placed on the use of these methods to improve performance in and understanding of the dynamics of games, as well as gaining insight into the properties of the methods as applied to games. It will also include using games as a platform for building intelligent embedded agents for the real world. Papers connecting games to all areas of computational intelligence and traditional AI will be considered.

The Memorandum of Understanding has been finalized and the scope hasn’t changed from the phase one proposal. This proposal shows great cooperation amongst IEEE Societies. It was noted that the marketing analysis showed that there was market potential. The only variance noted was that the member print pricing is lower and doesn’t cover variable print expense as recommended by TAB Finance Committee, but this is not something that TAB Periodicals Committee concerns itself with. There was some discussion about the spelling out of “AI” in the proposal, as the proposers would like to keep the acronym that was approved in the phase one proposal. There was also discussion on how the marketing analysis is completed.”

ACTION ITEM: Compare data in proposals for member stats vs. actual in time for current phase one proposals.

After no more discussion, the motion passed (with “AI” in the title).

FOLLOW-UP NOTE: The financials presented in the proposal were revised for the TAB Finance Committee and TAB meetings.

Endorsement of IEEE Computational Intelligence Society's new periodical proposal (phase one approval of title, scope and sponsorship - 2009 launch) for IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental Development (AMD) Jim Keller also presented this proposal. This proposal was originally submitted in 2003.

The scope is as follows: “The IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUTONOMOUS MENTAL DEVELOPMENT (TAMD), published four times a year, publishes original papers of archival journal quality in computational Autonomous Mental Development (AMD). Recent advances in computational intelligence, cognitive science, neuroscience, and robotics have stimulated the birth and rapid growth of this new research field. Mental development is a process during which a brain-like natural or artificial embodied system, under the control of its intrinsic species-specific developmental program residing in the natural or artificially designed genes, develops mental capabilities through its autonomous real-time interactions with its environments (including the brain’s own internal environment) using its own sensors and effectors. The scope of TAMD includes:

• Computational modeling of mental development in perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and all other mental capabilities that are exhibited by humans, higher animals, and artificial systems;

• Engineering applications of autonomous mental development such as mechanisms enabling highly complex capabilities by robots and other artificial systems.

Investigations in AMD are expected to improve our systematic understanding of the working of the wide variety of cognitive and behavioral capabilities in humans.”

Many changes were suggested in the 2003 denial of this proposal by this Committee. A technical committee was formed, there is an annual conference now, and five special issues were published (4 in non-IEEE journals). This transactions will focus on computational modeling of mental development (can we make robots behave and learn the way children do?). While AMD is a relatively new field (around 10 years old), it actually combines several fields together. This is a great opportunity for IEEE to get in early. Discussion ensued and several concerns were raised that there were not enough papers to start a new journal. It was suggested that these articles be placed in existing journals. It was noted that the content doesn’t quite fit in any existing journal and that the community would not be served best in this way. Will Lumpkins, President of IEEE Consumer Electronics Society (cosponsor of the journal), expressed strong support and need for this type of journal. The Committee suggestions included doing more special issues in existing IEEE journals to show support for the field as well as coming back in June with a combined phase 1 and 2 proposal that revisits the number of papers expected to be produced.

It was requested that CIS come back with phase 1 and 2 proposal in June with numbers of expected papers more in line with establishing a successful journal launch.

Endorsement of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society's new periodical proposal (phase one approval of title, scope and sponsorship - 2009 launch) for IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine Dick Jaeger, Past President of IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS), presented the proposal.

The scope is as follows: “Like the quarterly SSCS Newsletter, each issue of the IEEE Solid-State Circuits Magazine is envisioned as a self-contained resource for fundamental theories and practical advances within the field of Integrated Circuits (ICs). Written at a tutorial level and often in a narrative style, the Magazine will feature articles by leaders from industry, academia and government explaining historical milestones, current trends and future developments.

As a reflection of the Society’s field of interest, the Magazine will cover

. . . all aspects of solid-state circuits: the design, testing and application of circuits and subsystems, as well as closely related topics in device technology and circuit theory. . . focus[ing] on scientific, technical and industrial applications, in addition to other activities that contribute to the field, or utilize the techniques or products of the field, as the art develops.”

SSCS currently produces a newsletter and would like to transition the newsletter to a magazine. The newsletter is successful with lots of content, but there is not much room to put in more content as desired by SSCS. Also, since newsletters aren’t in Xplore, they are not currently archived. The newsletter underwent a transformation in Fall 2006 and these issues closely resemble a magazine already. It is desired by SSCS that these 9 issues of the newsletter be archived in Xplore. Currently, Xplore does not archive newsletters as policy. Discussion ensued. There was clarification as to whether the Committee was to discuss the approval of phase one and moving the newsletters to Xplore as separate motions and it was decided to treat the motions as one. The motion passed.

WITHDRAWN - Endorsement of IEEE Biometrics Council's new periodical proposal (phase one approval of title, scope and sponsorship - 2009 launch) for IEEE Transactions on Biometrics – This motion was withdrawn from voting due to timing issues. The Biometrics Council was not officially approved until February 2008. Periodical proposals can only be considered after they are approved by the ADCOM of the Society or Council that sponsor the periodical. Phase 1 and 2 proposal will be coming forward in June. Vincenzo Piuri, Past President of IEEE Computational Intelligence Society – one of the Societies that will be part of the new IEEE Biometrics Council, presented some information to acclimate the Committee to the nature of this proposal that will be coming forward for full approval in June. Laura Creighton noted that they wanted to get Committee comments on this new proposal due to the potential large risk for a new council of missing the renewal cycle of promotion if the proposal is not approved in June. One variance from current norms is that in addition to original articles, IEEE Transactions on Biometrics will also publish a list identifying other content published within the biometrics interest area. As a half-step towards the concept of a true virtual journal, the editors of this publication will reference (complete with links) recent content published in IEEE publications, and potentially materials found outside IEEE. In this method, the IEEE Biometrics Council hopes to tie together IEEE’s biometrics coverage found across publications. If a reader wishes to follow the link to a referenced paper within IEEE Sensors Journal, for example, they will be shown the article if they have the appropriate permissions or they will be given the opportunity to purchase the article via IEEE Xplore.

Suggestion from the Committee were to take it slow (2 issues a year to start) and not promise a lot right away as many times proposals have been rushed through with negative results.

Endorsement of IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation's (CEDA) new periodical proposal (phase one approval of title, scope and sponsorship - 2009 launch) for IEEE Embedded Systems Letters Rajesh Gupta, CEDA Vice-President of Publications, presented the proposal.

The scope is as follows: “The IEEE EMBEDDED SYSTEMS LETTERS (ESL), provides a forum for rapid dissemination of latest technical advances in embedded systems and related areas in embedded software. The emphasis is on models, methods, and tools that ensure secure, correct, efficient and robust design of embedded systems and their applications.”

The papers are expected to contain new results, ideas, or innovations that significantly advance the state-of-the-art in embedded systems. The letters forum will provide rapid dissemination that is most desired by the community, with a goal for submission to acceptance time of no more than 3 months. The field is dominated by private publishers with lengthy papers and long turn-around times. Discussion ensued and there was a question as to how large a community there is. Gupta noted that there are several conferences and at one in particular, ESWeek (Embedded Systems Week), there was a formal discussion as to the need for this type of journal, followed up with lengthy email discussions. CEDA wanted to make sure that there was a diverse community, including industry and academic, and that there was a lot of support for this type of journal.

The motion passed.

FOLLOW-UP ON ACTION ITEMS FROM NOVEMBER 2007

The TAB Periodicals Committee recommends formation of an ad-hoc committee involving appropriate TAB/PSPB/IEEE Finance Committee representation to discuss the possibility of a single overlength and voluntary page charge structure for all journals Leung Tsang commented that Roberto de Marca, Vice-President IEEE Technical Activities Board, has formed this ad-hoc committee with a Chair yet to be chosen. (Follow-up Note: David Daut will be the Chair of this ad-hoc committee).

DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ITEMS

Periodical Watch List

1). Follow-up on TAB motion - Approve that the TAB Periodicals Committee Chair shall present at each TAB meeting a report of progress towards achieving the goals that, by 2009: 1) 80% of papers in each journal have a submission to (electronic) publication time of less than 1 year, and 2) no journal shall have a mean submission to (electronic) publication time of greater than 2 years.

ACTION ITEM – Leung Tsang formed an ad hoc committee on timeliness (what metrics to determine which titles should be placed on the periodical watch list, penalties, etc…). The ad hoc will meet and have a proposal outlining their discussions prior to the Panel of Editors meeting. Steve Yurkovich will chair this committee and Jane Lehr, Ross Stone, Donna Hudson, Laura Creighton and Leung Tsang will be members.

Laura Creighton noted that timeliness is becoming an increasingly hot topic. It is desired that timeliness statistics be gathered and aggregated for all to see, so that we have the best information available. It was noted that from last year’s Panel of Editor’s meeting, it was understood that timeliness statistics gathered from IEEE titles would only be shown to the EICs of their own title, and not available to all. It was not agreed by the editors that their timeliness statistics be used as metrics for their title.

ACTION ITEM - Contact editors and ask for permission to gather timeliness statistics that will be available to all.

IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine Action Plan Meyya Meyyappan, IEEE Nanotechnology Council Past President and Managing Editor of IEEE Nanotechnology Magazine (M-Nano), explained M-Nano’s issues and what the Council is doing to rectify them. The main reason for delay in publishing was the Council’s initial desire to publish out-of-house which required a lot of work to get approved and in the summer of 2007 the Council decided that M-Nano would be published in-house. Discussion ensued as to whether it was felt M-Nano might want to switch to out-of-house at a later time and what the projections were for the rest of the issues. Meyyappan noted that there were no plans to publish out-of-house at this time and that the content for the third issue (first of 2008) was due and on track for the following week. A motion was made:

MOTION – Keep M-Nano on Periodical Watch List and to continue monitoring the situation with an update expected in June. The motion passed.

Co-sponsorship Memorandum of Understanding between IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Reliability Society for IEEE Security and Privacy Magazine Laura Creighton commented that this is an information item for this Committee and TAB only.

Draft proposal for IEEE Photonics – Laura Creighton noted that this proposal would be a combined phase 1 and 2 for June if the current research being conducted concludes the need for this journal.

Update on IEEE Journal on Optical Communications and Networking (phase one proposal was approved in November 2007) Laura Creighton commented that this proposal, which was originally approved in November 2007 as phase 1, has evolved to now include cosponsorship with IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society and possibly Optical Society of America. This combined phase 1 and 2 proposal will also be coming forward in June.

Citation Discussion Laura Creighton noted that staff goals for this year include tracking timeliness, citations, usage and to investigate the possible citation/usage link.

IEEE TAB Finance Committee list of Actions and Motions Backup documentation is available online.

REPORTS

Transactions/Journals/Magazines/Newsletters Report Fran Zappulla, Staff Director of Publishing, noted that at the Panel of Editors meeting there would be an updated submission-to-publication timeliness report.

IEEE TAB Periodicals Review Committee Report Steve Yurkovich, PRC Chair, gave this report while discussing the PRC motions.

IEEE TAB Transactions Committee Report Nothing to report at this time.

IEEE TAB Magazines Committee Report Nothing to report at this time.

IEEE TAB Newsletters Committee Report Nothing to report at this time.

NEW BUSINESS

The next meeting of the IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee is scheduled for Thursday, 19 June 2008, at Grand Hyatt Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 4:59 pm EST.