Multi-component User Models of Team Members

To date, most research on user models has been viewing the models as a single homogeneous entity. In contrast, a small number of recent modular approaches to user modelling permit the separate (and possibly heterogeneous) representation and acquisition of different aspects of the model, corresponding to different, competing user interests. This modularisation increases the flexibility, portability, and extensibility of the user models. This proves especially useful for modelling interests of users who are members of a team. We propose a modular approach based on different user perspectives such as team, role and current task. In our approach, an explicit, team model is contained within a single user model and components can be reused and shared by a number of users. We describe this approach in the application context of Personalised Briefing Agents, which are software agents that can automatically and autonomously filter and present information to a decision-maker.