Author Center

The Author Center provides details, organized alphabetically, on what Computer magazine requires when submitting a manuscript for review. Please select from the menu below for information on:

Abstract

The abstract should be no more than 150 words and should describe the overall focus of your manuscript.

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Contributing Authors

With your manuscript, include a title page containing your submission's title and the names, affiliations, and contact information for all coauthors. Please list all authors who contributed to your manuscript. If necessary, you can change the list of contributing authors when you upload a revised version.

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File Types

We accept Word, plain text, Postscript, and PDF files. Any file that you upload to Manuscript Central will convert into a PDF.

Our system has size limitations for individual files. Please do not attempt to upload a file larger than 20 MB.

Set the paper size in your text document to 8 1/2 inches wide by 11 inches high, rather than A4. Margins should be at least one inch on the left and right and at least 1.5 inches from the top and bottom. Your manuscript must have page numbers on every page, at least one inch from the bottom of each page.

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Keywords/Taxonomy

Keywords should closely reflect your topic and optimally characterize your manuscript. Computer provides keywords that are taken from the ACM taxonomy. (This is an extended version of the ACM Computing Classification System.Copyright © 2002 ACM, used with permission.)

We recommend that you enter a minimum of two keywords when uploading your manuscript. Expert reviewers in your topic area are linked to your manuscript by keywords.

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Login Instructions

Everyone who submits a manuscript must have a Manuscript Central account.

If you have previously volunteered in any capacity for the IEEE Computer Society, Manuscript Central has e-mailed you or will e-mail you a login and password. On your first vist here, please click on check for existing account. Try to avoid creating a duplicate account.

If you have not volunteered with the IEEE Computer Society or have not received a new-user e-mail, click on create a new account. The bolded fields must be completed in order to continue the process.

Also, if you anticipate that you will need to be notified at two e-mail addresses, please include the second e-mail address (CC). You can mark this e-mail address active or inactive as needed.

If you have technical difficulties with your account, please contact Support by clicking the Get Help Now button in the upper right corner of your screen.

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Manuscript Numbers

A unique manuscript tracking number will be assigned to your manscript and should be used when corresponding with the magazine assistant.

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Manuscript Types

Regular manuscripts fit within the scope of the magazine but are not submitted for a special issue.

Special issue manuscripts cover a specific topic scheduled on our editorial calendar. Please be sure to select the appropriate issue (manuscript type) when uploading your manuscript.

For more information and to see upcoming special issue topics, see our Editorial Calendar.

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Review Process

Once you receive a confirmation letter from Manuscript Central, the magazine assistant will verify that your manuscript meets Computer's word length requirements and forward your manuscript to the editor in chief for an initial review. If the editor in chief finds that your manuscript is within the scope of the magazine, it will be assigned for further review. Reviewers are chosen to review manuscripts based on their expertise.

You can login to Manuscript Central and check the status of your manuscript anytime during the process. Normally, you will receive a final decision within four to six months.

Only about 25% of all manuscripts submitted to Computer are published, and the manuscripts we publish generally receive very positive reviews.

For more information on the review process, see the Reviewer Center section of these guidelines.

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Submissions

Concurrent submission

We do not allow submission to more than one publication at one time. If we determine that a manuscript has been submitted to another publication before Computer's review process is completed, your manuscript will automatically be withdrawn.

Duplicate submissions

We do not accept duplicate submissions of manuscripts. Please do not attempt to enter or upload a modified version of a manuscript that is already in the system as a new submission.

Preliminary/conference version(s)

If any portion of your submission has appeared or will appear in a conference proceedings, please include a copy of your previously published manuscript along with your Computer submission and a summary of changes identifying the differences between the two.

Please be aware that editors and reviewers are required to check the submitted manuscript to determine whether a sufficient amount of new material has been added to warrant publication in Computer. New results are not required; however, the submission should contain expansions of key ideas, examples, elaborations, and so on.

If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the magazine assistant.

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Supplemental Material

Supplemental material includes videos and extra graphics in addition to your completed manuscript. We prefer that you submit this type of material after disscussion with Computer's magazine assistant.

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Uploading Instructions

Detailed information on uploading your manuscript is available here. The system requires you to proof your files before completing the uploading process.

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