Ontology-Based User Modeling in an Augmented Audio Reality System for Museums

Ubiquitous computing is a challenging area that allows us to further our understanding and techniques of context-aware and adaptive systems. Among the challenges is the general problem of capturing the larger context in interaction from the perspective of user modeling and human–computer interaction (HCI). The imperative to address this issue is great considering the emergence of ubiquitous and mobile computing environments. This paper provides an account of our addressing the specific problem of supporting functionality as well as the experience design issues related to museum visits through user modeling in combination with an audio augmented reality and tangible user interface system. This paper details our deployment and evaluation of ec(h)o – an augmented audio reality system for museums. We explore the possibility of supporting a context-aware adaptive system by linking environment, interaction objects and users at an abstract semantic level instead of at the content level. From the user modeling perspective ec(h)o is a knowledge-based recommender system. In this paper we present our findings from user testing and how our approach works well with an audio and tangible user interface within a ubiquitous computing system. We conclude by showing where further research is needed.     

面向普适计算的用户隐私量化方法研究

无论通信系统如何发展,隐私对于用户来说都是最重要的,用户的隐私是否想透露该由用户亲自决断。然而,由于信息互联业务的发展,用户经常被询问隐私信息的请求所打扰。而普适计算是强调用户和环境融为一体的计算,其出发点是想让用户尽量少地参与系统的计算、传输等过程。如果普适计算想要更广泛地得到推广,对隐私发放实现自动控制是根本目标。提出了以用户为中心、以系统为中心、混合量化等多种方法,并在对各种方法进行实验比对,明确其使用环境以及优缺点,在免除打扰用户和隐私保护等方面能达到比较好的平衡性能,可以为将来普适计算中关于隐私的自动防护提供参考。     

3M: a user modelling interface of an expert system for X-ray topographic image interpretation

This paper discusses user modelling techniques and presents the design and implementation of the 3M user modelling interface of INTEREX. INTEREX is an expert system for X-ray topographic image interpretation which assists its users in identifying and analysing a number of defects that can occur in high-quality crystals. 3M consists of a monitor, a model and a modifier. It is used to adapt the consultation route and the explanations provided by INTEREX to three categories of users. It demonstrates the use-of an implicit, individual, dynamic and long-term user model to enable an expert system to accommodate users with different levels of expertise.     

Seamless User-Level Handoff in Ubiquitous Multimedia Service Delivery

Advancing mobile computing technologies are enabling ubiquitous personal computing environment. In this paper, we focus on an important problem in such environment: user mobility. In the case of user mobility, a user is free to access his/her personalized service at anytime, anywhere, through any possible mobile/fixed devices. Providing mobility support in this scenario poses a series of challenges. The most essential problem is to preserve the user's access to the same service despite changes of the accessing host or service provider. Existing system-level mobility solutions are insufficient to address this issue since it is not aware of the application semantics. On the other hand, making each application to be mobility-aware will greatly increase the development overhead. We argue that the middleware layer is the best place to address this problem. On one hand, it is aware of application semantics. On the other hand, by building application-neutral mobility functions in the middleware layer, we eliminate the need to make each application mobility-aware. In this paper, we design a middleware framework to support user mobility in the ubiquitous computing environment. Its major mobility functions include user-level handoff management and service instantiation across heterogeneous computing platforms. We validate the major mobility functions using our prototype middleware system, and test them on two multimedia applications (Mobile Video Player and Mobile Audio Player). To maximally approximate the real-world user-mobility scenario, we have conducted experiments on a variety of computing platforms and communication paradigms, ranging from T1-connected high-end PC to handheld devices with wireless networks. The results show that our middleware framework is able to provide efficient user mobility support in the heterogeneous computing environment.     

Tailoring Automatically Generated Hypertext

This paper describes an approach for tailoring the content and structure of automatically generated hypertext. The implemented system HYLITE is based on applied Natural Language Generation (NLG) techniques, a re-usable user modelling component (VIEWGEN), and a flexible architecture with module feedback. The user modelling component is used by the language generation modules to adapt the hypertext content and links to user beliefs and preferences and to the previous interaction. Unlike previous adaptive NLG systems, which have their own, application-specific user models, HYLITE has re-used a generic agent modelling framework (VIEWGEN) instead. Apart from avoiding the development costs of a new model, this also enabled a more extendable system architecture. Another distinct feature of our approach is making NLG techniques adaptable by the user, i.e., providing users with control over the user model and the hypertext adaptivity.     

基于上下文感知的普适服务框架

为了更好地适应用户的个性化需求和普适计算环境的特征,提出一种基于上下文感知的普适服务框架。该框架包括服务呈现层、服务管理层、服务提供层和上下文感知层。通过基于社区的服务管理方式来屏蔽普适计算环境中服务的异构性、分布性,动态地感知与当前计算环境和用户活动相关的上下文信息,采用基于上下文的服务推荐机制为用户提供个性化的服务,从而更好地适应人的意图和环境 因素。     

The um toolkit for cooperative user modelling

This paper gives an overview of the um toolkit: the philosophy underlying its design, examples of its use and discussion of the way it deals with some major issues in creating user modelling shells. The um toolkit has been developed to provide support for a variety of cooperative agents. An important element of its cooperativeness is due to its capacity to give users an understanding of their own user models. This paper describes two substantial but very different uses of the toolkit. The first involves a collection of coaching systems that help users learn more about their text editor. Experimental results suggest that the user model is associated with users learning more. The second is a movie advisor that uses a range of tools to construct and refine the user model and to filter a database of movies. Both these systems are built from combining tools in um. The paper describes several of the tools for constructing and refining user models. In addition it describes the user-model viewing tools and the way that these help users ensure their user models are correct. The paper also discusses the two central themes of the um work, the application of a tools approach to the design of a user modelling toolkit and the implications of making the user model accessible to its owner, the person modelled.     

User value design for cloud courseware system

A cloud learning environment enables an enriched learning experience compared to conventional methods of learning. Employing a value-sensitive approach, we undertook theoretical and empirical analyses to explore the values that influence potential users’ adoption of cloud courseware, by integrating cognitive motivations and user values as primary determining factors. We found that users’ intentions and behaviours are largely influenced by their perceptions of what is valuable about the cloud courseware in terms of sociability, learnability, and usability. These evaluations were found to be significant antecedents of cloud-computing intentions. This study makes a contribution to theory development as our model extends existing technology acceptance models and can be used to design user interfaces and promote the acceptance of cloud computing. For practical applications, the study findings can be used by industries promoting cloud services to increase user acceptance by addressing user values and incorporating them into cloud-computing design.     

Look, Ma, My homepage is Mobile!

Much of the ongoing research in ubiquitous computing has concentrated on providing context information, e.g. location information, to the level of services and applications. Typically, mobile clients obtain location information from their environment which is used to provide “locally optimal” services. In contrast, it may be of interest to obtain information about the current context a mobile user or device is in, from a client somewhere on the Web, i.e. to use the mobile device as an information provider for Internet clients. As an instance of such services we propose the metaphor of a “location-aware” Web homepage of mobile users providing information about, e.g. the current location a mobile user is at. Requesting this homepage can be as easy as typing a URL containing the mobile user's phone number such ashttp://mhp.net/+49123456789 in an off-the-shelf browser. The homepage is dynamically constructed as Web users access it and it can be configured in various ways that are controlled by the mobile user. We present the architecture and implementation and discuss issues around this example of “inverse” ubiquitous computing.     

An Assumption-based Truth Maintenance System in Active Aid for UNIX Users

This paper deals with the problem of assigning meaning to the interaction of a user with a command-driven system such as UNIX. This research is part of the construction of an active intelligent help system that monitors users in order to offer spontaneous help when they are facing problems. In order to ensure this, the help system must build and maintain a model of the user. We describe a mechanism that is used by the user modelling component of such a help system. This mechanism makes explicit assumptions about the user which account for different hypotheses about what the user is actually thinking at every stage of the interaction. The consistency of these assumptions is managed by an Assumption-based Truth Maintenance System (ATMS). The selection between a number of different user models is based on the information which is extracted from the feedback that UNIX provides in response to user actions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A specification model for context-based collaborative applications

This paper presents a model for building context-based systems in pervasive computing environments from high level specifications. A pervasive computing environment is viewed as a collaboration space consisting of mobile users, system services, and sensors and resources embedded in the physical environment. The approach presented here is developed for building collaborative activities in which users and environment services cooperate towards some shared objectives and tasks. The specification model allows expression of policies related to context-based discovery and secure access of resources, and role-based interactions among users and environmental services. Using several examples we illustrate the capabilities of our specification model for expressing various kinds of context-based requirements for resource access and user interactions.     

User modelling for adaptive computer systems: a survey of recent developments

User modelling is becoming an important sub-area of Artificial Intelligence with both theoretical and practical consequences. The theoretical foundations of user modelling are to be found in key areas of AI, such as knowledge representation and plan recognition, while its practical applications impinge on the construction of intelligent user interfaces and adaptive systems. This paper provides a survey of current work in user modelling. The paper begins by distinguishing between AI approaches, which are the subject of this survey, and those of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) and then considers the major issues in user modelling such as: types of user modelling system, the sorts of information modelled, how the information is acquired, represented and used. The paper concludes by examining some of the more problematic aspects of user modelling as well as indicating areas for future research.     

移动计算环境下远程用户体验数据挖掘方法研究

在移动计算环境下,通过对远程用户的体验数据优化挖掘,满足远程用户的个性化需求,提高对远程用户QoS服务质量;传统的数据挖掘方法采用显著特征关联信息提取算法,当远程用户体验数据之间的差异性特征不明显时,挖掘的准确性不好;提出一种基于关联用户自适应链路跟踪补偿的移动计算环境下远程用户体验数据挖掘模型,进行远程用户体验数据挖掘模型的总体设计和数据结构特征分析,对采集的远程用户体验数据进行非线性时间序列分解,对数据序列通过自相关特征匹配和特征压缩实现挖掘数据的指向性信息优化提取,采用关联用户自适应链路跟踪补偿方法实现对数据挖掘误差的控制和补偿,提高了数据挖掘的准确性和有效性;仿真结果表明,采用该挖掘方法进行移动计算环境下远程用户体验数据挖掘的准确度高,实时性较好,满足了移动远程用户的个性化需求,提高了对用户服务的针对性。     

A robotic service framework supporting automated integration of ubiquitous sensors and devices

In recent years, due to the emergence of ubiquitous computing technology, a new class of networked robots called ubiquitous robots has been introduced. The Ubiquitous Robotic Companion (URC) is our conceptual vision of ubiquitous service robots that provides its user with the services the user needs, anytime and anywhere, in the ubiquitous computing environments. There are requirements to be met for the vision of URC. One of the essential requirements is that the robotic systems must support ubiquity of services. This means that a robot service must always be available even though there are changes in the service environment. More specifically, a robotic system needs to be interoperable with sensors and devices in its current service environments automatically, rather than statically pre-programmed for its environment. In this paper, the design and implementation of an infrastructure for URC called Ubiquitous Robotic Service Framework (URSF) is presented. URSF enables automated integration of networked robots in a ubiquitous computing environment by the use of Semantic Web Services Technologies.     

Personalised e-learning through an educational virtual reality game using Web services

This paper describes how a personalised educational game architecture has been used in conjunction with Web services to provide remote access to the system. The educational game is a virtual reality adventure game that performs affective user modelling by measuring emotional characteristics of users. Virtual reality (VR) games are so popular among children and adolescents that can be used for the purposes of educational software to render it more attractive and motivating. The benefits of such an application can be maximised if it is available over the Web. Software applications that operate over the Web are targeted to a wide range of users. Hence they need a high degree of adaptivity and dynamic individualisation to each user that interacts with the application. This should include the students’ emotional state that affects their learning. However, the environment of a Web-based VR-game that performs user modelling is so demanding that the technology of Web services is necessary for its effective operation and interoperability. Moreover, reusability may be achieved for the user modelling component.

RFID-based sensing system for context information management using P2P network architecture

An RFID-based sensing system using a P2P network can play an important role in a ubiquitous environment. We developed a network capable of managing its own computing and network resources by combining computing devices with a wide variety of sensors. Context awareness is required to deliver the functionality of the sensing network described in this paper. We designed an RFID-based sensing system that receives contextual information about the user via a P2P network. The proposed system includes the basic RFID equipment needed to use and test an RFID system, which consists of a reader, 30 sample tags, and a sample middleware application for reading, writing, and testing RFID tags. It is able to recognize users entering and leaving a location, as well as determine the distance of a user from itself. It can also recognize the condition of the sensor installation. We designed, implemented, and analyzed a system that provides practical services with real-world educational applications. There were statistically significant differences between the control and test groups for user satisfaction, content learned, learning content composition, and user interface.     

The role of attributional judgments when adopted computing technology fails: a comparison of Microsoft Windows PC user perceptions of Windows and Macs

The bulk of research to date on diffusion of innovations and the user acceptance of computing technology has focused on modelling the factors that lead to a user's decision to adopt and use a technology, instead of how individuals use technology and experience it after adoption. The current paper explores how users rationalise failures in their adopted innovations; their biases in the assessment of competing technologies; and the ultimate influence of these attributions on their interpersonal word of mouth communication with other users. The findings of the research point to the mechanisms of ego enhancement and innovativeness influencing users’ reactions to the failure of their adopted computing technology. Biases regarding competing technologies are, however, influenced by information presented in the mass media. Experienced users and users who are technologically innovative are more likely to exhibit biased optimism towards the technology they have adopted. When such users hear about the failure of the computing technology they have adopted, they are far more likely to blame other users for it. In contrast, less innovative, later adopters of a technology are far more likely to blame their adopted technology and consider it to be inferior.     

A polymorphic service management scheme based on virtual object for ubiquitous computing environment

For the ubiquitous computing environment, an important assumption is that all the components in any specific environment are connected with each other. With this assumption, we introduce an effective scheme to provide a personalized service based on Virtual Personal World (VPW). Virtual Personal World (VPW) which is a model focused on service continuity with specially designed components. Previous ubiquitous frameworks have been concerned with the location where a user is provided any specific service. However those questions above are not the most important problems anymore in VPW. It concentrates on the point whether the services are successive or not, wherever a user goes to any place. Services are not regarded as a sum of functions which is embedded on any objects in any certain place. We conceptually define a resource management scheme based on a unified form of the object which participates in service provision, so called virtual object (VO). Thus the service can be described as the sum of functions of VOs. With our resource management scheme, users can utilize their required object as VO wherever it is located. And also, for better utilization of VPW service, we introduce a novel form of profiles and service provision scheme based on the polymorphism. Our simulation result shows that the Ratio of VPW pure service time is 0.15 % higher than conventional location based service. And also the possibility that users can meet adequate service he wants raised 29 % in our proposed VPW environment.     

The pragmatic quality of Resources‐ Events‐Agents diagrams: an experimental evaluation

The Resources‐Events‐Agents (REA) model is a semantic data model for the development of enterprise information systems. Although this model has been proposed as a benchmark for enterprise information modelling, only few studies have attempted to empirically validate the claimed benefits of REA modelling. Moreover, these studies focused on the evaluation of REA‐based system implementations rather than directly assessing the REA‐modelled conceptual schemas that these systems are based on. This paper presents a laboratory experiment that measured the user understanding of diagrammatic conceptual schemas developed using the REA model. The theoretical foundation for the hypotheses are cognitive theories that explain pattern recognition phenomena and the resulting reduction in cognitive effort for understanding conceptual schemas. The results of the experiment indicate a more accurate understanding of the business processes and policies modelled when users recognize the REA model’s core pattern of enterprise information in the diagram. The implication for modelling practice is that the use of the REA model improves the requirements engineering process by facilitating the user validation of conceptual schemas produced by analysts, and thus helps ensuring the quality of the enterprise information system that is developed or implemented.     

笔式用户界面开发工具研究

笔式用户界面提供给用户更为自然的交互方式,然而,笔式用户界面的构造是一项非常困难的工作,一个可用的笔式用户界面系统往往需要多领域、多学科的知识.系统地论述了一个支持笔式用户界面开发的工具系统Penbuilder的设计实现.它基于笔交互的特性以及无处不在的计算环境的要求而设计,为笔式用户界面的开发提供高级的支持.基于Penbuilder的支持,设计开发了一批典型的笔式用户界面原型系统.该研究为笔式用户界面的构造与快速原型提供了有力的支持.