Computational Intelligence in User Modelling

A workshop supported by COIL (European Network of Excellence in
COmputational Intelligence and Learning)

To be held at the University of Bristol on 18 November 1999

Call for Papers
Motivation and Technical Description

In the 1990s we have seen fuzzy technology make the transition from
laboratory into consumer goods such as cameras, washing machines, cars,
etc and neural systems move into applications such as credit scoring.
These are relatively low-level activities in terms of the informal MIQ
measure proposed by Lotfi Zadeh. The next generation of consumer goods,
including computers, will be more sophisticated in terms of
user-modelling and intelligent help systems, to cope with a less
technologically literate user base. For example, an integrated home
information/entertainment system (computer, VCR, TV, hi-fi, etc) should
be able to suggest TV/video choices based on past preferences, and
automatically record programmes judged to be interesting to
a user. With the increased access to information arising from the web
and integration of digital TV and computer networking, this area of
intelligent consumer goods is an extremely important next step. It is an
ideal area for the techniques of computational intelligence including
machine learning and uncertainty. 

Objective and Scope

The workshop will bring together academic and industrial researchers who
are working or interested in the application of computational
intelligence to user modelling. 

Invited talks will be given by: 

       Dr Ben Azvine, BT Labs, UK 
       Prof Jim Baldwin, University of Bristol, UK 
       Dr Hendrik Blockeel, KU Leuven, Belgium 

In addition to these, contributions (from all main sub-fields of
Computational Intelligence) describing work in progress as well as
position papers are invited. All contributions must be focused clearly
on the theme of the workshop. Of particular interest are methods and
proposals that address the following issues: 

       The use of uncertainty modelling techniques in representing and
reasoning about the user 
       Learning user models by observation of user behaviour 
       Commercially implemented systems involving user modelling 

Submissions

Papers should not exceed 4000 words (about 8 pages of text in a 10 or 12
point font). Papers must be submitted electronically, preferably as
postscript, pdf or Microsoft Word attachment, by **** 22 October 1999
**** to one of the organisers: 

       Trevor Martin 
       Christophe Giraud-Carrier 

Submitted papers will be reviewed by at least two independent referees
from the Program Committee. Accepted papers will be published in the
workshop proceedings and contributors will be allocated 30 minutes for
an oral presentation during the workshop. 

The following timetable will be strictly adhered to: 

       Registration of interest: starting now (email to Trevor Martin) 
       Submission of paper: 22 October 1999 
       Notification of acceptance: 29 October 1999 
       Camera-ready: 5 November 1999 

Organisation

       Organisers
       T. P. Martin, University of Bristol, UK 
       C. Giraud-Carrier, University of Bristol, UK 

       Programme Committee
       Peter Flach, University of Bristol, UK 
       Christophe Giraud-Carrier, University of Bristol, UK 
       Trevor Martin, University of Bristol, UK 
       James Shanahan, Xerox Research, France 
       Marc Thuillard, Siemens-Cerberus, Switzerland.