User modeling

About: User modeling is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10701 publications have been published within this topic receiving 278012 citations.

Semantic rules for context-aware geographical information retrieval

Abstract: Geographical information retrieval (GIR) can benefit from context information to adapt the results to a user's current situation and personal preferences. In this respect, semantics-based GIR is especially challenging because context information - such as collected from sensors - is often provided through numeric values, which need to be mapped to ontological representations based on nominal symbols. The Web Ontology Language (OWL) lacks mathematical processing capabilities that require free variables, so that even basic comparisons and distance calculations are not possible. Therefore, the context information cannot be interpreted with respect to the task and the current user's preferences. In this paper, we introduce an approach based on semantic rules that adds these processing capabilities to OWL ontologies. The task of recommending personalized surf spots based on user location and preferences serves as a case study to evaluate the capabilities of semantic rules for context-aware geographical information retrieval. We demonstrate how the Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) can be utilized to model user preferences and how execution of the rules successfully retrieves surf spots that match these preferences. While SWRL itself enables free variables, mathematical functions are added via built-ins - external libraries that are dynamically loaded during rule execution. Utilizing the same mechanism, we demonstrate how SWRL built-ins can query the Semantic Sensor Web to enable the consideration of real-time measurements and thus make geographical information retrieval truly context-aware.

Inferring user goals from personality and behavior in a causal model of user affect

Abstract: We present a probabilistic model, based on Dynamic Decision Networks, to assess user affect from possible causes of emotional arousal. The model relies on the OCC cognitive theory of emotions and is designed to assess student affect during the interaction with an educational game. A key element of applying the OCC theory to assess user affect is knowledge of user goals. Thus, in this paper we focus on describing how our model infers these goals from user personality traits and interaction behavior. In particular, we illustrate how we iteratively defined the structure and parameters for this part of the model by using both empirical data collected through Wizard of Oz experiments and relevant psychological findings

Distributed user interface elements to support smart interaction spaces

Abstract: In this paper we show how an interactive system can be distributed among several peer devices. By taking advantage of the current trend towards ambient intelligent environments, we can make use of a combination of computing resources in the surrounding of the user to function as one logical interactive system; an interaction space. Our approach relies on the fact that nowadays most computing resources are network enabled and publish their device profile using some special purpose protocol. For this reason, federations of devices that support the tasks of the user can be composed automatically according to the requirements of these tasks. This distribution of the user interface over a federation of devices can be local or nonlocal. It raises the opportunity for supporting collaborative tasks with the same user interface with little or no extra effort from the user interface designer. Future tools supporting the design, creation and deployment of distributed interactive systems using device federations should maintain usability and usefulness of a dynamic distributed system. We use two different metrics to cope with these problems: interface completeness and interface continuity.

A generic object-based resource-sharing interface for distance co-operation

Abstract: A computer program interface for permitting multiple users to share a single copy of a computer program is described. The program interface is written in Java 1.2 or a later version and C++ and permits users who have browser programs enabled in Java to interact with the user interface. The system can be used in a variety of modes which includes a shared mode to allow multiple users to use the system, although other modes include use by a single user. In the shared mode two or more users share the same copy of software interactively over the Internet or an Intranet connection. In one embodiment during the sharing activity only one user, designated the active user, interacts directly with the computer program and the other users, designated passive user, observe what the active user does and what results are produced in response to the active user's activities. The user interface allows intercommunication between users and allows passive users to assume the role of an active user and vice versa but there is only one active use at any time. In another embodiment more than one active user can share a program which permits real-time interaction for example in game playing or co-design. Various aspects of the invention including graphical and command-time user new interface programs are described.

Dialogue-based user models

Abstract: The paper investigates several approaches to user modeling in natural-language dialogue systems. First, reasons are pointed out why user modeling has become so important in the last few years, and definitions are proposed for the notions of "user model" and "user modeling component." Then, techniques for constructing user models in the course of a dialogue are presented and recent proposals for representing a wide range of assumptions about a user's beliefs and goals in a system's knowledge base are surveyed. Examples for the application of user models in systems developed to date are presented, and some social implications are discussed. Finally, unsolved problems like coping with collective beliefs or resource-limited processes are investigated, and prospects for application-oriented research are outlined.