Introduction to the special issue on statistical and probabilistic methods for user modeling

David Albrecht, Ingrid Zukerman
2007 User modeling and user-adapted interaction  
Statistical and probabilistic models are concerned with the use of observed sample results to make statements about unknown, dependent parameters. In user modeling, these parameters represent aspects of a user's behaviour, such as his or her goals, preferences, and forthcoming actions or locations. Recent technological advances, in particular increased computational power, together with anytime, anyplace access to computers, and the information explosion associated with the Internet, provide
more » ... opportunities for information dissemination and information gathering. On one hand, people have access to large repositories of information in digital form. On the other hand, information providers can find out more about their users' requirements by logging people's activities. This mixture of vast electronic content and increased knowledge about people's actions provides an opportunity to harness statistical and probabilistic models to build user models that support the delivery of personalized content.
doi:10.1007/s11257-006-9025-2 fatcat:gyokztyecbgczf5bdtoswjcm6q