Holonovel Workshop: Introduction

In 2017 the first CSf Holonovel Workshop was hosted by the European Association For Innovation (EAI) at the conference 'Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Education (TIE'17)". The focal point for the workshop, was the concept of the STAR TREK r Holodeck which was used as as inspiration for the stories and discussions. In general, a Holodeck is a space in which simulations of people, objects and environments exist, which seem to be so real in nature that they can be interacted with in ways that are essentially identical to the real physical world. The Holodeck is, of course, an imaginary concept but its futuristic nature acted as a catalyst for innovative ideas that are intended to be transferable to our own world. In this way the Holonovel Workshop provided an enabling forum to discuss a range of innovation topics from new technologies to societal developments, providing a plot device to frame stories and discussions in keeping with many Star Trek episodes. In support of this theme, the workshop called for the narrative contributions in the form of "holonovels" or methodologies for creating or applying them resulting in creating the following programme of presentations.