A review and synthesis of user modelling in intelligent systems

Abstract

This paper gives a state-of-the-art overview of the rapidly expanding field of user modelling in artificially intelligent systems. After showing how a user modelling component can improve parts of the processing of, and the interaction with, a large number of systems, the current situation in this field is sketched by means of a number of short descriptions of systems employing user modelling techniques. Next, a synthesis of this review is made by discussing the aspects on which the existing methods differ. It turns out that these aspects can best be approached from two points of view: the technical level and a more abstract, functional level. This dichotomy results in eight dimensions on which to compare the modelling methods. The synthesis is then completed by describing the existing modelling techniques, and classifying the reviewed systems. In the final section, current trends in the field are outlined and prerequisites for acceptance of user modelling on a larger scale are discussed.